How would you compare a mim vs mia stratocaster/tele?

-Rhaab · #1 03-23-2009, 01:34 AM

hmmmm? I trust the necks on the mia are much better, but I chose a mim for arctic white and 6point tremolo.

Ranger-X · #2 03-23-2009, 02:32 PM

Pretty much everything about an MIA is better in my opinion. Better woods, better quality hardware, and better pickups. Still, MIA Fender guitars are not worth the prices being charged. I'd much rather buy MIM and upgrade, arctic white is a nice color too. I reckon you probably paid around $350 for your strat...now go buy a good neck ($200-ish) and some pickups ($150-ish) and you've got a killer guitar for hundreds less than an MIA. Why did you want a 6-point tremolo, just curious?

-Rhaab · #3 03-23-2009, 03:14 PM

Just for the old strat vibe i suppose.
I was thinking about putting a dimarzio fs-1 in the bridge and a 58 in the neck

adriandavidb · #4 03-24-2009, 06:34 PM

I read somewhere that the necks for Mexican strats are US made, they save labour cost by assembling the mim in Mexico, anyone know if this is correct??

I played some mexican strats in a local shop (store) recently, necks where very good, the tone and volume pots were noticably horrible though!

-Rhaab · #5 03-25-2009, 12:10 AM

The only thing I didnt like about the neck were the frets, they had a bit of an edge (from the wood shrinking?).
Probably can easily be fixed by sanding them down I suppose, but other than that I like the neck, was weird at first cause I only played ibanez wizards before, and decided to buy a strat out of the blue and held a thick neck for the first time when I got it, and it was indeed like holding a baseball bat. But I got used to it quickly.

Ranger-X · #6 03-25-2009, 07:12 PM

MIM necks are made in Mexico as the name suggests, not just assembled. There's not much to assemble...put some tuners and a nut on and you're good. Wouldn't make sense to make the necks in the US then "assemble" them in Mexico...the cost of shipping all those necks to Mexico would probably be higher than paying workers a couple hours labor to slap a few parts on

Personally I can't stand the look or feel of MIM necks...but to each their own, glad you enjoy yours! I'm redoing my strat right now, I forgot how much fun they can be.

EvoGiant · #7 03-25-2009, 08:21 PM

I have a '94 MIM Tele and it has one of the most comfortable necks i've dealt with.

**jemaholic** · #8 03-26-2009, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger-X

MIM necks are made in Mexico as the name suggests, not just assembled. There's not much to assemble...put some tuners and a nut on and you're good. Wouldn't make sense to make the necks in the US then "assemble" them in Mexico...the cost of shipping all those necks to Mexico would probably be higher than paying workers a couple hours labor to slap a few parts on

Personally I can't stand the look or feel of MIM necks...but to each their own, glad you enjoy yours! I'm redoing my strat right now, I forgot how much fun they can be.

Wrong. ALL necks are manufactured in the Corona, CA factory- both MIM and MIA on the same machines. Those picked for MIM builds are truck-shipped 6 hours to the Ensinada Mexico plant for assembly. There is a youtube video showing the process. Fender saves on the labor and can offer a quality instrument with a decent price tag.

The hardware and electronics are different between mexicasters and USA builds, with the mexican models having less expensive choices to keep to a certain price-point.

Watch the video - it's pretty amazing.

~j

Darin · #9 03-26-2009, 10:10 AM

I've had both. Don't spend the extra money. The MIM are just fine. I have a Tele and Strat now. Love em both.

EvoGiant · #10 03-26-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darin

I've had both. Don't spend the extra money. The MIM are just fine. I have a Tele and Strat now. Love em both.

same here

speedy mcfeely · #11 03-26-2009, 01:10 PM

Some of the MIM necks are corona made. ex. vintage series, and nitro'd necks. but standard necks are Hencho en Mexico. All of the bodies are Hencho en Mexico. Not to mention that pick-ups vary greatly too.

My Baja tele is one of the best guitars that I have ever owned... Hencho en Mexico.

Darin · #12 03-26-2009, 03:17 PM

Just did this MIM Strat and Tele Jam! And through an 1x8 Crate combo! Yehaw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5fVDhf5PUYgh

Ranger-X · #13 03-26-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedy mcfeely

Some of the MIM necks are corona made. ex. vintage series, and nitro'd necks. but standard necks are Hencho en Mexico. All of the bodies are Hencho en Mexico. Not to mention that pick-ups vary greatly too.

My Baja tele is one of the best guitars that I have ever owned... Hencho en Mexico.

Yeah, that's what I was trying to get at, I was referring to the standard models. I didn't know that about the "vintage series" necks, though. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

speedy mcfeely · #14 03-27-2009, 12:52 AM

It has to do with the nitro finish on the vintage necks. The Enscenata (sp?) factory is not set up for spraying nitro. The other nitro finishes ala "thin-skin" are just top coat and not true nitro finishes thus don't need the full set-up.

MiA are finished better, that's it. MiM are still killer. Even some of the Squires are really good (classic vibe series). Technologies advance, CNCs are very consistant, and quality control gets better everyday.