Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

[51501984]

I`ve got two Highway 1 Strats and was thinking of getting a MIM Strat just because I want another guitar and they`re affordable. What are the pros and cons with the MIM ? I`ve had a couple MIM Teles and they played nice right out of the box . Of course I`d want to upgrade the pickups!

 

[Studiobuddy]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

well i dunno man i gotta mim strat and my friends and even my guitar teacher love it
my friend likes it over his lespaul and american strat

i think its just mine though maybe not, i picked it out of 100 strats about i played on till i got the perfect one which had some dents and a crack down the back (minor crack) so i got it for 200 bucks and it plays damn fine

 

[beandip]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

MIM strats are very nice, but if you're looking for something good, then you need to go up than a standard strat. Maybe a 50's or 60's classic, a JV (which, IMHO, are the best MIM strats out there), a Robert Cray (second best), Powerhouse, Super Fat Super Strat, ect. Those are all around the price range of a HWY 1, and some in the range of a used MIA strat. I'd say stick with the MIA stuff, if you're in that area of money.

 

[strat_master]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

i own a MIM strat its not bad, i have a hot rail in it, its mediocre guitar really. Id rather own a paul.

 

[Grandor]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

highway 1's shred all over MIM's in my opinion.
the mims ive played werent as good as the Highway1's, in any dept. (neck, feel, sound etc)

 

[beandip]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

Most give the credit to the finish of the HWY 1's, as to why they sound better than most guitars. That thin satin laquer finish is awsome. The hardware's usually better as well. Not to mention the pickups are much better than the ceramic MIM's (although they sound good, the HWY 1's sound damn good), and the frets are medium jumbo compaired to Fenders "vintage" style found on the MIM. All in all, the HWY 1 is just a great deal for nothing more than a MIM. More for yer money.

 

[Grandor]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

Most give the credit to the finish of the HWY 1's, as to why they sound better than most guitars. That thin satin laquer finish is awsome. The hardware's usually better as well. Not to mention the pickups are much better than the ceramic MIM's (although they sound good, the HWY 1's sound damn good), and the frets are medium jumbo compaired to Fenders "vintage" style found on the MIM. All in all, the HWY 1 is just a great deal for nothing more than a MIM. More for yer money.

+ 1.
I knew there was technical reasons but didnt know them.
lol

 

[Wattage]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

Play like 100 of them and you'll find a few you like I am sure. The pups and bridges are so-so but other than that they are pretty good guitars.

 

[Thames]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

My MIM Deluxe Powerhouse is unbeatable.

I'd never get rid of it of anything (never say never! )

Although I do need a 22 frets neck strat, Im having a hard time choosing if I'll buy another one or change the neck on it. The neck is simply amazing. And this thing resonates! I've changed the pickups, of course, and the trem block. But I want to change the whole bridge ass'y and tuners, they are kinda cheap (PING-made, btw, same as the HWY-1).

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

I picked up a 2001 MIM Strat that just kind of "spoke to me" about two years ago. I even bought the thing new which is exceptionally rare for me. I was in the market for a MIA or an older Strat Plus and just decided to pick it up and see what it was all about.

Boom....like diving into a pool of warm water.

I'd owned a Clapton for years and was never really happy with the sound or feel of it.

The MIM was it....all the Strat I was looking for. It had the pure vintage sound I'd been looking for.

The thing still constantly amazes me with how good it sounds.

I've played a good number of MIMs and I will admit that things can be hit or miss. But for the trouble of playing a bunch to be able to find one as good as mine I tend to think it's worth it.

 

[Thames]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

Yes, youre right, hit or miss all the time.

Same thing with me, I was in the market for a used USA or MIJ and completely felt in love with the feel of this one, which I still have and love.

 

[No effects]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

MIM strats are very nice, but if you're looking for something good, then you need to go up than a standard strat. Maybe a 50's or 60's classic, a JV (which, IMHO, are the best MIM strats out there), a Robert Cray (second best), Powerhouse, Super Fat Super Strat, ect. Those are all around the price range of a HWY 1, and some in the range of a used MIA strat. I'd say stick with the MIA stuff, if you're in that area of money.

IMO The bottom line with gear is that you get what you pay for. I've tried to "settle for less" in the past but have always been disappointed or wished I had bought the real thing (in my case the American tele instead of the MIM one). I played a "real" tele through my plexi last night and it confirmed this piont yet again, especially that I had played an MIM strat through my rig two weeks ago and that the difference was night and day!

 

[Hellion]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

For the money, MIM Strats are the best deal for the buck right now. I have one and it's a really interesting guitar. It's had some work done to it over the last 10 years, but it's a great instrument and with the exception of the frets, is still stock.

 

[B2D]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

I have a '95 MIM Std that I bought new in '98. It's got some major mojo on it... I've also had Sperzels and various combos of pickps in it (Duncan Classic Stacks are in there right now) and one refret cuz I play it so much and it's been nothing but good to me. It's got a great sound, a little deeper and a little snappier than most strats I've played. Love it!

 

[No effects]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

I have a '95 MIM Std that I bought new in '98. It's got some major mojo on it... I've also had Sperzels and various combos of pickps in it (Duncan Classic Stacks are in there right now) and one refret cuz I play it so much and it's been nothing but good to me. It's got a great sound, a little deeper and a little snappier than most strats I've played. Love it!

I'm sure the stock pups on the MIM strat I played had something to do with the tone, as the workmanship and feel of the guitar certainly seemed ok. All I was trying to say is that you're more than likely going to get a better ax if you invest a little more money.

 

[B2D]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

I'm sure the stock pups on the MIM strat I played had something to do with the tone, as the workmanship and feel of the guitar certainly seemed ok. All I was trying to say is that you're more than likely going to get a better ax if you invest a little more money.

I'l agree with the workmanship ideas... the guitar does have its shortcomings but i can work with it. And when you really get down to it its a great guitar for what i paid for it. Actually I've had several professionals play it and they all seemed to say that mine was a bit above average as Mexi Strats go. My teacher likes American Deluxe Fat Strats and custom Heritage models and when he played mine recently he was very surprised with not only how it sounded but how it felt and played as well.

Fenders seem to have only been getting better with the past few years, though. And I own a '92 MIA FR Strat that i got off ebay and it's a superb instrument. I was reluctant to change the stock pickups because they sounded so good on their own but I'm currently real happy with the PAF Pros I've got in there. :burnout:

 

[Ez74]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

when i was strat shopping i played a bunch of diffrent 1s...money wasnt really an issue and the strat i ended up buying was the MIM robert cray strat... the neck just felt great, it sounded great stock, it has a classic looking finish, and it is a hardtail

to me a good guitar is a good guitar.. it doesnt matter where it was made

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

i got one, '99 fat strat

pros are - cheap, well made, have a distinct tone i love

cons - I dunno, i guess the frets wear down a little fast, but i like well-worn frets

 

[Closed Eye]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

I've got a MIM Strat and truth be told, the one I own is the only MIM Strat I've liked.

But, this being said, I've dumped a buttload of money into that guitar and every penny is worth it. The guitar feels great and sounds great, but the modifications make all the differance in the world. The MIM Strat is the closest thing I've got to a Custom Shop guitar right now, and I couldn't be happier. Well, maybe if I had a custom shop guitar...

 

[beandip]

Re: Who here plays a Made in Mexico Strat?

Oh, for the record, the MIM's have so so wood for bodies and necks, while the HWY 1's have the same wood used for MIA guitars. And the necks are thicker than MIM's. Now, dont get me wrong, there's plenty of great MIM guitars out there, but you're more than likely to find one that you like more in a MIA stack. But like I said, not alot beats a Jimmie Vaughan strat.