Minor history lesson needed please...MIM TELE

[LPBlue]

Can anyone bring me up to speed on the evolution of the features on the MIM Teles. I have had my 92 for almost 9 years and have made some mods that have really helped it to shine. One of them was to convert the bridge/body to a string-through setup from it's original top load configuration. What a difference! The sound and feel improved phenomenally over the top-load.

When did Fender start making the MIM's with string-through bridges? I have another hardware question as well. My Tele was dead stock when I bought it (the same store sold it new and took it back as part trade on a MIA Tele) but with the exception of the pickups and pots the hardware is identical to the MIA parts and not like some MIM's I have seen with "cheaper"stuff. Some time ago someone told me a story about some MIM's that were actually MIA due to some factory fire/disaster in Mexico but I never heard it again so it could be BS. I have no idea, anyone else ever hear this? I'm just looking to learn a bit more of the history of my #1. Thanks.
J.R.

[Mark Davis]

In 1997 Fender made the California series of Teles and Strats those had the guitars made in the USA shipped to mexico for paint and back to the USA for final assembly.

Those have AMX serial numbers.

In 1998 Fender introduced the Classic serias of MIM Teles and Strats these featured all the woods cut in the USA and the parts shipped to mexico for paint and assembly. THose first ones have serial numbers that start with MN8 and are still being made today the exact same way woods cut in USA shipped to mexico for paint and assembly.

Those are a complertly different quality than the MIM STD.

[Raymond]

I've got a 91 MIM with its original top loader bridge and pups. It's a favorite of mine. The neck is dream to play and I really dig the top-loader bridge. Call me crazy, but I'm love with "Lucia".

Now, I might be completely wrong, but I think that Fender started the MIM, or at least to put together guitars in Mexico way back in the 80s. In 1983, Fender introduced the American Series but I've read that they offered the Standard Tele as well. I think that the "Standard" was MIM.

Let's wait for Fuzzy. He must know.

I'm currently working on a project and I think I'm going to put a top-loader bridge because I want that sound. Am I crazy? Well, one can always drill the holes if it doesn't work!

[buglecorps]

this legend continues to grow..the only thing I have ever seen is a Squire Strat that had Standard tuners, but everthing else was Mexican Squire..this was clearly labled as US made.OK guitar nothing all that great..crappy electrics. It's pretty much accepted that Fender made a few hundred of these to fill orders, due to a fire. I had a Tele like yours (same features/same age)..I was told at time of purchase (new)that the Neck was US made and finished and the same as the AS Tele of the time. Everything else was made elsewhere shipped to Mexico where the body was made and finished, and the whole deal was assembled. This was confirmed a few weeks later at a instore demo by a Fender rep..... The PU's and harware (possibly not tuners) were from Korea or Japan(depending on what was available). OK guitar and the neck WAS excellent..much better than what is on the MIM standard now. After the fire things got going and now lots of guitars come out of Mexico and for a while (before the new US plant) some things were made/finished there and assembled in the US (the California Series comes to mind) to avoid CARB laws....this apparently ran afoul of truth in labling laws (labled as US made) and they were quickly discontinued. Current Mexican stuff is nice but unless you want something special (artist model etc.) Squire is a lot less $$ and not much less guitar.

[LPBlue]

buglecorps, now we're gettin' somewhere. My Tele seems to support what you are saying since the heads, bridge, knobs etc. appear to be MIA issue and the neck is a beautiful birds-eye piece that is worthy of the CS. I have never seen or felt anything like this one on any MIM and few MIA's come even close. It is labelled MIM with a MN ser.#. I get the same response from anyone that's played it, Where did you get this thing? I may just be cremated and be buried in the case with it.
J.R.

[buglecorps]

was a top loader and pretty poor quality (probably the weakest part of the guitar) the neck was just as you described.....