As long as the wood your getting is fairly good the Mexican Strats are good. Wood is crucial to guitar tone. Everything else can be upgraded.

A Mexican Classic Player's Strat sells for over $1000.
A Mexican Classic 50's or 60's Strat sells for about $749.
A Mexican Road Worn Strat sells for $949.
A Mexican Standard Strat sells for about $499.

So if it's a genuine Fender and you like it I think it would be a good deal financially that is.

So what you want is a Fender. That's good. I know the last thing you want to hear is something about a Squire but...

My Highway 1 Stratocaster is a 2 piece Alder body and sounds great. Alnico III pick-ups, big beefy bridge for sustain, and Greasebucket circutry. (I did throw a Dimarzio SD in the bridge today and its smoking hot now.)

My Squier CV 60 is a 3 piece Alder body that also sounds great. It has Alnico V pickups. The bridge is not as beefy but it still has plenty of sustain. The sound closely resembles an older Stratocaster from the early 70's or late 60's. This guitar was bought as a backup to my HWY 1 and almost became my #1 guitar, because before this last mod to my HWY 1 I could barely tell the diffferene in the tone between the two.

Not all Squiers are made from Alder, but the higher end models are, some are made from Basswood, others are made from Agathis. If what you are looking for is tone, do me and yourself a favor, play the Classic Vibe 50 and 60 Stratocaster. Also play the MIM Standard and see which one sounds better. I went out that day to buy a MIM Standard and I ended up choosing the CV 60 over the MIM Standard.

Do not get me wrong, if you have the cash for a MIA Fender guitar, definately buy one. I would not even entertain the idea of a Squier. If you are a little more budget conscious, look around for a good higher end Squier or a lower end Fender. You can always modify it later to suit your needs. Most of all I hope you find the perfect guitar for you, good luck.

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

Squire bodies are (or were not sure about now) smaller than strat bodies. If your doing the pawnshop thing you need to take someone knowledgable with you. As pawnshops are a prime outlet for fakes, they care and know less than most other shops. Dont buy online. Online stores are the death of the traditional music store that you run to when you need valves on 27th of december (happened to me) for a gig that night, or strings in a pinch. Carry on buying online and that priveledge will end up gone forever. All for the sake of saving $10-$20 on a new guitar, seems like a ripoff deal to me.

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There are a lot of brick-'n'-mortar shops with an online presence, though... I like to support those ones. There have been a couple of times when I've benefited from my local store's eBay buy-it-now section — I can make a purchase and pick it up on the way home from work, for a bit less than retail if I'm lucky (some items have "...or best offer" appended). Not the same thing, I know, but just throwing it out there.

Funnily enough, valves constitute the bulk of my online purchases... you definitely need a physical store for situations like nikininja's scenario mentioned above, but I've found the guys who sell NOS and just plain Old valves over the net to be a pleasure to deal with. Prices are usually very good (unless you insist on Telefunken or Mullard or something like that), and if you tell them what you want them for they often throw in a couple of extras for fun. I've also had extras put in after the seller re-tested and decided that one was a bit marginal. Anyway, sorry about the derail... as you were...

Could be hitting a goldmine of mullards soon localy for very much the right money.

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Can anyone tell me more about the MIM Strat with the satin/matte black finish I mentioned in the previous post? It had a rosewood neck and an aluminum pick gaurd. I don't remember for sure what era the the headstock was from. but I think it was the 70s era.The more I think about it the more I think I want to pick her up (maybe today)

The salesman said he thought it was a California Special. Can anyone tell me more about that model?

I really like the flat black finish! Alot! What models came with the flat/satin type finish? I was trying to find out on this site but I can only find good info on the current models offered. Not past years models. Other then the serial numbers.

I'm going to get the Serial number today and check it out to see what year she was born.

any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated!!!

I will be heading over to check her out on my lunch break in a couple of hours. So I'm hoping I can narrow down what model she is before then. (cuase I might just take her home then)

This silky satin black guitar is kind of like the extremely beautifull woman you saw at the end of the bar at the club the other night, but never got up and talked to. I just cant stop thinking about this guitar. Wanting to know more about what exactly she is and where it she came from.


(did I just get bit by the strat collectors bug? God I hope not! Life will never be the same)

Never heard of a california special, california series guitars were MIA and not to my knowledge made with 70's headstocks. Pickguards are often changed, I'd stay away from anything the salesman says he's not sure about or gives incorrect information on.

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Thanks for the help.

I just got back from checking it out in more detail. It is a 2002-2003 HSS model. With the huge 70's headstock that I can't stand.

I am looking for a Strat with three singles and not the huge head stock. So I think I'll pass. Brand new MIM are going for $444 at the local Guitar Centers now. So I think I'll hold out and get what I really want. Which is..

a Standard with three singles, maple neck and NOT the huge 70's headstock. Color I'm not sure about. The only thing I can not get on a new MIM Strat is the Flat or not shiney finish.

I know I can get what I want with the MIA Highway one series. But I don't llike the 70's head stock on them. So it looks like I'll get almost everything I am looking for with a new MIM except for the flat finish.

What does Fender call the finish that has NO shine to it? Thats the finish I am looking for.

The nitrocellulose of the highway ones is quite matt, but thats big headstock territory again. The only other sub $1k option is the roadworn which aren't to everyones tastes. Other than that its a Time machine series, a vintage reissue or a hotrod. All three are plenty'o'dough.

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If you need to buy your guitar online go for it. Best selection and prices. I buy everything online. Why? Because I live in an extremely small depressed area and there isn't anything where I live. The internet brings the world to your living room. Take advantage of it.

I can't bring myself to buy something I can't try out first. I have to make sure I like the way it sounds. I've tried a number of different strats and some I liked alot more then others. I wouldn't say that I ever tried a bad Strat. But I certantly have tried some that are much better then then the one sitting next to it for the same price.

I am a play-before-I-pay-type person myself. But if I lived 2-3 hours away from a quality store, then I would use the internet to purchace too.

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

The California Series (we called them Naftacasters) were a conglomeration of MIM and MIA's...parts and bodies made here, sent to Mexico to be assembled and painted. These were great guitars and the first to feature Tex Mex pu's. If you own a Jimmie Vaughan sig model...you own a California series.

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The mind is like a parachute; it doesn't work unless its open-FZ