Archer_of_Fish
New member
Re: Which Stratocaster is better, MIM or MIJ?
Depends on the guitar itself
Depends on the guitar itself
Which Stratocaster is better, MIM or MIJ?
- Thread starter bornagainplayer
- Start date
j9fd3s
New member
Re: Which Stratocaster is better, MIM or MIJ?
i say try a bunch, and see which one YOU like.
i've had a BUNCH of MIM strats, and i've had a couple really good ones, and a couple really bad ones and a couple average ones. a few examples:
i have a 2007 that had a friday 4:30 neck, it was ok, but its like they didn't finish sanding it, and the rosewood is grey. the rest of the guitar is great.
i have one, 2003 vintage, body is made of 14 pieces. fourteen. XIV. the neck is actually AWESOME, it sounds like ass but its the best playing guitar i have.
i have a 2000 one, its poplar, its my best sounding strat. 100% stock.
i had another i sold, but it would have been around a 2002 vintage, sounded great, played even better.
so the MIM's have good quality in that everything works, and they play well and things like that, but the wood is variable quality, and for having a CNC machine, the necks are all over the place...
would that keep me from buying another? no, you just have to really look and play the thing
-mike
i say try a bunch, and see which one YOU like.
i've had a BUNCH of MIM strats, and i've had a couple really good ones, and a couple really bad ones and a couple average ones. a few examples:
i have a 2007 that had a friday 4:30 neck, it was ok, but its like they didn't finish sanding it, and the rosewood is grey. the rest of the guitar is great.
i have one, 2003 vintage, body is made of 14 pieces. fourteen. XIV. the neck is actually AWESOME, it sounds like ass but its the best playing guitar i have.
i have a 2000 one, its poplar, its my best sounding strat. 100% stock.
i had another i sold, but it would have been around a 2002 vintage, sounded great, played even better.
so the MIM's have good quality in that everything works, and they play well and things like that, but the wood is variable quality, and for having a CNC machine, the necks are all over the place...
would that keep me from buying another? no, you just have to really look and play the thing
-mike
Stratman
Guitaris Maximus
Re: Which Stratocaster is better, MIM or MIJ?
MIJ guitars have different size equipment, such as pots, pick guards, bridges, and tuners.
The workmanship in a MOJ is better.
The tone depends on too many factors, such as wood, pups, electronics, nut, tuners, bridge, that said, MIJ generally sound better.
1st chance you get… change to SD pups and US electronics for a better sounding guitar on either the MIM or MIJ.
MIJ guitars have different size equipment, such as pots, pick guards, bridges, and tuners.
The workmanship in a MOJ is better.
The tone depends on too many factors, such as wood, pups, electronics, nut, tuners, bridge, that said, MIJ generally sound better.
1st chance you get… change to SD pups and US electronics for a better sounding guitar on either the MIM or MIJ.
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: Which Stratocaster is better, MIM or MIJ?
Dude, there is much more to crafting a really nice guitar than just CNC machines and wood selection. The Japanese instruments have it going ON, because there are some highly experienced craftsmen who work on these guitars who know exactly what they're doing.
Dude, there is much more to crafting a really nice guitar than just CNC machines and wood selection. The Japanese instruments have it going ON, because there are some highly experienced craftsmen who work on these guitars who know exactly what they're doing.
SabbathFan0220
New member
Re: Which Stratocaster is better, MIM or MIJ?
As mentioned already in this thread, there are obviously a lot of factors here. But, I own an '86 MIJ Strat as well as an '02 MIM Strat, and basing my opinion on these two, I would go for the MIJ.
The finish and fretwork on the MIJ is fantastic (although the finish is a little thick). The MIM Fenders seem to be more hit-or-miss.
Also, when I refinished my MIM, I found that it was made of like 11 (not exaggerating here) pieces of wood, with a veneer sandwiched on the top and back. My MIJ is black so I can't say for sure what's under there.
As mentioned already in this thread, there are obviously a lot of factors here. But, I own an '86 MIJ Strat as well as an '02 MIM Strat, and basing my opinion on these two, I would go for the MIJ.
The finish and fretwork on the MIJ is fantastic (although the finish is a little thick). The MIM Fenders seem to be more hit-or-miss.
Also, when I refinished my MIM, I found that it was made of like 11 (not exaggerating here) pieces of wood, with a veneer sandwiched on the top and back. My MIJ is black so I can't say for sure what's under there.
verbotenco
New member
Re: Which Stratocaster is better, MIM or MIJ?
MIM is connected to the Mexico City drug cartels, MIJ to the Yakuza. Where do you fit in?
MIM is connected to the Mexico City drug cartels, MIJ to the Yakuza. Where do you fit in?
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Which Stratocaster is better, MIM or MIJ?
Thats a very nice looking strat....
Thats a very nice looking strat....
KeeperOS
New member
Re: Which Stratocaster is better, MIM or MIJ?
Wow, a lot of good advice here, let me rehash that, generally speaking MiJ have a better reputation for their quality than the MiM but again, like already stated, every guitar is unique and so the absolute best would be to go out, play as many as possible that are within your price range and get the one that YOU like the best (another subjective matter).
FWIW I have played some MiJ SQUIER that totally blew my mind for stock SSS strats but after all is said and done, I closed as a Strat owner from the very first guitar I ever owned, my 2000 MiM Fender Strat which over the years I modded as all heck:
Then:
Now:
Wow, a lot of good advice here, let me rehash that, generally speaking MiJ have a better reputation for their quality than the MiM but again, like already stated, every guitar is unique and so the absolute best would be to go out, play as many as possible that are within your price range and get the one that YOU like the best (another subjective matter).
FWIW I have played some MiJ SQUIER that totally blew my mind for stock SSS strats but after all is said and done, I closed as a Strat owner from the very first guitar I ever owned, my 2000 MiM Fender Strat which over the years I modded as all heck:
Then:
Now:
Inkstained
New member
Re: Which Stratocaster is better, MIM or MIJ?
Dude, you're so right. They sprinkle that magic "mojo" dust on every MIJ Strat! That's why they're better!
Look, I get it. That crafty "Crafted in Japan" label? It turned a lot of players on to the oh-so-seductive notion that *their* guitar was made by an extra-special "crafts"man on an extra-special day resulting in an extra-special, hand-made gee-tar. Made just for you.
I actually love Japanese Strats. I lived in Iwakuni for three years and played them by the truckload. Players rightly praise them. I've praised them against detractors myself.
But unless we're talking about the Custom Shop, this is industrial-design, assembly-made, mass-manufactured guitardom, in both countries.
Sorry if I derailed anyone's thread ...
Dude, you're so right. They sprinkle that magic "mojo" dust on every MIJ Strat! That's why they're better!
Look, I get it. That crafty "Crafted in Japan" label? It turned a lot of players on to the oh-so-seductive notion that *their* guitar was made by an extra-special "crafts"man on an extra-special day resulting in an extra-special, hand-made gee-tar. Made just for you.
I actually love Japanese Strats. I lived in Iwakuni for three years and played them by the truckload. Players rightly praise them. I've praised them against detractors myself.
But unless we're talking about the Custom Shop, this is industrial-design, assembly-made, mass-manufactured guitardom, in both countries.
Sorry if I derailed anyone's thread ...
sneakyjapan
New member
Re: Which Stratocaster is better, MIM or MIJ?
For me it depends on where a specific MIJ fits in the pecking order more than when it was made `cause I have seen top ends and low ends from each decade. Really hard for me to lump all MIJ Fenders into one or two categories, there are so many models with lots of variables. MIM`s are just way over priced in this Japanese city, I don`t own any. I bought the MIJs that impressed me and left those that didn`t on shop floors.
For me it depends on where a specific MIJ fits in the pecking order more than when it was made `cause I have seen top ends and low ends from each decade. Really hard for me to lump all MIJ Fenders into one or two categories, there are so many models with lots of variables. MIM`s are just way over priced in this Japanese city, I don`t own any. I bought the MIJs that impressed me and left those that didn`t on shop floors.
