MIM Fender Guitars Are Pro level and US Fenders Are For Egos? Im Guilty

[@cautiousoptimist1926]

I love your honesty Phil. Your story about the PRS SE and the Core. You may be the only KZbinr who would admit that. My respect for you has grown.

[@rockystarland6051]

Wow… makes me feel good for my October purchase of a PRS SE piezo. I like it.

[@drivinsouth651]

I`ve respected you since I 1st saw you, Phil! Actually, I respect everyone until they behave in a way I lose it...Great video as usual; thanks for posting!

[@tapfishchallenge]

You’re not serious, are you? There are dozens of YTbers who say the Core is overrated. This is not a new revelation. Also the idea that Phil is the only gear YTber who is honest with us is frankly insulting.

[@MartinMCade]

I have a few PRS USA made guitars (I don't know if I should call them Core models since they were made in the 90s, when the only place PRS guitars were made was in Maryland.) But for a long time the guitar I picked up and played the most was a PRS SE One. I want to try the new SE DGT when it comes out, everything I hear about the DGT sounds great but I don't want to buy one without trying it. $899 vs. $4k, and that's before opting for birds or a 10-top? That core model is gonna have to work extra hard for me to opt for it over the SE. (That's assuming I even like the neck and pickups.)

[@scottyschade]

The American necks are so much better , depending on what you get and want , that’s the difference . Mexican are thin garbage

[@spaceace41]

Someone once asked me, “what’s the difference between a made in Mexico Fender and a Made in USA Fender?” What? I replied. “About 60 miles.” 😮

[@alejandroaguilar4693]

Both are made by Mexicans, it's just the side of the border that changes. Old joke don't hate me.

[@NavelOrangeGazer]

What's the difference? Made in America is made by people with a green card.

[@guitarmann3343]

Boy that NEVER gets old

[@profile2047]

Sounds like a clever thing to say, but as it is with most little sayings, they’re just repeated cause they sound cute. And I used to believe it, until I got three NEW guitars in a row that had issues that required in my opinion, significant maintenance. 1st. Completely dead pickup. Figured I got unlucky. 2nd. Crazy ski ramp. Buzz around 12th fret and up. 3rd. Neck pocket route was gouged and had a gap you could fit a nickle into. Bought a USA and it was playable out of the box. In my experience it’s not just a distance of 60 miles. Which I’m not sure where you’re getting 60 miles from anyway. 3 in a row hardly seems to be purely bad luck. That’s a decent statistic for me to the point I wouldn’t chance a MiM unseen. And I probably wouldn’t trust their neck not warping due to their wood choices. This happens in 2022. It could have changed. And Squires still seem to be fantastic.

[@mikepj1025]

Phil, your channel has become a staple during my nighttime routine. Thanks for the work you put into these podcasts and videos.

[@WillyPDX94]

I agree 100% with what you're saying about MIM vs US Fenders. There is a difference in quality but it's not proportional to the difference in price. I would also say that MIJ Fenders are often the equal of comparable US Fenders (allowing for the fact that there are different levels of MIJ models). I would even acknowledge that some models of Asian-made Squiers are quite serviceable, but the quality of Squier components is sometimes problematic. Tuners may work fine at first, but as time goes on, they start having problems. Pickups and pots likewise. So, if a guitar player is on a very tight budget and they're not buying for long term, I will guide them towards a Squier. But if they can afford a MIM Fender, I definitely recommend that to because they're better built and made to last. Then there's the whole custom shop debate which I won't even go into. Suffice it to say that I play mostly MIM and MIJ instruments because they're well built and are everything I really need.

[@JoshuaC923]

Agreed

[@decline1129]

I’d gladly pay more for US made even if the quality was the same. Don’t want these historic factories shutting down just for cheaper production costs

[@yargnad]

Buy used and you can have MIA for MIJ prices.

[@lmgtexas]

I, like so many players, started out on entry level, inexpensive guitars. The longer you stayed at it, you gradually upgraded your gear. Over the years I’ve played most models of Fender Strats and Teles. I’ve found that I have had the best luck in terms of quality, playability, fit and finish in MIM models. I particularly like the butterscotch MIM Teles that have ash bodies, maple necks, and are Factory Special Runs. These are true “working musician” quality instruments. Same with the MIM Strats. In 2019 I purchased a “Butter Cream” color MIM Strat new for $599. Had the neck pleked, installed a GraphTech TUSQ XL, installed Fender Vintage 3-pickup noiseless pickups, a set of Fender Modern Locking Tuners, a Fender Strap Lock and Button Set, Switchcraft Input Jack, and copper shielding tape, two sets of D’Addario 9-42 gauge “NYXL”, and finally, a Fender Custom Case. So about an additional $800. It plays and sounds as good as my Eric Clapton model Strat or my 2000 American Deluxe Strat. And that butter cream color - WOW! On the other hand, my experience with MIM amps hasn’t been as rewarding😢

[@yargnad]

For 1600 someone else would've done all that work for you with the MlA model.

[@MrLegion501st]

This year I bought a MIM Strat and a Epi LP Custom. The Strat was on sale so it cost about $750 new and the Epi was more expensive than it's MSRP price (I am based in Mexico and the regular player series it's just a little bit cheaper than US MSRP and all other imported brands are some times way more expensive than MSRP), but after getting them and use them it was like wow, both of them felt nice, looked nice and ended up happy with them, even with the Epi that cost more. At this point, I don't feel that I need a Gibson or US Fender, I am a bedroom player after all but I don't know now, maybe in the future will change my mind, but the instruments are great for the majority or the average player, and would say are enough or more than enough in some cases. I feel that sometimes we waste our time with this brand thing, instead of playing and enjoying our instruments, and better forget about what it says on the headstock, as at the end, if it feels good, it looks good (at least for ourselves) and plays good, then it's a good guitar.

[@tomneil6830]

I’m not trying to ruin your day but my MIM strat cost me $350 used and I’ve had my made in US strat so long i only paid $350 for it many years ago and thought it was expensive at the time

[@slipknot73745]

That's why I love my Epiphones, Squires, and MIM's. I want to think about playing, not about scratching my guitars. Instrument vs collector piece. I'm handy enough where I can buff out scratches or put XYZ hardware on so my comfort lies in functional price. Great point about comfort.

[@fightforfreedom5193]

I just bought a MIM Fender Strat HSS plus top. It is flawless. Every bit as nice as my '98 American Strat plus.

[@JohnOhkumaThiel]

I call my Stratocaster 'Mona Lisa' because it's my masterpiece. I built it myself. I started with a made in China Squier Bullet and little by little replaced every part except the body, though I did alter the body somewhat. The last piece was an MIM Fender roasted maple neck. Reviews of this neck said a lot about how the finishing work wasn't so great. For example, the fret ends weren't "rolled edges." Me, I immediately replaced the nut with a GraphTech one, sanded it to fit, then took a fret file that cost about $30 and rolled the edges. I'm glad this wasn't done at the factory because that meant I had extra material to work with, and could get it exactly the way I wanted it, for me, not some tech doing it for a miscellaneous customer they've never seen or heard play before. I'm also a big fan of personal wear and tear. When you break something in yourself, it becomes a custom fit, and there's nothing better than that. When you look my guitar over in detail, you can tell how I play it by the wear and tear. You can't get a guitar like mine in a store at any price. ----- I had an issue where the strings were too high at the new nut I installed, and I didn't want to spend the money for nut files in the gauges I needed for the strings I use. So first thing, with the width, I used pieces of old wound strings to make the slots the right width, so they sat in the slots rather than on top of them. Then I took the nut out and sanded it down from the bottom to get the height right. After that, it's perfect.

[@JackTheSkunk]

I was a guitar snob for decades...Fender, Gretsch, Guild & Gibson.....later on PRS came on the scene and really got my attention.. What cured me was seeing Duke Robillard live playing a Japanese Strat copy. Then read an interview with Jack Pearson and he was satisfied playing a Squire. Currently on my wish list is the PRS SE DGT....hopefully offered in Dark Cherryburst.

[@ngoma]

Your wish (and mine) has come true!

[@Gene_Cali]

Sorry I missed the Live show, so i'm here to complete my day! Thanks Phil. Happy Holidays to all.

[@davidmahoney1248]

One of my favorite guitars is my 1977 three tone sunburst, Japanese Fernandes FST70. It's a replica of an early 70's bullet truss, big headstock, Fender Strat. Built by Kawaii, (Fernandes at the time was a brand that used different manufacturers) September, 27 1977. Great guitar, actually better than what Fender was making at the time. Their higher end stuff is great, but they did make some unimpressive budget stuff too. Important to know the difference when shopping for one.

[@jonnyhafer7376]

most of the quality japanese guitar will rival usa guitars easy, i used to collect Fernandes, Burney, grecko,

[@questlive2338]

I can confirm - at least two GC's in FL were not interested in used gear. One I brought two guitars to sell, the 2nd one I called to save a trip. They both said the same thing that all racks are full. The one I went to in person did have all racks full but only about 3 - 4 used guitars. Everything else was new.

[@gorlagOv]

The MIM are fine if you want to upgrade them. The American Pros are also good if you want to upgrade them.

[@elevenAD]

Only thing i might upgrade on my American Pro are the Pups! It was that good out of the box, fantastic guitars!

[@gorlagOv]

@@elevenAD I got an American pro 2 jazzmaster. I liked the neck so much. I put together an Am pro 2 Stratocaster. Locking tuners are really the only thing I did to them.

[@rikkr1307]

I have a 2000 MIM HSS Strat with a gorgeous flamed maple neck and it is more than stage worthy.

[@Shiznitt_]

I can relate not always wanting the most expensive guitar and getting something to be comfortable with. I have a Les Paul studio and was gifted a standard. Although the standard is beautiful, sounds and plays amazing, I still tend to play the studio more, just because I don’t want to damage anything.😅

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

I feel that with really nice guitars, I'm afraid to damage them.

[@Shiznitt_]

@@scramblesthedeathdealer yea.. I guess that’s why some people like reliced guitars haha

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

@@Shiznitt_ Yeah, that makes sense. I really want an Ibanez RG Prestige, found one for sale that's actually affordable, because it's beat to hell, I actually really want it.

[@Shiznitt_]

@@scramblesthedeathdealer it’s funny I was looking for one of those last year but I ended up with a used PRS McCarty instead.. haha It was perfect! Then I chipped it the day I got it. Took me a while to get over it 😅 atleast I won’t care as much next time

[@77pearcearrow]

When I got that Strat itch, I tried every single model from the Classic Vibe to the Ultra Luxe. I ended up with the American Pro II, but the Player standard Strat was a close second. That neck on the American Pro II fit like a glove and its the only guitar I have that I feel doesn't need any modification. I have the S2 594 and I love playing that guitar but I switched out the pick ups ASAP.

[@stephenmassie1520]

I just bought a 1996 'made in' Japan fender stratocaster. And what a lovely guitar in every way.

[@sasmitha8446]

About the Mexican Fenders, just going to tell you guys a story. There's just one Fender dealer in our whole country. I had money only to buy a Mexican Strat. There were two and I decided on one. And then the guys from the shop asked we have an American one, wanna play? Of course, my answer was a resounding yes. They handed me the most beautiful American Special Stratocaster in Sonic Blue with the darkest Rosewood fretboard you'll ever see and as soon as I wrapped my hands around it..... Good lord! It was like heaven. It just felt so much better than the MIMs I spent hours trying out. Later did I know that the reason for that huge difference is ROLLED FINGERBOARD EDGES. It makes a MASSIVE difference. MIM Fenders make it extra hard to those on our own cause the fingerboards are lacquered. But now the Player Plus Series comes with rolled fingerboard edges from the factory. Granted I haven't played one, but that's what they say.

[@leiferickson3183]

Phil, Dont feel bad about the Flying V. My first Electric guitar (in 1981) was almost an old black telecaster that I didnt want because it looked like an old mans guitar. I am pretty sure it was from the 60's. I ended up with a first year G&L F100 - I did play the heck out of that guitar though - and played it for 20 years.

[@MartinMCade]

This isn't my story, but I have a friend I knew in high school who told me recently he traded a genuine 1961 Telecaster for an Ibanez Iceman. This was in the early 1980s when you couldn't give away a Tele. Of course now he regrets it! Funny thing, I think those old Iceman guitars are going up in price now.

[@GP-hj1ft]

This dude is SO real and explains things so well. Thank you Phil for all the great content.

[@Gottaloveguitars427]

Bonamossa re-vitalized epiphone to compete with Gibson, I know bc I sold my gibsons for JB epiphones

[@adama4791]

I just bought a MIM Nashville Deluxe tele from 2016 so it’s pre CITES and has a rosewood board with a fiesta red finish. I love that guitar so much, amazing sustain, plays great, I like the vintage noiseless pickups, changing the wiring to get all 7 pickup combinations but I will never get rid of it. It gives my Gibson Les Paul a run for its money in how much I love it

[@thomasmoore1003]

On that Ibanez you may be able to machine a bit off the bottom of the bridge to get it little bit lower

[@SixString_J5]

I’ve liked all my mim fenders better than my Mia fenders. I’ll go even further…. The Squier classic vibe guitars are pro level instruments and make for the best mod platforms in the fender family. It is the perfect guitar if you want a strat or tele and know you’re going to swap pickups (not that you have to, the stock pups are adequate).

[@GuitarsZnuff]

+1 especially if you're handy with a soldering iron. I've owned many CVs and they've all been really good for the money.

[@Aaron-hr5bb]

My Strats are a partscaster and a G&L S500 that I bought from a hard up band member 20 years ago. A couple years ago I gave my grandson an MIM Strat with Rio Grande Tallboy pickups that I put in many years ago. My Les Paul is a 1958 Junior that I bought in 1967 for $50 at a pawn shop. My grandson's humbucker is a PRS SE. It's not necessary to break the bank for a good guitar. The problem is that you often have to have years of experience to recognize a good instrument that will do the job for a lifetime but which is bargain priced.

[@ryanandring2688]

It’s unfortunate that it doesn’t seem like people care about how employees are being treated. As an employee it is a big influence in how I see their products and it’s a little disappointing in general not seeing more support for the working class citizen. It tells me a lot about the people buying those guitars

[@benfowler2127]

The concept of coil tapping is in a very BASIC sense how transformers provide power to your home. The neutral wire is tapped off the coil providing power to your home. It’s how in NA there’s 120 volts and 240 volt potential. Again in a very basic sense.

[@Robbie28]

I am finally at a time when i can comfortably treat myself to a Gibson Les Paul Standard. Im not gonna just order it though. Gonna keep trying whatever i can get my hands on until i find "The One" that feels best. They all feel soo different that to me, this is only way i can get the one that really feels best to me

[@stevekannes89]

I think there’s nothing wrong with mim strats. I’d put Seymour Duncan pickups in it and change the pots and wiring/capacitor upgrade and you’re good to go pro! Same as epiphone I have a ES335 and I changed the pickups and again, good to go!

[@stevekannes89]

@@KyLesCaster you could be right. But I can hear the difference, therefore I play better…. Just my opinion, of course.

[@fivepiece]

Your description of alnico 5 vs alnico 2 is exactly on point for ss frets vs nickel frets, except the difference in fret material is even MORE subtle.

[@kicksareforribs5156]

Hey Phil, great episode as always. The poll i felt needed an option "I don't know" because KZbin doesn't show you the results of the poll unless you vote, so i voted for PRS even though i have no idea how they treat their employees, just to see the results.

[@carpathus]

My MIM Strat is great, really like it. On the other hand just got a new CV Tele that seems to be every bit it's equal. It's interesting comparing the two side by side to say the least. Update: Moved on from the CV Tele. Got a MIM instead which is a definite upgrade. Better to save up a little longer and go straight for the MIM. CV is good but not on the same level as the MIM guitars.

[@onlyguitars]

Earlier this year I grabbed the Silver Sky on a deal used, wow a fantastic instrument, but couldn't justify keeping it and a regular strat that I prefer the more vntage sound. But the SS is amazing! The extreme perfect high fi sound was very good but prefer the traditional sound. Now I grabbed an SE, were on discount on my country after they just arrived here. And had to grabbed it, cos the Core was a bit too much but the SE price point was perfect, and wow! Yes, the SE is very very good. And I think I prefer the 8.5 flatter radius, that is mre similar to the 9.5 radius im used. and wow, suprised how good it sounds. Is not the premium feel of the Core, the back of the neck is the only part that feels a bit cheap, is not the nice satin that you feel on the Fender USA or Sur guitars, but is very smooth and never care when playing. Everything else is very solid or very good. Happy with it and Im not suprised of the people who said who sold their cores after getting the SE. Dont have mux experience with MIM, but I know there can be fantastic examples out there. But at least I currentl yhave 2 american original fenders, a tele and a strat, and for me wow, those are very good, and dont remember a mim being as good as those. I think are close to my FCS. So maybe will depend which USA model vs which MIM model. but MIM are good.

[@Potatoast]

I own a MIM Player Series strat that recently had some fret sprout (after about 2 years of owning it) and I've done several mods to it. I've gigged with and recorded with it and it just brings me back to that strat zone when I want a strat, and I don't really wish it was a USA made one. It's a solid workhorse guitar. I also own a PRS S2 Custom 24, and it is a very good guitar. I've struggled with the neck pickup on it, but I finally put in a Duncan 59' and now it sounds the way I've been trying to make it sound since I've had it. It's always played really well and I've never had an issue with the setup. It's a solid guitar made with quality woods and workmanship. I just dig it. But I will tell you, I recently tried out an SE 24-08 and I was blown away by the quality of the neck. The fit and finish on that guitar was way above its price point. If I had the cash I would have bought it then and there.

[@chrisggoodwin777]

23:50 Phil I'd love to be the file guinea pig! I bought a Stew Mac offset guitar kit, and their instructions suggest buying nut files to address potential issues. I was also trying to decide between the Stew Mac and Music Nomad files

[@robertpalmer4806]

I have the Music Nomad files and they are great.

[@Doug5524]

Great show Phil two hours went quickly thank you

[@Zoso981]

I can totally relate to wanting a unique guitar. I own a 3- Pickup 2022 Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50's that's a real conversation starter.

[@mikegerber7148]

I think people put more pride into their work when they feel appreciated and valued.

[@JWyaMovieTime]

I bought a MIM Tele this year that is AWESOME. Perfect. They have upped their game.

[@rexrathtar3893]

The story about getting rid of the PRS Hollowbody SE as fast as you could because it sounded better made me laugh.

[@josephtabar492]

I just want thank you for your videos you provided valuable service. I've been playing forty-plus years and I find your advice very useful. Im from Osgood, Indiana. Thank you

[@elevenAD]

Imo its more than Ego with Fender MIM, i have never had anything from Fender MIM that i could fall in love with, i thought i had finally broke the curse with my Charvel Pro mod DK22 but now 20 months later its on the chopping block. My American Pro however is flawless, just a wonderful feeling and sounding guitar. Now PRS SEs on the other hand are scary! I have a PRS SE Standard i got on blowout for 499, i replaced the pick ups and it crushes anything i have from Fender MIM and im actually afraid to head to head it with my S2. PRS have created a monster with the SE line!

[@bigredsimmons3]

Only MIA Strats have 1 11/16 nuts. MIM and Squire Strats have 1 5/8 nuts. It doesn't sound like a lot but it makes a difference

[@cliveloosley8018]

You’re absolutely right… Fender charge $1,000 for the USA serial number, and Gibson/PRS etc. also cash in on the ignorance of uninformed guitarists…because brand snobs think that others will believe they’re better players if they have an American made guitar.. Custom Shop Fenders only cost $200 more to build than standard, and other American “Custom” models are equally overpriced… It’s a cynical way of squeezing money out of people by making them think they’re getting a better guitar, because it costs more… It’s no different to the artificial “Relic” or “Roadworn” offerings that play to people’s vanity, because those terms infer that the guitar and owner have “Been there, done that, and got the tee-shirt” and they think that brings kudos from others…

[@mcdingus5081]

If you think it costs only 200 dollars more for a Fender custom shop, you're crazy. The labor costs are way higher on those. Fender is producing to get a certain margin to justify it's existence. If Fender couldn't sell USA guitars, the factory will close down. It would be a shame if it did. I'm not an "uninformed" guitarist. I realize I have to pay more for getting something that is marginally better than something much less expensive. I'm willing to pay for it because, quite frankly- I want to. I love the fact that Fender gives you choice- and no matter the price point, you are getting something that is a pretty solid value. I paid $1200 for an American Pro II Strat last year that came with a hardshell case. You tell me how many ESP's, Ibanez, Schecter, of equal quality you can buy for $1200 nowadays- and with a case. If you buy an Apple product- you are getting one choice where your device is made- in China. Apple is charging extravagant margins on those products. They are not offering a discount because of their cheap labor. They are selling for the price people are willing to pay for it. They have a perception of being the best for a lot of people. Whether that's true or not is highly debatable. But the fact is- they have a lot of people willing to pay stupid prices for their products. At least with Fender you are getting a choice of where it's made.

[@brooksroman2918]

Curious where you’ve found out that a custom shop only costs $200 more to produce? What if a guitar player of 15 years who works around guitars for a living can tangibly feel better feel and better sound from a fender custom shop? Is he then an uneducated guitarist? Or is opinion and preference just out the window now?

[@cliveloosley8018]

@@brooksroman2918 I’d never doubt or deny the the fact that the emotional impact of playing a guitar that you believe must be better because it’s the “Top of the range” or “Bespoke” , or has had more human contact than others can have a definite and often profound impact on the playing experience for many people… I just don’t think it’s ethical to exploit those emotional responses so brazenly… We all know that U.S. manufacturers started introducing regular, above inflation price hikes when worldwide guitar purchases started rising quickly a few years ago, and that those extra sales brought them higher and higher profits.. So I don’t understand why even experienced people keep buying them, in the full knowledge that they are being ripped-off by an unscrupulous section of the industry, when they could easily buy equally good guitars with non-U.S. serial numbers, or from non-U.S. companies…. It’s an insult to those early companies’ founders, who’s guitars were built far better that most others, mostly by hand, and with a price that reflected their quality… Now, all people have to do is put their brand loyalty and egos aside, and they could get the same experience at half the price…

[@cliveloosley8018]

@@mcdingus5081 The extra labour time is calculated by them in minutes per process, not hours… The Custom Shop is a very well organised, slick and efficient machine… There’s around 2 hours extra required per guitar, and they only pay their skilled workers around $35 per hour, so in terms of the extra cost it’s almost irrelevant I’m afraid..

[@cliveloosley8018]

@@mns8732 You’re absolutely right… You’ll get no argument from me on that point… With technological and logistical improvements they were able to undercut inflation for a long time while maintaining the same kind of percentages in their profit margins, and they continue to streamline their operation to this day.. But “Back in the day” it was worth paying the extra because the alternatives were mostly rubbish, and there was little between the horrible quality “cheapies” (Mostly from Japan) and the real thing.. When you also consider that back in the ‘70s (I bought my first new Strat in ‘73) production was a far more “Hands on” process, I didn’t consider paying the premium price unreasonable…

[@bunnylovenuts8680]

Yes please, do make a video here you cover the pickup in/out of phase stuff (and more) with circles and arrows indicating etc....Thanks! Visuals would be grand.

[@kyzor-sosay6087]

I’ve been playing a MIM Thinline tele for years,my absolute favorite.I have an American standard tele and have owned all kinds of guitars,the mim Thinline is my favorite.

[@kevin_lanthier]

FYI for all, as part of the story about maybe new things coming from PRS SE in January, there have been UK stores perhaps clearing inventory - listing SE Hollowbody II Piezos for quite a discount on Reverb, if anybody is in the market for that sort of thing. I picked one up myself for less than 2/3 of what it would have cost locally, even after shipping, taxes, etc.

[@kirbygoode9323]

I am watching the rebroadcast and I wanted to comment on my COVID guitar story. I was trying to buy an American Original Strat in Shell Pink from a major online retailer prior to the shut downs. They could not tell me if or when it would ever ship so I started looking for alternatives and stumbled on Fenders Mod shop which was still closed but they still had the options loaded on the web sight and I started to mess around and came up with a very cool build for a strat in Shell Pink but with a Mahogany neck, 9.5 radius which I prefer to the American Original 7.25 anyway but I could not order it as they were not open and not taking orders. Then things started to reopen and the Mod shop came back on line so I placed my order. The guitar was built and delivered to my in less than two weeks and is hands down one of if not the best guitar I have ever owned. I feel like whom ever built that guitar was happy to be back at work and put some extra love into it. I sold my 1986 AMerican Reissue 62 that I bought new in 1986 as a result of how much I love the Mod shop one. I believe COVID worked in my favor in that moment. Sorry Phil's PRS had a bad nut install. I got the guitar of a lifetime. My buddy named it Excalibur. That Strat will be in my hand til I die. Peace, Love and Roak n Roll!

[@ChrisEck13]

To the person considering a Les Paul Custom or R9, the pickups are very different. Cost of replacing pickups is fairly negligible compared to the cost of these guitars but still something to consider. The Custom has the exact same pickups as the LP Studio, they're fairly modern sounding and higher output than a typical Gibson PAF style pickup. The R9 has Custombuckers which are only used in the custom shop reissues, A3 magnets and very much vintage style. Also the R9 will feel more worn in.

[@barbmelle3136]

From LeoM: Clear nail polish for TOM bridge rattles, Works great, easy to get, lasts a long time.

[@sammydavej]

G&L may come in a close second, from tours/interviews I've seen on youtube.

[@boabmatic]

11:05 I guess that’s why Anderson in the uk have crazy deals on the hollowbody SE’s at the moment .. I just bought one (non piezo) in blue for £600 reduced from £1050.. now I’m worried that I should have waited for the new thing in Jan🤦🏼‍♂️

[@davidpekarsky2977]

Ironic but I just added a Synergy Syn-1 with a Morgan AC module to my Mesa Boogie Mark V:25 and it’s like I changed my 2-channel amp to a 4-channel amp. Absolutely brilliant piece of kit.

[@tonepilot]

Funny you mention that about Framus. I have a 1966 Framus Strato Deluxe that will outlast me it’s so well built. Has original pickups, pots, wiring and switches.

[@michaelkarlsson5966]

I want to say something about the "guitarist don't generally care how the guitar companies treat their employees". I can only speak about myself of course but I don't think I'm alone in this. Maybe we generally don't see it as a factor when choosing a guitar BUT what's more accurate is that we generally don't know anything about how the employees are treated. Fender, sure but other than that I have no clue about other companies employment policies. And that is why I didn't answer the poll, of course.

[@JamesW225]

When shopping for a strat some yrs back i wound up with a deluxe strat mim. This model had the same pickups components as the american for 4.50 bucks less. Played both. The salesman said the difference was in the " fret finishing". Couldnt feel any diff so i bought the mim. Dont have any ego. I went and bought a matching bass in the same series when comparing to the american jazz bass. My friends love these as much as their am guitars. No shame at all just discerning logic .

[@DominickChirchirillo]

the MIA/MIM Fender is right on. I have many guitar. I have MIA and MIM Telecasters and honestly my #1 guitar is one of my MIM Telecasters.

[@dat219]

I've played some wonderful mim telecasters and Stratocasters. In my opinion all guitars sound and play different. After all it's wood steal and wound pickups. Neck . And the tone in your fingers. And the amp of your choice

[@noahherne4626]

I’m commenting as I listen post live. As far as I can tell on GC used, they aren’t moving stuff because prices a bloated not inventory.

[@WutipongWongsakuldej]

I’m also guilty. Never owned a MIM Fender, instead goes straight to US made one. My excuse was there was a rebate at that time, which actually applied to the MIM ones as well.

[@tonytribble2977]

Bonamassa’s best song, Mountain Time , is played on a Music Man !

[@peterklein5861]

I've noticed a lot of bands using MIM guitars live, especially in the pop punk and indie genres - Wet Leg, Jimmy Eat World, +44, Manchester Orchestra... there's loads.

[@mattc6147]

I timed that join to the stream so well! 😂

[@ScottMcdonaldMusic]

I just got a MIM 60’s Strat and it plays and sounds amazing. Better than my 2012 American made Strat.

[@Allagi22]

I know since 2020 Mexican and American Fenders have taken a hit in terms of quality control, which is going to happen when you ramp up production as much as they did. However that being said, American Fenders are indeed superior to Mexican Fenders the VAST MAJORITY of the time. That's not to say the MIM Fenders are bad, I've got three myself that are great. But it's very plain to tell the difference between a well made MIM Fender and a well made MIA Fender. There is a noticeable difference. Not saying it's worth the price bump, not saying anyone NEEDS a guitar better than a MIM Fender to gig or even play professionally. But strictly from a quality stand point, a MIA Fender is going to be better than a MIM Fender 9 times out of 10.

[@matthewgonzales3970]

Greg Chaisson at Bizarre Guitar in Phoenix was the bassist in Badlands. Great guy!

[@robertzombiekill6365]

I have recently bought two expensive American made guitars and wouldn't buy either again due to the shitty way both Gibson and Fender did things. First I bought the 2022 Gibson Classic in Ebony for $2500 via Zzounds & no sooner did I pay it off Gibson dropped the price to $2200 & knocked $300 off the top of my investment almost immediately. I then bought the Fender American Pro 2 strat in Dark Night, and I couldn't get the tremolo arm inserted. I consulted the owners manual that had NOTHING on the subject and wasn't even in ENGLISH (an American guitar). I then contacted Fender & they said the owner's manual wasn't in English because it's online but the ones online are outdated and also cover nothing on the tremolo arm. So I ended up forcing it in then couldn't extract it : I ended up going on KZbin to find out why this was an issue & how to resolve it. By the way, the KNOB on the tremolo arm fell off (NEW guitar) and wasn't even threaded inside, when I contacted Fender to complain they didn't offer to fix it + they REMOVED ME from their email list for offers and won't reinstate me & the guitar is under warranty. Given the way BOTH Gibson & Fender have done I would NEVER buy another premium American made guitar again (I refuse to support Communist's by buying from China either) so Mexico, Japan or Indonesia are future options for purchases. I can live with lesser quality for a much reduced price if American guitars aren't going to retain their values and the makers don't value their customers Bob H. MBA & BSS

[@MarkDegani]

41:01 I own a MIM Strat and what I realized after time in the difference is specs matters. The screw-in arm, the medium jumbo frets, etc. A new trem and refret is expensive! Will Fender ever correct these bad decisions to truly make it about “made in USA?”

[@heavymetal11]

I got a elite n a player seies. Differences are definitely the quality of everything, from worksmanship to woods and parts. But weirdly i do like the tone of player, i think because it is lighter, it has the typical woody sound.

[@JamesWalshBristolKids]

Fernandes made great guitars. I still have mine; its a Revolver model with a Floyd. One other one that I had was so good I gave it to a friend in Beverly Hills who said "Dude I need a guitar." If you have a great one it plays so nice...Fernandes went out of biz so in a way they're collectible now.

[@jvenegas1211]

That really is my dream guitar. So nice to know they're making them better quality.

[@Crunchifyable2]

I think if the foreign guitars have great fret works and necks then the rest might just be cork sniffing. I'm talking about pickups and pots and tone woods and finishes and everything else not being relevant. I've been very happy with Chinese pickups for instance. If I'm running pedals or boost then I don't see the point of expensive pickups. It's all just EQ Like with fender why would you buy a whole fender when you could just buy a neck or buy a warmoth neck? I could see buying a whole Gibson but my own experience with Gibson was not very good because the nut wasn't cut right and I just didn't like the shape or sound of it. I would consider an epiphone again but my previous ones had very early fret wear, frets were thin on pre-2010 models.

[@Funkybassuk]

I tried a Fender Custom Shop Jazz bass a couple of years ago and a used Fender AVRI ‘63 Jazz bass back-to-back. The guitar shop guy and I agreed you pay a lot more for the last few percent of extra quality. It may even have been as limited a difference as the AVRI having super hot pickups whereas the Custom Shop seemed more expressive and less in your face.

[@dmks2146]

I'm a guitar newbie and pretty content with my pre Covid MiM. I learned about guitar setups (thank you Phil) and later swapped the pickups for Lollars. The urge to upgrade might come when I'm a much better player but to use the racecar analogy; A professional would beat me in a much weaker car anyways.

[@stewartbryden71]

If you set up two identical factories, one in America and the other somewhere else, sourced materials identically for both factories, employed a quality control team to oversee both places to ensure same training and quality control, people would still argue that one produced better guitars than the other.

[@rosieotis]

Maybe when the Myles Kennedy Tele comes out, Joe can have Paul make him a “vintage” version. 🤷🏻‍♂️🤘🏼

[@snakeplissken44]

I'm also an SG freak with an autumn shade, a black and junior.

[@CitizenSoldier500]

i sure enough agree with the title and i will add that this squier classic vibe 60s is right there with them. i kid you not

[@stoneysdead689]

Hmm- I keep posting this question and then I don't see it so- I'm posting it again. The 5-way switch in my Affinity Strat went bad only a few months after purchase. I'm replacing it with the standard 5 way switch, tone and vol pots, and input jack from an American made Strat form the late 70s. It's not the actual assembly from one of those strats- it's one someone made that's just like the assembly that came in those strats- no one is gutting a real strat to put guts in an Affinity Squier. But anyway- my question is- will it sound the same, or will it improve the tone enough to be noticed? CTS pots, Oaks Grisby switch, cloth wiring, same cap values and input jack as a late 70s Strat.

[@caboosethemoose2070]

Survey most important factors you consider when buying a guitar and include how the company treats its employees

[@nicholaskillmeier4895]

I really like the MIM guitars the last 3 years or so. The Charvel imports are the best they've been since MIJ.

[@booshting3520]

Just bought a Player Series Strat. Shocked by how good it is to be honest.

[@jayyoungmusic919]

I have an American Professional II Stratocaster. I have a player a tele and a noventa strat. I wanted the classic Strat and bought the American Professional two and I play it the least. I’ve just always wanted an American strat.

[@KenithCopeland]

one of the reasons USA to australia stock is so expensive for us is the import fee's and tariffs we have when purchasing from the usa. funny thing is, is us australians can buy prs guitars cheaper from the UK then we can from usa. i got a s2 studio for half of what it would cost me locally (if you could ever find one) purchasing from peach guitars in the UK and shockingly it arrived in 4 days from UK to sydney

[@OtherTheDave]

1:56:57 Maybe I’m crazy, but my FM9 has merely taken the edge off my GAS… I still want them all, it’s just a more manageable want now. Like, there are a couple amps that I’d snatch up if the right deal came along because I know I want them, and poking around the Fractal stuff lets me get to know an amp well enough to tell if I’d like having a real one. Also it weighs a lot less and sounds the same at any volume.

[@tomneil6830]

Phil if you’re looking for a custom bass at what I think is a reasonable price, try Devon Smullen. He built me a Tele years ago and only does basses now. He has a great client list. And they’re cool.

[@imaxeman69]

I used to sell the Dana scoops. Awesome guitars. The laser shows, in my day, was Dark Side of the Moon.

[@stevenbryan7586]

YES, how bad is the butt pucker when there is an ultra expensive instrument on the bench for a simple repair. Makes absolutely no sense, but real none the less.

[@sansumbrella]

Interesting discussion about employee treatment. It’s actually very important to me, but I already recognize I’m a weirdo. It’s why I prefer US-made gear; we generally have stronger labor laws here than in SE Asia.

[@bubbasouth69]

And I recently put a MIM Fender neck on a Squier body to appease my poor man’s ego!😂

[@wenjacklow]

Couldn't stay live but I think my Super Chat about Strandberg radius didn't get answered. Will keep an eye next week!

[@rome8180]

Your comments about comfort are why I never buy instruments over $900 or so. Once I get into the $500-900 range, most instruments are as good as I need them to be. But it also wouldn't be the end of the world if something happened to them. I could replace a $700 guitar fairly quickly. A $2000 guitar would never be replaced.

[@rome8180]

It's also just about having variety. Buying three $600 guitars gives me more options than one $1800 guitar. There's no way I'll ever be able to buy three $1800 guitars, so if I want to own multiple different types of instruments, I need to stay in that mid-tier. This is also why I buy used. If I buy a guitar and find out I don't love it, I want to be able to resell it without a significant loss. If you buy used, you can often re-sell it for around the same amount you bought it for. Occasionally, I've even made money. Plus, something that costs $800 used is actually a $1300 guitar. So I get to have a more expensive guitar without the stress of owning something that expensive.

[@JRWhite-wi5jf]

Bonamassa with Heritage makes a lot of sense.

[@FortinInk]

I put new tuners and a new pickup in my mim strat and spend an hour making the frets better and it plays better than every USA strat in the store. Just put in the work they would have in the factory and save yourself the thousands.

[@mongooseman6717]

I owned a Martin d-45 and a Les Paul custom shop, was scared to leave the house with them so I sold them and retired.

[@Barbarapape]

I bought my "USA" Strat many years ago, when they were available at a sensible price. It took a lot of finding, even back in the early 2000's they were a lot of bad samples. Today a MIM is very close to my USA one, but the prices today are off the scale. So the MIM ones should be as good as my USA one, but from the recent samples i have tried and rejected, the fretwork is not great. So i can understand why some buyers only want a USA made sample, just don't expect to find a good one easily.

[@mwpv11]

Rhett Shull did a nice comparison on PRS guitars

[@johnasbury3744]

How a company treat their employees does play apart of my choice if I buy their products that should matter to us all it would change alot of things if it mattered to us

[@ryanandring2688]

100% I’m honestly a little disappointed by the lack of response by viewers or buyers

[@justiceforall6412]

Re: MIM vs USA. I quite agree with you Phil. Along with Fender and Epiphone you can add Gretsch to that. I own a metal front Zenatis. I won't take it ti a gig for fear of damage or theft.