I've recently rented out an Arctic white w/ Maple fretboard '09 MIM strat. When the rent is up I plan on buying either this one or maybe even a new MIA standard. However, here in Canada, the MIM goes for 600 and the MIA is 1400. This newer 09 MIM feels pretty good to me and I gigged with it once already and did quite well. I will probably bring this into Long and Mcquade and compare it directly to an American Standard before I make a final decision. I find that the MIA's have much cleaner tones and generally feel better but I'm really just after that strat sound/tone and I can still achieve that with my MIM. So my main question is: "Is a MIA really worth the extra 800 CDN considering we don't look at the resale value?"

Thanks in advance.

Hi fatjam, welcome to the Forum.

It is an oft repeated truism in the world of instruments that you pay 100 percent more for a 10 percent increase in quality. That MIA is over double the price of the MIM, so I guess we're looking for perhaps a 15 percent step up in quality there...

Only you can decide on your priorities and whether the large price hike is worth paying for the relatively smaller step up in sound and feel.

A/B'ing them against each other is essential, as you indicated. I have a sneaking feeling that when you play them off against one another you may end up talking yourself into spending the extra dollars.

That's been my experience, anyhow!

Good luck with it, and please show us pictures, whichever way you end up going.

Cheers - C

Let's consider that money is no issue....It all still comes down to what feels best and what sounds best. I have 2 Am. Std. strats and I love them both. I am not against MIM's at all, but I have yet to find one that I've bonded with. My guitars are my babies and I bought both of them because they spoke to me...if you can understand that. I would love to add a MIM to my collection if I had the money, but alas I am broke.

I say play them both side by side and pick the one you can't live without. It may be the MIA or it may be the MIM, but it's most important that it's the guitar you see yourself playing for a long time.

_________________
2005 Fender American Stratocaster W/Seymour Duncan Hot Rails in bridge and Seymour Duncan SSL-5 in neck.
1995 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
Line 6 Spider II 150 watt head W/Ampeg 4x12 Cab
Laney Pro-Linebacker PL65R

Two years ago I went looking for a Strat. By reading all the positive reviews on MIM and post 06 upgrades, I was set to get a MIM. I visited three guitar stores in my area (lucky me) and tried a bunch of strats MIM, and MIA std/dlx. Ended up buying MIA std due to the better feel/playability and tone than MIMs that I tried in general.

Now forward to 09. Went looking for a strat, tried a bunch of them again. MIA std still felt the same as mine still grat tone however when I tried new MIMs now we are talkin. Better sustain than MIA std better feel (rounder/fatter C neck). Playability - most of them had decent factory setups. Tone is still lacking as before in my ear but you migh be ok. That is an easy fix with the pickup upgrade. So I bought maple/white (sort of hendrix tribute). I will post sound samples after my pickup upgrade.

BTW price dropped at Steve's Misic in Toronro and Montral by $50-$80 for MIMs (now they are $550). It has not changed for MIAstd. HWY1 are selling for $799

Higly recommend 09 MIMs, good luck

Yeah, I was originally planning to get an American Standard Strat but when I saw the price difference I decided to try out the MIM too and was surprised at how good it was. From what I remember I actually still liked the MIA necks a bit more so if both were free and I had to choose I would've chosen the MIA. However, I've been playing this MIM alot recently and have grown a little attached to it so hopefully when I play it next to the MIA I'll want to have this one. I can't logically justify paying the extra 800CDN for the MIA but on an impulsive/emotional level I'd want the fancier MIA. I definitely plan on playing whatever guitar I get for as long as I possibly can. Another question I have is would a pickup change on the MIM to say CS '69 pups make it sound just as good if not better than a MIA? Cause when I play them side by side and I find that they both feel the same (neckwise) I will buy the MIM without hesitation. Thanks for helping me out with my dilemna.

I know exactly what you mean. It would bother me to spend $600 but always know that my guitar wasn't the "best". Personally I think MIA's are always money well spent.

Fatjam, you hit the nail on the head ,if the resale value is not an issue go for the MIM as you have gigged it and everything seems to be fine.If you go MIA even though you are spending more money in ten years odds are you will turn a profit as every MIA I have has gone up in value while my MIJ have not but they sound just as good.

Yea I tried to throw the resale value factor out cause it was making life too difficult for me lol. I think I will probably end up buying the MIM unless I feel too much of a drastic difference when I compare them head on. I will definitely be blocking the tremolo as I never use it anyway and maybe upgrading a few parts such as pups, and tuners if blocking the trem doesn't help enough.


I hear the MIA's will sound better as they age, is this necessarily true? and if so will MIM's do the same seeing as they are alder bodies too?

Also, if I were to put in nicer pickups (CS '69s), would I then end up with a MIM that sounds just as good, if not better, than a MIA?

Any input or shared knowledge is greatly appreciated