I guess Fender has thier spec sheets and pricing policy all wrong. The MIM should be what we all strive for! For the record I do think that they are worth what Fender charges for them. What I can't understand is this insistent need of MIM owners to convince everyone that the MIM is "better than a American Standard" The first thing they do is obsess about how to mod it. Sometimes even before they take possession of the guitar. When finished modding the only thing left original is the body. Why not just buy a body and build the rest of the guitar to your specs.
Please don't take offense as this is just my lowly opinion. Now I'll duck and let the bashing begin.
Peace brother/sister!

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Why'd you have to go raking in the poo hop?

I'm sorry! I take it back if all will get along!

Well I'm with ya Hop. All for judging a guitar not on it's origins, but on the content of its character.

Now, that make sense! Thanks!

+1

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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

sure they`re !!!! i just cant live without mine

Okay - I played two MIM strats today, and they weren't for me. That's not a put-down directed at anyone who does like them, just my personal opinion. They do represent excellent value for money, but they just weren't what I was looking for.

I managed to find a shop that had a 2006 Highway 1, still brand new, in the Midnight Wine finish. They're the closest Fender dealer to my house, and yet I hadn't been in there for over two years! D'oh!

Once I'd played it, I knew it was what I was after. In all honesty, if I'd had enough money to spend, I'd have got an American Standard, but those are almost two grand here, and there's a price rise coming according to the guy who owns the place! This H1 was $1300.00 (AUD), but the new H1's are going to be $1800.00 (AUD)! Yikes!

This one even has the 60th anniversary badge on the back of the headstock, which is a cool little detail. I'd have to say that the quality of the neck, the feel of it, was far beyond that of the MIM, in my opinion. Also, the pickups had that bite that I wanted; the MIM's pups were a little less "stratty" to my ears.

Just wanted to thank Hiker for suggesting the older model H1 - best online advice I've ever gotten from anybody! Many thanks!

Personally i don't give a Rats a##..Were a guitar is made...Here is a few i own 1968 Stratocatser Made U.S..A....1989 Strat ultra made in U.S.A..95 Floyd Rose Stratocaster with micro tilt MIM..1993 Squier Stratocaster MIJ...1978 Stratocaster U.S.A...1981 G&L SC-1 U.S.A...2007-2008 Fat Strat MIM...Ibanez ART 300 China...Each and everyone of these guitar sounds and plays excellent otherwise i would not own them ..Because one is made in China and one in Japan or Mexico doesn't make them a good or bad guitar what makes them a good are bad guitar is the way they play the way they sound and the ability for the instrument to stay in one piece always helps..

With that said im all for supporting American made products ..So if i could afford to always buy American i would ..I'm more like this on Cars and Motorcycles then guitars though as i would never own a Japanese motorcycle but i have no problems owning a Japanese guitar so i'm a hypocrite..Shoot me

Which MIM Strat sounds the best in your opinion.

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Greg
Larrivee L-03R Acoustic
Fender American Strat
Fender Blacktop Tele
Fender Mustang II Amp
May you be dead a half hour before the devil knows you're dead!

IMO, straight off the wall/box the Lone Star Strat is the best sounding MIM.

http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0139410380

Play many models and see for yourself.


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

I have to agree with the previous poster i think the lonestar Strat with the Pearly gate humbucker and two single Texas specials off the rack is the best sounding of the MIM's ...The the 50's road worn Strat is a close second

But at 949 it isnt really a close second , is it?

You are most defiantly right about that..