I am in the market for a 70s Classic MIM Strat.

I have narrowed it down to two - one made in 2002 and one in 2008. Is there eveidence that the production or materilas used in Mexico were better in 2002 as opposed to now?

Thanks

This is a bit of a grey area for me but i'd offer the advice that a vintage accurate guitar would be pretty much the same from year to year. It has to stay within the confines of its vintage. That said its widely accepted that modern MIM's have upgraded hardware, trem, pots, tuners, all that gumf.

Personaly i think mexican guitars had better craftsmanship in their earlier years, peaking around 96/97. My rhythm guitarists 96 is a superb guitar atleast as good in fret/nut work and fit as my 04 am deluxe. The pickups have a tonal quality thats ocean deep and it plays like a dream. Infact i'm often caught playing it before anyone turns up to rehearsal.

If your after a 70's strat why not consider the highway1 very 70's in appearance. Everyone here who has one loves it to death. Good guitar for not too much money by all accounts.

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Hello Tremolo Arm,

From what I have seen and experianced,
present day manufacture is at it's highest.
Fit and finish consistancy of my 2000 mex
is OK but nut and fret ends were a bit nasty.

Sight unseen I would lean twards the 2008.

Cheers.

Sage advice from someone with a guitar nearer the manufacture year in question.

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get whichever one is less expensive!

Love those big headstocks!

and others claim including fender that
the MIMS made from 2006 to present
are the better ones that includes the
craftmanship of the bodys and necks.

I believe the specs on the MIM 70's Stratocaster have not change since it introduction in 1999. It is a Classic Series guitar not Classic updated guitar so new may not be the better. Get what plays well for you.

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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

I have an 07 HSS. The upgrades (from 06) are: internal cavity shielding, a higher mass bridge block, and switch from Vintage to Medium Jumbo frets. These are all desireable for tone and sustain and make it a beautiful axe to play!!

Gridlok

it shure is Gridlok

Is that a Classic Series or a MIM Standard Upgrade They do not upgrade all guitar models at the same time. The word Classic means that.

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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

Niki, this story illustrates the danger of anecdotal evidence. Your friend's '96 would be, according to my experience, an anomaly: I, too, bought an MIM Strat in 1996. I didn't take the time shopping that I should have, and ended up with a Lake Placid Blue monstrosity that was one of the top three worst Strats I have ever PLAYED, let alone owned. It was a very bad guitar, and I ended up modding it into non-existence.... today, I still have a guitar that began life as that '96, but the only original part remaining is the neckplate. I keep that plte so I can confound guitar-store guys by calling it a "modded MIM Strat."

That guitar is my anecdotal evidence for my oft-repeated belief that mid-90s MIM's were horrible. So... there ya go.

It is a Standard series Strat with an HSS upgrade. At least that's what it says on my info from Fender.

Gridlok

The MIM Standards were upgraded as your was but they did not upgrade all models MIM. The Classic series and such that the original poster is looking at getting is built on the classic 70 design and went into production in 1999.

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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

Having never played a MIM the only thing I can say is that what I have been reading and hearing about recent models is rave reviews.But I would still play them both and go with what felt most comfortable and to what my ears told me.

Slapchop, your case is a good one except for a few things. MY 95 (that gets preference to all my other guitats), a friends 96 MIM anniversary tele and said 96. Of those 3 guitars all quite different their all great sounding great playing. Sadly mine is modded to hell now simply because where improvement can be made, i'll make it. Sometimes mess it up .

In truth its as individual as players are. If the new ones are repeatedly better than the old ones then its something to be glad about. I've been a longtime believer that theres a lot of pride in the Mexico plant. The only thing that ever lets them down is QC which isnt strictly down to the workers. Its far more likely that the bigwigs in california stipulate they let more faults pass to save money. If their producing better instruments today than they were yesterday its good for all of us.

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