Fender Highway One strats!?

[papersoul]

So I have been saying for the longest time I am not a strat guy, but the older I get, the more I get into cleaner tones and not many guitars do clean like a strat. So, I have been playing more and more strats and came across the new Highway One strats. Only thing I don't like is they lack the rolled fingerboard edges. Such nice guitars! I might play a bunch till I find the one!

I guess if not this I can just go on the hunt for the right used American standard.

Either way, I am back on the strat prowl. With the new band I am in, we are using more clean textures and the strat will do me good. The odd thing is, the difference in price for used American Standards and Highway One strats is not much!

I really like the fatter frets, 12" board and large headstock!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[papersoul]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

I just talked with my buddy who managed a music shop in Jersey for a few years, I think 2009-2011 and he said always buy a Mexican strat, he said they tended to be better than the American strats they carried!

Fender's site sucks, it freezes all the time!

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

The pre-upgrade Highway ones were not well designed. I would choose the post 2007 upgraded HWY1 models over the Standards. I like the bigger frets, closer string spacing, thinner finish, and bigger headstock.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

I've got a 2007 model and it's excellent. Seriously, the quality is top notch!

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

I have a post-2007 Highway 1 Strat, it's great. I polished the nitro finish to make it gloss, and I changed the pickups and pickguard, although the originals were very good (Hot Alnico 3s). The weak link might be the tuners, although they're reasonable. But overall they're great guitars for the price.

Here's mine ...

 

[phil_104]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

I've owned 5 strats ranging from mexi to american deluxe. I currently own a 2010 Hwy1 with rosewood board. It has a hotrails in the bridge, and graphtech saddles. Stock besides that.

It's my #1 guitar, by far. Kicks the living **** out of my Gibsons.

 

[phil_104]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

Sorry for the double post, but I think something really has to be said about the pickups they put in these guitars after 2007. I never like strat bridges, but the middle and neck pickup sound fantastic.

I also really dig the fret size. Just works.

 

[Artie]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

I have a post-2007 Highway 1 Strat, it's great.

Crusty . . . beautiful! (The Strat, not you.)

 

[Moonsorrow]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

Great guitars. Although i just sold mine to help fund a new Charvel Pro Mod San Dimas!!! Couldn`t be happier!

 

[Pierre]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

I've got a 2002. It's the loudest Strat I ever played, including CS ones. Incredibly ballsy, bassy sound.

I EQed my amp for my MusicMen. When I put my Strat through I get this all-out bass assault. Just huge.

Incredible value instruments. Don't buy it if you intend on keeping it mind. Bash it around, play it every day, enjoy it. With the thin finish she'll quickly be yours and no one else's.

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

The pre-upgrade Highway ones were not well designed. I would choose the post 2007 upgraded HWY1 models over the Standards. I like the bigger frets, closer string spacing, thinner finish, and bigger headstock.

I beg to differ. There was nothing poorly design about them. They were in fact a lot closer to the American Std of the day than they are now.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

The pre-upgrade Highway ones were not well designed. I would choose the post 2007 upgraded HWY1 models over the Standards. I like the bigger frets, closer string spacing, thinner finish, and bigger headstock.

Thanks for the tip!

I LOVE the larger frets, 12" board and thin finish plus the large headstock!
I was close to spending $1000 or so for a new Tele. I am glad I checked out some H1 Strats. I will try a bunch till I play the right one.

What is a good price for a new one?

I just love what Fender is puting out these days, some of the best classiest guitars around. I do not like trems though and wish I could get a hardtail or I will just block it!

My Les Pauls and my PRS CE-22 I think will always be my go-to guitars but I need a strat for those Radio Head and Manchester Orchestra type clean and crunch tones!

I'd like to get one, install Duncan singles and install locking tuners.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

Thanks for the tip!

I LOVE the larger frets, 12" board and thin finish plus the large headstock!
I was close to spending $1000 or so for a new Tele. I am glad I checked out some H1 Strats. I will try a bunch till I play the right one.

What is a good price for a new one?

I just love what Fender is puting out these days, some of the best classiest guitars around. I do not like trems though and wish I could get a hardtail or I will just block it!

My Les Pauls and my PRS CE-22 I think will always be my go-to guitars but I need a strat for those Radio Head and Manchester Orchestra type clean and crunch tones!

I'd like to get one, install Duncan singles and install locking tuners.

I'm like you, I have no use for a trem. I just put 5 springs in mine and decked the bridge. It's been completely solid as far as tuning is concerned.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

I'm like you, I have no use for a trem. I just put 5 springs in mine and decked the bridge. It's been completely solid as far as tuning is concerned.

So, five springs does it good? I think I did that with my PRS.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

Here's mine ...

That's beautiful! Was that originally"Midnight Wine".

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

That's beautiful! Was that originally"Midnight Wine".

Yes, I think that was the Fender name for the colour. It (and the other colours) come in a matte finish that almost felt 'fuzzy' ... pretty certain the finish was 'straight off the gun', i.e. the nitro is sprayed on and no further finishing processes are done. (it seemed to me that the finish, or at least the final coat(s) may have been sprayed too dry or from too great a distance, causing the dusty surface rather than flowing out smoothly like a wetter coat would have done).

It very quickly became shiny where my r/h forearm went over the top of the body, and where the guitar sat on my leg when i sit down to play, and it looked weird, so i cut and polished it to the shine you see now.

The pickups are BKP Apaches.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

I should have tried that on my Hwy 1 Tele. It was that same interesting shade of red to begin with .... just dull.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

Had an older one and sold it. I regret it. The new ones are even better, eh? I may have to "investigate." I'd love a black one.

 

[dominus]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

I prefer the 6 screw bridge over the two post, so if I had to have a USA model, I'd definitely go with a Highway One.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Fender Highway One strats!?

That guitar looks good, Mr. Philtrum. What was the process you used to polish it?