I've got a beautiful Mexican Robert Cray neck. Very high quality worksmanship. I thought I read that the Mexican Strat bodies are made in Mexico but the necks are made in the States and sent to Mexico for finishing. Is this correct?

http://reviews.photoweborama.com/allthi ... rbody.html Caption next to the 6th picture down

And

http://www.guitarstop.com/tour/indexT.htm Third paragraph.

Don't know how old those are and how accurate they are at this time, but that's the only information I've seen presented on it aside from speculation.

That is from 2003 tour here is a 2006 tour that has many photos the first half are from in the Mexico plant. It looks like they get neck blanks and make there own. The 15th 16th row down you will see necks being made in what is said to be Mexico futher down towards the bottom they show US. plant making necks.
http://picasaweb.google.com/meridianmus ... yTour2006#

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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

And there you have it. I thought it may have changed since they've been moving more and more to the Ensenada plant. Mostly from overseas, but still.

And now I know where the picture of the multi-piece blanks came from too. Very cool. Worth mentioning that the plants are always exceptionally clean looking too. I've seen some pics from other plants that were not too attractive.

Generally speaking I would not be surprised if some mexican fender strats had american necks. I know they source thier wood from the same warehouse. From all I can tell the mexican strats are well built guitars with fairly decent necks. The problems with mexicans always seem to be the inferior electronics or hardware of the standards. Something that vanishes when you get to the higher end mexicans, especially the classic players and deluxe players.

Things I've learned from photography class is that pictures sometimes does not tell you the truth or give the whole story as you see what the photographer wants you to see It may look clean from the photos, but once the photographer is gone, it maybe a different story.

Just like when someone is selling thier home. The person maybe a slob, but when the realtor informs him/her that a prospect buyer is coming to see the house, you can bet he/she will make that house spotless.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/gmlasam

And how do you no they source there wood from the same warehouse? I believe Mike from fender told us the use several suppliers of wood which is a common practice. Wood is sold and priced as a commodity. Most times it is sold and bid on by grade as well.

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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

This Robert Cray neck I have is equal to any American neck for sure. The varnish is pristine. And the frets feel smooth. Very high quality.

The first time I took the Fender tour ,in 08, all the necks were made in Corona ,it has'nt been until recently that the Mex plant has started machining their own necks

Gratz could that be part of the wood grade filter proccess that Mr Eldred mentioned. Surely the wood would (woodwood) be easier to grade based on the basic neck blank cut than it would a slab of maple. Can you can look at a piece of maple think oh yeah thats A flame. Cut it and it turns out to nearer normal grain pattern?

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No no and no

Huh? The pictures of the Ensenada factory from mid-2006 very clearly show necks being produced: blanks being turned into guitar necks.

I have long thought that the necks were the best part of MIM guitars (and Squiers too for that matter).

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I guys , I was given the tour by Steve Groom, He was the marketing guy at Fender at the time ,thats where I heard all necks were made in Corona , and it had to do with the machine they use being one of a kind.
I may be mistakin and I am going to see Big Tex and the Blazin Pintos this weekend, all the guys work at Fender and Guit player is a good friend so hopefully I can get a definite answer thanks BSG