Members campfirehero Posted January 6, 2010 Members Share Posted January 6, 2010 I thought I read somewhere that all the fender stratocaster necks are made in the usa, but some are assembled in mexico and get the mim serial number. Is this correcto? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mr_GoodBomb Posted January 6, 2010 Members Share Posted January 6, 2010 Nope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rog951 Posted January 6, 2010 Members Share Posted January 6, 2010 Not even close. Many are made in Mexico as well as Japan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted January 6, 2010 Members Share Posted January 6, 2010 Usa, Mexico, Japan, occasionally Korea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members favata5 Posted January 7, 2010 Members Share Posted January 7, 2010 China too! and...they dont suck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DonK Posted January 7, 2010 Members Share Posted January 7, 2010 Not true, but as to the necks themselves (forgetting the frets and the nut), it hardly matters at this point, as they're all made using CNC equipment and automated finish lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Surfdude Posted January 7, 2010 Members Share Posted January 7, 2010 I had heard the US models have a double acting truss rod whereas the imports don't. Any truth to that? Surfy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members campfirehero Posted January 7, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 7, 2010 The necks are still made in the US and shipped to Mexico. They are still in a very rough condition. They will need to be finished sanded and sprayed. fender factory tour of the mexico plant http://reviews.photoweborama.com/allthingsguitar1/fendertour/guitarbody.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted January 7, 2010 Members Share Posted January 7, 2010 Does it really matter? Built here, finished here. Built here, finished there. Built there, finished there. It's all the same. Play three MIA necks and you'll likely feel difference in them. Play three MIM necks and you'll likely feel differences in them as well, but the MIAs are more consistent. If you want a neck that legally has a logo that says 'Made in U.S.A.' then buy one. If you can live with one that says 'Made In Mexico' then buy one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted January 7, 2010 Members Share Posted January 7, 2010 The necks are still made in the US and shipped to Mexico. They are still in a very rough condition. They will need to be finished sanded and sprayed. fender factory tour of the mexico planthttp://reviews.photoweborama.com/allthingsguitar1/fendertour/guitarbody.html That's old. Mexico makes their own necks now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Busk Posted January 7, 2010 Members Share Posted January 7, 2010 Mexico is cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crisco Posted January 7, 2010 Members Share Posted January 7, 2010 Does it really matter? Built here, finished here. Built here, finished there. Built there, finished there. It's all the same. Play three MIA necks and you'll likely feel difference in them. Play three MIM necks and you'll likely feel differences in them as well, but the MIAs are more consistent. If you want a neck that legally has a logo that says 'Made in U.S.A.' then buy one. If you can live with one that says 'Made In Mexico' then buy one. What if I lived in Mexico and bought a Mexican strat? Does that make me able to say 'mine is best ...from my country?.USA? That's import'....hmmmm:bor: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted January 7, 2010 Members Share Posted January 7, 2010 What if I lived in Mexico and bought a Mexican strat? Does that make me able to say 'mine is best ...from my country?.USA? That's import'....hmmmm:bor: Heck yeah. I'm thinking of moving to Mexico just so I can buy a $400 domestic strat. Just think how many domestic guitars you could have if you lived in China... and had an external source of income. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rubix^3 Posted January 7, 2010 Members Share Posted January 7, 2010 This is the only thing I have ever found to be even somewhat official. I found this on a forum dated in 2005. It seems like people are continually asking whether they should by Fender Mexican Strats or Teles and what the differences are from the American guitars. As I have had a lot of sucess myself using Fender Mexican guitars and only replacing the electronics, I highly recommend this route for anyone looking for a quality, but inexpensive guitar. Here is some information about American & Mexican Fender guitars that I posted previously... In an interview I read the head of Fender said something similar about the quality of the Mexican guitars. Not all the parts are made in America, but their site says "Fender® Mexico guitars and amplifiers are made using many U.S. components, again maintaining the highest standards..." Here is a list of differences I found on the Fender Europe site: Standard Series (Mexico)Body: 5 to 7-piece alder with maple or birch veneer. Sunburst models have maple veneer Note: due to periodic material availability issues, alder cores are sometimes used American Series (U.S)Body: Current specs: 3-piece alder for solid colours and 3-tone sunburst. White blonde and natural are 2 or 3-piece ash (Non-Veneered) Standard SeriesBody Routing: 1-humbucking, 2-single coilAmerican SeriesBody Routing: Current specs: 3-cavity universal rout(hum/sing/hum). Older models have the "swimming pool" rout Standard SeriesBody Finish: Polyester (finished in Mexico)American SeriesBody Finish: Polyurethane (finished in USA) Standard SeriesNeck: 1-piece maple milled in the Corona plantAmerican SeriesNeck: 1-piece maple milled in the Corona plant Standard SeriesTruss Rod: Standard headstock adjust (single rod).Relies on string tension for concave adjustmentAmerican SeriesTruss Rod: Bi-Flex headstock adjust. Allows for true concave and convex adjustment Standard SeriesNeck Finish: PolyurethaneAmerican SeriesNeck Finish: Polyurethane Standard SeriesFrets: 21 standard frets (small)American SeriesFrets: 22 highly detailed Medium Jumbo frets Standard SeriesMachine Heads: Imported cast/sealedAmerican SeriesMachine Heads: Fender/Schaller cast/sealed Standard SeriesLogo: Silver transition logoAmerican SeriesLogo: Vintage spaghetti logo Standard SeriesString Tree: 1-standard butterflyAmerican SeriesString Tree: 1-hardened steel "Easy Glider." Reduces friction thus improving tuning stability. Standard SeriesNeck Attachment: Standard 4-boltAmerican SeriesNeck Attachment: 4-bolt "Micro-Tilt." Allows instant string "action" adjustments Standard SeriesPickups: MIM standard single coils with slug pole-pieces and ceramic magnet on bottom of coil. Mid pickup is reverse wound/reverse polarity Pickups:American SeriesPickups: MIA single coils with alnico magnets. Middle pickup is reverse wound/reverse polarity Standard SeriesElectronics: CTS Pots, Grigsby switchAmerican SeriesElectronics: CTS Pots, Grigsby switch Standard SeriesWiring: Original (no tone control for bridge pickup)American SeriesWiring: "No Load" tone control on Bridge & Mid pickup. Standard 250k tone control (neck pickup) Standard SeriesBridge: Imported standard Synchronized tremolo. 6-mounting screws; stamped saddlesAmerican SeriesBridge: MIA 2-Point Synchronized tremolo –mounting screws; hardened stainless steel saddles. Standard SeriesStrap Buttons: Vintage styleAmerican SeriesStrap Buttons: Schaller straplock ready (straplocks & embroidered strap included) Standard SeriesCase: Optional SKB molded case (guitar can be ordered with case)American SeriesCase: SKB standard molded case Standard SeriesAssembly/Tune/Test: MexicoAmerican SeriesAssembly/Tune/Test: U.S.A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Surfdude Posted January 7, 2010 Members Share Posted January 7, 2010 Thank you Rubix. That was very informative. There really is a difference. Are all the differences all that important? Probably not but most of us have our preferences and knowing what the exact differences are, it makes the instrument easier to modify. I recently swapped out the pickups on my MIM Fender P-bass for the "real" Fender American made ones. Did not notice a bit of difference and the MIM bass has perfect intonation all the way up the neck and stays in tune for weeks at a time. For $400 new, I got a keeper. There would be no sense in me even looking at an $1100 MIA P-bass. Surfy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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