This is awesome, because I have a very similar story with an identical 2001 strat. I was 11 years old. My uncle lent me his Squier for a few weeks, and took me to GC to see which one I liked (to own myself) and I saw it on the wall. The blurplecaster. I put it on layaway for about $20. I was going to have to work for this thing lol… A week later we had dinner and I was told to bring my uncle his guitar back to show him what I had learned. I plopped the guitar case down as my aunt told me that she needed help bringing some food up from the cellar freezer. I got back to the living room and they told me “show us what you learned this week” and it was the guitar I had put on layaway. They had pulled a Houdini and surprised me with it. Fast forward to last year- for Christmas, I realized that nobody has ever gifted my younger brother a guitar like that, so I found ANOTHER identical ‘98 model in the same blue purple color, and bought it for him for Christmas. I left it in plain sight on the sofa because I knew he would think it was mine… up until I told him to pick up his guitar and give it a go. Three midnight blue Strats, all cleverly gifted to people who cherish them :) Cheers! Also, my entire life: “dude why did you pick a purple guitar”
Hah that’s great! Really cool to know that there’s a similar story with a similar guitar. Also glad I’m not the only one who gets the purple Strat comment 😂 thanks for watching!
I was born in 57 ,but don't think I could afford a 57 strat lol, I've just got a mexican 2002 strat ,it's great ,love it to bits, miles better than my new Squier affinity and my old 77 fender mustang
I have a 2000 MIM (Lefty) in this same finish, which was called Midnight Blue, and yes it changes with the light to a very deep purple. Very comfortable and great sounding Strat. Looking at the pole pieces, yes the pickups look to be stock. They would be ceramic bar magnet pickups which are known to be darker sounding than the old classic Strat tone. I like it personally.
I have one made in 2000, same purple like color...Only difference is mine is with maple neck...I also switch the pickups for fender 69s and change my tuning keys for chorme fender...But you are right these Mexican strat from that time period are keepers and do sound better with age...
I own 2, 1998 midnight blue fender stratocaster Mexico also..one maple neck one rosewood..and the both sound and play incredible..total stock...love them !!
Congratulations, You have a special guitar. I own a Strat from 2000 and it's magical. Those guitars (90's -2002) were made in México but all pieces were come from USA to Fender, Ensenada México. Basically it's an american standard ensembled i'm México. Hope You still enjoying this Magic piece of art many years. Excuse for My English. Greeting from México.
The parts possibly, but not the electronics. I've always had to upgrade electronics and pickups on MX Strats. I tend to put Fender USA p'ups into them. They then become a totally different beast. Cheers!
What a great step dad u have...I have an 04 Black & maple fretboard Standard it's my baby...I put TexMex pickups on it although the stock ceramics are decent and Fender locking tuners...
Loved your video! I too own a Fender Mexican Stratocaster, actually two of them. Both, like yourself, now have fender locking tuners installed. I don't think I could ever be more happy/serious about a guitar. My 1st guitar at age 12 was a 1965 Fender American Stratocaster. Back then, there were only American made ones. I loved that guitar and should have kept it. Wanting to be a Beatle, I traded it for a Gretch Country Gentleman, BIG MISTAKE. Have to admit, I love my 2 Mexican Stratocasters just as well as the American one. I hope they age as nicely as yours. By the way, God Bless your Stepdad for his kindness. GREAT investment on his part!
I love my 1996 MIM Fender Strat that I bought in a pawn shop for $300 sometime around 2010s. Put in a vintage toned loaded pickguard, new tuners, and a Wilkinson bridge. She fits well with her new sibling the 2003 American Standard Stratocaster.
I love your passion for this guitar. I've picked it up and to me, it's like a piece of firewood ha, like my RG550 would be to you. The wear, dings, faults with it, they've all got your stamp and history on it. If guitars could talk!!!
1988, I started high school, and straightaway, I became interested in music. Took a few guitar lessons, but due to my love of football, and video games (oh, no) I never took it too seriously. 1990 arrived, and my cousins boyfriend was in a band, famous in my area, and he heard I was after an electric guitar. His mate had just been signed to a label in the States, and had three days to fly over, so he started selling all of his gear. So I (my mum) bought a guitar, with an amp, from him, for £150.00, which had “Fender Stratocaster” printed on the headstock, and was in a kinda turquoise colour, which I now know is called Tidepool. I messed around with that guitar, playing the Top Gun theme, and basically just wasted the opportunity for six months, before something significant happened. The Sega Megadrive was released! Now, when I have something in my head, I simply have to do it, and ALWAYS do, so to quickly raise cash for the stupid Megadrive, I made mum put and advert in the local newspaper: “For sale: Turquoise Fender Stratocaster with Squier Amp - £100.00” My best mate found out about this, and told his dad, who already had a few guitars, and his dad asked could he have a look at it, so I passed it to my mate. An hour later, obviously, I had the £100.00 in my hand, so my mum and dad put another £90.00 to it, and I went to buy the newly released Sega Megadrive. That night, we got a call from a stranger who’d seen the newspaper sales advert; and he said: “I’d like to buy the guitar tonight please, but just to confirm, it’s a misprint and should say £1000.00, shouldn’t it?” My mum apologised and said we’d sold it for £100.00, and then man was almost crying on the phone, and said we didn’t realise how big a mistake we’d made. So, the day after, I was in my mates house, and I casually said, “Is your dad playing my guitar much?” He said, “Oh, he sold that the day he bought it off you. In the hour he had it, he took it to Dawsons Music store, and they gave him £1000.00 for it, and he gave you the £100.00 you wanted, then we booked a holiday!” The words hit me like a sledgehammer, and I was devastated, but as I’ve gotten older, and been in bands, and bought guitars and learned more about them, it’s become more traumatic for me, and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of that guitar, and that mistake. So, although I’ll never replace that amazing guitar (thinking back, it was unreal) I’ve just bought a Fender Player Series, HSS, in Tidepool, as my first Fender since my last, back in 1990. What a stupid, clueless little thirteen year old muppet I was!
The N8 in the serial number means it is a “Ninety eight” guitar, but by the time they get to the UK and are sold here, they are often sold the following year. I have a USA standard Strat which I bought in 1996, but the serial number starts with N5. I still love it. It’s my favourite Strat.
Brooo, I had this Mexican HSS strat in candy apple red that was made in the 90s. And it straight up rivaled my american strat, if not exceeded it. The playability and the mojo were just … out of this world.
@@RobGalley yeahhh, at the end of the day I have gripes with the volume knob position and the middle pickup. The way I play, I need the room, and and at the end of the day, the tele has my heart haha
Your story of how you came to own your guitar was quite beautiful! I just acquired a 2000/01 MIM Strat. Totally abused, the red finish that was on it was (poorly) sanded down to the natural wood and a poor shellac was applied. I plan to resurrect this guitar as best I can, it is definitely in a happier home now.
I have the same 98 MIM strat but with a maple fretboard. Recently got it and it is too beat up currently. It was not taken care of. Im about to put a new neck and new pickups in it to bring it back to life.
That's one thing about the strat/tele/pbass/jbass that's awesome...if literally ANYTHING on it needs replaced, you can always find direct fit parts for it...the genius of leo fender
I have the same Strat! I’ve had it since 2010 when I bought it with my hard-earned summer cash from a pawn shop during high school. It’s also a 98-99 and sings - I just stuck some 57/62 pickups and it sounds beautiful.
In 2000 I purchased my first Fender Stratocaster new from the local music shop. I'd just started to play guitar at around 21 or 22 years of age. It was a '99 MIM standard in the same midnight blue as yours w/rosewood fretboard. I've since put it *temporarily* out of service as it needs some work. It ended up becoming my dedicated open E slide guitar until some parts started to go (primarily the stock tuners). I played this thing up until about four years ago on the local music circuit & also in the studio. The bridge on mine is equally as funky and I'm keeping it that way. Similarly here I'll never let this one go until I die and it goes to my kids😁
Brilliant video, thanks for representing the old MIM's that have become "vintage" but remain under $750. I've owned American Standard Strat's, Japanese Fender Strat's and Squier's but my #1 guitar is my 1991 Fender Standard Stratocaster, Candy Apple Red with a maple neck that I got in June 1992. It was my first electric like yours and indeed, having a good guitar from jumpstreet really helped my playing. I changed the pickups to Fender Noiseless and have my pots wired volume, TBX master tone and a blender pot that brings the neck pickup in and out. I still have the original loaded pickguard if I ever want to go back to stock.
Picked up a used strat today that just so happened to also have been made in 1999. I loved it probably seconds into actually playing. Its so loud too I can't believe how much louder it is than my 2020 telecaster.
Back in 2016, I went to GC to look at guitars. I didn’t have enough money to buy anything, really. I just was using the moment to ogle at some really pretty guitars, but I ended up, on a whim picking up a 2008 Midnight Blue Squier Strat. It was right by the checkout counter and I remember I barely looked at it before slapping it on the counter, paying the 89 dollars they were asking and racing home to play with it. It wasn’t a Fender, but it was the most gorgeous Strat I’d ever seen and for less than 100 dollars it was like a dream come true to me. While I was purchasing it, I learned that it previously belonged to the person at the register, he had sold it that day to upgrade to a Mexican Fender. It was my first Strat and I’m still just so happy about the thing. It’s still gorgeous as ever.
I have the same Fender Strat as you, including the age and color. Still plays as beautifully as the first day as I bought it. The bridge is a little rusted. I wanted to replace it, but the service centre here in Singapore told me that parts were not available..why change it when the guitar is still playable. I didn’t change the bridge after that. Only cleaned up the guitar, did the setup and it plays beautifully till now. I will never trade my Strat for anything else. 🇸🇬
I got a 2001 MIM strat the same color except with a maple neck , i got tex mex pups on it and fender locking tuners too ,sounds great and plays like a charm 🤘🏻
One of the ones I have was fitted with a figured quarter sawn 1 piece maple neck and it plays like butter. I'm convinced the neck was a reject from an Eric Johnson strat.
Great story, I lucked up on a 2010 Mexican strat, candy red burst, HSS, fsr, rosewood fingerboard , in fine shape, I'd just as soon have it as anything . I can relate to your liking the strat so much. The position of the volume knob has never been a problem. Great guitars.
When i got my number one, a 95 Candy Apple Red MIM Strat "Ruby Rose" I had played a few that sounded great but the thing about this Strat was that it just felt... right. It felt good in my hands. I put locking tuners on it and upgraded the pickups, decreased the springs to 2 and dropped the action lower than a normal persons sugar level after a shot of insulin. She's my go to guitar for everything these days because she's never did me wrong and i dont forsee a time when she will. I love my Mexican Strat. 😊
I just bought what appears to be a 2001 Mexican Strat (from looking up the serial number) and I definitely think i'm going to get a lot of play out of it. It even came with the original hardshell case.
So there's my Strat I've been looking to recover. 😂. Seriously, I had an 1998 EXACTLY like that one. Best Strat I've ever owned. When checking the markings and before Fender serial look ups, I believe it may have been CS. Vintage to boot. Had all the markings. As far as Strats? that's been my biggest regret - Traded for an HSS that I no longer have. That guitar stayed in tune FOREVER. I still remember the born date 24 Sept 1998. I'm always on the prowl for 1995-1999ers. I miss that Strat...
i just got one of these in a trade for a Yamaha Revstar i never connected with, however i have a special deluxe edition strat that ive moded to my liking in HSS but... this strat is something else, im liking it a lot which happens to have a maple fretboard (1st time ive had one). I like it a lot but im debating if i should keep it, i just enjoy playing it a lot!!!
i had the identical Midnight Blue Strat from MX from 99 ish! Got mine in 2001! Much love brother! man, i had the HSS version i believe? tho? anyways so it got stolen years ago from the back of a car i had to get towed... tow drivers got me! So now ive got a VERY similar Mexican Strat stripped down so i can paint it that same Midnight Blue, but im trying to source the closest thing to the OEM Midnight Blue i can find if you guys have any leads? Thanks in advance!
@RobGalley this was a kool video to watch! I have almost the same guitar, I got it when I was 14. Mine is the same color, 1999 model but mine has a humbucker in the bridge instead of the single coil. The color name is "Midnight Blue" LOL its funny you mention at the end that some people think its purple. Its definitely a unique color and in certain lighting it does look purple but it is indeed blue lol
Nice guitar! It sounds better than my American strat. But I guess that has something to do with your strat being older. You never mentioned the unusual play wear at the bottom of the fretboard. How has the wood discoloured from play wear!?
I was an idiot to have sold this exact same guitar which I bought in ‘99 to raise cash to move back from Korea to the U.S. for like a hundred bucks!! Now that I am financial more stable back in the U.S. I always regretted it. But lo and behold. Facebook marketplace had JUST THE SAME ONE for around 400 bucks! I negotiated it down to $375 and I feel like I reconnected with my long lost lover!!! Never again. Love your tone by the way! And you’re absolutely right. The color is one of a kind! Very few have it! I am ultra lucky!!
Rob, I can respect your appreciation for the guitar. Mine is darn close to yours... 1999 MIM Strat (I looked up the serial number and it says 1999/2000 but the neck is stamped 1997 and the pickguard is stamped 1999). Mine is the same color as yours, only I'm a little jealous you've got the pau ferro neck. Mine is maple. A few stats: The color is Lake Placid Blue (that's Fender's call, not mine). They changed the color name to Midnight Blue in 2000. The pickups are Texas Specials Body wood: most likely poplar. Fender switched to alder in 2000.
Swap your bridge out trust me. I did it on my 2008 Strat swapped it for the exact same one but it helped with intonation so much. I reassembled that original tremolo so I still have that same block.
i spent a year living in tokyo in the year 2000 and was hell bent on buying a Japanese made strat. Got to the store and this MIM strat in midnight blue became my fixation. Never played a strat before but A/B ed both the MIM and MIJ and the MIM sounded more chimey and bell like.. deal was done! Glad i kept an open mind and let my senses govern my preference. Poplar just might be the most unsung strat body to eventually be sought by collectors, vs more traditional strat timbers
I have one 1999 midnigth blue that i change the pickguard for a custom print of amazing stories vintage magazine madness on luna looks bad ass and last owner change the pickups for black ones but i dont know wich ones i have for sale on facebook market place but after this i have a 2 thoughts going to delete the post rn😅
My USA Standard Strat is exactly the same colour. My friend bought me a purple strap to match it until he realised that my guitar was blue. Despite being in a band with him for years he always thought it looked purple.
I bought a 2021 mex strat and have regretted it ever since. The neck is a disaster. I use the neck measuring tool and adjusted the truss accordingly. After installing the strings, the neck took on a bend as I tightened the tuners. Had to go back and tighten the truss a number of times; very frustrating. It has a string ping on the 1st and 2nd like a string buzz, but the height adjustment was right on. After finishing my set up, the 1st and 2nd string still rang. I changed the nut and carefully filed for proper height. I saw a video on this issue and apparently there is no cure. The guitar is garbage
I have the same year strat, same color, but with a maple fingerboard. And I agree, nothing ages like a fender! The older they get, the better they sound! Great demo!
I’d like to add something here about these “mexican” fenders from the 90’s/2000’s. Around 1990-91 fender moved its production of the “fender American standard” production line to the mexican factory. All the products the Mexican factory were making up to that point were moved to china. Aka squire. So all the silver label Mexican guitars from this era, are actually called “Fender standard (strat or tele) made in Mexico”. They’re still pretty much the same as the American standards from before 1990. Just some cheaper parts here and there to bring the price down. That’s why these guitars are so good for the money. I have a 1991 and a 1993 fender standard mim strats, and with a couple upgrades. They’re as good if not better then my Fender American special edition strat. And they’re technically vintage now.
I appreciate how much you love your instrument - I'm happy for you! I've had a black Standard Series Squier Strat for about 18 years and I've always loved it... still do! I'm contemplating buying a second hand Olympic White Fender Strat from 1998. Part of me feels that it won't be barely any different to what I already have but...... I reckon I'ma get it, thanks for the vid :D
I just recently ordered a new guitar (2, actually, in a killer Black Friday sale) and I have been playing every day like I'm 15 again. Even though I hardly played for years, I feel as if I have a deeper understanding of music now, so I think I've improved a bit.
Hi Rob, nice guitar! What kind of amp are you using here? Does start is better than tele in terms of clean tones? I've got Ibanez jem bfp but thinking to sell it and buy tele instead as I cannot shred. lol
A good Strat is one of the finest instruments that exists MIM, MIA... whatever. A good Strat is damned near a holy thing. I love Les Pauls. Teles. Vs.... but at the end of the day I am a Strat man. The single most important guitar model that exists, at least for me.
Your serial number makes it 1999 I have a black MIM same year its hands down better than my american strat and my 2017 MIM strat plan to sell these but never never the 99.
I had 2 real USA made Fenders over the years and they were great! I also own 2 MIM Martins that are unreal. I had a LP Gold top in the late 60's when I was gigging, and at that time never realized the value that guitar as it was the "norm". Just an everyday thing. But I think these Utube reviewers today are full of it. I Am relatively new to Utube and after believing some of these idiots I took some chances. I lost. These guys rely on income from their vids and so are careful not to demonize any maker. I am now educated and wary of these guys who make so many disclaimers it makes their reviews useless.
I recently (Sept. 2023) picked up 3 mex strats, 94, 96, 98 because they were priced too low, I got all 3 for an avg of $400 ea. , I didn't expect too much from them, long/short I haven't played any of my other Strats since, simply amazing, they all feel, and sound what we always thought a Strat should feel & sound like, just pissed I wasted so much money on other much more expensive guitars that haven't left their cases since
Hah, bought a 1999 Mex Strat at Guitar Center. Hardly played it since, but recently have taken interest in it after playing mostly acoustic for decades. It's in perfect condition. Same Midnight colored body, but with lighter toned wood on neck. And, mine has 4 pickups instead of 3...two adjacent to each other with no space in between, and two more spaced one's going toward the head-end of instrument. Good to know it's valued member of your apparently well selected quiver 🪶🪶🪶
I’m sure you probably learned at this point. What you have is an HSS style strat with a humbucker at the bridge pickup instead of a single coil. Awesome rock configuration.
Seems about right, according to the fender 1999 catalog, mexican standard strats came in 5 colors including midnight blue, no purple or other bluish colors. Though It's really weird how different it looks from one photo/video to another. I've been just planning to order this exact model online, but if it's just plain blue in person, then it's a bummer :/
This is awesome, because I have a very similar story with an identical 2001 strat. I was 11 years old. My uncle lent me his Squier for a few weeks, and took me to GC to see which one I liked (to own myself) and I saw it on the wall. The blurplecaster. I put it on layaway for about $20. I was going to have to work for this thing lol… A week later we had dinner and I was told to bring my uncle his guitar back to show him what I had learned. I plopped the guitar case down as my aunt told me that she needed help bringing some food up from the cellar freezer. I got back to the living room and they told me “show us what you learned this week” and it was the guitar I had put on layaway. They had pulled a Houdini and surprised me with it.
Fast forward to last year- for Christmas, I realized that nobody has ever gifted my younger brother a guitar like that, so I found ANOTHER identical ‘98 model in the same blue purple color, and bought it for him for Christmas. I left it in plain sight on the sofa because I knew he would think it was mine… up until I told him to pick up his guitar and give it a go.
Three midnight blue Strats, all cleverly gifted to people who cherish them :)
Cheers!
Also, my entire life: “dude why did you pick a purple guitar”
Hah that’s great! Really cool to know that there’s a similar story with a similar guitar. Also glad I’m not the only one who gets the purple Strat comment 😂 thanks for watching!
Me: Makes a video about a Fender Strat.
Also Me: *Wears a Gibson shirt*
Great story, a big thanks to your STEP DAD for going back and buying the guitar.
I’ll never let go of my 20 year old Mexican strat. Never
They’re definitely keepers
Ditto. Mine will retire from my ownership when I retire from this life......
I want a 1999 strat SO BAD, I was born in ‘99 and it would be VERY special to have a guitar I’d use everyday that is as old as me!
I was born in 57 ,but don't think I could afford a 57 strat lol, I've just got a mexican 2002 strat ,it's great ,love it to bits, miles better than my new Squier affinity and my old 77 fender mustang
I have a 99 in midnight wine for sale
I have a 2000 MIM (Lefty) in this same finish, which was called Midnight Blue, and yes it changes with the light to a very deep purple. Very comfortable and great sounding Strat. Looking at the pole pieces, yes the pickups look to be stock. They would be ceramic bar magnet pickups which are known to be darker sounding than the old classic Strat tone. I like it personally.
I have one made in 2000, same purple like color...Only difference is mine is with maple neck...I also switch the pickups for fender 69s and change my tuning keys for chorme fender...But you are right these Mexican strat from that time period are keepers and do sound better with age...
I own 2, 1998 midnight blue fender stratocaster Mexico also..one maple neck one rosewood..and the both sound and play incredible..total stock...love them !!
I have a 98 midnight blue tele with maple neck,
Great story and video 😮
Congratulations, You have a special guitar. I own a Strat from 2000 and it's magical. Those guitars (90's -2002) were made in México but all pieces were come from USA to Fender, Ensenada México. Basically it's an american standard ensembled i'm México.
Hope You still enjoying this Magic piece of art many years.
Excuse for My English. Greeting from México.
The parts possibly, but not the electronics. I've always had to upgrade electronics and pickups on MX Strats. I tend to put Fender USA p'ups into them. They then become a totally different beast. Cheers!
12/25/2022. I got my 1998 Mexican made Fender Stratocaster in, Midnight Blue. PS I guess that was the most popular color.
I really did enjoy your video about your PURPLE guitar! Love it man, cheers!
What a great step dad u have...I have an 04 Black & maple fretboard Standard it's my baby...I put TexMex pickups on it although the stock ceramics are decent and Fender locking tuners...
The story kept me watching. Great video, awesome guitar 🎸 and dad.
My three main guitars are 2 old Mexican Strats and an old Mexican Cyclone. Old Mexican Fenders are so good.
The color of your Strat is sick!
That’s not a bad trio of mains to have!
just bought a 98-99 midnight blue mim fender strat that looks exactly like that.
(by just bought I mean 5 hours ago lol)
Hah enjoy! It’s cool that mine has a twin somewhere. 🤟🎸
@@RobGalley not nearly as cool of a Fretboard tho. The fretboard on yours is super cool looking, mine is just the same color the whole way lol.
Loved your video! I too own a Fender Mexican Stratocaster, actually two of them. Both, like yourself, now have fender locking tuners installed. I don't think I could ever be more happy/serious about a guitar. My 1st guitar at age 12 was a 1965 Fender American Stratocaster. Back then, there were only American made ones. I loved that guitar and should have kept it. Wanting to be a Beatle, I traded it for a Gretch Country Gentleman, BIG MISTAKE. Have to admit, I love my 2 Mexican Stratocasters just as well as the American one. I hope they age as nicely as yours. By the way, God Bless your Stepdad for his kindness. GREAT investment on his part!
Lovely story and nice Dad 👍👍
Thanks for watching!
I love my 1996 MIM Fender Strat that I bought in a pawn shop for $300 sometime around 2010s. Put in a vintage toned loaded pickguard, new tuners, and a Wilkinson bridge. She fits well with her new sibling the 2003 American Standard Stratocaster.
I have one from 2005 or 2006. Still my favorite guitar.
I love your passion for this guitar. I've picked it up and to me, it's like a piece of firewood ha, like my RG550 would be to you. The wear, dings, faults with it, they've all got your stamp and history on it. If guitars could talk!!!
1988, I started high school, and straightaway, I became interested in music. Took a few guitar lessons, but due to my love of football, and video games (oh, no) I never took it too seriously.
1990 arrived, and my cousins boyfriend was in a band, famous in my area, and he heard I was after an electric guitar. His mate had just been signed to a label in the States, and had three days to fly over, so he started selling all of his gear. So I (my mum) bought a guitar, with an amp, from him, for £150.00, which had “Fender Stratocaster” printed on the headstock, and was in a kinda turquoise colour, which I now know is called Tidepool.
I messed around with that guitar, playing the Top Gun theme, and basically just wasted the opportunity for six months, before something significant happened.
The Sega Megadrive was released!
Now, when I have something in my head, I simply have to do it, and ALWAYS do, so to quickly raise cash for the stupid Megadrive, I made mum put and advert in the local newspaper:
“For sale: Turquoise Fender Stratocaster with Squier Amp - £100.00”
My best mate found out about this, and told his dad, who already had a few guitars, and his dad asked could he have a look at it, so I passed it to my mate.
An hour later, obviously, I had the £100.00 in my hand, so my mum and dad put another £90.00 to it, and I went to buy the newly released Sega Megadrive.
That night, we got a call from a stranger who’d seen the newspaper sales advert; and he said:
“I’d like to buy the guitar tonight please, but just to confirm, it’s a misprint and should say £1000.00, shouldn’t it?”
My mum apologised and said we’d sold it for £100.00, and then man was almost crying on the phone, and said we didn’t realise how big a mistake we’d made.
So, the day after, I was in my mates house, and I casually said, “Is your dad playing my guitar much?”
He said, “Oh, he sold that the day he bought it off you. In the hour he had it, he took it to Dawsons Music store, and they gave him £1000.00 for it, and he gave you the £100.00 you wanted, then we booked a holiday!”
The words hit me like a sledgehammer, and I was devastated, but as I’ve gotten older, and been in bands, and bought guitars and learned more about them, it’s become more traumatic for me, and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of that guitar, and that mistake.
So, although I’ll never replace that amazing guitar (thinking back, it was unreal) I’ve just bought a Fender Player Series, HSS, in Tidepool, as my first Fender since my last, back in 1990.
What a stupid, clueless little thirteen year old muppet I was!
The N8 in the serial number means it is a “Ninety eight” guitar, but by the time they get to the UK and are sold here, they are often sold the following year. I have a USA standard Strat which I bought in 1996, but the serial number starts with N5. I still love it. It’s my favourite Strat.
Just bought a 96 silver logo MIM same color as yours. It is an amazing playing guitar. I’m in love already.
Brooo, I had this Mexican HSS strat in candy apple red that was made in the 90s. And it straight up rivaled my american strat, if not exceeded it. The playability and the mojo were just … out of this world.
Had? Hah but yeah I’d put the MIM up against an American any day!
@@RobGalley yeahhh, at the end of the day I have gripes with the volume knob position and the middle pickup. The way I play, I need the room, and and at the end of the day, the tele has my heart haha
Your story of how you came to own your guitar was quite beautiful! I just acquired a 2000/01 MIM Strat. Totally abused, the red finish that was on it was (poorly) sanded down to the natural wood and a poor shellac was applied. I plan to resurrect this guitar as best I can, it is definitely in a happier home now.
just bought a used 2002 MIM strat and its a very nice guitar, sounds great very clear sound., dont care too much for the metallic green color.
Great axe and story🙏💙🎸
I have the same 98 MIM strat but with a maple fretboard. Recently got it and it is too beat up currently. It was not taken care of. Im about to put a new neck and new pickups in it to bring it back to life.
That's one thing about the strat/tele/pbass/jbass that's awesome...if literally ANYTHING on it needs replaced, you can always find direct fit parts for it...the genius of leo fender
Awesome! I have a similar story with a fender teleacoustic.
I have the same Strat! I’ve had it since 2010 when I bought it with my hard-earned summer cash from a pawn shop during high school. It’s also a 98-99 and sings - I just stuck some 57/62 pickups and it sounds beautiful.
In 2000 I purchased my first Fender Stratocaster new from the local music shop. I'd just started to play guitar at around 21 or 22 years of age. It was a '99 MIM standard in the same midnight blue as yours w/rosewood fretboard. I've since put it *temporarily* out of service as it needs some work. It ended up becoming my dedicated open E slide guitar until some parts started to go (primarily the stock tuners). I played this thing up until about four years ago on the local music circuit & also in the studio. The bridge on mine is equally as funky and I'm keeping it that way. Similarly here I'll never let this one go until I die and it goes to my kids😁
Brilliant video, thanks for representing the old MIM's that have become "vintage" but remain under $750. I've owned American Standard Strat's, Japanese Fender Strat's and Squier's but my #1 guitar is my 1991 Fender Standard Stratocaster, Candy Apple Red with a maple neck that I got in June 1992.
It was my first electric like yours and indeed, having a good guitar from jumpstreet really helped my playing. I changed the pickups to Fender Noiseless and have my pots wired volume, TBX master tone and a blender pot that brings the neck pickup in and out. I still have the original loaded pickguard if I ever want to go back to stock.
Picked up a used strat today that just so happened to also have been made in 1999. I loved it probably seconds into actually playing. Its so loud too I can't believe how much louder it is than my 2020 telecaster.
I have your twin guitar! Yet shes a year younger!
I have this exact 1998 blue (purple?) Mexican Strat. I really like it. Willing to let it go tho...
Back in 2016, I went to GC to look at guitars. I didn’t have enough money to buy anything, really. I just was using the moment to ogle at some really pretty guitars, but I ended up, on a whim picking up a 2008 Midnight Blue Squier Strat. It was right by the checkout counter and I remember I barely looked at it before slapping it on the counter, paying the 89 dollars they were asking and racing home to play with it. It wasn’t a Fender, but it was the most gorgeous Strat I’d ever seen and for less than 100 dollars it was like a dream come true to me. While I was purchasing it, I learned that it previously belonged to the person at the register, he had sold it that day to upgrade to a Mexican Fender. It was my first Strat and I’m still just so happy about the thing. It’s still gorgeous as ever.
I have the same Fender Strat as you, including the age and color. Still plays as beautifully as the first day as I bought it. The bridge is a little rusted. I wanted to replace it, but the service centre here in Singapore told me that parts were not available..why change it when the guitar is still playable. I didn’t change the bridge after that. Only cleaned up the guitar, did the setup and it plays beautifully till now. I will never trade my Strat for anything else. 🇸🇬
I got a 2001 MIM strat the same color except with a maple neck , i got tex mex pups on it and fender locking tuners too ,sounds great and plays like a charm 🤘🏻
Ive got a 98 in the same color, and the only mod Ive made is, Fender locking tuners.
Exactly what I did to mine!
I have 2 midnight blue from similar years and they have a certain mojo.
One of the ones I have was fitted with a figured quarter sawn 1 piece maple neck and it plays like butter. I'm convinced the neck was a reject from an Eric Johnson strat.
I bought a 2000 MIM purple body too, its chewed up from before I got it, it must have quite a story to tell
Great story, I lucked up on a 2010 Mexican strat, candy red burst, HSS, fsr, rosewood fingerboard , in fine shape, I'd just as soon have it as anything . I can relate to your liking the strat so much. The position of the volume knob has never been a problem. Great guitars.
I have a Matt purple Mexican Strat from 2005, I love it, but I have changed the tuners, too.
Matt purple sounds really cool tbh
@@RobGalley it is :)
When i got my number one, a 95 Candy Apple Red MIM Strat "Ruby Rose" I had played a few that sounded great but the thing about this Strat was that it just felt... right. It felt good in my hands. I put locking tuners on it and upgraded the pickups, decreased the springs to 2 and dropped the action lower than a normal persons sugar level after a shot of insulin. She's my go to guitar for everything these days because she's never did me wrong and i dont forsee a time when she will. I love my Mexican Strat. 😊
My Strats end up with humbuckers, giant brass blocks, and decked tremolos. I like Teles for blues and indie rock stuff.
Good guitar and a great guitar story! You’re having a real musical journey with it - it’s where it belongs 🙂👍
I just bought what appears to be a 2001 Mexican Strat (from looking up the serial number) and I definitely think i'm going to get a lot of play out of it. It even came with the original hardshell case.
So there's my Strat I've been looking to recover. 😂. Seriously, I had an 1998 EXACTLY like that one. Best Strat I've ever owned. When checking the markings and before Fender serial look ups, I believe it may have been CS. Vintage to boot. Had all the markings. As far as Strats? that's been my biggest regret - Traded for an HSS that I no longer have. That guitar stayed in tune FOREVER. I still remember the born date 24 Sept 1998. I'm always on the prowl for 1995-1999ers. I miss that Strat...
I’ll never get rid of this guitar hah!
I have one with maple neck, midnight blue also
Beautiful Strat and some nice guitar licks too.
i just got one of these in a trade for a Yamaha Revstar i never connected with, however i have a special deluxe edition strat that ive moded to my liking in HSS but... this strat is something else, im liking it a lot which happens to have a maple fretboard (1st time ive had one). I like it a lot but im debating if i should keep it, i just enjoy playing it a lot!!!
i had the identical Midnight Blue Strat from MX from 99 ish! Got mine in 2001! Much love brother! man, i had the HSS version i believe? tho? anyways so it got stolen years ago from the back of a car i had to get towed... tow drivers got me! So now ive got a VERY similar Mexican Strat stripped down so i can paint it that same Midnight Blue, but im trying to source the closest thing to the OEM Midnight Blue i can find if you guys have any leads? Thanks in advance!
@RobGalley this was a kool video to watch! I have almost the same guitar, I got it when I was 14. Mine is the same color, 1999 model but mine has a humbucker in the bridge instead of the single coil. The color name is "Midnight Blue" LOL its funny you mention at the end that some people think its purple. Its definitely a unique color and in certain lighting it does look purple but it is indeed blue lol
Nice guitar! It sounds better than my American strat. But I guess that has something to do with your strat being older. You never mentioned the unusual play wear at the bottom of the fretboard. How has the wood discoloured from play wear!?
I did forget to mention that - it’s not even play wear! It’s just the wood & how it’s always looked. Lighter on the first fret than the rest.
@@RobGalley Wow ok. It's just I've never seen a fretboard like that on a Strat before so I just assumed it was wear.
I have the same guitar I just got it today and same color and I LOVE IT
It was dated 1999 on mine. And its in almost mint condition.
My First electric guitar is a Fender Stratocaster, so pleased you convinced me to get one for the lessons. Thanks for the great advise Rob.🤟
Can’t go wrong with a Strat for a first guitar!
I was an idiot to have sold this exact same guitar which I bought in ‘99 to raise cash to move back from Korea to the U.S. for like a hundred bucks!!
Now that I am financial more stable back in the U.S. I always regretted it. But lo and behold. Facebook marketplace had JUST THE SAME ONE for around 400 bucks! I negotiated it down to $375 and I feel like I reconnected with my long lost lover!!! Never again. Love your tone by the way!
And you’re absolutely right. The color is one of a kind! Very few have it! I am ultra lucky!!
Rob, I can respect your appreciation for the guitar. Mine is darn close to yours... 1999 MIM Strat (I looked up the serial number and it says 1999/2000 but the neck is stamped 1997 and the pickguard is stamped 1999). Mine is the same color as yours, only I'm a little jealous you've got the pau ferro neck. Mine is maple.
A few stats:
The color is Lake Placid Blue (that's Fender's call, not mine). They changed the color name to Midnight Blue in 2000.
The pickups are Texas Specials
Body wood: most likely poplar. Fender switched to alder in 2000.
Swap your bridge out trust me. I did it on my 2008 Strat swapped it for the exact same one but it helped with intonation so much. I reassembled that original tremolo so I still have that same block.
I wonder what pickups are in the MIM. I know the 1999 American Standard pickups are highly sought after.
i spent a year living in tokyo in the year 2000 and was hell bent on buying a Japanese made strat. Got to the store and this MIM strat in midnight blue became my fixation. Never played a strat before but A/B ed both the MIM and MIJ and the MIM sounded more chimey and bell like.. deal was done! Glad i kept an open mind and let my senses govern my preference. Poplar just might be the most unsung strat body to eventually be sought by collectors, vs more traditional strat timbers
I have one 1999 midnigth blue that i change the pickguard for a custom print of amazing stories vintage magazine madness on luna looks bad ass and last owner change the pickups for black ones but i dont know wich ones i have for sale on facebook market place but after this i have a 2 thoughts going to delete the post rn😅
Nice guitar,and nice story how you got it👍👍👍👍
Great story. New sub.
Cool video! I remember this guitar 🎸 it’s been around
My USA Standard Strat is exactly the same colour. My friend bought me a purple strap to match it until he realised that my guitar was blue. Despite being in a band with him for years he always thought it looked purple.
Was walling around the used section at GC today killing time when I came across a ‘99 black mexi strat for $465. Got it for $425 out the door
I bought a 2021 mex strat and have regretted it ever since. The neck is a disaster. I use the neck measuring tool and adjusted the truss accordingly. After installing the strings, the neck took on a bend as I tightened the tuners. Had to go back and tighten the truss a number of times; very frustrating. It has a string ping on the 1st and 2nd like a string buzz, but the height adjustment was right on. After finishing my set up, the 1st and 2nd string still rang. I changed the nut and carefully filed for proper height. I saw a video on this issue and apparently there is no cure. The guitar is garbage
I have the same year strat, same color, but with a maple fingerboard. And I agree, nothing ages like a fender! The older they get, the better they sound! Great demo!
These might be valuable in the near future. I’ve never played an American that was as good as my 2001 Mexican
Great story
Funny I got that exact guitar and color in 2004 the color is called midnight blue
Cool story. We all have that ONE we connect with ..
Stepdad's rock sometimes!🤘
I’d like to add something here about these “mexican” fenders from the 90’s/2000’s.
Around 1990-91 fender moved its production of the “fender American standard” production line to the mexican factory. All the products the Mexican factory were making up to that point were moved to china. Aka squire.
So all the silver label Mexican guitars from this era, are actually called “Fender standard (strat or tele) made in Mexico”. They’re still pretty much the same as the American standards from before 1990. Just some cheaper parts here and there to bring the price down. That’s why these guitars are so good for the money. I have a 1991 and a 1993 fender standard mim strats, and with a couple upgrades. They’re as good if not better then my Fender American special edition strat. And they’re technically vintage now.
That’s a sweet story.
I appreciate how much you love your instrument - I'm happy for you!
I've had a black Standard Series Squier Strat for about 18 years and I've always loved it... still do!
I'm contemplating buying a second hand Olympic White Fender Strat from 1998.
Part of me feels that it won't be barely any different to what I already have but......
I reckon I'ma get it, thanks for the vid :D
I just recently ordered a new guitar (2, actually, in a killer Black Friday sale) and I have been playing every day like I'm 15 again. Even though I hardly played for years, I feel as if I have a deeper understanding of music now, so I think I've improved a bit.
Cool!! If you own something that’s so special and means a lot to you then keep it. By the way i love the blue/purple color on that Stratocaster
hi was it on ceramic pick up ?
Hi Rob, nice guitar! What kind of amp are you using here? Does start is better than tele in terms of clean tones? I've got Ibanez jem bfp but thinking to sell it and buy tele instead as I cannot shred. lol
MIA & MIM Fenders are the only ones I'll buy and play...
Not a fan of MIJ?
@@RobGalleythey are harder to come by than the MIM and MIAs.
Just need to put your knobs and switch tip on.
A good Strat is one of the finest instruments that exists MIM, MIA... whatever. A good Strat is damned near a holy thing. I love Les Pauls. Teles. Vs.... but at the end of the day I am a Strat man. The single most important guitar model that exists, at least for me.
Your serial number makes it 1999 I have a black MIM same year its hands down better than my american strat and my 2017 MIM strat plan to sell these but never never the 99.
I'm picking up a nearly similar guitar (except w/ maple neck). What is that color? Sapphire, imperial, cobalt, midnight blue?
Midnight blue I believe!
Me dirías que mics usas en esa guitarra?
“Nothing sounds like a Stratocaster” while he wears a Gibson shirt lol gotta love them all right? 😂
Such a good video title 😂🙌🏻
I thought so too 😂
Any upgrades or is it stock?
I had 2 real USA made Fenders over the years and they were great! I also own 2 MIM Martins that are unreal. I had a LP Gold top in the late 60's when I was gigging, and at that time never realized the value that guitar as it was the "norm". Just an everyday thing. But I think these Utube reviewers today are full of it. I Am relatively new to Utube and after believing some of these idiots I took some chances. I lost. These guys rely on income from their vids and so are careful not to demonize any maker. I am now educated and wary of these guys who make so many disclaimers it makes their reviews useless.
Its always an RHCP riff in these videos why
Inspirational story, but man ya got the wrong t-shirt on. What’s wrong with you?
Don’t sound too good
We're all allowed our opinions!
I recently (Sept. 2023) picked up 3 mex strats, 94, 96, 98 because they were priced too low, I got all 3 for an avg of $400 ea. , I didn't expect too much from them, long/short I haven't played any of my other Strats since, simply amazing, they all feel, and sound what we always thought a Strat should feel & sound like, just pissed I wasted so much money on other much more expensive guitars that haven't left their cases since
Did anyone else have a tear in the eye.
I was probably too shocked to get a tear 😂
You play very well and a fantastic background to your guitar.
Hah, bought a 1999 Mex Strat at Guitar Center. Hardly played it since, but recently have taken interest in it after playing mostly acoustic for decades. It's in perfect condition. Same Midnight colored body, but with lighter toned wood on neck. And, mine has 4 pickups instead of 3...two adjacent to each other with no space in between, and two more spaced one's going toward the head-end of instrument. Good to know it's valued member of your apparently well selected quiver 🪶🪶🪶
I’m sure you probably learned at this point. What you have is an HSS style strat with a humbucker at the bridge pickup instead of a single coil. Awesome rock configuration.
what's the name of that color? is it midnight blue?
Apparently so! I didn’t know until I posted this video
Seems about right, according to the fender 1999 catalog, mexican standard strats came in 5 colors including midnight blue, no purple or other bluish colors. Though It's really weird how different it looks from one photo/video to another. I've been just planning to order this exact model online, but if it's just plain blue in person, then it's a bummer :/
Great story