Yesterday, I went to get new tires for the wife's car, and GC was right across the street, so I thought I would go check out some strats for 2 reasons:

1. Check the factory setups as I have been continuously tweaking mine and wanted a point of reference

2. I wanted to check out some MIM strats to compare, since its such a heated debate here about the MIA vs MIM.

The good news is that after playing several strats, I realize that I bought the right strat (not that I had any doubts)...I left as happy as ever with my 08 AM STD, even after playing several 09's. I don't know why, but the tint on my 08's neck seems darker and richer than the 09's I played and the body seemed to have a deeper finish on it. Overall the same guitar, but something just seemed richer about my 08...maybe a bias, but the 09's seemed great, just some slight finish differences, which surprized me as I thought they would be the same. Also, I found that my set up skills were pretty good, as I liked my setup better than any of the factory setups.

Not to fuel the MIM vs. MIA arguement but man there is some definite quality differences. Now, I did not plug in when playing, but there is so much more attention given to the necks on a MIA. Everyone of the MIM guitars I picked up, all of them and I picked up several, felt very rough on the fret ends. In fact, my son has X series Washburn, and I swear the fret work is better, and I paid $100 for that guitar new. I am not saying its a better guitar, but it seems as quality in this area. So to me, after comparing the quality of my MIA strat and my ESP, the MIM feels and looks like a student to mid tier quality instrument in comparison. In fact, I was thinking these arguments should be Squire vs. MIM strat, because I believe they are closer in quality than a MIM vs MIA. I know I will get slaughtered for this, so flame away, but it is the way I see it.

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

nothing wrong with your opinion man, personally I think the older MIJ Strats that I have played were just as good the current AM Stds and lightyears better than a MIM Strat.

The good thing is, you left knowing you bought the right guitar for you and you can't put a pricetag or location where it was made on that!

I never had the pleasure of playing a MIJ, but my ESP is made in Japan, and its quality is superb

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

I'll have to agree with this, I just bought a 84 MIJ strat. I was willing to spend enough to buy a MIA, but the quality of the early-mid 80s strats is fabulous.

I can notice differences between my MIM and my MIA. I really, really want to try out a MIJ to see how that sounds.

I feel like I'm missing out. :/

I've got a MIM Classic Player '60s built in 07 and the fret ends are perfectly finished. So I don't know what to think.

congrats on having picked out the right strat for you.

I myself have a 2008 Am. Deluxe strat, 2008 Am. Std. Strat, and a2004 Std. Strat (MIM) ....my hands are funny....if i change guitars i have to work hard at playing a different one....but for some reason all 3 of my strats feel close to the same....i can tell the difference between the MIM and the MIA, but not enough to really make a difference.

I have a standard Stratocaster and I'm very happy with it. I've had no problems with it and was really impressed by the great quality, plus I got it for a very reasonable cost. I too am glad that I made the purchase

I have an American standard strat, and a MIM tele, and both have very nice tinted necks and very smooth fret ends. I did have to climb ladders at the local guitar center, trying out a half dozen or so MIM tele's before i found a gem, but at least they are there. And the good news is, this year's models of the MIM's are advertised as having some improvements like tinted necks etc., and my 2009 is improved over all the 08's i tried out. The MIM tele does have some fret buzz, compared to the American strat's having none, but the action is equally sweet on both guitars. I did see that some of the components on the strat are superior to the tele's, I.E, the stainless steel saddles, the head stock's roller string retainer, body finish quality, dual truss rods, strap lock ready strap buttons to name a few, on the American build axe. The American product is a better guitar, there is no debate that can discredit the obvious. Still, i love my MIM tele too, it's a keeper in my book.

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I believe in Christianity as i believe that the sun has risen. not only because i see it, but because by it, i see everything else. C.S. Lewis

An interesting fact that many don't know is that many of the necks on the Fender MIJ guitars from the 80's and 90's were made by a company named Atlansia for FujiGen Gakki until Dyna Tokia took over making Fender MIJ in 97.
Face it if you get a Tokia or a Greco or FujiGen Strat you have a MIJ Strat.

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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

Dude the quality of my Squire Bullet is light years better than ANY Custom Shop piece of garbage out there!!!!
Sorry, had to say it!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously tho........
There is no way a $500 MIM Strat can compare to a $1,200 MIA Strat in terms of refinement and details, so you are correct in referring to a MIM Strat as "mid tier", cause that is what it is meant to be!! I too have seen some MIM Strats that have poor fret detailing. I did not buy those ones. The ones that did have some really fine neck detailing, I did buy. I also own a 1987 MIJ Squire E series Strat that has a really fine feeling neck. I know machines make a large part of production guitars, but some stuff is still done by hand. And things done by hand vary from one to another.
That is why I will not buy a guitar I have not played, it is too much of a gamble for me. I would rather hold it in my hands and play it before laying down my $$$. But that is just me.....

Unbelievable... You have just sumed up the answer to the whole MIM vs MIA debate I couldn't have said it better myself.

To make it fair guys, I think MIM should really be compared to MIJ/CIJ

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Congrats on knowing you purchased the right guitar for you.

Having owned and still own several MIM's, I have not really noticed any fret finish problems. I do notice a few fitment (very minor) issues ocassionally and never the same issue (usually involving the output jack or the trem arm tip). I will always be a firm believer that MIA, MIM, MIJ and Squier comparisons are like Mustang, Thunderbird, Crown Victoria and Focus comparisons, not truely accurate as same brand, differant models. (Sorry GM and Chrysler fans.).

I also have always been a firm believer that the MIM's are the closest thing to 70's model Strats and Teles you can get including the reissues without getting a 70's model instrument.

In no way is this an argument or flaming response, just getting my two cents worth in.

It's all a matter of personal preference, budget, and the luck of the draw, in my opinion.

You might have a really generous budget, and still have trouble finding the strat that's just right for you, or you may have a very limited amount to spend, and get a really great playing guitar at a bargain price.

I've been in both those situations over the years, and walking into the right guitar shop on the right day can have a lot to do with it.

I also don't care so much where a guitar is made, just how well it's made. I've played MIA and MIM strats that I've liked, and ones I've disliked, for different reasons.

Just my two-cents worth.

I really enjoy getting so much information on debates such as MIM Fender guitars verses MIA Fenders. It helps me to develop an educated opinion of the subject at hand, rather than basing my opinion on my personal experience alone. So thanks a lot everyone who takes the time to share your experiences. I have already been learning more in this forum in a few days, than i have in all the years i have looked into all things Fender.

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I believe in Christianity as i believe that the sun has risen. not only because i see it, but because by it, i see everything else. C.S. Lewis