Hi Folks,
I am new here.Do owned a 94 Korean Squire.I think now I can afford a MIM standard.Owning a Strat had been such wonderful experience.
Can you guys tell what are the checklists when buying a MIM standard ?I kinda like it when I played it in the guitar store the other day.
It would be great if the checklists are not limited to authencity only.Also quality wise.Thanks a lot guys.

By an American made instead [x}

Checklist finished

If you buy from a Fender dealer I dont think you have to worry. You will get all the case candy and you can reg. the warranty.

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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

Don't be a jerk Aldric. There are some really good Mexican strats..

Hern, there was a post a few weeks ago or so about what people notice when they pick up a guitar, you might be interested in checking that out. Anyway, one of the things to do, is go to some place quiet where you can hear the guitar unplugged, listen for fret buzz (especially AFTER the 12th fret, as I once bought a guitar where the 17th fret onwards buzzed like crazy, and I never noticed during the 3 hours I spent playing it that day in the noisy guitar room). Try to feel how the body resonates the tone (you should feel it vibrate slightly - a good sign). Don't worry about the action (unless it's insanely high to hide a bad neck). Check the neck for humps near where it connects to the body and make sure the volume/tone knobs work as well as the pickup selector.

Where are you buying the guitar from? Is it new? Also, don't forget you can always run the serial number through:

http://www.guitardaterproject.org/fender.aspx

Haha Im just playing. my first strat was a made in mexico I just recently got an american deluxe and fell in love with it

Hello!

Just thought I would chime in. I've been a Strat player for nearly 25 years and own many. I have to say that the MIM Strats are fantastic guitars. Some people are biased with regards to American Strats, and I understand; however, MIM Strats can easily be upgraded to world class professional instruments. I actually have one in Arctic White that resonates BETTER than any other guitar I've played - it just vibrates and sings. Fantastic guitar and a great value as well.

I do recommend the following - replace the pickups and swap out the tuners for locking ones (I use both Sperzel and Shallers on different guitars). Also, you may want to consider swapping the saddles for something else - I find that the little hex screws carve up my hand when the action is lowered (although I use the stock saddles and use a Dremel to grind these down a bit). The saddles like to move around (same with other vintage style bridges) - what I did was pull the saddle off first and stretch the intonation spring a bit (for a more secure fit), reattached, set my action and intonation, then flipped the saddle over and put some glue in there between the poles (Duco Cement) to keep the pole pieces from moving. Lastly I use 2 springs on the claw in the back and screw those puppies flat with the wood (the claw will be right up against the wood) so the vibrato sits flat against the body. It sounds awesome - killer sustain and vibration transmission to the top. No tuning problems whatsoever with the locking tuners (lube the nut with a little powdered graphite or Armor All)...

I actually prefer the smaller frets to what's on the MIA Strats; but I do love the feel of those as well. Just a matter of taste...

You'll love it - get a cream one with a maple fretboard - one sexy guitar

ALSO - I believe the necks are made here in the US and shipped to Mexico for assembly. The Mexican factory is right over the border from California - a few hours from the US Fender factory, which is why I think the quality control is so good there. Just my $.02...

Thanks,
CJR

I just got a MIM Stratocaster 2nd hand 2003, & i must say i think its a great Guitar, I have been playing for 20 years now starting of with a Marlin when i was 15, to a Fender USA HM Strat , then a Jackson & now the Mex Strat. everyone has different tastes & not everyone can afford the top of the range models, If everyone liked & could afford the same then you might as well scrath the word choice from the dictonary, I mean who needs a different choice in toilet paper it all does the same thing! At the end of the day buy someting 1) your comfortble with & 2) you can afford. Eeven Eric Clapton owns a Mex Strat!

The checklist is the same as any other when you are looking for a new guitar.

As has been said over and over, if you check out a slew of MIMs, you will surely find one with, "your name on it".

Frills vs. basic functionality.

As I have said over and over again, I've been playing Strats for over 40 years and PREFER the MIMs as they feel more like a traditional Strat. Further, I can modify a MIM to my requirements as I deem necessary, WELL below the cost of a MIA. And if I did own a MIA, I would do the same modifications to the MIA as I would the MIM (primarily, the pickups and a blender pot).

YMMV.

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You dig?

Are there MIM "clones" out there?

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1994 Standard Strat, Blue
2000 Standard Strat, Black, with GFS block, and GFS Lil Killer pickup.
2004 Standard Telecaster, Black
1971 Gibson SG
1985 Kramer Baretta
1986 Kramer Vangard
Carvin X60B
Marshall 50 watt 2x12 combo

Yes, there are. Buy a $59 POS and sand the OEM headstock logo off. Next, put a bogus Fender decal on it and to the unsuspecting, you can sell it easily for $250.

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You dig?

21 frets, non staggered pole pieces, MIM specific spacing for 6 hole tremelo, poly finish(except Road rash models..I mean Road Worn!!).
There are differences with special models(Classic Series, Players etc) from the plain Jane Standard models.
A good dealer can help you find a suitable instrument. As far as I am concerned, I have seen so many Fender guitars over the last 30 years of playing and working on guitars, I can spot a fake pretty easily. I am not saying I am an expert, but I can tell a Fender when I see it. It may take a little inspection time. It's like the saying, "You know it when you see it".

Serial number starts with an M...

Thanks for the wonderful reply.2 questions.
1.Is the serial number adequate to verify?Fake MIM can print those genuine serial number right?
2.MIM body is 1 piece or 2 piece of wood?

1. serial number is usually a good indication, however it is easily faked.
2. sometimes up to 5 pieces of wood, dont worry, no big difference in tone.

5 pieces?Quite a lot there.