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Post by gbowman on Feb 13, 2018 9:21:50 GMT -7
Ok this may open a big can of worms but here goes. As a mostly humbucker player, I've never really bothered to get too involved with Stratocasters. I find myself now, wanting to incorporate those sounds. I've played a few Squires and the low end stuff and am not at all interested in junk, Chinese made, etc. So, how much difference is there between the USA and Mexican made Strats. I want to exclude any discussion of custom shop, or boutique instruments as my budget is tight (especially in Canadian dollars). I don't mind doing some upgrading of parts, if the guitar has good bones. I see this guitar being used mostly for funk/fusion/steely dan type tunes. Thanks!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2018 11:13:41 GMT -7
I can't speak for Strats but I have owned several Teles that were Mexican and I do have one of the first run Classic Vibe Custom teles. I have never been disappointed in any of them...I gig my Squier quite regularly alongside my CS tele. To be honest, there's very little difference in tone. It plays well and was about $400 CAD new way back in 2011. I have had the Mexican standard tele as well as two of the MIM 50's Esquire. All great. I wouldn't get caught up in the whole US vs Mexican debate. They're all good in my opinion...try a few if you can and pick one that grabs you...you'd be surprised.
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Post by Maddog on Feb 13, 2018 13:31:06 GMT -7
Many Mexican strats I've played were in the same ballpark as the base American-made models quality and sound-wise. Blindfolded, I don't think I could accurately guess which I was playing. Love many Jap Fenders too....not-so-much Koreans...
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Post by KeithA on Feb 13, 2018 14:25:35 GMT -7
For me, I find the main difference in the feel of the necks. The American necks just feel better to me. I can't explain it.
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Feb 13, 2018 14:47:07 GMT -7
Give yourself a half hour of time to perhaps save hundreds and rest easy. Watch this. Telling.
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Feb 13, 2018 15:23:59 GMT -7
I’ve played strats all my life. My #1 is an ‘81 American blonde. I’ve played mexi’s and amercians, and I too tend to prefer the American neck, but candidly there just isn’t a ton of difference. I’m in the market for a MIM now to install my DG20 set in. You can always upgrade the bridge and trem (I love the Callaham’s) which can be the weak link in a mexi Strat.
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Post by jbrad on Feb 13, 2018 16:04:16 GMT -7
Daddyelmis, I don't know where you are at but I have a Mexican Strat Deluxe model with S-1 switching and gig bag that is brand new, not a scratch on it. Long story short, I bought it and a lot of other equipment from a fellow that his son had died. I would take $540 for it.
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Post by digs57 on Feb 13, 2018 16:18:19 GMT -7
Satin necks are kind of a must for me...American special wasn't bad
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Post by Christopher on Feb 13, 2018 18:28:12 GMT -7
I own two USA strat pluses, another Statosonic and one of the earliest Squier Contemporary strats w HSS pickups. In the early years of Squier (80s) they were hit or miss. When I toured the Fender factory in 2015 the guide, who now works for G&L, said that the CNC machines for both US and Mexican made fenders are so tight in tolerance the past 20 years you could take a US neck and it would fit perfectly w a Mexican body. I haven't tried it but the MIM butterscotch Tele I have plays as well as my American made guitars and other than the pickups is a very close second to my US made G&L ASAT Classic ( their Tele). Like most anything, it depends on your budget and what you want from the guitar that will dictate the cost. Most folks at a show don't care where your guitar was made so consider that before you drop $2500 for a CS strat. I think anything over a grand for a bolt on neck guitar is highway robbery.
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Feb 13, 2018 18:36:53 GMT -7
Daddyelmis, I don't know where you are at but I have a Mexican Strat Deluxe model with S-1 switching and gig bag that is brand new, not a scratch on it. Long story short, I bought it and a lot of other equipment from a fellow that his son had died. I would take $540 for it. Jbrad Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. I’m actually in the market for a really cheap MIM since it will see limited action in the rotation. There are good ones in $300 range on eBay if you’re patient. Most need a little TLC and setup, but since I’m swapping out all of the electronics anyway as long as it’s in good shape physically that’s all I’ll need. I’ve considered a warmouth or stewmac kit also - but that may take more time than I’m interested in spending (I’d rather be playing). Thanks for the offer.
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Post by Stephen on Feb 14, 2018 20:48:50 GMT -7
I just bought a used 1996 Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster and it’s as nice as my 2008 American Standard Stratocaster.
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Feb 15, 2018 6:42:48 GMT -7
If you think about it, Leo designed the strat to be easy to make in production. You add CNC machines into the equation and the only real difference in strats should be the material used, the quality of the hardware, and whether they do any “hand finishing.”
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Post by ss "Shane" on Feb 15, 2018 8:44:27 GMT -7
Ok this may open a big can of worms but here goes. As a mostly humbucker player, I've never really bothered to get too involved with Stratocasters. I find myself now, wanting to incorporate those sounds. I've played a few Squires and the low end stuff and am not at all interested in junk, Chinese made, etc. So, how much difference is there between the USA and Mexican made Strats. I want to exclude any discussion of custom shop, or boutique instruments as my budget is tight (especially in Canadian dollars). I don't mind doing some upgrading of parts, if the guitar has good bones. I see this guitar being used mostly for funk/fusion/steely dan type tunes. Thanks! Here is what I’ve learned after years of buying guitars; the major differences in country of origin will be in the neck work. That being said, “neck work” covers so much. There could be just one fret that’s not very level and this could affect so many things such as feel, intonation, and the ability to set your truss relief just perfect. Action, relief, level frets, proper radius, nut work, truss rod instillation, and the way a neck sits in the pocket are all factors that will make a guitar feel right or wrong. When you combine all these unseen factors together you get your feel. After all, music in general should be played with feel, not just notes played with great technical skill. When a neck doesn’t feel good you will never be at your best. So how does this apply to the original post? The answer to the question of differences between USA and other country manufactured guitars are found in necks, hardware, pickups, tonewood and finish....but the major differences will be in attention to the neck. I say “major” because, unless your a really great luthier, the shortcomings in the neck will be the hardest to overcome and correct. Pickups can be switched out, hardware can be replaced, tonewood can be subjective, and finishes are not much of an issue since their doing great finish work outside of the US. The answer is in the neck. Now here is the kicker...every now and then you might find a non-conus guitar with a superb neck. I know this because I’ve only heard about it and never experienced it. The do exist though. I won’t name brands, but I’ll say that chances are better of finding a guitar with a better feel are generally made in the US.
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Post by mudman on Feb 16, 2018 21:00:24 GMT -7
I think the higher end MIM guitars give the mid and low end US guitars a run for their money though. I sold a highway one strat after getting a used classic ‘60’s strat. Neck played better and honestly the stock pups were good. Heck of a deal for $350 used. I can’t leave well enough alone though. Changed the bridge for a used callaham and got a great deal on a used ej pickguard assembly. It’s a beast of a low cost guitar compared to my gibson and avri tele.
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Post by John on Feb 17, 2018 5:24:53 GMT -7
I have two taco-teles. I upgraded the pickups, the bridges (I prefer ash tray), compensated brass saddles and a few other things, and make sure they both have very good setups. They are both very good guitars. I bought these knowing they were going to be gigging guitars and could be ding'd up, have beer spilled on them and get knocked over.
I am NOT a fan of buying guitars on Ebay. My luthier says Ebay is a dumping ground for bad guitars. I've been burned twice with bad guitars from Ebay. Never again. I want to hold it in my hand and play it.
The strat has been around for so many decades, there is a whole industry of replacement/custom parts out there, that I would be very much in favor of buying a mexi strat that 'feels' right (vibe, mojo...call it what you will) and then spend money on upgrading parts that are important to you.
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Post by jbrad on Feb 18, 2018 11:25:29 GMT -7
I recently purchased a MIM Noir Tell from Musicians Friend. It is a killer guitar. The stock pickups are a little hot, just enough to drive an amp good and it doesn't have the ear piercing top end that a lot of teles have. It has a deep, thick tone. The hardware is okay but that's easy to upgrade. I will be putting some new tuners on it. They are cheap and have a lot of slack in them. I was just looking for a guitar that I could just take anywhere and not really sorry if it got banged up but it turns out it is a great little axe.
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Post by doctorice on Feb 18, 2018 12:24:31 GMT -7
We -- it's my son's guitar -- have a MIM Strat that's about 10 years old. I had it out the other day. It still sounds good and plays well. Yeah, pickups are not the greatest, but they're acceptable; the switch is cheap and might need to be replaced if worked hard. But build is solid, and the guitar is definitely one you could use on a gig.
We bought it at Guitar Center. I think the key was we tried several until we found one that felt right and had some acoustic zing to it. I believe it was $399.
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Post by Stan on Feb 18, 2018 13:43:17 GMT -7
For me it's all about the feel and comfort of the neck first
second is the sustain of the body
if I'm happy with 1 & 2 and price I'll buy
after that anything can be changed to suit your needs
the plus for me is any added electronics or mods are for my benefit and can be
removed at any time to be replaced with originals that came with when I want to sell.
Cheers
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Post by gbowman on Feb 19, 2018 10:48:30 GMT -7
Thanks for all the comments - keep 'em coming. Anyways, I tried a ton of Strats this weekend. I played lots of low end, but also made sure to compare the higher stuff as well, to get a sense of what does X hundred dollars more get you... Expensive guitars are always nice to play and allowed me to set the "high water mark" to have a better idea of what "great vs good enough" would be. it was very handy during the process, that the shop's salesman would take whichever guitar and do a quick truss rod and bridge tweak. So all the guitars were playing decently. In the end I narrowed it down to a MiM that played well and had a nice overall tone, and the USA equivalent that felt a tiny bit nicer, but the tone kinda lacked in comparison. The USA version of the same model was also about $600 dollars more! When all was said and done, the (Lake Placid) MiM came home with me. Tonight I'll change the strings to 10s, do a proper setup and move the middle PU tone control to the bridge...
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Post by gbowman on May 10, 2018 13:20:08 GMT -7
Thought I would follow up on this thread. Its been 3 months. I have tweaked a bunch with setup, action, truss rod etc, and the guitar plays nicely. The action is set a tiny bit higher than my other guitars, but only I really know and i am a light and low player to start with. I put locking tuners on it and am using a dynaguide string tree. The crown of the project is using some custom handmade PUs, made by a fellow that has done other PUs for me before. Jon Moore (http://www.tonefordays.com). This Strat has become my #1 guitar. In the long haul, buying Mexican and upgrading has still been cost effective and has yielded a legit instrument...
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on May 10, 2018 14:52:25 GMT -7
Awesome story. Add to that the enjoyment that comes with "rolling your own" and it doesn't get much better. Enjoy it!
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Post by Christopher on May 12, 2018 12:51:19 GMT -7
I wanted to add that I have a taco Tele and I found the stock pickups to be muddy and lacking the snap I think a Tele should inherently have in any position. I dropped a set of Fralin Blues Specials I got from two guys here on the BST and it's made all the difference. I can hear the neck pickup tones I expect and the bridge has the twang and kerrang a great Tele has in spades.
Glad the OP has a Strat that works for him regardless of where it was made.
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