Mexican Fenders

Neil

close2u said:

@MattFGBI

Is it still true (was it ever) that MiM bodies are more than 2 piece?

If 'depends' please elaborate on which ones etc.

And, which MiM models do / do not match the spacings of the MiA?

I'm not Matt but I doubt you will find a two piece MIM, most of the US standards are three pieces.

MIM standards were five to seven piece veneered bodies in the past not sure they are now.

GuitarMonkey

So were USA bodies in the 90s, veneered over to hide the joins.

ICBM

I'm not sure that it matters at all. Most of the sought-after vintage alder-body Fenders are at least three piece, although many 50s ash ones are two.

MattFGBI

You'll find Mexico bodies are normally 3 or 4 (more often 3) and the US ones will be 2 upwards, but again, mostly 3. 

GavRichList

My AVRI. I rather like the look of a 3 piece myself.

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff193/guitarsforminnaars/Mobile Uploads/C0BAEE11-CD71-4CE3-8858-BD43DF4A0E94.jpg

GuitarMonkey

This is supposed to be the Mexico factory in 2012 (edit) 2006.

http://markweinguitarlessons.com/forums/threads/does-it-matter-how-many-pieces-of-wood-a-guitar-body-is-made-from.22885/

Clarky

MattFGBI said:

You'll find Mexico bodies are normally 3 or 4 (more often 3) and the US ones will be 2 upwards, but again, mostly 3. 

my Strat is a 3 piece.. it's a 1978 ash USA

ICBM

GuitarMonkey said:

This is supposed to be the Mexico factory in 2012 (edit) 2006.

http://markweinguitarlessons.com/forums/threads/does-it-matter-how-many-pieces-of-wood-a-guitar-body-is-made-from.22885/

That looks more like the late 90s period, both Mexico and USA. I haven't seen enough sunburst recent ones to know whether they continued it in Mexico or not, although they definitely stopped on the US ones around 2000.

crunchman

I must add that years ago I was in a shop trying an amp and I picked a £1400 Mark Knoplfer signature Strat off the wall to try it with.  After a little while they asked me to move into another room because I was making quite a lot of noise.  I swapped the Knopfler for a Mexican Classic Player which was a much, much better sounding guitar.  It may have been all or partly down to the Texas Specials Muds that were in the Knopfler.  They are horrible pickups.  Ever since then I've had a healthy respect for the Mexican Fenders.

Also, I much prefer the Mexican Jazz bass I have now to the Fender Japan bass that I had previously.

Philly_Q

Neil said:

close2u said:

@MattFGBI

Is it still true (was it ever) that MiM bodies are more than 2 piece?

If 'depends' please elaborate on which ones etc.

And, which MiM models do / do not match the spacings of the MiA?

I'm not Matt but I doubt you will find a two piece MIM, most of the US standards are three pieces.

My MIM Robert Cray signature - sunburst - was definitely a two piece.  But they do (or did) describe that model as having a "premium" alder body.

ICBM

It does depend on the individual guitar of course.

Not long there was a second hand Eric Johnson Strat in the shop… hands down the worst modern Fender I've ever played - totally dead and toneless. They're not all like that though.

The almost identical-looking Mexican '57 reissue next to it was a far better guitar and a full thousand pounds less.

newi123

MattFGBI said:

Yes the Mexican made guitars are very good but most of that is down to the talent of the builders. On paper they shouldn't play or feel as good as they do. 

So is the official Fender line that Mexicans are more talented at building guitars than Americans? I`d always suspected as much.............. :-)

Philly_Q

ICBM said:

Not long there was a second hand Eric Johnson Strat in the shop… hands down the worst modern Fender I've ever played - totally dead and toneless. They're not all like that though.

Although we should never believe what we read on forums (   ) I've seen a lot of negative comments about the EJ signature model - mostly saying the finish on the neck is too thick and sticky (despite supposedly being a "thin skin").  Some people also seem to think the 12" radius makes it feel stiff and/or hard to play, although that seems odd to me. 

I've never tried one so I can't say.

ICBM

newi123 said:

So is the official Fender line that Mexicans are more talented at building guitars than Americans? I`d always suspected as much.............. :-)

Given that most of Leo's original workforce were Mexican immigrants, most of CBS's workforce weren't, and what Matt said, I suspect there may be a case for that deduction!

strtdv

My 2001 MIM strat has a 5 or 6 piece body, I'm not sure they even bothered to veneer the solid finish ones, I thought that was only for sunburst guitars to make them look prettier.

The other thing worth noting is that the MIM standards are poplar, not alder, which gives them a unique tone (even snappier than usual, good for funk guitar sounds)

My AVRI is a 1 piece, but that was a fluke (I think the only 1 piece ones have bodies that were destined for the custom shop but didn't make the grade for cosmetic reasons, mine has a little "worming" in the grain on the back).

Richardj

My '90 MiM Strat is poplar but I think all of the new ones are alder.

Upgrade some of the hardware and electrics and you will still spend less than a US model.

I love mine and haven't yet found any Strat (American Standard, Deluxe or Artist) that feels as good. Mind, after twenty five years it is like an old friend now. 

Philly_Q

strtdv said:

My AVRI is a 1 piece, but that was a fluke (I think the only 1 piece ones have bodies that were destined for the custom shop but didn't make the grade for cosmetic reasons, mine has a little "worming" in the grain on the back).

Even custom shop guitars rarely have one-piece bodies, usually only Masterbuilt and even then only if you specifically request it.  Or so I've been told.

shaunm

The two best fenders I have owned are a 70's classic player Strat and a 60's Classic Tele. I know these are the higher end of the MIM range but they play and sound far better than the American standards I have had.

I will concede the best fenders I have played have been custom shop and master built guitars but there is a huge amount of money between these and the MIM classic's.

For my pocket I can not justify getting a custom shop and frankly I wouldn't buy a USA standard because I feel that they do not represent enough (in my hands and to my ears any) improvement over the top end MIM guitars.

JayGee

newi123 said:

MattFGBI said:

Yes the Mexican made guitars are very good but most of that is down to the talent of the builders. On paper they shouldn't play or feel as good as they do. 

So is the official Fender line that Mexicans are more talented at building guitars than Americans? I`d always suspected as much.............. :-)

More a case of Mexicans on one side of an arbitrary line on a map versus Mexicans on the other side of the same arbitrary map. I believe that workers are issued with Mojo(tm) going North and required to check any unused back in at the border going South... ;-)

andypwudtone

Clarky said:

so it seems like a bit of a thumbs up for the Mex Fenders then…

thanks for all the comments.. I'll ping my mate and let him know..

I agree for Strat value, excellent, get one with a six screw bridge and fit one of these for £29.99 ,  http://www.wudtone.com/product/sale-item-fender-mim-bridge-upgrade/  . You really can't go wrong as you can then actually use the trem with confidence and it will stay in tune. Tim Shaw, Director in charge of guitar research, Fender MIC has had hands on with these plates, he says "works as described" . My fave MIM was a 62 re issue , even had vintage spaced bridge etc , with a tuning stable Wudtone plate and cold steel block ( bush in it to address any arm slack) ,  it was a great Strat. I regret selling it but you can't hang on to em all. was used here 

The one MIM I haven't liked was the "custom shop designed" classic player 50's , top of the MIM range with a two pivot bridge , shoreline gold, appalling to play, nut cut bad, string grabbing, dynamics and tone lacking. Largely blame the cheap version of their (lacking some  dynamic and tone anyway) two pivot post approach.  

kind regards