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Average Price: $456
Standard/Professional
$400
$1001+
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Description
Variant of the USA-made Fender Stratocaster electric guitar. MIM is an acronym of Made in Mexico. It's available in the following finishes: Black, Brown Sunburst, Candy Apple Red, Lake Placid Blue, Arctic White
Videos
Darrell Braun Guitar
MEXICAN STRAT vs AMERICAN STRAT - Guitar Tone Comparison!
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Stratocaster MIM.
Build quality
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The MIM Stratocasters often use a 3-5 piece body compared to the 2-piece body found in MIA models, which can affect resonance and weight.
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Mods and upgrades
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Owners frequently recommend swapping the MIM pickups with Custom Shop '69s for a richer tone, especially if aiming for a classic Strat sound.
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Several owners recommend replacing the MIM Strat's ceramic pickups with Klein Epic '59s for a more classic Stratocaster sound, enhancing both clarity and warmth.
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Setup and maintenance
User experience
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There are reports of MIM fretboards being sticky due to lacquer finishes; some users lightly sand them with high grit sandpaper for a smoother feel.
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Some owners find the MIM Strat necks feel better broken in than American models, adding to their comfort and playability right from the start.
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Owners frequently use Facebook Marketplace to find better deals on MIM Strats, noting that good deals are snatched quickly, often within two days.
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Comparisons
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The American Pro series features a deep C neck, which feels significantly different from the MIM's modern C, catering to players who prefer a thicker neck profile.
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Features and functionality
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The American Pro's electronics and hardware are generally superior, but modding a MIM with high-quality pickups and electronics can close the gap significantly.
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MIM Stratocasters have been noted to use 21 frets, which can be a limitation compared to newer models like the Player series with 22 frets.
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Value and pricing
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The MIM Stratocasters were previously a good value at $300-$400, but recent price increases to $500-$600 have made them less competitive without significant upgrades.
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Used MIM Strats in Canada often sell for $400-$600 CAD, with special colors fetching slightly more.
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A new MIM Strat can be purchased for around $599 USD during sales, making a used one priced at $800 CAD seem high unless upgraded.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 15 Reviews and 63 Ratings
106
Great sound, highly versatile
My MIM strat was purchased new in the mid to late 90's. It's undergone some modifications (EMG pickups, new bridge, etc) but it has always been my most versatile and sweetest sounding guitar. The best thing about this out of the box was the neck. The feel is so nice and it plays extremely well, even to this day. I've been complimented over and over throughout the years at how good the neck feels. A fun aspect of the Stratocaster is how easily you can customize your look with pick-guards and pickup covers. To me, the MIM is a best bang for the buck across the board. You can use it in anything from heavy/hard rock to blues/country, jazz and ambient work. It's a workhorse. I give it a 4 instead of 5 stars because the hardware, tuning keys and pickup poles all corroded fairly quickly. However, strats are fun and easy to mod in all of those areas, and the MIM is a great platform for doing so.
101
Bueno
Other than very minor fret buzz after a lot of use, (which was easily fixed) this guitar is outstanding if your balling on a budget.
81
solid
it's a strat. i replaced the pickups on mine w/ semen dunker SSL-1s in the neck and middle and a coil tapped Quarter Pound in the bridge.
239
my #1 most used guitar
personally set this up to be my "workhorse" - it is my go to
Will update pic soon
Awesome guitar...mine has a maple neck so the pic isn't correct....love the satin red body....
Cheap Mexi Strat
Cheap mexi from a pawn shop modded with a white Hot Rail in bridge from Seymour Duncan for a heavier tone
175
Fender Stratocaster White
Play it in drop B tuning and sounds really good with the heavy slinky's.
Artist usage
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In this photo, Alex Turner can be seen playing a Fender Stratocaster in a black finish. It has been determined to be a Made In Mexico Strat, due to the 21 frets and 6 screw bridge.
This guitar was used by Gustavo in 1981 (although in Equipboard the only model of Fender Stratocaster red and with black pickup is from 2004) in one of his first bands called Koala
Lee Malia uses this guitar for the First Love Tour during the song "Follow You". He can be seen with it at 1:46 and 2:05.
At 2:24 he says its a ''2011 mexican strat''. In this video, Dines explains how he got it from Mark Stockwell. Also, this Strat includes built-in preamp.
What guitar did you use to track the record? The same Mexican Strat that I’ve been playing for a long time.
En Esch has been using a Fender Stratocaster MIM since 2014, as seen in a photo on his official Facebook page.
Juanma uses this as a ''special guitar'' (no humbuckers) to play ''Fiesta Mayor'', taken from Vetusta Morla ''La Deriva'' 3rd album, at ''A Solas'' by Sol Música.
When not playing delicate fingerstyle acoustic, Ben Chasny wreaks sonic havoc on an inexpensive Mexican Strat. His electric guitar is a Mexican-made Strat that cost about $300. “I travel so much with my guitars and I think, ‘This airline is fucking me.’ But then I remember, ‘Oh, it’s a $300 guitar—I’ll just get another one.’ A repair on an expensive guitar would cost even more than that.”
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Stratocaster MIM, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yoursSimilar
Add recommendation1 alternative for Fender Stratocaster MIM, curated by the Equipboard community.
$798.98
The Mexican made Fender guitars are a great budget option or if you are just starting out they are great for beginners. If you have a slightly higher budget, the American Standard Stratocaster has a slightly better build and tone.
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