Just picked one of these up last week. So far I am pretty overwhelmed. I have never been a Strat player, rather a Gibson LP/SG/335 sort of fellow. I have owned them in the past but never played them (they were a 65 and a 71 and yes I wish I still had them). I tried every Strat in this particular establishment for a few days and this particular guitar was simply the best one there, which included ones made in America, Korea, Japan, China, and wherever else. I must say that I only played ones that had the curlicue old style bridge saddles, not the newer rectangular jobbers. The owner of the store, a bassist, plays in a band where his guitarist is Strat fanatic, and even he said that "that's the one" after helping me compare.

The guitar is a maple neck/black body model (yes, like "Blackie") and from what I found is a fairly well put together piece. The neck/body socket is perfect for a starter...a lot better than some of the others I played, including Americans.

Anyone out there have any experience or thoughts they would like to share, I would love to hear them.

Blessings...Steve

If your guitar has a maple fretboard it's not a '60s Classic.

The '60s Classic model features rosewood (the '50s Classic gets the maple).

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

Didn't the "Classic Series 50s/60s" Strats come out in '99?

And how can these be called "reissues" when there was never any original "50s" or "60s" Strat to begin with?

Some pictures might help to identify what the guitar actually is.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Many of us have come to refer to these MIM guitars erroneously but generically as "re-issues".

You are correct of course, though -- and FMI does not label them as re-issues either. But they are in fact built to Leo's original specs as far as the pickup routing in the body, the type of bridge and string spacing, the pickguard configuration, the fretboard radius and fret size, etc.

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

And both the 60's and 50's Classics are awesome guitars! My 60's model plays like butter, and has that feel you look for in a good vintage guitar.

IMHO.

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

Okay...then it's a 50's. I did say reissue, though...not Classic.

I seem to remember Strats being around in the 50's and 60's. I did do a lot od acid in the 60's, though...

There are no MIM '50s "re-issues". FMIC designates these instruments as "Classics".

Perhaps you should post a pic of said guitar in order to definitely determine its pedigree......?

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

I played this lovely guitar through Jim Kelley amp last night. Wonderful. Just wish I could find the right wiggle stick. I am totally stoked. Also did an a/b with an American Strat. The Mexi was every bit a Strat as the American, which I actually already knew from playing all of the Strats I did when I bought the thing.

Some requested pics...

Think I got them pictures big enough???

Big enough indeed.

They show a MIM Standard Strat with maple fretboard......not a '50s Classic.

Love the "Blackie" motif.

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

The reason I lean toward it being some sort of reissue is the logo and tuners. I don't know about other MIM's, but compared to the others I played, this one had the best output and best sounding pickups. In my research I have heard that on these specialty MIM's they put the high end electronics in them. Whether or not that is true, I don't know and really don't care. This has so far been a great guitar in sound and playability. Really, that is all that matters with Fenders and any other production model/non-custom instrument. When playing the different guitars and comparing them, I played an extremely nice Chinese Squier that was an outstanding guitar...for a couple of bills. The pups were a bit lighter, but for a couple extra ducats, that can be remedied with some nice Duncans or whatever. I am very pleased with this guitar and foresee some great playing times with it. And by the way, thanks for all the help so far. Blessings...s

Sweet guitar! The mid 90's Mex models were some of the best ones made, good score. However there is nothing reissue or classic or specialty about it. Any of the reissue, or models that replicate the 50s or 60s Strats, such as real reissues or classic series, will have the truss rod adjust at the body end of the neck. Also, on those models the fretboard dot spacing would be period correct.

Yours is unusual though, in a modified way, as the headstock decal looks like someone put it on, not factory. And the serial number, and the Made In Mexico being on the back of the headstock is wrong for that time period. And I see evidence that those are not the original tuners.

I've seen another Strat done similarly, with a relocated serial number, and altered headstock decal, where the owner/seller admitted that he did it to get a vintage look while retaining the serial number so as not to deceive anyone about what is really was. He put the real serial number on the heel of the neck, in the same place where the vintage Strats had the date written on them.

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Yes...it is a sweet guitar. What you say makes a lot of sense. I don't remember any old Strats that adjusted at the nut. Again, I am not a Fender expert, though I know a bit. I don't catch the tuner idea, though. I have looked pretty close and I guess I just don't grok what you are saying about them being altered. The decal, though...I could see that because it just is not right in any way. I told a friend last night when I opened the case it was a '60 and he got all goo goo eyed and said wait a minute!!! The decals are definitely wrong. We had a good laugh, then he heard it and got goo goo eyed again.

Oh...and what is meant by period correct dot spacing? I would love to know.

Anyway...whatever it is, this guitar rocks. Who knows...if the guy went through this kind of trouble to vibe out a standard Mexi Strat, he may have replaced the pups, too, though from what I hear, the Mexi's sound as good as the Americans on a fairly consistent basis. This one does, without a doubt. Thanks for the info. Blessings...s

That's a Tex-Mex Strat. They came out in 95 I think and were only made a couple of years. They feature Tex-Mex pickups, vintage hardware, the bridge is actually an american vintage bridge and will fit a ashtry bridge cover. I have 2 of them.