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Post subject: Re: My first Fender Stratocaster purchase dilemma
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 12:40 am
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Rock Star
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Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4242
I really won't go to that endless MIA/MIM(/Squier) debate - it's really endless.
And apart from "experiment with pickup heights" I won't give you any advice on sound - preferences on sound differ for every player.

But a mechanical hint: a (pre)loaded pickguard mod is fully & easily reversible. Plus, if the one you bought is totally wrong for you, you can sell it & suffer only reasonable dollar loss.


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Post subject: Re: My first Fender Stratocaster purchase dilemma
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 2:55 am
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Hobbyist
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Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2014 12:35 am
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If I were to change the vintage trem to a stoptail, would I 'spoil' my Fender? I hardly use Tremolo in my music, it is nice to have but I hardly use it. Hence I find my Floyd Rose guitar I have now to be a bit "bothersome".


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Post subject: Re: My first Fender Stratocaster purchase dilemma
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 3:44 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:12 pm
Posts: 520
Location: Perth, Western Aus.
Just take the trem arm off, it's simply a screw on/off deal.

I did with mine and didn't even (forum rime shock horror!) block off the term at the back. Makes no difference at all to its performance.


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Post subject: Re: My first Fender Stratocaster purchase dilemma
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 3:56 am
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Rock Star
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Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4242
Deck the tremolo; put five trem springs in and screw the claw tight, so it rests flat against the body. Plus sides: no trem related tuning problems, very little work, completely reversible, cheap. Minus: if you are the Mother of Bending (more than one string at a time, more than two whole steps), the unbent strings may go out of tune (even five springs are still springs...)

Block the tremolo. Start like in decking (though usually no need to add springs). Make a small block of wood that fits snugly between the body and the tremolo block in the back of the guitar. Extra: put a small screw in the wood block, makes it's easier to take off later. Plus sides: Absolutely no trem related tuning problems. It's the Eric Clapton (Signature model) way. Relatively easy, cheap and completely reversible. Minus: it's still not a hardtail (= Some people hear a difference, most don't.).
Oh, before you do these, check/adjust the trem plate screws.

Real hardtailing of a Strat may have some problem points, thre after all is the trem cavity, but haven't ever done it myself so just guessing. Might be wiser to get a HT to begin with.

Quote:
forum rime shock horror

No, but when you bend, the trem still gives in. All depends on your playing style.


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Post subject: Re: My first Fender Stratocaster purchase dilemma
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 4:19 am
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Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:12 pm
Posts: 520
Location: Perth, Western Aus.
Like everyone does 2 step bends…? I can't even bend that far with 9-46 strings.

Mine stays in tune all week long. Only a cold snap will throw it out.


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Post subject: Re: My first Fender Stratocaster purchase dilemma
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 8:36 am
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Amateur
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Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 8:14 pm
Posts: 148
At the end of the day, just grab one and play. Go from there. Tht MIM could easily turn out to be your main axe.


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Post subject: Re: My first Fender Stratocaster purchase dilemma
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 8:41 am
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I'll use my Fender P-Bass as an example:
I've had a knock-off (or two) in the past but this time I wanted a real Fender Precision. I went into a store, pulled two MIMs and two MIAs off the wall and played them through two Ampegs, a PBJones, a Markbass, a Peavey and a Carvin. All four sounded pretty good through all of the amps, two of them sounded very good through most of these amps but one sounded GREAT regardless of the amp I plugged it into. It was one of the MIMs and it came home with me.


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Post subject: Re: My first Fender Stratocaster purchase dilemma
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:30 am
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Hobbyist
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Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2014 8:31 am
Posts: 11
LizzieSpitFire wrote:
Yes yes, I have come to realise that I had indeed made a grave mistake to justify my purchase with an intention to sell in the future. I am really grateful for the inputs, and I will make a trip down to the local guitar store and try all the different ones.

But what I'm encountering is...the local guitar store that I go to only has MIM Fenders Strats. Another guitar store, which is more pricey, has MIA Fenders but that requires a lot of trouble accessing as I need to make an appointment to try out the guitars and such.

No, without taking into consideration of the silly future value to which I have earlier asked, would anyone educate me on the difference between MIM and MIA Fender? My guitarist and vocalist told me that MIM used to be "not too good" but "it has become much better in the recent years". He said I should consider getting one over an MIA.

What kind of stuff would I encounter if I get an MIM and does the MIM and MIA share the same kind of pickups? Or does the MIM get a crappy one?


I have a MIM Standard and It is very well made... The pickups are are standard strat single coils nothing fancy but a decent pickup to start with till you figure what you want from a pickup... Other models will have other pickups some MIM made and some MIA made and both made on the same brand of winding machines bought from the same factory... Bodied are most likely cut on the same brand of CNC machines... Some parts on MIM guitars are made in USA parts... The real cost of the guitar comes from the wage being paid to the assembly line worker... Just figure out your Budget... and get what sounds good to you and feels good to you...

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Post subject: Re: My first Fender Stratocaster purchase dilemma
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2014 1:14 am
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Hobbyist
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Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2012 10:09 am
Posts: 82
You could always wait until the fall when the new models come out and the stores start discounting this years models. Your prices are a little high for the MIA guitars, shop around and you can do better. The MIA guitars come with a great case, polishing cloth, a cheap strap and a cable.


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Post subject: Re: My first Fender Stratocaster purchase dilemma
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2014 3:21 am
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2007 6:32 pm
Posts: 2459
Location: Through The Gates Of Mordor..
My advice is to buy used. For many reasons:

Depreciation has already been taken into effect. Don't buy an American standard for its collectibility or resale. They are a dime a dozen, as common as a 10c piece. They are everywhere. Don't buy into the hype.

There are a lot of folk both young and old indulging in past-life, or haven't taken guitar too seriously or even in mid-life crisis who say "I bought this 18months ago and it has sat in the case the whole time" meaning you get something used but in new condition.

Customshop relics, custom classics and time machines are everywhere and like the above mentioned reason, there are plenty used. You can get one for the price of a new American deluxe.

Fender customshop instruments are really the only modern fender instruments that may go up in value, especially the limited editions and one-offs. Not MIA or MIM standard regular runs.

20+ year old American fender product is holding its own value wise! but they ain't no cash cow. Rare colour Strat plus, Tele plus and early AVRI from the 80's are the best to go for. But still- if you want an investment, you'll be better off speaking to a financial professional.

That's my observations.

If it were me, I'd buy a used customshop in very good or near new condition. Ideally a limited run. Ideally from a private seller who is motivated to sell, for as little $$$ as you can.

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Post subject: Re: My first Fender Stratocaster purchase dilemma
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2014 12:02 pm
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Amateur
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Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 8:14 pm
Posts: 148
^^What HE said.^^


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