Tour The Fender Mexico Factory

[Torchy]

Apologies if you've all seen this but I just saw it ...

http://www.allthingsstrat.com/2004%20reviews/Fender%20Tour/1.html

[EdJ]

Wow,that is a clean factory!
I have visited luthiers who work on their own in a much dirtier enviroment.
Although it seems a drag to work with a dustmask all day it of course is a wise thing to do.

[Paul Marossy]

That was very interesting. Thanks for sharing that with us.  

[vanhansen]

Very cool.  I've always believed the MIM's where good guitars.  Thanks for sharing that with us.

[jimbob]

Thanks! I wanna buy a mex strat now!

[travissk]

Thanks! I wanna buy a mex strat now!

Yes, yes you do  

I play my MIM Strat the most; just make sure you can play a few and pick the one that's best for you, because they tend to vary quite a bit. I was lucky enough to stumble onto an incredible one. My only gripe is that it only has 21 frets.

[Mark F]

Wow, cool tour. I've got a newfound respect for MIM Strats!

[Peter Snowberg]

VERY cool! Thanks for posting it Torchy!

That's a great looking factory floor!

A few years ago a friend went to buy a Strat for his son. He played over 50 of them including American, Japanese, and Mexican units and one of the Mexican guitars really stood out for it's tone. What a sweet guitar that thing is!

[Torchy]

Ta ... I was looking for background while trying to decide between a MIM strat and a second hand Jap VR strat. The MIM was actually cheaper but played way better  :?:
Now I know why  :lol:


BTW - any one else like the "Splatocaster"  

[Paul Marossy]

I have a Japanese made Strat from the mid 90's. Workmanship is top notch and it has a lot of different tones, too. Haven't really played any MIM Fenders...

[vanhansen]

I've played several MIM strats when I worked in a music shop (not GC) and really liked them.  Our Fender rep told me that they were basically vintage spec strats before the American Standard came out.  I own an American Standard (1994 model) and love it.  Of course I moded it with a Little '59er in the bridge (coil tap switch added) and a Custom Flat (SSL-6) in the bridge.  I left the middle pickup stock.  Plays and sounds great.

If I was to get another strat, I would look at a Mexi model and throw some Texas Specials in it.

[jmusser]

I played several Strats before I got my Mexican Strat. The American made, and the Mexican made. When I made my decision, it was based souly on tone and playability, and not sticker price. This store had all the prices on the back of the head stock, and when I made my choice, I turned it over, and it was the Mexican Strat! I guess it's what ever winds your watch really. Do you buy a Harley because it say "Harley" or a Honda that is shaft drive, more dependable, not as loud, and an all around smoother ride, that is a third the cost of a Harley? I personally have never cared if it said "Ed's Plank" on the head stock, as long as it performs.

[phillip]

Bah...they skipped the Telecaster!  I find the Tele a much better fit

Phillip

[Torchy]

Bah...they skipped the Telecaster!  I find the Tele a much better fit

Phillip

http://www.allthingsstrat.com/2004%20reviews/Fender%20Tour/guitarfinal.html

Check out the Johnny Hallyday guitar - looks like a Tele to me  :wink:

[strungout]

yup yup, interesting, thnx for the share!

[b_rogers]

in 91-92 i worked at a florida music store that carried all the good lines...Fender,Ibanez,Martin,Marshall,Peavey,Gibson...etc.
the fender rep was showing my boss the sample of the MIM strat and he handed me the black/rosewood strat and asked my opinion of it..
after i had done the obligatory 3 minute SRV wank  i told him i thought the pu's sucked but otherwise it was a nice guitar. he said hang on...
came back in the store with another identical looking strat and said try this one..it had a dimarzio stacked bucker in the bridge, and played like BUTTER. it has a thin neck kinda like a ibanez but not that extreme. i tried to buy it on the spot..he said he couldnt sell it until he had showed it around some more, but when he came for our order for x-mas he would bring it back for me..dealer cost plus 10 percent. they were retailing for 399.00 back then so i got the guitar for $165!!!! (most music stores get 50%+10%off retail as dealer price, at least in the 90's..)

best playing guitar i have ever even touched..

i seem to remeber him saying that they were assembled in mexico out of usa body blems and farmed out parts in the beginning until the factory was 100% operational.

no other mexi strat feels the same as this one...i love it. she is in jail right now.sniff. :cry:      i miss her.
:cry:

[nofretsplz]

Dang, that place is clean! I just got a '95 MIM Tele special, and it sounds amazing. :mrgreen:

James

[casey]

i bought a mexican tele a while back....i love it.
one of the most roundest and even sounding guitars ive ever played.
quality is top knotch too.