Members Smokin' Joe Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 The only real differences in the MIM and MIA standards are the pick-ups and the tremlo. Take the PUPs and TREMLO off a MIA and install them in your MIM and get a pro setup... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Undertaker4 Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 I own a MIA strat, a Squier Japan strat (which I've replaced the neck with a Warmoth), and a California strat. I've replaced the pickups on 2 of the 3 and am working on replacing the third. I've also played my brother in law's MIM extensively. My next strat will be a partscaster with a Warmoth neck and third party pickups. So I'd say neither. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 CS>MIA>CIJ>MIM>MIK>MIC>MII(Indonesia) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drunkinminer Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 I don't think it matters as long as you like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members KidEh Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 My MIM neck is the best Ive played, the pups aren't very good though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kadrocker Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 I've had both- a 94 MIA strat and an 05 MIM strat. Like I said I had both and sold the MIA! I LOVE my MIM strat. Sounds good, looks good. Neck is perfect. Never had a problem with the electronics. I've been told I have a gem of a MIM from friends who have played it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Help!I'maRock! Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 i go with the guitar that feels the best. if that means MIM, then fine. i have no problem changing pickups and hardware to my taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BIGD Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 The neck on my MIM with rosewood is really not any worse than the American deluxe I sent back to MF. The rosewood was shinier, the finish is nicer on the dlx, but it doesn't play any better really..until you get up near the 18th fret or so, where there is an obvious fret that needs to be dressed down. This is where you are saving money on the MIM. The American deluxe, besides all the fancy upgrades, has a perfect fret job and flawless finish. But I'll tell you, I don't think it really sounded better than the MIM..I actually found the noiseless pickups on the deluxe to be uninspiring and lifeless, and acoustically I couldn't tell a difference between the 2 guitars...I paid $899 for one, and $299 for the other, and the normal sale prices are even further apart. You can put all the upgrades on the MIM and get a fret level for way less than you'd pay for the Am dlx.I think that with Maple fretboards, there is a wider disparity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bro Blue Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 MIMs - I hate the two point bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BIGD Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 MIMs - I hate the two point bridge.What is it that people don't like about the 2 point bridge? Tone? Tuning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Goofball Jones Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 I got a MiM Strat...it's wonderful as far as I'm concerned. Though I mainly bought it for a mod foundation. So I changed a few things from the stock. Planet Waves locking tuners, put on a bone nut, blocked the trem, totally replaced the pick-ups and all the electronics with a pre-assembled pickguard...wasn't totally expensive but all told I got a guitar that blows away a stock American Strat (for me at least) for about $650 bucks. Sure, wouldn't get that in a resale, but I don't resell my gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twotimingpete Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 my CIJ jaguar is godlike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members notcool Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 MIM for the price. I've owned both, and I've found that one doesn't play any better than the other. Nicer wood in the MIA, but that's about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Yogi_Sizzle Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 Well I don't own a MIM at the moment, just MIAs and MIC, but my preference is for which guitar plays the nicest. I played a MIM 60s classic yesterday at Best Buy and it was amazing. And at 500 something I might go back and get it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brian May Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 The MIA is 3 pieces of alder, the MIM is easily 7+ pieces. I seriously doubt that..maybe on a Squier perhaps..i think Mexican Fenders are lower grade wood and have upto 5 pieces in a spread were USA use upto 3 pieces to a spread.My own view on things as someone that currently owns 4 USA Strats, has owned a few more over the years as well as 2 USA Tele's is one mindset that is actually changing. Before the Classic Player series I was adamant I wouldn't go lower than a USA Standard...now after playing the 60's Classic Player Strats I can honestly say I'd happily own one of those. Reasons for my USA preferences....Better fit and finish. better woods/fewer blocks to a spread (spreads are what Fender call the blocks they glue together to get enough size to route a body)I prefer the pickups usually on the USA Strats/Teles as the Mex ones are usually ceramic and a bit hotter/harsher.Prefer the bridges on USA Fenders.Hardcase included...which if you get a mex is an extra expense to add to equalise them in a comparison!!1 extra fret! Thats like 1 note higher x 6 ie 1 note higher per string! How spinal tap is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Yogi_Sizzle Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 I seriously doubt that..maybe on a Squier perhaps..i think Mexican Fenders are lower grade wood and have upto 5 pieces in a spread were USA use upto 3 pieces to a spread. Some of the older MIMs were made out of as much as 5-7 pieces, but now a days most are 3 pieces. Most Alder bodied Squiers are 2-3 pieces these days too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members snake eyes Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 I have a mia standard and a mim standard with Lindy Fralin pickups. The mia stays in it's case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HarpBoy Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 Don't own either but played a bunch helping a friend look. The obvious difference to me was the necks. The MIA nearly always felt much nicer. There was the odd mexican that felt better than the odd USA but that was rare. And to me there is nothing trivial about the feel of a neck. In my opinion it's probably one of the most important things along with resonance.It's interesting that you say this because I believe, per a recent article done by a guy who'd just toured the Mexican plants, the necks for the MIMs are, in fact, made in the states and sent down.Hmmm..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drunkinminer Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 It's interesting that you say this because I believe, per a recent article done by a guy who'd just toured the Mexican plants, the necks for the MIMs are, in fact, made in the states and sent down. Hmmm..... That's true and so are the bodies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Head Creeps Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 MIA, the difference is unbelieveable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members germs Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 OP, maybe this has been covered already, but what's the perspective?For the part-timer who plays in bars/clubs, dragging out a $1K+ guitar is sort of dicey...I don't do it personally. I'm bringing MIM and Squier. With minimal upgrades, say $200 (or the price of a REALLY nice pickup set) you can get a great player piece. Probably wouldn't win any awards, but it'll be solid and dependable - and that's what's important for regular gigging.I can recognize the MIA's are superior on just about every level out of the box. BUT I don't need to spend that kind of money to get a good guitar. It's that simple for me.So I prefer the MIM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bro Blue Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 What is it that people don't like about the 2 point bridge? Tone? Tuning?I can't explain it. They just don't feel right to me. I don't use the trem, which may have something to do with it, and the six screw just feels better to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lechip Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 i got an American Deluxe HSS right before the price went up. it's just awesome - I'm loving it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Help!I'maRock! Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 MIA, the difference is unbelieveable!you're right, i don't believe it. because its not necessarily true. the best value in the whole line are the MIM Classic and Deluxe series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dangordan Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 That's true and so are the bodies.Someone @Fender told me that the MIM neck and bodies are made in the States, then take a short trip over the border for painting and assembly. I own 1 MIA Strat, 1 MIA Tele, 1 MIM, Strat, 1 MIM Tele. I change pups and do other mods on all. Slight preference for MIA neck. The similarities far outweigh differences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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