What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Why?

http://theguitarist.wordpress.com/2008/ ... atocaster/

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

I think he is accurate on a lot of things. Reads like a well thought out review.

I just happened to stumble on this one.....It does seem well thought out.....I own a MIM and I am very happy with it and she will always be "My First" BUT if I ever get my hands on some decents buckaroos, my only decision is EC sig model or JM sig model.....LOL

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

My first was a MIM too, and it's been great. I still play it, even though I now have an American standard and a Les Paul.

whats kinda freaky with mine is that when my Grandmother passed away, a week or so later I woke up with a burning desire to get a guitar so I got the guitar and recently when I contacted fender about a particular spec they happened to mention in that the final assembly was on July 30th, 2008.....My Grandmother passed away on July 15, 2008....so needless to say this guitar will be with me forever

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

It is like deciding on a girlfriend....Premium body from great stock...good tuners...not too loud.....really nice pickups.....LOL

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

Intersting. I own an MIM too. Looking at 2-3 American Standards that are on clearance at a local music store. I like my MIM just fine though.

I own a MIM crafted in UK model had to get that in sorry

I'd question the Ash more dense than mahogany statement. I honestly dont know and have never been interested enough to learn. I want to play the thing. Not ponder it's origins.

Also the repeated use of the word POLY.

Poly what? Urethane or ester? Fender use both. Ceri pulled me up on that in my early days. After a certain period of bemusement I sussed what he was saying. It leads me to ask any Nitro snob, "can you hear the difference between urethane and polyester. Their both very different finishes. Statements like POLY clings to the wood and impairs resonance make me want to ask the maker of the statement to prove it. I don't believe it one jot.

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No no and no

I was in the shop last month and my friend Mike had just put in new pups on the guy Eddie that works for him on his MIM Strat and it was the first time I ever checked one out. It was White with a rosewood board and I have to say it was a hell of a guitar.

For the price, the MIM Standard is a great intermediate-level guitar. It is the bare bones of what Strats are supposd to be. They are easy to build upon too. As I was reading this review, it seemed to me that this reviewer was a little biased about certain features. Although I also believe Ash and Mohagony are better woods, he seemed to totally dis the Alder wood. I think this is a great wood, a lot better than Basewood or Agathis in my opinion.

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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

Yes I agree the standard Strat is a super guitar and I love mine. Low price, great sound and look, and feels comfortable when I play. (attempt to play)

$294 brand new at GC last year. Yeah I'm smilin!

Rock on!

-Tagg

I disagree with several of the guy's wood statements and think that he is making an issue out of a non-issue in terms of neck pocket paint thickness. And like I've always said, with a solid body, the type of finish is oftentimes given way too much credit for tonality where a tweak of the amp can change that right quick to where it sounds like a different type of finish.

I agree with him that it is a most functional instrument where overall, it is, "fine". Surely, isn't this what we all want, a finely made, fine playing instrument? Like he said too (paraphrased), if a part fails, replace it and carry on.

I, for one could care less about collectability. I want to play and enjoy my guitars, not put them in some air tight case on my living room wall, reverently genuflecting to them each time I pass and at the same time, speculating their potential in future worth. Rather, I consider my guitars tools for expressing positive emotions, creativity and so on while at the same time being pressure valve tools for pent up negative emotions and so on.

I still say that the MIMs are the closest to vintage Strats without having to delve into the realm of the 'pedigree' models. Sure, if you can afford it, more power to you. Notwithstanding, mine looks, sounds and plays great. Granted, I changed the pickups (and output jack) but how many others change the pickups in their MIA models too, when they have a specific tonality in mind?

As always, this is IMO where YMMV.

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You dig?

"If you’re going to buy something called a Strat, you might as well keep it a strat with a maple board."

He is obviously an abor racist!

[The more things change, the more they remain the same.

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"Another day in paradise!"

We've already been down this road way back with some of the details and visual tour of the Ensenada factory. I remember, in particular, attention being paid as to the number of pieces in the MIM bodies. I particularly agee with the observation on the trem mass block.

I owned a Polka Dot Buddy Guy which was fitted with a really nice satin finish V-neck in natural maple. The JV guitar is also similarly endowed. Both feel great and play well. I swapped out the stock pups for a set of DiMarzios. Vintage Blues at the neck and middle, Heavy's at the bridge. First year they were marketed. The guitar needed those for protection against 60 cycle. If I wanted closer to the Guy guitar I could have gone to a set of EMG SA's in black, with the EXP and SPC pots, and dropped the battery into the trem cavity and had a great player I'm sure.

This is offered in the light of an article in the current issue of Premier Guitar which deals with just the question posted by Trauma. You can probably access it on line. You'll be interested in the pickup choice of the writer.

As said elsewhere, I have the experience of picking up a Standard Stratocaster with a $399 price tag and being impressed with it's balance and feel. With a few tweeks, you've got yourself a journeyman's axe.

Doc

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"Another day in paradise!"