Good chance the American strat is made by a Mexican too... :-D

Heck yeah, a MIM Strat is real.

Mexican Fenders are as good as American. You just don't have the costs of paying a factory full of Americans with American benefits and overhead.

made by mexican in mexico vs made by mexican in us

I dearly love my Fender guitars and amps that are made in Mexico. They cost less than those made just a few miles north in California, and they are every bit as good of quality in my opinion, seeing as I own some of those made in Corona.

I've never asked myself that question. No need.

Mexican factory (Ensenada Mexico) and USA factory (Corona, CA) are about 200 miles apart.

The pink guitar is Made in Mexico as the one you looked up, but it is a Deluxe one and not a Player series, and so the price is higher for the former, making $580 not a bad deal for it. Awesome videos.

MIM Strat are legit.

Mexican Fender guitars AND other products are probably the MOST authentic Fender products of all. When they opened the Mexican shop, they equipped it with all of the tooling and machinery that was in the original U.S. factory. This is machinery that dated back as far as the company has existed. Therefore, it’s most likely that your Mexican Strat was made with the same machining, tooling and specs as somebodys 1950’s Strat. That’s pretty damned cool.

Dude, the player series MiM 2018-2020 guitars, made a HUGE leap in quality, compared to the previous MiM models.

Mim strats are probably the number one gigging guitar. Everybody who gigs has atleast 1 mim fender

Fender’s VP of marketing (Lewis) was quoted in The Fender Book as stating that MIM Fenders were produced in Corona (CA) and sent to Mexico for “sanding, painting, polishing and assembly - using Mexican strings and electronics.” The bodies were milled and stamped in the United States using the same wood used in the American Standard guitars. The necks were also milled and fretted in Corona (CA). Fender’s Mexican plant did not begin to mill or stamp their own bodies/necks until 1998. Two things… The somewhat small difference of the necks and bodies being milled and stamped in the United States can be felt when playing these Black Label Mexican Fenders (1994-1998). These guitars are also the last econ-lined Fenders to be made in the United States. For the money, these guitars, in the opinion of thousands of guitar players, present THE best ROI Fender has produced since the 1983 MIJ Stratocasters or anything since then. In conclusion… Made vs. assembled/finished.

I just LOVE my MIM Strat too! Wouldn't trade it for a USA-made Fender Pro or Pro II.

Fender USA (Corona CA) and Fender Mexico (Ensenada MX) are 180 miles apart, not quite a casual drive. Folks confuse the distances with Taylor Guitars, whose respective USA/Mexico factories are literally 40 miles apart.

Bought my mim tele for $350 back in the day and it’s still my most solid playing guitar I own. Never once had to get it setup, even though the frets are worn to hell it plays better than almost all my other guitars

The first guitar you’re looking at, is a 60’s classic strat, MIM. On these models, the truss rod adjustment is in the rear, like the actual 60’s models. I have one of these. The second is a Player Strat, MIM. I have that one too, in that exact color. Both are great guitars,

The way I have always viewed the two are that the MIM are built like the early Fenders and the MIA are built to the newer specs Fender was incorporating into their strats. Both are genuine Fender and both play great. Play whichever you like. I have two MIM strats and play them both.

I have a ‘95 strat MIJ...it has that squier logo up at the top of the headstock...it’s a killer guitar!!!...great stuff KR...love these vids

Got my MIM fender Strat for $250 at a pawn shop for Christmas . I was 14 then and I still have it and play it today. It’s a great guitar

I always, always enjoy these videos! Keep them coming!!

What up, Kennis! Hope you're doing well, brother! Thanks for this series! Very educational.

Recognising fakes or modded guitars comes down to a lot of experience as well. I can imagine it being problematic when buying your first guitar. Those MIM's were easy to identify as authentic, but when buying used guitars, I would always open them up to check the inside as well, wich, off course, is difficult when you don't know what to look for. So my advice would be that when you buy a used guitar, try to let someone with knowledge have a look at it. I made a mistake myself when buying my first Blues Junior tube amp years ago. It happened to have a cheap (no brand) speaker. When returning to the seller he knew nothing about it. Told me he bought it like that and never changed anything on the amp and he didn't want to take it back. I didn't check it properly and it sounded really crappy, so I had to invest in a new speaker.

I bought a faked Mexican Std Strat years ago, back in 2012 or so. Later I found out the neck was probably real, but the body was replaced with something else. It was really my fault for not paying attention (wish I watched videos like this back then!). I bought a new body, parts, etc for it to make it real, but ultimately I could not bond with that guitar. I sold it and used the money to help funding my Chicago Blue Les Paul Traditional you see in my profile pic. Eventually I managed to get a 1991 American Standard, so everything worked out in the end.

MIM strats are 100% strats. Just as good as American.

15:49 “My Mexican I got for $200.” Still talking about guitars, right?

The blue one is my strat! Thanks for the help!!!!

I'm 3 years late, but this video shows a sampling of some of the different Strat models that Fender Mexico has produced over the years. That HSS model with the big CBS headstock I believe was part of the Deluxe series which features some US hardware and electronics. Also has a 22-fret neck which is also on the current Player Series (it seems for a long time, Fender didn't want to put that 22nd fret on modern Mexican guitars possibly out of fear that they could eat into sales of the American Standard.......and then the Blacktop series happened).

You are so dead on correct. Fakers never try to make bogus MIM guitars for it ain't worth it. I have a Strat and Tele (lefty) MIM and it may be worth 2/3 the value vs a USA, but they are real and I love them both

Same goes for Charvel guitars. Honestly I can’t really tell the difference between mex and USA made . The difference is the labor cost

I like my MIM Fenders because I like to change things up on them and experiment. My USA Fenders stay pretty much like they were when I bought them. I like them both but my USA Fenders are my fave.

Great informative video some of those prices may contain a hard shell case as well. a lot of guitars these days usually don't come with them.

Good info Kennis! Another factor is price. If it's hugely cheaper than the real thing then it's likely dodgy.

I see Mim's on reverb for seven and eight hundred dollars plus shipping WTF who would put up that kind money when you can get a brand new player series for $749.00 with a warranty and whatever else comes with it in all the stores and catalogs, I love my used Mims I have three but I draw the line at 400 actually haven't paid more than 350 for any of them and they all sound great.No fakes here

I have a MIM Players Stratocaster and I can pick it up, play it, hear it and it says "Fender" on the head stock so my opinion is "yes it's real". The entire guitar has all the parts that a guitar needs and everything works perfectly, if it was a guitar shaped cake with decorative icing to give it the appearance of a guitar then I would say it's "fake".

It got a 2016 MIM Standard dirt cheap on eBay unused, with a view to selling it on. I was so impressed I sold my American Series as I didn’t need both.

Mexicans have 21 frets, Americans have 22

I've been just trying out different strats and seeing which sounds best to my ear. I have a Deluxe american standard, but I recently bought a Vintera modified strat and I reallt love it

Lets clarify the truss rod issue,. The Mexican use a nylon tube to incase the steel rod, this is to protect the neck should the rod develops rust. The American model has a stainless steel rod and a walnut plug at the adjusting point. Thats the only difference in the necks.

I saw a comment the other day on an MIM video like this. The comment was American made by Mexicans in California, Mexican made 60 miles south by Mexicans.

I made a couple fakes when I was teaching myself how to work on guitars and tried my hand at a couple DIY Strat build kits. They had the Fender shaped headstock, so I just went ahead and put Fender waterslide decals on them. I'm not ever going to sell them and I usually refer to them as my "NOT A FENDER" guitars. I also have a real MIM Standard and a couple Squier Affinity Strats.

The black label squire series was an MIM Standard with cheaper asian electronics but bodies and necks out of Corona (Ensenada had a fire in '93). It fit just under the Standard.

......Made in Mexico Fenders are actually made in Corona, CA. The Bodies and Necks are cut-out and shaped in Corona then shipped to Ensanada for finishing and painting. Assembled with good quality parts too. 3% of the Corona employees play guitar. 80+% of the employees in Ensanada play guitar. You tell me.........

Ain't nothin wrong with Mexican 🌮

MIM strats aren’t inherently worse than MIA strats, it all depends on the model you buy and the setup

A little late for this argument, if you have a case it should have been made 30 years ago

You have to stop the 12th fret marker position spacing thing because the 50's strats are wider spaced or at least mention that the 50's strats and reissues are wider spaced.

Thanks for clearing that up. I have a “Fender Strat” Made in Mexico. I got an incredible deal on it when Best Buy shut down their musical instrument section. It plays well and sounds great.

Great topic. Consumers need to educate themselves. You don't have to be a professional musician or a luthier to spot a fake. Just spend some time and do some research on the net and on youtube. You'll learn something and you'll save some money. You may even get a great deal.

Nothing you said sounds like 'bunk' you're exactly right about those saddles.

I have a 1995 mexican strat I bought at Sam Ash in Paramus, Nj....it was $350 for the sunburst one....Istill have it, I painted it differently and pt a SD Hotrail and a volume knob. the neck was cracked in half and glued back together ...it still plays great....

Thanks friend!

Difference being "60 miles" between Corona CA, and Ensanada BC, carries a lot more weight than miles! I have been to both factories. To shoot nitro lacquer paint in Calif requires a NASA Space Lab collection center! In Ensanada, they spray it all day inside or outside the factory! It is way cheaper to make Fender guitars in Mexico than USA due to EPA fines and restrictions!

I have a 1998'99 aqua marine metallic USA Strat I bought at Guitar Centerin Totowa NJ for $555 on a sale or promotion and it was painted red and only has a Dimarzio super distortion humbucker and volume knob

As far as the basses are concerned...The American Fender comes with a more superior wood than that of the Mexican fender. The body of a Mexican fender has a polyester finish. On the other hand, the American fender has a polyurethane body finish. Another major difference that can be noticed is the frets. With the guitars, another difference that can be seen, is in the wood that is used for making the Fenders. The Mexican Fender comes with a five to seven piece alder, and the American Fender comes with a three-piece ash. The American Fender comes with a more superior wood than that of the Mexican Fender. The body of a Mexican fender has a polyester finish. On the other hand, the American fender has a polyurethane body finish. Another major difference that can be noticed is the frets. While the American fender has 22 frets, the Mexican fender has only 21 frets. The American fender gives a more tonal range than the Mexican Fender. The Mexican Fender has one-humbucking and two single coil routers; the American fender has three cavity routs. When comparing the truss rod, the American fender has a bi-flex headstock adjustment, which gives the musician a convex and concave adjustment. On the contrary, the Mexican fender has a headstock adjustment, and the musician depends on the string tension for concave adjustments. While the Mexican fenders come with a standard four bolt neck, the American fenders come with a four bolt micro tilt, that allows for more string adjustments. Both fenders come in a Synchronized Tremolo style, but the American fenders have stainless steel saddles.

There are now 3 different "grades" of Mexican Fender guitars. (3) The Player Series, which are their standard MIM grade. (2) Many of their Artist's signature guitars, along with many of their vintage "re-issue" models. (1) Their Deluxe Series, which use the same components as USA models, except they have Mexican Manufactured Necks (from their Mexican plant). Note: The current Fender USA made necks offer a new bi-flex truss rod, where as Mexican necks still use traditional truss rods.

Mine has the serial number in front, is that something i nust be concerned about.

Doesn't asking for or seeing the serial number prevent this. Doesn't fender have a serial number authorization on a website. Can you fake a serial number ? Don't know

I just came here to say I did not watch the video but after owning both, I'll go ahead and answer that for you guys. Yes, they're just as good as the American. Not to mention, the Indonesian made classic vibe guitars are on the same level as well. If anybody doesn't believe that, all I can say is you've not played enough of them.

I bought my MIM 60s strat new (in ‘98 I think) anyway, it has the string tree in the exact same spot as the first one shown.

MIM Strats are insanely priced the past year or so. You can't find many Mexican Strats for less than $500. You might find a few, but most are $500+.

Hi I appreciate your video. I have a 2004 Mexican strat which also says Deluxe Series on the headstock. Paid $700 for it in 2004 at Musicians Friend. What does the Deluxe Series mean? Thanks for your help, Ray

That last MIM guitar was HSS. Those are more like $800 new so, yeah, $580 is a good price.

Truss rod access at the body was 1960s, which was re-issued as a commemorative. Fender has made many versions of Strats, and all models. Theres little profit motive in fakes unless fake Americans, or not a Fender at all.

I will tell ya what. I have several strats and telecaster. American, Squier etc. I scored a 2022 Fiesta red player. Had it set up nice..even floated the bridge and it stays in tune with constant use. First time I ever was able to float and stay in tune. I always decked my strats before even my American standards and I always had tuning issues. Bear in mind I am gigging with these guitars. The player is now my main gigging guitar. I have a set of fat 50s for it but I am leaving the alnico fives in. They sound great. I am now going to put the fat 50s in a Squier along with locking tuners and better pots. That one I will bring to the gig as a backup. Trust me. It's a great guitar. Maybe I got lucky. First player I ever scored and best yet I traded for it a hotrod deluxe that I had 400 dollars into.

You gotta ask? Just because it's not made in the Yewessa,it's fake? PLEASE....

2:25 My favorite answer to that question is: "about $1500"

The difference is about $400 and 50 miles. Are Japanese Fenders fake?

My MiM standard Tele is perfect.

1995 mim with custom shop 69 pickups and maple neck...Worth? Anyone Thanks

There are various tours of Fender's building plants online. By the way it looks to me, *all* Fender USA guitars are Mexican made. And beautifully so. The three 'American' people in the air-conditioned, coffee-house studios upstairs should be thouroughly ashamed to pretend-sell the rest of the World these 'USA-made' Fender guitars. At several times the cost of a Mexican-made(branded) model. I bet they sleep just fine. I'm not a rich guy. I have two players, my 2011 MIM Telecaster and my '95 Gibson USA. Both beautiful.

How important is the serial number if it's not found on the fender serial number lookup page?

If you are REAL guitarist you would not care less were the string tree was or the decal was .I could not care less where it was made,Been a guitarist for for 50 plus years,

Could be by faking an MIM, the customer has less propensity to question whether its a fake and simply buy it and take their chances.

Are there MIM Strats that came from the factory with a lacquer neck finish and they have the “with synchronized tremolo” sticker underneath the Fender emblem? What “version” MIM Strat is the light blue one in the first example?

well, a telecaster, a basic piece of wood, even if rough and not perfectly done, will sound amazing with an average wood a good neck and super pickups. Would you spend 3000 dollars for a telly? That's a piece of wood. A great sounding instrument, but a chunk of wood. I would not. I would spend that for an acoustic guitar.

I bought a player series strat, and the spring tree is in about the same spot as on that blue strat. It's my only strat so I didn't know that was an abnormal place for it.

MNX290121 this the actual number on the neck It’s on the front of the headstock

I have a 2006 Mexican deluxe ltd, heavier body and gold vintage hardware, I kept it original other than relplacing the bridge pickup to a SDhotrail and I put 2 gold knobs in place of the tone knobs, but have the original pickup and tone knobs in a box saved...it sounds and plays perfectly, just a little heavy fora stage

The made in Mexico guitars use USA parts that are assembled in Mexico

I bought an American strat years ago and it was horribly set up. Strings were too high and intonation was way off

Mine seems pretty real.......just saying

Just FYI: The ONLY reason you should care where a guitar is made is if you're collector or investing to later sell for a profit. In today's guitar market that will ONLY matter 99% of the time if you're buying Custom Shop. People are always talking about American guitars "holding their value". That just isn't true. The only modern guitars that "hold their value" are desirable Custom Shop guitars from any manufacturer. Even then it depends on the manufacturer, year of the guitar, desirability, and if the latest famous Rock Star is playing one. Depending on the desirability of your Non-Custom shop guitar and the availability of that guitar you may get more money in the resale, but you're not getting back what you paid for it new. So, if you're not buying $5,000+++ guitars then quit worrying about where it's made. Worry about quality,sound, and playability. I have very expensive Custom Shop guitars, and I end playing my MIM Strats more than anything because they sound as good or better (after mods), I like them, and I don't care as much if I have to play them on hot day in the sun or if they get rained on.

Now player series are 850-910$ new. 580$ is a good used price today lol just bought a plus top blue burst hss. It's awesome.

My 2001 MiM Stratocaster feels realer than the USA made ones I tried at the music store lol

How can you tell if it's a 1996 tex mex, from photos

String spacing is something else to look for.

Tbh I think any Fender made after Leo left the building is a fake.

The string tree position on that blue guitar (the first one) is typically for a Mexican made strat. It’s in the wrong position, but it’s like that on every Mexican strat. Of course Fender is doing that on purpose, because of that you can see from a mile that it is a Mexican Fender, and a lot of people don’t like that and will go for an American. The right place for the string tree on a strat is under the knob that tunes the A string. You can see that on every classic Stratocaster and also on the American Professional, American Ultra, American Original, Custom Shop etc. If Fender really wants to put these guitar on a same level as the USA guitars they have to make them exactly the same way and get the details right.

I thought only the Fender "Player" series are made in Mexico. Correct me if I'm wrong. If I'm right, then there is no variation in head-stock shape , and there is always a plastic truss- rod aperture.

What does MNX mean in the serial number I’ve seen mn mz and other letters but I can’t find pics of one with MNX. Please let me know if you know anything about that.

I just bought one it is about 2006 to 2017 and the truss rod is at the neck toward the top but mine isn’t vintage either it has the Fender tuning knobs on it and it says made in Mexico

Hi Ken. Mark here. Subscribing from Philippines. I have 87 Mij squier. Can you spot if its fake or not? Also its value as of now. Thank you so much

What is your opinion on Fender American guitar with replacement Fender Necks which are made in Ensenada It is a Mexican guitar now? “Parts Caster” Something else?

Just assembled by Mexican workers that are paid less, lots of parts from the USA version are used.i had a USA malmsteen strat it had to go back to fender for a fret level it was terrible I’ve had mim strats and basses that have been much better.

I had a MIM stratocaster.. it was brilliant. I'm now regretful I sold it

Bought mexican player telecaster. Black with maple neck. I swear there isn't a single flaw on that guitar, finish 5/5, fretboard 5/5. Pickups sounds good. It's 100% telecaster. Great value. Better than american tele I tried.

A guitar, fake or real, sounds as good as the player. My guitar was crafted in China. I also purchase from a reputable dealer, even for used guitars.

Don't be ridiculous.

When you can buy one new for $599 with warranty would I spend $580 on a 2-year old one? Just test businesses sense on both sides.