American Strat vs Upgraded MIM??

[Seraphial]

I've got a Fender Texas Special Fat Strat, but I could sell it for a good profit in NZ if I wanted. I'm thinking about buying a standard MIM and upgrading most of it - Callaham bridge and block, Kinman AVn blues set, Schaller locking tuners and Earvana nut. Sure, it'll be the same price as a Deluxe, but this way I get to have everything the way I want it. I also like the more vintage nut width (small detail but I've got small hands and can feel the difference). On the downside the woods not as good and it doesn't have the rounded edges. What's everyone's opinion?

 

[beandip]

Re: American Strat vs Upgraded MIM??

I say go for it, and sell the Tx Special strat to me . The wood of the MIM's is fine. There's nothing to really be concerned about. the neck can be rounded off quite easily actually, if you do decide to get the MIM, PM me and I'll tell you how to get the best results. Aw, I'll just post 'em now. At your local hardware store, they ahve what they call foam sanding blocks. Mostly used for sanding rounded objects and sometimes drywall. They look like a rectangular wedge covered w/ sandpaper. Get one in 150 grit or so, and lightly sand the edge of the neck. You'll have a nicely rounded "worn in" feel in no time. In the process though, you'll scratch the frets. Just get some 0000 steel wool , and polish the frets to a shine, the run the wool up and down the fretboard, "polishing" it.

 

[inter]

Re: American Strat vs Upgraded MIM??

It's really a personal choice.

If you do sell the AM and get a MIM, I'd try to make sure all the mods that you said your gonna do are reversable.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the schallers are a great idea because they fit in the space of the stock tuners. Unlike the sperzels that will make non standard holes in the back of your headstock.

I guess the nut will have to stay there.

If you sell the MIM in the future, you can return it to stock with no harm done. You can then sell the pups, schallers and callaham all individually on ebay.

 

[Seraphial]

Re: American Strat vs Upgraded MIM??

Cheers guys. Anyone else?

 

[martinsixstringcustoms]

Re: American Strat vs Upgraded MIM??

Excellent idea IMHO. I did the same thing, only I sold an American Deluxe and used some of the proceeds to by a MIM Strat. Schaller strap locks and locking tuners (no extra holes and they work awesome!), Duncan Alnico Pro II's, and a new pickguard. Kicks the sh*t out of the American Deluxe I had and costed me less in the end.

Go for it and post some pix!

Good luck....

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: American Strat vs Upgraded MIM??

The only thing I dislike about the MIM's is the vintage fretwire (I prefer the medium jumbo frets) and the fact that MIM's are missing a fret.

With that said, I think you can have a better playing guitar for the same $$ going with your idea. Don't overlook the possibility of buying a Hwy 1 strat and modding it. The Hwy 1 will have 22 frets, larger frets, mine has the rolled edge feeling, and most importantly the thin lacquer finish allow the body to breath and resonate in my opinion.

Then when you add the Callaham bridge assembly, locking tuners and upgraded pickups you have a fantastic sounding guitar for less than what a Deluxe costs.

BTW, if you get the Fender/Schaller locking tuners, they slip right in with the same footprint and mounting holes as the standard tuners.

 

[inter]

Re: American Strat vs Upgraded MIM??

Are you going to try the MIM out first or is it an import/postal purchase? New or used?

Your obviously used to high quality strats so if it's at all possible, try and play it before you buy, especially if it's used. The MIM's I've played seem to vary greatly in quality and playability.

It's a cliche' but no amount of polish will fix a turd.

 

[JimiHWannaBe]

Re: American Strat vs Upgraded MIM??

instead of buying a mex strat and taking everything off it why dont you just buy a neck and body from warmoth and then just make all the upgrades your talking about on that

 

[Seraphial]

Re: American Strat vs Upgraded MIM??

Are you going to try the MIM out first or is it an import/postal purchase? New or used?

Your obviously used to high quality strats so if it's at all possible, try and play it before you buy, especially if it's used. The MIM's I've played seem to vary greatly in quality and playability.

Yeah, I'll probably be trying before buying. When you've played a few US strats and you know what quality you should expect, it kinda bugs you if something isn't up to scratch. I've played a sunburst standard Mex tele for a while and even tho the feel wasn't quite up there, it was pretty solid and had a nice tone about it.

Thing is I'm going overseas in a years time and was just thinking about selling my axes to help with the funds. One of the main things I like about strats is that they're mostly indestructible. I'll be banging it about with me and I don't think I'd mind too much if I chipped it.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: American Strat vs Upgraded MIM??

The MIM Fender Jimmie Vaughn Strat can be a great guitar, especially if you can play a few and pick the best one. My buddy AJ's Jimmie Vaughn plays and sounds as nice as some Custom Shop Strats I've played and all that needed to be changed on it were the pickups. The stock Tex-Mex pickups are not bad but the Duncan SSL-1's are "better". The hardware is just fine and medium jumbo frets come stock on a nice vintage style neck too. Lew

 

[Seraphial]

Re: American Strat vs Upgraded MIM??

Yeah Lew - if the JV's were just a touch bit thinner in the neck and had modern tuners I'd snap it up. Sounds like the best strat deAl on the market at the mo. I'm still leaning towards the theory that a standard, with the upgrades I'm planning, will be just as good if not better than that tho. Really, all that will be kinda stock is the body.