#1
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Fender - import or domestic?
Curious about AGFers experiences with MIM vs American Fender guitars. I don’t gig, and can get either used so the value holding aspect likely isn’t an issue (unless you tell me one will stop functioning). What are the quality differences? Are the pickups very different? I mainly just desire to mix things up by adding a single coil guitar and this issue seems to have a lot of varying opinions. What say you?
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Martin D28 Guild GAD F-130 Gretsch 6228FM Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster Michael Tuttle T style |
#2
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i have no statistics but it seems that if you buy an american "standardish"(sorry, couldn't help myself), you leave it alone, whereas with the MIM and MIA, you change the pickups.
play music!
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2014 Martin 00015M 2009 Martin 0015M 2008 Martin HD28 2007 Martin 000-18GE 2006 Taylor 712 2006 Fender Parlor GDP100 1978 Fender F65 1968 Gibson B25-12N Various Electrics |
#3
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Fender-import or domestic?
I've owned both in the Tele area. I now have two MIM Teles. Look for a good used strat or tele with the pickup configuration you want and go for it. I don't see a several hundred dollar difference between them, but to each their own.
A nice MIM and you've got a couple of hundred to put towards a nice amp.
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Regards, BahPa 2015 Taylor GS-Mini Hog 2002 Martin 000-18 Sunburst 2005 Martin 000-28 2011 Martin 0-12VS 1972 Ovation 12 string 2015 Fender P-Bass Sunburst 2008 Fender Tele Thinline 2011 Fender Tele Sunburst 1998 Washburn BT-9 |
#4
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The cost of making a Stratocaster/Telecaster in Mexico is cheaper than making one in the USA which Fender passes on to the buyer.
The build/quality difference between US and Mexican guitars is mostly overstated. (I've found even their stock pickups to be pretty good). My opinion of course. |
#5
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Quote:
For some people it leads to a never ending journey of trying different pickups out and sometimes never finding the "right" ones.
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#6
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In the realm of guitars, I've really tried to give MIM a chance and really tried to like them. I felt like the American-built thing was all hype. However, in every guitar purchasing situation, when the rubber hit the road, the feel and sound of the American examples have been so much better that I have ended up with American Standard examples. One factor has been the fact that the rounding of the shoulders on the American Standards was much more comfortable to me. Another has been that the Am. St. examples were basically ready to play in sound and the MIMs seemed to need more work.
Now in the realm of amps, I've got a little MIM '68 Custom Princeton Reverb that I am really happy with. So I'm not generalizing but just saying what I've experienced. Bob
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#7
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I've got a beautiful Stratocaster and Telecaster but if I had to buy another of each, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a MIM guitar.
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#8
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One caveat with a MIM Strat - the string spacing is narrower at the bridge. So you have to play both and see if you like it. Never bothered me.
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#9
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An American Standard is a far better guitar than a MIM standard.
Where it gets dicey is if you prefer vintage spec. The MIM reissues are great guitars. Last edited by Kerbie; 03-14-2018 at 08:24 PM. Reason: Removed profanity |
#10
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Quote:
i made the huge assumption that the amp was made in china rather than mexico. correction on my part. thanks, bob! play music!
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2014 Martin 00015M 2009 Martin 0015M 2008 Martin HD28 2007 Martin 000-18GE 2006 Taylor 712 2006 Fender Parlor GDP100 1978 Fender F65 1968 Gibson B25-12N Various Electrics |
#11
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I’ve played excellent and sub-par examples of both. I think if I may generalize, I prefer MIM teles and MIA strats. I don’t even know if that makes sense, but its my experience based on a small sample size (perhaps a dozen guitars).
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#12
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Even though I've played some of the Mexican Fenders that felt and sounded really good, I believe they ALL took "quite a bit of doing" to get them to that point... on the other hand, nearly every American Standard I've played has felt great and "ready to go", the minute it hit my hands.
Now, if you are buying used and can somehow get ahold of one of the Made In Japan Fenders from the 80's. take a GOOD look at those! I've only seen a few Strats (and not one Tele to date?) and I haven't seen them often. However, they have each been exemplary instruments, and I was tempted to buy, even though I have a couple nice electrics and am not really an electric player. Check 'em out! I'd also recommend you check out a few of the newer Michael Kelly electrics; I've held a dozen or so and have been impressed. Even the fret edges are smooth and even, the necks feel great, the electronics sound good (although different than a Fender or Gibson), and the look is lovely... most are in the $350-$700 range.
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"Home is where I hang my hat, but home is so much more than that. Home is where the ones and the things I hold dear are near... And I always find my way back home." "Home" (working title) J.S, Sherman |
#13
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I really like the Mexican-made Classic series guitars. My Baja Tele is a fantastic guitar regardless of price or origin. And now I’m finding myself kinda interested in a 50s Stratocaster...
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#14
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Fender - import or domestic?
You really have to boil down the differences:
Am Strat 21 frets / MIM 20 frets Am Strat 2-piece alder body / MIM 3-5 piece alder body (except special editions that have 2 piece bodies) Am Strat pickups made in USA / MIM pickups made in Mexico Controls, wiring and pickguard are identical Am Strat bridge all steel made in USA / MIM made in Korea (using lower quality materials) Am Strat bi-flex truss rod & micro tilt / MIM single flex truss rod So is there a $500 difference between the two models? If you changed the pickups on a MIM Strat electronically you’d have an American Strat. The other differences are minimal.
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#15
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Use a 2017 American Classic Telecaster and a mim Brad Paisley Telecaster. The American pickups are more musical, fuller, and punchier. The Paisley is light as a feather and sounds great too. If I had to choose, the USA model, though pickups are easy to change.
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