MEXICAN STRAT vs AMERICAN STRAT - Guitar Tone Comparison!
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- Опубліковано 1 чер 2024
- Having a hard time figuring out which Fender Stratocaster is a good fit for your playing style and budget? Check out this comparison between a MIM Strat and a USA Strat!
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SONGS:
Pos 5: Posters - Jack Johnosn
Pos 4: Nobody Knows You - Clapton
Pos 3: A Field of Flowers - Phil Keaggy
Pos 2: Satalite - DMB
Pos 1: In A Little While - U2
BACKING TRACK CREDIT:
BackingTrack by VitoAstone
• Rock Blues Eric Johnso...
Enjoy!
Let me know which guitar you preferred in this comparison, #TeamMIM or #TeamMIA?
If you've been lucky enough to play on both I'd love to know what your observations were!
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USA Strats: imp.i114863.net/Kbqkn
Darrell Braun Guitar Hey Darrel! I'm learning simple man right now. I love playing so much and your channel has made me love it even more.
Thanks so much.
Darrell Braun Guitar loving the jack Johnson :)
+David Oster 😀👍👍👍
+Jackson Rigney Thanks!
Simple man is such a great tune! 👍
Honestly, can't say I preferred any one. They just seem different, but not better or worse. One can easily find application for both of the strats, depending on the required result.
Mexican Fenders have some of the greatest quality to price ratio, can't go wrong.
Everything, yep. I’ve got a left handed 1994 MIM ‘Squier Series’ Fender. Squier is acompany and not a series. It’s an anomaly for a few years in the ‘90’s with American parts. I got it for $150. I convinced the person a used left handed Squier wasn’t worth that much.
@@Dave_MB I have a 94 squier series strat that I got for 150 and it plays like butter.
@@JoeBat95 Yep. They're pretty sweet.
Mexican fender good price
They're made literally 20 miles away from the American Factory
Call me crazy, but I prefer the fatter, warmer sound of the MIM.
+Parker Bilbro Not crazy at all! I think it sounds great too - especially for certain genres ☺
Yeah, me too.
I dont really prefer the warmer tone bit, but it definitely has a more PURE tone if you know what I meam
Parker Bilbro me too!! The USA was very thin and too toppy by comparison.
If only they made an MIM in Sienna Sunburst...
I bought a mim strat 10 years ago, and I have never even thought I need to "upgrade" to a usa. The build quality is great and the tone is beautiful. I'm keeping it for life.
I have owned a Mexican
Strat. It had been modded with Tex-Mex Alnico 5 pickups. Later I tried a Squier Classic Vibe Strat. I liked it better than the Mexican. Sold the Mexican. Now I have two Classic Vibes, a 50's and a 60's model.
@@gordonipock9385 ah yes the classic vibes are great! Years ago I was trying out usa made standard strats and i noticed a classic vibe squier, that squier was just a better guitar..
I used to work with a guy who was a helluva guitar player. He had one of the earliest Squiers that was made in Japan. Fantastic quality. Fender stopped making the Japanese Squiers because they were so good. Japanese make a lot of high-quality products. The Classic Vibes I have were made in China. They were Squier's effort to prove they could build a high-quality guitar. The necks and the string action are perfect on mine. No buzz. Easy to play. I did some research. Squier outsourced the pickups to a specialty place in South Korea. Great sounding pickups. I had another Mexican Strat that had the stock ceramic pickups. Nowhere near the clarity and tone of the Classic Vibe strats.
I’ve had mine 20 years. Going to have to replace the selector switch and the middle pickup isn’t wanting to pickup any more so time to upgrade my old friend.
Yeah I started on a MiM back in 2003. Stopped playing after a few years and sold it. Bought another one when I started back up again, last year. They're like exactly the right first guitar for someone who will be taking guitar/music seriously.
Not expensive, and good enough that you'll still play it even after years of practicing.
Call the men in white to take me away, but the Mexican strat sounds better !
I have owned both.
As a solo instrument, the Mexican Standard sounds nice, warm and great on it's own.
With a band, the American Standard cuts through the mud and really shines.
Both are fine instruments and you should be proud to own either.
+Ben Aaron ☺👍 Well said!
Thanks for this comment. This the reason i am looking to swap from MIM to MIA. Love my MIM but now playing in a 7 piece band with 3 piece horn section and always feel i am struggling to cut through on some sections especially when playing backing melodies rather than chords. Hopefully a MIA will make the difference.
MIA - Missing in action?
I agree, but the American Telecaster even more so. they will cut through just about anything :-)
Gliddo mia is Mexican strat
I think I prefer the Mexican. It sounds warmer snd fuller.
Nice comparison, thank for the video.
I swear I hear bits of Floyd/Gilmor in your jam, really nice.
Candy apple strats with maple necks make everyone play gilmourish or knoplerish
You forgot noisier and more susceptible to feedback.
@@professorstein5855 kinda grungey I love it !
Yeah I prefer the Mexican one .
I'm a drummer and played piano for a while. I got a beautiful blupurple MIM for christmas in 1997. I tried teaching myself over the years, but never got far. It's been in storage for the last 10+ years. I've really been wanting to make another run at it since the internet has so many of learning now. I feel blessed to have recieved that guitar and would love to justify the gift. Hearing how that guitar can sound motivates me.
The guitar you have is actually a USA body and neck. The bodies and necks were made in Corona and shipped to Ensenada for finish sanding and painting. The Ensenada plant’s production side wasn’t back up and running after the fire until 1998.
Get that guitar out of storage and play it, or sell it to me!
I have one of these 97 blupurples as well. My mother is a blues player and she gave it to me for Christmas and she did the setup on it.
It took me multiple tries to get guitar to finally stick. Keep going!
@@aidangittings7810 thx man
I think that there's a few things to consider with these comparisons
1. Tone knobs exists on amps, pedels, guitars, etc. Would the american strat still sound (brighter) if we dialed in the amp settings a bit? Could we also make the american sound "fatter" if we wanted to?
2. Engineers and sound guys are gonna compress and eq your guitar regardless of what country it was made in.
3. Play what makes you feel inspired, not what someone on UA-cam (including me and my comments) told you to do.
4. Don't go broke over one guitar (but that doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't get the american strat if that's what you really want).
5. What I'm trying to say is: play what YOU want. And don't worry about what people try to tell you otherwise. Your sound and style might not be exactly there style. End of the day it's a guitar, and that's rock n roll
I have been playing the guitar since I was 12 years old and I still have my 1957 Fender Musicmaster that I bought new with my paper route money. All my life, I have always wanted a Strat and finally bought one this week. I watched a lot of vlogs comparing the Mexican to the American. The older gentleman at Guitar center was very knowledgeable and has been playing all his life. He told me that the Mex strat was almost identical to the American with only a slight difference in the electronics and sound. The Mex factory and the American factory are only 20 miles apart and both are painted in the Mex factory. For someone like me who doesn’t play in a band and only plays in my home office for my own enjoyment, the Mexican strat was a no brainer. I have a Fender Mustang amp and it does everything I need. The price difference was a huge deciding factor as well. I also have a Les Paul Standard that I really enjoy also. Thanks for a great video.
Hey, that’s a sweet story 🤓 I also own a Mex Strat and like you also paid for my starter guitars with paper route money, although they were nowhere near as nice as a Fender Musicmaster 😅 Small correction however, the Mexican factory is in fact 180 miles away from the American factory
The mustang amp is great for home players I also had a Gdec 3 and it was good enough for me
You've been wanting a real strat your whole life and when the time finally came to buy one you cheeped out? Dude you did life wrong. The American doesn't just cut through a mix better it sounds better period. The ceramics are noticeably muddier. You did yourself dirty by not spending an extra 500 bucks. Not that the MIM sounds bad but come on who wants something their whole life and then gets the shittier version to save half a grand.
@Timothy Iorlano i know exactly what it is ive owned one i was just expressing amazement that this dude has wanted something his whole life and then cheaped out when the time came to buy it i mean if saving 500 bucks was that big of a deal at the time he probably had better things to spend money on than a guitar cause 500 is literally no money at all im working my way through school and poor and 500 still isnt a lot to me like thats about a month worth of tips from the coffee shop i work at also he wouldnt be out 4 grand for the american made i spend 2 on mine so yeah you could easily spend 4 grand but its disingenuous to say thats how much it woulda cost him i bet he coulda got one for even cheaper than i did ive seen some of the american mades go for like 1500 also the MIMs are not literally the same as the americans so thats another lie you told they sound worse they have worse electronics and a worse bridge PERIOD honestly you didnt say anything true in your comment seems to me like you're just trying to justify your own purchase you're not just paying for the fact thats its american made you're paying for a better guitar i should know ive owned both so why would u cheap out on your dream guitar when the difference in price is so small...... no brainer dude
@@rose.i he could upgrade the pups for better ones all around anyways and then boom, better sounding. The new MIM have the new two point trem system as well now so...
I just bought a Mexican Strat. As beginner, I feel like I made the right decision. Especially after watching your video. Thanks for the explanation.
James Mabry Me too, lots of squabbles and ego online but this validates the decision. Nice to have the saved money for other goodies.
Same here bro... have my MIM standard strat and I like the fret size and grip as well and it sound is pretty cool. No doubts and frustrations,
Mim line is fantastic. I don't like the string spacing on the MIM guits due to narrower neck. But damn they're really great.
never start out on the wrong foot .... change your pickups ..
I love my Mexican strat. It is well built by people who love guitars, and to Fenders specs. No doubt I will never sell it.
Darrell, I really enjoy your playing/riffs. Very melodic and pleasing!
I get so excited when I’m looking for a comparison and it happens to be from your channel. The best!!!!!
Sorry, for these old ears, the MIM has my vote..the American just seems over-the-top bright.
Dave J There is a way to tone down the brightness on a fender Strat, you have to go old fashion and put pure nickel strings.. it will make it sound a lot warmer and cut through all that higher treble.
I respect your opinion
Agree. I guess if you want that really twangy sound as opposed to the warmer MIM sound it may be worth double the cash. Not for me.
Yep, just what I was thinking.
I have to agree.I would buy the MIM out of choice not budget
Darrel, its very very helpful when on editing you switch guitars without any pause or fade, just jumping from 1 to another several times, no pauses, its the best way to notice the differences in sound, try to do this more often is more helful, thanks for the great video
Hallelujah
Make your own videos weirdo
Your right!
Just put one guitar down and grab another With no pause. Both guitars plugged in the same Jack on the same amplifier. No pause or editing changing the guitars
Yes, definitely can tell the difference without the pause in editing and the American sound is more American sounding or not as tinty.
I like coming back and watching this vid. I’m really happy with my MIM, so happy that I have no GAS for an American strat. I’ve had some really good upgrades done to mine, like new bone nut, the fret ends filed by a luthier and the edges of the fret board smoothed out a bit. I also changed the trem system to a blade runner super Vee. The trem system alone was like 190 but all of it was money well spent. It plays like a dream. And I actually like the sound of the MIM pups better. They aren’t as bright. I didn’t do locking tuners only because I have zero tuning issues with the blade runner super Vee trem. I am thinking on getting a mint green pick guard tho. I think it will look really good on a sunburst strat.
Once again great vid!
That Dave Matthews Band "Satellite" arpeggio made my day!
Thanks for that...
BTW excellent vid as usual!
Wow the Mex strat has a warmer fuzzier tone that sounds amazing! Both sound awesome I just prefer the tone from the Mex strat which is surprising!
I've noticed ceramic pickups are a little secret everybody seems to overlook. Ceramic pickups offer a great foundation for a heavy bottom/ mid-range That never really peaks, it kinda keeps its bandwidth in the mid-range territory. Your standard Stratocaster pickup is typically flush alnico poles and the bobbins tend to be plastic in the more recent years. Which really started around 1982 with the plastic bobbin pickups. The characteristic of AlNico pickups is the bandwidth tends to Peak in your mid-to-high range territory which gives it that wet Stratocaster sound. Seems like ceramic pickups or like a dry wine vs alnico being a wet wine
I thought the Mex Strat sounded better too...
Es chicano el vato
Nobody observed the great solo he played? Damn!
Great demo Darrell, fair and impartial. Its good that you let everyone have their own opinion, and you included a little guitar economics 101. Personally I think the MIM is a great buy
Thanks Darrell, I just bought a used MIM yesterday and I'm trying to learn everything about it.
I’m glad I watched this. I bought a Mexican HSS last summer for $499 and didn’t know there was such a difference between them. I couldn’t be happier with my strat, thanks!
I love my MiM HSS Strat
Bro you have the best comparison videos on the web. Keep it up, you bring a lot of comfort to those who are starting out and need real life examples of the differences. I purchased a MIM Strat in Agave Blue with rosewood neck and I can’t tell you how much I love love love this guitar. Your playing is very inspirational. Great job man.
Thanks!
Congratulations on the new Guitar!
About to jump off on a new strat and glad I saw this. Of these two I prefer the MIM. The tone is just more of a warm sound. I’d love to see these tested against the classic vibe Squier strats
well done on this presentation! very thoroughly explained and well demonstrated. Thanks
I like the American a little bit better but the Mexican strat is a big bang for your buck
I bought the Mexican strat for 1 reason...
Money
And I bought a squire bullet strat hss for one reason... Money
@@ianmorgan3239 you're definitely the winner in this situation, cheap guitars ftw
@@tomrabbani but squires are just garbage... id only buy one if i was a first year player
@@lonewanderer958 they're really not garbage
tom rabbani compared to what 🤣 a denver ? 😂
Awesome videos!!! I think my preferences, having watched a few, are the ceramic magnets paired with an amp with alnico magnets in their speakers. I like the big-sounding warmth of the guitar paired with the clarity of the amp. Thanks for helping me sort this out.
Whats your favorito alnico speaker?
I have a jensen c12n thats ceramic. My strat is ceramic as well and im considering an alnico speaker for c12n style cleans
Once I lived a life of a millionaire, spent all my money on Guitars
Nobody loves you when you are down and out
I like them both
brother how true that is.....
hahaha
I think you mean billionaire now. Millionaires aren't spending extra on guitars nowadays.
Much prefer the Mexi sound, which surprised me.
Me too
Same. The American is a little too tinny.
Might be the maple fretboard
So you like higher output ceranic pickups
@@thesuccessfulbarber In this comparison, yes.
They both sound great. Also holy cow at that soloing w/ the backing track.
This is super helpful! I'm upgrading from a terrible strat copy, and this makes me feel better about choosing the MIM within my price range vs shelling out bigger bucks. I'm sure that the MIA can get more bang while ripping through solos, but it's a little too bright for me.
Thanks Darrell, another great informative video.
I have a Jimmie Vaughan Fender Strat and a Fender Baja Telecaster, both are MIM and I love them dearly. Playability, appointments, fit and finish - All top notch. The necks are super chunky which I love.
So happy I picked up all these instruments years ago (pre-covid/inflation) or I probably couldn't any of them in today's market.
Rock on DBG!
Great video! Really digging the MIM.
I have a 2018 MIM Fender Stratocaster Deluxe and couldn't be happier. 👍
As I have, and the more I read the happier I am with my choice. I have been playing guitar for 40 years but have to admit I still play like Les Dawson 🙁
Gotta say i love the choice of riff! I've been an acoustic player going on 17 years now. Finally starting to seriously get into electric and having a hard time picking out my first DECENT electric. This video is helping a lot.
What did you pick ? Or have stop playing ?
Thanks so much for the quality work in this video both in production and sound and playing!! I appreciate this!!! I own a MIM the butter cream color!! In this video I saw that in the first part where you were chording out....the MIM actually had warmer tones and weren't piercing at the top like the AS however in soloing they were pound for pound....I'm listening on ATH-M5Ox's too!
Gonna keep this one forever!! God Bless!
Darrell, thank you so much for all the efforts you put into making yours videos. They are extremely informative and a great help when in need of making sound decisions. Having never owned a Stratocaster before and being on a tight budget, I went for a MIM as a result and found a real gem "Special Edition" that was barely used! It looks fantastic and plays beautifully! I couldn't be happier and it would not have happen without your love for the instrument and your desire to share your tremendous knowledge. Sincerely, my best wishes to you for a continued success! Alan
Congratulations! They are great guitars!
I tried both MIM and MIA strats at the shop, they both feel exactly the same but the MIM warmer pickups sound nicer.
Don’t know why you’d want to pay double for the American when the Mexican is just fine
@@skycottage6956 paying more to get what?
@@cybergus18 quality- wood, tuner, alnico pickups, better 2 point trem system, more adjustable (example, micro tilt adjustment). the material and set up is different. that's what you're paying for. did we watch the same video or what:?
@@herewegoagain7403 you watched the video but apparently with no sound... good for you 👌
@@cybergus18 10:56 oof you were saying? everyone knows this american alnico pickup makes the perfect strat sound, oh wait you probably don't know what a strat is supposed to sound like 😂
Also remember that the American comes with a proper $150 hard-case. Some Mexican doesn't even come with a gig-bag.
Very helpful review - thank you Darrell !
Regardless... Those were some mighty smooth solos.
Darren. Smashing video. Some really nice playing, the material selected for the comparison worked well. Prefer the Mex for the chord work and the US for the lead stuff...Well done man!
Great analysis. Thanks for the side by side comparison. Very helpful! I’m going to get the MIM and some some $$$. If I have regrets, I’ll step up the the MIA.
Darrell, love the comparison. I have both, more than one of both :-) My biggest complaint on the MIM Strats is the lack of fret finishing, particularly sharp unfinished fret ends. I can easily fix that, but a little more attention to this would go a long way. My best strat I have is actually a Partscaster, MIM body, Fender Neck, and Fender Samarium Cobalt Pickups. I grab this more than my MIA strats :-) Thanks again for a GREAT channel!
hey that was intresting. thank you for taking the time to give us this info. plus you are a great guitar player.
+Buddha Joe Coughlin No problem! ☺👍
I had a hard time defining which was more to my taste. You made both sound really good so going back to the player that makes the difference is very noteworthy.
Very nice playing Darrell... Hell yah!
I just bought the American pro today and I absolutely love it. This guitar is amazing, especially with the new V-Mod pickups.
Thanks for the comparison, Darrell. I personally like the Mexican Strat better especially when talking about the difference in price.
the mexican sounds more organic. and the solo feels great.
Not a huge fan of tapping, but really loved your solos! Enjoyed both the strats, but I'd rather go for the MIM and invest my savings on a nicer amp. Thanks for the nice review and for the great improvisation!
I bought a MIM HSS Strat because I loved the way it plays, the feel and quality. I do, however, agree that the American Standard pickups are brighter and have that traditional Strat sound while my cermics are noticeably "muddier" sounding. Also, the humbucker at he bridge on my MIM is much hotter than the two single coils and does not blend that well with the middle pickup. I'm considering switching all three to an American Standard set-up. Thanks for the informative video!
Back in the day I owned a 1970 Strat. For the last few years I have been playing a MIM strat w/ a maple neck. I am totally satisfied with the action and the sound. It is a good bang for the buck. Enjoy!
Dude you did an awesome job with this video. 🇺🇸🇲🇽🤘
+Adrian R. Thanks so much Adrian!
I have had a couple of American strats, but the one I have kept and always return to as my go-to guitar is a 1985 MIJ 'Heavy Metal' Strat. Started with just two pickups, both split humbuckers, and I added the centre single coil, and upgraded the tuners and trem system. The neck is awesome, and the split buckers give me everything I need in terms of sounds. After having the big name guitars (LPs, American strats) I've come the point where I want a guitar that feels and sounds awesome. If you have that in your instrument, who cares where it's made or the name on the headstock.
Great video! Thank you!
best value, get a MIM and replace pick-ups.
That's what I did ..Switched out to DiMarzio Tone Zone humbucker and Air Norton neck.
Ray Rivera yeah, for the upgrades that the American has should only be like $200 more than the mim.
That's exactly what I did with all my MIM standards: Installed Tex Mex, GFS, and Rose pickups. They are all great strats.
TupolevPilot The difference to Fender is of course labor costs. But I think that when you can find a new American for under $1000 when on sale, it is still worth it to have the extras you cannot easily replace. And the craftsmanship is better. So that to me is worth $400.
R T the craftsmanship is actually very similar. You will never find sharp frets on a mim. Also, the mim has more vintage features, like 21 frets, 6 screw tremolo, etc. So the extras in a USA don't mean it is better
I have owned several Americans and MIMs. I can't see spending the extra money on the American. I use a MIM now for gigging, have changed the pickups out and new fender locking tuners. Plays as good or better than american at a lower cost. I pick the MIM! BTW very good video!
I bought a MIM Strat Deluxe (all gold fittings).
Pristine condition, played for less than 100 hours. It's a 1998 !!!
Kid didn't like it, so his dad kept it in the closet until 2014.
Bought for $200.
Had a mex standard since 2014, this video is making me wanna swap the pickups out for some standard ones, that clarity is incredible
I have a Mexican player strat, which I bought in 2001. I wasn't too happy with the standard pickups, so I changed them for some lace sensor golds. Result is perfection, crystal clear and bell-like tone. I prefer it to my PRS custom
There’s so many simple things that can be done to change the sound on both guitars to fit your sound, love both.
VERY interesting. Very informative. I have a mexi strat I just got, a 2012, and I was wondering what it had in it for pickups, etc. It has the bent steel saddles and the ceramic pickups like what you showed in your squier vs mexi video. Really fun guitar to play for sure. I was just trying to determine what sort of a sound I want from my guitar and this helps me to know what that may be. My mexi sounds a lot like the one in this video: warm, raw, and grindy. Definitely works for certain applications.
Great video, as always. Professional and very helpful. To me, the pups on the American Std had a Fuzz component in their tone. Not something I liked. The ceramics on the MexiStrat sounded more authentic. While many look for the high note chimeyness as a defining tone in a Strat, for me it has always been the signature growl of a single coil bridge pup and Hendrix-style double stops mid neck that is almost impossible to replicate by any other guitar. I’d go with the MexiStrat. Regards. . .
I'm amazed at how beautiful the Mex Strats and Teles are. So far I bought three.
I'm just happy that Fender gives us a great guitar for less than half of the American. I believe it's just to stay in business and create that placebo effect with the the guitar that cost twice as much but less than a 20% improvement.
It's all about the player and, at this level, nothing to do with the guitar itself.
Great video and thanks you!!
Sumbi
Sumbi Humbane There's only so much improvement they can really make when the Mexican version is great set up. I wouldn't know because the one I used when my guitars needed work or had a string that was broken wasn't set up at all. The strings are so much higher than the frets its crazy. I'm gunna set it up though because it could probably be useful at some point even though I plat Thrash/Death metal. It'll be great for leads whenever I get some skills to play decent leads.
I always loved the Mexican instruments so much. They have a heavy body tone and a lot more thicker. American made is also good but I always thought the sounds always too bright for me. Fender Mexican basses are my personal favorite instruments. I own a Mexican jazz bass and It sounds amazing
Yep same bass too, amazing.
I keep coming back to this vid for the solo
I like the distorted tone from the MIM the most!
Thanks a million for your excellent comparison. The touch and feel of the American made Strat is noticeable but like you say the Mexican is definitely more value for money and they both are cut above many other guitars out there, hence they are the standard.
Never played a MIM or Squire but have been disappointed with a few American standard Strats from 2011 and 2014. If I ever get another one I’ll look at the MIM version. It’s interesting to see the huge improvements in your video production on the past year. Really like your new amps and of course your playing is staying so consistent keeping your chops up!! 😀 thanks
What's a Squire?
Thanks for information good playing by the way
That pick-tapping technique just blew my damn mind.. never seen that before !
Me too..
Eddy Van Halen does it ☺️
Check out Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien, he uses that technique during the solo
Classic vibe vs a MIM standard would be cool. I love those pickups on the classic vibe 50s strats. Great video as always Darrell. Keep em coming 🎸🎶✌😁
+Joseph Etherton I'll add it to my list! 😀
Joseph Etherton I think the CV Squiers are great, the only thing I've replaced for friends are the 5 way switch and tone caps. The feel of the neck are great and the pickups are warm and not too noisy.
Darrell you do the best reviews - no question - I may buy one of the Mexican Strats now - was thinking about a Squire but you changed my mind - thanks bud aye - keep up the great work !!!
Thanks Darrell. FYI, I own a 2018 Mexican Deluxe Fat Strat w/Vintage Noiseless Pickups, CTS Mega-Ohm Pots, and a push-push switch that engages the bridge pickup in position 4 and 5. It features a translucent sapphire-blue two-piece ash body and came standard with a two-point trem, screw-in arm bent-saddles. I also own a 2019 American Professional. Only differences I can report are neck feel (12" radius on the MIM, 9.6" on the American), and fret-end finish. The MIM Deluxe developed fret sprout on many frets as winter set in and the wood dried. I fixed it easily enough, but, the sprout development, along with the less-than-perfect fret-end finish work was disappointing. Cost for the Mexican:800.00 US Dollars. Cost for the American Professional: 1700.00 US Dollars. Oh, and I think the finish on the American (which is stunning, by the way), is Nitro-Cellulose or something very thin. The MIM Strat has a poly finish on the body. Neck finishes on the two are very similar, hard to tell any difference. Hope this was informative.
When I was looking for my Strat a few years ago, I compared the MIM with the USA and the one thing that really sold me was the feel of the neck. The American Standard with maple neck has rolled edges vs. the MIM Standard, which had more of a sharp edge down the neck. Also, the coating is different. The American just felt more comfortable. Was it a good value buy? No, of course not. But, it was what felt better to me and I had the extra money to spend, and I am supporting American factory workers, even if they are Mexicans! :)
me too, i have a first gen with tex mex pickups and the edges of the frets stick out, you get used to it over the almost 30 years
Agree but I think the American strat is worth every penny even setting aside sound and personal preference and just looking at materials hardware, resale etc. It's only when you go above the US deluxe or equivalent model and start talking about spend >2k that you're into more money than brains territory.
Most Mexican Fender Strats havew an oil finished C neck,...American neck come in C, V and U,...it all depends what you like.
Touché! But, I'm sure many of them are not citizens...they are Legal Residents...and therefore...still Mexican ;-)
That white with the Rosewood was really pretty looking
The Mexican SLAYS the American one in this demo IMO.
makes me feel better about owning a Mexican strat...
Actually opposite.
The Mexican is art, the american sounds like a Squier lol
John Cox You’re just in denial for spending so much on an American strat.
@@MrDaftJustice Okay that's not true...., I rather the MIU than the MIM for the sharp sound, Even tho I´m Mexican, But rationally talking the MIM it's a way better option for the price for most players our there.... and yep, it sounds delicious haha
Hey Darrell, I used to live in Canada, between 1973 and 1984, I left and came back to Portugal when I was 17, my dad worked for an airline company ...one thing I still don't get with musicians in North America is that it seems that 80% prefer a rosewood or (now that there's a ban) a rosewood style fretboard. I love Strats it's my number one, but all my Strats have maple fretboards I guess it's the theory that rosewood makes the Strat sound warmer. Personally I never believed that it did because I had a couple of Strats with a rosewood fretboard. Cheers. Mike.
The MIM pickups are really quite good and can cover a lot of ground. If you upgrade they make fantastic replacements for lower end Strat copies or cheap partscaster builds. Mine are chillin' in a $100 flea market find. The MIM has a Duncan humbucker and some off brand vintage strat single coils (GFS maybe, got them in trade but sound good)
I prefer the mexican one!
Simone Bottino Si Señor!
I can hear the difference for sure but I got a question? 🙋♂️ Them the same strings on both guitars? I hear new strings on the American and old on the Mexican and or different.
I've had the American Deluxe and made in Mexico... The MIM instrument really quite amazed me... I highly recommend the MIM as long as you set it up correctly... Best Bang for your buck out of any electric guitar made period.
Buying my first strat today MIM thanks for the video
mexican all the way
Great DARRELL !!!
+Vito Astone Thanks Vito!
I love jamming to your tracks 😀👍
Great video. I have a Mexican Strat, and it's nice to know that it is not quite the poor relation that some would say. Coupled to a Roland amp, I get a lovely sound out of it.
That Intro was mad!! Wow!
I have a Mexican Strat I put in a bone nut and put in Kluson pups reset up the guitar and centred the trem block it’s an awesome guitar Olympic White 2001 model the neck is as good as any USA strat.
I could not justify the cost of the USA strat when a little time and effort plus under £150.00 and it’s up there with the USA.
Just think £750 more and I could say woopee do I’ve got a USA Strat
What do you mean by "centered the trem block"? I want to learn! :)
Did you name it Excalibur?
That's some sexy playing there brother. They both have their own flavours. I like the american for definition, but I do like the mim.
I aldo have to mention that a lot of these guitars are great guitars when you just set them up properly. I followed your tremolo system vid and now my guitars never go out of tune. Tha ks for the tips.
+Vegechops Glad to hear it!
+Vegechops Thanks man!
I love the tones in the MIM that said USA sounds more like the traditional Stat sound that I fell in love with as a kid via Hendrix & Blackmore
I actually preferred the timbre of the MIM - that's how a Strat is supposed to sound in my (classic rock, R&B infused) mind. I could imagine that the MIA might be better for a cleaner The Shadows type of sound, though. Thank you for making the video.
I agree with your overall appraisal: The American Standard sounds better -- but the differences are subtle, and not enough to justify paying twice as much money IMHO.
Incidentally, I'd love to see a shootout between a Classic Vibe Strat and the MIM model, and to get your thoughts on it. I've compared the two Tele models and found that they were VERY close in terms of overall quality.
I’d love to hear the Squier Deluxe against the Mexican and American. I like the way you do your comparison videos. Definitely the best I’ve seen. Cheers
+okiwatashi Thanks! I'll add it to my list ☺
I love the MIM strats. You can find them pretty cheap used and then update the pickups. DiMarzio has some great options.
I agree! The first start I owned was a Mexican Strato. Excellent. After a couple of years I got an American Standard Stratocaster, but never got used to it. I kept it for a year and a half, and traded it for some other instruments, keeping my Mexican Strato. After a while I got a second Mexican Strato, a 60th Anniversary, not as good as the Standard Mexican Strato though. Recently I got my hands on a Strato American Deluxe, and that really, really makes a difference, but only for 3 times the cost of a Mexican. Conclusion: I LOVE Mexican Strato Standard.
Why are you not in top 100 guitarist list !! Who tests a guitar like that !!! 🤣 That's beyond gorgeous guitar playing and it made me forget about the comparison
I just subscribed because of how amazing you are
+Batman Robin Thanks man!
Welcome aboard! ☺
My very first electric guitar was MIM stratocaster, I still play it every day. Great guitar.