software

Other than the location where these teles are made, what are some significant differences between all three?

Angelo.

the different Tele's have almost as many differences as they have thing in sommon...what do you want to know specifically?

I am asking about what differences in wood, hardware quality (machine heads and bridges) and types of pickups used in each of the three.

the wood has all changed so much from year to year, it's so hard to tell...in fact almost all of these things have changed over the years quite a bit. What kinds of features are you looking for?

American tele

Standard Tele (MIM)

dont know which one the mij ones are but i hope this helps.

*EDIT* Dammit the link didnt work, click on specifications

heres the link to all the teles:
Teles

when you say MIJ do u mean squier? i dont know where every model of fender teles is made, but i didnt know of any made in japan.
i think this is the one, maybe
squier standard tele

I think the major difference is just a general overall quality difference... The wood, the Electronics, the Finnish, and the hardware is better in the USA ones.... But the price difference is huge. I have 3 Mexican Standard strats and one USA Standard. The USA one smokes the Mexican made strats for overall tone, but for the money the 3 Mexican Strats i bought used for less then $300 each are ok for the money. Mexican Made Fenders are ok and i enjoy them but the USA versions are much better in a lot of important ways... mostly tone

WhoFan

most people's perceptions (in rank from best to worst)
MIA
MIJ
MIM
The hardware award probably goes to MIA, but in terms of build quality you won't get less with MIJ. MIA and MIJ seem to have about the same quality wood etc... Sorry I don't know the tele specific details, but I believe the frets and neck radius will be different between MIA and MIJs.

If you can find an MIJ (not sold in America any more) give it a try.

slade

I'm glad someone started this thread. The next guitar I'm going to get will be a Tele. What I'd like to know is which is the best value for money? If I was going to save up and buy an American Tele I'd expect it to perfect as is. Or I could get a Tele Standard (Mexican, I guess) and be prepared to spnd a bit more on pups, hardware, etc. Third option being a Squire, in which case I be prepared to spend probably the cost of the guitar again in upgrades. What I'd like to know , which route would get me the best guitar? Is it possible to get a Squire playing and sounding like a fully fedged Fender? And if so, how far can you take this? and how much do you need to spend? The possibilities seem to be endless wth Teles.

Definetely not interested in a Squire. To me its the equivalent to Epiphone and sorry guys, I am not privy to those. Nothing against Squires and Epiphones other than its just not my thing.

I have a MIA Tele with Antiquities in it but thought of getting a backup. If I was to get an MIA tele than I'd go for a blond finish, but than I know it comes with a hefty price.

But if a MIM or MIJ Fender Tele (not Squire) is similar in wood quality, than the hardware could definetely be replaced. My preferance in Pickups would be a full-sized 'bucker in the neck, possibly a middle pup, and a mini-'bucker in the bridge.

I was not very impressed with most of the MIM Teles I've seen, with the exception of the reissues ('72 Custom, Deluxe, etc.). The necks on the regular MIMs just feel cheap to me...many people like them however.

One Mexican Tele i really like is the Nashville tele... It's only $100 more then the Mexican Standard and it has a 3rd middle pickup, bigger American Style frets, and Vintage style hardware... It has an alder body....

It's one of the nicest cheaper teles you can buy.....

I'd really like to get a blonde Tele and place the Antiquity's that are currently in my MIA tele in it. My MIA is black so I'd put some 'buckers in that...

But to do it proper, buying a blonde MIA tele and placing the Ant's in it would be ideal. It would have to be a '52 MIA RI... anything else would be compromising.

I would vote for the Highway1...good tone value

Bang-for-buck would be the MIM. It's up to you if you want to bump up for the USA quality, and there is a noticeable difference in features, quality of materials/parts, workmanship, and of course price. Both are good for their price-point.

Here's some pics from the Corona factroy, the body blanks going to Mexico for finishing for the MIM line. They are clearly a lower quality laminate while the USA blanks are more solid wood. Again, it might not make a difference to everyone, but there is a difference.

MIM blanks
USA blanks
Actually, if you get a good jap, there wood is usually of better quality, but the electronics/pickups/electronics are usually better on a USA model. The japs hog all the good wood, thats why fender ( ithink ) dont like to import Jap models to the USA. Ive played a made in USA and JAP from the 80's, 90's, and 03. The Jap strats kicked the **** out of the american one from the 80's, but the 90's and newer one's where about the same. Put a good pair of Pickups in the Jap , get her electronics re done, get some Push/pull pots,and they sound awesome.

the MIM guitars are great for the money (IMO the4 MIM Classic series are the best bang for the buck Fender being made today!), an 80's MIJ guitar is also fantastic, or you could look for an older American Standard

80's japanese squires are nothing like the rubbish they produce today. If you have the chance to try one you might just be suprised - build quality and materials are A1! The only thing they need in a pickup/electrics upgrade.


Originally Posted by TattooedCarrotHere's some pics from the Corona factroy, the body blanks going to Mexico for finishing for the MIM line. They are clearly a lower quality laminate while the USA blanks are more solid wood. Again, it might not make a difference to everyone, but there is a difference.

MIM blanks
USA blanks

there is a considerable difference in the density of wood between these two pics, that's for sure. No doubt that sustain from the MIA would sound better than the MIM.

MIM's are probably better suited to handle single coil pups better than 'buckers, whereas the MIA's could handle either.