South of the Border Strats...dos thumbs way up!!!

[jalevinemd]

Lately...several friends of mine have expressed interest in Fenders and asked me my opinion. Based mostly on what I've read and loosely on what I've played, I suggested that they look at some of the Vintage Series Strats made in Mexico. Several reviews suggest that the build quality is every bit as good as their American counterparts. This weekend, I decided to put my money where my mouth is and came home with one of the Custom Shop Designed 1950's Strats (or whatever the precise moniker is).  
 
I am absolutely blown away! The construction is truly amazing. It has a beautiful v-shaped neck that's sanded to just the right contour (not too soft). The fret edges are perfectly smooth and the finish impeccable. To the shock of the salesman at Guitar Center, this thing was selling for $480 this past weekend. He thought it was a mistake, but hey. The pickups are just a bit noisy with the distortion pedal kicked on. I may replace them at some point.
 
I would put this up against anything in Fender's American made arsenal, including the '52 Telecaster reissue that I paid almost 2 1/2 times as much for. Hell...take some super-fine steel wool to the back of the neck and a bicycle chain to the finish and you could pass this off as a Custom Shop guitar. Maybe I just got lucky, but I haven't played a Fender as good in this or any neighboring price range. If you want a fantastic guitar for $500, this is the real deal!

[bracheen]

I've had four MIM Fenders, a P Bass & fretless Jazz that have gone on to new homes and currently a 5 string Jazz and a Strat. All four are standard models.  I agree with you.  There's nothing wrong with them.  They are a very good value.  The only thing lost is the snoot value based on factory geography.

[terryc]

This is why I would love to live in the USA..even the Mex stuff is double the price in the UK..
Although a bass player I own a very nice Squier Strat but it looks as if you have a absolute bargain of the century..well done
A friend of mine who goes to the states on holiday buys a Strat, waivers the hard case, unbolts the neck and places the neck in one case and the body in another

[spose]

if you like the mex gits, give the made in japan gits a try. they are by far my favorite fenders.
 
I have a MIJ 62 reissue strat from the late 90's that smokes most of the USA strats I've played