Mexican Vs. Japanese Telecaster

[austin.kursave]

What are the primary differences between these two makes of the Fender Telecaster?

 

[darrin_h2000]

Lets throw Korean in the mix too...I have a Korean Fender Tele...but it has thier 1952 set of pickups that fender sells...and my Jazz bass is Mexico...and it is decent.

 

[Corndog]

Oh sweet Jeebuz, can we PLEEEEEEZZZZE drop the whole import guitar vs U.S made thing???
The imports are getting better while the U.S.ones are getting worse fer the bucks. If it works for you GREAT if not ditch it!!!!
....shit.......

 

[MCI2424]

What are the primary differences between these two makes of the Fender Telecaster?

The japanese Fenders are better made with better materials that you can see and feel easily. Come to think of it, I don't think I have seen a japanese Fender in a long time. The mexican and korean are bottom of the rung crap made of six piece bodies and the worst necks I have felt ever. The USA's are a disgrace to the planet because they SHOULD be the best but are really not. The japanese have serious pride and don't craft junk. My Ritchie Blackmore sig strat is better built from better materials than my 1972 Strat that it was copied from!

 

[mikeh]

I don't recall seeing a Japanese Fender in a while.

Several years ago, I was told that Mexi Fenders use parts shipped from American plants.....but utilize lower cost Mexican labor - whereas Japanese Fenders use parts shipped from places other than USA.

I don't know if that's actually true - nor do I fully beleive that even if the parts are "shipped from the USA" that the parts are better (or even that the parts are actually made in the USA).

As someone esle said, trust you fingers and your ears. If you like the way ax axe sounds, plays and feels........does it really matter what name is on the headstock or where it's made?

 

[role65]

mexi strats do not use same parts at all... first mexi's have vintage bridges vs modern USA. also P/U are different. my father has a 93 mexi strat and i had a usa, sounded way different actually i sold my strat because my dad's mexi was 000 times better instrument. i really wanted to trash the mexi but now i love it. just for reference i mostly play a us PRS custom 22 ( that's a real us made guitar) so i know what a quality fit, finish and setup feels and sounds like.

it's consistency some will be great some not at all just PLAY them....

 

[MCI2424]

I don't recall seeing a Japanese Fender in a while.

Several years ago, I was told that Mexi Fenders use parts shipped from American plants.....but utilize lower cost Mexican labor - whereas Japanese Fenders use parts shipped from places other than USA.

I don't know if that's actually true - nor do I fully beleive that even if the parts are "shipped from the USA" that the parts are better (or even that the parts are actually made in the USA).

As someone esle said, trust you fingers and your ears. If you like the way ax axe sounds, plays and feels........does it really matter what name is on the headstock or where it's made?

Here:http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.blackman4/history.htm

The japanese were the kings of making better guitars than the americans. That goes for cameras, cars, etc.

 

[lpdeluxe]

I'm not sure this is a meaningful debate, but, for what it's worth, I have three Fender Precisions: a Classic Series '51 "crafted in Japan," a Classic Series '50s, and a Standard FSR (with a fretless Warmoth neck), both made in Mexico. All are very playable, sound great, and I certainly couldn't justify paying hundreds more simply for the "Made in USA" label.

Fit and finish are exemplary on all three, and the hardware is as good as I see on others. Note that I have changed out the pickups on all three to Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounds, but that's just my taste -- and the '51 has an American Deluxe bridge because I didn't like the two saddle original. I also replaced the output jack cup on the '51, but that was a weak point back in '51, and not unique to CIJ instruments.

 

[Pudgefan717]

Fender has actually stopped making Japanese guitars they have sent them to different places which have caused the quality to go way down. They are idiots for it.

 

[pohaku]

I recently bought a 2008 CIJ reissue of the 1968 blue floral telecaster. There is also the pink paisley model telecaster and similar strats and P-basses. So at least up to last year there were still some CIJ models.

I did have the jack changed out (my luthier tells me that is a common weak point) and replaced the pickups with some SD Vintage and SD 5-2 pickups because I thought the stock ones were too bright. I think my luthier also did some work on the electronics to improve the tone control. But the guitar looks great, seems really well constructed and plays and sounds just great. If this is typical construction for current CIJ Fender guitars, I'd have no problem at all buying another. My impression is that, personal taste in pick ups notwithstanding, the MIJ/CIJ Fender guitars were typically as good as, or in some cases better than, their American made counterparts of the same era.