[simonc]

I have both a MIM Std & a USA std tele, & to be honest I prefer playing the MIM...I think its the smaller frets...& it just sounds like it has more mojo...though maybe thats just me not being afraid that im going to ding it or scratch it- getting more carried away playing...
I like how the USA tele sounds as well,though it is a pretty different sounding guitar,almost sounds uptight (I know this is a bad desription but its the best I could come up with). I did own a usa std awhile back that I traded away - it was lifeless & the bridge pickup squealed like a banshee if you even thought of kicking on some overdrive...which I guess I have myself to blame, I didnt try that guitar out in the shop.
I look at it this way, the MIM is definately my pick over the USA to play, though the USA is prettier to look at, & nice for something slightly different, while remaining in the same ball park.