I've played many a strat, and I own a American Deluxe. You will be happy with a MIM strat, but an American will most likely stay/suit with you forever.

I agree, the neck is going to be more forgiving on the American Strat which can be very important to new tender fingers, you can have the frets re-worked on the Mexican Strat but by the time you pay to do that, I'd just get an American. Have you considered a Tele?

Mexicans are junk when you need durability.
American Strats are made for a lifetime ;)

I know tons of people that own MIMs and love them dearly. There is no durability issue worth worrying about. Anyone claiming that is either full of fluff or is simply being a parrot for what they've read on the web.. As a MIM owner I can tell you they're great guitars. If you have the budget, get the MIA and enjoy the pride of ownership of one of the best guitars made today. If you don't have the money, get a MIM and have probably 95% as good a guitar for 1/3 of the money. I won't lie, the feel of a MIA is better. But it's like saying a Porche is better than a Vette.. Yeah, it is, but that Vette ain't too shabby either..

Lets be honest here for a second.. MIM or MIA or even CIJ strats are the sum of their parts. You have to play a lot of them to find THE ONE that speaks to you. A strat is a strat is a strat is true ONLY to a point.There are GREAT strats from each "family" but there are also dogs from each. Just because something is MIA does not make it a great strat but by the same token being a MIM does not make it awful either.

I've played a lot more great MIMs than I have bad ones. MIC, conversely, is a LOT more hit or miss for quality. Hence the reason I don't own and won't own anything MIC or MII... Call me a snob, whatever, I don't support companies that lowball their workers to save a buck..

duane is as right as rain, don't buy a guitar based on where it is made (although American made usually will have higher quailty parts and more complex construction and prices to match) however with todays guitar manufacturing good guitars could come from anywhere. I have five guitars that I love and believe to be quailty instruments and the only American in the room is me. So buy the guitar that speaks to you and worry not where it comes from if you love it and if, someday, the electronics need to be improved... improve them, that will only make it more yours.

I own a Mexican made HSS Strat, and I love it...I haven't experienced any durability or quality issues with it, and I play the shit out of it every day. I would recommend it to any beginner. At just over 400$, it's a steal.

Its really up to you. There both good quality, except ones made in mexico. I would save and get the American strat and pimp that thing out.

I agree with Hippieway.
Both Mexican and American Strats are good quality instruments.
American one's have better reputation, because of their nationality. But it doesn't really matter where the guitar was made.
If I were You, I would just visit a shop and play both guitars.
Just listen and think, which one You like most? Let Your ears lead You.

i had a friend who bought a (fender) mex strat and i played it alot. i thought it was a pretty good guitar for the money. please dont buy a squier. i never saw a squire that didnt feel terrible to me.

I was just reading that Andreas Kisser of "Sepultura" tours with three MIM Stratocasters fitted with Floyd Rose trems all, and that's all he uses. I really don't know much about this band, but I'm thinking this is a guy who afford to take anything with him on tour. Whenever anybody asks me what I think about a certain guitar, I'm usually inclined to tell them that they have to go and try it out themselves. It's one of those rare moments in life when it's really all about you, and what you want.

Thanks for everyone's input. I went to the shop and played some of the mexican made strats and I ended up buying one that felt right to me and I love it.

just because you buy more expensive guitar doesn't mean it's durability is gonna last longer. it all depends on its owner...if you buy a MIA strat and treats it like shit, then eventually it will turn into something that's worse than squire strat. just go and try all strat - no matter where they're made from, i've played really amazing MIM strats, and i've played some shitty american ones...

im glad that you found something you liked - not many people do that...they just listen to other's opinion and go to shop and buy american strat without trying it for awhile because "others" say it is better than MIM strat or whatnot.

the truth is, if you're good, you're gonna sound good no matter what you play on if you know what you're doing. my buddy has this cheap ass fender duplica and he sounds better than most of fender freaks in my school...ironic isn't it.

I'll tell you what dude. I've had a mexican strat and currently am abusing a mexican telecaster and I've played a lot of american strats and teles in stores and things and honestly, I notice a difference but not a $600 difference (400 vs. 1000)

I dont worry if the strat is American made or Mexican.I have played a American strat that cost $2400.00.And neck did not feel right or fit the style of playing that I do.So I saw this Mex strat,pick it up and the neck was perfect,$500.00.I bought it.I did not buy it for the price.I bought it because it was right for my style of playing.Buy a guitar that feels good to you.Remember,Its not the brand of guitar that makes you a great player,Your ability to play the guitar makes you great.

I just played a MIM Strat that a friend of mine owns. It sounds great, has a great feel to it, and if somebody has stamped Made in USA on there I would not have known the difference.

The Mexican made Fenders represent a very good value for guitarist on a budget.Anyone who says otherwise should not be taken too serious.Granted the American Standard series Stratocaster and Telecasters have better electronics (pickups and pots) and better hardware (bridge assembly,input jack) but I don't believe it s worth spending in excess of $600 for the American version.This is especially true for a beginning guitarist.In the past ten years quality control at the Mexican factory has gotten much better. I have a few American made Fenders and a couple of Mexican made Fenders they all sound and play great! Many people don't realize that Fender makes all of their electric guitar necks at the U.S. factory and puts them in a truck and drives them across the border to the Mex factory for assembly.If you want an American Fender built by a guy named Jose in California who gets paid 25$ an hour, knock yourself out and go for it. If you want to save some money and get a Fender built in Mex by a guy named Jose who gets paid 10$ an hour be my guest! If you still are unsure check out youtube. There are numerous videos of guys playing American and Mexican Fender guitars

Thx for digging up the old thread, David.
I'm planning to buy electric and I'm considering Strato.
It looks MIM wouldn't be so bad option.

i might reconsider my pacifica intention. always wanted a real strat (can only afford MIM ...and its still a bit much for my budget). and yamaha doesnt have the color i want. cant play it if i dont like how it looks. just wont do it for me :D

alas ..4 times the cost. gotta save more.