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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 5:03 am
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AaronK wrote:
Yes I think that is what he was implying


Yes thats what Im saying. Mexican and Japanese are just authorized copies of the real thing.

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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 6:48 am
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Ok I know some people get all touchy on the Mexican and Japanese Strat issue. To me they are just authorized fake knock offs.
Save a little more money and buy a second hand used American Special or American Standard.
Make sure it has a case, it will last you a long long time.
Take someone that knows how to check them over if you dont.
A licensed Fender dealer is a good place to look for used instruments, I know Guitar Center here in town always has great used Strats at a good deal and backs them.

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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 8:55 pm
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Well, I've gone and played some strats and I am leaning to either US or Japanese (no disrespect Donny!). There are a couple of candidates on eBay right now that I am considering, both are what I believe to be very good prices but I'd really appreciate some opinions on their respective pedigree and level of risk etc.

MIJ -
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 1192269945
Model # ST57G-65
1994 - N037532
Buy now price - US$515

MIA -
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/290994214168 ... 1438.l2649
Year and serial unknown at this point but I have requested this info. Comes with hard case.
Buy now price - US$749

I like both colours although the MIJ would be my pick visually.

I am going to buy an Avid Eleven rack for amp/effects modelling. Tried one out and it blew me away. Nice to get a copy of PT along with it.

Thanks in advance.

Paul


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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 9:36 pm
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Well for an example of a fake, take a good look at the head stock of this one in the link in this thread.. obvious fake.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=89633

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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 9:53 pm
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Upside down logo? Hmmm, I think even I could pick that one.... :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 1:42 pm
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I got some more info on both guitars so here are the choices:

MIJ -
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 1192269945
Model # ST57G-65
1994 - N037532
Buy now price - US$515
Seller described the neck as "a little thicker" than a typical ST57". G-65 is the 'mid' level spec where they used the expected retail, 65,000 Yen in the model number. I believe the other models were 55 and 70.

MIA -
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/290994214168 ... 1438.l2649
1999 - N9XXXXX. Comes with hard case.
Buy now price - US$749


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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 1:46 pm
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plefevre wrote:
I got some more info re the American strat so here are the choices:

MIJ -
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 1192269945
Model # ST57G-65
1994 - N037532
Buy now price - US$515

MIA -
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/290994214168 ... 1438.l2649
1999 - N9XXXXX. Comes with hard case.
Buy now price - US$749



The 99 American is a good choice where are you located?

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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 1:55 pm
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I'm in Melbourne Australia, so postage with Fedex inc. insurance is about US$180.

I know you wouldn't consider the MIJ Donny but your thoughts on the MIA are much appreciated.
The MIJ is in Japan and is a bit cheaper to post but I'm assessing each on its own merits, not necessarily against each other at this point. I'd rather pay more postage for the better guitar.

Also, I thought I'd add, my hands are on the small side so I prefer a thinner neck.


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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 2:34 pm
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plefevre wrote:
I'm in Melbourne Australia, so postage with Fedex inc. insurance is about US$180.

I know you wouldn't consider the MIJ Donny but your thoughts on the MIA are much appreciated.
The MIJ is in Japan and is a bit cheaper to post but I'm assessing each on its own merits, not necessarily against each other at this point. I'd rather pay more postage for the better guitar.

Also, I thought I'd add, my hands are on the small side so I prefer a thinner neck.



What does new run there? Do you have any stores around? What about mail ordering one new?

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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 3:52 pm
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Well that's the thing, deciding whether a used strat has any merit over a new one and whether the price difference is warranted.

I've always understood that quality made wooden instruments improve with age, although this may also be affected by the body coating ie. if the body is completely sealed, the guitar's resonance and tone will be pretty much locked in. Also, a used guitar has been played in and tends to just feel better but let's face it, you expect to be playing the hell out of your new purchase and it will get played in anyway. Pro's, con's....

There are 3 shops between 5 and 30 mins away eg. http://www.musicjunction.com.au/epages/ ... ric/Fender
Scroll to the bottom. It has US Specials at A$1299 (US$1229) and US Standards at A$1549 (US$1466) including moulded hard case.

So, if I'm looking at US made, I could spend A$992 (US$939) inc. shipping for the blue one on eBay unplayed or spend A$1549 (US$1466) on a new one which I could have played. That's A$557 extra. Is it worth it?

I think I'll win either way but I need to decide today as it's the quick and the dead online.

Cheers

Paul


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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 8:12 pm
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Paul, back to your original situation...I suggest that once you settle on the right guitar and amp..."give" the good one to the little guy. You'll still get to use it :D Giving a budding musician poor equipment is a sure fire way to kill any talent and destroy any interest in practicing.

Plus to sound "right" any instrument needs to be dropped, banged, broken and repaired at least once.

X-ray imaging of centuries old stradivarius violins (Strativarius :wink: ) indicates multiple repairs over the years, with the best sounding instruments having the most repairs.

Any instrument needs to be dropped once, preferably right away...just to get it over with.

Sorry for the rant. Touched a nerve.

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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 9:01 pm
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I'd go for the Mia model. The MIJ versions at that level are no different to a MIM with gold hardware.

You are also talking different price points too. The Mia was a more expensive guitar. Twice that of the MIJ. However, not necessarily better- but there is too much mojo on MIJ fender that make people pay silly money for because they heard they are better than the rest. Yeah they come in model configurations that you can't get from USA, but they are no better than what is coming from Mexico.

Premium models punch way above their weight, however anything below that then I'd much rather a MIM Strat.

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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 9:47 pm
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rflindall wrote:
Giving a budding musician poor equipment is a sure fire way to kill any talent and destroy any interest in practicing.

I agree. I guess if I elect to go with the cheaper option, I can use it and if I decide to get something better, I can give it to my son. If I love this guitar, I can buy him another one for christmas.

rflindall wrote:
Sorry for the rant. Touched a nerve.

Didn't pick your post up as a rant.... :) but hey, no problems!

Blertles wrote:
Premium models punch way above their weight, however anything below that then I'd much rather a MIM Strat.

This is not the first time I've heard this and I'm fully aware that I could buy a US strat today and tomorrow play a MIM strat in a shop that I preferred.

I have a budget to work with and that's a good thing, helps take the emotion out of it to a certain degree.

Thanks guys for your input.


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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 5:30 am
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Hi Guys
Sorry but I have to make a comment on the assumption that only US strats are worth having. The very best strats are US made and are very expensive, but average strats at some times in Fender's history have been better made in Japan. Particularly in the 80s Dan Smith CEO of Fender at one time said (direct quote) about Japanese Fenders "Everybody came up to inspect them and the guys almost cried, because the Japanese product was so good. It was what we were having a hell of a time trying to do"
If you can get a Japanese strat from around mid 80s it will be a very good guitar and will appreciate in value.
Amongst other things I have an early 90s Telecaster from Japan and it is as good as most US Teles at sensible price points and a lot better than some.
I am English so completely impartial on the subject

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Post subject: Re: Which Strat to buy and which might be fakes?
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 5:47 am
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HI balston and thanks for your contribution. I expect people to have their views and that's OK, I can weigh things up and I think it would have been very surprising if all the viewpoints had been the same.

I may very well be wanting to change the pickups at some point (I did mention that I'm a David Gilmour fan) so I'm looking at the rest of the guitar mainly. Not sure if it's a waste to buy a more expensive guitar and pull the pickups out compared to buying a cheaper guitar, still made well and replacing its pickups....

Also, I found just before a reference to the neck shape of the MIJ ST57 series being 'soft v' shape. Does anyone have experience playing this neck shape? I've only played the C and oval shape.

Cheers

Paul


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