A pickup swap isn't necessary with all MIM Fenders as many incorrectly believe.My '00 MIM Strat has a killer tone and I can pretty well nail the Hendrix vibe/tone with the stock pickups.Although they may not have the output of the MIA pups kicking up the volume of the amp compensates for that.My '06 Tele also has great stock pups.Best of all is the Jimmie Vaughn with the Tex Mex pups she has all the cool sparkle,quack and spank of an L series Strat,she sounds very very much like my old '65 Strat.The best bet for anyone is to spend some time becoming accustomed to the pickups and giving them a fair objective audition.

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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.

They both sound the same. What I do is use different string qauges for a little difference in sound.

I enjoy them both however, MIA Strats have a better build quality, electronics and hardware. I have noticed that many MIM's lack integrity in numerous ways yet, I have stumbled upon a few good MIM instruments...The costs of MIM Stratocasters are great and close in comparison. You can't go wrong but I will stick with MIA Stratocaster.

Buy what you can comfortably afford and have fun!

I've seen posts from folks who have Squires and folks who have CS, both asking about changing this pickup or that nut...so in the end it's all about what "You" think sounds right not anyone else on this forum.

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

I've spent the last two years buying Strats off eBay in search of the perfect one(s). I've bought US and Mex and my 2¢ is. . .

The mex and US bodies are so close in quality of finish that I simply wouldn't buy a US body over a Mex one. There are those who can tell a difference in tone from the type of wood the body is made up of (poplar or ash), I can't. Maybe in a few years when my ear is trained better on the strat sound, but for now it's a toss-up.

One thing I have noticed is how fragile my US sunburst bod is. I have three small dents just from my screwdriver slipping from my fingers. Fender touts a thinner, breathable finish which I'd trade for a more durable one.

The mex vintage neck is at least equal in quality of fit and finish as any US neck. I don't miss the 22nd fret and the rolled edges are nice but not a deal breaker. The 50's vintage, with it's "V" back has become my all time favorite neck.

Bridges are a source of confusion for me, as 2 3/32, 2 1/16, 2 7/32 widths seemed to have been on both Mex and US Strats over the years and I've firmly settled on the 2 7/32 width as I do a lot of Knopfler style fingerpicking. The mex block is smaller than the US, but that's another area where I haven't learned to hear the difference. Still, I have full block GF vintage bridges on two of my partcasters.

MIM pickups, the ones with the bar magnets, are my least favorite. Dry and brittle, but maybe I didn't have them set up correctly. To me this is definitely where I go USA, either with Std Strat or Texas Specials. However I have a MIM Deluxe, MIM Powerhouse, and MIM 50's Vintage pickups that are all keepers.

Ultimately, I suppose it depends on what kind of buyer you are. If you plan on having only one guitar you'll keep for years, I'd buy a US Strat simply because it'll keep it's resale better. If you don't mind switching out your pickups or experimenting with different necks and bridges, I'd definitely buy a MIM Vintage model.

The differences are ememce. A lot of different options on both sides of the border. It's like a candy store for strat players. The diversity allows for all types of players and styles of music. You can choose what you want, and with the consistant design over the years, you can swap out parts and customize. IMO the MIA MIM are just two catagories for catagories of choices.

I wouldn't compare the differences as immense, far from it, We are really comparing two series of guitars of comparable models, but at different price points, one aimed at a more budget conscious consumer segment.
My two main strats are my Custom Shop 56 NOS and my MIM Deluxe Player strat.
Both have had extensive setup, the 56 needed new vintage tuners, (easy enough) however the MIM underwent a change of pups to Samarium Cobalt Noiseless and the deletion of the push/push switch, as well as a change of tuners from vintage to Sperzel staggered locking tuners.
Each strat has very different voices, the MIM is rather clean even at full on whereas the CS 56 is capable of smooth distortion at full on yet quite clear and bell-like when backed off the gain. By Gain I'm referring to Volume and tone knobs, no effects
That being said (written) the MIM pups are now in a new stratopartster with TBX tone and S1 volume switch. Body from an early standard with a rosewood neck, both in the process in the rebuilding/refinishing phase.

Choosing one particular strat over another is first a visual choice, then by feel and finally sound. However, with Fender, the latter can be easily modified by simple retrofits.
What could be better than that flexibility
Thank You Leo and company

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

I stand corrected, 53magnatone is correct, there are considerable differences in the 2 models of standards. My apologies, for misinformation and incorrect spelling.

+1!

Every one of my eleven Fender instruments would be considered a "custom" model since they've all been modded or rebuilt to some extent. Thankfully, I didn't need to pay "custom shop" prices for them since they're so easily to manipulate to one's personal specs.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY