It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:58 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 125 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 9  Next
Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 9  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:25 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:12 pm
Posts: 520
Location: Perth, Western Aus.
DetroitBlues wrote:
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...


Nothing to do with longevity for me. Totally different feel in the neck in the American ones. The MIM was 'sticky' and harder to play, the US wasn't.

But my experience is limited, when my local store only has one of each in at any given time.


Last edited by Drubbing on Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:47 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:12 pm
Posts: 520
Location: Perth, Western Aus.
lomitus wrote:
Ahhh...such an old debate... :-)

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".
Jim

I may be a guitar neophyte, but I agree. But I'm also still objectively 'looking in', rather buying into some of the biases and preconceptions long held by guys who obsess over gear in forums.

A lot of guys will justify a US or custom shop purchase on origin alone. My experience of audio and forums suggests expectations are often met with price tag, even before people hear the object of desire, and people can usually discern a difference when they want to hear one. When a new MIA sells for $1800 'round here, I'm going to look at every other possibility first.

Looking over the small number of guitars I've had in my lefty hands, the only major difference I could find was the price tag. Luckily, I found a small lefty specialist where I was able to try out some used MIM, MIJ Fender and MIJ Squier Strats. If the Squier was priced better, it would have been just fine, as it was also my preferred colour scheme.

The MIJ Fender was not a great deal more (and my least preferred colour, so the irrational part of my brain should have discarded it), but it was definitely a better guitar for the money, and still less than a new MIM.

And that's probably what it comes down too - some will be better than others, regardless of price or origin.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:48 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 11:42 am
Posts: 15
with this economy................buy American !!!!!

if its used and already in America.....buy it off an American !!!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:50 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:05 pm
Posts: 336
Location: Oregon, USA
Blertles wrote:
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:

Exactally, it's got to feel good first, sound good second, and affordable. I can't afford a MIA and I would buy one if I could but my MIJ, CIJ, and MIM play very well. Even my modded modern Squire Strat plays very well.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:51 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:12 pm
Posts: 520
Location: Perth, Western Aus.
MIM Project wrote:
with this economy................buy American !!!!!

if its used and already in America.....buy it off an American !!!


What if I'm in Australia?

When US guitars sell here for US prices, and not at RRP of $1900, then they're in with a chance of me buying one...


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:24 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:03 pm
Posts: 637
Location: Rockcity - Germany
Well, USA has about 311 million population, Europe has 700 million.
Rest of the world is about 6.5 billion(american billion) people.
I wonder which is the bigger and biggest market.
That said I love buying american guitars because they are the best. That doesn´t mean there aren´t any good ones out there made in Japan, Korea, China and even Germany or the UK :mrgreen:

All the best,
Robin

_________________
_________________________________
http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
_________________________________


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 5:37 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 8:57 am
Posts: 63
Location: Mumbai, India
Drubbing wrote:
What if I'm in Australia?

When US guitars sell here for US prices, and not at RRP of $1900, then they're in with a chance of me buying one...
What's the status of the new guitar market in Australia? I notice prices are quite high, much like it is here, but you have a lot more options when you're buying. How easy is it to get a used guitar of your choice? Where I live, there's a single, solitary American Standard Strat on sale, but nobody can buy because it is too expensive.

To add, the quality of the guitars in lower price brackets here is very up and down. It's only higher up that we're assured of something good.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:01 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:33 am
Posts: 1247
Drubbing wrote:
But I'm also still objectively 'looking in', rather buying into some of the biases and preconceptions long held by guys who obsess over gear in forums.


Even if I should repeat myself:

I just can't understand, why most of the people must instantly talk about biases, preconceptions, snobism and alike! :?

In my case for example, it's purely based on my experiences. All Mexicans I played couldn't even get close to other guitars I have bought. They were even worse than my 250 bucks Burns Cobra! (now, if THAT isn't a low budget guitar, then I don't know what else is?). I gave those Mexican Strats ENOUGH CHANCES to convince me. They didn't, which - and I say again - doesn't mean that there can't be good ones. I just don't bother testing any anymore. If something between 20 and 30 guitars didn't convince me for different reasons, chances are low that others will. If on the other hand something around 15 to 20 USA ones convinced me, excluding maybe 2 or 3, then I simply don't waste my time on testing Mexicans.

Why the heck most guitarists can't just ACCEPT other's opinions simply escapes me! :roll:
(but I admit that snobism does occur amongst guitarists, though!) :(
I'd say, they're a minority. Primarily critics regarding cheaper guitars are based on personal taste, personal preferences and bad experiences in any way.
Sometimes I also suspect(!) (purely my personal interpretation), that besides available budget it might also be a matter of which level of professionalism the individual player has achieved. I mean, I was fully satisfied with my 130 bucks Marina strat copy during my early days and wouldn't even TOUCH it nowadays.

Some guitarists simply don't hear and feel differences that much as experienced players do.
Some guitarists play via crappy amps, where it simply doesn't make a difference!
Some guitarists base their excitement about their Mexican Strats on some famous guy who plays one, disregarding that the famous guy either plays it because he gets payed for it or that he completely modified it because it just didn't meet his standards.

There's so many, many reasons for liking or disliking cheaper guitars, why is the one and only comment which I read over and over again: "bias, preconception, snobism, show off ...."?

If someone proudly posts his 10 Squier collection, that's perfectly fine.
If someone proudly posts his 10 MiA strat collection, he's got possession of OVER GEAR????

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT!!!
Does anybody else???

If I was a snob or show off who just wants to show what he can afford, I'd buy Custom Shop just for the value and origin! I can easily afford several of them but I don't! Why? Because they can't do so much better than the standard MiA ones I have. Why paying two to three times as much then?

I'm satisfied with what I have, as simple as that! Do I address any custom shop owner as being snobistic or as being obsessed by over gear? Nope!
Why should I?

I even didn't while I wasn't able to afford MiAs.
I played a medium quality Washburn for many years (2, in fact, a N2 Nuno Bettencourt and a WG 550 if I remember correctly), while testing MiMs and MiAs and MiJs because I was looking for a good Fender. It always came down to MiA and MiJ. So I simply didn't buy MiM but saved money for a long time to finally get my first MiA and a MiJ shortly after.

I even didn't while playing my crappy El Maya M1000, which was my very first electric.

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


Last edited by Smokin' Frets on Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:43 am, edited 2 times in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:22 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:59 am
Posts: 492
I don't really care, personally - My main Strat is a US model, but the favourite neck of any I own is my backup partscaster with a Korean Squier neck on a body of unknown heritage.

If it feels good and sounds good, I like it! :mrgreen:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:17 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:15 am
Posts: 522
I'm not that big on the "Origin of Species". I am big on the tone and timbre. I have two guitars that I consider to be the last ones to leave my deal cold hands. Both are Fender Strats, 1 MIA, 1 MIM customized to a fault.

It's all about the tone. Nothing else matters. Learn that and your ahead of the game.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:49 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:51 pm
Posts: 14
Location: Raleigh, NC, USA
Robinstrat wrote:
Well, USA has about 311 million population, Europe has 700 million.
Rest of the world is about 6.5 billion(american billion) people.
I wonder which is the bigger and biggest market.
That said I love buying american guitars because they are the best. That doesn´t mean there aren´t any good ones out there made in Japan, Korea, China and even Germany or the UK :mrgreen:

All the best,
Robin


In general, I agree with you. I have an Ibanez BTB767 bass made in Indonesia that I really love, and an Ibanez Montage hybrid made in China that I've set up for slide and am kind of sweet on. But when it comes to an iconic Fender (or a Gibson) - I want an American-made one just because. Would you buy a Porsche for a few thousand less Euros that was made in Indonesia—even if Porsche supposedly imposed strict quality control over the manufacturing?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 9:06 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:18 am
Posts: 1530
Location: The Frozen Tundra of MN
Robinstrat wrote:
Well, USA has about 311 million population, Europe has 700 million.
Rest of the world is about 6.5 billion(american billion) people.
I wonder which is the bigger and biggest market.
That said I love buying american guitars because they are the best. That doesn´t mean there aren´t any good ones out there made in Japan, Korea, China and even Germany or the UK :mrgreen:

All the best,
Robin

Using your logic are Mercedes Benz made in Alabama of lesser quality than those made in Germany?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 9:41 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:05 pm
Posts: 336
Location: Oregon, USA
rob123xyz wrote:
Robinstrat wrote:
Well, USA has about 311 million population, Europe has 700 million.
Rest of the world is about 6.5 billion(american billion) people.
I wonder which is the bigger and biggest market.
That said I love buying american guitars because they are the best. That doesn´t mean there aren´t any good ones out there made in Japan, Korea, China and even Germany or the UK :mrgreen:

All the best,
Robin


In general, I agree with you. I have an Ibanez BTB767 bass made in Indonesia that I really love, and an Ibanez Montage hybrid made in China that I've set up for slide and am kind of sweet on. But when it comes to an iconic Fender (or a Gibson) - I want an American-made one just because. Would you buy a Porsche for a few thousand less Euros that was made in Indonesia—even if Porsche supposedly imposed strict quality control over the manufacturing?

Yes, yes I would. Porsche wouldn't let it go out the door if it wasn't 100%.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:12 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:01 pm
Posts: 1598
rob123xyz wrote:
Would you buy a Porsche for a few thousand less Euros that was made in Indonesia—even if Porsche supposedly imposed strict quality control over the manufacturing?


Depends...is it going to be priced like a Chevy or is is it still going to be priced like a Porsche? Find me one price like a Chevy and sure! You betcha!!! If it looks like a Porsche, drives like a Porsche, is backed by...well...Porsche -and- I could actually afford it...in what reality should I care where it was made??? LOL!!!

Welcome to the new world :-)
Jim


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Importance of Origin
Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 1:27 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:51 pm
Posts: 14
Location: Raleigh, NC, USA
lomitus wrote:
rob123xyz wrote:
Would you buy a Porsche for a few thousand less Euros that was made in Indonesia—even if Porsche supposedly imposed strict quality control over the manufacturing?


Depends...is it going to be priced like a Chevy or is is it still going to be priced like a Porsche? Find me one price like a Chevy and sure! You betcha!!! If it looks like a Porsche, drives like a Porsche, is backed by...well...Porsche -and- I could actually afford it...in what reality should I care where it was made??? LOL!!!

Welcome to the new world :-)
Jim


Let's say that sort of like the way MIM's cut a few corners and use less-than-premium woods and finishes, pickups, etc. than MIA's, that these cheaper "Porsches" had vinyl seats, lower horsepower engines, Chinese shock absorbers, and a lower-quality paint job. Yeah you could upgrade all that, but then you'd be back in premium cost after all. I remember decades ago when Porsche put out their "affordable" 924 with Volkswagen running parts and Audi engines. They were later referred to as "Porschewagons". Well to each their own. I think it's good that Fender has affordable entry-level guitars for those that cannot afford an American-made one. Not for me though.

Cheers.


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