We Need to Talk About Mexican Fenders

I heard another YouTuber state the opinion that if Fender only made guitars in the US and Mexico, they would be in better shape from several perspectives (consistent quality being one). This makes a lot of sense to me, but good luck arguing with product managers about it 🙂

I bought a Mexican made Classic 50's Nitro Strat in Candyapple Red Nitro over gold base coat with a tinted maple neck and fretboard in 2016. I shielded the body cavities, installed Seymour Duncan SSL-1s in all three positions with a 3-way switch, and replaced the white plastic pickguard with a gold anodized aluminum pickguard. The guitar is dead quiet, plays fantastic, sounds like a real 50's Strat, and looks beautiful. It's hard to choose between that and my 2014 Gibson Custom Shop R8. I will be keeping both of them until I can no longer play and I am 70 years old now so maybe I have 10 more years if I am lucky.

just bought a new Charvel Pro Mod - great specs, appointments, sounds and playability. couldn't be happier... edited to add - great fit and finish and priced well...

I do like the green..

I had two strats one USA mid 80s , the other Japanese early 90s. Both nice playable guitars, the biggest difference between them was the higher volume output from the USA guitar. It was about 50% higher. Can’t remember what pick ups were on each.

I’ve seen the California factory tour, those guitars are Mexican made as well 😊 Mexico has a lot manufacturing in general, they can do all sorts of work, from cheap quality to high end.

I have a 2017 Fender Special Edition Tele, Butter Scotch. This one had the PU selector moved the back of the switchplater with Volume & Tone forward. I bought for a bit more than $400 back in 2018 I think fom oe of the big internet music retailer, no case. Anyway it's a great guitar. I put Glendale compensating saddles on it which I think was good move, it's very stable tuning-wise. I had to replace a tone knob, which has never happened on any other guitar I've bought new or used and there have been many. Easy, cheap fix. I love the pickups on this thing, they're very quiet, but pretty hot. I replaced the neck PU with a Lollar just to try it. Immediately put the stock PU back on. Great guitar, highly recommend it.

I have a Mexican Robert Cray Strat. . .amazing guitar.

I have a Mexican tele 72 deluxe reissue in a blue sparkle. I upgraded the pickups with ones from the creamery in Manchester - and it’s awesome! I think made in about 2010. Was that the good period you are referring to? Love your videos!

I have the Jason Isbel Tele. It’s fantastic

Got 3 Mexican fenders love em all but do prefer a rosewood or ebony fingerboard. I’d love a US model tele with a rose board feet board and nitro finish but I’m not sure that will ever be in my budget and a second hand Mexican fenders and then later a few mods mean I can have a few fender guitars

Between the US, MX and Japan, and East Asia, different woods, electronics, hardware, finishes and the biggest difference is probably labor costs. A nice feature on this new Player II series $800 guitar would have been a bone nut, and the string through pieces in the back could have been flush so clothing don't get caught on them and maybe a lighter wood ? Just my opinion anyway.. Outside of the rolled fret edges and the optional rosewood fretboard, I really cannot justify the $120 increase from the standard Player series.

Ensenada has always done good work. Some of the nicest Fenders I've owned were Mexican FSR guitars. I'm stuck because I get along better with Gibson scale instruments, but I prefer SCs and Fender, in general. Much more friendly on the wallet. What really confuses me is why the brass at Fender doesn't take on the 24.75" scale length market? Gibson/Epiphone pretty much own this market, and PRS is no help with their 25" scale. I don't know about other players but those of us with smaller hands/fingers get along a lot easier with the shorter scale. There are also tonal issues between scale lengths at hand, as well.

You can have a Fender made in Mexico by Mexicans or a Fender made in California by Mexicans

Never cared for the player fenders. More to do with the frets and fret finishing than anything else. Fwiw, I’ve owned a few strats through the years and I can say 100% that my 80’s Fujigen Strat is far and away the best Strat I’ve ever played.

2:25

I have had a few Mexican made, Mexican standard strat, Player series Strat and Player Tele, all were ok.... Now have a Vintera Road worn strat which is really nice. Tried the same Tele as that and it was ok, would say just under my Sire T7 in terms of quality. Mexican guitars are fine for the money, but definitely hit and miss, had some nice ones, some horrible ones.