When the rand had it's wobble in Dec 2015, retail prices got silly. The 2nd hand market reacted a bit later (a few months) - prices definitely went up and stayed up. MIJ's went from 5-6k to 7-8k (Stock models, not those horrible ones with the kahler/gotoh trems) and the only MIA strats I've seen since under 10k are the highway ones. I don't really bother with Mexican Standards, bothners blow them out at 8k on takealot every 6mths - good guitars, just little value in them (imho)
Squires don't have the same headstock appeal - but I've been surprised by a good few. The gear junkies get a good few in, every now and again I take my lady in for a shootout when there's some competition. Blindfolded tests are head-u-cational, there are MIA's (CBS era) that sound crap, a handful that are killer, Stock MIJ's and contemporary MIA's are generally are real good and the MIM's arn't as consistent.
All I know, if blindfolded I could feel my strat out of a bunch, but hearing it (without playing it myself)...I'd be guessing more often than not.
If you can get away from headstock branding - you'll find some value, the Vintage brand do a strat that is identical to the Squire vintage modified, but 2ndhand was around 1k cheaper and no-one wanted it - despite being every bit as playable as the Squire.
Or just go play a bunch of new SX's and pick the winner from the pack.
studmissile wrote
Here's something! Hopefully the link works
That's a winner!
