This is a simple conundrum...

1) Keep the MIM HSS.
2) Get a MIA SSS
3) Thank me later

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

I'd keep it. Also you won't get a really big amount of dollars out of it. it is always good to have a back up.
Good Luck

Take it from a person who no longer has his first guitar, keep it and save for the other. Especially if you really love the way it feels. You could go ahead and upgrade it, but personnaly I would save the money for the MIA you want.

RK

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

No way to argue with that analysis! A Custom Shop is the best that Fender offers and they do range in price and quality (team built to master built). Maybe you can find a nice used one for under $2000.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I would buy a new one unless you really like the one you have.

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09 deluxe stratocaster
96 squier
08 ESP EX-260
09 Mitchell 12-string
digitech screamin' blues
Ibanez Flanger
Fab Metal
Crate gx-15
Crate custom flexwave 120

dude...just keep it....i have a samick....(not sure what else it is other than being my first) that i cought for 250, with a small 15 watt sam elliot amp, and i usually grab it before i play on me MIA Fender deluxe....
its just the OG, original gangsta....
theres nothing wrong with going where it all began

It's possible to read forums like this one - and endless guitar magazines - and conclude that the instrument you own must be deficient in some way, because it's not a 'this' or it's not a 'that'. I know, I've been there.

If you're happy with the neck and the fret job, then keep the guitar. Think about maybe a few upgrades down the line. MIM strats have cheaper electrics and unsophisticated sounding pickups - so you might want to get the guitar re-wired with good quality pots, hook up wire, switch, socket and some carefully researched replacement pickups. But don't change the pickups until you know exactly what sort of sound you want to achieve.

Just as an indicator: the 2nd hand Classic 60s MIM Strat that i found dusty, dinged and generally uinloved at the back of a local music store, has turned out to be wonderful and much admirerd by other players I know and I've never done done anything to it. My bought from new USA made Highway 1 Strat has had circuit mods and 3 sets of pickups on it, and i'm only just beginning to feel happy with it.

A lot of guys are to concerned over this MIM MIA MIJ if you have a good ax and its a keeper thats all that matters. The bottom line is that no matter what MIA is always going to have a higher resale value no matter what that is just a fact. As I have stated numerous times my 80s MIJ are as good as any MIA that I have but in reasale value it is not even close, and since I consider myself a player and not a collector that is all that matters. Sure it is nice to know your ax is going up in value or you can at least get back what you paid for it at the very least but it all comes down to plugging in and playing and getting the best sound you can get and we all know that Fender makes that all possible by offering a wide range of products so that even someone on a budget can get an ax that they can go gig with . I really hate that guitar snob attitude a lot of people have and we all know these people with there PRS and whatever else there playing, well look at my $7,000 super AAAAAflamed carved top meanwhile they cant play for $@!&.