Author Topic: What are Mexican Fenders Like? (Read 10013 times)

Elliot · « **on:** October 11, 2005, 10:57:22 PM »

Anyone played Mexican classic strats? What they like for the ££££? Are they better than my 1983 Squier JV rw board '62? Better than Highway 1s?

RULES OF REPLY

No Harmony Central style - 'Mexicans are cr@p because they are not made in America, get a Custom Shop, Tom Anderson, £1500' type replies - the quids dont stretch that far :)

No Strats are cr@p get a Les Paul type replies - I dont want a humbucker and I dont want high gain. I want a strat with all its thin tone and other things you Gibson boys dont like.

Honest appraisals are, of course, welcome!

big steve · « **Reply #1 on:** October 11, 2005, 11:08:56 PM »

i can't make a comparison, (or indeed a very relecant or useful reply :lol: ) but i can say that i played a friend's mex tele and it had a solid, well-made feel to it (IMO). pickups weren't bad, but i doubt you'll be keeping those anyway.

i've heard 80's squiers are legendary though, i would hold on to it.

indysmith · « **Reply #2 on:** October 11, 2005, 11:14:24 PM »

i never heard anything about 80s squiers being good... learn something new every day. I've played a highway1. and it ROCKS for the money (needs pickup upgrade obv.). I prefer the finishes on the highway 1s aswell. Never tried mex. strats, but everyone i've spoke to them about seems to hate them... I'm sure thats a load of use to you, lol...sorry...

38thBeatle · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2005, 12:41:21 AM »

I have a Mex Tele and it is basically a nice guitar and is certainly well put together and so I have no reason to doubt that the Strats are pretty good too.Not quite the reply you wanted but best I can do.

Bob Johnson · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2005, 09:18:34 AM »

One of the guitar players in our band has a mex Strat and it's by far the cheapest guitar he owns. He really likes it now that I've put in a few hours assembling it correctly and setting it up. The bits are mainly ok but I had to fit new saddles 'cos the thread quit in a number of the originals. The other main prob was that the neck screw holes in the body weren't large enough so the neck wasn't clamped to the body properly but I've seen that on a US Fender Custom shop Strat.
I know that this is not neccessarily typical of all Mex Strats but I thought it was worth a mention.

HJM · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2005, 09:20:41 AM »

I'd be tempted to look into the grey import Jap reissues coming in through Music Ground and others 8)

Jp. · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2005, 11:16:47 AM »

OK here goes. I am an absolute Fender nut so.....

There is nothing wrong with the Mexican model Strats and Tele's. There the sort of instrument that for the newcomer to the music world will really get along well with.

After a while ( and experience) most people will tend to want to upgrade the saddles, tuners and pickups. Once done the only thing left to do is have the guitar setup properly. After that to anyone who isnt a Label Snob you'll have a great guitar.

Do have a look at some of the Made In Japan strats as they are easily the equall to if not better than the Mexican models. If you want a short history lesson I can explain where the '80s Squire reputation came from, most people arent interested.

Anyway If you look at some of the more expensive Mexican models then your basically into the Highway 1 Strat territory and to be honest they are a good instument but the pickups are a bit sad really. Other than that the paint is made intentionally thin and does crack and sctratch very easily. Its part of the charm of the instrument so if you get one dont come within a thousand miles of me complaining. YOU'VE BEEN TOLD.

Hope that helps. If you have any further questions feel free to ask.

Bob Johnson · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2005, 12:07:14 PM »

Quote from: Jp.

OK here goes. I am an absolute Fender nut so.....

We all have our cross to bear JP

Ratrod · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2005, 12:35:10 PM »

I used to have a MIM Tele Deluxe. Excellent value for money. Good materials, well built etc. I don't see why I should buy a USA Fender instead.

Skybone · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2005, 01:09:02 PM »

I've got a Mexican Fender Jazz Bass, and I think it's great. The pickups are really good (though maybe some BKP Jazz pickups at some point...?) sound quality and playability are the reasons I picked it over quite a few other makes & models.

Build quality wise, there is one slight fault at the join between the chrome control plate and the plastic scratch plate, there's a noticable gap of about 3mm on one side, but as it plays and sounds great, I can overlook it.

Elliot · « **Reply #10 on:** October 12, 2005, 02:16:44 PM »

Thanks guys your comments have all been helpful - Its just that I want a Surf Green maple board that says Fender on it for not a lot of cash. I figured that the pups and bits would have to be upgraded, but that is the nature of anything from Fender.

Also thanks for being restrained and not going on about geetars in a completely different price range.

As to Squier JVs - JP tell me the story!

The amazing Phil · « **Reply #11 on:** October 12, 2005, 05:00:27 PM »

I'd say go for it, but play a few before you buy. I've played some mexican fenders that felt merely average, but I played a mexican Powerhouse Strat that felt like it should have cost two or three times as much, of course it didn't quite sound as good as it felt, but if I'd have had the money I'd have bought it there and then, I really fell for that strat. :(

Gary · « **Reply #12 on:** October 12, 2005, 06:57:02 PM »

I played a few different models when looking for my strat. Sound wise there's very little in it. In the end I went for a US Strat based on the quality of the hardware, the finish, the frets and the fact that it came with a hard case. The main difference at the time between that and the highway 1 was the paint finish - if I had the chance again I might have chosen one of those. It's definitely worth trying a few out unplugged, even of the same model I found quite a variety in sound and playability.

Joe Dorcia · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2005, 12:19:26 AM »

For MEx Strat Appraisals:

I Part Exed my Gordon Smith GS-2 Deluxe and then payed £50 for a Mex Strat, second hand, and all i have changed is the pups (Apaches) and setup (including changing the springs so i dont have a trem as i never use it). I love it and play it more than my american strat. Shame its a little on the light side. Still groovey though

lulusg · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2005, 01:54:01 AM »

I bought a MIM strat for my son and a 50th anniv. for me, of course no comparison here. Then one day we decided to mess with the MIM strat. I bought the Trilogy pickups, and send the guitar to a shop in Ky. where they change the pots and capacitors, also the 5 way switch for a better quality one, the technicien. set it up properly. We played on a Twin reverb 65' both guitars for a long time and for days, we could not believe how great it sounded. I had promised never to touch the 50th anniversary, but I had to change the pickups which I did for the Apaches, I thought about taking the Trilogies of the MIM strat, but my son sleeps with his guitar and will not let me touch it. :)