My MIM Strat

[spacewhale]

I got a new Standard Mex Strat off eBay, the guitar came in a fitted polystyrene box with lead, little Fender warranty card, trem arm etc - all the expected parts.

Its black, maple neck. All the specs check out. The body is a bit thicker than my Squier, Fender stamped modern style tuners, Fender stamped vintage style saddles and serial MZ5xxx which makes it 2006. Only problem is it just feels a bit cheap. The frets are quite square and a bit scratchy and the body doesn't seem curved enough at the edges. The neck is pretty flat and C shaped. Its straight and clean, no defects.

I can't see it being a 'rebranded' copy because the quality is too high for a copy and overall it does have that Fender look. I've only ever owned 1 other Strat, a CIJ '57 RI which was insanely playable and well made, so maybe my standards have been raised a bit. This guitar is afterall an 'entry level' Fender.

One other point is the pickups. I have opened the guitar up and it looks as I'd expect. Pots and wiring suits the model. The pickups are pretty poor though and have horrid whiter-than-white covers which I want to replace with an aged set. BUT the pole-piece spacing isn't the same for each pickup. The bridge seems normally spaced while the neck is narrower with the middle being either the same as the neck or a bit wider. Do replacement covers take this into account? My Squier was the same in this respect. I just don't want to buy a set that have the same pole spacing for each cover and therefore won't fit.

Any help would be much appreciated. I will try and post some pics tonight.

P

[RumorsOFsurF]

That's just the entry level MIM for ya!  I have two Standard Teles.  They are really good guitars, there are just a few minor fit and finish things.   If they were as good as the US ones, they wouldn't be so cheap! The bodies are alder, the hardware is excellent... In my experience, if you change the pickups, the MIM's are very playable.

[chrisjedijane]

I just bought a MIM standard Jazz Bass, and I'm really impressed with it - the fret ends are really well finished, and the whole bass just feels nice.

However, they had another one in the shop that was quite nice but whoever made the neck completely messed up the skunk stripe at the back, and it had a really sharp edge along it. Not nice. I bought the good one, obviously!

[spaceghost]

i don't own a MIM Telecaster or Stratocaster, but i've played and enjoyed plenty. the finishes are almost always perfect, they also use choice maple for the necks of most of them. the hardware is always up to par with the quality of the finish/wood as well. that said, nearly every MIM Tele and Strat that i have played had protruding frets. if you are skilled in this area, great, but it's a pretty quick job for any licensed tech. as for the pups, i wouldn't even waste my time, i'd buy some USA Standard pups (with aged covers if you prefer) and a mint pickguard. i'd love to see pics and good luck with the guitar!!!

[pullover]

I agree with Spaceghost, replace those pups! You'll be glad you did.

If you're poor GFS have several to choose from, and the aged covers are only 4 bucks. http://store.guitarfetish.com/singlecoil.html

These look cool.
http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/pick ... at5762.htm

[RumorsOFsurF]

I've never had a prob with fret sprout on mine, but replacing the PUs is a must!!

Anyone try the GFS's?  I'm curious...I need a bridge pickup for my Tele.

[~*blissedandgone*~]

Congrats on your purchase. I absolutely adore my MIM Stratocaster. Mine is a '96, I got it from an old coworker. All the plastic pieces have aged quite a bit, so they look good with the vintage shell pickguard I put on it. My only complaints have been the bridge pickup, it was too treble-y. I replaced it with a SD Hot Rails. It's become my guinea pig for customizations.



What I've done to my guitar is

1.) It was Torino Red, so I painted it a ghetto Daphne Blue (it isn't as dark in person, not perfect but close) the Torino Red bled through somewhat...my first venture into guitar repainting), it is rather orange peely, and a drip here and there, but it looks decent.

2.) The bridge pickup is now a Hot Rail

3.) Scratched off the serial number and "MADE IN MEXICO" off the headstock. I figured since I repainted it, the resale value plummeted, so who cares?

4.) The pickguard as I said.


All in all, I love my Strat. It has seriously crappy tuners, I think the same as the Affinity Squires. The guitar stays in tune amazingly, rarely goes out of tune, even with heavy trem use. Insanely resonant body, even though there is road striping paint and 3M hobby sealer over the original paint.


Good purchase Spacewhale, I hope it serves you well. I want to see pics!

[spacewhale]

"I can't see it being a 'rebranded' copy because the quality is too high for a copy and overall it does have that Fender look"

guess what...

[mezcalhead]

What .. it's not a Fender?

[spacewhale]

No! It's a very well made yet innacurate fake and now I feel a right idiot...    Meh.  Need more Strat knowledge.

[opus]

how do you figure it's a fake!?

[spacewhale]

Man I should have known from the start but I just assumed mex strats were a bit different to the Japanese one i had (they are anyway but hey). Body edges were tele-like not rounded. Neck was glossy and 12" not satin and 9.5" and the logo was gold not silver. Serial number checked out as a 2006 (MZ505XXXX). Pickups were odd and, but the tuners and bridge was fender. oddity. Was an international sale so maybe it was a chinese scam or something. either way it's not worth the money to send out, might just change pups. Its a decent enough guitar though, its not a dodgy build, neck is straight, well finished and it all works fine.

Dammit!

[opus]

damn..., well i put cs '54s in my strat, i like them, i've been really wanting to try the '62s though!