Mike I've got an 2003 American series tele. Love it. But let me say, if you get a good MIM, there's nothing wrong with that. Some of them I've tried sound and play as well as my AMS. It's like this; you've got to go play and find that guitar that plays and sounds like YOU want. I bought the American Series because I was partial to "made in the U.S.A." I just thought they would be as good as Fender's from years past. Find a good MIM and you can't go wrong.

Clay

im doing that this week. i did play one a few days it was a MIM and sounded ok but not great buthe also played a squier standard from indonesia that actually felt better.........im trying a few AMS this week.

mike

I'm actually in the market for a new Strat, but what I noticed while shopping for one probably applies to a Tele, also.

I tried 3 Strats...a MIM ($300+), a Highway1 ($500+), and an American Strat ($800+).

The MIM was ok, but I thought the pickups were a little weak. The Highway1 sounded the same. The music store guy said the Highway1 was the same as the MIM, same parts and such, but the MIM is, well, Made in Mexico, and is a lower price then the Highway1 because the labor is cheaper there (Mexico), but the 2 are essentially the same guitar. While I did think they were the same tone-wise (flabby pickups), I did think the Highway1 had a nicer neck. The MIM's neck seemed like a plank with frets hammered into it.

The American had a nicer neck then the other 2 and much better pickups; the bridge was cutting without being tinny, the neck deep and mellow, and the middle had that "quack". I will be going with the American Strat.

I think you'll find the American Tele, like the American Strat, is a better quality instrument. However, if you go for the MIM, and upgrade the pickups, you could potentially end up with something just as good-sounding as the American Tele.

Just my opinion, of course....

BRY

funny, im in the same boat as you i've been looking for well over 6 months for a new guitar, i played a lot of guitars through out this time period and man did the telecaster stick out, i think the one i liked in particular was a early 90's model, with a maple neck im pretty happy about me find i just need to save up a bit mroe cash for it though

Hey Mike,
Your hopeless you know that? LOL!!! Sorry...just had to say that :-)

Anyways, on the Tele issue...
Someone here on WN recently had written in another thread that many of the Fender and Squire imports are actually much better then the American Models (with the except of those coming out of the Custom Shop of course). While I was out doing my holiday shopping I played a couple of the Squire Strats that are in the $200 range and I have to say I was -very- impressed! My own Strat is an MIM and I got it, as you had stated, for the feel knowing that I could upgrade the pickups later (which I did!).

A lot of people are still hung up on "buy American"...phooey! There was a time when "American Made" actually had some signifigance, but the rest of the world has caught up and even surpassed us in many areas of manufacturing...including guitars! Many of the forien made products today are made in factories, such as the Mexico Fender plant, where the workers take pride in their work and actually care more about the products their making then about their wages, benifits or breaktimes (unlike many American companies!). As far as me and my checkbook are concerned, if they can make it as good, if not better overseas and make it more affordable to boot...hey...thats why I'm such a Behringer fan! LOL! Sorry, but nationalism is an outdated concept!

If I were going out to buy a new Strat or Tele, I think the models I would look at would be the MIM's and the Squires. The "US Highway 1" models are nice, but I think you'll get a better bargain and a better axe with one of the imports. Your absolutly right...go for the feel and then you can slap a set of Duncan's or something in it later with the money you save over the American models and you'll have one very nice axe to be sure :-)

Hope this helps!
Bright Blessings,
Jim

yep im hopeless i know that.......but i have decided not to get one but donate the money to the live aid charity....see my post on that subject.

mike

Mike,
I've played at least one of each model in Fender's American and MIM product line, along with most of the CIJ products offered. I haven't really played the entire Squire line, but a lot of them. My humble opinion is that for the Am?MIN/CIJ lines, the quality is aboslutely top notch and on a peer with one another. They realway you choose between these products is by feature. Ya know, which type of neck width, material, radius and headstock, body construction and material, whether the bridge is cast or forged. All of these are merely options. No gain of quality either way.

I'd say narrow it down to the features, choose the product line from these, then play a bunch to find the "one" that's right for you.

If you don't need one that's bran new I have a nice one.

Bill~~~

Bill~~~

talk to me about this one.

mike

I bought an american standard tele a couple of years ago. I tried about every version of tele I could find. Before that I had a MIM TexMex strat wich was awesome. At that time I tries out the TexMex Tele as well. It was an amazing piece for half the price of the American but by the time I went shopping the TexMex was dicontinued. The American standard has great pickups and I was looking for that bright sound. I alos like the maple neck and fretboard over the rosewood fretboard. I think it plays easier/faster and sounds brighter.
Tim

yes thats i way im leaning if i decide to get one.

mike