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Hi all - I've been looking at used Fender Stratocasters on ebay. I used to have an original one back in the 70's. Anyway, I just want one for recording, so don't care what it looks like that much. MY question is, I have seen "Mexican" and "MIM" strats. Besides the obvious, can anyone tell me anything aobut these? They are WAY cheaper than the original strats. I know you pay for what you get. I just want something that is easy to play for recording. Thanks-Bernie
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Hi Bernie,
I've been a Fender man all my life. I play Tele's mostly. I do have one Strat, a 1994 American Standard. I always liked American Fenders. I know that the MIM, Mexican Fenders get good reviews. The best reviews I've seen are for Fender's 50's and 60's Vibe Guitars. I wish I had the money for the 50's Vibe Telecaster.
Read some user reviews in Fender Forums. Strat-Talk.com? And check out Youtubes of these Fenders. People love them.
Wayne
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I'd get a MIM over a Squire
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As far as I've read, all the Squires are MIM's. The Squire's quality and product line has expanded. I too always stayed away from Squires. Then I started seeing reviews of all these great MIM Fenders and they were Squires. I'm not sure but a lot of people are choosing MIM Squires over American Standard. Don't know first hand but I did play a MIM Squire Telecaster a few years ago, I couldn't believe it wasn't American. It fooled me and I've had the best and worst Fenders over the past 40 years. I wish I lived somewhere near a Music Store. Nothing near me to try anything in person.
Wayne,
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I have one of each in the house. They feel different. The squire is actually a *tiny* bit heavier to me, thicker neck feel too.
I like the feel of the MIM in my hands better. Slimmer flatter neck to me. But I wouldn't suggest this is better for anyone else. The sound is not quite the same, but the Squire is still the strat sound. MIM seems to have more of the bright capability. I could see this debate going on a while with differing opinions.. possible depnding on different runs.
The Squire has a tighter feel to the knobs on the one here, also. Very different rolling the volume between one and the other. Then again the MIM is much older too. Could be I'm just more 'used' to it.
I wouldn't buy a guitar without playing it first anyway. Even two MIM strats can feel different. I played quite a few in a few different stores before deciding on one.
The Squire is actually my daughters and she loves it. Doesn't like playing mine!
Make your sound your own!
.. I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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I agree, without playing one, you never can tell. I just went through a Forum thread from 2007 about Fender Standard vs Squier and most said find an old Squier that was made in Japan NOT Mexico and upgrade, go figure. I know It took me months to find my Tele and 20 minutes to buy my Strat. When it fits you, you know it. Got to try them out in person. I want this! http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/produ...tar-?sku=519376 , but got no dough.
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The bottom line is as has been stated:
1. If it plays well
2. feels well
3. Can be setup properly and stays
4. Has the sound you want
Who cares what it is-- but you do need to play one.
I've had played both MIM P Bass and a Squire P bass and as Rharv said I found the Squire to be clunky but then again now everything feels clunky next to my Carvin BB75
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The real value in imported real Fender strats lie in the MIJ models that were abundant at very low prices in the 80s. These have actually gone UP in value over the years, the one exception being the horrendous silver-gray metallic with humbuckers models where the silver-gray has aged into a strange looking green. Those can be the true sleepers of that bunch, though, not attracting the high prices at all yet still having the exact same wonderful C neck and the same ash bodies on them. Matter of fact, changing the pickup plate to one that has the three single coils on it is an easy job because the bodies are already routed for it.
It is just that ugly sick greenish color that the paint aged out to be. A very hard refin, since the finish is covered in heavy layer of clear plastic-like finish.
Still, for recording only, nobody has to see the doggone thing at all and the sound and quality would be there with a lot less cash outlay on the part of the owner.
The 80s MIJ strats are the guitars that actually made the president of Fender almost cry real tears when he saw how much better built and finished they were as compared to the made in USA models of the same year. His words, not mine, it is in the Fender Book.
These guitars run rings around the MIM stuff. Built in the Takamine mountains by the same luthiers responsible for some of the Ibanez, Yaire, etc. guitars. Only they have the Fender brand on the headstock and are true Fenders in the sense that Fender Japan is the source.
--Mac
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Im a '87 Strat Plus MIUSA owner and I can only add that Mac and Bob are spot on, both with the tip re MIJ 80's Strats and the bottom line that you need to hold and play the gtr before buying.
Look esp for neck to body gap, overall resonance/string balance/"twang" before you plug it in to an amp, also. When you go through gtr after gtr of the model you're looking for, you will begin to notice differences in these characteristics. Some will be more "alive" than others.
If you have time and patience, just keep sifting thru the candidates until you find that absoloute cracker that has the combination of optimum wood, neck/body assembly, pickups, a colour and finish you like or at least can live with, and above all quality of sound, before and after you plug in. You might get lucky and find it early, or it might take a while. I will always remember finding a nondescript used 80's Fender Jazz Bass in a store here in Melbourne amongst many other basses. The sales guy knew it was special. I coudn't see anything special about it until at his urging I gave it a try. That thing was so resonant, bouncy and full of life that it seemed to almost play itself. That day I started to understand the mystique of Fender Precision and Jazz basses, although I still never have had one and actually play an Ibanez!
Good luck with the search.
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Journeyman
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Very true. I've always played any new guitar without it plugged in. You can hear the resonance of a solid body instrument very well without the amp. I picked out my Strat playing it unplugged. I could hear the tone front and back. Not many listen to instruments unplugged. Most guitars, Strats, Teles and mahogany guitars you can really hear the tone from the back.
First time I've ever heard anyone who does this. Most people think I'm nuts.
Wayne,
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Forgot to mention. Watch out for well made instruments of resonant materials that actually generate an audible volume of unplugged sound from the strings and neck heard just above the fretboard but behind, yes, behind your fretting hand while you strum a few barre chords. Only one of my gtrs does this noticeablely and its a hand made custom which nonetheless is a bolt on, not set neck. You have to crane your neck a bit to compare the volume of resonance behind vs. in front of your fretting hand to do this but it can be a telling result. Neither of my USA Fenders are remarkable in this respect, although they both sound good plugged in. Just another little test of materials and build quality.
Cheers,
John
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All good advice but, has Bernie checked back in? I wonder if he's checked any guitars out yet?
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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A Strat is great for recording; it is an excellent guitar because it has a rich sound that works for clean tones. You have good taste!  My experience has been that older Mexican Strats have great hardware, good quality necks, and over all good construction. However, the new Mexican Strats are cheaply made and constructed. So, if you buy a Mexican Strat I would watch the manufacture date.
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Another option built your own http://www.carvinguitars.com/kits/I bought a cheap Jazz bass clone a few years back, and i love it. Something about the sape and design just sound right.
Last edited by Robh; 09/09/10 08:34 AM.
Lenovo Win 10 16 gig ram, Mac mini with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2022, Realband, Harrison Mixbus 32c version 9.1324, Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app, Komplete 49 key controller.
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Thanks to everyone for all the great advice! What date should I look for so I don't buy a Mexican strat after that date?
Thanks again - Bernie
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Bernier, As the sages said here, it’s one guitar at a time. Big differences. Mexi strats are something you don’t want to buy online. Major difference in the pickups. If you can get a good neck and body, that’s part of the problem. USA strats have individual magnets for the poles, alnicos. The Mexi’s and Squires have pickups that have inert slugs on each string, powered by a weak iron magnet underneath. This is mixed news. The USA pickups are more powerful and focus on the string with a more narrow field. There is also less of the total coil used in proportion, giving a brighter sound. Give and take. The Mexi brands use the weaker iron magnet which covers more of the coil in proportion. The pickup is weaker, and fake by purist standards, but gives a broader response spectrum. Result is a weaker pickup that is not as shallow. More beef at a lower output. All comes down to what sound you are looking for. At the risk of destroying the pickup, the glued iron magnet on a Mexi or Squier fake can be torn off. Two choices… Replace the bar with a stronger magnet (neodymium as from kjmagnetics) or gently press out the slugs after removing the iron bar, and replace with real magnet cylinders (again, www.kjmagnetics.com your best and least expensive route). Don’t do the N52 grade cylinders because they are too powerful and will distort the strings, and therefore make the guitar ultimate metal but impossible to tune. You can end after rework with a well-chosen Mexi clone that is superior to any high end vintage USA model hanging on the Guitar Center wall. Best, John K
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Those are actually "ceramic" magnets underneath the cheap pickups.
The Ceramic formulation is much more inexpensive to manufacture than the good old fashioned Alnico type. The Nickel and Cobalt in the Alnico magnet, at the right proportions, yields the generated sound that we have come to love.
Ceramic magnets are also used in cabinet door closure devices and the ubiquitous Refrigerator Magnets that can't hold the piece of paper on the refrigerator door. The wife's hangings always seemt to fall off the doggone door along with the ceramic magnet when I want a glass of milk. *grin*
Anyway, one can make a much better recording axe out of the Mex or Squire offerings by simply replacing the pickups, or better yet, ALL the electrics in these things. The pots aren't so nice and neither is the switch, IMO.
Those who aren't adept with the ins and outs of rewiring and soldering can still do the swapout rather easily because we can now purchase the entire pickguard with pickups, pots, switch, jack and wiring already put together. Changing the whole thing out is a rather simple matter of removing strings, unscrewing the original pickguard, and attaching only the ground wire to the bridge. Fasten the new plate with better pickups and all to the guitar using the same screws and you now have a much better sounding axe that can turn in a great job in the home studio.
--Mac
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A pickguard fridge magnet would hold a lot of big pictures! (grin)
I also do not like the pots on the Squire, as I mentioned above.
The 'hat' is bigger and they don't feel right.
I've seen, and given thought to getting one of the pickguard assembly replacements. Hard to make the jump without being able to A/B the choices. Some are rather costly.
As a side note, if you get a chance, try the Tanglewood acoustic guitars of late. My dad says he has had two Takamines and a Taylor get traded in on Tanglewoods at the store recently!
Make your sound your own!
.. I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
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Quote:
A pickguard fridge magnet would hold a lot of big pictures! (grin)
Actually, the ceramic magnets in the cheap imports don't.
I tried it.
They are just rather weak as magnets go...
Mac's crazy stunt:
I once pulled the pickguard off of a cheap import strat copy, one of those @#$% "First Act" branded pieces of unknown wood, and hot glued bits of hard drive neodymium half moon magnets to the back of the pickups.
One cannot just do that willy nilly because the strength of the neodymium is so strong that it wants to magnetically adhere to the back of the original ceramic pickups in either direction with very little "feel" for whether or not you have the North-South polarity of both magnets facing in the same direction.
So I used a Compass to first find out what direction the pickup magnets were pointing. This is extremely important on a strat, for the middle pickup magnet is reversed in polarity from the outer two. That's how you get the "quack" when in the two middle halfway points on a 5-way switch. The middle pickup is not wired out of phase, the magnet is placed the other way round, which amounts to the same thing, the electrical phase is reversed from that of the bridge and neck pickups.
Once I knew the North - South arrangement of the orignal pickups by using the magnetic compass, i did the same with the neodymium magnets in order to find out where North was on each and marked that with a marker. Be careful with these strong neodymium magnets and your compass, for the things are powerful enough to try to remagnetize your compass needle, possibly ruinging the compass. You don't have to put that compass right up against a neodymium magnet to get good needle swing, just bring it close enough to find out where North is.
Once you have all that sorted, just hot glue the magnets to the back of the pickups and put the plate back on the guitar.
The thing was NASTY, boy. Lots of voltage output.
NOT the Alnico pickup sound at all.
More like some sort of Heavy-Metal-on-Steroids kind of sound, wasn't too great through a clean amp, drove the you-know-what out of distortion boxes, compressors and the like, though. And the input to at least one Marshall stack that was in the store at the time.
We dubbed it the "strat from hell".
Hot glue is easily removable, those magnets popped right back off with the judicious application of blow hair dryer and knife.
But after having those neodymiums on there for a few weeks, I think the Ceramic magnets took on a magnetism they never knew they could acquire. Still nasty sounding, but more of it *grin*.
Don't try this at home, kids. 
--Mac
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