Fender has recently upgraded the MIM Standards with tinted maple necks and a CBS-era logo. Also, many but not all of the new MIMs had an HSH pickup routing. The MIM Standard series really deserves a 22-fret neck to approach the quality of the American, Korean and Japanese models.

Ehhh....Whatever. If I want that extra fret I will have to save up and get a more expensive Strat. IMHO I think for $499.00 what you get on the MIM Strat is quite a good deal. ( I own one ) Did anyone notice on Musiciansfriend they have The HSS model ( MIM )in two new colors? Orange flake and Rootbeer Flake I belive.

Why, I dont use that fret on my american made guitars. I just think its a ugly waste of timber that makes your pickguard hard to remove. Anyway the most expensive productionline strats have 21frets, and 6point trems too.

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No no and no

Not sure why it is ugly ... . Never considered a fret ugly.

I rarely use my 22nd fret. But I would hate to be limited to 21. Then I can never use a 22nd fret.

With 22 you can choose not to use it, with 21 1 the choice is made for you.

It's all about flexability.

Either way, the MIM fenders are great guitars at a great price.

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... and the cradle will rock !

Now there's a bold statement The purpose for that last fret is that you can bend up a full tone to complete an octave.

It does not necesarily mean that the quality is inferior to the identical japanese models.

I will say however, MIJ's are now doing the re-issues with more attention to detail than mim. They are now offering Nitro finishes to the line, american pickups and more period/year model options- something that the mexican plant I doubt will do anytime soon. They are also cheaper than mim- so I say you would get more value vs. qualityfrom CIJ/MIJ over an AVRI strat anyday. Corona or Ensenada just cannot compete on that level for the same price at all.

Which is one of the many reasons why (apart from the ownership in Japan) you will never have the opportunity to buy one brand new with warranty from a retailer outside of japan and certain European countries.

I still however- prefer to play my mim over my american models, I just feel that they are a winner in my books. Im probably one of a few on this forum that can look past the "Made in USA" next to the serial number, and see the guitar for what it really is- which is a darned honest instrument which represents not only value, but quality and workmanship for an price that is within reach of the average punter. My black MIM is actually my #1, which over the others says a lot. Not to discredit the other guitars I have, they are all great instruments in their own right

It comes down to whether or not you are going to pay (in my country, an extra $1400) for an extra fret, if that is what you need in a guitar, or to justify the 'percieved quality' in your purchase

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It's far too near the neck pickup, it doesnt look right.

compare.




To



It's certainly a ugly idea to have to remove the neck everytime you want to get to the control cavity. Even the contoured heel of the deluxe doesnt improve access up to the 21st much at all. Never mind that 22nd thats hanging over the body.

22frets isnt a cost issue either. The most expensive productionline guitars are both 21fret.

I'm just a stuck in my ways traditionalist

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No no and no

I like that 22nd fret for hammer-ons with yer pinky while playing in the upper register in key of A.

The 21 frets are cool too, you can bend that 21st to hit the sky.

Playing slide you can go past the fretboard.

It's all good, just whatever one prefers, IMO.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

it is the 21 frets & 6 screw vintage tremolo bridge
that makes me prefer MIM
and not wanting American Standard
MIM are more similiar to the first Strat Leo Fender ever built

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