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Post subject: stratacasters made in mexico??good or garbage?
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:03 am
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ran across a stratacaster made in mexico looks nice, but is it garbage? electric base-----electric blue in color have had it for about 10 yrs, was used when i got it wanna know if it's worht keeping or not ??????


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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:41 am
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Well basically for Strats you have 4 levels....worst would be the Korean/Chinese made, then would be the Mexican made, followed by the Japanese made and finnally the best would be the American made. I bought an American made one. Problems with the Mexican one's would be simply their craftmanship (Neck not perfectly straight, cheap wood, cheaper components etc). The best thing to do would be to save up and buy an American Strat. The sound is amazing and the craftmanship is absolutely the best I have seen.


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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:43 am
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I have to disagree with your assessment of the situation, there, carlo.

There is no hierarchy of quality as described in carlo's post. Most Fender players will tell you that they've picked up Korean Squiers, MIM Fenders, MIJ and American Strats, and have found excellent examples regardless of country of origin.

There are no problems of "craftsmanship" in the Mexican guitars: they're made in virtually the same way the American ones are: wooden parts cut by computer controlled machines, assembled by skilled laborers. They idea that Mexican guitars exhibit "necks not perfectly straight" is a flight of fancy. (The MIM necks have truss rods in them, too.)

The difference in price between MIM and MIA guitars comes down to features, components and a healthy dose of consumer attitude. The Mexican Standard guitars use slightly less desirable pickups (with ceramic magnets instead of alnico), less expensive pots and switches, etc. Some of the nicer manufacturing steps - rolling the fretboard edges, for example - that you find on MIA guitars aren't done on the MIM's. Finally, people will simply pay more for an American instrument because of perceived value.

So, to sum up, there's nothing wrong with your MIM thing (is it a Stratocaster or a bass?) and lots of people are using them professionally. The answer to the question "Is it worth keeping or not?" is another question:

"I dunno... how does it sound?"


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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:16 am
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In addition to what Gravity Jim has stated, I keep asking, but to this day, I have NEVER received even one concrete shred of proof as to HOW the made in Mexico Fender Stratocasters are supposedly inferior to their American counterparts in terms of quality and construction. As I've said in earlier posts, I've owned PLENTY of American Fender Stratocasters throughout the years and by choice, my #1 guitar today is a made in Mexico Fender Stratocaster. You have an excellent guitar there, enjoy it!


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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:16 am
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How would we know if your instrument is worth keeping? Only you know what sounds and feels good for you. It's all a matter of taste.

Are Mexican Fenders crap? No way!

It really comes down to a matter of personal taste. You could give me a $2000 Ibanez w/ a Floyd Rose and I would rather play a Mexican Strat any day of the week over that wanker guitar. But that's because that is my personal taste. Yours very well could be different, neither is right or wrong.


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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:17 am
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These posts and the first answer is what happens when you are too lazy to
a). do some research and
b). use the brain you were born with..

If you have had it for 10 years, I would think by now you know what the quality is and whether it is a "player" or not. Do you need someone else to make up your mind for you? And to both carlo and the original poster- there are numerous posts on this board concerning MIM vs. MIA Fenders- take a few minutes and do a search- there's an idea! :roll: That way you won't be giving out mis-information. Everyone has an opinion, but try to base it on either personal experience or facts- hey! another good idea! Wow... :shock:

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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:21 am
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all i know is my made mim strat sounds awesome to me....if the mia strats are really that much better...when i have enough money saved and i buy one then i will be in strat heaven. :D


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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:31 am
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I've been told by more than once Fender dealer that MIM strat bodies are not made from 1 solid piece of wood like MIAs are. Not sure how much difference that makes.

It seems to me that the necks are the only noticeable difference on MIM/MIA strats. I've found the MIMs not to be quite as glassy smooth and more inclined to having small bumps and imperfections. But that's really only a very small sampling of MIMs... I'm not sure if that's universal.

And the pickups tend to sound kinda crummy, but that's easily remedied. MIA definitely holds value better though.


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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:31 am
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Scanman13 wrote:
These posts and the first answer is what happens when you are too lazy to
a). do some research and
b). use the brain you were born with..

If you have had it for 10 years, I would think by now you know what the quality is and whether it is a "player" or not. Do you need someone else to make up your mind for you? And to both carlo and the original poster- there are numerous posts on this board concerning MIM vs. MIA Fenders- take a few minutes and do a search- there's an idea! :roll: That way you won't be giving out mis-information. Everyone has an opinion, but try to base it on either personal experience or facts- hey! another good idea! Wow... :shock:



:shock: thank you obligatory angry guy.

The answer is really up to you, I would keep it cause there's no reason to get rid of it. worst comes to worst send it to me :lol:


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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:39 am
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davidf wrote:
I've been told by more than once Fender dealer that MIM strat bodies are not made from 1 solid piece of wood like MIAs are. Not sure how much difference that makes.


Don't know who told you that, but American bodies aren't made from one piece of wood, either. They're made of 2 to 3 pieces of alder, just like the MIM's.

Further proof, if any were needed, that the number one source of misinformation about cars, guitars and audio equipment is the people who sell them.


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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:51 am
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joefaity said
Quote:
thank you obligatory angry guy.



Sorry but you don't know me well enough to label me :P
AND if you have been around for any length of time, you would see that waaaay too many people post things without taking a minute or two to see that the answer they seek is right under their nose. There is a term for those types of folks- it's called "spoonie" cause they have to be spoon fed every little thing.
My post was not "angry" at all - it was more frustration, because some people (i.e spoonies) ask silly questions and other folks give blatently wrong information - that kind of thing does nothing to help those who truly come here looking for good information.
And also if you look at the many posts I've made only a few of them are "angry" - why, I've even told some angry people to chill! :wink:

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PRS CE 22 Electric
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:53 am
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davidf wrote:
I've been told by more than once Fender dealer that MIM strat bodies are not made from 1 solid piece of wood like MIAs are. Not sure how much difference that makes.

It seems to me that the necks are the only noticeable difference on MIM/MIA strats. I've found the MIMs not to be quite as glassy smooth and more inclined to having small bumps and imperfections. But that's really only a very small sampling of MIMs... I'm not sure if that's universal.

And the pickups tend to sound kinda crummy, but that's easily remedied. MIA definitely holds value better though.


Contrary to popular belief, most American Strat bodies are not one piece of wood either.

FWIW, the MIM necks are made in the US and sent to Mexico for final finishing.

As to holding value, a used US Strat fetches in the $600 +/- $50 range. The average MIM goes for around $275 +/- $25 range. The percentages are roughly the same at 30% depreciation from the typical cost of a new one.

The tonality of the pickups are totally subjective, regardless of whether they are for US or MIM models. I change them out regardless.


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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:43 pm
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Hah, doesn't surprise me that I'd be misinformed by the individuals selling the guitars.

As for holding value, seems to me the used Americans I've seen for sale go for much closer to the original price than the Mexicans. But I'll defer to someone who clearly knows more.


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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 1:16 pm
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I'll have to agree with most here. The MIM's are just fine, some are really sweet. Play a few and you'll find one that fits like a glove. My only complaint about the MIM's is the pups and pots.....and that's an easy fix. Plus, the MIM is great for gigging. Sounds fine and it won't break the bank if it's damaged or stolen.

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Is that a mexican poncho
Or is that a sears poncho?
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:13 pm
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So to summarize here, it could be good, it could be bad. It all really depends on if YOU like it. If you don't, I would suggest that you sell it. If I were still into bass, I'd say sell it to me but I have a 72' precision black/maple that I want to sell.


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