It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:36 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 125 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 9  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 9  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:22 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:58 am
Posts: 2187
Does it matter to you if your Stratocaster was made in USA or Mexico? I've decided to trade/sell my American Standard Stratocaster in favor of a Classic Series or Road Worn Stratocaster because I rather prefer the neck profile and fretboard radius. I've either owned or played those models previously and realized I don't care if it says USA or Mexico on it. I want it to feel good when I'm playing it. The only American Stratocaster I really want now is an SRV Strat. Not because of SRV (which he is my favorite Strat player), but because the neck on his guitar is huge. I thought about KWS Strat, but I don't like 12" radius and the untinted neck. I just love the vintage feel/vibe of the Classic and Road Worn series...

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:24 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:33 am
Posts: 1247
After some time I came to the conclusion that "YES, IT MATTERS TO ME".

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:30 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:59 am
Posts: 44
Smokin' Frets wrote:
After some time I came to the conclusion that "YES, IT MATTERS TO ME".


Same here - the key being "...to ME". I wanted a MIA Strat and I could afford one so I got one. I'm quite sure there are Squiers and MIMs out there that are terrific, but I had no interest in finding one.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:42 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
To me, no.

The only thing of import is the sound coming out of my speakers.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:50 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:12 pm
Posts: 520
Location: Perth, Western Aus.
Being a lefty, Fender doesn't give me much to choose from. But between the MIMs and MIAs I have tried, I'll save my money and buy the cheapest one - the Japanese. Cos it sounds and feels as good as the American.

The MIM would've been totally fine too, but for the 23 layers of lacquer on it...


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:01 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 8:57 am
Posts: 63
Location: Mumbai, India
Our market is price-sensitive and understocked, so we have very few guitars to buy. So as I have more money to spend, I'll chase USA models. I won't pay USA prices for Asian guitars.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:54 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:58 am
Posts: 2187
Drubbing wrote:
Being a lefty, Fender doesn't give me much to choose from. But between the MIMs and MIAs I have tried, I'll save my money and buy the cheapest one - the Japanese. Cos it sounds and feels as good as the American.

The MIM would've been totally fine too, but for the 23 layers of lacquer on it...


Even American are coated in Poly... Most of the Lacquer coated models still have a layer of Poly on them, so they do not wear like you think they would when they are advertised as Nitro finished... the base and clear coat isn't, just the color paint...

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:44 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:18 am
Posts: 1530
Location: The Frozen Tundra of MN
Retroverbial wrote:
To me, no.

The only thing of import is the sound coming out of my speakers.

Arjay

+1, amen


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:05 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:01 pm
Posts: 1598
Ahhh...such an old debate... :-)


Personally and in my always and ever so humble opinion, yes and no. Of the 12 Strats and 2 Teles I currently own (Fenders and Squiers), 3 Strats are MIM's, 2 are mid-80's MIJ's, 1 Strat and 1 Tele are "Crafted in China", 1 Tele was made in Korea and a couple of the partscasters were made...or at least assembled...here in Northern Ohio by yours truly!

Now...do ya notice anything missing there? Not a single MIA in the lot. Yes, I do have an American made Kramer from the early 80's, but we'll keep this to Fender guitars for now...and I don't have a single MIA and I never have. Here's why...contrary to popular belief and many comments I've made on these boards over the years (as well as those I'm about to make), I really don't have that much against American Strats...I've played a few pretty decent MIA's over the years. My primary issue is simply this: price. I'm sorry but I work hard for my money (as does my wife) and I simply will NOT p_ss away that much loot on something that really just isn't worth it, particularly for something as silly as an obscure sense of "american pride". Looking at brand new for example, the difference between a Mexican made Standard and an American Standard simply is -not- worth that extra $500 in ANY case (to me). Sure you get hand rolled freboards on the MIA's....so? Is that -really- worth $500, particularly if you can have a proper luthier do it for CONSIDERABLY less? Does the lack of the hand rolled even make instruments without that unplayable in any way? Hand rolled fretboards....phhtth. Beyond that...no...I really just don't like the American 2 point trems or the stock MIA pickups...again not really "bad" per say, but I don't care for them personally and even if I did...just not worth the money. If I'm going to replace that stuff anyways (and I would in a heartbeat) it just makes much more sense to put the money into an MIM or something else instead and mod it to my own personal tastes. I get an instrument that's just as good, if not better and I end up with some pocket change to boot.

Call me a communist if you'd like and I -know- this make some folks angry, but the words "Made In America" just do NOT mean what they once did (if they EVER really did to begin with...about those early 70's Fender solid state amps...). These days it means little more than over-priced labor and a highly arrogant sense of pride from people who simply can't see the capitalism crashing around them. I really don't mean this to sound as hostile as it's going to come off, but do NOT try and tell me/sell me "well...you get what you pay for"...I've been playing guitar for far too many years to believe that has an ounce of truth regarding that price difference you pay for an American made Strat. It's just not true.

To go with that I would also add that in the here and now, whether you get a guitar made in the US, Mexico, Indonesia, China, Japan, etc., if it's a Fender (or a Squier), you're buying an instrument that was made on virtually the exact same manufacturing equipment, regardless of the country. Do you really think that the CNC machine used to route the Strat bodies in Mexico is ANY different from the one sitting up the street in Corona?? Think about it. And workmanship? You really want to try and tell me how Mexican workers are somehow more inept at making something like mass produced guitars than American workers? If anything, from what I've heard the Mexican workers are at least HAPPY and GRATEFUL to have a job...and are willing to work for it! And really on that specific issue, give me the folks who worked at the Japanese Fuji Gen plant back in the 80's -any- day...those folks could build some SERIOUS guitars! Heck...even my cheap $200 CIC Squier Standard...the finish on that guitar is just as lovely as ANY I've ever seen and she plays perfectly fine! Ok...yea...not too happy with the pups on that one, but again I have the same problem with the American models! Yet there's an $800+ difference in price?!?!?!?!?! If I ever find an American Strat on something like Craigslist for cheap...say $200 - $300...maybe something that's been thru the grinder that I can rebuild.refinish, yea...I may get one some day. I don't really hate them or anything...but otherwise, they just are not worth the horribly disproportionate price difference in my own twisted little world.

So no...origin isn't really -that- important to me at all...a good guitar is a good guitar regardless of where it was made. That said, again I have instruments that have been made all over the planet...to me "MIA" means little more than "Missing In Action" :-)

Ok...feel free to start tossing those rotten vegi's...let the flames begin!

Peace,
Jim


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:22 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:58 am
Posts: 2187
No flames by me Jim. I agree with you on many counts...

Someone once asked, "What's the difference between an American Strat and a Mexican"

I stated, "One fret and 600 miles"

I've had a few Stratocasters over the past couple of years,
1995 MIM Deluxe Tex-Mex (nice soft V, precursor to the Jimmy V Strat)- Sold for $300
2009 MIM Deluxe Roadhouse/Lonestar Hybrid (rosewood and SSS)- Sold for $550
2006 MIM Classic Player 60's Stratocaster (3TSB, Abby Y signed CS pickups!)- paid $300 sold for $500
2007 MIM Classic Series 50's Stratocaster, paid $400, traded it for a hand wired Deluxe Reverb (after a few more trades, ended up earning $850)
2001 MIA American Standard 3TSB, bought from Vegas Guitar Center for $500. Currently on the market.

I don't think I paid too much for any of them and didn't lose a dime on any. Since I keep a sharp eye on the used market and Guitar Center's used gear site, I have a good idea what's out there and what I can buy or sell it for. Helps a lot.

Now that I've had all those wonderful Stratocasters, my favorite to date has been the Classic Series 50's Stratocaster. Soft V neck, 7.25" radius, vintage frets and tuners... Just perfect for me...

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:32 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:56 am
Posts: 141
I'm kind of a CS snob. I care less about where it is made than the quality of the build itself. I prefer MIJ and US builds. World Guitars in Korea is producing some really high quality guitars for really reasonable prices.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:34 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:13 pm
Posts: 282
The only thing that turns me away from the MIM is the Plastic truss rod plug.

I have a MIM Telecaster, it is the Classic series 50's, so the truss rod adjusts at the heel (no plastic), which is enough to satisfy me.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:48 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:57 am
Posts: 13164
Location: Peckham: where the snow leopards roam
Retroverbial wrote:
To me, no.

The only thing of import is the sound coming out of my speakers.

That's the one. 8)

Cheers - C

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:54 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2007 6:32 pm
Posts: 2459
Location: Through The Gates Of Mordor..
To me it comes down to,what feels right. Fender is in charge of the overall quality control of all of their instruments and I think they do a brilliant job. It's not about where they come from, but what fits like a glove in your hand and also which guitar speaks out to you in the music store.

However, if you can get a good deal on a American Strat, then why the hell not? :mrgreen:

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:00 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:48 pm
Posts: 1546
Location: Phoenix, AZ
well, I have MIA Strats, MIM Strats, and MIJ strats. I pick more on what specs I'm looking for, but I wouldn't trade an american strat for a mexican strat. I would just probably buy a MIM strat if I liked it.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 125 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 9  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 9  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: