Fender Strats - Squire or Mexico Made?

bluealien · #1 08-23-2006, 12:20 AM

OK, heres a question, which fender is better on the low grade strats, the Fender Squire MIJ or the Fender made in Mexico?

Which has better quality, tone etc.

thanks

**elcid** · #2 08-23-2006, 12:28 AM

Mexico by a landslide.

**Ayrton** · #3 08-23-2006, 01:14 AM

Well any 2000 and up MIM is a very good guitar, and the MIJ re issue models are also quite nice, but skip the Squire altogether.

mi2tom · #4 08-23-2006, 05:33 AM

I think both are good, the squire MIJs are great too

Vern Holiday · #5 08-23-2006, 06:23 AM

Considering the fact that you can get a Fender MIM for around $400 these days, it astounds me that Squire sells any guitars at all. Back when I got my MIJ Strat in the mid 80's, you couldn't touch a Strat for $400. I'd definately go for the Fender MIM, or spend a little more and get a MIJ Fender strat. The craftsmenship and playability are top-notch.

Has anyone seen the new Electron Blue MIM strats? These things look absolutely KILLER!!!

**Ayrton** · #6 08-23-2006, 01:49 PM

You can still find new Highway One models for $499 shipped, and that is a steal for what you get.

smc · #7 08-23-2006, 02:02 PM

I hear the new upgraded 2006 mexi-fenders are supposed to be very nice. Ive owned two mexican strats, and both where really nice guitars when they where set up right, and really really nice guitars when the pickups where replaced.
Its like most guitars, you got to try a few and see which one works for you.

Another mention for the Japanese strats, they are pretty expensive to get new, but for a used strat on a budget, they are the way to go IMO.

7Plagues · #8 08-23-2006, 02:36 PM

if you are going MIJ, get the older models..anything up to 1985 will be a top notch buy..i have 2 americans, a 1981 jap and a 2001 modded mexican..they are all great but the older jap feels nicer compared to the mexican.

Dino · #9 08-23-2006, 04:29 PM

Everyone who works in the Fender USA shop is from Mexico anyway....

ChopTart · #10 08-23-2006, 05:02 PM

Current MIM is WAY better than the current Squire - they've come a long way in quality control.

tTz · #11 08-23-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayrton

You can still find new Highway One models for $499 shipped, and that is a steal for what you get.

The Highway Ones have just been upgraded a bit too, so a new one for that would be a hell of a guitar for the price. In UK money, that's less than what a standard MIM Strat costs.

Act of God · #12 08-23-2006, 07:40 PM

My Squier Pro Tone plays as good or better than every Strat I have ever touched

supermau · #13 08-23-2006, 08:22 PM

I bought my wife a lefty Squier Strat a few years ago because she was interested in learning to play. Made in Indonesia. Like all cheap Strats - the hardware and the pickups pretty much suck, but the body and neck are great however and I'm sure with upgraded parts this guitar would be awsome (not that I'd bother to do that). It has a pretty cool black metallic finish as well. I think I paid about $200. If I were looking today I'd go MIM for sure.

Racerx2k · #14 08-23-2006, 08:44 PM

I had both a MIM Strat, AND a Squier Standard Strat, at the same time, and they were quite comparable. I actually liked the Squier a tad more, so I got rid of the Mexi. NEVER judge a book by it's cover, and never blindly go just by name. Try the individual items out, side by side if you have to. You just may be surprised.

supermau · #15 08-24-2006, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racerx2k

I had both a MIM Strat, AND a Squier Standard Strat, at the same time, and they were quite comparable. I actually liked the Squier a tad more, so I got rid of the Mexi. NEVER judge a book by it's cover, and never blindly go just by name. Try the individual items out, side by side if you have to. You just may be surprised.

I agree. You just have to go try some guitars on for size. You never know what you might like.