DB Cooper Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 I know this is a Gibson forum, but I'm not a member in any Fender forums...and we all love guitars here, anyway... OK...I have an opportunity to pick up a MIM Fender Strat for $200. Haven't looked at it yet, will do so tomorrow. I'm not really in the market for a Strat, and when I am I'm pretty sure I'll got with a USA Strat. But if this is a decent guitar I am considering picking it up for my son. Is $200 a decent price? I know there are a lot of variables - just looking for generalizations here. What should I look for? THANKS! ~DB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SG FAN Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 If it's nice, I say 200 is a fair price. (LOL, that rhymed:)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 If it's in good shape then $200 is a good price. I'd look for fret wear, I'd go through all the pickup positions and play with the pots, use all ofthe tuners to see if there's a bum key, etc. Just play it and look it over carefully and you should be fine. My friend bought an MIM Strat for $250 and it plays like **** because the frets are trashed. He didn't notice in the store... So look at the frets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tartanbeastie Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Thats a big hell yeah.. i'm not really a strat person but my telecaster is MIM and I was living in scotland when i bought it. I saw it advertised online for a decent price and decided to take a punt on it. I bought it unseen, other than one picture, and unplayed, it was shipped from america to scotland and then when i relocated to canada i shipped it over here too. I love my tele and refuse to part with it. Its remarkably well made and sounds great. If you can get it and its in good condition for that price.. go for it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 I like MIM Telecasters better than MIM Stratocasters and I am not even a Tele guy, Having said that $200 is a great price for a MIM Strat, I'd go for it. I would be careful that you are getting a MIM guitar and not just the neck, make sure the rest of the guitar is not a Squier or something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surveyor Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 I have both a MiM Tele & Strat. Both are good guitars. Had to file the fret ends on the Strat, picked it up for a song at one of the local stores. Check it out well and if you like the guitar, go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 I have both a MiM Tele & Strat. Both are good guitars. Had to file the fret ends on the Strat, picked it up for a song at one of the local stores. Check it out well and if you like the guitar, go for it. Like Surveyor, I too have a MIM Strat and Tele.....All of the above is correct and good info.....Yes, $200.00 is a good deal.....Great Strats..They aren't dumbed down Squires, which aren't bad either, but a Squire Strat is not a Fender Strat.......MIM Strats and Teles are top notch.....Some players even prefer them over American Strats..............Yes, get it........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingarmadillo Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Up until about 2005 or so all the neck and body blanks were made in the USA then shipped to Mexico for sanding, finishing and final assembly. If it's an older one it's mostly American made anyhow. They're nice guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenced Fred Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 200 is a good price if its in good condition. By me, most MIM strats are around 250-300 so yeah I'd say go for it. I love the necks on the MIMs, just want rosewood... Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB Cooper Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 I like MIM Telecasters better than MIM Stratocasters and I am not even a Tele guy, Having said that $200 is a great price for a MIM Strat, I'd go for it. I would be careful that you are getting a MIM guitar and not just the neck, make sure the rest of the guitar is not a Squier or something else. Just exactly how would I go about verifying the origin of the body? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayer_shabetay Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Excuse my ignorance, but what is a MIM? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tartanbeastie Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Excuse my ignorance, but what is a MIM? Made In Mexico Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayer_shabetay Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Made In Mexico got it THX!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Just exactly how would I go about verifying the origin of the body? Good question. I just looked all over my MIM Strat for any kind of #'s, markings, etc. but nada. As others have said though, $200 is a fair price, depending on condition. I think they're $500 new these days. Good guitar for the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Yes buy it. That is of course if it has what your looking for. Neck preference and color sometimes come into play for some. I've owned several and the only problem I ever incurred was some sharp frets that needed rolled slightly. Sold my mim Tele to help pay for my 52 AVRI Tele and my mim Strat to fund my Ric 330 purchase. Got what I had payed for them too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB Cooper Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 Yes buy it. That is of course if it has what your looking for. Neck preference and color sometimes come into play for some. I've owned several and the only problem I ever incurred was some sharp frets that needed rolled slightly. Sold my mim Tele to help pay for my 52 AVRI Tele and my mim Strat to fund my Ric 330 purchase. Got what I had payed for them too. That's a good point - it has to be decent or I won't buy, and it has to be appealing. Keep in mind this is most likely going to be for my 14 year old son - who just started playing acoustic a month ago. Should be good for him. There are no pictures posted on CL, but it turns out I kind of know the kid - he's a former colleague's grandson (~20). Original owner. It's red, has custom humbuckers and custom tuning knobs. That's all I know for now. He needs the money for school (so he says). I'm checking it out tomorrow. If it's decent, I'll buy it, knowing that I can most likely get my $200 back out of it if I want to. Thanks ALL for all the advice. ~DB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MojoRedFoot Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Heck yes, it is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB Cooper Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share Posted January 18, 2011 Well - I went and looked at the Strat - nice! Here's what I got for $200... >Fender Stratocaster >Made in Mexico >1995 >SN: MN5XXXXX >Red finish (Fiesta Red? ...bright red, regardless) >3 pick-ups - two single coils and a DiMarzio bridge humbucker (twin blade type?) >Sperzel USA locking machine heads >Schaller straplock buttons >Rosewood fretboard >White pick guard -body and neck are in pristine condition -finish is flawless except one almost imperceptible finish scratch ~1cm long, just above the pick guard, only visible in the right light -plays nice, although action is just a bit high - would benefit from a good set-up -missing the plastic cap to the selector switch -missing the tremelo arm -no case or gig bag included $200 for the guitar. I felt like this was a fair price, so I didn't offer less. I'm real happy with it so far. Rock on! ~DB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingarmadillo Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Well - I went and looked at the Strat - nice! Here's what I got for $200... >Fender Stratocaster >Made in Mexico >1995 >SN: MN5XXXXX >Red finish (Fiesta Red? ...bright red, regardless) >3 pick-ups - two single coils and a DiMarzio bridge humbucker (twin blade type?) >Sperzel USA locking machine heads >Schaller straplock buttons >Rosewood fretboard >White pick guard -body and neck are in pristine condition -finish is flawless except one almost imperceptible finish scratch ~1cm long, just above the pick guard, only visible in the right light -plays nice, although action is just a bit high - would benefit from a good set-up -missing the plastic cap to the selector switch -missing the tremelo arm -no case or gig bag included $200 for the guitar. I felt like this was a fair price, so I didn't offer less. I'm real happy with it so far. Rock on! ~DB Nice - The color (if it's not metallic) is Torino Red. The 1994-96 MIMs are considered some of the best - the bodies and necks were cut in Cali then shipped to Ensenada for finishing and assembly. You should be able to find the cap for the switch at just about any guitar store that carries Fender- same for the trem arm if you want one - Fender has two different arms - one that threads in and one that just pops in - yours is probably the thread in type. If you go to the Fender site you can download a setup guide. BTW, with the locking tuners Fender recommends that you tune DOWN not up to pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tman Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Well - I went and looked at the Strat - nice! Here's what I got for $200... >Fender Stratocaster >Made in Mexico >1995 >SN: MN5XXXXX >Red finish (Fiesta Red? ...bright red, regardless) >3 pick-ups - two single coils and a DiMarzio bridge humbucker (twin blade type?) >Sperzel USA locking machine heads >Schaller straplock buttons >Rosewood fretboard >White pick guard -body and neck are in pristine condition -finish is flawless except one almost imperceptible finish scratch ~1cm long, just above the pick guard, only visible in the right light -plays nice, although action is just a bit high - would benefit from a good set-up -missing the plastic cap to the selector switch -missing the tremelo arm -no case or gig bag included $200 for the guitar. I felt like this was a fair price, so I didn't offer less. I'm real happy with it so far. Rock on! ~DB Rock on indeed. Nice score! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Rock on indeed. Nice score! +1, congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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