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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:26 am
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For what it's worth I have tried putting the exact same pickups in an american strat and a mexican strat (not the same model, literally the same three pickups) and I preferred the sound of the Mexican.

The American may have been "nicer," cosmetically but it had nothing on the sound of the Mexican.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 4:13 am
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What about the tonal difference in sound in a MIA maple neck, Vs. MIA Rosewood- then MIA Rosewood Vs. MIM Maple then MIM Rosewood Vs. MIA Maple, and then... :wink: :mrgreen:

Which is better- MIM or MIA?? :roll: :mrgreen:

Jokes.. :wink: :mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 7:46 am
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V, how was the sound different between the two? Did you just plop in the same pickguard between them? Same strings? With all the 'tone wood' debate it's interesting that you noticed a difference that led to a preference.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 7:52 am
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StratCat5762 wrote:
With all due respect to MIMs, you can buy a high quality used MIA Strat for $700. That would be my preference.


Can you buy a used Malmsteen for $700.00? Can you buy a used Eric Johnson for $700.00? Not to mention a used American Vintage 62? Nope.

Pick up a middle tier or upper tier Mexican Strat and you have a fantastic guitar that sounds just as good as an American.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 12:44 pm
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cnsky54 wrote:
V, how was the sound different between the two? Did you just plop in the same pickguard between them? Same strings? With all the 'tone wood' debate it's interesting that you noticed a difference that led to a preference.


I found the MIA to have less bass and a little bit of a thinner sound. Don't get me wrong. These are very nice handwound pickups and both guitars sound/sounded great. It's just the MIM seemed to have a little more oomph behind it and a little more complexity, strangely enough.

I put them into two different pickguards. Strings were the same gauge and brand. Necks were both one-piece maple. Fret size very similar. Both stock nuts.

I suppose the neck pickup comparison couldn't be made exactly because the MIM had no tone control at all and the MIA had No-Load for only the Mid/Bridge. Interestingly, the Neck pickup also sounded much better to me without the tone control wired to it, but that's a different comparison altogether.

This MIM strat also had a very full sound when it was with the stock ceramic pickups, too, so, it could just be that particular guitar? It seems to be a little heavier than the MIA, too.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 5:47 pm
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I listened to MIA Strats along side the MIM Strats and decided that both were equally as good and sometimes the MIM Strats sounded better.
there are quality control issues with everything.

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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 5:53 pm
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Completely agree. Bottom line is don't buy a "Monday" or "Friday" guitar regardless of what country makes it!



Oskar555 wrote:
I listened to MIA Strats along side the MIM Strats and decided that both were equally as good and sometimes the MIM Strats sounded better.
there are quality control issues with everything.

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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 12:24 pm
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To the OP, I've owned both an MIM and an MIA. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't get good quality sound from an MIM because it's simply not true. Having both I can tell you that in my experience (for whatever that's worth), there are clearly differences in the two guitars, which there should be for the difference in price that you pay. My MIM played nice, had a nice thin neck, looked great and sounded good. It felt super in my hands. My MIA was an upgrade in all facets - the sound, the feel, the look - and I absolutely love it.

While I am an amateur at best, I've had people that really know how to play sample both my MIM and my MIA and boy could those guitars really sing in the proper hands. I do not believe that the MIM is an inferior guitar by any stretch. You can find great ones, as I surely did. IMO, however, the MIA was superior in all respects. That's not a knock in the MIM. It's simply praise for my particular MIA. Actually, you can read through this forum (and other Fender forums) and you'll find people who like the MIM better than the MIA. It's usually the exception rather than the rule but there are those with that opinion. I have no beef with them and I'm just happy that we're all in the Fender fraternity.

Bottom line, play the heck out of that MIM and enjoy every minute of it. That's what they're made for. And don't let anyone tell you that you'll never achieve true Fender sound out of your MIM. Those guitars can and do sound amazing. I need to go practice now because my "rank amateur guitarist" status isn't getting any better while I'm typing away at this keyboard. 8)

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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 7:26 pm
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super kid wrote:
Hay scott I just wanted to tell ya that the fretbord on you're kramer DMZ is Ebonol.That is a type of rubber they used to make bowling balls out of :wink: I've always wanted to talk to you :mrgreen:

Hi there my friend. I found that out about the Kramers after some research. I really like the bowling ball fretboard. Someone really should do those fretboards again. Just way too cool. I actually had that guitar out yesterday. Someone was about to throw away one of the roller nuts for those and he saw my review on it and he contacted me because I mentioned that I was missing a couple of the rollers on mine and he just wrapped it up and sent it to me for nothing and now that axe is finally comple. Great to meet you! Give me a shout any old time!!!!


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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 7:58 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
ScottGrove wrote:
Have some fun with this little thing I put together JUST FOR FUN. See how you do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFF5bvX0biE


Mighty enlightening. And sure to gore someone's "sacred ox" for sure!

Three of the four guitars with the most pleasing (to my ear) single-coil tones turn out to be Gibsons!!!!

(#2, #12, #15)

My fourth choice was #18 -- and I've never really cared for Lace Sensors.

If I might ask, Scott -- what amp was used for the demo?

Arjay


Hi there Retro. I was using a Johnson Millennium JM150. I hear what you're talking about. Some of those Norlin Years Gibsons will really surprise you. I've really gotten into them.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 10:45 am
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357mag wrote:
StratCat5762 wrote:
With all due respect to MIMs, you can buy a high quality used MIA Strat for $700. That would be my preference.


Can you buy a used Malmsteen for $700.00? Can you buy a used Eric Johnson for $700.00? Not to mention a used American Vintage 62? Nope.

Pick up a middle tier or upper tier Mexican Strat and you have a fantastic guitar that sounds just as good as an American.


You can get a good used Mexistrat for less than half of that.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 1:37 pm
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I've never played a USA Fender that I can remember. I don't want to play one. I'm afraid that I'd like it too much, and I can't afford one right now (and I really can't justify spending $1000+ on a guitar.) But I love my Mexican HSS Stratocaster. I'm perfectly happy with it and wouldn't change anything about it. I've only had it 5 days but I can already tell that I'll keep it for the rest of my life if something doesn't happen to it.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 2:13 pm
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i have had three americans and one mexican plus a japanese.
I must say to me the difference between the americans and the mexi is the attention to detail.
The mim is a very nice guitar for the money and is what i recommend to my beginner guitar students either new or a nice used one.
All of my MIA strats have been finer insturments out of the case as far as the details go.
I'm probably gonna change the pups in either so that doesn't matter to me.
i believe a good tech can give a mim a little tlc and it will be as good as an american standard. (not as good as my deluxe, too many bells and whistles on the deluxe)

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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 4:05 pm
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I have owned 5 strats now in my life I started on a 76 looked just like Gilmours had a floyd rose classic and had 2 Mexicans a Blacktop and a strat special and now my 08 American Deluxe.
There is a BIG difference from American to Mexican, American strats at least the deluxes you can feel and hear the difference. They are top shelf like the more expensive drinks lol.
I love Mexican strats though and I will buy more of them namely the Blacktop Floyd Rose & the Blacktop Tele.
I may get the Blacktop P Bass too

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Post subject: Re: Mexican vs American "Can't we just get along?"
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 4:35 pm
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ScottGrove wrote:
Have some fun with this little thing I put together JUST FOR FUN. See how you do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFF5bvX0biE


Thanks for that - it pleased me a lot to watch, take notes, and realise afterwards that my unbiased blindfold favourite by far happened to be the Strat Plus. Which is a good thing, seeing as I have one as my main Strat! Proved a point to the other half as well, as she had to concede that all that tone preference stuff I've been waffling on about for years has at least some basis in truth. :lol:

Weirdly though, my second favourite was the Gibson S1! :shock:

Also interesting that my notes for all the Les Pauls mentioned the word 'Cheap', aside from the LP Standard, which simply read 'Eww'! :mrgreen: I'm not a huge LP fan, but didn't think I'd say things like that about them. Quite illuminating, really!

Regarding the whole Mexico vs US thing - If you're happy with your guitar, then it's right for you. I've played some awful US made Fenders over the years, and some rather nice Mexicans which I'd have been happy to go out and gig with out of the box.

Played some terrible Mexicans as well though - when they're bad, they're really bad.


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