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FDP Forum / Fender Guitars: Stratocasters / "Downsized" from MIA to MIM

Next 20 Messages

Think Floyd
Contributing Member
*******

Eastern PA

Jun 16th, 2012 10:40 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I just got rid of my American Series Strat, and ended up with a MIM Fat Strat. My first Strat was a new 1997 MIM Standard, followed by a 2000 MIA and then a 2003 MIA. While I find the MIAs to be of higher quality and tone, I just can't get comfortable with the wider nut width of the MIA. That 1/16" difference has bothered me for 12 years. I thought that I'd get used to it after a while. I did, actually, but still find myself flubbing certain chords played in the first few frets.

Now I need to start over, and get used to the narrower MIM nut width again. I think that a width in between the two would be perfect, but I believe that the MIM will be okay. When I think back, I was able to play easier on my old MIM than on my newer MIAs. I will miss the beautiful feel of the MIA neck with rolled edges... oh well.

StratQuebec

Canada

It's time to get it!
Jun 16th, 2012 06:22 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Almost the exact same thing for me. Played 10 years an AmSeries strat then bought online a Squier Classic Vibe 60 just for the fun of it. Since then, my AmSeries got never played again. The CV 42mm nut, thonner neck and narrower string spacing is just sooo much comfortable and so much easier to play to me. One thing though is I must specify that I've gone back to .009s too.

Long story short, I ordered an American Vintage '62 reissue exactly for that: MIA quality but vintage specs, and finaly, a dream came true!

Think Floyd
Contributing Member
*******

Eastern PA

Jun 16th, 2012 07:15 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I hate the fact that in order to feel more comfortable playing I had to give up the MIA quality. In another thread, some folks suggested that I just get an after-market neck with the specs that I want. Nice idea, but the problem is that other than nut width I'm not sure what specs I want. I need to play something first to know if it's going to work for me, so I could never order a guitar or neck on-line.

Alderandash
Contributing Member
****

QLD Australia

Jun 16th, 2012 08:21 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
"That 1/16" difference has bothered me for 12 years. "

12 Years ago the measurements may have been 1/16th different.

Now the MIA Standard is listed as 42.8mm and the MIM at 42mm.

0.8mm is way less than 1/16th of an inch.
In fact the difference is only 1/32" if Fender's measurements are correct.

Gee, that's a minor difference to affect chording IMO.

Rick Plays The Blues

Austria

May I try that again?
Jun 17th, 2012 12:44 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Then there a six strings - so how much does the space between two string change? Measureable?

reverendrob
FDP Data Goon
Moderator

Hero, hero

you have done so well...
Jun 17th, 2012 02:19 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Minor differences like that are what makes a Tele or most of the MIC/MIK/MII guitars unplayable for me that I've had, my forearm cramps like a mother within about 20m.

Wider radius solves it generally (as in 12"+ shredder guitars), some body shapes help a little as well for how it sits.

But it's why I cheered when the Squier Mascis Jazzmaster had a huge, bigger than MIA posted nut width to spec and was able to play it without incident.

I suspect on a lot of the imports that the specs scale down in size a lot more than up, it's cheaper to use a smaller piece of wood if that's what you can get. Old, 12ish years ago MIMs still had the necks and bodies cut in the US and shipped down, even the MIM Squiers.

nogin007

Alabama/USA

Jun 17th, 2012 06:25 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
What bothers you more, nut width, or string spacing. If I don't like the string spacing on a guitar, I just make a new nut with the string spacing I want. A lot of people blame nut width, when it's really the distance between the string that they are referring to.

ejm

usa

Jun 17th, 2012 07:33 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
"What bothers you more, nut width, or string spacing."

No one seems to consider back shape or thickness. IMO that should be first on the list.

Think Floyd
Contributing Member
*******

Eastern PA

Jun 17th, 2012 08:16 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
"Now the MIA Standard is listed as 42.8mm and the MIM at 42mm."

That may be the case now, but the guitars I'm referring to are older with a noticeable difference in nut width.

"If I don't like the string spacing on a guitar, I just make a new nut with the string spacing I want. A lot of people blame nut width, when it's really the distance between the string that they are referring to."

Great idea. I suppose that it would work on shortening the string spacing on a wider nut, but wouldn't widening the spacing on a narrower nut place the strings too close to the edge of the neck?

"No one seems to consider back shape or thickness. IMO that should be first on the list."

This is the major reason why I couldn't buy something on-line. My left hand is VERY picky about neck shape and thickness. And yes, you're right that neck size/shape can sometimes be more of a factor than nut width.

Actually, the most comfortable neck that I've played was on a Gibson LP Standard Faded with I believe a 50s neck. That had a 1 11/16" nut width with the 12" radius. The neck shape made it comfortable.

I just heard from my guitar tech who set up the MIM Fat Strat and installed Carvin H/S/S pick-ups in it. He said that this MIM now sounds better than my MIA Strat ever did. I can't wait to go pick it up!

StratQuebec

Canada

It's time to get it!
Jun 17th, 2012 10:08 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Yep, neck shape and nut with are both important.
"f I don't like the string spacing on a guitar, I just make a new nut with the string spacing I want."

Well, and what about the saddles width? Are they really the same width on vintage compared to modern specs? I don't think so or maybe I'm wrong? The saddles width affect the string spacing too, especially where you pick the strings, over the pickups.

Think Floyd
Contributing Member
*******

Eastern PA

Jun 17th, 2012 12:12 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
There are times where I miss strings while picking. I believe that this is due to spacing, fretboard radius, and my poor technique.

It's funny; some people can pick up any guitar and feel comfortable, while others are fussy about minute differences in specs.

Think Floyd
Contributing Member
*******

Eastern PA

Jun 17th, 2012 06:36 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Well, my MIM Strat now sounds more like a Strat with the Carvin single coils than my MIA ever did with various Fender pick-ups over the years. I guess that the MIM's wood is more toneful than the MIA's wood.

reverendrob
FDP Data Goon
Moderator

Hero, hero

you have done so well...
Jun 17th, 2012 06:49 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
It's the poly finish.

whall

Merry-Land

Another Mamby-Pamby Land Jackwagon
Jun 17th, 2012 07:16 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I hear ya, Think Floyd.

My favorite necks and frets are the late 90s to mid 2000s MIMs.

At one time a few years back I sold off every other electric I had to only have ones with 99-2004 MIM std necks. I am trying to expand my horizons these days, but the other necks still don't do "it" for me.

I have found that Rickenbacker necks are in the same league, so one of those may be in my future.

Alderandash
Contributing Member
****

QLD Australia

Jun 17th, 2012 07:53 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
" It's the poly finish."

Nah, it's the seven piece body with veneer front and back. It's gotta sound better than 2 or 3 pieces. ;)

reverendrob
FDP Data Goon
Moderator

Hero, hero

you have done so well...
Jun 17th, 2012 08:34 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
It's the amazing resonance from the poly, with the tone chambers as the sound waves bounce from piece to piece, and the poly never lets the sustain leave, so a chord I hit twelve years ago lingers on.

Alderandash
Contributing Member
****

QLD Australia

Jun 17th, 2012 10:20 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I hear it!

Think Floyd
Contributing Member
*******

Eastern PA

Jun 18th, 2012 02:17 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
"...so a chord I hit twelve years ago lingers on."

No wonder the Moody Blues couldn't find that chord... it's been stuck in your guitar!

Tony F

Long Island

When you come to fork in road take it
Jun 19th, 2012 08:58 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I sold my Highway One Tele because of the narrow string spacing and those jumbo frets but other than that I'm comfortable with MIA or MIM.

As far as tone difference between mia and mim I would think that's due to the neck as the MIA has the graphite supported bi flex truss rod (hate it) and the MIM has a traditional truss rod.
(This message was last edited by Tony F at 09:01 PM, Jun 19th, 2012)

Think Floyd
Contributing Member
*******

Eastern PA

Jun 20th, 2012 06:00 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
After a little bit of playing I realize that my muscle memory has to relearn how to finger chords. Some fingerings are easier on the MIM, while others were easier on the MIA.

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