Fender Standard Telecaster and Stratocaster Review - Merely Budget Instruments?

Anyone with a basic familiarity with the history of the electric guitar knows how important the Fender Stratocaster and Fender Telecaster are. From rock and roll to country to blues, these instruments have helped define music as we know it. As a result, when Fender resolves to name a guitar "Stratocaster" or "Telecaster," the musical instruments had darn well better live up to their legacy.

The "Standard" series of instruments, including the admired Stratocaster and Telecaster, are part of this legacy. Made in the Fender facility in Ensenada, Mexico, these "Made In Mexico" or MIM guitars represent superb value for the buck, but are often maligned as being far inferior to their USA-made counterparts. Is that actually the case? Let's see!

Perhaps the most fundamental difference is in the quality of the hardware, such as the bridges, pickups, tuners, and other electronics. These tend to lower quality compared to the American Standard series.

Amazingly, though, the overall build quality (e.g. finish and fretwork) are quite good and often match the much more expensive models. Having lately tested two stock 2009 Standard Fender series instruments (a Stratocaster and a Telecaster), we can say that the build quality was first-rate with both instruments. The quality of construction and playability was definitely on par with the USA-made models.

That's not to say there aren't considerable differences. Again, quality of the tuners, pickups, and bridges on the Standard models are inferior to the USA models, but not in a way that renders the Standard series unworthy of your attention. The USA models also include a superior hardshell case whereas the MIM models include a practical gig bag.

We found that both instruments are true to the long ancestry of Fender's Strat and Tele models. The Tele was a lean, mean chickin' pickin' machine, while the Strat had us spewing out Clapton and Hendrix licks with careless abandon. We thought they sounded and played like instruments that cost far more than what they do.

Truth be told, we've owned some nice custom "Super Strat" guitars that started out as mild-mannered MIM guitars. It's a common practice to buy a Fender Standard guitar and upgrade it with third-party tuners, pickup, and even bridges.

Don't let rumors or unfounded claims prescribe your buying decisions. Mexican-made Fender Strats and Teles are a great value for the dollar and are guitars that we personally recommend without qualification.

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