I'm thinking of getting a Strat, but I don't really have the budget to get a USA-made one, so my question is: Which ones has the highest quality, the Mexico-made Strats or the Japan-made Strats?

Here is my thinking:

"Fender Stratocaster" written on headstock = Very good regardless of point of origin

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

+1



I do love my MIJ's though!

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

If I had to choose...I'd go with the Strat.

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

Play some, that's really the only way to tell.

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If I could find a Made in Japan from 85 to 87 I'd go for the Japan one but Chet has some wonderful MIJ model guitars. I'm also giving the MIM their props too! Like they say if it says Fender on it , it's a winner!

It depends on the model an year!

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Year is definately the deciding factor. I can say tho after owning a lot of MIJ reissue types, i am probably happier with my current MIM RI's than anything before. But to be honest i don't think they're better, i think i just like them better. One thing i like thats a big part of it is i just like the shades of the finishes better. Like the amber on the maple neck and the color of the bursts. Much better than most of the MIJ's i owned, at least to my eye. And so far both necks which are now around 10 years old each are just perfection. Straight as arrows and actions as low as i've ever been able to achieve and great feel, especially on the maple....that one is maybe the best guitar neck of any guitar of any type i ever owned. it's phenominal in every way.

So for me i prefer the MIM reissues. If you want to compare MIJ's to MIM standards, i can't address that really beyond saying they don't seem to be on quite the same level as the MIM RI's as far as i can tell. But the RI's and RI derivatives are great and easily as good as the MIJ's i had.

I like the "raw-ness" of the standard MIM axes. I like being able to break one in.

I am also, probably too young to have experienced the alleged greatness of the MIJ's... so I guess my input is invalid.

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-Classic 50's Strat.
-Std. Telecaster.
-Mike Dirnt P-bass.
-Custody of SE Strat.
-Peavey Predator/Dean Evo/Epiphone DR150/Gibson Slide (much older than me).

Rellik Productions Inc.

Plus You cannot compair the two nowdays because they are popping guitars out of the Mexico plant like M&M's at the Mars plant guitars tens of thousands a month some good some bad, numerous models. Here in the U.S. you have very few Japan models available new today and the ones that are for sale are high quality. Both the Fender ones and the other brands like Tokia, just pick up a Tokai GS100 Strat.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

If you go the tokai route (which i advise) search for a goldstar, silverstar or springysound. The new japanese model tokai's are absolutely excellent but lose the vintage vibe.

As for fender guitars play as many types as you can get your hands on, dont discriminate by shape or point of origin. Then buy the one you like the most.

Thats as far as I'm going on that subject.

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No no and no

The old Sprigy sound's and Silver stars are getting harder to come by and prices rising. In fact they say SRV had and played a Silver Star Strat at times.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

How about the Korean strats? I feel so left out.....

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'00 American Deluxe Stratocaster (Kinman Hx pups)
'08 Ibanez AS73 (Gibson Burstbuckers)
Fender DeVille 410

Right! Given the choice between a MIJ and a MIM of the same age, in the same condition, for about the same price, I'd probably go with the MIJ.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

that's a beaut!!!!!!

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The mind is like a parachute; it doesn't work unless its open-FZ