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Post subject: MIM Strats vs. American Strats
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:33 am
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This probably has been discussed before, but I'm new and I don't yet own a Strat. I've played Gibby's most of my life, and I'm ready to pull the trigger on a Strat.
I've seen great reviews on the Standard Strat which is MIM. It's my understanding that the body and neck are made in California, then shipped to Mexico for assembly and finishing. If this is correct, I think that the MIM Strats would seem to be a pretty good deal!
What do you think?


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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:24 pm
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Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:02 pm
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mexican made strats are great for the money... the standard wold be good and also check out the deluxe players strat... it plays extremely well for mexican built... if i played it without looking at the headstock, i would think it might be made in america... great quality, just play it first and make sure its right for you


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Post subject: Re: MIM Strats vs. American Strats
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:13 am
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The MIM Standard Strat is a great guitar, and a heck of a deal for the money. You might want to upgrade the pickups at some point, but right out of the box they are fine.


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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:06 am
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It's just the necks that are made in California, bodies and everything else is made in mexico.

Also, in case your misinformed, the bodies are not one piece either, their multiple.

Here's mexican bodies: At least their not plywood, in my opinion this is a better way to cut cost, unlike epiphone who would rather have plywood.
Image

Image


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Post subject: Check Out Highway One
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:25 am
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If you're looking in the MIM price range, you may want to check out the Highway One. A guy at Guitar Center who was extremely into Highway Ones and was polishing up mine after I bought it pointed out to me that the MIM strats have more than one piece of wood put together for the bodies, like the other guy wrote here. The Highway One and all other Americans are one piece of wood. That's got to show in the tone eventually. Also, you can see the wood with the Highway One, because the finish is transparent and shows it off. I was shopping MIM when I found my Highway One on sale. It's a fantastic instrument, and there's no feeling of compromise. Not at all criticizing the MIM strats, because the price is right and they do play well. One thing I did is I played them all. I picked up a MIM Deluxe Player's Strat, which is awesome, and found the neck felt too fat for me and the fret board feel was different. Compared to the Highway One or the Jimmy Vaughn, which actually is MIM, the Deluxe Players wasn't right for me. A lot may depend on how you play and your hands. For me, the Highway One is smooth and fast and lets me shine. Now for that Blues Jr. . . .


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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:37 am
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Thanks to all that replied to me! I've learned something for sure.
However, I went to a music store on Saturday and tried some Strats,
American and MIM.
I tried the Highway One, which was ok....and I even tried an Eric Johnson model. But, the one that felt and sounded the best to me was a
Fender Classic Series '50s Stratocaster. I had a guy with me that is an absolute Strat freak, and he endorsed it as well.
So, I put it on layaway. It's a Shoreline Gold color, with antiqued knobs and pickups. One think I liked about it was that it has a finished neck. I never much cared for the satin finish, and this one has the laquered (not nitrocellulose) neck. It felt so GOOD and sounded SO sweet, I couldn't resist! I thought I was Eric Clapton for a brief second...*lol*


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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:11 am
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Too true!! I have a USA 60's reissue, and just recently got my hands on a Mex deluxe players strat! Very nice!!!!!! plays looks and sounds just as well as the U.S model (the pups and electrics are U.S)...also have a Japanese made reissue too..they are worth a look if you can find one!! The cutoms shops are fantastic guitars....but some of us cant afford £1,500 + for a guitar!!!......mmm what was the lottery numbers this week???? :lol:


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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:18 am
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Amen to that! But...I played the Eric Johnson Strat, which cost $1800...and I still liked the 50's player strat better! And...I got a REALLY
good deal.
This will be my first strat, too! I have Gibsons and one Epi LP currently.


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Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:40 am
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I have a 60s re-issue that I put Tex-Mex pups in and it plays and sounds great. In fact, when I first picked it up and played it I thought it was an American. It was only when I went to look at the price that I saw it was MIM. I just bought an American Standard and it is a great guitar also. So far, the only things I can tell different is the sustain - the American has more, and the neck feels better (both have rosewood fretboards). The frets on the AS seem bigger.

I recently played a gig at a local high school stadium with the 60s re-issue. It did what needed to be done and sounded great doing it. The stock pups on the 60s are weak, YMMV.

Most people who hear them will not be able to tell the difference. Players will, you will, but no one esle. I bought the AS Strat because I have always wanted one, and I couldn't resist the 'burst.

Buy a MIM and you get a great guitar. Buy an American Strat and you get even better.


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Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 1:56 pm
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This is my first Strat, so I'm starting with the MIM....once I get used to that, I'll probably upgrade to an AS. But, for the money...man! This MIM
Strat that I'm getting is SOOOOOOOOO nice! Sounds like the vintage Strats of the 50's and 60's for sure.
There is just something so soulful about it.


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