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I have heard once that:
Koreans Fenders are steals
MIM are great
Squiers standard are better quality than MIM

What are your thoughts?

Basically, my next guitar will (I think) be a Tele (though in a looooong time). It'll either be a lite Ash or MIM standard (in both cases I'll replace the bridge pickup with a hotrails)
But if I find a Squier that I like playing, eh why not, they're much cheaper after all, I'm just wondering about the overall quality.

Get a MIM 50's Tele.

I've got i squier strat. I think squier are hit or miss some are made well some aren't. they deffinatly need to have the pickups replaced, but mine has great tone and playability

I know Squire is try to produce some better quality stuff with better woods but i have to say the MIM strats are pretty good for the buck..... For a cheap strat they are good. I own 3 MIM strats and 1 american standard. The American Standard feels so much more solid and better then the Mexican strats but i have to say that the MIM are less then half the price of the USA.....

As far as quality MIM stuff is pretty darn good!

I will say that here in Canada one could buy a Godin Freeway Classic for the same as the MIM Strats.... The Godin has better woods, better finnishes, a little better hardware, larger frets and come with a gig bag...... hard to say no to the bonus's of a non-fender North American Made strat like the Freeway over a Made In Mexicao or Squire strat... Check them out if you can live without the fender name

WhoFan

I think the MIM are more consistant in quality. I also think that they're better all around....

i played a lite ash strat (korea, i think?), the one with duncans at an invitation only sale at the local music store Sunday. i only play at home and have only one guitar, a dimarzio equipped ibanez sz, and have GAS and a little cash so i thought i would look at strats or single coil guitars just to add something a little different. the lite ash was priced at $469 and i see MF has them for $625. i played it through a marshal dsl 401, which was the only amp available at that time (man it was crowded) and i liked it. i know next to nothing about fenders except for the fact that i know it wasn't MIA, but i did also play an MIM, and i think the lite ash was far better than at least that particular MIM. i didn't buy it, but wish maybe now i would have.

no way, MIM are much more precisely made than squier standards IMO, but both are very nice guitars

im considering picking up a squier standard tele, rolling the fingerboard edges with a razorblade, and dropping in duncans hehe

however, i still say MIJ fender gt; MIM fender - i have one of both, and the MIM hardly ever gets played

tom


Originally Posted by Impim considering picking up a squier standard tele, rolling the fingerboard edges with a razorblade, and dropping in duncans hehe

Why do you think you'll need to do that? I've got a Squier Strat and the neck is of good quality. No problems

it's just im really, really used to well-played in necks - all the guitars i've ever owned are second hand.. im not talking about drastic rolling of the edges, i just dont like the new 'just-out-the-box' feel

tom

I played a Godin (not a freeway but their single cutaway model) and I really didn't like the feel. But I do agree it did not feel cheap althought it was just a bit more than a Squier. Where are they made?


Originally Posted by PierreI played a Godin (not a freeway but their single cutaway model) and I really didn't like the feel. But I do agree it did not feel cheap althought it was just a bit more than a Squier. Where are they made?Godin necks and bodies are machined in Canada and shipped to the States for assembly.... The Freeway Classic has a nice figured Maple top (that is real, not fotoflame) and has some seriouse nice finnishes.. They cost slightly less or the same as the Mexican Standard Fender model.... The Freeways pickups are really nice!

WhoFan


Originally Posted by Impit's just im really, really used to well-played in necks - all the guitars i've ever owned are second hand.. im not talking about drastic rolling of the edges, i just dont like the new 'just-out-the-box' feel

tom

On my MIM TexMex strat i rolled the edges of the rosewood board with a piece of iron rod... a screwdriver shaft works good too.... instead of removing wood with a razor blade you dent the wood a little bit by running the rod on the sharp edge..... It can crack the finnish so you have to be extremely carefull.... Maple fingerboards with a full finnish on them have to be touched up afterwards...

My Warmoth neck from about 1995 has sharp edges as well.....

WhoFan

i go backwards with the razor blade, i dont remove any wood

tom

What are you talking about...? I don't quite get it... edges of the fingerboard or of the frets?

squiers can vary a bit. I personally would get somthin a step up or two if I were you. I've got the strat version of the lite ash guitars, and it rips. Honestly, its one of the best guitars i've ever owned.

MIM fenders can vary a little bit too. Most of them are great quality guitars for the money, but every once in a while you'll find one that can rival an american fender. Its rare, but it happens.

If you can put out the dough for a lite ash model, i'd suggest tryin out a highway 1 too.

Happy shoppin bro.


Originally Posted by PierreWhat are you talking about...? I don't quite get it... edges of the fingerboard or of the frets?

the way i do it, i gently run a razorblade *backwards* (just to flatten the wood) along the edge of the fretboard - where binding sometimes goes..

most new guitars have a defined edge to the fretboard, and i prefer a smoother feel in my hand, its all personal preference, its just the way im used to

tom

Ohh I think I see. On my charvel I seriously cannot tell when I close my eyes when the neck ends and the fingerboard begins. It's PERFECTLY smooth between the two. I love it.