I was looking at this guitar as a possible project. Would love to hear ya'lls thought and opinions on it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0291148820

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

certainly a nice colour on what appears to be a very nice guitar. Unfortunately ive no idea what they sell for across the atlantic. I'd want to see a picture of the heavier trem block. some people use that as a advert for the guitar whilst slapping any old junk in there. Mexican anniversary strat from 06 with nice pickups and trem. Nice deep rib contour round the back, decent tuners too.
Whats not to like?

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No no and no

I agree! its seems to have alot of nicer features already which saves me $$$ in the long run. my main concern was my own ignorance in regards to MIM strats as a whole. As I understand it MIM models were of higher quality (than previous mim's) from '06 to present. is this true? Also did you look at the back of the guitar? am I mistaken or is there some discoloration, or rather a flaw in the picture itself? In conclusion, if I could get this guitar for less than say $400 would this be a good buy? Thanks for your assistance niki!

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

Not wishing to start another mim vs mia debate, i'll keep my opinion on 06+ mim's short. They are good guitars for the best part, sometimes you get a bumhug and sometimes you get a jaw dropper. They produce good and bad guitars as do all manufacturers. Whether 06+ are better than 02's or 99's i wouldnt know. I do however feel that the Mexico plant is currently displaying a lot of well deserved pride for their produce.

There does seem to be some dicolouration at the back of the guitar. It's the back of the guitar though, it doesnt matter unless your buying it to put in a revolving glass display case. Let me tell you straight that guitar is a player not a ornament. The features as stated are good, they mean nothing though if the guitar is a bumhug(humbug), i'd play it before bidding. When/if you do play it ask the seller how much they want? Thats my usuall M.O with ebay. Most sellers like it because if they withdraw the item and sell for cash they dont inccur too much in the way of ebay fee's. I for one wouldnt buy a new guitar without playing it, let alone a 2nd hand one.

As for price i'm on shakey ground with dollars. $400 is roughly £290. That seems pricey for a 2ndhand MIM to me. I'd be looking at nearer £250, $340. Thats at english prices, i understand you blokes get things cheaper across the atlantic. If the guitar was $450 new i'd pay no more than $300 used. No matter what it had fitted. I am a skinflint with used gear.

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No no and no

No relvoving cases for this bad boy! lol. I'm looking for a daily player so i can quit using my other (more of a wall hanger) strat ( I would like to keep it original). Unfortunatley I wont be able to play before purchase as the plane ride to VA would cost more than the guitar. I did however request pics of the trem block and details on the discoloration on the back ( which as you point out makes no diff in sound, but could be used as a bargaining chip to get a better price ) and a buy it now price if he has one in mind. my only remaining concern is the overall condition of the neck (which I have also requested additional pics of). Thanks again for the advice!

~all_thumbs

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

One last question: Does anyone know what this guitar retailed for new? I attempted to use some of the resources here on the fender site, but came up empty.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

Hi all_thumbs09: a "project"? Curious to know what you'd change about it. Nice pickups, nice cosmetics - as Niki said, what's not to like?

Can't help on the original pricing. Couple of years back I ceremonially dropped a whole stack of old price lists in paper recycling. Couldn't think why I was letting them clutter the place up. Why would I ever need them again?

Rats...

Cheers - C

I couldnt agree more! It does have alot of nice features already. BUT... I'm not a huge fan of the tex-mex pups (not that there is anything wrong with them. just not my style) other than that and a few other minor tweaks, its pretty much ready to go as is. I'm just the type of individual that has to put my own stamp on things.

I recieved this in reply to an email I sent to the seller:

Hi Steve, the guitar originally retailed for $699 as it is not any regular Standard Strat. The 60th Anniversary Strat has a whole bunch of upgraded features like the Tex-Mex pickups, the paint color/finish, tinted neck, and was intended to be a collectable anniversary guitar. They only made it during 2006. I appreciate your offer but as this guitar is a special model I will have to decline it for now. Thanks!

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

My opinion is that it is not a "project". Its already very nice and its a aniversary edition. It may be collectable someday or at least worth a bit more than your average standard strat. I wonder what you had in mind to modify?

To me, a project strat would be to take an average strat and make it special yourself. The leaves less room for regrets down the road if that big "oooops" happens during your "project". On the flip side, there were probably a lot of these made, and $400 is unlikely to make or break you either way. But this one seems to be one of the upscale MIM strats.

I am thinking the discoloration is lighting, but someone could have tested some kind of polish or something that ended up discoloring the guitar. It does not seem like something to be overly concerned about.

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

The seller did say the discoloration is just the result of poor lighting. and the email response I posted above was the sellars reaction to an offer of $350. not all that suprising after learning it retailed for $700 >.< yet again my local guitar dealer let me down.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

Hey stop crying The good news is you will be able to find a strat for the $$$ you want to pay, and you can probably find one that you won't ever mind modifing and making to your spec. Just keep looking, the right one will find you

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

True pearls of wisdom there. Thanks first!

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

A couple of things...

1) A MIM "standard" that came with "stock Tex Mex pups". I thought the only MIM to come with Tex Mex was the Jimmy Vaughn signature. Something seems wrong there...

2) There is a lot of this "MIMs are better since 2006" stuff. In '06, they added enhancements to the MIM Std (larger trem block, fully shielded, med-jumbo frets, and a gig bag). The pre '06 guitars are ... IMO ... just as good quality, and you can easily and cheaply get the larger tremblock and shielding for any pre-06. I know my modified '04 kills, and is a very well-built guitar with a nice neck and fretwork. I just wanted to clear that up.

3) I put Tex Mex pups in my '04. I think they are great.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

Thanks for the input 01GT! nobody in this thread is questioning the quality of mim strats, especially myself as its obvious I am shopping one. Just trying to get some information so I can make an informed purchase.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

i'm with you the fun of getting a used guitar like that is to give it your finishig touches. Pick ups, tone pots, etc........... I would althogh just get a new pick guard and keep the old one put aside just in case the mim's do like the mij's and start going up in value in a few years.