Strat - American vs Mexican

Is there really a noticeable difference between an American Strat and the Mexican version? I have a Mexican Strat HSS and it is really my go-to guitar. I like the way it plays and feels. I've been neglecting my other 5 electrics because of this.

So if I were to get an American Strat would I say "wow, this really is worth triple the price of a Mexican Strat !"

Thanks!

Honestly, the only way you'll know is if you pick one up and play it.

The MiM strats are well made instruments, but there are difference in the hardware. When/if you compare, use the tuners, look at the nut material (and US Strat will have a bone nut), examine the frets, feel the neck.

When I compared them back in 2000, I decided on a US made strat. The neck felt smoother to me and the tuners felt more solid. Overall, the guitar just felt more solid to me. I've played that guitar almost exclusively since then and (knock on wood) I have had no trouble with it.

I played my usa strat exclusively for one day and had no problem. Lol.
Kidding a side maggior is right ,u can only answer that question.

I have a some Prs SE models which i really enjoy playing.
But when i break out my usa Prs custom 24 i say holy sh!+&..
What a difference. And a big difference in price too.

Like maggior had said u really have to pick one up and feel it ,play it.ect

I think the diff is in the details, quality of components and finish work. A MIM strat isn't exactly a "cheap" guitar. I think they are running around $500 now ( I remember when they were $299)... $500 is gonna get you a really decent guitar these days. In 5 years it will be worth about $250.... so it cost you $250 to play it for 5 years. The $1400 USA will be worth about $900 so it cost you $500 to own/play. About double - $50/year.If you're really passionate about guitar the extra $50/year isn't much. If you're not in a position to pay $1400 up-front the MIM is a great alternative. I totally believe you when you say your MIM strat plays/sounds excellent. Maybe you can/will upgrade the tuners, switch, pick-ups, and wiring down-the-road when/if you want? Rock on....

As others said, details in the quality of materials and construction. Eventually a step up will be worth the investment.

That said, guitars are about playing them and if you enjoy the guitar you have now, why spend the money to upgrade at the moment. Invest your money elsewhere.

Someday you may want to update but I wouldn't rush.

Jeff makes a good point - if you like your current guitar and it plays great, you really don't *need* a new guitar. But I understand you don't always need something to want it :-).

I recently bought a new guitar. I decided I needed something with humbuckers. Well that turned into about a 2 month ordeal. In the past, shopping and buying a guitar was fun for me. Now, I'm too particular in what I want and like and it has become a painful process.

So keep that in mind too - if you've been playing long enough to have developed preferences, going out and shopping for a new guitar can open a whole can or worms :-).

I played a mexican start for years. Looks and sounds great though I found the back of the neck to be slightly thicker than most guitars I've played before. But the best option is to go to a store and try as many guitars as you want until you find one that sits you best.

I've also found the neck width at the nut is larger on the american. My fingers are a bit thick and I had problems with choking off notes on adjacent strings with the narrower Mexi strat.

I have a Mexican Strat, and I think the same thing: how can the American be better in playability and feel, if at all? Because nothing feels better than my Strat, I've tried American made ones in the store, and it seems there's no difference speaking of feel/playability alone. I'm at my fastest and most accurate on my Mexican Strat.