Fender Strats Jap or Mex

This probably comes up every month, but I cant seem to find an answer anywhere !.

In the grand scheme of things are Jap Strats rated higher than Mex ones ?. Also what sort of price are you looking at for a second hand one, maybe a 62 reissue ?.

I've been watching far to many Deep Purple/Rainbow videos this week and I have a hankering for a white strat !.

Japs are considered better than Mex (some even rate them above some of the older US models!)

However as with all things of this nature what other people think doesn't really matter. Which do you prefer?

The Jap strats are not available in the UK new as fender only seem to be bringing in the flowery teles and jags & jazzmasters. Theres a lot of 'polotics' between Fender US and Japan but basically they dont bring in a Jap model if its made in Mex.

However they are available 2nd hand but you could end up paying the same for an old Jap as you would for a new Mex.

FYI I have just bought a new American series Strat, full hit with case, strap, lead etc from Peter Cooks, and it is fantastic!!! It's on a totally different level to my Mex strat and only £599 all inc. If you shell out £370 (aprox) on a mex, then buy a case (£60-70) you are only about £150 away for the £600 it cost me new. The guitar is better wood, better neck, MUCH better tremolo and P/U's.

This probably comes up every month, but I cant seem to find an answer

I've got 2 white Strats - an eighties Japanese '62 reissue in vintage white and an olympic white Korean Squier Pro Tone - the ones that supposedly Fender had to stop making because they out-sold US versions. Both play superbly but whereas the Jap one has a basswood body and is very mellow in tone, the Pro Tone has an ash body and is much raunchier. My Jap one was £220 on eBay but my Pro Tone was quite a bargain!

Last time I looked the Fender Japan website still had their version of the Blackmore Sig Strat. I'd love one, as the US version is way out of my league.

A 62 reissue for £220 would be perfect actually. I'll have to keep my eyes pealed

Yeah its still there, 145,000 yen