I have a 2007 Mexican deluxe players edition which has the vintage noiseless pickups and it's a nice guitar. I needed to do a little setup on the neck and there were a few loose nuts - but otherwise I'm really happy with it. Finish and frets are well done.

I don't really like the looks of the gold finished parts on this model and I doubt that the finish will last, but I liked the larger neck radius on this model for playing slide.

Best advice is to try before you buy.

Couple of weeks ago I bought 09 MIM and from the experience so far I can tell that this is a top notch guitar. The feel and playability are excellent. It comes now with the parchment p/g (not white) same as MIA. It has also a big block in the trem cavity and that seems to be helping quite a bit with sustain a little better than my MIA Std. Try it you can't go wrong with them. Pickups are not my cup of tea but that depends also on the amp and your ear. I tred it through the Fender Hot Rod amp (i thing it was blues deluxe) and it did sound good. On my amp it is just average.

like i said befor i have a july 2006 MIM standard
thats been hot rodded and i just love this guitar.
fantastic craftmanship has all the major upgrades
that were done in 2006. i did a bridge change a pick up
change and a pick gaurd change. and she simply smokes!

Hello there! This is my first post, since last weekend I fell in love with my first Fender: a white MIM Fat Strat... I really compared the MIM vs USA and to tell you the truth, for $495 I really couldn't findl any difference in tone...

One slightly difference I found was the neck finishing, which really fell 100% smooth, but doesn't really matter... just neeed some shop work and there you go.

Mine's is a 2007 so the Made In Mexico label is on the front... don't really care either... It sounds as good as the MIA.

I love my strat!

You paid $495 for a 2007? Strat new? Leftover? Wasn't that a little high?

Well... it's not that much considering that I live outside US.

The ironic thing about my purchase is that, being a mexican citizen, it's hard to get a great deal on new equipment (even though "we" have a Fender factory in our country). I could've make my purchase at GC at McAllen TX, but the trip would cost me more or less the amount I expend ed for the "overprice".

I know... I'ts sad that the same guitar could be found in the US at a lower price, but I preferred that instead of being on the road for 4 hours.