I have recently decided to buy an MIM Strat. Is there anything I need to be leary about? Is a MIM Strat as good as the reviews say?

Hi, are you looking to buy new or used? If 'used', you might be more leary than if buying new due to some 'problems' that the seller might not disclose. Otherwise, a new MIM Strat is a fine investment! I've owned many a Strat over the last 13 years including MIM and American's and currently have a 07 MIM Strat HSS. I got it used off of Ebay for about half price and love it alot!

My advice is to go to your local music stores and try several out to see what you like and don't like about them. They are all very different!

SL~61'

I've been buying Fender guitars since 1964 and I bought a new 06' MIM Stat and it's 100% Strat vibe, feel, and tone.

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Classic Series 60's Stratocaster sunburst/ rosewood
G & L Broadcaster black w/maple
Fender Pre-CBS silver face tube Princeton Reverb
Fender silver face tube Champ

Thanks for the responses. I m definitely going to go with the MIM. I wish I could afford an American Standard

I have 2 MIM Strats an 00 and a new Jimmie Vaughn and I love both,they feel,look and play great.I tried out several Strats when I bought the JV and some were more than double the price MIAs and MIJs but the JV to me was the best suited from what I look for in a Strat.AN MIM Strat would be a great choice but just one caveat,some of the older MIMs didn't go through a very rigid QC process and quality wasn't consistant so check out any older ones carefully.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Personally, I would look for an older one if your buying used. I've owned 3 MIM strats, and the 95 was my fav of the bunch, with the 06 being the least fav. Make sure to play several before you buy, and pick the one that plays and sounds the best, regardless of year.

For me, the main difference between a MIM Standard Strat and a MIA Standard Strat (quality and hardware aside) is the slightly wider nut width on the MIA (and some MIM Deluxe models). I felt comfortable playing a MIM Strat back in the late 90s, but I've had a MIA Strat since then and still am not completely comfortable with the wider nut width. Some people don't even notice it, but to me it was (and still is) a huge difference in the way it feels when I play chords near the nut.

i purchased a new mim hss strat last december- a christmas gift to myself i have been playing for almost 50 years. i have no problems. i love the sound, the frets are fine, it's easy to play.

i was able to get it for 449 at guitar center. i was lookink for a good guitar under 500.00, and i couldn't be happier

The pre-06 are sweet, too. If you get one, just get the newer trem block for it (it changes out with only three screws). You can get them cheap off eBay.

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