Early 90’s Made In Mexico Fender Stratocasters

racingsnail84

Joined: Aug 29, 2021
Posts: 84

Posted on May 18 2023 03:59 AM

I am saving up for a new Guild guitar but recently saw 2 early 90’s MIM Strats from the Ensenada plant , I believe before that infamous fire happened.

I have read about the magical early 90’s MIM Starts and how amazing they are because of the QC at the time.

both are selling for under 500 each… deal or pass?

would love to hear your guys thoughts on the early 90’s MIM Strats!

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stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on May 18 2023 05:42 AM

Not great at all. Electronics are terrible and fret size is medium.

—

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

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racingsnail84

Joined: Aug 29, 2021
Posts: 84

Posted on May 18 2023 05:54 AM

stratdancer wrote:

Not great at all. Electronics are terrible and fret size is medium.

What MIM years are good?

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4541
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on May 18 2023 09:22 AM

racingsnail84 wrote:

stratdancer wrote:

Not great at all. Electronics are terrible and fret size is medium.

What MIM years are good?

The MIM usually have lower quality electrical parts, but the overall quality tends to be good. I had a ‘95 Tex Mex Strat that was wonderful. To the best of my knowledge, one of my great nephews still uses it as his #1 guitar.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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racingsnail84

Joined: Aug 29, 2021
Posts: 84

Posted on May 18 2023 09:26 AM

synchro wrote:

racingsnail84 wrote:

stratdancer wrote:

Not great at all. Electronics are terrible and fret size is medium.

What MIM years are good?

The MIM usually have lower quality electrical parts, but the overall quality tends to be good. I had a ‘95 Tex Mex Strat that was wonderful. To the best of my knowledge, one of my great nephews still uses it as his #1 guitar.

Awesome , thanks

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4541
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on May 18 2023 09:30 AM

I wouldn’t avoid them, but it’s good to be aware of the limitations.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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Samurai

Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2281
Kiev, Ukraine
Ukraine

Posted on May 18 2023 10:27 AM

I have a 99 MIM telecaster that I got new, it was great in wood (pretty heavy and resonant poplar) and overall quality but I have changes the pickups that were a little anemic and also changed bridge for Bigsby cause I cannot live with hardtail). I got it also refretted for jumbo frets some 10 years ago, but mostly because the frets were completely worn out by me. One of my favorite guitars still.

—

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

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Tqi

Joined: Dec 07, 2014
Posts: 1222
2 Security Pins

Posted on May 18 2023 01:48 PM

-

Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 16:14:54

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ElectricLimnology

Joined: Nov 20, 2017
Posts: 113
Southeast MIchigan
United States

Posted on May 19 2023 10:03 AM

I have a MIM Strat from ‘94-‘95. It is a very nice Strat and is different from MIMs that followed. It feels and plays well. If I to change anything it would be the vintage string spacing.

Beginning in 1994 through the rest of the decade I worked at a guitar shop. Looking back it was interesting because Fender was still redefining itself post CBS. When I began working at the shop where I would go on to sell hundreds of Stratocasters the MIM Strat was being marketed as the “Standard Stratocaster” relative to the “American Standard”. I remember when the Fender sales rep came in in 1996 and told us that the “Standard Stratocaster” would now be called the “Mexican Standard”. Around that time the guitars changed. The colors became more interesting but rough frets became normal and the finishes on the neck changed. Mine from less than two years earlier is gloss and tinted a little bit. It looks and feels like a nicer guitar and is representative of MIM Strats from this period of time. I can’t say whether or not it had anything to do with the Ensenada fire but there was a brief window, I’m talking weeks, maybe a couple months, where our store had two very similar but distinctly different MIM Stratocasters (this was a long time ago now but I think we had a stretch where our inventory of MIMs went down to zero. Whether or not we still had the previous iteration of MIM Strat literally hanging on the wall is not important because we saw them all the time for setups and out in the wild and eventually trade-ins). Regardless, when the new MIMs Strats began to appear, they were different and we who sold them noticed. After this they began to introduce things like the Tex Mex Strat. Which was a good guitar.

MIM Strats from before 1994 are another can of worms.

—

The Vicissitones
Diesel Marine
The Rasputones

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andare

Joined: Jul 11, 2018
Posts: 93

Posted on May 20 2023 02:02 AM

Anything made in 2010-2018 is very good, especially the Classic Series, which came with high quality electronics and period correct specs.

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Twohungover

Joined: Apr 21, 2025
Posts: 1

Posted on Apr 21 2025 03:37 PM

I have a 1994 Fender Stratocaster MIM that was bought at Stanroys Music in Santa Rosa , California in 1995. The guitar has only one owner , me. The only thing not original on this guitar are the strings. So after reading so much confusing and contradicting info regaurding this guitar , where the parts came from bla ,bla I decided to disect mine and find out.BTW it is a MN4 serial number guitar with silver spagatti label and not a Squire. Well ,lol so first I removed the neck and exposed the saddle. Shocking discovery was in the saddle in green was the letter "J" and in light pencil was the word "Squire" written in the saddle!! Now I was mad, but then felt a litter better when I seen under the neck was written the words " Very Fine". So I feel I got a quality neck but no clue where it was actually made. Next I took the 3 ply pick gaurd off and was even more shocked. Stamped in red on underside of pick gaurd was this " CAL - 8 03 1994" and also a biger stam in black " P/G 2". The pots were CTS 13045's and also the switch was the same number as American Strats in 1994. The Pick gaurd and Pot's and switche were all from California but the pickups were not. They were the ceramic MIM version not the Alnico Nickle like in USA. My tuning keys are stamped as Fender as well as the bridge saddled all stamped a Fender in the same Direction. So it is obviouse Fender was grabbing parts from anywear thay had to in 1994 after the fire but it was only for a few months . I would call them a Partscaster or a Frankencaster, and though all Fender Parts not all were Fenders best parts, like the Squire body I guess and Pickups. The rest seems to be USA Parts though.

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Padraig

Joined: Feb 26, 2022
Posts: 457
Dollars, Taxes
United States

Posted on Apr 21 2025 04:04 PM

Hey Twohungover, welcome to SG101! When you have a moment, go to the “Shallow End” forum, and the “INTRODUCTIONS! New Members Post Here” thread and tell us more about yourself and your involvement with surf music.

—

Patrick

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racingsnail84 Joined: Aug 29, 2021 Posts: 84	Posted on May 18 2023 03:59 AM I am saving up for a new Guild guitar but recently saw 2 early 90’s MIM Strats from the Ensenada plant , I believe before that infamous fire happened. I have read about the magical early 90’s MIM Starts and how amazing they are because of the QC at the time. both are selling for under 500 each… deal or pass? would love to hear your guys thoughts on the early 90’s MIM Strats! Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on May 18 2023 05:42 AM Not great at all. Electronics are terrible and fret size is medium. — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top
racingsnail84 Joined: Aug 29, 2021 Posts: 84	Posted on May 18 2023 05:54 AM stratdancer wrote: Not great at all. Electronics are terrible and fret size is medium. What MIM years are good? Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4541 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on May 18 2023 09:22 AM racingsnail84 wrote: stratdancer wrote: Not great at all. Electronics are terrible and fret size is medium. What MIM years are good? The MIM usually have lower quality electrical parts, but the overall quality tends to be good. I had a ‘95 Tex Mex Strat that was wonderful. To the best of my knowledge, one of my great nephews still uses it as his #1 guitar. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
racingsnail84 Joined: Aug 29, 2021 Posts: 84	Posted on May 18 2023 09:26 AM synchro wrote: racingsnail84 wrote: stratdancer wrote: Not great at all. Electronics are terrible and fret size is medium. What MIM years are good? The MIM usually have lower quality electrical parts, but the overall quality tends to be good. I had a ‘95 Tex Mex Strat that was wonderful. To the best of my knowledge, one of my great nephews still uses it as his #1 guitar. Awesome , thanks Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4541 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on May 18 2023 09:30 AM I wouldn’t avoid them, but it’s good to be aware of the limitations. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
Samurai Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2281 Kiev, Ukraine	Posted on May 18 2023 10:27 AM I have a 99 MIM telecaster that I got new, it was great in wood (pretty heavy and resonant poplar) and overall quality but I have changes the pickups that were a little anemic and also changed bridge for Bigsby cause I cannot live with hardtail). I got it also refretted for jumbo frets some 10 years ago, but mostly because the frets were completely worn out by me. One of my favorite guitars still. — Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin Top
Tqi Joined: Dec 07, 2014 Posts: 1222	Posted on May 18 2023 01:48 PM - Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 16:14:54 Top
ElectricLimnology Joined: Nov 20, 2017 Posts: 113 Southeast MIchigan	Posted on May 19 2023 10:03 AM I have a MIM Strat from ‘94-‘95. It is a very nice Strat and is different from MIMs that followed. It feels and plays well. If I to change anything it would be the vintage string spacing. Beginning in 1994 through the rest of the decade I worked at a guitar shop. Looking back it was interesting because Fender was still redefining itself post CBS. When I began working at the shop where I would go on to sell hundreds of Stratocasters the MIM Strat was being marketed as the “Standard Stratocaster” relative to the “American Standard”. I remember when the Fender sales rep came in in 1996 and told us that the “Standard Stratocaster” would now be called the “Mexican Standard”. Around that time the guitars changed. The colors became more interesting but rough frets became normal and the finishes on the neck changed. Mine from less than two years earlier is gloss and tinted a little bit. It looks and feels like a nicer guitar and is representative of MIM Strats from this period of time. I can’t say whether or not it had anything to do with the Ensenada fire but there was a brief window, I’m talking weeks, maybe a couple months, where our store had two very similar but distinctly different MIM Stratocasters (this was a long time ago now but I think we had a stretch where our inventory of MIMs went down to zero. Whether or not we still had the previous iteration of MIM Strat literally hanging on the wall is not important because we saw them all the time for setups and out in the wild and eventually trade-ins). Regardless, when the new MIMs Strats began to appear, they were different and we who sold them noticed. After this they began to introduce things like the Tex Mex Strat. Which was a good guitar. MIM Strats from before 1994 are another can of worms. — The Vicissitones Diesel Marine The Rasputones Top
andare Joined: Jul 11, 2018 Posts: 93	Posted on May 20 2023 02:02 AM Anything made in 2010-2018 is very good, especially the Classic Series, which came with high quality electronics and period correct specs. Top
Twohungover Joined: Apr 21, 2025 Posts: 1	Posted on Apr 21 2025 03:37 PM I have a 1994 Fender Stratocaster MIM that was bought at Stanroys Music in Santa Rosa , California in 1995. The guitar has only one owner , me. The only thing not original on this guitar are the strings. So after reading so much confusing and contradicting info regaurding this guitar , where the parts came from bla ,bla I decided to disect mine and find out.BTW it is a MN4 serial number guitar with silver spagatti label and not a Squire. Well ,lol so first I removed the neck and exposed the saddle. Shocking discovery was in the saddle in green was the letter "J" and in light pencil was the word "Squire" written in the saddle!! Now I was mad, but then felt a litter better when I seen under the neck was written the words " Very Fine". So I feel I got a quality neck but no clue where it was actually made. Next I took the 3 ply pick gaurd off and was even more shocked. Stamped in red on underside of pick gaurd was this " CAL - 8 03 1994" and also a biger stam in black " P/G 2". The pots were CTS 13045's and also the switch was the same number as American Strats in 1994. The Pick gaurd and Pot's and switche were all from California but the pickups were not. They were the ceramic MIM version not the Alnico Nickle like in USA. My tuning keys are stamped as Fender as well as the bridge saddled all stamped a Fender in the same Direction. So it is obviouse Fender was grabbing parts from anywear thay had to in 1994 after the fire but it was only for a few months . I would call them a Partscaster or a Frankencaster, and though all Fender Parts not all were Fenders best parts, like the Squire body I guess and Pickups. The rest seems to be USA Parts though. Top
Padraig Joined: Feb 26, 2022 Posts: 457 Dollars, Taxes	Posted on Apr 21 2025 04:04 PM Hey Twohungover, welcome to SG101! When you have a moment, go to the “Shallow End” forum, and the “INTRODUCTIONS! New Members Post Here” thread and tell us more about yourself and your involvement with surf music. — Patrick Top

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Early 90’s Made In Mexico Fender Stratocasters