Just to go back & address a question from a couple of pages ago: As my username suggests, I have a number of Fender Stratocasters, My first is a Japanese built late 80's strat which generally, for non-USA built guitars have a fairly good reputation, although I replaced the pick ups a few years ago as the originals were too "hot". My second is my MK Sig strat which is without doubt the most "grown up" of the 3, and my third is a Mexican Built "Classic 50's" model. They all sound different, although each still sounds like a strat, and due to different string gauges and whether the Tremolo is operational are used for different songs. I actually find the Japanese & Mexican ones easiest to play as they both have Maple necks and their necks are also slightly thinner the the MK Strat. The MK Strat is (I think) the only non-custom shop Fender to have a Nitrocellulose lacquer finish. This is a good thing to the tone purists, but a pain for the owner as the surface is easliy damaged/chipped, whereas the polyester finish on the other two is just about indestructible in comparison. I have 4 paint chips on my MK model and none on the other 2 although one has a small dent in the finish on the bottom edge where I dropped it on my pedal board! ( this would have taken a big chunk out of the MK model). Consequently, although I love it, the MK model actually gets played less, because it is kept in it's case, where the other 2 are out on a rack and more accessible.
