For the money, you cant find a better guitar.Compare the Epiphones to the Gibson and see what i mean.That being said , I prefer the MIAs to the MIMs.I like the rolled edges and the fretwork on the MIA guitars.I am not a tinkerer, so i like to buy a guitar thats already set up the way i like.I think the pickups in the MIAs sound crisper to my ears and i like the upgraded trem block.I also have a SRV, so I have a vintage setup.I am glad there are so many choices for so many people .You cant really go wrong with either.

Considering where the plants are located, maybe the MIAs should all be changed. The MIAs should changed be MINM (Made in Northern Mexico) and the MIMs will remain the same.

Technically, both plants are in, "America".

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You dig?

MIM's are GREAT guitars, but there is definitely a noticeable difference between them and MIA's ......

I had a wonderful MIM, played it for years. I didn't want to play a MIA because I knew what might happen. One day I gave in and picked one up in a shop, and the short of the story is my #1 is the MIA I brought home that day....huge difference to me, but more $$, too.....You just need to decide if the differences are worth the price increase to you.

Play a ton of them and form your own opinion!

Essentially which a few exceptions, you can choose between a guitar made by a Mexican in Ensenada, or a guitar made by a Mexican in Corona.

I have had the privilege of working with several Mexican luthiers over the years, and they produced instruments of quality equal to any I have ever observed. A guitar being made in Mexico is no indication of a lack of quality.

The above excerpt should be required reading.

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You dig?

+10000000000000

It has absolutely nothing to do with the nationality of the person who builds them!

A honest opinion!

There is still quite a difference between a Mexican luthier and a Mexican factory line worker. A bigger difference than that between a Mexican Strat and an American one I'd venture. That analogy would be more akin to comparing a CS Strat to a Standard, American or Mexican.

All said, they are both great lines of guitars in completely different price ranges with different appointments accordingly. The modular construction concept that Mr. Fender based his guitar designs on ultimately makes the comparison more or less moot in the end. Given the parts available and enough desire from the owner, there are only a couple differences that can't be changed with a screwdriver and soldering iron.

I like pie, but I won't pass on a good cake.

I would say it is more do to the quality of the the materials used. And you are kiding yourself if you think the assembly workers are luthiers. As Mike from fender has said they choice the better grade woods for CS models and I have no doubt the supplier of body blanks sell them to fender as different grades for body and neck woods. And those grades are used on different model everywhare. Different grades of wood from a mills can have drastic cost differences. Thats just a small part of the difference the electronics not that they can't make them as good in Mexico but they don't. They just buy lower cost ones from the supplier. As Ceri said in one of his post a small increase in quality cost a lot in purchase price.

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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

Thanks for making sense CV!!

Martian,
You have done it again........I don't know how people are going to respond to the actual truth! If you keep this up they might ban you for being highly truthful & logical....ya better head for the hills......

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

Guitars are like people. Some are good and some are bad. To say all MIM sucked would be a false statement. In the same way, to say all MIA guitars are the best would also be a false statement.

Just play before you pay. If you only have a few C notes and really want a Fender, get the MIM, or if you have a G or two get the MIA. Just have fun.

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

Black sucks. It's technically not even a color. This is a ridiculous observation.