Hi all, I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on a mexican deluxe players strat. I will most likely buy it online since no shops in my area have them in stock. I've owned a few MIM strats in the past but they were all second hand. I'm just curious to know how good the MIM's set ups usually come from the factory. I've never really had to set one up and I refuse to pay to have it done. I can set up and intonate a Les Paul with my eyes closed. I've even struggled through a 4 hour ordeal with a floyd equipt axe so I'd imagine a strat is somewhere in between. I noticed that Fender puts its recommendations for set up on the website. That will help alot!!! Any input would be appreciated.


Oh, and by set up I'm mainly talking about action and intonation. God help me if the frets needed to be dressed!!

the strat will also come with a booklet that tells how to set them up but the web site has more info. i don' use the tremelo i block mine like the e.c. strat is. i don't need the hassle. i had guitars with floyds when that whole scene was popular. then i grew up.

Caveat emptor.

From my experience with them, the action was high, the bridge setup does not parallel the neck radius, the neck is warped and they indeed had fret sprout.

In their defense though, this may be because they all were hanging in their respective stores for a while and admittedly, I never experienced one fresh out of the box, just having been received from the factory.

Again, this is based solely on my experience where YMMV.

_________________
You dig?

I love it!!!

_________________
You dig?

My second guitar had a floyd. It was great until I took all the strings off to clean the fretboard. I paid for that!!! It took several youtube tutorials, truss rod adjustments, homemade shims under the nut, etc... I had fun fooling around with it though. I actually learned alot.

Anyway, It sounds like I should expect some adjustments out of the box then...

Almost certainly. Since a guitar's set up is totally dependant on the players' style and personal taste, it is unlikely that the set up from the factory will be exactly as you want it, no matter what the model or cost.

They come out of the factory like most Fender Strats, extra light strings, that new guitar smell, and set up in their factory environment.

If you do your own setups, you should have no problem. Like any new guitar you got to give it a season or 3-4 weeks to let the wood adapt to the environment (i.e., temprature and humidity) unless your a touring pro that travels all over the country.

Once the wood shrinks (in the winter months), you'll be able to round off the fingerboard edges and do a set up that will last for a long time.

Most of my gear (especially guitars) have been bought used, but since I work at a guitar shop now I get to be the first person from Texas to play a lot of the Fenders we get it. So I literally get to play them right out of the box.

I've actually been surprised by them. Everyone always says how terrible factory set ups are and all that, but I've found that most of them are set up well. Whether you like it or not depends on your tastes. The frets haven't been sharp either. There are more issues with cheaper Squier, like Bullets which have fret buzz and need attention, but 90% of the Fenders don't have any issues. Of course, I actually like my action a little higher than medium and it's a little on the low side for me. I'd say the action would be considered medium by most. The tremolos have been very consistent as far as how much they float goes. I haven't checked intonation on any of them, but Strats are closer to Les Pauls than Floyd equipped guitars when it comes to setting the intonation. It's super easy.

_________________
Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalairdmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckslaird
Instagram: http://instagram.com/beckslaird

block that floyd and you'll have it setup in about 20minutes.

_________________
63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

I figured that out afterwards. I ended up selling that guitar. It was a Brian Moore with 2 SD humbuckers. Beautiful guitar with a very slim neck.

Thanks again to all who replied. It probably seems like a rather silly question but my original thought was to go through Sweetwater since they have the gallery and they set action and intonate every guitar but the really don't have a big color selection in stock so I will most likely go with another store. Now I just need to figure out if I want the Honey Blonde or the 3 tone sunburst!!!

The Factory set up is usually "adequate" (the guitar will play ok) but your guitar will definately benefit from being completely set up by a competent tech (OMG I love my guitar). Get it done as soon as you can

_________________
"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"