I have a 4 year old MIM Strat HSS. I am considering trading up to a American Strat Special HSS. Just curious if the dollars are worth the upgrade. My local dealer wants $550 for the trade. That's $750 for the MIA and $200 for the like new MIM Strat. Any comments would be appreciated. Does the difference in quality and construction justify the extra $550?

If there's something about your current strat that you don't like, and it could be upgraded that's always an option.

Possible upgrades might be pickups, electronics, bridge block, saddles, tuners, etc. I doubt the upgrades would cost $550. If you're just itching for a new strat... well, that's a whole different story.

If you're generally happy with your MIM, and like the color, feel, neck shape, etc... I might opt for upgrading it. Also, you could always try and sell your MIM and hopefully get more than $200 for it. Trade-ins are convenient but often you don't get a fair price for the instrument you're trading in.

Mexican guitars are of great, and owning both USA and MX guitars, I can say they are both high quality. The US made guitars feel different, due to rolled fingerboard edges and a slightly different neck shape. If you like your current guitar just fine, then there would be no other incentive to upgrade to US manufacture except resale value, and the simple pride of owning a REAL Stratocaster built with pride in the good 'ol USA!!!!!

If you have played the "new" one, and have bonded... Well you know what to do...

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

I say go for it!!! If you can afford it. Life is short!!

im sure that the guitars made in MEX are also built with pride.

there is no reason to trade anything. if you like your mex guitar in any way, keep it.
$200 should be easy to come up with. your just seeing a new pretty guitar and wanting it at any cost. slow down and save your cash and buy what you want.
dont trade in a perfectly good guitar. thats a big no-no.

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

The American Special series, while American-made, use the same as hardware for the tremolo and bridge block as the MIM. I recently went to look at an American Special (priced at $650 w/ no case) at my local music store, and then tried an American Standard (priced at $715 w/ flight case). The difference, I thought, was night and day. So I walked out with the Standard for only $65 bucks more.

Also, I regret not holding onto my first MIM HSS Strat. Come to think of it, I regret not holding on to a few MIM Strats that I took lousy deals on.

ive never traded a good guitar in on another guitar.
i just dont see the logic in it honestly.
i have traded in some junk guitars before though.
why get rid of something good when you can just save
the money for your new gear?

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

Thank all of you for your comments and suggestions. As I think this through, I realize I do like my current MIM strat. I think it is more of a psychological thing with me in that I view a MIA fender as the real deal and the MIM as just a less expensive copy. That is probably not fair. The $200 offer does not seem to reflect the guitar's value to me. I probably will just hold on to it for awhile. If I decide to get a MIA strat, it might be best just to hang on to it or try to sell it privately for a few bucks more. The dealer wants the customary $749 for the American Special. I am sure he could come down another $50. I am a little bit past a beginner guitar player and taking lessons for the first time. I am about to turn 60. I wish I did this 50 years ago. I am enjoying my new hobby.

welcome to the hobby,lifestyle, craft, or whatever folks want to call it lol.
im glad to hear your keeping the MIM guitar. save the cash and walk in the door
with cash in pocket and they will lower that price a bit. if not im sure there are online stores offering the guitar you want for less.

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

imho keep your mim strat, but also buy the other strat. but since you have a hss maybe get a sss strat, that way they compliment each other. just my 2 cents

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

i just read everyone elses posts. mine is similar to way cools.
but yeah, you wont get what you paid for.

also another idea is a telecaster. i now wish i had purchased a tele instead of another strat.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

finally someone on here agrees with me on something lol.
i didnt think of that but a tele would be a nice addition to his strat wouldnt it?
yeah there ya go, think about a nice MIM tele. oh they are so nice too.

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

especially if your gonna dish out 749-800, you can get a baja tele.
imho these are way better than mia teles. for the price you cant beat it.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Trade ins are always a losing proposition where a shop is concerned, it does not make sense from your wallet, from the shop's it is windfall profits, as they will turn around and price your trade-in at 40% higher for resale, than they gave you

MIM versus MIA, they are so close that I would not do it strictly on that basis.

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "