Fender: MIM vs MIA

[Thomas]

I've heard somewhere that it is a much better value to go out and buy a used MIM strat rather than buying a new MIA one.

Of course the MIA strat will sound far better than the MIM strat but after a few upgrades the MIM strat could actually out-do the MIA one.

so a used MIM strat for about $200-$300 + a couple hundred in upgrades > $1000.00+ MIA strat.

is this really true?

[mangold]

i find that if you shop around for a good used one its always a better value.

[EnFuego]

I know nothing about MIM or MIA fenders, so what upgrades would you do to it to become better than the American version? Would you end up spending more than just buying a used MIA?

[Beauford33]

If you get a MIM strat, get it set up how you want and change out the pickups....so looking at a $600 investment, yes it will out do a MIA strat.