American strat vs Mexican strat

[TelePaul]

FWIW I have 4 Fenders knocking around here. 3 Made in USA, 1 MIM. The only one I've had shit with is the MIM. Even when I got a replacement from the shop, the nut was chipped. Not a massive deal but still, the nuts on the others are just fine.

[Lectric_Lab]

Seems we got a lot of stuff made out of the country nowadays... It's sad but true, can't hardly buy anything all American made, but IF I can I will, cars, trucks etc included, but that's just me and its a challenge.

What I am seeing here about MIM Strats is, you buy one, take it home, completely dissassemble the guitar, throw away all the cheap stuff and put USA quality stuff back in it...or just settle for the fact it is what it is and play the guitar. I don't think there is anything more humbling than saying you own a Japanese, Chinese, or Mexican guitar. jmo

I bought my last "new" guitar in 1987, a PRS Custom 24 for $1100 smackers, alot of money at the time, run and duck from the wife. But its value has increased.

So, depending on what you are going to do with the Strat, makes a difference in what you should buy. I went to more than a dozen music stores before I found my PRS, suggest you do the same, play 'em all.

[Light]

Originally Posted by foo

Better pickups, better tuners, better frets, better fret job, better wood, better paint job, better bridge, better elctronics, better assembly, better case, better resale value, better get the American Strat!

foo

[This message has been edited by foo (edited 01-02-2000).]

All of that is, more or less, true. Frankly though, I think that the one which is of the most value is the resale issue.

The other thing, though, is that with an American, you get a complete guitar, and all it will need to play and sound great is a setup. (ALWAYS expect to need to get a brand new factory instrument setup - it will need it.) With any of the Asian or Mexican ones, you will need to get ALL of the electronics replaced to get a really useful instrument, and I'd want to replace at very least the bridge. Also, the American made ones tend to be of more consistent quality.

In the end, though, if you can get exactly what you want in the American made stuff, go for it. It will probably end up costing about the same as getting a cheaper one and upgrading everything. Maybe a little more, but not all THAT much more.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[Light]

Oh, and if you don't care about resale value, don't buy a Fender. Get parts from USA Custom or Warmoth, and build your own.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[chrisrouviere]

I've read all of these posts and I am stunned at all of the replies. I have owned both Mexican and American Strats. I now own only a Mexican. Everyone always says that the American strats are far better made but you can't prove it by me! I sold my American strat because my Mexican played so much better. The American strats have a little bit better feel, and I mean a little. I have recorded both guitars side by side and I simply cannot hear any difference at all. The American strat probably will hold up better to abuse, but do you plan to abuse your guitar? I say buy Mexican first. You can always return for the American. Just my opinion. I don't care that musicians in the audience can tell by the headstock that it is Mexican. It sounds good.

[DrewPeterson7]

Originally Posted by chrisrouviere

I've read all of these posts and I am stunned at all of the replies. I have owned both Mexican and American Strats. I now own only a Mexican. Everyone always says that the American strats are far better made but you can't prove it by me! I sold my American strat because my Mexican played so much better. The American strats have a little bit better feel, and I mean a little. I have recorded both guitars side by side and I simply cannot hear any difference at all. The American strat probably will hold up better to abuse, but do you plan to abuse your guitar? I say buy Mexican first. You can always return for the American. Just my opinion. I don't care that musicians in the audience can tell by the headstock that it is Mexican. It sounds good.

Um, dude, this thread originally dates from 2000, and hasn't had a new reply in almost a year. :lol:

Every once in a while you'll run across a truly exceptional Mexi strat, but a lot of the others are anywhere from decent to garbage. Every once in a while you'll find a US strat that's garbage, but most are pretty consistant, and some are absolutely amazing.

And yes, I plan on abusing my guitars when I buy them. I mean, I buy them to play them, and I don't want to have to think about babying a guitar while playing, you know?

Anyhow, the advice I've always given to anyone who wants a strat is to play everything in the store. Then, buy whichever particular guitar you played that felt "right" to you, regardless of model, color, origin, whatever. Nothing speaks to you? Find another store. Strats are weird, sometimes you just find the one, and that's it.

[dfraz]

I'm planning on getting a Fender Strat DEC for Christmas. Does anyone have one?

Also I am getting a talkbox!

[ashley_B_Soton]

To give you my experience as a guitar player. NEVER buy any guitar unless you played it, and i mean that one not one like it. this tread is full of people rightly saying that fenders are variable, americans are more likely to be good but if you find a good mexican, japanese or even korean one buy it or look for a better one, personally i play a aria stg 004-7 strat copy. It is good, has an alder body and i've never played a standard strat better than it, mainly because they don't have humbuckers and the weak sound you get from a single coil just doesn't cut it for me.

I have played really good strat copies, the most important thing for me is the build quality first.
Second the material the body and neck are made of, alder is good mahogany is good too, most ibanez's are made of basswood which i like too, forget about anything else its probably bollocks. (have one made of plywood, eek, the lack of sustain scares me!)

Everything else either doen't matter or it is interchangable.

The bottom line is if you haven't played the guitar assume it's rubbish. Trust me i have played many other stg 004's (not the -7, i have never even seen another one) and they have all been a pile of crap.

[COOLCAT]

a good Fender Factory link


Rough guitar necks and bodies are shipped from the Corona factory to be sanded, painted and assembled. Amplifiers are assembled and completed with circuit boards and metal chassis that are manufactured in the Corona Factory.

http://www.guitarstop.com/tour/guitar.htm

I agree you gotta play them, there's so many flavors to choose form.

[Light]

Originally Posted by ashley_B_Soton

Second the material the body and neck are made of, alder is good mahogany is good too, most ibanez's are made of basswood which i like too, forget about anything else its probably bollocks.

There are any number of other woods which are wonderful, and seeing as how we can no longer really get good quality Mahogany (for a Strat? that ain't right), it is really a good idea to start using those other woods.


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"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[ashley_B_Soton]

I didn't mean there aren't other good woods there but they are the major ones.

I dont know about mahogany strat's though i have never seen one, i dont even think they exist, but most gibsons and even epiphones are made of it, and i much prefer the tone of their guitars, but they are heavy as fuck.

I think what i was trying to say was that if you like the sound of it and its built well who cares? the people who want to say, "I've got an American strat." I just think the sound is more important.

[COOLCAT]

Such a drastic difference between a Gibson LP and a Strat. How much of this is wood, how much is it the pickups, I don't know?

But splicing hairs between a Mexican Strat and a American Strat is much more subtle, in comparison to the above comparison comparing comparisons or comparisons of comparing the comparisons of the comparisons.

imo.

[muttley600]

Originally Posted by ashley_B_Soton

I didn't mean there aren't other good woods there but they are the major ones.

I dont know about mahogany strat's though i have never seen one, i dont even think they exist, but most gibsons and even epiphones are made of it, and i much prefer the tone of their guitars, but they are heavy as fuck.

I think what i was trying to say was that if you like the sound of it and its built well who cares? the people who want to say, "I've got an American strat." I just think the sound is more important.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...5&src=3SOSWXXA

There are many other good timbers for guitar bodies and necks. A bunch of us makers having been using them for years both for acoustic and electric. They pretty much all work well and have different qualities.

[jimistone]

I like american strats built in the 1960's.

They seem to play and sound better than mexican strats.

[ashley_B_Soton]

Originally Posted by COOLCAT

Such a drastic difference between a Gibson LP and a Strat. How much of this is wood, how much is it the pickups, I don't know?

my point was not to say that the strat and les paul are similar just that they are both good guitars that lack something when you buy them from new.

The strat lacks presence, the only good one i ever played had a pearly gates mini humbucker.

The Les paul lacks playability, mainly because its heavy and has a very broad neck. The SG is an exception, it lacks warmth.

Of course this is all subject to opinion.

[Light]

Originally Posted by ashley_B_Soton

The Les paul lacks playability, mainly because its heavy and has a very broad neck.

Only if it's set up badly. And some Les Paul's have insanely skinny necks. It's really all down to the specific guitar, and the spec for that particular year/model. Though they do tend to be heavy, making them - quite literally - a pain in the neck for a lot of people (like me - I couldn't play one of those things for a four hour show to save my life).



Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[Corndog]

What's all this whining about "slender necks"??? You guys all midgets or something??? Maybe have desk jobs??? I run a furniture warehouse and I like 'em big fat and meaty...

...guitar necks too.

[ashley_B_Soton]

Originally Posted by Light

Only if it's set up badly. And some Les Paul's have insanely skinny necks.

I would admit your probably right, that means i have never played on that has been set up properly, or one from the correct year, i wouldn't be surprised i tend to stay away from them, but i still hate that they weigh a ton and a half, I dropped mine on my foot last year and bruised my toe so badly it hurt for a month, and it probably weighs about half that of a les paul.

But i would still rather play one than a standard strat.

[ashley_B_Soton]

Originally Posted by Corndog

What's all this whining about "slender necks"??? You guys all midgets or something??? Maybe have desk jobs??? I run a furniture warehouse and I like 'em big fat and meaty...

...guitar necks too.

No, I just had surgery to correct chronic dislocation, i cant play a les paul at the moment and i used to have my thumb clicking out of place whenever i would touch one

Just in case your wondering i do get that it was a joke, but there is a real reason i prefer the sound of a gibson but play a strat copy. I may try another gibson after my thumb has fully healed.

BUT i'm still NOT buying a les paul.

[Corndog]

Oops....***tries to pry foot from mouth*** Sorry dude.

[357mag]

Originally Posted by XXXDiablo

A Floyd doesn't belong on a strat.

Totally true.

[357mag]

Originally Posted by ashley_B_Soton

The bottom line is if you haven't played the guitar assume it's rubbish. Trust me i have played many other stg 004's (not the -7, i have never even seen another one) and they have all been a pile of crap.

Mmmm...I've never played any of my Malmsteen Strats before I ordered them. Every one has been excellent.