Fender Statocaster, USA -vs- Mex. "Remember the Alamo&q

The difference between the American Standard Series Strats that currently go for around $950 through the discount distributors and the Mexican Standards, which are currently selling for around $400 are related more to cost of labor than actual construction issues. Both are made from CNC cut parts, both are assembled pretty much on the line.

If you're looking for the perfectly fit neck, your looking for a Fender model that was assembled by a luthier in the custom shop. That's where the difference actually exists, and you will pay for the luthier's time to the tune of $2000+ for the hand fit neck joint. That's the economics of guitar building.

Doc

I too think that Jap squier and reissues are the steal of the century, the early 80's JV strats were in a league of their own, attention to detail is astonishing, i know so many Strat players that play nothing else.

You made some very interesting points though. Are shims very common in US made strats?

This post had been a reply to someone named Rob, regarding his worry about a Fender Stratocaster Phoney?, but the forum had reconstructed, so will post this here, with the remember the Alamo stuff, US vs Mexican Fenders, as this pertains to that, my reply, and my recent purchase of a used Mexi Fender Strat, as follows, for Rob, but for whoever else here, too, Fender Statocaster, American -vs- MexicanRegarding this Re: Mexican Stratocaster Phoney? issue... I recently picked up one of these babies that have the big Fender Logo, made in Mexico, and smaller Squire Series Logo on the rounded part of the headstock. It has a nice rosewood fretboard, does have those cheap looking tuners compared to the other Mexi Strats I'm seeing, but didn't Strat-Man say that those are maybe vintage tuners? I hope so. I got mine used, and one of the tuning posts is lacking a ferrul or washer so it rubs against the post's hole, that one. There aren't nuts on the top of the tuner to tighten it up to the peghead, so maybe they're cheapo, maybe they're cool vintage tuners? Mine is red, has a great rosewood neck, staggered pickup pole pieces on all 3, nice whammy bar, works nice. Tone is good, but still experimenting. I think I could get to really liking this guitar once I adjust the pickups, intonation, springs, etc., a bit better, and the volume pot definitely needs replacing, but might try some TV cleaner spray, but think it needs a new vol pot, and possibly tone pots too. Otherwise a sweet axe it could become I think. Neck feels great! Rosewood board on it, and it has a stripe down the back. I was going to try to 'upgrade' the tuning pegs, but if Strat-man is right about them maybe being vintage Klusons(?), I'll maybe just try to track down a ferrul for the one tuner that's missing that, as heavier tuners can 'darken' the tone, and I like the sound this one's making. It just needs a little work. I pretty much got this axe for a song, a package out the door deal for it and a nice newer Crate amp with chorus and reverb, from a pawn shop, and with a gig bag and the whammy bar too. Just needs the pots and the ferrul and some new strings and I hope to be whaling. I hope the tuners are vintage, not some cheap garbage. I haven't played it enough to know if they will stay in tune or not. Maybe they're a little worn too, though. Hope this is of some help, at least letting someone else know that I have a recent purchase that fits into what was considered by someone else as being possibly a Mexican Stratocaster Phoney. Would like to play this through a better amp though, once I get it tinkered with. I think it's probably many times better than the Chinese Strats though. I can feel that fact, just by holding it, how the neck feels. It's got some character. I've owned other guitars, and still do have others, so I've had quality guitars in comparing this one, a USA Strat HM, a Fender Solid Ash Tele Plus w/lace sensors, a SRV strat, a Fender Santa Rosa, Gretch Atkins Axe '78, Gibson ES-135 w/P100's, a Les Paul copy (great copy, possibly Cort), Hohner Steinberger copy, Arbor headless Stilleto, and a few more, so you know I've had some nice tuners, pickups, necks, sounds, etc., but even with that, this Mexi Strat with the Cheap looking tuners seems like it might be a decent guitar, and not just because I got it cheap either. Mainly hoping the tuners aren't garbage, but are maybe vintage, and I can get the pots replaced. Otherwise, I like the feel of this axe, and think I'll actually like it better than my SRV that I sold, and maybe my USA HM strat I sold (though it was a great neck, but I like the chimeyness of this Mexi model, compared to the darker HM sound, though I'd love another HM any day. Hope this is helpful to other Fender Mexican Stratocaster owners out there that have a Large Fender Logo, along with Made in Mexico, but also the smaller logo on the rounded part that says Squire Series, as mine says. Any more ideas on these cheap looking tuners, are they junky or are they vintage, before I replace something I'll regret later, if they're actually vintage and just need a ferrul and perhaps some cleaning to stay in tune, etc.? Any input for us with these Fender Stratocasters from Mexico that say Squire Series on a smaller logo on the rounded area, would appreciate any experience or knowledge, just as I'm trying to do for the person who wondered if there's was a Phoney or what. I kind of like mine, but have some work to do on it, so any wording regarding such a model would be helpful, as I have hope that this can be a decent axe I got recently. Thanks. GitBoxKurt

In looking at US and Mexican strats recently, one difference I saw was the finish on the ends of the frets. The Mexican models were much rougher.

To answer your Q, Kurt, there is no danger of your tuners being vintage. You can either look for a ferrule (without it, tuning on that string will be murder) or replace the set. From a sound point of view, the pups and jack/pots could be replaced but, from a feel/reliability POV, the tuners are often the biggest stinkers in a cut-price guitar.