american fenders

[FenderBoy]

Re: american fenders

I can compare MIA strat Vs. MEX Tele for you. I hope this helps:
The quality of the wood is better in American Series Strats (as we've seen from previous posts)
The tuners on Mexican Fenders are crap (I have a Mexi telecaster and the tuners I took off in about 5 minutes) American Series tuner are good but not great.

The Pickups and all electronics in the mexican guitars are crap compared to American series Fenders.

My Mexi Tele neck is very skinny, I don't like it compared to my American Series strat neck. On the Tele with the neck pickup I can hear , through the amp, when my hand moves along the pickguard. I bought it used with a HotRails already installed in the bridge, but the bridge doesn't make any noise. I attirbute this to cheap quality.

My MIA Strat new was $800 , my Mexi Tele (used with Hotrails installed) was $270. In my case I had the money for the MIA guitar and was happy to pay for it. I am happy that someone in my country is getting a job due to me spending that amount on that guitar. I bet the American Guy/Gal building my guitar isn't making much money though, most of that profit goes right to Fender. And Yes you are paying for the name and address on the Headstock .

That being said , I would not buy a Mexican Fender again. The foundation of quality just isn't there for me. But $800 is a ton of dough for a guitar. The Mexican guitars are a pretty inexpensive entry level guitar , and with upgrades you can get something that will be a nice guitar but I prefer to get the American Version.

Anyone in the U.S. notice how for the past few years the Government has been concerned about Deflation? Try telling that to those of us who buy guitars! Every new model year the prices jump 5% to 10%. Buy used

 

[JimiHWannaBe]

Re: american fenders

american fenders on average are alot nicer there are nice mexicans(ive yet to play a nice mexican standard) and there are americans that are dogs but on average you pick up your mexican strat and then pick up an american one and compare it if you cant tell the difference you probably havent played that many strats and if you cant tell the difference you dont need the american

 

[Mincer]

Re: american fenders

oh i can tell a difference...I think that for me, Fender preys on the fact that guitarists are pretty conservative in their choices...some look at the headstock to see where it was made before they even play it.
I own an 82 strat, made in the US and love it...I also like current Mexi ones- laminates or not, a strat is a piced together guitar with little or no hand work into it. They are made to be built by machines and bolted together. $800 is wayyy to much for a Strat considering the other alternatives for that price... Music Man and G&L make better 'Strats' than Fender these days. Besides in a blind listening test, I don't think anyone could tell where a guitar was made.

 

[UCSDBoy]

Re: american fenders

They are made to be built by machines and bolted together. $800 is wayyy to much for a Strat considering the other alternatives for that price... Music Man and G&L make better 'Strats' than Fender these days. Besides in a blind listening test, I don't think anyone could tell where a guitar was made.

Ehh, I haven't picked up a G&L in a _long_ time but my feeling was they're also more expensive than the average American Series as well (nice guitars though. =))

By your own admission though, you can feel the difference between them when you play - if you've got to play a lot, why not play something that feels great instead of just good? I definitely think Americans are nicer than MIMs, although I can't point to a single thing on the MIMs that are really bad (except basically the pickups, but we replace those anyway... =))

 

[Mincer]

Re: american fenders

Ehh, I haven't picked up a G&L in a _long_ time but my feeling was they're also more expensive than the average American Series as well (nice guitars though. =))

By your own admission though, you can feel the difference between them when you play - if you've got to play a lot, why not play something that feels great instead of just good? I definitely think Americans are nicer than MIMs, although I can't point to a single thing on the MIMs that are really bad (except basically the pickups, but we replace those anyway... =))

The MIA's feel a little differnt than the MIM...not better, but different. I don't think it is worth the extra cost. Thats why I play a Music Man.

 

[Dills]

Re: american fenders

(I think) when you spend that much extra on american one you know you are getting quality and you dont want another cheap guitar that is only going to fall short of your expectations, when you buy something that is of quality you know you can rely on it more. And you dont have to take the guessing game root, if you buy a cheaper copy or version then you will only want the real thing next, cos u know there is better (unless its way to expensive for your budget.)

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: american fenders

gah, why do people keep bringing up threads i made months ago?

 

[LesStrat]

Re: american fenders

better woods.......more time spent prefecting neck (rolled edges, fretwork)........better hardware and better pickups.....

I'll go along with all but the last point. Ever notice how everyone buying a new LP or Strat wants a pickup swap? There IS a reason....

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: american fenders

Two words

Micro-Tilt. Ok so it's not worth 3 times as much but it is nice, without that I wouldn't pick up a tele or strat. The other player centric thing is the broken in feeling rolled edge, I really dig those on my tele. I also like to support my neighbors and friends by buying goods made in the USA when possible.

Luke

 

[flank]

Re: american fenders

I'll go along with all but the last point. Ever notice how everyone buying a new LP or Strat wants a pickup swap? There IS a reason....

you have a point, but i doubt the number of people who are "tone journeymen" out-number the people who buy a guitar to play it, and buy it liking how it sounds already.... its just different kinds of people, those who are content with a good sounding guitar, and those, like all the people on these guitar forums, that love experimentation

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: american fenders

I have a mex strat which is really nice.
I have an American Highway1 tele which is even better

 

[Zerberus]

Re: american fenders

Well, american Labor costts iirc about 3x as much as Mexican labor, so tthe pure setup /finishing/ final assembly costs go from about 100$ (5$/hr mexican @20 hrs) to 300$ (15$/HR USA American @20 hrs), not counting most of the side costs and any sort of benefits either may draw (But I´m also led to believe the actual salaries are a bit lower on average, so that may average out nicely.) ....

Add on to that the better woods and hardware, and the price comes into perspective quite quickly

gah, why do people keep bringing up threads i made months ago?

Because they´re either still interested in the information, or have something to add... These aren´t solely for your personal enjoyment, Drew, but for ALL to benefit from

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: american fenders

I have a mexi strat and love it, although it could use a set-up, Stays in tune MORE than I expected (I have the bridge floating too). Also, sounds great (could use a tad more brightness for my tastes) but that will all change when I get it set-up and a JB juniro stuck in the bridge.

http://www.fendereurope.com/fenderfiles/WhatsthedifferencebetweenaMexicanStratandaUSStrat.asp

^^ there, it compares Mexi and American Strats.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: american fenders

Oh ya, Mexi's are lest consistant in quality, also Strats are built ALOT by hand, not just done by "machine".

 

[BASSMAN64]

Re: american fenders

I would say it like this,Its like getting dressed up suit and tie(American) or wearing shorts and flip flops.(Mexican) They both have their purposes.The bottom line is craftmanship,parts and wood.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: american fenders

I would say it like this,Its like getting dressed up suit and tie(American) or wearing shorts and flip flops.(Mexican) They both have their purposes.The bottom line is craftmanship,parts and wood.

:smack: Nice comparison and I think I get it? :laugh2:
The MIM line is fine once you get some great pickups,and the correct vintage bridge on one..They are alder bodied now(Poplar got to be more expensive)and these guitars represent a great value for the dollar...

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: american fenders

.... i would always opt for a used american at around 500-600......and thats what i did :dance:

I've never understood why anyone would buy any import Fender, with maybe the exception of the Jimmy Vaughan Model. You get what you pay for, every step of the way with Fender, but the best deal will always be the desperate seller getting rid of his American Std strat. $400-$600 strats come up used daily.
Slap in some Duncans, make sure it's set up perfectly, and you're done!

And, if you want to go up from there, buy a Deluxe, Classic Player, or Custom Shop. Sure, it cost more to buy a Custom Shop, but a good player with a good ear can tell the difference in quality.......as long as it's a Strat or Tele that is exactly what you wanted.