New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

K

keiranstubbings

New member
Hiya guys,

I’m looking to purchase a new Fender Strat - however I had some questions reference MIM v MIA and what would be most appropriate for myself. Located within the UK.

It would mostly be for casual bedroom practice for the time being, and the tones I’m after are mainly Hendrix, Mayer, Sayce and some Gilmour - think cleans to light overdrive and bluesy gain types. I’m currently running through a H & K Tubemeister 36 Combo.

However I’m unsure whether to go Mexican, or wait around another year to save and go American. For a casual player for myself will it make much of a difference? Or would a Mexican be fine? I’m aware I’d be able to swap out the pick ups on a MIM if I wasn’t happy with the stock pick ups.

One I’ve had my eye on is below:

https://www.andertons.co.uk/guitar-...-strat-electric-guitar-daphne-blue-maple-neck

Obviously before anyone asks I am going to visit the shops and try some out!

P.s as an aside I’m planning to buy an overdrive to go with it and I’ve whittled it down to the Tumnus, JRAD Archer, Greer lightspeed - if anyone has any experience with these I’d love to hear about it!

Thanks
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

MIM Strats are a great guitar. I wouldn't hesitate buying one when I find one that speaks to me. Don't discount used ones, either. Lots of great deals out there.
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

Yeah MIM would be my choice here. However you can old Americans for under a grand. Since you said your a bedroom player I wouldn't fork out that much money for an axe.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

i had to make that decision and went mid-level MIM, the classic series. I don't like the features on the MIM standard but the classic, classic player, and road worn are all worth it in their own ways.
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

Guess I'm the dissent- used American Standard Strats are only $600 where I am, and they're great guitars; on avg. a Mexican (used again) is about $300 and the difference is worth it. I would also rather pay $200 for a nicer Squier than $300 for MIM; if the price was equal I might still usually choose Squier.
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

I have nothing against MIM Strats. However, if my house was on fire and I had to choose between my ‘87 USA Strat or my ‘62 Les Paul, I’d save the Fender.
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

That guitar you have your eye on (Fender Classic 50s in Daphne Blue) is what you want. Buy it now and don’t look back. You won’t have any regrets.
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

I would recommend going used. I’m not sure of the used market in the UK but I’d presume it was similar to the USA in that you can get more for your money buying used.

I’m very biased towards MIA—largely due to neck specks and the finished; however, MIM offerings (especially used) can give you some very great instruments for the price.

I’ve had several MIM projects over the years, have had great luck with them (especially the Roadworn Series.) I’d recommend buying used and modding to specs you like.
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

I didn't realize he was looking at the Classic Series I didn't check his link sorry.

I have that guitar in surf green. It's amazing. The neck is great but you have to love V shapes and tiny frets and the radius. I do love them so I of course chose it over MIA
I love MIA necks for their smoothness and shape and rolled edges, I have owned an MIA ash strat, and the modern features make it a more versatile, more comfortable, more polished feeling piece of gear but I just really love the vintage features and feel and colors more

They are Equal quality in my book, the trade off of no rolled fretboard edges and less tuning stability with 6pt trem is worth the 7.25 V shape gloss with tiny frets and low output pickups. it's a magic combo.
 
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Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

I have two MIM Strats also and they are among my favorite players in my 20+ guitar harum.
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

I would tell you to check out a G&L Legacy, or S-500, or Comanche. G&L is the company Leo Fender started after he sold the Fender company to CBS in 1965.

The Legacy fixes some of the "issues" of the strat without losing the vintage flavor and feel. I like their USA guitars better than USA Fenders, and I think the budget-friendly Indonesian guitars are a better value than their low-line USA and MIM counterparts.

The USA factory IS a custom shop, and you can order a guitar in any of about 30 different colors, poly or nitro. At least six body woods, solid or chambered; and choices of nuts, tuners, inlays, binding and frets. The necks can be had in different widths and profiles, with a variery of fingerboards. SSS pickups, of course...but they also do HSS and 2HB. The S-500, Legacy Special and Comanche all hotter pickups offering a wide-range of tone. For not much money as custom guitars go, you can have the exact guitar you want.

Check out their website and Facebook page. They also have a forum at www.guitarsbyleo.com

If you're status-concious and need "Fender" on the headstock, well...then don't bother. If you want the best guitar and most bang-for-the-buck...grab a G&L.

Good luck!

Bill
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

There aren’t many G&L options near me, so I do Fender. I bought a MIM Strat in that price range a couple of years ago, and I have no complaints or regrets. I could see myself going for a Classic 50’s or similar; I love maple fretboards and 1950’s colors.
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

Boogie Bill said:
I would tell you to check out a G&L Legacy, or S-500, or Comanche. G&L is the company Leo Fender started after he sold the Fender company to CBS in 1965.

The Legacy fixes some of the "issues" of the strat without losing the vintage flavor and feel. I like their USA guitars better than USA Fenders, and I think the budget-friendly Indonesian guitars are a better value than their low-line USA and MIM counterparts.

The USA factory IS a custom shop, and you can order a guitar in any of about 30 different colors, poly or nitro. At least six body woods, solid or chambered; and choices of nuts, tuners, inlays, binding and frets. The necks can be had in different widths and profiles, with a variery of fingerboards. SSS pickups, of course...but they also do HSS and 2HB. The S-500, Legacy Special and Comanche all hotter pickups offering a wide-range of tone. For not much money as custom guitars go, you can have the exact guitar you want.

Check out their website and Facebook page. They also have a forum at www.guitarsbyleo.com

If you're status-concious and need "Fender" on the headstock, well...then don't bother. If you want the best guitar and most bang-for-the-buck...grab a G&L.

Good luck!

Bill
Click to expand...

While I agree with this post (I am a big proponent of G&L guitars), the part about getting any color in poly or nitro is wrong.

With a standard production line G&L, you can order any color they offer, and it comes in beautifully applied thin poly.

With a Custom Shop G&L (a new offering that is still getting its legs), you can choose a nitro finish, but it is available in a very limited range of colors.

A small number of nitro guitars were released in the past few years (as nitro experiments for their upcoming Custom Shop, really), but they were limited runs, and all of them were pre-made, i.e. not available to custom order. Specifically, there is no choice of color. Each model came in only one or two set colors.

The Rustic line preceded that, being their first foray into lacquer use since the '80's. Most of those were pre-made, but you could custom order them (with a very limited range of colors).
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

Specks and finished aside, either will last forever if cared for, either will play better than most of us, and one costs less...
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

I traded a MIM Strat for a brand new Gibson LPJ who do you think got the better end of the deal ?

mex.jpg

IMG_20180202_031621 (002).jpg
 
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Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

I really like the Deluxe Roadhouse MIM strat, it has lots of tonal possibilities, nice looks, good 22th fret access, noiseless pus... If i was looking for a new strat that would be the one.
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

Here is my classic series strat if it helps you decide. I love her.Run1.jpg
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

Depends. Do you want a Strat made by a Mexican dude in Mexico, or by a Mexican dude in California?
 
Re: New Strat Advice - MIM vs MIA!?

Thanks guys, all the advice brilliant as usual.

Mexican it is! Gonna get one next weekend I think, potentially the deluxe roadhouse in Olympic white. Tried a few out today and really enjoyed them.

Potentially wait out for NGD pictures!! Haha.
 
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