MIM quality control lacking?
Posted: 31 Aug 2014, 10:33Recently bought a new Strat, a MIM Classic 50 which by and large is extremely well put together...the body and neck are very pleasing and the action, even when I dropped it down somewhat still has no buzzing frets. My intention even prior to getting delivery was to replace all the electrics with a AxesRus Daddyos pups and new scratch plate complete with all controls and wiring, in fact I got delivery of this item before the guitar arrived having used the same pup assembly already in another MIM Strat Standard a year earlier. The guitar arrived and I thought the sound of the pups was pretty good and I began to doubt whether or not my purchase of the AxesRus pups was really necessary...
After about 30 mins of playing the ability to adjust the tone disappeared- never ever had that happen before on any guitar. This didn't bother me too much as I was going to gut all the electrics out anyway and bin it. Two other minor problems: The chromed jack plate was slightly bent at the top edge and the drilled holes on the plastic back plate were too high necessitating removal in order to change the strings. Thomann who supplied the guitar compensated me without any quibbles- it's obvious these products are never checked by stores as the packaging was sealed and had never been opened, more to the point Fender's MIM factory badly slipped up.
I've had two MIM Standard Strats before and they were both very good- I didn't really notice any important difference between them and the US Standard models apart from the fact that by the time I got to buying MIM I was always changing the pups out.
The other thing worth mentioning is Thomann cases- excellent quality for £30 with 4 high quality latches, compared to the Gear4U Tweed cases at £37 with less latches and much lower quality. I know these cases aren't really suitable for hard use like someone regularly gigging etc, but they are good for around the house.
Overall I'm pleased with the Classic 50 and I really like the 'V' neck- it allows you to better get your thumb over for those Ninth chords.
After about 30 mins of playing the ability to adjust the tone disappeared- never ever had that happen before on any guitar. This didn't bother me too much as I was going to gut all the electrics out anyway and bin it. Two other minor problems: The chromed jack plate was slightly bent at the top edge and the drilled holes on the plastic back plate were too high necessitating removal in order to change the strings. Thomann who supplied the guitar compensated me without any quibbles- it's obvious these products are never checked by stores as the packaging was sealed and had never been opened, more to the point Fender's MIM factory badly slipped up.
I've had two MIM Standard Strats before and they were both very good- I didn't really notice any important difference between them and the US Standard models apart from the fact that by the time I got to buying MIM I was always changing the pups out.
The other thing worth mentioning is Thomann cases- excellent quality for £30 with 4 high quality latches, compared to the Gear4U Tweed cases at £37 with less latches and much lower quality. I know these cases aren't really suitable for hard use like someone regularly gigging etc, but they are good for around the house.
Overall I'm pleased with the Classic 50 and I really like the 'V' neck- it allows you to better get your thumb over for those Ninth chords.