Whats the difference between these guitars ?

[Blu3Flame]

Something that has baffled me for a long time, what is the difference between all the different types of Fender Stratocaster.

Mexican Strat
Standard Strat
US Strat
Korean Strat
Jap Strat
and then you have the whole 70's/60's Strats, etc and the reissues.

Once and for all it would be great to know the actual differences between them, and which are actually better than the others.

[Sneeka]

I think it's just down to the types of woods used, how they're constructed (handmade or mass-produced) and how the pickups are configured that sets the various flavours of Strats apart from eachother.

Not a Strat man myself though, so I don't really know the specifics.

[papalaz]

Its all a pigs ear of a mess really.

I've noticed this new "standard" strat now avaliable.

As I know it, in order of quality you've got:

Korean,
Mexican,
Japanese,
US strats

The difference comes in the quality of the parts and woods used.
The tuners on a US standard and the bridge pieces are far superior to the others, but Fender have a dodgy quality control (as do Gibson for that matter) so you can end up with a better
Mexican than a US in some cases (though its rare)




I've got a US standard strat (check out
Falling Apart (http://www.aqoc15.dsl.pipex.com/vocals-drums-bass-guitar-guitar-pads.mp3) :D ) - what happend to that thread :searchme:

If you want a definetive answer, I'd point you to the Fender forum
http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&message_area_number=16&lastpost=2004-06-1813:15:08

:)

[Blu3Flame]

Ah thanks both, so whats this "standard" strat, is that what they are now calling the Mexican strat or is it something completely different ?

[papalaz]

I've asked on the Fender forum ..... :)

[papalaz]

I got a response... :eek:

Aparently, a standard is a Mexican Made Strat, the prices I've found would seem to back this up :)