cominginsecond
Decentralized Media Mogul
I just got a new guitar. It's a mexi-made strat with a tele neck, and I was wondering if any of you had more insight into the differences between the mexi- and american-made Fenders.
Evildick
New member
This could help a little:
http://www.edromanguitars.com/guitar/home_fen.htm
http://www.6strings.com/fender/index.html
http://www.mrgearhead.com/
This is what I have found so far. I'm surprised that you got a tele neck to fit in a strat without some custom work since the heels on both guitars are a little different. Unless they changed something while I was away. There are a couple more sites out there that pretty much say the same thing but I found these to be the most informative.
Dick
http://www.edromanguitars.com/guitar/home_fen.htm
http://www.6strings.com/fender/index.html
http://www.mrgearhead.com/
This is what I have found so far. I'm surprised that you got a tele neck to fit in a strat without some custom work since the heels on both guitars are a little different. Unless they changed something while I was away. There are a couple more sites out there that pretty much say the same thing but I found these to be the most informative.
Dick
cominginsecond
Decentralized Media Mogul
Thanks! There's a lot of info on those sites.
Evildick
New member
No problem
If you come across anything interesting, go ahead and let me know. I'm always interested in that sorta stuff. CHeers.
Dick
If you come across anything interesting, go ahead and let me know. I'm always interested in that sorta stuff. CHeers.
Dick
N
NYMorningstar
Recording Modus Operandi
I believe the Mexican strats have inferior hardware, (bridge, tuners, pick-ups, screws etc.) compared to the US models. IMHO
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
The mexican strats usually have a slight frijoles odor.
BrettB
Well-known member
Evildick, that first link you give is quite agressive. I mean, I really love my strat and that guy acts as if I'm an idiot just owning one.
Charva
Shower Time
A good guitar player can take a 10 dollar guitar and make it sound like a million. A crappy player can take a million dollar guitar and make it sound like crap. If your guitar "feels" and sounds good to you, then thats all you need. I own a Mexi-strat and it does everything i need it to do. These guitars definately give you good "bang for the buck" If it were lost or stolen, i would get another.
Evildick
New member
BrettB
It can certainly be taken that way, since that's how felt the first time I read it. After thinking about it for awhile, the guy has a point. Fender guitars are still great but it can be really hit or miss depending on the one that you get. I think his biggest gripe is that people want to buy a Fender just for the name thinking that they will get the same quality guitar as when they first came out. It's not so much that he thinks all Fenders suck, it's just the quality control they have as they leave the plant. You could have a sweet strat that has great action, a straight neck, no visual defects. You got a good one.
Then again, it is just his opinion. Take it for what it is. I still thought it was an interesting read.
Dick
It can certainly be taken that way, since that's how felt the first time I read it. After thinking about it for awhile, the guy has a point. Fender guitars are still great but it can be really hit or miss depending on the one that you get. I think his biggest gripe is that people want to buy a Fender just for the name thinking that they will get the same quality guitar as when they first came out. It's not so much that he thinks all Fenders suck, it's just the quality control they have as they leave the plant. You could have a sweet strat that has great action, a straight neck, no visual defects. You got a good one.
Then again, it is just his opinion. Take it for what it is. I still thought it was an interesting read.
Dick
64Firebird
New member
A few weeks ago I bought the cheapest Indo Squiar Strat I could find. I sat in the store for hours and compaired it to the high dollor models and I couldn't hear any defferance. People talk about cheap woods, pickups and hardware, but if the guitar stays in tune then the tuners are just fine. Same goes for the bridge.
All that a pickup is, is a magnet with a lot of wire rapped around it. It could be rapped too loosely, but then the guitar would feed back a lot (not the good kind). Or you could have more (higher output) or less (cleaner sound) wire. They are all made on the same kind machine.
When it comes to woods, All the Strats have maple necks and I've never heard any differance between Ash and Poplar or Alder and Agathis. If you think that you can, then you've got better ears than 90% of us.
When it comes to guitars, it ain't the steak that sells, it's the sizzle.
All that a pickup is, is a magnet with a lot of wire rapped around it. It could be rapped too loosely, but then the guitar would feed back a lot (not the good kind). Or you could have more (higher output) or less (cleaner sound) wire. They are all made on the same kind machine.
When it comes to woods, All the Strats have maple necks and I've never heard any differance between Ash and Poplar or Alder and Agathis. If you think that you can, then you've got better ears than 90% of us.
When it comes to guitars, it ain't the steak that sells, it's the sizzle.
Evildick
New member
I have to agree 64Firebird
I owned a Squire a while back (also got stolen with my strat). Beautiful Pearl white finish with a Maple neck that my guitar teacher couldn't believe was real. The thing stayed in tune forever after installing a Floyd Rose. I just got lucky and found a good one, and it appears you did too. Of course, down the road it will have absolutely no value, but I loved that guitar.
Dick
I owned a Squire a while back (also got stolen with my strat). Beautiful Pearl white finish with a Maple neck that my guitar teacher couldn't believe was real. The thing stayed in tune forever after installing a Floyd Rose. I just got lucky and found a good one, and it appears you did too. Of course, down the road it will have absolutely no value, but I loved that guitar.
Dick
64Firebird
New member
Thanks Dick, glad to see I'm not alone in this. But, I think a good guitar will always hold it's value.
However, I never think of resale when I buy an ax (or anything else for that matter) I play 'em till I saw 'em in two.
However, I never think of resale when I buy an ax (or anything else for that matter) I play 'em till I saw 'em in two.
jimistone
long standing member
i have said this before...but i'll say it again. i bought a mexican strat a few months ago and have been playing it hard ever since. I have it strung with 11's and its a sweet guitar. My main axe has been a '66 strat i've had since age 16 (im 41) its one sweet guitar. the frets have been filed about as far as they can go, and i don't really want to re-fret it. I have retired it to the studio.
I took the mex strat pickguard assembly and put in the '66 pickguard assembly and added texas specials. The mex strat is a VERY happnin' guitar now.
the wiring and pots were alot thicker and more heavy duty in the '66 strat
the neck and body are perfect (I love the tone of poplar strat bodies)
the hardware on the mex strats is "vintage" style...instead of the nerwer designed saddles on the american strat.
if you get a mex strat and put together a heavy duty wired pickguard assembly with your choice of fender custom shop pick-ups you'll have a truley fantastic strat for alot less than an american strat
my 2cents
I took the mex strat pickguard assembly and put in the '66 pickguard assembly and added texas specials. The mex strat is a VERY happnin' guitar now.
the wiring and pots were alot thicker and more heavy duty in the '66 strat
the neck and body are perfect (I love the tone of poplar strat bodies)
the hardware on the mex strats is "vintage" style...instead of the nerwer designed saddles on the american strat.
if you get a mex strat and put together a heavy duty wired pickguard assembly with your choice of fender custom shop pick-ups you'll have a truley fantastic strat for alot less than an american strat
my 2cents
cominginsecond
Decentralized Media Mogul
Thank you! This is exactly the type of info I was looking for.
jimistone
long standing member
"I took the mex strat pickguard assembly and put in the '66 pickguard assembly and added texas specials. The mex strat is a VERY happnin' guitar now."
this is the type of incoherant jibberish i type when my wife is talking to me and my 6 yr old is pulling on my arm at the same time ...wanting me to play with her.
what i was trying to say in that post is that i swapped pickguard assemblies between the mex strat and the '66 strat....and changed out pickups (texas specials). The '66 pickguard assm. had alot heavier duty wires and vintage pots.
Also, the '66 strat had a metal plate between the pickguard and the body that cuts down on single coil hum. The mex strat didn't have the metal plate (it does now).
The 1st gig I did after the change the keyboard player in our band says to me between songs "damn man, what did you do to that strat....its sounding REAL good...as good as your old one"
i told him "its all touch man...touch" LOL
the mex strat dosen't play as good as the '66.....but I have yet to pull an american strat off the shelf that plays as good either
after 30 years of hard playing the mex strat will probably play as good (the neck and body are really good...just feels "new"...not "broken in")
this is the type of incoherant jibberish i type when my wife is talking to me and my 6 yr old is pulling on my arm at the same time ...wanting me to play with her.
what i was trying to say in that post is that i swapped pickguard assemblies between the mex strat and the '66 strat....and changed out pickups (texas specials). The '66 pickguard assm. had alot heavier duty wires and vintage pots.
Also, the '66 strat had a metal plate between the pickguard and the body that cuts down on single coil hum. The mex strat didn't have the metal plate (it does now).
The 1st gig I did after the change the keyboard player in our band says to me between songs "damn man, what did you do to that strat....its sounding REAL good...as good as your old one"
i told him "its all touch man...touch" LOL
the mex strat dosen't play as good as the '66.....but I have yet to pull an american strat off the shelf that plays as good either
after 30 years of hard playing the mex strat will probably play as good (the neck and body are really good...just feels "new"...not "broken in")
lesterpaul
New member
new strat
i just bought a new strat amer std maple neck sunburst never been a fender man but i became one real fast ,a buddy has a mexi tele its a very nice guitar ,but my strat feels so much better was it worth th 500extra bucks i have to say definatly, hardware to me is way better finish is awesome too, i feel bad that i play it way more than my two les pauls ,but it rocks man ....later
i just bought a new strat amer std maple neck sunburst never been a fender man but i became one real fast ,a buddy has a mexi tele its a very nice guitar ,but my strat feels so much better was it worth th 500extra bucks i have to say definatly, hardware to me is way better finish is awesome too, i feel bad that i play it way more than my two les pauls ,but it rocks man ....later
cominginsecond
Decentralized Media Mogul
Why? If you like playing the Fender, there's no shame in that. Far from it.
N
NYMorningstar
Recording Modus Operandi
Maybe my problem is unique but the Mexi-strat I got after about 1 year started rusting. I didn't expose it to moisture or weather, I believe it was just made with cheaper metals because the other guitars I have sitting side by side did'nt rust. Other than that the guitar rocks.
64Firebird
New member
Dude, save the politics for the cave. In here we talk about guitars (and basses).
F
fenix
New member
japanese strats kick more ass than the mexican strats!!!!!
