Fender Strat differences with regards to country origin

[faizal_rocks]

Hi ppl

I need u guys to enlighten me on what kind of strat to get. Of coz, theres the MIA, MIJ and MIM. MIA strats are way beyond my budget but I may want to give the US Highway series a consideration. My pals tell me to get either a MIA or MIJ if I want a REAL strat tone and stay away from MIM. How true is this?

Really appreciate ur inputs.

Thanks.. : )

 

[62jaguar]

MIA - they say the highest quality of materials and workmanship go there..
but it's high priced for some ppl..but it's a good investment..if got some money to burn, get the Deluxe series..

MIA h1 - Fender made in the US, but some say that their hardware some are from mexico..but still it's quite good

MIM - made in the baja california factory..called the standard series..body from poplar (I think)..many opinion from ppl that bought them says that they lack tone..

MIJ - RI from the '57 (maple fretboard) 62' (rosewood) '70s (big headstock)
they say that the workmanship can challange the MIA Fenders.The electronics, not so good. but great geetar at a reasonable price.

IMO - get the MIJ Strat..

 

[sepultura]

While it's true the MIA strats are great, the Japan models are excellent value for money. I have a MIJ strat, the workmakship is excellent, the finish is great, and it plays really really well, and it is cheaper than MIA strats.

However, most stock strat pickups except the high end ones are mediocre at best. Change your pickups to something nice, e.g., texas specials, or some nice DiMarzio virtual vintage, etc and you will have a killer guitar. I know mine really rocks now.

Mine has a basswood body, maple fretboard. The electronics are so-so. The pickup selector switch crapped out and I had to replace it. While doing that, I replaced all the pots too. Now it works very well.

 

[thor666]

Bro - get the one that you've tried and the guitar talks to you. That you feel a connection with it. That sounds particularly better to your ears.

I would say the MIA do tend to be a bit higher in QC than MIM, but it's never a guarantee.

If you have to have 22 frets, most likely you only have MIA to work with. (MIJ 22 frets are rare)

MIM strats are not/no longer made in poplar IIRC.

Only advice here is that you have to sit down and try out the ash/alder/basswood difference of different strat bodies. I feel that is particularly distinct, and personally I feel alder is more authentic. But you may have other uses for basswood or ash.

 

[dwarfstars]

I think we've been psycho-ed into thinking MIM are inferior quality. (Which is actually true in some cases if you really inspect the workmanship.) I find the MIM 60 aniversary strat pretty decent. I dunno what you guys think but actually for that money, I'll opt for an MIJ strat.

On the topic of MIJ strats, I heard there are 2 diff kinds. One is produced in Jap for the local market and the other for Export. Any info for the difference?

 

[fgl]

MIJ strats have good finishing but MIM strats have better pups, pots, selectors etc .... so unless U planning to upgrade pups, pots etc anyway, MIM strats mite be the way to go?

 

[namle]

MIJ strats have good finishing but MIM strats have better pups, pots, selectors etc .... so unless U planning to upgrade pups, pots etc anyway, MIM strats mite be the way to go?

not true
MIJ pots are MIJ Gotohs pots that are good
even the lowest end model will come with treble-bleed fix kit

the pickups are fender pups

 

[fgl]

not true
MIJ pots are MIJ Gotohs pots that are good
even the lowest end model will come with treble-bleed fix kit

the pickups are fender pups

The MIM I bought came with CTS (US) pots & selector - which in my eyes are superior to the "gotoh" pots (they are all made by the same manufacturer anyway) - not to say that gotoh is not good (I use a lotta gotoh components) but in my many years of guitar playing & repair I note that they tend to wear out faster compared to CTS or other US brands.

To my ears, the MIM pups definately better than MIJ pups in terms of tonal weight & timbre - of course -no match for aftermarkets or US pups... I upgraded mine to DiMarzios.

As I said b4, if you planning to mod anyway, MIJ is the way to go -, if U wanna plug & play, MIM is the one...

ultimately your choice... and your budget

 

[faizal_rocks]

Hey thanks so much for the inputs, ppl..really appreciate them..keep them coming..hope to get a suitable Fender Strat soon : )

Faizal

 

[ahkiatt]

yall forgot the MII squiers... :lol:

 

[namle]

not true
MIJ pots are MIJ Gotohs pots that are good
even the lowest end model will come with treble-bleed fix kit

the pickups are fender pups

The MIM I bought came with CTS (US) pots & selector - which in my eyes are superior to the "gotoh" pots (they are all made by the same manufacturer anyway) - not to say that gotoh is not good (I use a lotta gotoh components) but in my many years of guitar playing & repair I note that they tend to wear out faster compared to CTS or other US brands.

To my ears, the MIM pups definately better than MIJ pups in terms of tonal weight & timbre - of course -no match for aftermarkets or US pups... I upgraded mine to DiMarzios.

As I said b4, if you planning to mod anyway, MIJ is the way to go -, if U wanna plug & play, MIM is the one...

ultimately your choice... and your budget

yup its true that gotohs will wear out faster and sorta become scratchy compared to CTS...

but as far as all the MIM and MIJ i've played i find MIJ strikes better

its personal preference all cool for me

 

[fgl]

namle - yep true - up to the individual....

One thing I will say about the new batch of MIJ is that the finishing & fret work is realy top class. Actually some of the MIJ also have the US pups (e.g MIJ with texas special, US vintage pups etc) - definately good value for $$$ - downside is that these models might actually end up coming close to the price of a MIM...haha..

 

[fgl]

Hey thanks so much for the inputs, ppl..really appreciate them..keep them coming..hope to get a suitable Fender Strat soon : )

Faizal

If U really up for it, custom order the components to tailor your very own personal strat...Chose what type of neck, scale, fretboard radius, fret size & type, neck width, body wood, bridge type, pick type & configuration - the choice is endless...

These days I custom build my strats according to my fav specs...

 

[namle]

namle - yep true - up to the individual....

One thing I will say about the new batch of MIJ is that the finishing & fret work is realy top class. Actually some of the MIJ also have the US pups (e.g MIJ with texas special, US vintage pups etc) - definately good value for $$$ - downside is that these models might actually end up coming close to the price of a MIM...haha..

if you are able to be in japan and ta pau back one

it will be definitely cheaper than MIM price

hehZz

 

[fgl]

[quote="namleif you are able to be in japan and ta pau back one

it will be definitely cheaper than MIM price

hehZz[/quote]

Or if you got any Indian or Pakistani wholesaler kakis who buy in bulk from SG also can.... :lol:

 

[noobastank]

MIM ones doesnt use poplar anymore

Its decent, and great one to mod with

 

[bin4christ]

i've played two strats- 1 MIM, 1 MIJ together one after the other.. i'd say the MIJ one feels better, n sounds better (they both have stock pickups)
however, they have different necks.. the MIJ 1 is rather sharp n protruding (V-shape, i think), while the MIM 1 has sort of a C-shape profile, which is more similar to a les paul neck n since i was more used to les pauls then i preferred the neck of the MIM one.. but not all MIJ strats have the V-shaped necks right?

 

[le_Doucereux]

I've got an MIJ Tele which I got from Japan (as opposed to buying it here) and there is a marked difference between the Jap Fenders you get here and the ones you get in Japan.. The Jap Tele I've got easily rivals my MIA Fenders in terms of build quality as well as feel and sound.. I may have gotten lucky with this one but the other guitars I tried in Japan were all very, very good..

Oh, I got the Tele for SG$700.. Ash body, rosewood fretboard, maple neck.. Sweeeet..

 

[edder]

yall forgot the MII squiers... :lol:

that one is the best! :twisted:

 

[dwarfstars]

I've got an MIJ Tele which I got from Japan (as opposed to buying it here) and there is a marked difference between the Jap Fenders you get here and the ones you get in Japan.. The Jap Tele I've got easily rivals my MIA Fenders in terms of build quality as well as feel and sound.. I may have gotten lucky with this one but the other guitars I tried in Japan were all very, very good..

Oh, I got the Tele for SG$700.. Ash body, rosewood fretboard, maple neck.. Sweeeet..

was it the one you got during your holiday? haha.. i saw your website.. quite cool.