It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:20 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 152 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11  Next
Go to page Previous  1 ... 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 2:27 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:11 pm
Posts: 190
I don't have...nor ever did have an MIM strat. The MIA strat that i recently purchased......this:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/ ... ric-guitar
is an AWESOME guitar. It holds perfect tune, sounds phenomenal, and plays like butter.

I could be wrong, but suspect that it would make sense for Fender to use better materials (wood....fretwire...ect.) on MIA's in order to justify the additional expense.
Here's one instance where i'm HAPPY to have paid a premium price.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 2:54 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:01 pm
Posts: 1598
Lightnin MN wrote:
lomitus wrote:
Zentar wrote:
These things tend to change with time. Right now the MIM Strats are well thought of just like the MIAs are thought of but in ten years who knows? It is a great time to save a buck and buy a MIM Strat. However; I like to support the American worker so I own a MIA Strat. American manufacturing is under siege by their own government and need all the support they can get before there are no more guitars made in the US. We take it for granted that America is still the leader in high quality guitar manufacturing.

Remember the crappy bikes Harley made in the 70s that nearly put them out of business? Yet by 1995 Harley was making quality bikes that didn't spew gas out the air filter.



I find it interesting how people try to blame the government or the "cheap imports" for America's inability and unwillingness to compete in a global market. Perhaps it's simply that so many Americans are raised to believe they have some god-given right to $80,000+ a year, with FULL medical benefits...that $300,000 home in the 'burbs with 2 $40,000 gas guzzling SUV's in the drive. The fact however is that a LARGE part of what has hurt American workers is NOT the government or the imports, it's American GREED. After all, do we really NEED that 40"+ flat screen plasma TV (with 7.1 surround sound), when a plain ol' 19" CRT works just as well? Do we really NEED things like "smart phones" and "Iphones" when Ma Bell did the job for years? What about that computer you're about to use to debate me with? Intel i5 or better perhaps? In what world does a fry cook at McDonalds really need to make $13 an hour??? Perhaps the problem isn't that "American manufacturing is under siege by their own government", maybe it's simply American's over-developed sense of entitlement. Think about it.

Few people stop to consider how over-payed American workers really are (when compared with other countries). Sure some sense of quality has been restored since the 70's and 80's when corporate mentality took it's toll (American corporate mentality I might add), mainly due to computer aided design, technology and quality control standards however in MANY cases, the price of "Made in America" has gone up exponentially as a result. At the same time, the quality of imported items has also improved significantly..after all, they have access to that computer aided design, tech and quality control as well. For a rational person, this should raise the question, "What's the difference?" - and of course, one of the biggest differences is the workers. On the one hand you have foreign workers, who make pennies on the dollar, who are GRATEFUL just to have a job. On the other hand, you have A LOT of American workers who...wow...expect everything just handed to them with medical benefits (and often still gripe about it anyways). Who pays for that difference? The consumer. American pride is all fine and dandy...but NOT when the consumer is getting raped as a direct result.

Yes, I remember the AMF years of Harley-Davidson, just as I remember the CBS years of Fender. That said, perhaps you should have picked a better analogy as I know -a lot- of people who've started riding Honda or Yamaha over the years because Harley's are NOT worth the price (purchase OR repair) compared with similar bikes...just as a great many of us don't feel that an American Strat is worth the cost compared with a Mexican. When you consider that a Honda Shadow has an MSRP well UNDER $10,000 and Harley Softails START at $18,000...all for similar styling and features...Harley's are no longer "better" than the imports, they're just a lot more expensive. It seems to me that $8000 is A LOT of money, just for the sake of American pride. Personally, I'll take the Shadow.

This is my own opinion, however the fact of the matter is that this ain't the 1950's any more. Chevy's are no longer "better" than Datsuns. We -DO- live in a global market economy, where issues such as "quality control" regarding Mexican or even Asian products are just as good as American. If you remove that useless notion of "American pride", that leaves the consumer with a simple choice; if product "X" has similar features to product "Y" yet provides SUBSTANTIAL savings over the later, then what we have is basic capitalism...the very concept that so many Americans supposedly embrace. For -my- money, that means the imported Made in China bath towels that have the same 440 thread count as the American makers produce, at 1/3 the cost or better! It also means that I'll take that Mexican made Strat -ANY- day (not to mention the 3 Chinese made instruments and one Japanese made instrument in my arsenal).

Instead of blaming the government, perhaps it's simply time that American companies learn to compete in a global market...and this especially goes for American workers.

These are strictly my own personal opinions and should be taken as such.


A bit of a one-sided, over-simplistic, seemingly anti-American, social rant which may, or may not, belong in the Stratocaster section.

Bien sur, juste mon deux centimes...

cheers!


As far as this being a social rant, perhaps, however that doesn't make it any less true. We Americans DO tend to be greedy (myself included) and many DO tend to have an over-developed sense of entitlement. Many Americans do try to blame the government or the cheap imports as apposed to taking responsibility for our own actions as workers. We DO live in a global market economy? How is ANY of that not true? Anyone who finds that "anti-American" probably needs to take a closer look in the mirror. More over, it's my own opinion in any case. If people are allowed to cry about the hardships of the American worker, talk about how we take American guitars for granted and how "American manufacturing is under siege by their own government", then people should be allowed to have an honest opinion contrary to that. I'm simply pointing out why I feel so much of that is sheer and utter nonsense.

Is it overly simplistic? I don't think so. If you consider US Fender vs. Mexican Fender vs. the Asian counter-parts, while there are certainly other factors regarding price, one of the single greatest is undoubtedly the cost of labor. Whether we're talking guitar makers, auto makers or the folks who make bath towels, even if we include other economical factors, something just doesn't add up. Again, in what world does a fry cook at McDonalds deserve to be making $13 an hour or more? I didn't make that much when I was a freakin' machinist!!

Now as far as these issues belonging in the Stratocaster forum, considering the nature of the thread and particularly the nature of the comment I was responding to, then YES, I do think it's quite relevant.


Yes, I am rather long winded (blame it on authors such as Issac Asimov or simply my ability to type 80 wpm) and no, I am NOT shy about my opinions...particularly regarding this issue. If people should take pride in "American Made", then perhaps that pride should be earned - and as far as I'm concerned, raping the consumer just isn't the way to do it. That said, I will amend my last comment - Instead of blaming the government, perhaps it's simply time that American companies learn to compete in a global market...and this especially goes for American workers which includes guitar makers.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 3:29 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:01 pm
Posts: 1598
ckmckool wrote:
I don't have...nor ever did have an MIM strat. The MIA strat that i recently purchased......this:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/ ... ric-guitar
is an AWESOME guitar. It holds perfect tune, sounds phenomenal, and plays like butter.

I could be wrong, but suspect that it would make sense for Fender to use better materials (wood....fretwire...ect.) on MIA's in order to justify the additional expense.
Here's one instance where i'm HAPPY to have paid a premium price.


Ahh...but if you've never owned an MIM, then how exactly do you do an honest comparison? Why would you "suspect" one actually uses "better materials", particularly when the factories in question are right down the road from each other? Does it not seem likely that both factories would in fact use very similar materials? Don't both factories use the exact same tuners and much of the same hardware? My MIM's are "AWESOME" guitars as well...I currently own 6 of them. They all hold perfect tune (except for The Bi_ch...still working on her), they all sound pretty phenomenal (particularly the Strats that have Duncan pickups...American, Mexican or otherwise, I've never been a fan of Fender pickups) and they ALL play like butter. That said however, shouldn't one also acknowledge that such definitions are subjective at best?

My issue isn't with the "premium price", it's with the DEGREE of that price and what you get for that premium (or not). You forked out a premium for your instrument and if it pleases you, I'm happy for you...however for that same price, I could have purchased a brand new MIM, did the upgrades I wanted so that the instrument is tailored to my own personal tastes (at a fraction of the cost of Custom Shop no less) AND had money left over to get a decent amp. Seems to me that I'd be getting A LOT more for the exact same money.

Now here's my question; you said "I don't have...nor ever did have an MIM strat". Since your comment suggests that you didn't really know much regarding the differences between these models ("could be wrong", "suspect", etc), what was it that caused you to by the American model? Did you go into a few music stores and do an honest side by side comparison? Do you have a friend (or band mate) who owns one of both to do a comparison? Or did you simply "believe" the American made instruments were somehow better? Did someone (either in person or perhaps on a forum) suggest this to you? I'm not trying to be rude here at all, however I'm curious as to how one makes an intelligent and informed purchase...particularly a $1300 purchase, if you're not sure of the actual differences. How did you justify that extra $800 for a new instrument, particularly considering so many of the specs are similar or nearly identical to a Mexican?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 5:20 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:57 am
Posts: 2238
Location: UK
All interesting comments. In the UK we suffer similar issues in respect of labour costs with competition from the East both near and far.

With all label products you are, in part perhaps buying in to the history.

Would an Aston Martin be an Aston Martin if it were made in Germany? Is a Zipo lighter the same if made in China?

Any cheaper product made outside of the country of origin is going to have some stigma of being a cheap copy even if it is physically identical to that produced in the historical country of conception.

"A MIA Strat must be better than one made elsewhere because that is where they have always been made so must be truer to the original. " .....That is a nonsense as a (now) less mechanised construction method (which you would associate with cheaper labour) would be closer to the original methods of construction.

There is no denying that some of the MIM components are of lesser quality to those on an off the shelf MIA. However, the foundation components, (the neck and body) seem close to the point of irrelevance now (at least in relation to quality) and a number of other components are identical.

Many of these comments are borne of me arguing with myself. Given the choice of a high end MIM or low end MIA I'd go MiA. But I can't really justify that choice on anything more than badge snobbery.

_________________
John

After all this time I should be better.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 6:00 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:01 pm
Posts: 1598
Ok, to help people to better understand -why- I'm always such a snit about all of this, here's another way of thinking about this issue...

Let's say that Fender were to produce a US made instrument that's absolutely identical to the MIM Standard. Same woods, same finish, same pickups, etc.. I don't think I'm too far off base in suggesting that there's a VERY good chance the American made instrument would still cost a bit more.perhaps $150 to $200 more for the exact same "features". This alone suggests a problem. We'd be talking about 2 otherwise identical guitars, but one costs more simply because it was made in the US. To make this matter worse, there are people, perhaps like our friend Zentar there, who would buy that US made Strat, simply because it was "American Made", as though that actually signifies something. What's even sadder however is that there are people on this forum...perhaps participating in this very discussion, who will SWEAR up and down that the US made instrument is somehow "better"...and conversely that the Mexican made instrument is somehow inferior. The instruments could be absolutely identical down to the last detail, but if one says "Made in USA", all of a sudden preconceptions and nationalistic bias comes into play. If it's made in the US and if it costs more, then something must be better...right? Of course these people will then try and convince others, particularly those less educated, perhaps folks such as ckmckool there...and the cycle of ignorance simply continues. As my brother says, "you just can't fix stupid". Can anyone see why such ignorance is more than just a little irritating?

The problem here is that this type of nationalistic mentality no longer works in a global market economy...if people keep trying to perpetuate this type of thinking, the US economy is completely doomed. Just as "Bob's Grocery Store" had to compete with "Al's Grocery Store" back in the 40's and 50's, the US has to compete with Japan, China, Mexico and everyone else...and whining about our own government (flawed and corrupt as it may be) isn't going to change that, otherwise we'll be pushed right out of the market, just as Bob and Al were by the likes of Giant Eagle and Acme.

If such thinking offends people, then perhaps it's time people start asking why. If I'm going to be considered as "anti-American" then let it be in the cause of logic and common sense and NOT preconceptions and ignorance. -If- there was some substantial difference to justify the cost of an American made Strat, I might actually consider one, however the so called "features" are simply disproportionate to the exceptional difference in cost...and a good portion of that is very much due to the cost of labor in this country. Trying to rationalize this with some sense of nationalist pride is simply irrational. In coming years, this is going to seriously hurt this once great country of ours, not help.

Either people will get this or they won't. I'm done.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 8:09 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:11 pm
Posts: 190
"Now here's my question; you said "I don't have...nor ever did have an MIM strat". Since your comment suggests that you didn't really know much regarding the differences between these models ("could be wrong", "suspect", etc), what was it that caused you to by the American model? Did you go into a few music stores and do an honest side by side comparison? Do you have a friend (or band mate) who owns one of both to do a comparison?"

Heck no. I had a little extra coin, and decided for once to get a real Fender strat ....and decided further to just splurge on the MIA. Did'nt want to chance gettin anything but the best in this instance.
Maybe subconsciously I expect the best quality from MIA products- (although it goes against my grain to overpay). Something akin to our MIA military jets being 2nd to none on the world market. Only the best American products still survive today and have an international market to prove it.
Except for this instance, i likely would've went for the MIM.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 9:46 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon May 23, 2011 12:34 am
Posts: 73
01GT eibach wrote:
More than anything, I see participating in these MIA vs MIM threads as a rite of passage in the forum ...

8)


Sigh, really?
Don't get me wrong, I love reading everyone's opinion, and going through a thread like this allows me to think about my own opinions, and review them. But I doubt that anyone honestly thinks there is going to be consensus on the "perfect answer", when we all know the vagueness of the question, combined with the many variables involved.

So here's my chance at participation!

I'll say that first off, I generally agree with EVERYONE, and I usually do when reading contentious threads (MIM Vs. MIA doesn't compare to a typically mental tonewood thread!), mostly because they are entirely correct - from their point of view. That is important to note.

Secondly, I can't really say that I have, as an Australian, a huge choice in MIM guitars. Most of the Mexican Fenders we see are signature models, FSR and the like. I don't think that there is an acceptable price difference after shipping, or something along those lines. MIM standards are available, but you'd have to look for them.

OK. Now, to see this as purely objective question, I'd say that statistically, due to the fact that Corona is the 'flagship' plant, given apparently the 'choicest woods' and releases the top-of-the-line products - American Strats are yes, indeed better than Mexican ones. (but this takes absolutely no account of price - and therefore value)

If you take price and value into account, I don't doubt that the Mexican Stratocaster will win. There is simply a greater markup than the actual value of the components. And whether this is due to improved 'workmanship' has already been demonstrated as a very weak point, given the amount of CNC machining and automated production. A Mexican Strat is a top-notch musical instrument - limited in reality only by the skill of the player.

There - an answer to the question: An American Strat is better (on average) than a Mexican, BUT the Mexican is better value. I've had to insert "on average", because of the fully accepted and appreciated "dogs and gems" arguments. I have applied Regression towards the mean to this point - there will be extreme examples from both factories, but due to the dilution of regular examples, the average is still the relative benchmark.

Now my thoughts 8)
Although I love reading lomitus' posts - deep and considered for the most part, - I have to argue against his dismissal of perception, or in this case 'perceived value'.

For me, it is a very important aspect, and the reason why I have my Am. Std. Strat. Here's a story:
As a teenager, I struggled to express my passion for the world using a poor, shoddy, substandard strat knockoff. It had a warped neck and horrific action among other defects, and I was dismayed by my lack of progress. A neighbouring kid had a Squier, and I drooled over his axe. I lamented that my skills were not as good (although at the time I was not interested in emulating his Hendrix riffing), and I wished I had a guitar like his. The Squiers of the time weren't great by any stretch, but it was a damn sight better than my guitar, and I could tell I was missing out.
Fast forward a few years to find me as a kid at a pub, awestruck - a guitarist after his set, winks and hands over a Real American Stratocaster! It almost felt as if the guitar was playing me, it was such a different experience. By then, I had given up my dreams, frustrated. (I had another guitar - a LP copy that was also terrible. Another story)
Decades later, I move to another city. With more free time on my hands, I find a Epi LP in a pawnshop, and get it. Amazed by the quality of more modern clones, I soon after grab a Squier Affinity. Skill levels I had previously thought unobtainable appear in sight, and pass. No longer an impoverished kid, I give myself the ultimate treat - a trip down to a guitar store to buy a Holy Grail. Candy Apple Red American Standard Stratocaster with maple fretboard - now there are no excuses. With this baby, you can't blame the tools, you have to come up with the goods.


In my eyes, and in many others - the American Standard Stratocaster is the standard. The GOLD standard, if you like, of what a good electric guitar is. This is perception.
When I got mine, this perception made me value it above all others. It made me practice. It prevented me from putting it down. My perception was reinforced by the artists.
"You naive sod!", the people yell. "Your perception was based on ignorance!" Well, yes, it was. But that does not take away from the value I gained from this perspective. Nowadays, I don't care about the label. I know how to set up my instruments, something I obviously had no idea about before. I understand the compromises made with parts and materials, and the costs incurred when parts are "upgraded". This knowledge has only come about, however, because my interest was ignited by my perception.

Now, I wouldn't have any issues buying a Mexican strat. It might even be used more - my CIC CV is used more at the moment than the MIA. But I'm never letting go of that American mojo! I have about 10 guitars these days, so I have options, though.

Now: my opinion: :roll:
American Strats are better than Mexican strats because, despite the massive price hike, an American Strat best represents the highest standards of electric guitar manufacture from Fender. (Custom Shop and Deluxe models share the high standards, but incorporate "above and beyond" details.)

lomitus, much love and respect good sir. I hope you feel I'm not picking on you, or your opinions. I was just expanding on thoughts raised by your post. Nothing I like more than reading a long post :wink: and you usually deliver.

Jono


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 9:40 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:58 am
Posts: 2187
I've had well over a dozen stratocasters in the past five years.... MIM, MIA, and Warmoth.

The best one for feel and tone was an American Deluxe 50th Anniversery.

I had a Highway 1 that needed several frets reseated.

I had a Classic 50's that needed its frets smoothed out. Pickups were awesome

Warmoth had it all, but their finishes are not durable.

And lots of others... American Standards, MIM Deluxes, Limited Editions... etc.

Overall, there is little difference other than quality of materials and finishes....

MIA and MIM are increasingly become multi-piece bodies. Not two piece, but rather three to five pieces of wood blocks glued together then covered with a veneer for Ash or burst finishes.

Neck woods are of similar fashion, but MIA Standards and above do a better job with the frets and staining/finishing.

Don't forget about electronics. Fender puts different control pots on the MIA line versus the MIM line.

Hardware quality is comparable.

You'll get better fretwork, finish, and electronics on a MIA Standard than a MIM Standard. However, the Deluxe MIM I usually find are right on par with MIA Standards.

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


facebook.com/313DBC


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 1:37 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2015 1:15 pm
Posts: 3
Tough call. I mean a good guitar is a good guitar right? If I was going to try and do a comparison I would prol' start by pairing up the MIM/MIA lines something like...

MIM Standard - American Standard

MIM Classic series - American vintage

MIM Artist series - MIA Artist series

MIM Classic player and Road Worn series - MIA Custom shop


Not sure where the American Special would fit... kind of is it's own thing.


Personally, I like the newest American Standard strats from that list. They hit the mark when they first came out in 87 and now they hit it again with the newest version. Slightly pricey now at $1299.99 but I was lucky enough to get mine new in 2013 for only $950 on sale so ......heh-heh-heh.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 2:30 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:27 pm
Posts: 3448
Location: Connecticut
Where it comes to neck and fret issues. Much of this has to do with the time span between shipping from either Fender MIM or MIA and the time the guitar sits in the store. Now some stores are supposedly controlled as far as humidity and ambient temperatures. Well in the best case scenario if the store also owns the building then they can really control the HVAC system and its servicing. I doubt seriously that in a large shopping center a Guitar Center owns the entire building which is often split between 2 to 4 other retailers. In each separate building ( not stores ) the HVAC is from One central location. It is then fed out to the other stores which have their own controls, but fine tuning the entire store is extremely expensive. Sure the acoustic section can be controlled to a higher degree but the main floor houses guitars, percussion and keyboards.. Not possible to keep a giant retail space like a Guitar Center in optimum humidity and ambient temperature day in / night in all year.

My point is in the last two / three weeks of walking in the same GC, I could feel the temperature and humidity were different each time. So with that a guitars that was prepped at the factory prior to shipping is not going to be in the same playability after having set for a few weeks in a fluctuating environment. My recent acquisition of a Fender Special Run. It had arrived just a couple days before and I snapped it up as soon as I picked it up. It's a popular motif. Black with aged white pup covers and controls and a maple neck. It mimics the David Gilmour Strat style. There was another one which arrived after I bought mine and it was sold in less than a week.. Anyway this one was ready to play, all I did was change strings, double-check the intonation since I don't need or rarely use the trem and off we went.
1+ or so month later and the guitar is just as playable as it was when I bought it.
So the argument that MIM's are not well set up as compared to MIA's is incorrect. A custom shop left in a store without proper humidity and ambient temperature will not be fun to play in a couple of weeks.

Wood expands and shrinks tremendously since it is porous, regardless of finish and steel frets have 1000 times less elasticity. thus a guitar neck that feels like no one has set it up since being built...

As for hardware and all that is about the guitars particular price point... You cannot expect a $500 to $700 guitar to be on par with a $2800 CS... However a well set up MIM, CS and MIA in your hands with similar necks, pups and all would be difficult to point out which is which strictly on feel...

_________________
"C'est parti mon Kiki "


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 10:02 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:57 am
Posts: 2238
Location: UK
I follow your reasoning but then most homes aren't humidity controlled so any guitar, from any source, is going to be subject to the same issues once you get them home.

If anything I have come to my conclusions having the guitars over a period of time, so they will all have moved subject to the atmospheric conditions.

I can't be entirely subjective as my MIM lives in Wales by the coast and my MIA's are in Essex (which is the driest county in the UK). However, my MIM seems intent on not staying in tune where the MIA's seem to only need a tweek on the tuners once in a blue moon.

The PUPs on my MIM are hateful and the whole guitar seems to lack the sustain of my MIA's even after replacing the trem with a an American Deluxe (as per one of my MIA's). I'm now revving up to block the trem to see if that helps.

_________________
John

After all this time I should be better.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 10:07 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:27 pm
Posts: 3448
Location: Connecticut
I was not referring to a home but a guitar store where all the guitars are outside of their cases hanging for long periods of time. That and the shipping and conditions at the time.

As for tuning that would be either an issue with the tuners perhaps the nut or/and the saddles that catch the strings.
Sustain can be improved, checking what is the trem block ( some MIM's have the much thinner cast block)
Neck to body joint and fastening has a huge effect on sustain. It doesn't take much to dampen the vibrations . A possible upgrade is replacing the 4 neck screws with brass wood inserts and fine threaded bolts. I have done this on some of my Strats and the result is always impressive.
Granted some of the MIM pups do lack a bit of Oomph but I find that is also a result of the amp.
For instance my 1998 Mim Stratocaster does not sound as good thru my Pro Junior as it does thru my early 60's Magnatone Classic 401... Go figure but sometimes it's just the amp that isn't a good match..

_________________
"C'est parti mon Kiki "


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2015 2:44 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:11 pm
Posts: 60
Location: Metro Detroit
I have 11 Strats, 4 American and 7 MIM. Love them all. Each is unique. All could be "improved" probably, but I'm not one for messing with or customizing guitars.

My quality analysis may be a bit skewed, as most of the MIMs are not the standard (none in fact). I have 4 Classic Player's (Custom Shop designed, two 50s, two 60s, one an Anniversary edition and one an FSR), one Artist Series (Kenny Wayne Shepherd). One is a Road Worn (60s). The last MIM is a Classic Series 50's.

The Americans are a 62 USVRI, a Clapton Signature Series and 2 American Standards, a 2007 (that appears to have 2008 specs) and a 2012. So of the 11, only 3 share the same USVRI pickups, and 2 the Custom Shop 69 pickups. So, 7 unique pickup "flavors" among them. And maybe as many as 9 unique neck profiles. Color dupes in white, black, 3 tone sunburst (with two different gold finishes, Shoreline Gold and Vegas Gold). One Sonic Blue, one Fiesta Red and Desert Sand.

So there is sufficient variety in many to "justify" their possession along with the others. Of course the Americans all came with hard shell cases (this is a percentage of the buy in cost often overlooked). The MIMs all with gig bags, except the 60th Anniversary in Desert Sand and the Kenny Wayne Shepherd (bought used, it has a budget Fender hard case, not sure what is included originally).

They all sound good to great. All respond to tweaking an amp to meet their own individuality. All can be made to sound infinitely better by being placed in the hands of a much more skilled player. And also worse, by being played by a beginner. And so on.

But each is inspiring in it's own right, is capable of awesome sound and looks terrific. Is one a better "bang for the buck"? Decide for yourself. I need to go play one of them!

_________________
"If you don't know the blues... there's no point in picking up the guitar and playing rock and roll or any other form of popular music".
Keith Richards


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2015 3:02 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Have you got a pic of the "Vegas Gold" Strat, T-bone?

I'm not familiar with that color.

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: American Strats ARE better than MIMs? Your thoughts.
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 4:20 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 9:30 am
Posts: 9
I recently bought a used 2012 USA Standard (FSR in Lake Placid Blue, left handed). Prior to that I had a MIM (it was a while ago, don't remember the details but it was a bog standard leftie model).

From recollection, I would say the MIA sounds better - more authentic if that's not too flaky a description. The MIM always sounded a little muddy to my ears.

But the big difference is that my MIA stays in tune! Now I'm only comparing two guitars, so it might not be definitive, but the one thing that always frustrated me was the MIM going out of tune every time I used the trem (like Hank, not like Eddie!). Just knowing that I can play the guitar all night and not worry about tuning up between every song is enough, on a practical level, to justify the extra cost.

Do I feel a little bit cool gigging a "real" Strat? Absolutely! Snobbery is hard to shake off! But as a working instrument, this is also better suited to my needs, makes me more confident in my tone, and therefore makes me relax and play better - and I think that's what really counts.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 152 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11  Next
Go to page Previous  1 ... 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11  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: