Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

[raul693]

Hello mates, so I've had this brand new Epiphone Dot up for sale for a while now http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ve/MLV-408173834-guitarra-electrica-epiphone-dot-cherry-_JM and this guy just offered to trade me a 1996 MIM strat for it http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ve/MLV-407773943-fender-strato-vintage-1996-venta-cambio-por-tele-o-hollow-_JM.

I said no, but told him I'd think about it if he threw in a brand new MXR Carbon Copy Delay and the hard case shown in the pics (which has faulty latches apparently), what do you think?

I'd try two sell any of the two guitars because keeping them would involve swapping electronic parts and I don't wanna spend cash right now, the MIM is clearly less valuable, but if I make the trade I get a good pedal and a strat to fiddle around with until I sell it (wouldn't play it much but right now I never play the Dot).

Your thoughts? Anything in particular I should know about 1996 MIM strats?

 

[GLJazz]

Re: Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

Links aren't working, but some of those 90's MIM are really, really good strats. Probably worth checking it out! As far as the case, I might leave that alone. I'd be scared I'd be in a rush, forget, and have guitar meet pavement when the latches fell open!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

I have a 1996 MIM Tex-Mex Stratocaster, chunky maple neck, (allegedly) alder body. Currently sporting Lace Sensors. Plays wonderfully. About to be sold - not because I dislike the guitar but because I already have too many Stratocasters.

 

[raul693]

Re: Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

Links aren't working, but some of those 90's MIM are really, really good strats. Probably worth checking it out! As far as the case, I might leave that alone. I'd be scared I'd be in a rush, forget, and have guitar meet pavement when the latches fell open!

I fixed the links, they should be working now

I'm given to understand 90's MIM strats are good but they vary a lot as far as wood, pickups, necks, frets, etc. This one seems to be you typical standard strat but I don't know what kind of frets and body wood it has, and I definitively don't want a poplar strat. I'm guessing the strat is worth anywhere between 2/3 or 3/4 what the brand new Epi is, so would you consider this a good deal?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

The worrying aspect of the black guitar in the link photographs is the hardware.

My Tex-Mex model has replica Kluson slot-top machineheads and a big block vibrato bridge with vintage-style bent steel bridge saddles. The example that you are considering has the machined saddles that usually go with the Sun Il skinny sustain block vibrato. I imagine that the machineheads on the black guitar will be Ping imitations of the Schaller M6 design.

In my opinion, you are correct to anticipate that getting the best out of the black MIM Stratocaster will involve investing a considerable sum of money.

 

[Securb]

Re: Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

Ditto- I have a MIM 90s Strat that is a dream but it has Duncans (P-rails/Pearly Gates), a Fender Lsr Roller Nut, A Babicz bridge and Spetzel locking tuners. It was OK out of the box but would have never made it into heavy rotation the way it did without the upgrades. If he throws in the MXR I would say it is a done deal.

 

[Kramer Guy]

Re: Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

IMO, seeing that the condition of the strat is not really that good cosmetically, I would definitely keep the Dot. I don't know if you've tried out the Strat yet , but if you haven't ,then you're taking a chance on a unknown guitar . Chances are the electronics could have some issues seeing how it looks as far as the appearance of the guitar is. No, I would stay away from it and see what you could get for the Dot on it's own if you're really looking to get rid of it that bad.

 

[raul693]

Re: Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

Thank you all for your input, I'm gonna opt for not making the trade, there is nothing about the strat that truly appeals to me and I don't wanna spend any money on it, honestly speaking what made me even think the whole thing was the Carbon Copy delay.

At least the Epiphone I know I like, except for the pickups, which even after adjusting them, are by far the muddiest sounding pickups I've ever tried, truly hate them.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

Two options remain. Either sell the guitar to the Strat guy for cash or keep it and upgrade the pickups. I have had good results with Tonerider Alnico II Classic (N) and Rocksong (B) humbuckers. Others here will probably recommend GFS.

 

[raul693]

Re: Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

The strat doesn't have any cash, so I'll just have to keep it up for sale. Changing pickups and enjoying the Dot is not an option, Duncans and Dimarzios are pretty much the only thing you can find in here and a pair of SD's would cost me about 1 month of salary and that is without adding new pots, switch, jack, wiring and caps :-S

P.S: I don't have such a crappy job, guitar gear (and pretty much anything that's imported) is incredibly expensive in Venezuela :-(

 

[MrTondo]

Re: Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

I think that is a good choice. Just keep it up for sale, the right buyer will come along. Nowadays it just takes a bit longer than it used to do... And if it hasn't sold in a couple of months, who knows you may indeed try some new pickups and such .

 

[Kramer Guy]

Re: Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

I own a Epiphone Gothic Les Paul Studio which has the same kind of pickups that the Dot has and by adjusting them according to Gibson's standards, you can get rid of that muddiness you speak of.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

I have a 1996 MIM Tex-Mex Stratocaster, chunky maple neck, (allegedly) alder body. Currently sporting Lace Sensors. Plays wonderfully. About to be sold - not because I dislike the guitar but because I already have too many Stratocasters.

Is that possible? To have too many Strats? I have 5!!

 

[david kornblatt]

Re: Trade for 1996 MIM strat, what do you think?

What I would do if I were you is ask MJ to make Strat pickups in a humbucker shell and install that