I have a question.

About six years ago (i was fourteen years old) i got my first guitar and it was a 2002 MIM standard strat HSS in three color sunburst with a rosewood fretboard.

Here's the question:

- Should i sell my MIM strat and upgrade to a MIA? It seems a little shortsighted to stick to it just because it's " my first guitar", plus when i bought it i was fairly young to really know what i want.

- Should i upgrade it with nice vintage tuners, pickups and a bridge so that I have a MIM body and neck with MIA hardware and sound?

The catch is that I really love this guitar, but i can't help but thinking it's not the best you can get form fender... Also money is an issue and i have a strong tendency towards being a "one-guitar-guy"

Any advice, suggestions or opinions?

I don't get it.

You love the guitar, you don't want to spend money... why would you think about selling it or upgrading it?

If you feel it's deficient in some way, then improve it, but, if not.... well, then love it and play it!

I know that I am personally kicking myself for not keeping my first guitar. If you love the guitar keep it. There seems to be nothing wrong with it. Wait a few years and save some money to buy a new guitar. You won't get anything for trade in value so you would be getting ripped off!!!


Keep it!!!

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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

I'd be willing to bet that if you kept it and saved up your money and got a better model say a MIA Deluxe, you will still grab the MIM first when you want to play. I've been there. Just because you get a more expensive guitar doesn't mean you will love it any more than the one you have now.

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The time has gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say.

Recently I've found myself leaning back towards my first guitar, a Squier Affinity Strat. I actually play it more often than my MIM Strat. I'm glad I kept it.

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If you HAD to choose one or the other, I'd choose to upgrade it. It'll only add onto the sentimental value that you mentioned you already have for it. They sell thousands of stock MIA's and Deluxes, but if you work on yours and put what you want into it...it becomes one of a kind. On the flip...if it ain't broke don't fix it. If you like the sound and feel, no reason to mess around with it until you find you want something different out of the guitar.[/i]

Why not play a MIA and your MIM side by side and see if you can justify spending the money.

personally i would start saing up for a MIA and keep your MIM...you only get one ''first" guitar and there will always be MIA

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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!

+ 1 for keeping it. As has already been said, you won't get much of anything for a trade-in. If it were me and you love the guitar except for x reason, I would spend a few dollars to change what ever is bugging you. I had (well, still have) a blue Strat that I loved except for the white pickguard. I bought and installed a pearloid one and now it's still my all time go to guitar.
To echo another thing that has been said, you only get one "first guitar." I can almost guarantee that you would be kicking yourself someday for letting it go.


Just my 2 cents worth.




Jim

you love your mim, keep it. save money for a mia later on.

cheers

Personally I would keep the MIM and save for another guitar.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Like others said save and buy a another and if you find you don't use the first very much then you trade it for a another one that way you will keep two. perhaps a Strat and a Tele or what ever. I have emotional attachment to my guitars too but if a better one comes along and I need to get rid of one I would Its a tool for making music.

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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 still wish i had my first guitar. So much so that i still browse ebay for anyone selling them. It was a avon rose morris lespaul copy. Not anywhere near as nice as a MIM. Neck so bowed robin hood would use it to fire arrows, bolt on neck, singlecoil pickups in humbucker housings.

Personaly i wouldnt sell the MIM. Upgrade carefully, dont just think those are the parts i want lets sling em on. Theres a good deal of beauty in the guitars we consider old fuddy duddies.

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No no and no

Always keep your first guitar! You'll regret it if you don't.

You can always save up a little longer for that MIA and keep the MIM. It'll be worth it.

+1

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"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

Yes, sell it and upgrade, by all means.

However

check out a number of higher end models before deciding. And buy the color and fingerboard type that you really want. You may end up keeping that MIA for a long time.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.