Fender - Mexican v American Strats?

Fuengi

What, in everyone's opinions, are the differences in quality between the different versions of the standard Strat coming out of Mexico and America over the last, say 10 - 15 years?

Is there a big difference in finishing levels or is it just the hardware, paint and wood?

kswilson89

The American strats/teles tend to have rolled fingerboard edges which is a big plus for me over their Mexican counterpart. But overall I'd say the Mexican fender quality is right up their with the American stuff, it depends on the individual guitar really.

ICBM

My opinion is that there's very little in it in terms of quality, but the guitars are quite different. The US ones are a more modern spec - they seem a bit more heavily-engineered, have a lot of updated features, and look, feel and sound more 'chunky'. The Mex ones are closer to a vintage Fender in many ways - more basic spec, simpler features, not quite as glossy a look, and a more wiry 'classic Fender' feel and sound.

Gerz6558

I'm in a similar quandary. The Mexican player series are described as being almost as good as the old american standard strats, using many of the same tooling and components.

But there's always that ridiculous pull of the "real deal". Doesn't make any sense financially, but you know how it is.

Had a classic player 50's strat and it really was excellent. Better than the American standard I had a few years prior. 

polotska

Just echoing what’s been said—for me, the difference seems to be mostly how Fender specs the USA vs. Mexican models, rather than where they’re made; the quality seems very close for the most part.

I’m curious to know the percentages of national content for both lines.

CountryDave

I’ve a Mex Classic body in Candy Apple Red that is for a build project.
I can’t see how the finish could be any better just by being sprayed a few hundred miles North.

Jez6345789

I have not looked to closely at the latest round but 4 or 5 piece bodies used to be one key difference, also pickups.

I think the recent Andertons comparison video on the lowest price Squire Bullet v a modded pimped up Bullet and MIM.

to save you having to listen to a whole heap verbal blokeyness the simple conclusion was the low rent standard Bullet was far and away the most Strat like in sound.

My personal view is once I am spending above Squire money just shop around for the parts I like to get a bespoke parts-caster put some work in and easily get a lot more bang for my buck

TINMAN82

Jez6345789 said:

I have not looked to closely at the latest round but 4 or 5 piece bodies used to be one key difference, also pickups.

I think the recent Andertons comparison video on the lowest price Squire Bullet v a modded pimped up Bullet and MIM.

to save you having to listen to a whole heap verbal blokeyness the simple conclusion was the low rent standard Bullet was far and away the most Strat like in sound.

My personal view is once I am spending above Squire money just shop around for the parts I like to get a bespoke parts-caster put some work in and easily get a lot more bang for my buck

Unless you eventually want to sell it, in which case you might be better dismantling it first. My own experience of building a partscaster was that it became a money pit and I was no happier with the final product than with a well chosen off the shelf model.

Nikc

I have MIM standard tele it really is excellent it has had a decent setup and a replacement bridge pup but that wasn't a necessity just a want. It simply a great guitar

If was looking for something new right now I'd be drawn to the vintera range regardless of the silly name

Jez6345789

TINMAN82 said:

Jez6345789 said:

I have not looked to closely at the latest round but 4 or 5 piece bodies used to be one key difference, also pickups.

I think the recent Andertons comparison video on the lowest price Squire Bullet v a modded pimped up Bullet and MIM.

to save you having to listen to a whole heap verbal blokeyness the simple conclusion was the low rent standard Bullet was far and away the most Strat like in sound.

My personal view is once I am spending above Squire money just shop around for the parts I like to get a bespoke parts-caster put some work in and easily get a lot more bang for my buck

Unless you eventually want to sell it, in which case you might be better dismantling it first. My own experience of building a partscaster was that it became a money pit and I was no happier with the final product than with a well chosen off the shelf model.

Yes totally agree you have to split the parts to get the value back but I felt with the ones i have done I put a lot of time in to the finish details and playability neck and fret feel, you are not going to get that on a Mexican or US standard you are into Custom shop..

The last neck I did for my best friends 60th birthday present he  still raves about the neck feel on that guitar it’s a lot of time burnishing and hand rubbing all aspects of the neck to give a played in not relic context to neck feel. Same with body contours and edges. 

But it’s a big time commitment probably 20 hrs on the neck feel.

that said if you find a Fender you like then go for it just how I like to spend my Fender budget.

merciful-evans

I haven't owned a Fender for 20+ years but have played a few nevertheless. I recall being impressed by the American Elite Tele, but thought the finishing was 'rough'. It wouldnt have stopped me buying it (it was the string spacing that stopped me buying it).

Mexican models seem on a par to USA to me.
All of them are superior to the early 70s Fender Strat I used for 25 years. 

Bluebeard

I have a Mexican Standard Tele and an American Standard Strat and I would say that American made one is the better guitar but I feel more attached to the Tele and play it just as much.

crunchman

For me, the only non Custom shop Fenders that I would prefer to the Mexican Classic Series are the American Original, or the AVRIs they replaced.

I much prefer the Classic Series to the American Standards, as they have vintage style bridges and vintage output pickups.

Historically, there have been 3 different Mexican ranges, so they are not all the same.  I prefer the Classic Series to the Classic Player as the Classic Player has the "modern" features that I don't like.  The Standard Series is cheaper and has a few corners cut.  I think the older ones had ceramic magnet pickups.  They don't sound nearly as good without a pickup change.  The newer Standard Series does have alnico magnets in the pickups, and is better.

I'm not entirely up to speed on the latest ranges.  The Vintera (what a stupid name) has replaced the Classic and Classic Player.

midlifecrisis

mexican fenders.....built and assembled by mexicans in mexico,  american fenders.......built and assembled by mexicans in america......... chinese fenders....built and assembled by mexicans in china.

Fuengi

Interesting answers. 

I own a 2008 Mexican Standard Strat which I have modified and really like a lot. I've also got a Chinese Mustang which feels and looks very much like the Japanese Fenders I've tried, the necks seem to have a certain feel to them and the chrome hardware is a particular colour.

If I was to look for another Strat I'd start with a Mexican one based the response to this thread and my own experience.

 

crunchman

Fuengi said:

Interesting answers. 

I own a 2008 Mexican Standard Strat which I have modified and really like a lot. I've also got a Chinese Mustang which feels and looks very much like the Japanese Fenders I've tried, the necks seem to have a certain feel to them and the chrome hardware is a particular colour.

If I was to look for another Strat I'd start with a Mexican one based the response to this thread and my own experience.

 

Of course, you could go on TGP and get a lot of "Murica is best" answers.

Fuengi

crunchman said:

Fuengi said:

Interesting answers. 

I own a 2008 Mexican Standard Strat which I have modified and really like a lot. I've also got a Chinese Mustang which feels and looks very much like the Japanese Fenders I've tried, the necks seem to have a certain feel to them and the chrome hardware is a particular colour.

If I was to look for another Strat I'd start with a Mexican one based the response to this thread and my own experience.

 

Of course, you could go on TGP and get a lot of "Murica is best" answers.

I'll do that if I buy American and want to confirm my own bias. 

MagicPigDetective

When I decided to get a Strat about 3 years ago, I just had to get an American one... my American Standard has Fat 50's pickups, a set is worth almost £200, making a pick up change less pressing, surely this adds some worth to an US strat over a mexican? To be fair I haven't tried many Mexican strats, but the neck on my strat is wonderfully rolled and super comfortable. Or maybe I've fallen for the Fender marketing!  

chris78

Fuengi said:

Is there a big difference in finishing levels or is it just the hardware, paint and wood?

Just wood? You can change everything else on a guitar and on a fender you can change the wood, but it’s a more expensive upgrade to quality wood than decent pickups and hardware.
Im not saying the us wood is better, but I believe its less pieces. Most of the Mexican stuff I’ve had has been 4 or more pieces of wood

Fuengi

chris78 said:

Fuengi said:

Is there a big difference in finishing levels or is it just the hardware, paint and wood?

Just wood? You can change everything else on a guitar and on a fender you can change the wood, but it’s a more expensive upgrade to quality wood than decent pickups and hardware.
Im not saying the us wood is better, but I believe its less pieces. Most of the Mexican stuff I’ve had has been 4 or more pieces of wood

My Mexican Standard Strat is (lucky) 7 pieces. My Chinese Mustang is three. 

ICBM

chris78 said:

Im not saying the us wood is better, but I believe its less pieces. Most of the Mexican stuff I’ve had has been 4 or more pieces of wood

The American Standards used to be made of what was essentially blockboard! Up to about eight pieces, with veneers both sides.

OK, they did go back to more traditional - usually three-piece - construction in about 2000.