Hi all, first post. I'm about to buy my first electric, and it's going to be a Strat. I'm currently playing a 40 year old Spanish classical guitar. I was looking at a new MIM Standard, and in the shop I'll buy from they have a used MIM 60th Anniversary for about $100 less than a new MIM Standard. It looks in very good condition, apart from a few small dings and scratches on the lower side (from a belt buckle, probably?). I did some google searches to find out a bit about it - I like what I read, with some forums saying it is a real jewel. I certainly love the feel and the look of it. I have not yet had time to play it - I will certainly do that before I buy.

My question is about the Tex Mex pickups. I want to play mostly classic rock and some blues (Clapton, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, some BB King, etc), plus some classical baroque violin tunes I have transposed to guitar notation. With those pickups would I be going wrong? We have a Roland Micro Cube amp which my daughter is using for her Squier as she learns - I think I'll probably move up to a Super Champ or something like that in a year or so.

The price is also a slight concern: only $100 less than a new MIM Standard. Do you guys think that price is stable / may appreciate? I'm not looking as an investment, but merely if I do decide later to trade it whether I'm going to take a bath on the cost?

Thanks all for reading, and grateful for any advice you have.

Hi Fenlander and welcome to the forum. I bought my first real electric in 2007. It was a 60th anniversary MIM Stratocaster. I wanted a real Strat from Fender, but I didn't know enough about guitars to go for the big game and I wanted to make a safe move. Now, after two years of learning I can say that I chose wisely.



I kept going to guitar stores from time to time to try other guitars and everytime I get home I am happy to play my MIM. The only mod I made was to switch from .009 to .011 strings, adding two springs on the tremolo and tune to E flat. I had the guitar adjusted by a guitar tech. Regarding your pickup question, I can't say for other styles but for the Blues you can't go wrong. Try it before you buy it.

Good luck with your choice.
Claude.

The Tex Mex pu's are hot and right up the alley for classic rock and blues. However, for classical pieces I don't know that you'll be happy. I've played classical guitar for over 25 years and just revived my love affair with the electric guitar; blues, rock... I've tried a few things from my classical catalog and wasn't too happy with what came out. If you go with the Tex Mex pu's and want clean, somewhat acoustic tone then you'll probably be turning the volume and tone way down. It's doable but not the most elegant solution. As for the $100 difference between a new and used Strat, I'd definitely go new. Btw, I have a '91 MIM Strat and the pu's from that period were hot. I've been told that the newer Standard pu's are much more muted and tame. Maybe the compromise in the late models would suit you well.