Usa vs mexican strats....

[Guitarmonkey]

The MIA ones just generally seem a little better all round. It might be a Placebo effect but they just seem better all round.

But Brian Molko doesn't play a Strat
http://www.uberproaudio.com/who-play...-and-equipment

[meltedbuzzbox]

Placebo effect, the tendency of any medication or treatment, even an inert or ineffective one, to exhibit results simply because the recipient believes that it will work

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo...isambiguation)

[stratslinger]

ive owned american standards, the old strat plus's, american signature series, squier and have just bought a nitro finished classic player 50 (fsr, mexican) - the squier was noticeably of a lesser in quality (most noticeably in the pickups, but still not bad at all and a very nice guitar) and the others (except for one of the strat plus guitars which wasn't poorly finished, but just lacked something) have all been of a very high standard and great guitars.

Best value for money by a mile is my cp50 (just a gorgeous guitar all round with exceptional sounding pick ups - a G&G case too)

[axisus]

For me, MIJ strats have been my favourites so far, generally I'd take one of them over MIM or MIA. The trouble is too many people are realising and the price is creeping up all the time.

[MRLEON83]

For me, MIJ strats have been my favourites so far, generally I'd take one of them over MIM or MIA. The trouble is too many people are realising and the price is creeping up all the time.

My first fender was a Japan 60s ressue, I hated it , it put me off Fender for over ten years (until the present day) so I won't be going jap unless its an old squire, but thanks for the advise...

[meltedbuzzbox]

I had a Jap strat as a backup a few years back. I never invested anything in it as it was leant to me by a band mate and it was a real different feeling guitar to my Ibanez Rg at the time. But looking back if it was setup well it would have been awesome. The stock pickups sounded nice on it too.

I really like the choice of colours the jap Fenders have. They seem to have a massive range of options in colours and woods.

I understand you have to change the pots though as they are cheap alpha jobs. I dont know this for sure but I have read that a few times on here

[Sir Axeman]

The HW1 I've seen has the small headstock, I think that means its standard poly finish?

No it doesn't...they older HW1's had the regular headstock..but later ones went to the big 70's style...all HW1s are thin matt nitro. Some have buffed 'em up to a shine but a big part of the HW1's lower price point is the lesser finishing, cheaper bridge, whilst the pickups are different and they didn't ever come with a hardcase but a gig bag instead...all price cutting measures to bring an american made Fender to the lower price point. Since the HW's have been ditched we now have the American Specials instead...with a proper poly finish, and even texas specials..but still the cheaper bridge and no hardcase.

[nickp]

don't know if this adds to the debate but I bought a s/h mex 1970 reissue strat because I loved the feel of the neck (larger profile). after a while decided I didn't like the sound (it also hummed a lot) so bought some oil city pickups from guitar weasel. I also dropped a slight bollock as the frets were too worn...so

I have had it refretted with gibson style wire, put in some fancy push pull mods on the pickups, added locking tuners and a wilkinson trem - total cost is now about £400 (the guitar cost £180) so it is no longer the bargain I had hoped.

but it feels and sounds bloody marvellous and there is no way that I'm selling it.

[guitarfishbay]

US vs Mex -

US are usually a bit nicer in terms of feel and often sound better, though some Mex guitars now come with good pickups. The only thing I'd say to sway you in favour of US is that the used market now sits them at roughly the same price I paid new in 05/06, so over time their value seems to hold/increase more than the MIMs. Obviously no guarantee that would continue though.

In terms of resonance my friend has a MIM that is every bit as good as my US, however the stock pickups were a bit harsh and it needed frets sorting out as there were a few high ones. At half the price though I wouldn't complain - once the issues were sorted it honestly isn't far off a US.

I must stress that not all MIMs I have played are that resonant, but if you can try before you buy you could save yourself some money going down the MIM route.

Just be wary of taking on too much of a project - resale won't be affected much if you spend a lot on upgrades

[2009ab]

Wheres the thread for the 812 MRLEON? I have a couple of jap strats that i may consider trading as i like yamaha stuff more. Both need a bit of rewiring though as the electronics were rubbish. Both fuji-gen 1 black from 1985, 1 from 1994 but stripped to bare wood and oiled