Crayon Sky Music

Quality difference between Mexican & American Fender Fat (HSS) Stratocaster?

I went to the music store today to take an HSS Strat for a spin. They had American Strats for $1100 and up, but the Mexican Fat Strat they said they had a few days ago suddenly wasn’t there. They said that there is a huge quality difference between Mex & American Strats, different woods pickups electronics etc. I thought the main diff was that one was made in Mexico and the other the U.S.? Is the quality difference that significant? I would never get a Squire, heard too many negative things. Looking to spend about $500 or so for a decent guitar. Thanks for any advice.

wood is the same – they are both made of alder – pickups are a little noisier on the mex strat – not enough difference to warrant the cost diff. I ‘ve got a mex strat and it sounds good. The neck profiles are a little different too the mex is flatter on the back. No locking tuners on the Mex.

Squiers are a crap shoot -I’ve got one thats pretty good. it actually has better string action than my mex. My brothers got one that he had to tweak the set up on but he plays it all night in clubs and it sounds great – he actually leaves his 68 Les Paul Custom at home to play the squier. I’ve seen some others that are only worthy of being burned as a sacrifice to the guitar gods.

Ozzy Osbourne – Goodbye To Romance, Guitar Solo