1995 vs 2003 MIM Strats

[sidneyraines]

Hi, I'm about to buy my next strat and I've narrowed down my choices to a 2003 Fender MIM Strat and a 1995 Fender MIM Strat. I'm too young to know the difference between the two but I'm sure it has something to do with how it was produced.

Can anyone tell me which one of these are a better option?

[colchar]

'Better' is subjective but, personally, I think the quality of the MIMs (I'm assuming you are talking about Standards here) improved significantly as the years went on so the newer one would be my choice. But if you can handle the extra cash it is well worth looking into a 2011 or 2012 (whether new or used) as they have really improved a lot. My new MIM Standard Strat (made in August 2011) is much better even than the 2010 model I used to own.

[still_fiddlin]

If you don't feel up to judging the relative strengths and weaknesses of those 2, I'd take someone along that can help.

Not sure of the year, but the block on the tremolo was smaller in some years (like my 2000, until upgraded). But, I really like some of those earlier MIMs. My bud has a 95 Tele that is wonderful. I would judge those 2 you are considering on their individual merits, and not worry much about the year.

One thing about old MIMs (or similar). Get one that has lots of miles left in the frets. They are no bargain if they need a fret job in the first year. Looking at some newer ones will give you a good idea on what relatively unused frets should look like.

P.S. Yes, new ones are nice, but if you are looking at a realistically priced old MIM, you are comparing $200 vs $500+. You can get a Strat *and* a Tele for the price of one new MIM Strat, if you are not in a hurry.

[Ringo]

IIRC somewhere around 2006 Fender started putting a fullsize trem block (cast not steel) in the MIM Standard Strats, and they started using medium jumbo frets.

Before that the trem block was the smaller cut away cast block, and the necks have the small vintage size frets.
Some of the older MIM Fenders I've seen had cheaper pots and switches too.

[JayFreddy]

All good information so far.

Std MIM Strats were made from poplar in the 90's. They switched to alder in either 99 or 2002, depending on who/what you believe.

Alder is generally considered a superior tone wood to poplar, but a nice piece of wood on a guitar that won't stay in tune or sounds bad is meaningless.

If everything else is equal, i.e., price, playability, finish, etc., I'd go for the newer one too. Like Ringo said, you might want to hold out for a 2006 model or later, but don't be discouraged from the older ones either.

A good guitar is a good guitar, and that's more than just engineering and wood choices...

I have a 2004 Std MIM that I really like. Even though the 2006 models are supposedly "improved" on paper, my 04 is probably my favorite MIM Strat.

[Green Lantern]

I have a 1997 Roland Ready Stratocaster, which is an MIM Standard with some extra stuff added. While it plays okay, I'm not necessarily crazy about its tone when compared to my MIA Standard Stratocaster. I think the pickups suck in comparison. Perhaps the choice of wood adds to that, too. Based upon that, if I were to buy another Mexican Standard (which I don't think I would), I would go for a later model. I somewhat regret not doing that, because I was familiar with the accounts from people saying the more recent ones are considerably better. I've played recent ones, but I never had the opportunity to A/B them with my American Stratocaster, so I can't say exactly how they would hold up.

I guess the Mexican Strat I have is okay. It comes in handy because of the extra stuff, and it doesn't sound horrible as a regular Standard. It's just on a totally lower level than my other Stratocaster.