1996 Made In Mexico Stratocaster - Up In Value?

Comparison and some objective points why I think these will be the appreciating classic guitars coming out of the Ensenada Mexico plant.

[robertmcfarland]

I got a 96 Silver logo MIM strat in red during a trade about 10 years ago. I feel it has one of the best necks out of the dozens of guitars I've owned. Finally decided to swap out the ceramic pickups for a set of Tex-Mex pickups. Wow, it really woke up and is now a great instrument.

[aperezdeal]

My 96 was good but my 98 (to me) is something special. I love these 90s fenders.

[stupid]

I have a 1996 Mexican Strat. Whoever picked the parts, put them together and dressed the frets was having a VERY good day! I bought is used for 150 bucks. It's easily as good as an American Strat worth $2-3000! Unplugged it has unbelievable tone and volume. The whole instrument resonates with rich overtones and harmonics! I'm amazed! The balance is perfect standing or sitting. The pickups were really good but I did put in Carvins. The bridge felt good but I switched it out with a really good, butter-smooth Wilkinson.

[thebreakfastmenu]

My 95 Tex Mex Strat is also part of this history. The carves on the necks and bodies are very similar to the Strat Pluses of the era, but for a fraction of the price. Lightweight too.
A small correction, the Tex Mex Strat is what became the Jimmie Vaughan Strat, despite having fairly different specs. Both have Tex Mex pickups, but that's about all. I own one of those, too. Both are excellent in their own right.
The Strat with the humbucker was known as the "Fat Strat."

[giancarlomedrano]

I have a Midnight blue 99’ MIM strat that is currently getting refretted. I wasn’t sure if it was worth investing money into it, but it plays amazing, nice neck size, and a hard color to find. Thanks for the video!

[jasonramsey]

I have a 96 MIM Strat and it's phenomenal. I've used it on every album I've played on. It's such a wonderful sounding instrument.

[fitnesslibrarian]

Just bought a 96 silver logo, in dark blue. The neck is the best neck I’ve ever felt. She plays beautifully.

[furiouswolfvoodoo]

If the mexico plant burned down in 94. Then up and running again 96, where were the 95s

[arcsyko]

Thank you, a very interesting video
I am in Russia and I found this black 96-97 MIM Strat with the MN6 serial number and the Silver spaghetti logo for a good price. After watching your video I decided to get it. Hopefully it's going to be great. For me personally it will also be kinda cool to have a guitar that is as old as me

[michaelorton]

I have a 96 black label no sign of anything being removed from headstock. It sounds and plays great. I play it more than my highway one Mine is a solid black and not a burst. It had really cheap tuners so I put on american staggered. I had to drill out the holes for them to fit. I haven't pulled the pickups but they sound great. I read somewhere that these may have leftover american necks which is why they feel so good. Love mine just as it is.

[sikzstrang]

I have one of these silver label mom Stratocasters. I did an inquiry with fender in 2019 and sent them the serial number and they replied back with specs and build date of 03/96. I’ve played this guitar more in the last decade than any other in 35 years of playing. I love it.

[guitarded]

The pic of me here is a modified 96 mex strat. Agave blue. It has dimarzio pickups in neck and bridge. With a push pull coil tap. One of my best guitars ever

[GaryOJ]

Weird, because mine has a black, filled in “fender logo” . Doesn’t have Squier anywhere, and also has the 50th anniversary sticker on the back?

[paulrosato]

Thank you for the video and information. I too own a MN6(silver logo) as well as a couple USA's and you're on point, it feels "different". Over the years I've giged the sap outta the MN6 since getting it in '05 for $350 after a few mods. Most importantly the stock bridge pickup was horrible and had to go. I opted for a stacked Tone Zone and installed a mini switch for humbucking/single operation which has served me pretty well over the years. The neck pickup isn't the greatest, but does that neck strat thing so I've let that alone. A fellow musician who's more of a strat guy than I am, always reaches for my MN6 when he in my studio and he's usually bringing custom shop stuff with him. "Where's el jeffe?" he'll ask! He too really likes the neck profile. Thanks for the fun video!

[byucygnus]

I have one of these as well that I picked up for $300 on Craigslist. Looks and sounds great!

[hariboproductions]

I have 96 tele MIM ...worried it's a squire series that has logo sanded off...they were pretty similar to the standards/tradionals

[paulricketts]

of the employees at the Ensanada Plant play guitar. 3% of the employees of the Corona Plant play guitar. In '93 the Ensanada Plant burned down. Fender went down and brought as much a s they could salvage, and assembled them in Corona with USA and Japanese parts. So '94-'96 Mexican Strats are pretty interesting guitars. Back in '94 my son bought his first electric. A Mexican Strat. I took it to my Luthier and upon inspection called me and asked me "where did you get this guitar"? It's full of "GOOD STUFF". My son still has that guitar and loves it to this

[DBicakci]

I have a 95 MIM 50th anniversary, had the frets changed to dunlop jumbos and made it 9, 5 radius by a good luthier, also changed the neck and bridge pickups to jb juniors and put teflon saddles and locked them, no tremolo. i think its the best guitar i have. still playing it since 20 years.

[haithamannaji]

I found a made in USA 95 white with black pick guard and pickups plus matching white headtock. The logo seems gold with a round string tree all for a great deal 400$. I would really appreciate someone with further information on this guitar

[King.DAVid.III]

Does the spaghetti logo on front headstock show a tex mex in 1996?