Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

59paul

59paul

New member
I was talking with the Owner of my Local Fender Dealer today. This store opened in the Late 50's, and has been owned by the same Family ever since. They have been a Fender Dealer forever. He told me Fender may Discontinue the Highway 1 line in 2005. He said he was waiting to hear from Fender, and he should know later this month whether or not they were going to be Discontinued. This is not a "fly by night" shop........this guy KNOWS his stuff !!!!

Can anyone here varify if Fender is actually going to Discontinue the Highway 1 Series ????

If they do, it would be a Huge Mistake, IMO.
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

Very interesting. Didn't they just bring out the Highway 1 Series line of guitars like a year ago? :wrf:
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

I think the Highway 1's came out around 2000-2001.

I really think the Highway 1 Series was a Home Run for Fender !!!

I will be disappointed if Fender Discontinues the Series.

** The Owner of the Shop I mentioned said he will know later this month if he will be getting any new one's in. He was uncertain as to whether Fender was going to continue with the Series. I guess we'll just wait and see if Fender actually Discontinues them.
 
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Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

59paul said:
I think the Highway 1's came out around 2000-2001.

I really think the Highway 1 Series was a Home Run for Fender !!!

I will be disappointed if Fender Discontinues the Series.
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Holy $hit, I didn't realize they had been out for so long. :smack: I just found out about the Highway 1 Series about 8 months ago when I was looking for my Fender MIA that is listed in my signature..... :dance:
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

I have a 2002 Highway 1 Strat.

I'm pretty sure they came out around '00 - '01
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

I have heard that rumour as well.

That would really be a shame, I think the Highway 1 is the best deal Fender has going right now.
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

wouldn't suprise me, probably replace it with some overpriced low quality guitar like a "glow in the dark" series or something stupid...i'm stoppin by my local shop this week to pick up some new strings and a p-bass nut...he's a fender dealer...i'll ask him too?!
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

Hoss said:
wouldn't suprise me, probably replace it with some overpriced low quality guitar like a "glow in the dark" series or something stupid...i'm stoppin by my local shop this week to pick up some new strings and a p-bass nut...he's a fender dealer...i'll ask him too?!
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My thoughts exactly!!! I think the Highway 1 is the best thing fender has right now.
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

I dont like Highway 1... why ? The finish is very fragile, the tuners and bridge are cheap imported PING-made.

Im not surprised about Fender discontinuing them. I can feel a sales conflict between the Highway 1s and MIM Deluxes, considering that all MIM are now made of Alder too, and growing up in quality.

imHo, Fender USA should stick with the high-end models and Fender MIM with the affordable-but-quality ones.
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

It's only two weeks to NAMM! So we'll likely know by then. Maybe they'll have a "Highway 2" version? :laugh2: It's funny how Winter NAMM is around the time most people in the States find out if they're gonna get a tax refund! :laugh2:
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

I think a big part of the series' appeal has been the fact that the body and neck were first rate (with a nitro finish that, while more fragile than a poly, many players prefer) while all the little bits that a hot-rodder is likely to replace anyway -- pickups, tuners, etc. -- are cheaper imports. For someone who does heavy mods, it's nice to not have to pay for things that you'd throw away anyway.

Thames said:
I dont like Highway 1... why ? The finish is very fragile, the tuners and bridge are cheap imported PING-made.
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Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

St_Genesius said:
I think a big part of the series' appeal has been the fact that the body and neck were first rate (with a nitro finish that, while more fragile than a poly, many players prefer) while all the little bits that a hot-rodder is likely to replace anyway -- pickups, tuners, etc. -- are cheaper imports. For someone who does heavy mods, it's nice to not have to pay for things that you'd throw away anyway.
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+1, MIM and H1 stuff is like a blank canvas for modders, i think they all have swimming pool routes in strats too :dance:

and i love nitro finishes.. they age much more gracefully :)
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

I asked this question on the fender forum in november i think it was and they said there hasn't been any sign from fender that they should, but they maybe decided that recently.
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

The poly finish is why I bought mine in the first place. I don't like the MIM necks. The unrolled edges and tiny vintage wire are not good.
 
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Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

St_Genesius said:
I think a big part of the series' appeal has been the fact that the body and neck were first rate (with a nitro finish that, while more fragile than a poly, many players prefer) while all the little bits that a hot-rodder is likely to replace anyway -- pickups, tuners, etc. -- are cheaper imports. For someone who does heavy mods, it's nice to not have to pay for things that you'd throw away anyway.
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Yes, that's a good point.

But for Fender, it is still a "threat" to American series and MIM Deluxes.
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

Due to Fender being so anal about the modding of their instruments, I'm sure they'll pull the plug on the one model they know people like hotrodding. It's sad really.

Fender died when Leo Fender sold the company and started up G&L.
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

the_Chris said:
Fender died when Leo Fender sold the company and started up G&L.
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Actually he first started Music Man, then sold that. Then came G&L. G&L makes great guitars.
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

My buddies hwy 1 p-bass has a SD vintage P-bass pup he thought the guitar was perfect already. Now he says he didn't know how clear a bass could sound. They are great guitars. My only beef is the microtilt absence.

Now I will let you all in on my conspiracy theory. I think Fender is trying to destroy SD's pup crediblity. They have started including Duncan pups on the low cost korean models but will only put Fender brand pups in their CS stuff (except for some SD humbuckers) and American Lines. I think that Fender will eventually say "Seymour Duncan pups? yeah we offer but only in the low line stuff" Sweet Lou's ebay fiasco proves The big F's mischievousnes.

Luke
 
Re: Fender Highway 1 Discontinued ????

ok this needs to be said...the Highway One guitars are NOT Nitro! and they do NOT have swimming pool routs. Highway one guitars are simply American Standard necks, and tuners with MIM Classic series bodys, pickups, and bridges, and a thin/no gloss finish. I love them and I hope that they are nOT being discontinued!!! These are the best bang for buck next to the MIM Classic series for Fender in years...and unless you like the 7.25 radius and wire frets on the Classic series they are pretty tough to play! The HW1 stuff plays like butter and really sound and play good stock!
 
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