A little bit of history and comparison as I take two early Mexican Stratocasters through a Silver service, and choose which one to keep. There can be only one!
I have one of those 93 mexi squire strats -it feels like a real american strat but has crap electrics and tuners -after I replace em it should be a keeper -i paid $150 for it and its my no. 1 - just put on a mint pickguard -looks great
Thank you for taking the time to do such a thorough comparison of these Strats. I'm a life-long Fender Squier Series enthusiast. My parents bought me a new Mexican Squier Series Jazz Bass when I was 16 in 1995, and it's sitting beside me now as I type this. A couple years ago I discovered the lore around the "Mexican Black Labels" as they've come to be known, and was gobsmacked that the best bass I've ever played has this bizarre legend and almost cult-following, not to mention the detractors and controversy it stirs. The one piece of rock-solid info I could dig up on the legend was from a book I bought way back in the early 2000s, "The Fender Book" by Tony Bacon and Paul Day, revised edition published 1998. It has exactly one paragraph about Mexican Fenders on page 80: "Technically speaking, Fender's Mexican plant doesn't manufacture guitars. It assembles [italics] guitars. Mike Lewis, vice president of marketing for electric guitars at Fender, explains that the bodies and necks are produced at the US factory in Corona and then sent down to the Mexican plant. 'There they sand them, paint them and buff them, and assemble them into guitars, with their own hardware. They also make there own pickups there, as well as all the Fender strings.'" Squier Series were in fact made in the US, but so was every other Mexican Fender at the time. Now, here's my takeaway on this whole thing: Fender Black Labels, along with the Mexican Squiers are the last budget tier guitars to be made in America, giving them a very special place in guitar history. As best as I can tell, Ensanada got their own CNC machines sometime after the '98 production year when there seems to be a shift in instrument specs, but I haven't found details on the change. Regardless if you believe or not, it seems pretty unanimous that everyone who spends some time playing a Mexican Black Label says they have the most comfortable necks they've ever played, and they are serious bangers that can outpace guitars twice as expensive. Although, they do tend to call for some upgrades.
Hello there, and likewise thank you for taking the time to do such a thorough response, I appreciate it! it is wonderful that you still have the bass as a life long companion and I wish I too had kept a few guitars from my early years. My longest serving is an acoustic my wife bought me when we got engaged - she got a ring I got a guitar, which seemed quite rock'n'roll at the time - and (I hope!) we are both planning keeping them! I agree with pretty much everything you say, I think you just put it more eloquently and succinctly than my on -camera ramblings. My issue with some tellings of the legend is the idea that the US origins of the bodies make these better than other Mexican products, when in fact they are simply exactly the same as they all came from US made wood blanks at the time, and the differences between Black Labels and Standards were just some lower spec components. I think a lot of the debate arises out of the point you made about assembly vs manufacturing. I spent the early years of my career working in a car factory in the UK, and we assembled and finished subassemblies made elsewhere - chassis and axles from the UK, engines from Japan and Germany, dashboards from Belgium, etc. The only thing we made from raw materials was body panels stamped from rolls of steel in our press shop. We then robot welded those together on our body shop to create a "body-in-white", and we then painted those, and assembled every component into them on a just-in-time basis until we drove the car off the end of the line. In legislative terms, that was considered a British car, though only just! My (limited) understanding is that what we are talking about in the Fender case is the "body-in-white" equivalent where guitar necks and bodies were CNC milled from wood, and then those were sent either to Corona or Ensenada for all other work to be done. If all other spec's are the same, it is really the differences in finishing and components that distinguish US and Mexican production, and whilst I am firmly of the camp that Mexican guitars easily win the value argument (95% of the value for 40% of the cost), I do see that on the side by side comparison that US models are just that little bit nicer - wood grains, paint, rolled neck edges, better fretwork etc - but those are finishing choices in the assembly plant. I think where it was final assembled is still the determining factor in whether a guitar should be considered US made or Mexican made. And I should point out it makes no difference to me as a Brit - I have no political or emotional allegiance to either country and I like and admire both. But I do fully take your point that once Ensenada had it's own CNC facility up and running and building bodies and necks from raw wood there was no more room for debate. From that perspective I can see your argument that these are the last US made budget guitars. Either way I do agree they are they are excellent guitars, and the update on this video is that I have now sold on the 2006 MIM Standard to a happy customer and the Black Label has pride of place in my one Strat policy. Everything else is upgraded, but that neck and body are indeed sublime. Except - this week I have picked up a 2001 American Deluxe and also an extremely rare 1987 MIJ, complete with very dubious '80s big hair Kahler Trem. The MIJ is a real barn find, original but filthy, but I can see already that that Japanese neck might actually be the nicest of all! I see a sequel video coming soon with a US, Mexican and Japanese comparison - "Strat-Off, the international edition" Thanks again for your interest and reply, and all the best, Alan.
@@AlansGuitarShackYou may be correct, I should probably refine my definition to last budget guitar line with origins in America. And you're spot on about the value/cost ratio of these. The thing that surprised me the most about these guitars is the stories and love for them that came about when I posted a video on my channel talking about this quote I shared with you. I still get occasional comments well over a year later from people who share their experiences and how important the Black Labels are in their stable of guitars. For a lot of us, they are our daily drivers. It's been special to be able to share that with folks all over the globe. I'd love to see that Strat comparison with the MIJ, etc. What I've been longing to see is a Black Label versus mid-90s American comparison, because I whole-heartedly agree these were two different lines for two-different price points and not the "hey, we gotta fill this order so grab whatever expensive piece of wood you can and use it" that some folks infer. Most Squier Series, including my bass have poplar bodies. The video of yours did appear to be alder, so there's evidence for both. I've also seen a wide array of quality in the necks, my bass have almost no curl and a very visible brown knot around the 12 th fret, to some exemplary curled pieces you'd expect on a Custom shop. Also, it's a bit personal because my second guitar was a '95 American strat with custom Burgundy Mist Metallic and matching headstock and rosewood fingerboard. I thought in was stepping up my game, but that was one of the worst built guitars I've seen. The neck wouldn't go straight, I stripped the truss rod nut and that stupid walnut plug wouldn't let me do a simple replacement 'cause the nut was trapped. The rare custom finish had pock marks in the back, and it was a swimming pool rout. Btw, that one did have a CNC registration hole in the neck pocket and one hole under the pickguard. I loved that guitar right up to the point I realized it didn't really work well. Thanks for the content and the conversation. All the best to you.
@@AlansGuitarShack I forgot to mention, if you weren't aware, there is a Squier Series Tele model. It has a maple neck and top loaded 6 barrel saddle bridge. They tend to be pretty rare and command the highest prices of the 4 Squier Series models.
Oh, and I should add that I have subscribed to your channel and realised yours was one of the first videos I watched about these guitars! So thank you for that and your other great content!
Good video Alan, learned a lot. I had to go and get my 98 made in Mexico Strat and twiddle away as I was watching. That’s the one that also has Tonerider city limits in it!
I absolutely love my 95 squier series tbh. I was lucky enough to find a mint so have all the original hardware for what it's worth lol. But doing the obv upgrades it's my go to guitar. Can I ask what wax you use? I've never used wax. Also I think im right in saying they produced these in Mexico for only 5 yrs. The ones worth having were the first 3 years, whilst the factory was getting back on its feet so 93-95. The rest then were the cheaper bodys/necks. Great video. I've subscribed 👍😎
Thank you very much! The wax is called Axe Wax and it's a UK product so it might not be available Stateside. It does it good job and smells nice! But in truth it came in a gift set rather than being a considered choice, I am sure there are many similar products just as good
I have an 04 korean swampash fender strat natural with black pickgaurd and a 14 Mexican fender tele butterscotch with black pickgaurd both play and sound as good as any usa made. And half the price
I live in America.Mexican strats are made in Mexico by Mexicans.American strats are made in America by Mexicans .The Mexican craftsman may have done a lot of hand finishing on those black labels.Best neck I’ve ever played and I’ve played all of them
Interesting video, Alan! I thought that Fender Squier Series guitars were made in Japan - never knew they were made in Mexico. Fwiw, I’d judge a guitar mainly by how it feels, plays and sounds, rather than where it’s made. Not normally a fan of black guitars - except for Strats! Love the all black look with the maple neck 👍
I have a black label I'm upgrading (read: completely overhauling) and it had the thinner bridge block on it. It also has a maple neck on it. It was so beat up when I bought it, the only thing original to it is the body and neck. Lol. I even repainted it and refinished the neck. The Squier series should have "squier" stamped in the body cavity unless it's worn off.
@tideslider664 Well, the wood came from America. What Mexico got were blanks shipped from the American plant. Most of the shaping was done in Mexico. That whole deal with the fire was unrelated. Fender was already going to make these to compete with the cheaper imports that were coming out at the time.
Great video two nice guitars
I have one of those 93 mexi squire strats -it feels like a real american strat but has crap electrics and tuners -after I replace em it should be a keeper -i paid $150 for it and its my no. 1 - just put on a mint pickguard -looks great
Nice score! They are amazing guitars for the money and with the upgrades they are amazing guitars full stop!
Thank you for taking the time to do such a thorough comparison of these Strats. I'm a life-long Fender Squier Series enthusiast. My parents bought me a new Mexican Squier Series Jazz Bass when I was 16 in 1995, and it's sitting beside me now as I type this. A couple years ago I discovered the lore around the "Mexican Black Labels" as they've come to be known, and was gobsmacked that the best bass I've ever played has this bizarre legend and almost cult-following, not to mention the detractors and controversy it stirs.
The one piece of rock-solid info I could dig up on the legend was from a book I bought way back in the early 2000s, "The Fender Book" by Tony Bacon and Paul Day, revised edition published 1998. It has exactly one paragraph about Mexican Fenders on page 80: "Technically speaking, Fender's Mexican plant doesn't manufacture guitars. It assembles [italics] guitars. Mike Lewis, vice president of marketing for electric guitars at Fender, explains that the bodies and necks are produced at the US factory in Corona and then sent down to the Mexican plant. 'There they sand them, paint them and buff them, and assemble them into guitars, with their own hardware. They also make there own pickups there, as well as all the Fender strings.'"
Squier Series were in fact made in the US, but so was every other Mexican Fender at the time. Now, here's my takeaway on this whole thing: Fender Black Labels, along with the Mexican Squiers are the last budget tier guitars to be made in America, giving them a very special place in guitar history.
As best as I can tell, Ensanada got their own CNC machines sometime after the '98 production year when there seems to be a shift in instrument specs, but I haven't found details on the change.
Regardless if you believe or not, it seems pretty unanimous that everyone who spends some time playing a Mexican Black Label says they have the most comfortable necks they've ever played, and they are serious bangers that can outpace guitars twice as expensive. Although, they do tend to call for some upgrades.
Hello there, and likewise thank you for taking the time to do such a thorough response, I appreciate it! it is wonderful that you still have the bass as a life long companion and I wish I too had kept a few guitars from my early years. My longest serving is an acoustic my wife bought me when we got engaged - she got a ring I got a guitar, which seemed quite rock'n'roll at the time - and (I hope!) we are both planning keeping them!
I agree with pretty much everything you say, I think you just put it more eloquently and succinctly than my on -camera ramblings. My issue with some tellings of the legend is the idea that the US origins of the bodies make these better than other Mexican products, when in fact they are simply exactly the same as they all came from US made wood blanks at the time, and the differences between Black Labels and Standards were just some lower spec components.
I think a lot of the debate arises out of the point you made about assembly vs manufacturing. I spent the early years of my career working in a car factory in the UK, and we assembled and finished subassemblies made elsewhere - chassis and axles from the UK, engines from Japan and Germany, dashboards from Belgium, etc. The only thing we made from raw materials was body panels stamped from rolls of steel in our press shop. We then robot welded those together on our body shop to create a "body-in-white", and we then painted those, and assembled every component into them on a just-in-time basis until we drove the car off the end of the line. In legislative terms, that was considered a British car, though only just!
My (limited) understanding is that what we are talking about in the Fender case is the "body-in-white" equivalent where guitar necks and bodies were CNC milled from wood, and then those were sent either to Corona or Ensenada for all other work to be done. If all other spec's are the same, it is really the differences in finishing and components that distinguish US and Mexican production, and whilst I am firmly of the camp that Mexican guitars easily win the value argument (95% of the value for 40% of the cost), I do see that on the side by side comparison that US models are just that little bit nicer - wood grains, paint, rolled neck edges, better fretwork etc - but those are finishing choices in the assembly plant.
I think where it was final assembled is still the determining factor in whether a guitar should be considered US made or Mexican made. And I should point out it makes no difference to me as a Brit - I have no political or emotional allegiance to either country and I like and admire both. But I do fully take your point that once Ensenada had it's own CNC facility up and running and building bodies and necks from raw wood there was no more room for debate. From that perspective I can see your argument that these are the last US made budget guitars.
Either way I do agree they are they are excellent guitars, and the update on this video is that I have now sold on the 2006 MIM Standard to a happy customer and the Black Label has pride of place in my one Strat policy. Everything else is upgraded, but that neck and body are indeed sublime.
Except - this week I have picked up a 2001 American Deluxe and also an extremely rare 1987 MIJ, complete with very dubious '80s big hair Kahler Trem. The MIJ is a real barn find, original but filthy, but I can see already that that Japanese neck might actually be the nicest of all! I see a sequel video coming soon with a US, Mexican and Japanese comparison - "Strat-Off, the international edition"
Thanks again for your interest and reply, and all the best, Alan.
@@AlansGuitarShackYou may be correct, I should probably refine my definition to last budget guitar line with origins in America. And you're spot on about the value/cost ratio of these.
The thing that surprised me the most about these guitars is the stories and love for them that came about when I posted a video on my channel talking about this quote I shared with you. I still get occasional comments well over a year later from people who share their experiences and how important the Black Labels are in their stable of guitars. For a lot of us, they are our daily drivers. It's been special to be able to share that with folks all over the globe.
I'd love to see that Strat comparison with the MIJ, etc. What I've been longing to see is a Black Label versus mid-90s American comparison, because I whole-heartedly agree these were two different lines for two-different price points and not the "hey, we gotta fill this order so grab whatever expensive piece of wood you can and use it" that some folks infer. Most Squier Series, including my bass have poplar bodies. The video of yours did appear to be alder, so there's evidence for both. I've also seen a wide array of quality in the necks, my bass have almost no curl and a very visible brown knot around the 12 th fret, to some exemplary curled pieces you'd expect on a Custom shop.
Also, it's a bit personal because my second guitar was a '95 American strat with custom Burgundy Mist Metallic and matching headstock and rosewood fingerboard. I thought in was stepping up my game, but that was one of the worst built guitars I've seen. The neck wouldn't go straight, I stripped the truss rod nut and that stupid walnut plug wouldn't let me do a simple replacement 'cause the nut was trapped. The rare custom finish had pock marks in the back, and it was a swimming pool rout. Btw, that one did have a CNC registration hole in the neck pocket and one hole under the pickguard. I loved that guitar right up to the point I realized it didn't really work well.
Thanks for the content and the conversation. All the best to you.
@@AlansGuitarShack I forgot to mention, if you weren't aware, there is a Squier Series Tele model. It has a maple neck and top loaded 6 barrel saddle bridge. They tend to be pretty rare and command the highest prices of the 4 Squier Series models.
@@IntoTheImpossible321 i am indeed, i was negotiating a deal in on a few weeks back but we could not reach an agreement on price. Nice guitar though!
Oh, and I should add that I have subscribed to your channel and realised yours was one of the first videos I watched about these guitars! So thank you for that and your other great content!
Love your upgrades I did something similar
Good video Alan, learned a lot. I had to go and get my 98 made in Mexico Strat and twiddle away as I was watching. That’s the one that also has Tonerider city limits in it!
Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed it! I knew you'd get into Strats in the end😂
I have a 2002 mexican and the body is like 10 blocks of wood glued together whereas the black label I removed all finish is a 3 piece alder body
I absolutely love my 95 squier series tbh. I was lucky enough to find a mint so have all the original hardware for what it's worth lol. But doing the obv upgrades it's my go to guitar.
Can I ask what wax you use? I've never used wax.
Also I think im right in saying they produced these in Mexico for only 5 yrs. The ones worth having were the first 3 years, whilst the factory was getting back on its feet so 93-95. The rest then were the cheaper bodys/necks.
Great video. I've subscribed 👍😎
Thank you very much! The wax is called Axe Wax and it's a UK product so it might not be available Stateside. It does it good job and smells nice! But in truth it came in a gift set rather than being a considered choice, I am sure there are many similar products just as good
I have an 04 korean swampash fender strat natural with black pickgaurd and a 14 Mexican fender tele butterscotch with black pickgaurd both play and sound as good as any usa made. And half the price
I wholly agree! I rarely buy USA gear any more for exactly that reason
I live in America.Mexican strats are made in Mexico by Mexicans.American strats are made in America by Mexicans .The Mexican craftsman may have done a lot of hand finishing on those black labels.Best neck I’ve ever played and I’ve played all of them
I agree, it’s a lovely neck on this one
Interesting video, Alan! I thought that Fender Squier Series guitars were made in Japan - never knew they were made in Mexico. Fwiw, I’d judge a guitar mainly by how it feels, plays and sounds, rather than where it’s made. Not normally a fan of black guitars - except for Strats! Love the all black look with the maple neck 👍
Cheers Derek! They did make some in Japan and some in in Korea too, just to keep us all thoroughly confused! And totally agree - playability is all
@@AlansGuitarShackWas there a difference in weight? 🤔
@@derekclactongood question! I haven’t noticed any but I am now intrigued enough to weight them and find out😂
@@AlansGuitarShack I often hear guitars being described as “a good weight” and wonder what that is!
Yes someone up graded bridge stock ones were horrible
I have a black label I'm upgrading (read: completely overhauling) and it had the thinner bridge block on it. It also has a maple neck on it. It was so beat up when I bought it, the only thing original to it is the body and neck. Lol. I even repainted it and refinished the neck.
The Squier series should have "squier" stamped in the body cavity unless it's worn off.
Great that you are giving it a new lease of life!
You have an American neck and body
@tideslider664 Well, the wood came from America. What Mexico got were blanks shipped from the American plant. Most of the shaping was done in Mexico. That whole deal with the fire was unrelated. Fender was already going to make these to compete with the cheaper imports that were coming out at the time.
@@indiedavecomix3882all I know is my black label feels better than many strata I’ve played
But you have too replace everything else tuners ,trem,electronics,pickups
Black label better wood
I have a 2002 mexican and the body is like 10 blocks of wood glued together whereas the black label I removed all finish is a 3 piece alder body
That’s interesting, I didn’t know that!