Fender™ Stratocaster™ Keychain. This model is also a favorite for modding, often by swapping out pickups and pots. When I entered my local music store on that fateful day, the first thing that I noticed about the Fender Mexican Stratocaster was its sleek, eye-catching design. “Midnight wine” is no longer available for the Player Stratocaster, but you can choose between five other colors: 3-color sunburst (like the original 50s Strats), black (like Eric Clapton’s “Blackie”), polar white (the Jimi Hendrix-style look), tidepool blue (for 60s flavor), or buttercream yellow (a new option). Yet, only the Player series preserves the two-toned Spaghetti letters of the American-style Fender logo. Again, I'm not a bass player so I could be way off on that. With a price difference of around $600 brand new, the MIM is seen as a way of getting Fender quality on a relatively small budget. Since it first hit the music scene, the Strat was a favorite among guitarists of many styles. There are obviously going to be some differences in quality there. Of course, the cost is obviously more than appealing when it comes to the Mexican strats, but the big question is how do they stack up otherwise. In contrast, the classic SSS Strats are better suited for rock, blues and country. Luckily, the MIM Strat achieves that balance between looking good and playing well. My Favorite Strat is my MIM Vintera 70’s Strat. It also has a modern c-shaped maple neck. Instead, the Standard series has the cursive, 70s-era logo. Well, here’s a recipe for a Strat that will ‘sing’… Easy MIM Strat Mods. I have a MIM Strat, not a terribly expensive guitar, but nice. Condition is "Used". or Best Offer. I usually play without a whammy bar, because I don’t like constantly needing to re-tune my guitar. Fender Mexican Stratocaster Guitar Review. Body Finish: Polyurethane 3. For a better comparison, stack them against guitars from the likes of Jackson, PRS, Schecter, or ESP in the same price range. My Mexican-made Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS was the perfect choice for me, because of my budget and style of playing. This is a standard feature for all MIM models. Enter: the Mexican Stratocaster. The biggest variance between the various Mexican models from a hardware or feature perspective lies within the pickup arrangements, the left or right-hand orientation, and the bridges. I'm actually quite surprised how nice it is and how sweet it plays. The Stratocaster ticked all of those boxes and has been in production ever since. The Fender Stratocaster is one of the absolute staples of the electric guitar. In 1990, Fender started manufacturing some of their guitars in a Mexican facility only ~200 miles away from their California production facility. But it's fair to say the MIM will handle more "whammy action" or aggressive bending without having to re-tune. In fact, it’s the sound quality of the American Strat that really sets it apart from the lower-cost Mexican models. Since 1954, the Stratocaster has been a Holy Grail model that many guitarists aspire to own one day, taking their place beside Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Eric Johnson and John Frusciante. lighter wood and less strict quality control), but Mexican Stratocasters don’t play or sound quite as good as the American varieties. After testing other models in the same price range, I chose this Mexican Strat because of its good-quality design and versatile sound. Additionally, the tuning pegs on the MIA Strat are staggered, with the space between the posts decreasing toward the high E string. Follow along with Katie Palmer, MIM’s curator of education, to entertaining activities that you can do at home with your little ones or join Katie for online Mini Music Makers classes every Wednesday, for children ages 0–5. or Best Offer. Don’t worry – I only coiled the cables for my Vox wah pedal review, to show how they connect to the pedal. MIM Strats have the same distinct headstock as MIA Strats. I just bought i nice Fender Strat MIM metallic Sage Green - I really love it but it has 2 problems : 1. the high e strings notes in the upper fretboard does'nt have sustain and the notes chokes/ die quickly 2. the frets are NOT smooth ! I used some primer and painted the faces the rusty red and left the edges the original finish. Yet, it may not be the best option if you’re into heavier genres, you frequently use your whammy bar or you want that pure, bright vintage Strat sound. Ultimately, no. Famous Fender strat players include Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, and literally too many others to list. Even the less glamorous deluxe models sit at around $800, and the American standard series that many players clamor for generally retails at around $1,000. The ONLY thing Epiphones and MIM Fenders have in common are that they're priced more reasonably than MIA guitars. The Mexican Stratocaster, like the American Stratocaster, benefits from sturdy chrome hardware that keeps your strings firmly in place, balances the tension between the front and back of your guitar and adjusts the volume and tone of your output. This way, you’ll get a better idea of which one might be the one for you. That's not to say the "Vintage-Style" tuners on the CV are poor. Looks like Fender announced a souped up MIM strat at NAMM. To the untrained eye and ear, Mexican-made and American-made Stratocasters may seem interchangeable. The older MIM Standard series also has some different features to the newer MIM Player series, which Fender released in 2018. Go with the fender. ... Fender Stratocaster MIM. While this has sparked a lot of debate about the quality of the instruments, most reports indicate that players purchasing the Mexican made Stratocaster have been incredibly happy with the results. Despite this, Fender is keen not to rest on its laurels and instead keeps the range bang up to date and ahead of the competition. The new Fender American Ultra Stratocaster has been tweaked to make it the most perfectly playable Strat yet, but we're even more smitten by the Tom Morello signature Stratocaster. We may link to products if we deem helpful to the reader. One of the first things I noticed about my Strat when I tried it at the store was its smooth frets. Customs services and international tracking provided. 2.) To achieve the more wallet friendly retail value, slightly different materials are used, but the MiM (made in Mexico) strats are designed to reach the same performance and overall specs as any other guitar that comes down the main Fender assembly lines. It's worth noting that both guitars … This subtle flattening of the traditional c-shape makes it easier to move around your fretboard, especially if you have smaller hands. The owner and I decided to use sealed Gotoh keys with a 16:1 turning ratio (Fig. Yet, even the Player series doesn’t quite match the richness of American Strats, as we’ll see in the next section. This is a really nice body. ** Has some marks on the head from removing the bushings from the Tuners. By Mike Duffy Since Leo Fender initially introduced it in 1954, the traditional Fender Stratocaster has been known to have three single-coil pickups, and in the six-plus decades since that historic day, that design hasn’t changed much. Especially since I play guitar almost every day, I was happy to find one with a smooth, comfortable fretboard. The Maple and Rosewood comes from the same lots. Fender offer two Standard Strats - the MIM (Made in Mexico) or Standard Stratocaster, and MIA (Made in America) or American Standard Stratocaster. Fit and finish may not be as good as a made in the US, or made in Japan Strat, but this guitar is a very good value and excellent entry point if you want the Fender name on the headstock of your guitar. The question ultimately becomes whether the drop off in playability makes the significantly lower price cease to be worth it. Eight years ago, I became the proud owner of my own Mexican-made Strat: a Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS. With the differences in maple or rosewood necks and black or white scratch guards, you can easily find one of these instruments that will best suit your particular aesthetic tastes. Although Lowell George installed a Tele bridge pickup in his Strat, it’s more common for players to put a Strat pickup in the middle position of a Tele, along with a five-way switch. With today’s economy being what it is, it makes sense that a lot of players are operating within a lower budget. Enter the Fender Mexican Stratocaster. Fret Size: Medium Jumbo 11. Obviously depends on the parts, but that is what a strat is, a collection of parts, customshop … The Fender Special Stratocaster, or Standard Strat Special Edition, was priced above the Korean Squiers, but below the basic Fender Japan Standard Strats. The price is $799, $200 more than a standard MIM, but I might need to pull the trigger on one I'm intrigued since it has locking tuners and a 12" radius 22 fret board. I manager a guitar store for a few years, a MIM strat can be on par with an American made (not super duper common, but it definitely happens), and it will surely feel better than the classic vibe (which is a good If you want your Strat to sound brighter, try a 0 Reverb's MIM Strat Picks Snag a Deal on an MIM Strat Shop More Fender American Stratocasters Like Fender's MIM guitars, American-made Stratocasters are available in many different models. I bought this for a Strat that I am currently building. I would like to Aquire another Vintera 70’s Strat. All Mexican Strats are built with a 9.5”-radius fretboard. That sort of pricing just isn’t realistic for the budge… On a closer look, you may notice some subtle design and hardware differences between the American and Mexican Strat. Neck Shape: “C” Shape 6. We look at three different Stratocaster bridge upgrade options, American and Vintage styles, that can fit in either Fender or Squier guitars. Has serial number which is visible in the pics. A cheaper alternative to the MIA Fender Strat is the MIM (made in Mexico) Strat, with the Mexican Standard going for around $600 new, compared to over $1000 for the American Standard. What is considered the best quality 5-way switch that will fit a 2002 MIM Strat? Pre … Fast & Free shipping on many items! This balances the tension between the front and back components of your guitar and gives you smoother vibratos when you use your whammy bar. If you want stronger treble, you’re better off with maple. This guitar has clean and smooth action and as for sustain it has plenty as I often find myself right hand muting it to control the sustain. Body Material: Alder 2. Still, there are key differences in the design, hardware and sound of the MIM (Made in Mexico) versus the MIA Strat, which I’ll cover throughout the article. Back in the mists of late 1991, a new listing began to appear among the Fender guitars in the UK guitar magazines. Are the Stock MIM Strat Pickups Today Different Than Back Then? As you’d expect, the components used for Made-in-Mexico (MIM) guitars aren’t quite as high-quality as the USA-made guitars, but the Mexican facilities are well-run and produce quality instruments. If you’re looking to invest in a high-quality instrument that will retain its value, however, then an American-made Strat will probably best fit the bill – or, indeed a signature model made in collaboration with a big-name artist. I have used Gotoh products many times and they a reputation for high quality. Some models include licensed Floyd Rose tremolo bridges that take the price up around an additional $100. $19.99 Locate a Fender Authorized Dealer Buy Online. This makes MIM Strats excellent mid-level electric guitars for almost every genre of playing, except for metal. Pickups, electronics, and wood are all different when we compare the latest with the years back. Play Guitar Notes - Guitar and gear reviews. Even the alnico pickups on the Player series don’t quite come close to that full, legendary Stratocaster sound. Unlike the tuning pegs on American-made Strats, the ones on Mexican-made Strats are straight instead of staggered. The cursive, CBS-era Fender logo on my Mexican Standard Strat. I have a re-issue Tele Deluxe, Custom, and Thinline, and they're much better guitars than the originals were. The features of Mexican Stratocaster include: 1 – Alder bodies with flame maple tops 2 – C-shaped maple necks 3 – Maple or rosewood fretboards 4 – 21 medium jumbo frets 5 – Wide selection of pickup arrangements (HH, HSS, HSH, SSS, etc) 6 – 3 or 5-way selector switches 7 – Tremolo bridges. My Standard has a rosewood fretboard, which has an even warmer tone than pau ferro. This leads a lot of people who think they know what they're talking about to assume there is a linear quality scale. MIM Strat Body- Quality! Phillip McKnight is a Fender player, dealer and repairman, and even he wasn’t sure of the differences between them, aside from their retail prices. Just a note - this is not just a "MIM vs. MIA - What's Better" kind of a post. Because of their single-coil alnico pickups, MIM Player Strats have a brighter tone than the MIM Standards, which makes them sound more like MIA Strats. Model Classic Vibe Strat MIM Strat Website 50's - Squierguitars.com 60's - Squierguitars.com Fender.com Weight 3.3 kg / 7 lbs 5 oz 3.6 kg / 7lbs 14oz Tuners Vintage-Style Fender Standard Cast/Sealed Neck Bolt-on Maple 0.2 Inch Thread Tremolo Arm Whammy Bar for MIM Strat Stratocaster Electric Guitar Chrome 4.1 out of 5 stars 264 $5.96 $ 5. 18 watchers. The new Stock MIM S trat pickups are good and maybe too modern or hot for the taste. Fender Stratocaster mim HSS Maple Neck 2014 custom rootbeer sparkle flake finish. LH Loaded Body SSS. Fingerboard Material: Indian Laurel 8. The Fralin quality and MIM quality is better than anything I ever played or owned in the 70's. Small-handed guitar players will also like the medium-jumbo frets, which means your fingers don’t have to stretch as far when you’re playing barre chords or power chords. However, depending on the guitarist or what they need from the guitar, the price may not be worth it. Players have the option of a maple fretboard, optimized for brightness, or a pau ferro fretboard, optimized for warmth. Players closely capture the bright, snappy charm of the MIAs, while Standards offer a warmer take on the classic Strat sound. Especially on the Player HSS models, this creates more nuanced bridge tones. That sort of pricing just isn’t realistic for the budgets of many, especially intermediate players that are really only just now getting off the ground with their musical careers. Design and hardware aside, sound is where Mexican Strats truly shine. Try searching a different location below or contact Fender Customer Service at 800-856-9801. Top Rated Gear: Fender Limited Edition Player Stratocaster Electric Guitar, 22 Frets, Modern "C" Shape Neck, Maple Fingerboard, Gloss Polyester, Lake Placid … Watch this video for a closer look at the differences between the 2017 Fender Mexican Standard Stratocaster and the 2018 Fender Mexican Player Stratocaster. It dropped right in perfectly and screwed down with no trouble at all. But it’s never been anything that a simple saddle adjustment couldn’t fix. A Fendar Standard MIM will cost you $499.99 US at several online stores such as Guitar Center, or Musicians Friend etc. For me there is no question on the Strats though. ... the saddles alone are worth the price and the bridge plate and the quality of the chrome plating are decent as well. Neck Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm) 7. $499, made in Mexico; Maple “C” shaped neck, alder body, 25.5 scale length, 21 frets. I got a prewired strat pickguard with the blues hot pickups and the blender mod with master tone for my 2012 MIM strat! Yet, unlike the American-made and Mexican Standard Strats, the Player series have one tone knob for the neck/middle pickup and one for the bridge pickup, instead of the traditional neck pickup knob and middle pickup knob. They have a versatile and consistently strong sound, whether you’re playing 50s rockabilly, 70s prog-rock, 80s blues or 2000s alternative. After years of playing a hand-me-down Yamaha RGX310, my family surprised me with the ultimate graduation present: the chance to pick out my own electric guitar. There were many similar-priced guitars I tried whose fret ends dug into my hand as I slid up and down the neck. The MIM is installed with more expensive Fender Standard Cast tuners. I honestly couldn’t be happier, it was easy to install, and my strat sounds amazing. They just don’t have that extra oomph that makes an American Strat an American Strat. Pickups can be different depending on the build and model. It’s pretty much a toss up between that model and the Gibson Les Paul as the number one iconic guitar out there. $12.99 Fender® Since 1954 Strat® T-Shirt. It looked like my uncle’s Clapton-style American Strat, but with a deep purple gloss called “midnight wine.”. To compare them is obviously to stack a $600 guitar against one that might cost $400 or $500 more, however. Again, I'm not a bass player so I could be way off on that. Here’s the main difference, if we’re talking about Standard models: it’s who assembles them. Still, the Fender Mexican Stratocaster can give you that good-quality, signature Strat sound at a lower price. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive regular updates. Not far better, but better. It was all sanded off when i got it. The Fender Standard Stratocaster (made in Mexico) just might be the most popular guitar under $500. This Squier Strat vs Fender Strat comparison will take you through the key criteria that differentiate the Squier from the Fender Stratocasters, including video sound tests. Aside from the Gibson Les Paul and Fender Telecaster, there’s no electric guitar quite as iconic as the Fender Stratocaster. However, both Standard and Player fretboards are exactly the same length. Instead, mine has an open-coil humberbucker pickup at the bridge and single-coil pickups at the neck and middle. Here are the specifications of the Squier Affinity Stratocaster as listed on the official Fender website. I’d also recommend it to ambitious beginners who practice regularly and need a good-quality guitar with smooth frets that won’t rip up their hands. The quality of fretwork and materials is the same. Yet, the experienced guitarist can spot the key differences, from the tuning pegs to the tremolo bridge to the sound of the single-coil pickups. Neck Finish: Satin Urethane 5. But, the quality and sound between my MIM Strat and my American Deluxe does justify the difference in cost IMHO. They are really authentic as far as reissues go. If you want the best of the best, something like an American elite with the Fender name proudly emblazoned across the headstock will easily set you back over $1,500. The standard Fender bridges will still get the job done despite not giving you quite as much freedom wit your whammy tricks, however. It really doesn't matter if the body is poplar or alder- find one that you like the look of … Sort By: Please Select One New Arrivals Best Sellers We've picked, strummed, posed and whammied. A view from the back of my Mexican Strat. The American Strat has a brighter, richer, more nuanced sound thanks to its top-quality alnico pickups. The Fender Stratocaster is among the most iconic electric guitars to have ever been produced, and it’s been a major influence on the sounds of modern music. Back in the mists of late 1991, a new listing began to appear among the Fender guitars in the UK guitar magazines. They deliver the same versatile range as the American Strats, with that same snappy tone quality. The HSS and HSH models extend this warmth even further, offering crunchier, hard rock tones along with the crisp single-coil sounds. Hey There's a lot of talk about how the quality of MIM standard electronics is lower than MIA electronics. The Player series Strats feature an scripted Fender “F” logo instead of a plain chrome neck plate. I prefer guitars with strong mid tones, so I chose an MIM Strat with a rosewood fretboard. You may not get vintage sound with glassy cleans. The only real downside to the Fender strat is the price point. There’s also a micro-tilt adjustment on the American Strat, meaning that it’s easier to shim your neck if you want to adjust your string action. Neck Material: Maple 4. Logos aside, both neck plates are equally well-made. My Standard has hotter ceramic pickups, which have more output, more distortion and stronger mid-range tones. C $1,026.80. Still, the Fender Mexican Stratocaster can give you that good-quality, signature Strat sound at a lower price. With these entry-level Fenders, you'll be able to find bodies made out of the tonewoods most associated with the iconic guitar, like ash and alder. The body shape allows for fantastic melodic lead and solo based playing, with light weight and sharp looks to match. But at such a high price-point, Made in America (MIA) Strats are out of reach for many guitarists. Great deals on Fender Stratocaster Guitar Bodies. Explore MIMkids resources for fun and educational music-making and instrument-building activities. 1. I can now vouch for the fact that this MIM Strat is as good and the American Standard (I will admit to moding it to FAT 50's just because I like the tone better.) All of the “super strat” guitars from companies like Jackson and Ibanez that rules the 1980s would never have even existed without the Fender Stratocaster. 66 years on, there are currently over 70 Strat models available, not including the numerous Custom Shop editions. Plus, if you really want that American Strat sound without breaking the bank, you can always buy an MIM and mod it with new pickups, electronics and hardware. The nut width is slightly narrower on the American Strat, at 1.650” instead of 1.685”. When you consider all of the other expenses that come into play for electric guitar players, including strings, tuners, and other small accessories, amplifiers, effects pedals, stands, cases, and so on, you can rack up quite an expensive shopping cart full of goodies at your music store of choice. That brings the most important aspect of any guitar to the forefront: the performance. You'll bag one for less than £600/$700 and few competitors can touch it for tone, playability and build quality. Like the MIA, it has a 25.5″ scale, an 11-hole pickguard and a contoured alder body that fits comfortably on your lap while you’re sitting and rests comfortably against your stomach while you’re standing. It's a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at eBay.com. Nonetheless, the single volume knob and the 5-way pickup selector remain the same on all Fender Mexican Stratocasters. But it's a forum, so I'm entitled to an opinion I guess. The Fender Stratocaster could very well be the most iconic electric guitar of all time. Search. The name recognition there is very strong, adding to the overall value. But I didn’t just want a guitar that looked good. Top Rated Gear: Fender Limited Edition Player Stratocaster Electric Guitar, 22 Frets, Modern "C" Shape Neck, Maple Fingerboard, Gloss Polyester, Lake Placid … I also have an MIA Special and a Japanese HM Strat. I wanted it to have a good-quality sound and design. The Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster (seen above) is an off-the-shelf Tele/Strat hybrid with an added Strat … If you look at the neck plate of the Standard Strat it should be blank, while the Player Strat should have a scripted Fender F logo. Sort: Select Sort New Arrivals Best Sellers Product Name A - Z Product Name Z - A Price High To Low Price Low To High Apply Cancel. That’s right the Best Buy Electronics Store.Partscasters…why not, right? This MIM is nearly identical to my own, except for the SSS pickups. The reviews on this MIM Fender are generally positive. Another major difference between the two series is the tremolo bridge. Having a hard time figuring out which Fender Stratocaster is a good fit for your playing style and budget? I recently bought a brand new MIM Strat that is a really nice guitar. I sometimes notice a buzz after I change my D’addario NYXL strings on my MIM Strat. Players closely capture the bright, snappy charm of the MIAs, while Standards offer a warmer take on the classic Strat sound.
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