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Post subject: Strato mexico
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:49 am
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Hi everyone I'm from Brazil and I just bought a Fender standart made in Mexico and I'd like to know if theres a big diference between the american and mexican Strato since I had played in both and didnt notice diferences.


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Post subject: Re: Strato mexico
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:11 am
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Gabriel_Akio wrote:
Hi everyone I'm from Brazil and I just bought a Fender standart made in Mexico and I'd like to know if theres a big diference between the american and mexican Strato since I had played in both and didnt notice diferences.




Was in a guitar center debating the same thing.The one big difference i first noticed was string spacing is different.I must admit though the 4 or 5 mim strats i picked up felt so nice and well made.I remember the old mim strats really sucked.But the new ones seem to have solid bodies and not plywood.They are really nice for the money.The other one i was a little dissapionted with was the highway one.For a couple hundred more its just a mexican strat with a usa sticker.I think when i buy im going to do it right and just buy an american standard.I just think there are holy grail of guitars.Just my thoughts


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:01 pm
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To my knowledge, mex. strats have never been plywood.

At least they haven't as far back as 2000.


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:23 pm
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Hi Brazil!
The Mexican Strats have a different string spacing that the American ones. They have a "Vintage" bridge which isn't as nice as the ones on the American Standards. The type of wire used to connect the electronics is not of the same gauge and quality as that used in the US Strats (I've dont a number of re-wires for friends that bought MIM Strats and Teles. Sometimes the fit and finish isn't quite as nice either, but that has improved over the years.

Lets be honest guys, thee Mexican made guitars sound and play fine, but Fender is NOT going to make their "off shore" instruments to an equal or higher quality standard than their US made models. It just isn't good business because if the MIM's were equal to their USA made counterparts no one would buy the more expensive American made guitars.

Better wood, better electronics, tighter production tolerances.


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:43 pm
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mthorn00 wrote:
if the MIM's were equal to their USA made counterparts no one would buy the more expensive American made guitars.


That's what you think.

Let's say the mexicans were just as good, that would make their price jump up to that of the Americans price. So you see two strats, one mexican, one american, they both are sporting $1,000 dollar price tags (just for an example), their equal in every way, people would still buy the american model. That's just the way it is.


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:27 pm
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I beg to differ my friend!
Besides superior and therefore more costly materials, another reason that the US instruments cost more is because they are built by more expensive American labor (Union labor ain't cheap).

Now if Fender used the exact same parts, from the same suppliers, as on the US made models but assembled them in Mexico the guitars would be just as good BUT COST LESS TO MAKE. Ths savings could then be passed on in the price of the Mexican instrument.

If the two instruments were identical in every way but price. I still think that most people would purchase the less expensive guitar because it's good economics.

We'll never know for sure though.


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:10 pm
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Todo Bem.

I have 2-Mexican Made Strats and 2-American Made Strats. They all Play great. My goto guitar is my 50th Anniversary American Standard, the neck is outstanding on that guitar. However my next favorite guitar in my arsenal is my 70's Strat MIM. I have replaced the pickguard and eletronics and installed stacked humbucking DiMarzio pickups.

In replacing the electronics I did notice that there is far less sheilding on the bottom of the pickguard of the Mexican models than on the American Standards. And of course there is the "Vintage-Style Tremolo" on the Mexicans which some of my friends actually prefer to the current 2-point Tremolos on the American Standards (Personally I don't have a preference).

I look at the difference as the American guitars have a better chance of becoming "Collectible" and gaining value over time. The Mexican's will probably never become valuable over time but they are great player guitars. And I have fun modifying and Hod-Rodding the Mexican's.


Tchau,
John

_________________
50th Anniversary AM Stratocaster
70's Stratocaster
95 TexMex Stratocaster (w/EMG's)
89 HM Strat
MusicMan Axis Sport
Gibson SG Standard
Takamine "Lawsuit" Acoustic (Martin copy)
Fender 12 String Acoustic
Guild Pilot Bass


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:02 pm
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If you can't hear the difference between an average American Standard Strat and an average Mexican Strat, then you have tin ears :-)

It's the electronics.


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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:05 pm
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mthorn00 wrote:
Now if Fender used the exact same parts, from the same suppliers, as on the US made models but assembled them in Mexico the guitars would be just as good BUT COST LESS TO MAKE. Ths savings could then be passed on in the price of the Mexican instrument.

If the two instruments were identical in every way but price. I still think that most people would purchase the less expensive guitar because it's good economics.

We'll never know for sure though.


But what you don't know is, that's exactly what Fender does, the mexican necks are made in america and then their sent to mexico for assembly (and relabeling of course or however they do it). Unless this has changed in the past few years they should still do this. This is something that can't be said for china, korea etc., Fenders.

Think about it, it's a lot easier (and cheaper) to send something from California to Ensenada, Mexico, than it is to send it to Asia (or wherever it is over there their making guitars this year, hehe)

Good economics??? That went out the window a long time ago. I think I can speak for most people when I say that most of the time people will buy American regardless, "especially" when it comes to guitars.

For all we know, American Fenders could have mexican made parts, but if they do, I think that's a secret Fender will always keep to theirself.


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