Hi All -

A noob here ... I have wanted a Strat for as long as I can remember, and a couple of years ago I got my first MIM. It was a 2008 Standard 3 coil. I loved it for a while, but was never able really get the Strat sound I had hoped for. Earlier this year I bought a brand new MIM 48th St. Special - It was an SSH, with two tex-mex pups. I thought I had finally found what I was looking for. After comparing to a Strat Squier and a Starcaster I was very disappointed to find there was very little difference in the sound coming from the pickups so I returned it. Well last week, I met a guy that had 1998 MIM Strat, nothing special just the standard SSS config. For whatever reason the sound from this one is what I always dreamed a Strat would like. That big beautiful tone, mellow on the low end not too screamy on the highs and that deep bluesy twang you only get from a Strat !!! I ended trading an arm and a leg to get it, but it was worth it - and the best part is that they bought it in 98, wrapped it in plastic, and put it in the gig bag and never touched it again, so it's in mint condition.

So, my question (sorry for the long story) .. Do any of you notice differences in sound quality from certain periods of production ? Is there a consensus on which years are the best for MIM strats ??

Thanks for reading

Todd

Cool story, I dont know about past MIM's but I have one of the new 09 ones and it is fantastic.... ofcourse I would like to hear yours to see what it sounds like

Can you post some pictures also?

I have 3 MIM Strats which I purchased used.
1996 Fat Strat in Crimson Red sparkle finish
2001 Standard in Brown Sunburst w/ GFS overwound staggered ceramics
2003 Classic 50s in Daphne Blue.
They all have different feels to them, and sound quite a bit different. I would put them all in the same class quality-wise, which is very good.
I think that individual guitars can vary so much even in the same production year that you have to evaluate each one on its own. Don't assume that if you like a 2005 model, you will like all 2005 models. I have played dozens of MIM Strats, and bought the ones I felt were good guitars at good prices.
As a side note, the Standards stock ceramic pickups don't really provide the "classic Strat tone" that most people associate with the guitar. The ceramics provide a nice full tone, tho a little more modern sounding than a classic alnico pickup might. My Classic 50s does have more of that vintage tone. Just my thoughts for what it's worth. About $.02