This is how you make a video, people. No bullshit, no stuttering, no guessing or personal preferences. Straight to the cold informative point. Congratulations, sir.
Mexer's Music I dunno, I heard a ton of stuttering.. a bit more “and here’s why...the reason is this: the answer is thusly..” before actual cohesive thought took over. I will say I love the guy, but he does need to just slow down sometimes. His brain seems to be going too quickly for his mouth at times. Info is there, delivery needs a slight assist.
You do remember this is a free, A FREE, TH-cam Video right? You should show all of us how it's done. I liked this one alot. much information in a short amount of time. That's the way he does his videos...
I played this at 1.5x speed because he talks too slow (they all do) ;-) I thought this was a really good walk-through. I bought my MIA Strat a little over a year ago and it was basically for this reason...it felt better to me than the MIM. The rounded edges on the fretboard was much more comfortable than the sharp edge of the MIM neck. Is it worth $600...no. But, I also wanted to support American business. And, I could afford it.
the guitar shop I use to work at it was our joke but there was truth in the joke whenever a customer would ask what's the difference between the Mexicans and American fenders we would say "50 miles".
you know what's funny...a mim strat is more of a guitarist's guitar in a way...I've owned strats of all kinds over the years but the strats with the most attitude, that have been played the hardest, modded with all sorts of customized stuff and that tell the best stories were almost always mim strats...american strats are a bit more dignified where a mim strat looks up at you and says "where are we going tonight, johnny" before you toss it into the back of your van
I bought a used MIM Stratocaster on Craigslist, put in the Gilmour style neck pickup on mod, and a mid boost preamp, like Clapton has, as well as some different pickups, and a bunch of other shit, and I just use it for everything, and I would never trade it for an American Standard Stratocaster.
manifestgtr I agree. I'm like that with guns too. I'd rather buy a cheap AR15 or AK and take it out and get it dirty and not worry about it. When you buy expensive you're worried about any little scratch on it. Same with guitars. I don't want to feel like i have to baby it.
John x I'm not saying buy the nearest piece of junk from a local pawn shop. But there are companies that make great firearms that don't make you feel like you need to take out a mortgage on the house to pay it off.
My favorite gun is a mosin nagant that I paid like $100 for, man. Very similar situation. You could drag that thing down a hundred miles of bad road and it would be fine
Good joke, but I've been there, and it's about half and half. The guy is accurate though when he says that a lot of them in Corona are just there for the job and nothing else, not that that matters, but that's the way it is. Ala the lady who winds the pick ups.
I have two MIM Strats. A 91 and a 01. Both are outfitted with different Seymour Duncan setups, and I just put a Super Vee trem on my 91. Both have graphite nuts on them and Fender locking tuners. I will not trade these for anything, and I am often asked to sell both of them, especially the 91. If you want something to grow with and develop your sound with, you can never go wrong with the MIM series.
Fender made in Mexico: Made by hard working Mexican who live in Mexico. Fender made in America: Made by hard working Mexicans who immigrated from Mexico to America. (I think it was a Scoot Grove joke xD)
Rayan A I am glad you mentioned they are hard working, trying to made an honest buck, peso. I have worked side by side in a food processing plant with Guatemalans. Excellent, hard working, decent people. God bless them!
I know this video is several years old, but it is absolutely still valid today. This is how all youtube videos should be...quick, to the point, no BS, and no begging for subscriptions, likes, or comments. well done, sir.
When I was 9 yrs old I saves to buy the first issue Air Jordan's, i found that I was no better in those than the half price Chuck Taylor's. I played both guitars, my skills were the same, I sounded the same, but I save a lot of money.
Don’t apologize for how long this video is! I loved every second of it. Thank you for all your hard work and passion towards guitars! You saved us all a lot of time with research. I can’t wait to dig into my new MIM Strat with pride!
That's true, I bought a (US)tele off a dude for $700. When he bought it for 1200. He played it for a few hours back in 2006, then put it in the closet until I bought it 2 yrs ago. Still had the plastic on the pick guard. PS. I really enjoy your video. I learn a lot. Thanks.
You hope you did "okay"? I've been looking at a Mexican Strat and you're dead on with the confusion issue. I saw one video where a new Mexican Strat has obvious finish cracks in the body, and the guy claims it's not an unusual problem. He's the *only* one I've seen ever mention this. You cleared up every reservation I had. I was nearly to the point of abandoning the idea of buying a Mexican Strat and I simply don't have the money to purchase the American model. Well, after watching your video, I'm no longer worried about buying the only one I can afford. I'm not sure how to properly say thank you, but you've been amazingly informative. I feel like I know a little something about the real differences now. Thank you!
even the Americans get them. i saw a fender at sweetwater brand new with this finish crack it was listed as a demo. almost all of time its just in the finish.
I always had american made Fenders (American Special Strat, American Standard Strat, Billy Corgan Signature Strat) and 2 weeks ago I bought a used 2013 Telecaster Standard made in Mexico in "as new" conditions for 300$. I actually am astonished of how good that guitar is. Great sounding, perfect finish, not a single flaw, great neck... I never had an American Standard Telecaster but I really fail to understand how one of those could be so much better than my MIM... And, as I said, I know american made Fenders very very well...
It's crazy isn't it? I don't know what type genre you play but I have been happy with my MIM FSR strat. Made dec 2017 as i looked up the code. I've had it 3 months or so. The guy I bought it from just bought it at GC and had it set up then bought new fender pro case and it set for a month or two. He decided he wanted a bass. He posted on reverb 445.00 in which I didn't even haggle. I sent PayPal asap and arrived week later like new. I just love it.
@@uspsdaveable The tele from the original post or my comment? If you have the FSR MIM I have thought about upgrading it but mine hasn't gone yet out of tune on me. But it's blocked at moment. I want it floated. So I'll try bone nut and locking. Thanks.
I just picked up a “as new condition” mim Nashville Tele Deluxe for $475. I get all the features of the American made Nashville deluxe tele, rounded body at the base of the neck, noiseless pickups and locking fender tuners and I saved a freakin thousand dollars. That leaves me plenty of room, money wise, for hot rail humbuckers x3 and a push push s1 control panel. So excited!!
I just stumbled onto this video, I can't believe it's almost 4 years old. You did an amazing job of explaining what I have been preaching to players for years about Fender USA / Mexico. Next year will be 50 years of playing guitars, I have built numerous Frankenstrats and worked on at least 100 Strats and Teles. Anyone who has opened up enough Fenders made in Fullerton or Corona know the truth like many stated here. I have some pretty rear Fenders that are in the closet and my go to guitar for studio is a 60th anniversary stock MIM telecaster (only MIM I own) with the only mod being an oil cap on the tone pot. The 3 positions sound like 3 different guitars and it has spank and sustain for days. I live 23 miles from the Corona plant and have friends that work there. It may be urban legend but they told me the original tooling went to Ensenada. That might explain the mojo. Great job on the video.
Years back I bought my American Strat from 'That friendly musician's' catalog on-line with e $250 Fender rebate and matching rebate from the store. Got it for about $650. Lovin' it ever since.
I have a few MIM Fenders and one advantage they do have to a US model is I have no hesitation putting the hardware and electronics/pickups that are my favorites. I’ve totally customized several MIM Strats that I love and actually fit my playing style better than the MIA Strats I have. With a fret polish and rolling the fretboard edges they feel nearly identical.
DEEP WINTER nah sorry man all out. but knowing that, you might get a real nice strat for less money...unless ofc you're one of those "hoo ah! america!" dudes that refuses to buy anything made in another country lol.
lol! Yeah I have always thought that MIM strats are an incredible value. The main benefits I can see in the American models don't really pop up until you get to the "Deluxe" level: LSR Roller nut, no need for string trees, etc. But these are small things that most players don't care about or need.
I had a chance to play a '56 Strat at a gig once upon a time a great while ago. What I remember more than anything else was how comfortably light the instrument was. I also remember the boat neck design. It made playing an F chord very natural. The guitar was returned to its owner who was keeping as an inheritance for his son. Somewhere in America, probably under a bed in a tweed case that tobacco sunburst guitar rests.
Everything you said is 100 percent true. Which is why I put my own together... For 750 dollars I can have a 4000 dollar custom shop by spec guitar..... For 750 Dollars.....
Hi from Great Britain ! I have a 2011 USA '52 Vintage Re-issue Telecaster. It's a guitar I promised myself for 25+ years , No compromise - It had to be American ,as close to a real '52 I can ever afford ... Over the years I have tried out ALL the USA vintage Re-issue Strats, many old & new American Std's and several Custom Shop Strats. In 2014 Fender Mexico released the 60th Anniversary . IMO it sounds & plays like an older USA '57 re-issue with some bonus Custom Shop type additions. Nitro finish, USA '57/'62 pickups/ slotted AND drilled tuner shafts ,2 point trem. I love it ! Thought I was all Stratted out ,then ended up buying a MIM Jimi Hendrix Strat 2 weeks ago . It is so high quality - look up the specs yourselves and try. In fact try lots & lots before you buy. This is an excellent video btw . IMO 176 miles in a car are what separates Corona and Ensenada. My rule of thumb is , in terms of being frugal ; if you want a "modern" Fender , go for an American Standard. If you hanker for Vintage / Custom Shop tweaked Vintage , go Mexican . I will shut up now ! :-)
I felt like a truth bomb was just dropped on my brain. Thank you for telling it like it is. Always good to hear the truth escape out of the corporate echo-chamber every now & then. I salute you my good man!
Phillip, I want to thank you for this vid. I bought a MIM Strat a few years ago because it was what I could afford. I absolutely love my little red "Rosalita". (Yeah, I named my guitar after the gal in the Springsteen song) Rosy cost me $350 with a stand, hard case, Crate 25W amp, cable, tuner, picks, and extra set of strings included. While I want to support American labor, I work for a living, and I just couldn't shell out the 2 grand that all the US gear would've cost me. Rosie plays like a dream, and in a kind of mystical fashion, holds her tune for a year at a time. I'm serious, I can check her with the tuner and she never budges except for a tiny tweak on the 2nd string once in awhile. I'm using Fender Super Bullet strings and have never used a whammy bar with this guitar, even though I have it. Hats off to those guitar makers in - I believe - Esmerelda, Mexico, because they allowed me to get a guitar I could only have dreamed of otherwise. It even makes me feel better knowing that many of them play guitar as well. Now, if only I could play as good as the guitar I love! I have a lifetime to work on that. FYI, I did spring for a Roland Cube 40XL amp a little later, and that thing is fantastic. Most evenings, I just use a little 4-Watt MA-104 from Toy-R-Us for simple practice, however. It's nothing to carry and keeps my fingers on the strings. The thing is the size of a hardcover book. I can run that in my garage at 2am and bother not a soul.
I had a Mexican Strat for 2 months until I found a crack in the wood next to where you feed the strings through the body. I had gotten it brand new too. I ended up trading it back back (Got the full price too, plus the tax), and put the money towards an American made Fender. I was sure that I wouldn't get another Mexican Strat, but now I might rethink that. Thanks for making this video ! :D
Thanks for the good unbiased video. I have Mexican and American Telecasters. I absolutely love my Mexican. Most under appreciated guitars on the market.
My own experience with MARTIN GUITARS is I purchased a 000CXE Martin made in Mexico and the neck was seriously warped. I returned it and got another made in Nazareth Pennsylvania. It was beautiful. The main difference was the way the neck was made. The "stratabond" neck is made of many pieces of laminated maple. The one from Mexico had less than half as many (thicker) pieces while the one made in the USA had far thinner and more pieces. It was a HUGE difference in quality and strength of the neck.
I've ALWAYS bought MIM rather than American. I just couldn't justify the HUGE price difference, for what basically looks identical. Plus, I beat the shit out of my guitars, so I don't feel as bad when a chip, scratch, or a throw across the stage happens. To each their own, but I'll stick with MIM until there's a truly obvious reason not to.
Very informative and really a big help to everyone who owns either the MIM or MiA strat just to know how they originated.Not all Fender guitar players knows what is goin on around with their stuffs. Not all of them knows what are the principles of each parts and how it works, I’m not saying only for Fender guitars alone. People with love for the guitar and a heart for it will only be interested. Just play always with all your heart. That’s passion.
Yet another great video Phil! I have an American made Fender Strat, but I bought it in a pawn shop for around $425. It's a Strat Plus (1993), which I was specifically looking for because I always loved the Lace Sensor pick ups, roller nut, and locking tuners that they came with. Obviously it sounds and plays great. That being said, I also always have my eye out for a Charvel, but will probably pick up a Mexican one (from the same Fender factory you were talking about I believe), because I think the USA made models are priced too high. A good friend of mine has a Mexican made EVH (again, I think it's the same Fender facility) and it plays, sounds and looks great. Like most people I prefer to buy American when I can, but I'm just a little too short on cash some of the time. Anyhoo, keep making these great videos!
They're the same damn thing. all you're paying for is the name. I have a Mexican strat hss, and I upgraded it with all American bridge, locking tuners, jack input plate and strap locks. my last upgrade for it is putting seymour Duncans in it. The guitar new cost me less than $700, and all the upgrades where only a few hundred. My mexistrat could rival any American made standard
Great video 😊 I bought a Mexican Tele in Chappells of Bond Street, London, U.K. in the late 90s. I still love it - My all time favourite guitar. Tuning is great, tone awesome and it was great value.
This was the BEST breakdown of info I've come across!! Thank you very much for this video. I came across your channel by accident and Im amazingly hooked on all your videos!! Keep up the awsome work!!! =)
I have a Mexican 50's reissue and that thing has been my, number 1 for 15yrs and like most of us I have multiple guitars and have had high end guitars and I still go back to my strat. Great info my friend, love your stuff 🤘your videos have been helping me out with a few builds I'm working on, thank you for that.
Informative vid, thanks. A Strat aficionado told me that you can either buy one made by Mexicans in the US, or one made by Mexicans 90 miles down the road in Mexico. Also MIM Strats now come with noiseless pickups made in US.
I had a Mexican Fender Strat and I put on a load of American parts to make it into as close as I could a Strat Plus. Only difference it the vintage tremolo system over the twin post. Everything else including a genuine Strat Plus neck I got very cheaply I replaced, just keeping the original body and scratch plate. I put Lace Sensor Gold pups on and used a Fender TBX tone boost pot plus chery caps. I even put on the high mass saddles, brushed nickel/steel Schaller locking tuners. It's a great guitar ,with great tones and plays great. A year or so later, I got one of the American made Strat's with the 70's style headstock and vintage trem. The only noticeable difference was the usa strat's body had slightly more rounded edges, but bar that they just were as equally enjoyable to play. I love how with a bit of time and efforting sourcing the right parts, you can turn a good guitar into a really great one.
Excellent video, Phil! That is interesting about the drill holes being different in US vs MIM. I was wondering what those were when I took off the pick guard on my MIM tele.
This video answered a lot of my questions concerning Mexico vs USA Strats. Very informative..I could watch your video's all day and sometimes almost do..Thanks!
I really like your videos. But you should talk a little slower. I'm having to skip back and rewatch several parts to understand what you're saying whenever you start talking fast.
+Phillip McKnight im curious to know about the differences in fretwire used from squier classic vibe on up to an american standard. I tend to have a heavy left hand and play with a death grip. Thanks for the videos!
it doesnt matter what kind of fret wire they use because every single one of them is made out of nickel every guitar that i buy and want to keep for real gets taken to a very special place where they put stainless steel frets at the same measurement of the original nickel frets, stainless steel frets which can last for hundreds of years i think its a must have on every guitar and a selling point *ESPECIALLY* on bass guitars, you would not believe the ammount of frets that get dinged or "flatten" every year in bass guitars, especially those who have stainless steel strings with nickel fret wire, i mean this is no rocket science those frets by the end of a 5 year time period are gonna b all chewed up, *ESPECIALLY* if you "slappa da bass mon" which is why i consider STAINLESS STEEL FRETS to be a very good selling point that companies just dont give a crap about
Banda No Way Back. How much better?? Like Phil says when you sale it or resale it it loses its value, but when you by a used Mexi strat you still have a good guitar and you end up saving some money, that is something to think about. A Fender stratocaster is not a Gibson Les Paul even though it's an American strat, not saying Gibson is better than Fender because I love Fender and it is a mater of taste, now I can see your point as being patriotic about U.S.A made, because I feel the same way. If I had the money I'll go American strat, but all I can say is that Mexican starts are real good guitars, and I have no doubt about that at all.
Rupert Baxter American Strats use jumbo and the mexi use medium jumbo I believe. Also one thing that I could tell you about the Mexi is that the frets do get used up pretty fast
I own a Mexican Jazzmaster and i love it to death! I've played a few American Jazzmasters but always liked the Mexican more... Just play with what you like i guess.
I own three precision basses, one american standard(early 2000's), one mim standard(mid 1990's) and a squire classic vibe. The one i reach for the most is the squire. They all sound pretty well the same, the squire just plays the best.
Excellent points made about each. Unless I was going to purchase an American custom shop Strat built to my specs (v-neck, large head stock, specific kind of single coil pickups, etc) I would definitely purchase the MIM version as close to what I want and then customise it for far less $$$, as Phillip indicates in the video. Simple. It is as true for Mercedes cars and it is for over priced American made guitars - the value goes down a lot more once the car or guitar leaves the lot or store.
Nobody would hear the difference, probably not even yourself. You buy an American Strat because you want THE American Strat. Save some money and get the Mexican Strat
Shivam Sharma Exactly! I bought my MIM strat for $549, and have put only $300 in it. it plays better than any American strat I can find in a guitar store.
get a MIM, change the tuners, and put a graphite nut in it. I changed the tremelo, but it's not always necessary. MIM strats are (without changes) the best bang for your buck.
Good channel, Do you happen to have a video about fret buzz? do they occur on every guitar even gibbons and fender? if that so how can this problem be solved?
Dude, you are my new guru, the info you are passing on to us fellow guitar geeks is priceless.I am learning a lot of cool things from your videos. keep up the good work, and thanks, Ron
"It's hard-pressed to find one $250 used. In fact, on average you pay about $300." Today was a good day. Bought a used one in mint condition for $200 from some guy.
The thing I've heard in local guitar stores go something like, "Mexicans have always been making Fenders, so the Mexican-made ones seem more authentic!"
I dont like the (in my opinion low quality) tremolo units and cheap ceramic bar magnet pickups on the lower tier mim, besides that they provide a dependable basis. To be honest, as a non american buyer (with no affection towards american products) looking on the whole lineup of american and mexican Fender guitars, i wouldnt dare to say that i prefer one to the other. Or that one is more of a Fender than the other. It depends more on the specific series and individual quality of the instrument tested.
my made in America peavey predator is a great strat. you can get them under 200 bucks on ebay all day. they have micro tilt, rolled edges and everything else an mim or Mia strat has. what matters most in all of this is simple. are you happy with what you have and did you get the best deal you could for it.
Yea, I modded mine too when I got it. I found that I actually like the cheap ceramic pickups better than the fender pups I through in there. Thats another great thing about these axes. you can mod them and not lose too much money. Who cares if you ruin a 100 dollar guitar by experimenting right?
+vdub Guy Pick ups, but not one set good and one bad. Just MIM pick ups have more punch and have a bigger sound. USA pick ups sound clear and have the twang. USA necks in most cases have a better polish on the frets and fret ends. After that not much. I have both, and love both .
+Phillip McKnight, thanks for the reply. This guitar rocks. So far I am very happy with it. I have an MIA Strat and this MIM Tele is right up there with the quality. Not sure if the frets were done by the previous owner. As for sound, I like it. It has the Tele sound I was looking for. Thanks for all the great videos and advice/insight. Cheers!!
Hey Phillip, my name's Mike, one of your subscribers, sorry I couldn't make out what you said that you'd been "...playing guitar since 1989 or 1999..." ??? Sorry but maybe I'm going deaf, one loud rehearsal too many... which is it 89??? cheers. Mike.
Don't know if it's true of all Mexican Strats or just mine - a 2008 Classic 50. The trem unit butts up to the scratchplate, whereas the US Reissues have a 1-2mm gap, like the originals. As a result, as it stands, it is impossible to get the intonation in on the bottom E on my string gauge - 10-46. I don't have a particularly high action. My Tokai from the 80s and a 90 Jap Strat both have that gap, both intonate. The scratchplate dimensions are the same on all three guitars and as a couple of US Strats I own. It's not a the end of the world, but moving the trem is going to be a bit of a nuisance, but it will sort the problem, and THEN it will be a very good guitar.
For ME, the Americans are worth it. The pickups are better, I MUCH prefer 2-point trems and I want as many frets as possible. Plus, I hate buying guitars without hard cases (no more gig bags for me). I know I could take care of all of these issues in a MexiStrat with aftermarket parts, but there's something about getting it all from the factory in one shiny bundle.
You of course left out of this conversation all of the amazing Squire Classic Vibe series Strat's and Tele's that are also superb guitars in their own right. Nice video here, enjoyed it. Rock On !
Wow. Very informative and objective video. I have a lefty strat made in China (no humbuckers) and was thinking about upgrading to a Mexican Strat, but thought less of them due to popular opinion re: those made in the USA. Really appreciate your labor of love here.
Fender USA will deliberately not allow a mim to be equal for understandable business reasons. They're not going to allow you to get an equal product for half the money. It's not the quality of the employees, it's the quality of the parts and specifications. As always, if you buy used and decide to sell later, you're not going to lose much and might even make money. The mims are much much better now than 15 years ago. I bought a sunburst p bass in 2000 and did my heart ever sink when I took off the neck and saw that my "one piece" body was in fact a veneer over top of a butcher block of about 30 pieces. When they do add better parts and specs the price all the sudden creeps so close to the USA models that you may as well spend $200 more.
I was so happy to find this video today. I just purchased my first Mexican Strat this morning and I could not be happier with it. Up until now I've been playing on an Epiphone Strat and an Ibanez Roadcore, both are very nice in their own way but they aren't "real" Stratocasters. In fact, the Roadcore semi hollow isn't even really the same kind of instrument, but I digress. What I learned from this video: I made a good purchase today and I can be proud to play it for many years to come. Thank you for this and all of your other videos and all the effort you put into them.
Great Video. I'm inheriting a 2015 MIM Strat, a 1988 MIK Strat, a Fender Bluesman Jr III tube amp and a new Yamaha F310 Natural acoustic. This was great info about the MIM.
I've got that very same Mex Strat that you dismantled, same colour and everything! Got it second hand in 2006 for 119 GBP (£) with SDs fitted. My first Fender and when it played it, it felt amazing. Playing a barre chord at the fifth fret was a revelation, somehow (and my other guitar was a hard tail MIJ Jackson JDX Concept). My Mex Strat is so nice that my friend, a professional musician, borrowed it without actually playing it. He just wanted it because someone else had a good guitar that he wanted. In fact, he caused a stampede amongst his own students when he hinted it might be up for sale! I also have a Blacktop Telecaster that needed shimmed (Grrrr) and is now a very good guitar in its own right. Eventually... Love your videos, Mr McKnight - please keep 'em coming, Yours, frae Bonny Scotland (still not independent...).
I own a 20 year old MIM strat. I changed the electronics throughout and the tuners. I paid 300 for the strat, pups were 160 ( Seymour Duncs) CTS pots. Modified the bridge with tusk saddles. Plays great. Cost less than $500.
I took your advice, only with a bass guitar. Went looking for a MIM jazz bass. Found a gem at a pawn shop. Fender 60's custom body MIM with a Fender hard shell case. Not a mark or scratch on it. Has some of the plastic ticking on the screws of the pick guard. Sun burst, one piece maple neck, with a rose wood fret board. Thank you so much for the idea of looking past MIA Fenders. It plays like a dream, and the $350 price tag helps it play all the better. Dinner was really nice too.
Great video! I always wanted a strat but i wasnt sure if i should get american or mim not because of sound but of where its made but now i realize if i get a mim i can mod that sucker out to be a hot rod and play just as well as any american strat
I've been recently watching your videos. In general I find they contain lots of useful information. Thank you for the effort you put in recording them, not to mention all the research you do to keep their quality at a high level.
This video is the best explanation that I have found about difference between mexican fender and american fender. Basically, these differences are in our minds. Thank you for your help, man, from Spain
I'm not a "big Fender" dude. Mainly an Ibanez guy have been since 87'. But I have had a couple Fender Strats over the years. I only have one now and will keep it forever. and it's a 95' Mexico strat. And I love it. When my friends come over and want to play, they always grab that strat. It does sound amazing.
Great comparison 👍 Mex strats of the 90's felt like inexpensive commodity guitars for beginners/kids who wouldn't know the difference, back then the US-made fenders & Mexi's were worlds apart. But that changed after 2000, for one thing US-made fenders dropped their entry (STANDARD) class and at the same time the custom shop took off to feed the demand for hi-end collectibles because so many baby boomers were loaded with stock options worth $millions$. So Mexi line got upgraded with making player series, 50's, 60's, 70's reissues, and anniversary series. That's when I bought my first Mexi, a 60th anniversary strat which felt a lot like a strat from the 60's. The amazing thing was that it played well right out of the box, it was setup right which was unheard of. 10yrs later I bought my second Mexi from a guy who needed cash, it was a player-series sunburst with ASH-body which at that time was rare to find in non American strats. Again this thing had a very resonant tone and the body had beautiful grain. I also own a US made Strat-plus which is great but as far as playability the two Mexi- examples I have are not inferior. Also worth noting that 30 years ago, when USA standard strat retailed for $700, the Mexis retailed in the high $300 and eventually $499 for a player series. Try to buy one now! The US-made strat starts just shy of $1,300 and the Mexi player series retail for almost $900. So I think they've held up pretty good.
A most Informative video, no grandstanding, look-at-me bs. Thank you and thanks for confirming what I've thought all along. A Fender is a Fender is a Fender. World-around.
This was one of those videos that had to be done. The explanation is very good. A lot of people don't understand these concepts but they still are 100% relevant.
found out about you browsing through videos. I've been playing 20 years as well do a lot of guitar repair. I really like your videos you fill in gaps that I have. I like your opinions they don't have that stuck up vibe that a lot of people that opine about instruments have. I remember the first time that I found out but there's a lot of different variation in quality of instrument and opinion upon buying a Japanese 68 reissue natural wood clear finish large headstock. it was $400 Guitar Center and to this day it's the only guitar that I ever picked up and could not put down. there's something to be said for Japanese build quality at least at the Fender Factory. I found it to be closer to an actual 68 model than anything Americans were making. the neck profile was so wonderful it changed my playing. the guitar was stolen from me and I will miss it till the day I die. I just had to replace a couple parts to make it the easiest guitar I've ever played. it just had that special instrument vibe you know what I'm talking about sometime you just pick one up and you know. for variety I would suggest maybe a mohawk except I would really love to see it cut with a seven and a half degree offset. which might be just enough to to make somebody wonder whether it was accident or intentional. but don't trip cue-ball's fine with me. keep them coming.
You're absolutely right Phil! I have an American Strat and love it. However, a friend asked me to tune and set up his "lowly" Squire from Indonesia, and I was STUNNED at how nice it looked, felt, and played! Ditto for Mexican Strats. They are nice, and we guitar players get a little too wrapped around the axle about the name of the guitar rather than how it plays and sounds. Though I have several Gibson, Ibanez and other guitars, I also bought a used Laguna (Guitar Center's house brand) off of Craig's List for $50. The neck is straight as an arrow, it stays in tune, and it plays perfectly! I upgraded the pickups to a high-end Dimarzio set (Liquifire in the neck, and Super Distortion 3 in the bridge) and in hindsight, the stock pickups were really good enough. Sounding "good" is much more about playing technique than the name on your gear!!
I've owned both, and I must say that I love both. I'm not afraid to admit that my best playing Fender, in my opinion, is my 60's Classic finished in lacquer. It's fantastic. Thanks for the video!
This is how you make a video, people. No bullshit, no stuttering, no guessing or personal preferences. Straight to the cold informative point. Congratulations, sir.
Mexer's Music I dunno, I heard a ton of stuttering.. a bit more “and here’s why...the reason is this: the answer is thusly..” before actual cohesive thought took over. I will say I love the guy, but he does need to just slow down sometimes. His brain seems to be going too quickly for his mouth at times. Info is there, delivery needs a slight assist.
You do remember this is a free, A FREE, TH-cam Video right? You should show all of us how it's done. I liked this one alot. much information in a short amount of time. That's the way he does his videos...
I played this at 1.5x speed because he talks too slow (they all do) ;-) I thought this was a really good walk-through. I bought my MIA Strat a little over a year ago and it was basically for this reason...it felt better to me than the MIM. The rounded edges on the fretboard was much more comfortable than the sharp edge of the MIM neck. Is it worth $600...no. But, I also wanted to support American business. And, I could afford it.
Yep....you nailed it.
Great Video
the guitar shop I use to work at it was our joke but there was truth in the joke whenever a customer would ask what's the difference between the Mexicans and American fenders we would say "50 miles".
More like 180 miles, but that's funny right there.
50 miles and $500 lol.
Johnathan Jerusik. True.
You know what the real difference is? About 200 miles.
more like 80 lol
@@bernardthedon3483 More like 188...
@@alanwoodwind5265 wow thanks google maps
Alan Woodwind I got 182 miles from Corona to Ensenada
@@josueh5831 is that the distance just between cities or the actual plants?
Actually it sounds as if the best value is a used American Strat.
you know what's funny...a mim strat is more of a guitarist's guitar in a way...I've owned strats of all kinds over the years but the strats with the most attitude, that have been played the hardest, modded with all sorts of customized stuff and that tell the best stories were almost always mim strats...american strats are a bit more dignified where a mim strat looks up at you and says "where are we going tonight, johnny" before you toss it into the back of your van
I bought a used MIM Stratocaster on Craigslist, put in the Gilmour style neck pickup on mod, and a mid boost preamp, like Clapton has, as well as some different pickups, and a bunch of other shit, and I just use it for everything, and I would never trade it for an American Standard Stratocaster.
manifestgtr I agree. I'm like that with guns too. I'd rather buy a cheap AR15 or AK and take it out and get it dirty and not worry about it. When you buy expensive you're worried about any little scratch on it. Same with guitars. I don't want to feel like i have to baby it.
John x I'm not saying buy the nearest piece of junk from a local pawn shop. But there are companies that make great firearms that don't make you feel like you need to take out a mortgage on the house to pay it off.
John x Glock is a great gun and cheap. Cheap in price, not quality.
My favorite gun is a mosin nagant that I paid like $100 for, man. Very similar situation. You could drag that thing down a hundred miles of bad road and it would be fine
strats made in mexico by mexicans, or strats made in cali by mexicans
hahaha
Hahaha
Ouch
Good joke, but I've been there, and it's about half and half. The guy is accurate though when he says that a lot of them in Corona are just there for the job and nothing else, not that that matters, but that's the way it is. Ala the lady who winds the pick ups.
I have a shirt with your profile pic on the back
Phil, Video's like this are why I love your channel so much.
I have two MIM Strats. A 91 and a 01. Both are outfitted with different Seymour Duncan setups, and I just put a Super Vee trem on my 91. Both have graphite nuts on them and Fender locking tuners. I will not trade these for anything, and I am often asked to sell both of them, especially the 91. If you want something to grow with and develop your sound with, you can never go wrong with the MIM series.
Fender made in Mexico: Made by hard working Mexican who live in Mexico.
Fender made in America: Made by hard working Mexicans who immigrated from Mexico to America.
(I think it was a Scoot Grove joke xD)
I heard they aren't even immigrants.
If they want to work a second shift, they just take the bus over to the U.S. factory.
Rayan A I am glad you mentioned they are hard working, trying to made an honest buck, peso. I have worked side by side in a food processing plant with Guatemalans. Excellent, hard working, decent people. God bless them!
Fun fact: vintage Strats (pre CBS) were also made by Mexican workers.
I heard the same story, American Strat made by the same guy that made the Mexican Strat, he/she comes over and works the night shift in America.
Lmfao
I know this video is several years old, but it is absolutely still valid today. This is how all youtube videos should be...quick, to the point, no BS, and no begging for subscriptions, likes, or comments. well done, sir.
When I was 9 yrs old I saves to buy the first issue Air Jordan's, i found that I was no better in those than the half price Chuck Taylor's. I played both guitars, my skills were the same, I sounded the same, but I save a lot of money.
Hi
Don’t apologize for how long this video is! I loved every second of it. Thank you for all your hard work and passion towards guitars! You saved us all a lot of time with research. I can’t wait to dig into my new MIM Strat with pride!
That's true, I bought a (US)tele off a dude for $700. When he bought it for 1200. He played it for a few hours back in 2006, then put it in the closet until I bought it 2 yrs ago. Still had the plastic on the pick guard.
PS. I really enjoy your video. I learn a lot. Thanks.
That's true if you want the latest model American fender strat or tele just wait a few months and a used one will show up that's almost new
MIA is a guitar for an exposition or musseum, MIM is for rockin' in a stage bro! 💪😎🎸
Got my MIM Strat for 200 bucks at a pawn shop. I love it!
damn seems like a good deal! someone locally is asking 300 for a 90s MIM sunburst
You hope you did "okay"? I've been looking at a Mexican Strat and you're dead on with the confusion issue. I saw one video where a new Mexican Strat has obvious finish cracks in the body, and the guy claims it's not an unusual problem. He's the *only* one I've seen ever mention this. You cleared up every reservation I had. I was nearly to the point of abandoning the idea of buying a Mexican Strat and I simply don't have the money to purchase the American model. Well, after watching your video, I'm no longer worried about buying the only one I can afford. I'm not sure how to properly say thank you, but you've been amazingly informative. I feel like I know a little something about the real differences now. Thank you!
even the Americans get them. i saw a fender at sweetwater brand new with this finish crack it was listed as a demo. almost all of time its just in the finish.
Beast17 - my sentiments entirely. Really grateful for such an informative post.
this video was everything i wanted it to be, great work man
Cool, thank you for the kind words.
I always had american made Fenders (American Special Strat, American Standard Strat, Billy Corgan Signature Strat) and 2 weeks ago I bought a used 2013 Telecaster Standard made in Mexico in "as new" conditions for 300$. I actually am astonished of how good that guitar is. Great sounding, perfect finish, not a single flaw, great neck... I never had an American Standard Telecaster but I really fail to understand how one of those could be so much better than my MIM... And, as I said, I know american made Fenders very very well...
It's crazy isn't it? I don't know what type genre you play but I have been happy with my MIM FSR strat. Made dec 2017 as i looked up the code. I've had it 3 months or so. The guy I bought it from just bought it at GC and had it set up then bought new fender pro case and it set for a month or two. He decided he wanted a bass. He posted on reverb 445.00 in which I didn't even haggle. I sent PayPal asap and arrived week later like new. I just love it.
I have the same guitar...absolutely love it, only thing I’ve done to it, locking fender tuners and a bone nut....
@@uspsdaveable The tele from the original post or my comment? If you have the FSR MIM I have thought about upgrading it but mine hasn't gone yet out of tune on me. But it's blocked at moment. I want it floated. So I'll try bone nut and locking. Thanks.
@@robertclarkguitar , I've got both a Tele and Strat, both are MIM, absolutely love both and the locking tuners are the best thing since slice bread
I just picked up a “as new condition” mim Nashville Tele Deluxe for $475. I get all the features of the American made Nashville deluxe tele, rounded body at the base of the neck, noiseless pickups and locking fender tuners and I saved a freakin thousand dollars. That leaves me plenty of room, money wise, for hot rail humbuckers x3 and a push push s1 control panel. So excited!!
I got myself a Mexican built fender strat yesterday. It is a beautiful strat and it plays amazing getting one is worth every penny!
I just stumbled onto this video, I can't believe it's almost 4 years old. You did an amazing job of explaining what I have been preaching to players for years about Fender USA / Mexico. Next year will be 50 years of playing guitars, I have built numerous Frankenstrats and worked on at least 100 Strats and Teles.
Anyone who has opened up enough Fenders made in Fullerton or Corona know the truth like many stated here. I have some pretty rear Fenders that are in the closet and my go to guitar for studio is a 60th anniversary stock MIM telecaster (only MIM I own) with the only mod being an oil cap on the tone pot. The 3 positions sound like 3 different guitars and it has spank and sustain for days. I live 23 miles from the Corona plant and have friends that work there. It may be urban legend but they told me the original tooling went to Ensenada. That might explain the mojo. Great job on the video.
Years back I bought my American Strat from 'That friendly musician's' catalog on-line with e $250 Fender rebate and matching rebate from the store.
Got it for about $650. Lovin' it ever since.
I have a few MIM Fenders and one advantage they do have to a US model is I have no hesitation putting the hardware and electronics/pickups that are my favorites. I’ve totally customized several MIM Strats that I love and actually fit my playing style better than the MIA Strats I have. With a fret polish and rolling the fretboard edges they feel nearly identical.
i wonder how many people know that the fender factory in the states is only a short drive to the ones in mexico.
+Kewl Beans
literally 3 hours
RJ Alicea
i know lots of people that make that short drive to get cheap meds. :D
+Kewl Beans Yeah, I knew that. Do I get a cookie or something?
DEEP WINTER
nah sorry man all out. but knowing that, you might get a real nice strat for less money...unless ofc you're one of those "hoo ah! america!" dudes that refuses to buy anything made in another country lol.
lol! Yeah I have always thought that MIM strats are an incredible value. The main benefits I can see in the American models don't really pop up until you get to the "Deluxe" level: LSR Roller nut, no need for string trees, etc. But these are small things that most players don't care about or need.
I had a chance to play a '56 Strat at a gig once upon a time a great while ago. What I remember more than anything else was how comfortably light the instrument was. I also remember the boat neck design. It made playing an F chord very natural. The guitar was returned to its owner who was keeping as an inheritance for his son. Somewhere in America, probably under a bed in a tweed case that tobacco sunburst guitar rests.
Everything you said is 100 percent true. Which is why I put my own together... For 750 dollars I can have a 4000 dollar custom shop by spec guitar..... For 750 Dollars.....
+youkronify Plus its fun to build them.
Hi from Great Britain ! I have a 2011 USA '52 Vintage Re-issue Telecaster. It's a guitar I promised myself for 25+ years , No compromise - It had to be American ,as close to a real '52 I can ever afford ... Over the years I have tried out ALL the USA vintage Re-issue Strats, many old & new American Std's and several Custom Shop Strats. In 2014 Fender Mexico released the 60th Anniversary . IMO it sounds & plays like an older USA '57 re-issue with some bonus Custom Shop type additions. Nitro finish, USA '57/'62 pickups/ slotted AND drilled tuner shafts ,2 point trem. I love it ! Thought I was all Stratted out ,then ended up buying a MIM Jimi Hendrix Strat 2 weeks ago . It is so high quality - look up the specs yourselves and try. In fact try lots & lots before you buy. This is an excellent video btw . IMO 176 miles in a car are what separates Corona and Ensenada. My rule of thumb is , in terms of being frugal ; if you want a "modern" Fender , go for an American Standard. If you hanker for Vintage / Custom Shop tweaked Vintage , go Mexican . I will shut up now ! :-)
I felt like a truth bomb was just dropped on my brain. Thank you for telling it like it is. Always good to hear the truth escape out of the corporate echo-chamber every now & then. I salute you my good man!
Phillip, I want to thank you for this vid. I bought a MIM Strat a few years ago because it was what I could afford. I absolutely love my little red "Rosalita". (Yeah, I named my guitar after the gal in the Springsteen song) Rosy cost me $350 with a stand, hard case, Crate 25W amp, cable, tuner, picks, and extra set of strings included. While I want to support American labor, I work for a living, and I just couldn't shell out the 2 grand that all the US gear would've cost me. Rosie plays like a dream, and in a kind of mystical fashion, holds her tune for a year at a time. I'm serious, I can check her with the tuner and she never budges except for a tiny tweak on the 2nd string once in awhile. I'm using Fender Super Bullet strings and have never used a whammy bar with this guitar, even though I have it. Hats off to those guitar makers in - I believe - Esmerelda, Mexico, because they allowed me to get a guitar I could only have dreamed of otherwise. It even makes me feel better knowing that many of them play guitar as well. Now, if only I could play as good as the guitar I love! I have a lifetime to work on that. FYI, I did spring for a Roland Cube 40XL amp a little later, and that thing is fantastic. Most evenings, I just use a little 4-Watt MA-104 from Toy-R-Us for simple practice, however. It's nothing to carry and keeps my fingers on the strings. The thing is the size of a hardcover book. I can run that in my garage at 2am and bother not a soul.
I had a Mexican Strat for 2 months until I found a crack in the wood next to where you feed the strings through the body. I had gotten it brand new too. I ended up trading it back back (Got the full price too, plus the tax), and put the money towards an American made Fender. I was sure that I wouldn't get another Mexican Strat, but now I might rethink that. Thanks for making this video ! :D
PieTheGamer. That can also happen to an American made guitar.
@@metallion0738 plus, he can make a formal complaint....
Dude you explained everything perfectly. This is THE best video on the internet to put an end to the classic debate. Thank you \m/
Thanks for the good unbiased video. I have Mexican and American Telecasters. I absolutely love my Mexican. Most under appreciated guitars on the market.
My own experience with MARTIN GUITARS is I purchased a 000CXE Martin made in Mexico and the neck was seriously warped. I returned it and got another made in Nazareth Pennsylvania. It was beautiful. The main difference was the way the neck was made. The "stratabond" neck is made of many pieces of laminated maple. The one from Mexico had less than half as many (thicker) pieces while the one made in the USA had far thinner and more pieces. It was a HUGE difference in quality and strength of the neck.
I've ALWAYS bought MIM rather than American. I just couldn't justify the HUGE price difference, for what basically looks identical. Plus, I beat the shit out of my guitars, so I don't feel as bad when a chip, scratch, or a throw across the stage happens. To each their own, but I'll stick with MIM until there's a truly obvious reason not to.
Thank you for explaining the difference between the two and adding value and confidence to my purchase of a m.i.m. telecaster. You rock, brother.
Very informative and really a big help to everyone who owns either the MIM or MiA strat just to know how they originated.Not all Fender guitar players knows what is goin on around with their stuffs. Not all of them knows what are the principles of each parts and how it works, I’m not saying only for Fender guitars alone. People with love for the guitar and a heart for it will only be interested. Just play always with all your heart. That’s passion.
I have an American Standard and a Mexi and I love 'em both.
Yet another great video Phil!
I have an American made Fender Strat, but I bought it in a pawn shop for around $425. It's a Strat Plus (1993), which I was specifically looking for because I always loved the Lace Sensor pick ups, roller nut, and locking tuners that they came with. Obviously it sounds and plays great.
That being said, I also always have my eye out for a Charvel, but will probably pick up a Mexican one (from the same Fender factory you were talking about I believe), because I think the USA made models are priced too high. A good friend of mine has a Mexican made EVH (again, I think it's the same Fender facility) and it plays, sounds and looks great.
Like most people I prefer to buy American when I can, but I'm just a little too short on cash some of the time. Anyhoo, keep making these great videos!
They're the same damn thing. all you're paying for is the name. I have a Mexican strat hss, and I upgraded it with all American bridge, locking tuners, jack input plate and strap locks. my last upgrade for it is putting seymour Duncans in it. The guitar new cost me less than $700, and all the upgrades where only a few hundred. My mexistrat could rival any American made standard
Great video 😊 I bought a Mexican Tele in Chappells of Bond Street, London, U.K. in the late 90s. I still love it - My all time favourite guitar. Tuning is great, tone awesome and it was great value.
This was the BEST breakdown of info I've come across!! Thank you very much for this video. I came across your channel by accident and Im amazingly hooked on all your videos!! Keep up the awsome work!!! =)
thank you that means a lot. thank you for posting.
I have a Mexican 50's reissue and that thing has been my, number 1 for 15yrs and like most of us I have multiple guitars and have had high end guitars and I still go back to my strat. Great info my friend, love your stuff 🤘your videos have been helping me out with a few builds I'm working on, thank you for that.
Informative vid, thanks. A Strat aficionado told me that you can either buy one made by Mexicans in the US, or one made by Mexicans 90 miles down the road in Mexico.
Also MIM Strats now come with noiseless pickups made in US.
I had a Mexican Fender Strat and I put on a load of American parts to make it into as close as I could a Strat Plus. Only difference it the vintage tremolo system over the twin post. Everything else including a genuine Strat Plus neck I got very cheaply I replaced, just keeping the original body and scratch plate. I put Lace Sensor Gold pups on and used a Fender TBX tone boost pot plus chery caps. I even put on the high mass saddles, brushed nickel/steel Schaller locking tuners. It's a great guitar ,with great tones and plays great.
A year or so later, I got one of the American made Strat's with the 70's style headstock and vintage trem. The only noticeable difference was the usa strat's body had slightly more rounded edges, but bar that they just were as equally enjoyable to play. I love how with a bit of time and efforting sourcing the right parts, you can turn a good guitar into a really great one.
Excellent video, Phil! That is interesting about the drill holes being different in US vs MIM. I was wondering what those were when I took off the pick guard on my MIM tele.
This video answered a lot of my questions concerning Mexico vs USA Strats. Very informative..I could watch your video's all day and sometimes almost do..Thanks!
That was awesome. It cleared up heaps for me. Thanks for all the info:-)
I really like your videos. But you should talk a little slower. I'm having to skip back and rewatch several parts to understand what you're saying whenever you start talking fast.
Do they both use the same gauge of fret wire? Excellent vid.
Hi, I will be answering this on a QA video. Thank you for posting.
+Phillip McKnight im curious to know about the differences in fretwire used from squier classic vibe on up to an american standard. I tend to have a heavy left hand and play with a death grip. Thanks for the videos!
it doesnt matter what kind of fret wire they use because every single one of them is made out of nickel every guitar that i buy and want to keep for real gets taken to a very special place where they put stainless steel frets at the same measurement of the original nickel frets, stainless steel frets which can last for hundreds of years i think its a must have on every guitar and a selling point *ESPECIALLY* on bass guitars, you would not believe the ammount of frets that get dinged or "flatten" every year in bass guitars, especially those who have stainless steel strings with nickel fret wire, i mean this is no rocket science those frets by the end of a 5 year time period are gonna b all chewed up, *ESPECIALLY* if you "slappa da bass mon" which is why i consider STAINLESS STEEL FRETS to be a very good selling point that companies just dont give a crap about
Banda No Way Back. How much better?? Like Phil says when you sale it or resale it it loses its value, but when you by a used Mexi strat you still have a good guitar and you end up saving some money, that is something to think about.
A Fender stratocaster is not a Gibson Les Paul even though it's an American strat, not saying Gibson is better than Fender because I love Fender and it is a mater of taste, now I can see your point as being patriotic about U.S.A made, because I feel the same way.
If I had the money I'll go American strat, but all I can say is that Mexican starts are real good guitars, and I have no doubt about that at all.
Rupert Baxter American Strats use jumbo and the mexi use medium jumbo I believe. Also one thing that I could tell you about the Mexi is that the frets do get used up pretty fast
Awesome! Loved the video. Great explanation.
Absolute amazing video man
I have to agree with you.
I own a Mexican Jazzmaster and i love it to death! I've played a few American Jazzmasters but always liked the Mexican more... Just play with what you like i guess.
motip51 yeah but i play from where I'm from
Awesome video Phillip!!! its good to hear from someone whos actually built and repaired these guitars! i finally know the truth.
My Mexican made strats beat my American strat
I own three precision basses, one american standard(early 2000's), one mim standard(mid 1990's) and a squire classic vibe. The one i reach for the most is the squire. They all sound pretty well the same, the squire just plays the best.
Good analysis.
I have MIJ, MIM and MIA guitars. Love them all.
Excellent points made about each. Unless I was going to purchase an American custom shop Strat built to my specs (v-neck, large head stock, specific kind of single coil pickups, etc) I would definitely purchase the MIM version as close to what I want and then customise it for far less $$$, as Phillip indicates in the video. Simple. It is as true for Mercedes cars and it is for over priced American made guitars - the value goes down a lot more once the car or guitar leaves the lot or store.
Nobody would hear the difference, probably not even yourself. You buy an American Strat because you want THE American Strat. Save some money and get the Mexican Strat
Shivam Sharma
Exactly! I bought my MIM strat for $549, and have put only $300 in it. it plays better than any American strat I can find in a guitar store.
what did you do to your strat.. I've been stressing about what one to get recently and it's driving me mad..
get a MIM, change the tuners, and put a graphite nut in it. I changed the tremelo, but it's not always necessary. MIM strats are (without changes) the best bang for your buck.
Shivam Sharma I just bought an American Strat used for $500 :D
I really like a nitrocellulose finish on it
Good channel, Do you happen to have a video about fret buzz? do they occur on every guitar even gibbons and fender? if that so how can this problem be solved?
+Marco Cruz I can look into a fret buzz video. sounds like you have a very good idea.
Phillip McKnight that would be cool.
Yeah make one. 😀
Dude, you are my new guru, the info you are passing on to us fellow guitar geeks is priceless.I am learning a lot of cool things from your videos. keep up the good work, and thanks, Ron
"It's hard-pressed to find one $250 used. In fact, on average you pay about $300."
Today was a good day. Bought a used one in mint condition for $200 from some guy.
The thing I've heard in local guitar stores go something like, "Mexicans have always been making Fenders, so the Mexican-made ones seem more authentic!"
would love to see a Mexican tele vs American tele video!
Its going to be the same video
I dont like the (in my opinion low quality) tremolo units and cheap ceramic bar magnet pickups on the lower tier mim, besides that they provide a dependable basis. To be honest, as a non american buyer (with no affection towards american products) looking on the whole lineup of american and mexican Fender guitars, i wouldnt dare to say that i prefer one to the other. Or that one is more of a Fender than the other. It depends more on the specific series and individual quality of the instrument tested.
my made in America peavey predator is a great strat. you can get them under 200 bucks on ebay all day. they have micro tilt, rolled edges and everything else an mim or Mia strat has. what matters most in all of this is simple. are you happy with what you have and did you get the best deal you could for it.
I used to have one. I modified it with new pickups and tremolo, and it became a great guitar. I sold it unfortunately, and now I want it back.
Yea, I modded mine too when I got it. I found that I actually like the cheap ceramic pickups better than the fender pups I through in there. Thats another great thing about these axes. you can mod them and not lose too much money. Who cares if you ruin a 100 dollar guitar by experimenting right?
right on.
Mexican Fenders made by mexicans in Mexico. American Fenders made in the US by Mexicans.
Great review, but for us non-Americans...slow down a bit...your pronunciation is not really that great for us 😊
Just picked up a used MIM standard Tele, based on the guitars you worked on what are the differences between the MIA Teles and the MIM?
+vdub Guy Pick ups, but not one set good and one bad. Just MIM pick ups have more punch and have a bigger sound. USA pick ups sound clear and have the twang. USA necks in most cases have a better polish on the frets and fret ends. After that not much. I have both, and love both .
+Phillip McKnight, thanks for the reply. This guitar rocks. So far I am very happy with it. I have an MIA Strat and this MIM Tele is right up there with the quality. Not sure if the frets were done by the previous owner. As for sound, I like it. It has the Tele sound I was looking for. Thanks for all the great videos and advice/insight. Cheers!!
Hey Phillip, my name's Mike, one of your subscribers, sorry I couldn't make out what you said that you'd been "...playing guitar since 1989 or 1999..." ??? Sorry but maybe I'm going deaf, one loud rehearsal too many... which is it 89??? cheers. Mike.
+Purple Haze 1989
what is your thought on the Japanese era fender ? like my geddy lee bass
Don't know if it's true of all Mexican Strats or just mine - a 2008 Classic 50. The trem unit butts up to the scratchplate, whereas the US Reissues have a 1-2mm gap, like the originals. As a result, as it stands, it is impossible to get the intonation in on the bottom E on my string gauge - 10-46.
I don't have a particularly high action. My Tokai from the 80s and a 90 Jap Strat both have that gap, both intonate.
The scratchplate dimensions are the same on all three guitars and as a couple of US Strats I own. It's not a the end of the world, but moving the trem is going to be a bit of a nuisance, but it will sort the problem, and THEN it will be a very good guitar.
For ME, the Americans are worth it. The pickups are better, I MUCH prefer 2-point trems and I want as many frets as possible. Plus, I hate buying guitars without hard cases (no more gig bags for me). I know I could take care of all of these issues in a MexiStrat with aftermarket parts, but there's something about getting it all from the factory in one shiny bundle.
lol "The pickups are better" stock pickups suck on MIM and MIA unless you buy a customer shop Fender
Thats a broad statement. you are telling me you think Fender MIM pickups are "fine" I am sorry but just "fine" isnt good enough for me
Yea that makes total sense my Fender Custom Shop picks sound just like the ones that come on my first guitar a $99 knock off Strat. OK
I have a Mexican Robert Cray Strat with a Seymour Duncan lil 59 in the bridge, my American Les Paul is gathering dust ...
made in mexican
You of course left out of this conversation all of the amazing Squire Classic Vibe series Strat's and Tele's that are also superb guitars in their own right. Nice video here, enjoyed it. Rock On !
Your videos keep blowing my mind. I'm running out of mind to be blown. er.. wait.. that didnt come out right. I think you get what I'm saying.
Wow. Very informative and objective video. I have a lefty strat made in China (no humbuckers) and was thinking about upgrading to a Mexican Strat, but thought less of them due to popular opinion re: those made in the USA. Really appreciate your labor of love here.
Fender USA will deliberately not allow a mim to be equal for understandable business reasons. They're not going to allow you to get an equal product for half the money. It's not the quality of the employees, it's the quality of the parts and specifications. As always, if you buy used and decide to sell later, you're not going to lose much and might even make money. The mims are much much better now than 15 years ago. I bought a sunburst p bass in 2000 and did my heart ever sink when I took off the neck and saw that my "one piece" body was in fact a veneer over top of a butcher block of about 30 pieces. When they do add better parts and specs the price all the sudden creeps so close to the USA models that you may as well spend $200 more.
I was so happy to find this video today. I just purchased my first Mexican Strat this morning and I could not be happier with it. Up until now I've been playing on an Epiphone Strat and an Ibanez Roadcore, both are very nice in their own way but they aren't "real" Stratocasters. In fact, the Roadcore semi hollow isn't even really the same kind of instrument, but I digress. What I learned from this video: I made a good purchase today and I can be proud to play it for many years to come.
Thank you for this and all of your other videos and all the effort you put into them.
Great Video. I'm inheriting a 2015 MIM Strat, a 1988 MIK Strat, a Fender Bluesman Jr III tube amp and a new Yamaha F310 Natural acoustic. This was great info about the MIM.
This is the best Fender MIM & USA comparison I’ve seen. Thank you very much for clarifying it unbiased & intelligently. Very informative 🙂
I've got that very same Mex Strat that you dismantled, same colour and everything! Got it second hand in 2006 for 119 GBP (£) with SDs fitted. My first Fender and when it played it, it felt amazing. Playing a barre chord at the fifth fret was a revelation, somehow (and my other guitar was a hard tail MIJ Jackson JDX Concept). My Mex Strat is so nice that my friend, a professional musician, borrowed it without actually playing it. He just wanted it because someone else had a good guitar that he wanted. In fact, he caused a stampede amongst his own students when he hinted it might be up for sale! I also have a Blacktop Telecaster that needed shimmed (Grrrr) and is now a very good guitar in its own right. Eventually... Love your videos, Mr McKnight - please keep 'em coming, Yours, frae Bonny Scotland (still not independent...).
Outstanding vid. I have a Mexican Strat and love it. You've answered a LOT of questions for me and made me feel much better about the Strat. Thanks.
I own a 20 year old MIM strat. I changed the electronics throughout and the tuners. I paid 300 for the strat, pups were 160 ( Seymour Duncs) CTS pots. Modified the bridge with tusk saddles. Plays great. Cost less than $500.
I took your advice, only with a bass guitar. Went looking for a MIM jazz bass. Found a gem at a pawn shop. Fender 60's custom body MIM with a Fender hard shell case. Not a mark or scratch on it. Has some of the plastic ticking on the screws of the pick guard. Sun burst, one piece maple neck, with a rose wood fret board. Thank you so much for the idea of looking past MIA Fenders. It plays like a dream, and the $350 price tag helps it play all the better. Dinner was really nice too.
Great video! I always wanted a strat but i wasnt sure if i should get american or mim not because of sound but of where its made but now i realize if i get a mim i can mod that sucker out to be a hot rod and play just as well as any american strat
I've been recently watching your videos. In general I find they contain lots of useful information. Thank you for the effort you put in recording them, not to mention all the research you do to keep their quality at a high level.
Great video. I still have an early 90's MIJ Telecaster 62' custom reissue that is a brilliant guitar.
This video is the best explanation that I have found about difference between mexican fender and american fender. Basically, these differences are in our minds. Thank you for your help, man, from Spain
I love the vid because you lay it all out. My favorite Fender strat is the $50 yardsale strat I fixed up and now my nephew owns it. It is awesome!
I'm not a "big Fender" dude. Mainly an Ibanez guy have been since 87'. But I have had a couple Fender Strats over the years. I only have one now and will keep it forever. and it's a 95' Mexico strat. And I love it. When my friends come over and want to play, they always grab that strat. It does sound amazing.
Great comparison 👍 Mex strats of the 90's felt like inexpensive commodity guitars for beginners/kids who wouldn't know the difference, back then the US-made fenders & Mexi's were worlds apart. But that changed after 2000, for one thing US-made fenders dropped their entry (STANDARD) class and at the same time the custom shop took off to feed the demand for hi-end collectibles because so many baby boomers were loaded with stock options worth $millions$. So Mexi line got upgraded with making player series, 50's, 60's, 70's reissues, and anniversary series. That's when I bought my first Mexi, a 60th anniversary strat which felt a lot like a strat from the 60's. The amazing thing was that it played well right out of the box, it was setup right which was unheard of. 10yrs later I bought my second Mexi from a guy who needed cash, it was a player-series sunburst with ASH-body which at that time was rare to find in non American strats. Again this thing had a very resonant tone and the body had beautiful grain. I also own a US made Strat-plus which is great but as far as playability the two Mexi- examples I have are not inferior. Also worth noting that 30 years ago, when USA standard strat retailed for $700, the Mexis retailed in the high $300 and eventually $499 for a player series. Try to buy one now! The US-made strat starts just shy of $1,300 and the Mexi player series retail for almost $900. So I think they've held up pretty good.
A most Informative video, no grandstanding, look-at-me bs. Thank you and thanks for confirming what I've thought all along. A Fender is a Fender is a Fender. World-around.
This was one of those videos that had to be done. The explanation is very good. A lot of people don't understand these concepts but they still are 100% relevant.
found out about you browsing through videos. I've been playing 20 years as well do a lot of guitar repair. I really like your videos you fill in gaps that I have. I like your opinions they don't have that stuck up vibe that a lot of people that opine about instruments have. I remember the first time that I found out but there's a lot of different variation in quality of instrument and opinion upon buying a Japanese 68 reissue natural wood clear finish large headstock. it was $400 Guitar Center and to this day it's the only guitar that I ever picked up and could not put down. there's something to be said for Japanese build quality at least at the Fender Factory. I found it to be closer to an actual 68 model than anything Americans were making. the neck profile was so wonderful it changed my playing. the guitar was stolen from me and I will miss it till the day I die. I just had to replace a couple parts to make it the easiest guitar I've ever played. it just had that special instrument vibe you know what I'm talking about sometime you just pick one up and you know. for variety I would suggest maybe a mohawk except I would really love to see it cut with a seven and a half degree offset. which might be just enough to to make somebody wonder whether it was accident or intentional. but don't trip cue-ball's fine with me. keep them coming.
You're absolutely right Phil! I have an American Strat and love it. However, a friend asked me to tune and set up his "lowly" Squire from Indonesia, and I was STUNNED at how nice it looked, felt, and played! Ditto for Mexican Strats. They are nice, and we guitar players get a little too wrapped around the axle about the name of the guitar rather than how it plays and sounds.
Though I have several Gibson, Ibanez and other guitars, I also bought a used Laguna (Guitar Center's house brand) off of Craig's List for $50. The neck is straight as an arrow, it stays in tune, and it plays perfectly! I upgraded the pickups to a high-end Dimarzio set (Liquifire in the neck, and Super Distortion 3 in the bridge) and in hindsight, the stock pickups were really good enough. Sounding "good" is much more about playing technique than the name on your gear!!
I've owned both, and I must say that I love both. I'm not afraid to admit that my best playing Fender, in my opinion, is my 60's Classic finished in lacquer. It's fantastic. Thanks for the video!
Never had American one but have mexican single coil strat-love the sound alot