USA Strat vs Mexican: Which is Better?! | Friday Fretworks
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2018
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Hey! My name's Chris Buck and I'm a musician from South Wales, United Kingdom. Thank you for checking out Friday Fretworks - as the name suggests, there's a new video every Friday! If you haven't already, please subscribe and if you have, it'd be lovely if you came to say hello on Facebook and Instagram as well. Links below!
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Its nice to hear somebody playing clean so as you can actually hear what the guitar sounds like
I must confess I don’t care what guitar you play or test I tune in just to hear you play.
I do the same😂😂😂
I can relate, such a great sense of expression and phrasing!
the man has the power to speak with notes
Buy a MIM, put Fat 50s in it, then take the $350 you saved from not buying a MIA and buy a second, used, MIM.
Or jus buy the MIM, the fat 50s sound worse than those stock pickups.
Or get a MIM Deluxe Roadhouse (comes with Texas Special pups in it...) and a Bladerunner bridge, locking tuners.. it works.
Or some CS 69s !!
Only if you like having to keep fresh strings on a bunch of guitars. I have a Gibson Les Paul and I have a Fender Strat. Most things covered. Four packs a month, or two if I am not playing as much. Trouble i am having is thinking about how I am going to get this Strat to cover all of my fav Strat tones. Everything from low output noiseless for Yngwie to Super Distortion for Dave Murray, while all along still being able to do the classic Strat thing like SRV etc. A tall order to get all that from one guitar, but I will try because changing strings is one of my least fav things.
GFS pickups
14 years ago, I got a black Mexican Strat.
It was my very first electric guitar and to this day my absolute favorite, not just for sentimental value, but it's objectively a great instrument.
Over the years, I only came to appreciate the thing more. Got a few scratches and bruised, but still has every stock part and everything continues to work like a charm.
I’ve owned many of both and they’re both great. The Americans are a bit more refined, as you can imagine. The tonal difference doesn’t matter much to me as I swap out all stock pickups for custom shop fat 50s. As a first strat, a Mexican is a killer place to start. They’re great to customize and quick to make sound as good as any American. In recent years, I’ve been building my own strats. Once you get to a certain place, it’s just easier to say “ok, I want this, this, this and this” then make it yourself.
What makes a guitar good value is a prickly issue.
If I was to give simple advice based on my experience of owning US and MIM standards and a special edition MIM, it would be this:
It is the case that the US guitars are slightly better in every area except one: value for money. The law of diminishing returns applies.
The US guitars have slightly nicer fret finishing and more nicely rolled fingerboard edges, but the difference is not a massive one, so I focus on sound.
If you usually play with lots of gain, or through lots of digital modelling or FX, go with the MIM. There is no question. It is simply much better value. It's 98% of the guitar for 50% of the money.
If you usually play clean it's not such an easy decision. You really can hear the nuance, clarity and overtones of the US alnico pickups over the ceramic pickups you find in many MIMs when played through a clean valve amp. You don't fully hear this difference on these videos because of the audio compression on TH-cam. Gain on an amp also compresses away some of this tone, as does all but the very best digital modelling setups.
The MIM guitars are still very nice clean, but the US guitars are exceptional. Whether the difference between 'very good' and 'exceptiona'l is worth the extra outlay TO YOU is not something any youtuber can decide without knowing your disposable income or what gear you will plug into or your gain preferences.
For me the best option are the 'better than standard' MIM guitars (like the classic player), as these often have premium features such as vintage neck profiles and USA made pickups, as well as little more attention to detail. These kinda have the best of both worlds, premium sound and premium features and finish but a less than than the US price tag.
Spot on bro, I could not have said it better. You literally took the words right out of my mouth.
Personally I like and own both, and also Japanese Fenders, and I like all the pickups from all the countries, they vary, but I don't think one is better than another, just different - and I play clean all the time. But if you notice a difference between pickups when played clean, and you prefer USA pickups - then from what you say a good, and more cost effective, option is to buy Mexican and upgrade the pickups then? I tend to spend time listening to them first, rather than just buy "blind" (or should that be deaf - ha!?). Then I know I like the pickups already.
Definitely. If your a serious guitar player have to go with the highest end Mexican Strats, which can perform every but as good as the American
And then there is MIJ guitars - close to MIM prices and BETTER than MIA quality! Best of both worlds!
I Still remember what Someone replied to something like this:
“ If my Guitar plays and sounds Good , I don’t care if was made by somebody Named Jim, Juan , or Ju-Han ( something like that) 🤪
😂 love it!
Wish I knew what a good Indonesian version of Jim was cause I'm plenty happy with my Cort made VM Squier strat.
even IF you buy a made in the USA guitar, theres a very high chance that some Juan had something to do with the making of your guitar... most of the people that made the golden era Fenders that now are highly sought after and incredibly expensive were mexicans or at least of mexican descent... there are still a lot of hispanics working at guitar workshops...
@@BollocksUtwat Joni
Most sensible comment here.
That lead made me smile in the beginning man. That was beautiful.
I really appreciate the similarity of chords and scales you maintained throughout the comparison. It's really easy to hear the difference!
A video well worth watching just for the beautiful playing. At any rate, makes me feel better about my MIM strat, which I have always liked. Thanks for such a well made video.
Both mesmerized by your playing and the dancing watch.thanks mate.
I went with the best of both worlds, the new Player Series Strat. Made in Mexico, but has the Alnico pickups and 22 frets like the American Standard. Also, the bottom tone knob actually works with the bridge pickup! Makes the bridge pickup a lot more useable for cleans.
I like that they're putting tone control on the bridge pups now. Seems like they should of had it from the beginning!👍😎🎸🎶
Some years ago I walked into a guitar shop to buy my first strat and I only wanted an american one. The shop had a huge selection of them and I gave them all a quick try, so quick that I wasn't really looking at them, I just wanted to see how each one felt and sounded. Finally narrowed it down to the one I wanted and it was only then that I realized it was a MIM. By that point I didn't care, it played and sounded the best of all of them with more natural sustain. Still my favorite all these years later and wouldn't trade it for any other.
Fui Gebhardt1 good point man. Everyone says to play before you buy so in store is better. I almost always find I dislike every guitar I play in a store because they are sticky and grimy from everyone touching them, strings rusted, intonation nowhere near close. It’s very difficult to get a true feel for the guitar. I have guitars I love and if I play exact same model in a store it they feel horrendous and I would never have bought it. I do think it’s good for getting a basic feel for neck shapes, body shapes and contours, scale lengths, stuff like that.
100% true Thom, I don't know what it is but my Mexican Strat always sounds and feels like it's a part of me, which allows the emotion to come through in all that I play.. I do have an American jazz master, but it's my little girl from Mexico that always speaks the truth for whatever reason.
I did this in 1982/3 and tried every Strat in the shop (about 15 of 'em), fully intending to get a USA Fender. I ended up with a Japanese JV series 57 reissue. I'd never even heard of Fender Japan (they were brand new at the time). I have owned 20+ Strats since, still have over a dozen, including US, Custom shop, Japanese, Mexican, and from 79 onwards in date, and that JV is still the best Strat I've ever played or owned. So the fact that when Fender Mexico was started, they were trained by those FenderJapanese guys - to make them the Japanese way - says a lot for Mexican quality.
Awesome, you play so smoothly. Thank you for your service to our music community as it is appreciated.
If I ever become a professional well paid guitarist, I really think I’m going to stay loyal to my MIM strats because they made it possible for me when I wanted to have a guitar and learn.
I like your style Drew Cobain. It's true. I would like a custom shop one day, but why when my mim guitar has been with me through the grind?
@@santigardipee9303 Because you work with what you have in the grind, but the grind is to get you to where you want to be. Not saying i am against one or the other just answering your question the way i looked at what you where asking. Hope that makes sence.
I dont know whats wrong with myself but i agree on both of you santi & mark
That's a great sentiment. I have learned through years of playing profesionally that a guitar is only as good it's player.
I guess we live with different economic standards because where I live, almost no one has the luck to have a Mim fender strat as a starting guitar. Almost every player in my country starts with a really really shitty strat knock off (not even a squier) that makes your fingers hurt and change to better guitars later on and that is something that makes you feel the difference in quality when you upgrade your playing and your guitar. In my opinion, having just the right instrument without spending thousands of dollars to get your sound is more than enough.
Congratulations! Extremelly beautiful playing!
They both sound great to me. Very good, spot on fretwork my friend...your playing is very inspiring. Excellent video.
7:53 MIM
10:19 MIA
I always tune in whenever I see a video on YT, I am always impressed with your amazing talent. I have a Mexican Strat, though all the electronics have been modified somewhat, as I've installed a couple of Seymore Duncans, although I left the middle pickup stock. I have always loved Strats and lusted after them going all the way back to the 60s. I've owned a few, an dwish I had hung onto them. Unfortunately, given the places I've ended up that was an impossibility. I wish we were neighbors, as I'd seriously be haunting you to lay down a few tracks together. Be Vigilant and Take Care Brother. 🌹🎵🎸
I have a MIM standard from 2002, maple board just like this one, but mines sunburst. I put custom shop fat 60s pickups in it, home of tone pots and locking tuners on, and it sounds as good as any custom shop I've played! The neck has worn in beautifully too, so it plays like butter. I adore it!
Ilustrative video, thank you!
they should open a mexican custom shop!!!!!
Whatever you played in the beginning was really beautiful, good job
You play so very well bravo ! I want to learn how to lead like you man! great sound and feeling
Without a shadow of a doubt the tone is coming through your fingers Chris. Sure there were subtle sonic differences in the pickups, but your physical connection with the instrument and the sound made all the difference. Well done. Well played!
amazing player, amazing feel. you could play a tennis racquet and make it sound beautiful Chris
Problem is that if you buy one of each today, they'll be different to the two you're demoing. Your 1991 MIA had a different bridge to the current ones (and probably different pickups too) while your 2001 MIM had ceramic pickups whereas the 2018 models and later have the AlNiCo 5 pickups. The current lot of MIM strats probably sound very much like the 1991 MIA.
you're playing is crazy good
The tones are quite different the American Strat clearing ringing with more bell-like clarity.
delicious playing
Awesome playing and great Tone ❤🎸👍👍
My ears and heart say the MIA is absolutely amazing and I would love to own and play one. My Scots/Irish frugal brain (thanks Dad...lol) chooses the MIM because it's still great and way more affordable, relatively speaking. But my empty wallet (opens flimsy billfold, single moth flies out) says "beat to death used Squier Bullet with rusty hardware, and only if I go without lunch for a week or two"!
1st, Fantastic player!
I just bought a USA 60th Anniversary Strat and a Mexican Telecaster.
It completely depends on the guitar and who made it, the neck.
I tried 10 different US Tele's and 7 Mexican Tele's, the one I bought blew the US ones away.
Did the same with Strat's and ended up with the USA 60th anniversary.
When you pick up a guitar and it feels right, you guys know what I mean, buy it! Because the next 20 could be wrong.
Even with CNC nowadays, when you play a guitar for the 1st time and it feels as if you've owned it for years, grab that guitar!
BTW, your Dynamics are spot on dude!
Great playing as usual! 🙌🏽 They both sound great. I love my MIM Strat and Baja Tele. I wouldn’t kick an MIA out of my bedroom though. 😃
Just remember to wipe if down when you are finished
@@MisterTee LOL :)
Directly from the first stroke: MIA!
Just because of the tone!
I dunno it's very bright and spanky but misses the mark with the mids . The mim nails the mid tones
They both sound pretty darn good! That must be your fault eh Chris? Haha I’ll have to listen to this on better speakers when I get home! I THINK I’m hearing more note clarity on the MIA. Thanks for the comparison! I’m annoying my guitar shop by going in several times a week to try out the American made to see if there is much of a difference. So this video is much appreciated by myself and the guitar shop!
I’m curious to know a bit more about your approach to playing, I’ve been trying to practice targeting chord tones over changes. Any suggestions?
Thanks again for these awesome Friday vids!
Fantastic play guitar as always Chris. I’d take the American one, just little bit more sparkle and chiminess (if that’s even a word!) but the Mexican one sound great too in the hands of the wizard! 🎸🤘🏻👍🎸🤘🏻👍🎸👍👍😁😁
I have a 01' MIM and i absolutely love it. Maybe one day i'll be able to buy a MIA.
Lovely re-working of 'Isn't It A Pity' at the 4.00 mark, Chris. George is my no. 1 guitarist, by far.
And thanks for the video.
I have 2 black MIM Strats, identical to yours (and each other) aesthetically. I bought each of these second-hand. However, they sound different to each other. I think that some shielding work was done on one, but it could be that each guitar sounds different. I agree with others here who say that the MIA sounds more distinct, clearer, brighter. When compared with the MIM Strat, I probably prefer the MIA, but if I heard the MIM by itself, I would be happy with that, but would add a little treble.
They both sound incredibly good with your play, i have a70th mim strat and a mia american special hss, they both sound great sometimes i think the mim sound little more open and the clear coated maple fret board is fantastic to..the us is kind of satin also nice..like them all better with maple! Ty for the great vid
Hi Chris, I'm Mick a Musician from New South Wales, Australia. I'm hearing denser Wood and more chime in the pickups on the 91 Strat. Great playing as usual , cheers..
Cheers for the video Chris, very nice playing as ever. Think I prefer the MIA for the clarity. I have a left handed MIJ 60's for the fat neck, light basswood body and vintage bridge spacing for finger picking, just more comfortable for me. Don't rate the original pickups and electrics so much, well priced when I bought it though, ideal for a Radioshop pickup/guard upgrade :)
Great video, I was thinking of doing something similar. That’s smooth and classy playing tho 👍
Best Strat comparison I have seen thus far. The difference in sound is very discernible. The major differences are the pickups and feel of the neck. And if the MIA has a bone nut, gives it that brighter sound. Recently had a Strat with the standard ceramic single coils, doesn’t sound bad but not what I was looking for, got a MIA and I’m liking it so much better. Either way both are good guitars, just depends on what the player wants out of it. Great video and playing... cheers...
Amazing beautiful sounds! The MIA definitely has a brighter tone than the MIM.... so close!
This oversized watch's bracelet stresses me out.
Astonishing playing, as always, you're a true inspiration, thank you !
I have always hated watches. When I'm at the dentist there are always loads of Mags full of adverts of male models wearing watches and the pretentiousness makes me feel sick. I asked my dentist would he mind burning them, he laughed. When I see Athletics wearing watches during the race, I want them to fall. F1 Drivers, tennis players and now the very talented Master Buck.
Beautiful music being played here, petty about the watch.
Hadn’t hardly noticed the watch until you mentioned it. Now I can’t stop looking at it. Thx a bunch!
saffordpastor ahaha, next round’s on me then !
@@SuperMIKEFREE sounds like you cant afford even a used swatch.
@@giloro85 even afford can't like you sounds swatch lol
I just love brighter pickups and they are sweet kind of bright.
First of all: I like your videos, even if I don‘t understand every single word.👍 to the guitars: I like the sound of the US-Strat more.
Greetings from Berne, Switzerland
Faaantastic played and very interesting to check which one....
Please tell us the complete line, which amp, strings ect.
Your great play with and without the pic is an wonderfull example how to change sonds!!!
Robben Ford: "Use your fingers, just do it"!!! :)
I like the USA strat - seems to have a bit more clarity and jangle! a tad more spank. I own both and can say a simple p/u change will make that Mex sing just like any other, and maybe better. I think the body is a tad thinner and it actually sounds better sometimes, I cant say why - but it has a neat way to howl, controlled feedback a little sooner in the proper setting. I through a set of Tex-mex in the thing and it is awesome. I played the frets off of the neck, they are toast! But I love the guitar. Great comparison. Thanks Chris.
I like you're playing! You have a great touch! Which ever strat you played last sounds best! I own 2 Mexican Strats. I was debating selling them both to get a USA Strat...but after watching this video.....it's even harder to do!
My first guitar was a 2009 MIM Fender Strat. I ended up selling and trading up until I finally got my USA 1993 Fender Strat.... same colour and necks as the one you have there.
Stock I found that the pickups in the American strat sounded clearer (ceramic vs alnico). Eventually I found though that both guitars benefited from a pickup change. Love my USA strat and I don’t think I’ll be trading this one.
Thanks for this video. It’s nice to hear them side by side.
Beautiful playing mate!
My concern about instrument maker origin is craftmanship and material quality. If Mex strats have the same craftmanship or even better, i will take a look seriously on them, because sound-wise the difference can be tuned in EQ or amp
I have look so long for the one who is right for me in my hands and ear...and i have the usa one i will never miss this lovely Instrument...greets Tim
The MIM has some sweet compression going on! The MIA is more open sounding with a quite a bit more treble. Horses for courses. Both sound amazing in Chris’ hands!
The MIA sounds quite much clearer and fuller to me so in my opinion i'd rather take the american one and roll off the tone if I need To. It's easier to make a guitar sounds darker than clearer ! And with a treble bleed the MIA is much more versatile. The real question here is is it worth twice the price haha !
@Beaubiodou - Do ya think them block style saddles on the MIA give it a "clearer" advantage to the MIM?
@@bigg4454 Don't know if it's this or the tonewood or both ( probably both in my sence ), I don't know how much it affects the tone neither but from a global perspective the MIA sounded better To me :)
Yes, it is.
@@bigg4454 Nope, it's mainly the different pickups that make the difference in sound. Mexican Strats have Tex Mex pickups that cost less than 50% (don't confuse them with the Texas Specials that are in the Stevie Ray Vaughan signature model, which are really powerful and expensive).
The cheaper Tex Mex pickups were also in the white Jimmy Vaughan (yes, the older brother) model. I think you can buy a SET for like $90.- or so.
Anyway, you can make any Japanese, Mexican, Korean or Chinese Strat sound like an American strat with American pickups.
The point is: they made deviations in such a way that they don't fit into the pickguards fo the cheaper ones, so you would need a different pickguard... and after you bought the pickguard you notice: "oh wtf, the holes are not in line with those in the non-USA body!" So you'd get some aesthetic issues with that... but technically you can make it sound as an American Strat.
We did the experiment with a Japanese Tele, after installing the USA pickups it blew all other (we had 5) Teles away. We measured the resistance of the American Tele single coil neck pickup and it was close to that of a PAF or an Ibanez Super 70 humbucker: between 7.3-7.5 kOhm.
Other neck pickups were like 50% of that.
Believe me: if Fender sells you a cheap guitar, you get cheap pickups with as little copper wire as possible.
@@gingerbeer914 Wait there for a minute! Prove to me that it's "mainly" pickups that make a difference in sound not that I care. I want mine to sound like I want regardless of how much it costs or where it's made. I ain't hung up on all that good buddy. As for sound, it's a combination of factors that contribute to the overall sound of ANY guitar. Not just ONE element. You can believe what you want, but I'm just sayin'. Me? I love me a 50's Baja Tele, but hey, that's MY preference. It's Mexican, but that's what I like. Twisted tele bridge pickup, broadcaster in the bridge. I could care less about resistance, it's inductance I'm interested in far as pickups go. I own an American and a Japanese Strat and I like 'em both. Only way I can tell 'em apart is one has Xotic 60's in it, while the other has
Virgil Arlo 54's in it. Both have ash bodies. You buy what sounds good to YOU. If it was made in Alaska an' you like it, play th' hell out of it an have a good time doin' it. Play on brutha!
I had a Mexican strat before getting my current #1... the American vintage 62 hot rod. The MIM was a great guitar and many times wish I still had it. I eventually outgrew the factory pickups when I started wanting more output in the higher register. A mexi with the Chris buck signature pickups would be a great workhorse guitar!! 😁😁😁
Fender MIM guitars sound different one from each other, too. Many MIMs have ceramic pickups, which have a bit more output (for the most part) and more compression. The ones with Alnico pickups will sound closer to American strats.
I own an American Strat and love it. I have owned two Mexican Strats and definitely prefer the American. The MIA always play better and have a richer sound.
The pickups are a little better. I have a mim deluxe super strat that came stock with American made pickups. Gold trim .... Absolutely love it.
Dude, your playing is excellent. Subscribed just to hear you play. Do you have an album anywhere. I need to buy your music!!!!
Hi Chris, as a matter of fact I just purchased a brand new 1970's Fender Stratocaster on ebay that happens to be Mexican built and I love it in everyway;, beauty wood, feel, sound so I would say "Fender is Fender" you know, cheers.
Thank You Chris, I have to agree with (Frank Mitman) , I get lost in how you Play, Simply mesmerizing my friend. You are definitely playing from your soul and heart and touching each note with care. With that being said Chris, I actually prefer the Mexican Strat over the American & have owned both. I have taken my Mexican little girl and finely polished all the little areas that needed some special attention, but that's just something I enjoy doing knowing behind-the-scenes for me it's a relationship I have for my guitar. Playing the guitar is an emotional thing and those always come out in your tones And style of playing.. I still have my American-made jazz master, but for some reason my Mexican Strat is always quietly calling, and it just gives a more honest sound for some reason. Anyway Chris, definitely love listening to you explain and hearing you play, good on you brother and stay safe with many blessings. Danny from Texas USA
They might sound different but both sounds are nice.
I’ve only had 2 American strats. 94 rosewood 40th anniversary & 2013 maple board American standard .. nothing against the Mex at all though. I really love the 94 with the 7.25” radius the best. I’d play a mex if it felt & sounded good you bet! Love your playing man! True artist you are
I had a mexi from around this same year, the neck and fretwork and everything was really great. The pickups they were using around this time were very dark sounding. I bet he tossed in a set of Texas specials or something good, the mexi would stack right up to the MIA. Still saving yourself hundreds of dollars !
I really like that darker sound it's quite soulful and very expressive in the mid- low mid range. It lacks the top end spank and clarity that the mia has but that's not an issue for me
I feel like the MIA sounds more high end. I could prefer the mex one.
A recent experiment of mine : i took of the horrible polyesther finish of my MIM classic player 60's (up to 1mm thick on flat sections !!) and replaced it by a veryyy thin coat of nitro.
Although I did not really believe it in the beginning, the sound has been increadibly upgraded ! More sustain, clearer, more precise maybe. I am really surprised.
I also added a strap to use tone on the bridge PU wich makes it way more usable.
A few bucks (sorry mate), long hours of work and you get a really great sounding guitar.
Would have loved you to test it Chris
You could probably just throw the USA pickups in the Mexican Strat and they'd sound pretty much identical.
there should be a comparison of the same strat with same pickups both MIM and MIA. only than the real difference (if any) will be audible. difference we here in this video is mostly pick up difference as you say (and no one keeps the original pickups on MIMs anyway)
My wife started playing guitar recently and we were looking for a Strat for her. The store had a used Mexican HSS in black for a fair price, so I plugged it in. It sounded fantastic. Even the employees were like "what Strat is that? It sounds really good." Turns out, the original owner put a Shawbucker and two Fat 50s single coils in it. It played great too. We bought it for her and have zero regrets. Correct me if I'm wrong, but has Fender started using alnico pickups in the Mexican models recently, or are they still using ceramics?
@@JunkfoodZombieGuns alnico. I think I saw Phillip McKnight do a comparison test earlier this week and mentioning that?
@@MonkeyCage1990 Thanks.
I have a Mexican strat that I put in great pickups, changed to fender pots, switched out the tuners to Fender locking tuners. Changed the nut to roller nut and also the string tree is a roller also. Got roller saddles for the bridge. Modified the bridge, filling down the sharp edge where the strings bend to go to the saddles. Set up the guitar, and haven't stop playing it since. The guitar stays in tune almost always, even when using the whammy bar. It goes right back in tune. You can make an awesome guitar out of a Mexican Strat. I have another one I'll be rebuilding next.
I do like your comparison video.
What amp setup you running for the comparison and how do you get hold of different guitars to test? Friends you know?
Both sound great, it’s down to how they feel and the sound you prefer. You can mod either guitar to tweak it to your preference. Most MIA hold their value better, if not go up in value depending on the model/year and it’s condition. I assume like most of us you don’t use the trem?, the USA one is supposed to stay in tune better. The certain new MIM ones are now being almost cloned to the USA ones, makes it harder choosing still. It’ll be interesting how these new MIM hold their value, my gut feeling is they will. Thanks for the demo Chris.
More attack and clarity from the MIA and a tad brighter too. The 2 and 4 positions are also more pleasing on the MIA. Beyond that it's always hard to discern much else beyond the superb playing, which in most of these videos distracts from the analysis!
Did I detect the MIM was more inspiring to you? Would a MIM vs Squier be a more interesting comparison (especially with aftermarket pickups, err one brand come to mind)?
Hope last weekend was enjoyable, and very much looking forward to the results of that TPS tease you posted today!
All the best, mate.
Gee, you’ve got such a mature technique for someone so young. Great licks.
On every setting I liked MIM. It was warmer and fuller where as the MIA was too bright with less mids. So many will defend the USA mod but if the sounds were reversed, I think many would write the Mexican off as sounding cheaper.
I can tell you, from this end, the Mexican suits your playing better. Good video!
not true, the US model is brighter in tone, but it's also fuller. there's more clarity,
the Mexican is warmer, but it's not fuller. nobody is gonna say it sounds cheap,
but you can put those Mexican pickups in a American Strat and it would still have more clarity than it would in the Mexican. why it's because of how there both structured and setup from the factory. The Mexican has a six screw saddle, that's what gives those Mexican pickups it's warm tone,
but on the American it'll ring out more because all the wiring and everything is different. so you hear it more clearly, plenty of classic 60's and 70's rock used the American Standard Stratocaster. but if your into heavier music, a Mexican Strat would probably be a better choice since it's a warmer tone.
Fender isn't best suited for heavy metal, it's good for rock, country, and blues,
but for metal Ibanez is a better choice. PRS is another good choice.
still you can use a Strat for anything, but depending on the type of music your into that can affect your choice. you can't go wrong with either one, I've had my Mexican for many years,
but the American is a better guitar from top to bottom.
im okay with my guitar, but if i was a professional or in a band which im not,
the American is the way to go because it'll cut better in a mix.
Nice playing dude! it reminds me of Derek Trucks
I have a 2007 Mexican Standard and a 2007 American Deluxe and find myself playing the Mexican more. Both amazing guitars though. Fantastic playing and video sir.
I originally bought a MIM strat due to monetary considerations. I loved it. Later, when the money issue felt less stressful, I went for the MIA. I thought it had to be nicer. I was disappointed. I returned it. I didn't care for the sound, the feel, or the playability. Maybe I just like cheap guitars too. But in this demo the MIA sounds brighter--not necessarily better, but clearer, which could mean better. Granted it is easier to tone down than brighten a toned down guitar. But My MIM...I Love it! As a matter of fact, Most of my cheap guitars are my favorites. There are a few exceptions, of course. But I dare say, any one of them played by you would sound masterfully delightful! I'm just glad they can't hear you here at my job or they might leave me.
The USA model sounds louder, perhaps a bit clearer, that's about the only discernible difference I can hear in the video. Otherwise they both sound like good guitars being played by an excellent musician.
They feel so much better to play, and have more nuance in their sound. With a good tube amp there is a huge difference in sound, it is hard to tell through TH-cam as the sound is compressed etc.
Edit: The American models
Beautiful playing, as always, mate.
I just thought I'd add my own experiences.I recently got an Am. Original 60's strat, to compliment my 2005 Mexican Strat with maple board. The narrower string spacing at the bridge on the Mexican is a little annoying, and the body, being slightly thinner and with far more routed out, isn't as resonant. The necks both feel great. The Mexican has a fat fifties style neck and is like home to me, the 60's C on the AO is only a little slimmer, also very nice. A bit sticky with the gloss nitro. The biggest quality differences are the pups, swapped out to Bare Knuckle Cool Hands on the Mexican, the trem and nut combo and the tuners. I've got a bare wood body coming which is going on the Mexi with my first go at a nitro finish on it. I used to spray cars and boats, so I hope it goes ok.
The frets on the Mexican Strat are much lower than I thought, I have worn them badly. Is it worth refretting it myself, or shall I just get a Warmoth neck with stainless frets?? 'Elp!
I have an 11 year old MIM and is completely mind blowing, it sounds absolutely wonderful, also have the elite Fender USA, AND the standard Fender, all three all fantastic! But funny enough, I have tried other MIM's and they just don't sound off like 11 year old MIM...
The only real minor set back is, not having that last fret! Which is really no big deal in the end, but I DO miss it!
Dude. I love this ditty your playing. Any chance there are some tabs out there? Is it a song or did you come up with it? I love it. Great playing
I'm hearing a chord progression similar to "In Circles" by Sunny Day Real Estate, but I'm always hearing things.
I got a players addition hss put a p rail in the bridge and brass saddles and love it..
I have a MIM HSS and replaced the pickups with DiMarzio cruisers in neck and middle with DiMarzio tone zone bridge now it’s a beast only guitar I play now.
Hi Chris,the USA Srat has more of the glassy,quacky tones to my ears anyway.It sounds a lot like my 80's MIJ Strat with the system 1 trem. Mexican is still a nice guitar though! Have a great weekend mate! \m/
I have Fender Stratocasters made in USA, Mexico and Japan as well as Squiers made in China & Indonesia plus several “Partsocasters” that I’ve put together using many different parts and I prefer...
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All of them!
About twenty years ago I bought a MIM strat and wore out the frets till it was nearly unplayable. I had upgraded the tuners and pickups so that it stayed in tune and sounded great. Instead of buying a new neck, like I should have, I saved up and bought a new deluxe American fat strat. I still have that guitar, it sounds great and stays in tune, and whenever I play it I realize it was with the price. Nearly twenty years later it's worth more than I paid for it on the used market but I'll never sell it!
Which MIM strat should I buy Fender 50s series Strat modified or Fender Strat player series?
I find both guitars usable. I like the lower price on the Mexican models, but I also prefer the thiner, brighter, finer sound of the American strat. It's a more perfect sound to my personal taste. I used to own a Les Paul standard. I feel that the LP was made for a different style than a fender strat. But the overall sound of the American strat is what I prefer best.
I've been playing Mexi strats for nearly 19 years. Play a few and you'll find the occasional ones that have "the feel". After that it's a matter of taste if you want to swap pickups. My 50s roadworn mexi has the stock tex mex pickups with a Dimarzio FS1 and "gilmour switch" to engage the neck and bridge together. My 96 Mexi has a Dimarzio Evo with no tone circuit just volume. Both feel great and cover way different tonal vibes for me.
I like the Mexican it feels more warmer I own a Mexican strat the American is maybe a little to bright for me
Roll off the tone, that may help. It shouldn’t make it muddy. Do you have a tube amp? Sometimes solid states don’t sound right with that high brightness. Sometimes USA models sound better in positions other than 5 when using clean tones. If all else fails consider switching out for vintage pickups which ran much less hot and sound better to me. I have experienced the same issue, I can’t stand that super treble lol
Exactly!
Unlike what most people think, ceramic magnets sound fatter and fuller than AlNiCo ones.
compensating for not having an american
Its because you can not afford the real American strat. Save up.
Wish I had all of my Mexican made Fenders. I totally regret selling any of them. Adjust the pickups for brighter or warmer sound. Using the right amplifier is necessary to get the exact sound you want. I notice that for each and every guitar you plug in you will need to adjust your amp a bit. Great playing Sir!...
Hi Chris love your channel and your playing. Even though this video is about USA vs Mexican fenders. What are your thoughts on MIJ Fenders?
Almost perfect comparisson, I only wish you’d also do it with some overdrive and additional playstyles.
MIA is slightly brighter and more clear in my opinion (also my preference) but i wonder if the differences could be reduced with some EQ adjustment. At any rate, they both sound fantastic along with your playing.
A Fender is a Fender made in us or mexico just a major cost differance
...plus. They are modular ...so you can change pick ups keys ext....im glad i bought it to have enough money to buy an amp that costes even more the sound is mostly in the amp with all the effects reverb tremelo ect
The MIA is distinctly clearer and more sparkly, that said, I think that difference is going to be rooted in the electronics, so I would buy the MiM one for considerably cheaper, and spec the pups and pots to better quality (its what I have done with a couple of PRS SE's)
The mia is noticeably brighter.. how does this sound with distortion or a blues pedal when compared with an mim?
Minor differences at particular settings, but both sound fine.
When I compare the two in a store (guitar center) I can SEE a huge difference in the fretboard. I can only imagine the pickup hardware/wiring is also cheaper in a mim. Intonation is a huge variable here.
Astonishing playing man
MIA sounds brighter to me. Both sound very good. Must say I love my MIM just fine. But I put Kinman pups in that sound great. The stock pups were fine too.
I have 1995 mim with custom shop 69s pickups. I'm happy...😁
Have you got these running through any pedals or just through the amp? Thanks 👍🏻🎸