hey guys, ive been talking to a few friends and a salesman about a new guitar, ive been playing acoustic for about 6 months now and am really keen on it...i listen to alot of nirvana, blink 182, heatmiser, elliott smith....

ive been told to look at the mexican standard startocaster 09 model its around my price range (lowest ive seen it for is around $890, any tips where to pick them up cheap?)

any tips, comments, possitives or negatives about them and looking for my first electric?

a mim strat is a fine guitar. make sure you play several before you decide on one. i would suggest playing them unplugged first for a while. if the guitar sounds good unplugged it should sound great plugged in. with my made in mexican strat i play it unplugged sometimes late at night and my wife is in the other room with the door closed and she can usually still hear it...and i am not even playing agressively. and no our walls are not paper thin.

as pbassbob said you should be able to get a mim strat for around $500.00 or less.

then get the best amp that you can afford with the money you have left over.

also, once you get the strat don't forget to keep playing the acoustic alot.

good luck.

Welcome!

Repeat after me:

"I must get a Fender Strat, all else is inconsequential."
"I must get a Fender Strat, all else is inconsequential."
"I must get a Fender Strat, all else is inconsequential."
"I must get a Fender Strat, all else is inconsequential."
"I must get a Fender Strat, all else is inconsequential."
"I must get a Fender Strat, all else is inconsequential."
"I must get a Fender Strat, all else is inconsequential."

Now choose wisely!!

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08 Fender Highway One Tele-Sunburst
09 Squier Custom Tele II-Blonde
04 Squier Standard Strat Antiqueburst
07 Washburn D10SCE natural with Rosewood backing
Fender Mustang II amp


Experience is the best teacher

_________________
08 Fender Highway One Tele-Sunburst
09 Squier Custom Tele II-Blonde
04 Squier Standard Strat Antiqueburst
07 Washburn D10SCE natural with Rosewood backing
Fender Mustang II amp


Experience is the best teacher

I bought a 2009 MIM Standard Strat yesterday for around $600 and am selling my 2009 MIA Standard because I prefer the overall vintage feel of the MIM. In particular, it has a lovely neck. Most people go the other way... start with a Mex and aspire to a US, but that's how good I think this new MIM Standard is.

To me, I think the neck is the most important part of the guitar because its the part that we have the most interaction with.I have 2 Americans and I know the modern C isnt everyones cup of tea.If a mexi works for you , thats the important thing.Nice guitars,enjoy.

thanks heaps for your reply guys, i really should have mentioned im in australia. To be honest like i said i have only been playing guitar for around 6 months on an acoustic and unfortunatly its not a fender hehe..

when you say the MIM version is that the mexican?

this is the place where i am looking to buy and this is the model
http://www.shiremusic.com.au/site/index ... code=10124

is that a decent price or shocking lol? someone said before the mexican standard comes with a gig bag as does this guitar but its around $400 more then you guys are saying.

thanks a ton for your help.

MIM means, "Made in Mexico".

Australian Dollars and US Dollars are different. Naturally, we were speaking of US Dollars. I don't know the conversion but I believe it takes more Australian Dollars to equal US Dollars so that price appears right.

Nice choice!!!

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hehe yea thanks man, so that model in the link was the mexican? any chance of knowing how much a MIA costs, do you think its worth spending the bit extra for the american... gah im so confused heheheeh, also being a lefty doesnt help, prices normally get bumped up another $50!

Yes, it was the MIM.

An American (MIA) costs roughly double.

Careful, you'll open up a whole can of worms with the MIM worth vs the MIA (Made in America) worth question as this is always a HOT point of contention here and in many circles! LOL

I'll say this objectively: As you are for the most part, still starting out, coupled by the fact that you are left handed, I'd go with the MIM for now. It is a "no frills" yet very, very nice more basic version of a Strat in comparison to a MIA which has many more frills and details. Plus you would be intrinsically paying a good chunk more for a MIA simply because it is made in America vs somewhere else.

As a matter of fact, I use a MIM as my #1 Strat after 42 years of playing and owning Strats, all as my #1 choice of guitars. Yes, I like it better over the MIAs as it has a more vintage feel to it. To give you a balanced presentation though, MANY here will readily agree with me and MANY more here will readily say those in my camp are crazy.

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haha thanks alot for taking your time to help mate. Ill stick with the MIM and see how it feels in the shop.

Anytime!

Good luck!!

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Since you're in aussie I would go after a made in japan model. They make good quality instruments that would be similar in cost to a MIM.

why do u think go a $@! model? are they better in any certin way?