MIM fender strats? anyone have one?

[9ball]

somebody wants to trade me a mid-nineties one for a boss delay pedal,sonic stomp, and an MXR phase 90. good deal ya think?
i've never played one.

 

[Tawlks]

Depends how much you want a MIM strat and how much you like your pedals really.

Pedals new value ~£330. Cost of a new MIM standard strat ~£350.

Used value of pedals ~£220 Cost of a used MIM standard strat £200-300 depending on condition.

I've played enough to know that they're decent, though when you buy it, buy new pots and all that wiring crap and rewire it, I'd get a new pickup if it was me, but that's me. A big quality difference in Mexico/Asian guitars Vs american is quallity of wiring componants.

 

[mysticaxe]

If the strat is in decent shape, it's a fair trade. I'd play it before doing anything - some tacocasters play really well, some don't. As Tawlks said - it depends on if you want a strat...

 

[Meathead]

Try it first...
I have a MIM tele that was the "best of the bunch" in tone and playing when I tried out a dozen tele's at the store.
Some MIM and MIC strats can sound and play just as good (with a setup) as a USA strat...I think it's more hit and miss with the imports.

 

[blackba]

I have a '93 MIM strat. It was my first electric guitar. I have done alot of work to it, new pots, new saddles, new pickups, added a string tree, new bone nut. Its been a good guitar for me and plays well. I have thought about replacing the trem block, but haven't.

I agree about playing one first. Lower end guitars usually have more variation than higher end guitars. Also, later MIM strats have Alder bodies. Mine has a Poplar body, which does not sustain as well as my Alder bodied MIA strats.

 

[9ball]

yeah i told him to bring it over so i could check it out. according to the serial # it's a '96. so whatever wood they used that year i guess is what it has.
i don't even really use those pedals anyways though lol. i would eventually make it kind of a project guitar if i got it - replace tuners, pickups, maybe paint it, trem,ect.

 

[mysticaxe]

yeah i told him to bring it over so i could check it out. according to the serial # it's a '96. so whatever wood they used that year i guess is what it has.
i don't even really use those pedals anyways though lol. i would eventually make it kind of a project guitar if i got it - replace tuners, pickups, maybe paint it, trem,ect.

Which means you are lining yourself up to spend a few hundred bucks on a guitar that's only worth a few hundred... Not sayin, just sayin, ya know?

 

[King Crimson]

A big quality difference in Mexico/Asian guitars Vs american is quallity of wiring componants.

BULLSHIT! I've had many MIM & American Strats and Jazz Basses over the years. There's no difference other than the MIM phobia.

Save yourself some $$$ and go with the MIM and don't mess with the guts unless there is something wrong there.

And learn to spell..."Components & American."

 

[Isaac]

Play it first, if you like it, then trade. Some Mexi Strat are as good as USA ones. Some feel like Squiers. It's all up to the individual instrument.

 

[9ball]

yeah i told him to bring it over so i could check it out. according to the serial # it's a '96. so whatever wood they used that year i guess is what it has.
i don't even really use those pedals anyways though lol. i would eventually make it kind of a project guitar if i got it - replace tuners, pickups, maybe paint it, trem,ect.

Which means you are lining yourself up to spend a few hundred bucks on a guitar that's only worth a few hundred... Not sayin, just sayin, ya know?

yeah well, i say i will do that eventually, but it's like my special edition DV8R - i finally put the mustaine livewires in it, and i've been wanting to put all new chrome hardware on it instead of black for a year or so now, i just haven't yet lol.
i would probably at least put new pickups in it though lol

 

[TeleBlaster]

Find out the model. (I didn't read the whole thread, sorry if I missed it)
Some of them are awesome!
I bought one off this forum, it was Deluxe Players model.
I got it for my daughters to learn on.
Turned out to have the most awesome neck and Strat tone ever! 12" radius and medium jumbos!
My only beef was I wish it had a 22 frets.
Anyways, it was a great deal. Some of these are really, really good.

 

[blackba]

yeah i told him to bring it over so i could check it out. according to the serial # it's a '96. so whatever wood they used that year i guess is what it has.
i don't even really use those pedals anyways though lol. i would eventually make it kind of a project guitar if i got it - replace tuners, pickups, maybe paint it, trem,ect.

I think a '96 is still a poplar body, but I am not sure.

The stock parts on the MIA were all better quality than my '93 MIM strat. The stock MIA pickups were better than the MIM, but still not great. Point being is that whether you get a MIA, MIJ or MIM strat, stock they leave plenty of room for upgrades.

I did have a MIM deluxe players strat. That was a really nice guitar. I didn't feel like upgrading the pickups and got a great deal on a used MIA strat so I sold it.

 

[Bishop5150]

I had one a few years ago that had a Floyd and a humbucker. I quicky replaced the stock humbucker for a Duncan. Other than that it was a great guitar. I just don't really like strats so I let it go. I just prefer a Charvel or similiar super strat style guitar. But it was a nice guitar.

 

[9ball]

well that's cool.
yeah so i emailed him back this morning and told him to bring it over - haven't heard back from him, maybe he changed his mind lol

 

[badger71]

measure the guitar on its own merits...not where it was made.

 

[Motorpud]

My first guitar was a MIM strat Actually I still have it somewhere, the thing that most sticks out is that the bridge pickup sucked and if you use the trem very much it knols it out of tune. Other than that it's a great guitar, great neck and playability on the one I have. I replaced the bridge with a SD hot rails and it turned into a metal machine

 

[racerevlon]

I had a MIM strat and every one I've played has some harmonic feedback/resonance on the G string, facilitating the necessity to install a second string tree. Other than that--solid guitar--never should have sold mine.

 

[9ball]

I had a MIM strat and every one I've played has some harmonic feedback/resonance on the G string, facilitating the necessity to install a second string tree. Other than that--solid guitar--never should have sold mine.

that's weird. a second string tree? how's that work? lol
maybe it has something to do with the bridge saddle/nut?

 

[Sierra Voodoo]

I have one that I have been using as a third guitar for years. Mine is HSS style to which I did make a few modifications. I changed the bridge pick-up to a sh-4 JB model, I changed the saddles to a set for Graph Tech, changed the string tree on the headstock and also changed the solid white pick guard to a white pearloid one. The last thing I did was block the tremelo thus in theory making the guitar act like a hardtail. I think the guitar plays great and I never hesitate to use it. I currently have it set-up to handle drop tunings....down to C.

I also have the ability to compare this to a better quality Fender as I also have a Fender American HSS that also has a JB model pick-up in the bridge position. Also, both guitars have a maple neck. Anyway, while the difference in quality between the two is evident, the MIM strat plays and sounds nearly equal to the American model. They both play great and the MIM strat has continuously served me well. Tonally, they are both excellent and allow me to cover a wide range of music (covers).

With a few minor upgrades, I think MIM strats are one of the best bangs for the buck when it comes to guitars.

 

[jlbaxe]

MIM = Made in Mexico by Mexicans
USA = Made in USA By Mexicans
The 2 factories are what ? 30 miles apart?