Fender Highway One strats!?
- Thread starter papersoul
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papersoul
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Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
Right now the highway one is at $450 and less than a day on the auction. I hope it goes less than $500.
But now I am feeling stupid because a guy in Philly near me has a 1996 mint red American Standard with Lindy Fralins, new shielding, bone nut, etc and all for $600.
Right now the highway one is at $450 and less than a day on the auction. I hope it goes less than $500.
But now I am feeling stupid because a guy in Philly near me has a 1996 mint red American Standard with Lindy Fralins, new shielding, bone nut, etc and all for $600.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
The snipers are out in force these days. Unless it end Monday 3 am or so that won't work out.
American Standards can be had for 650 or but people like me don't really like them.
The snipers are out in force these days. Unless it end Monday 3 am or so that won't work out.
American Standards can be had for 650 or but people like me don't really like them.
papersoul
New member
papersoul
New member
Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
The older ones have the thin finish, correct frets and better string spacing in line with the Standards. :approve:
The older ones have the thin finish, correct frets and better string spacing in line with the Standards. :approve:
Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
you're right that the strat is great for cleans. my next one will likely be the deluxe american with a humbucker. i really think the humbucker adds some kick in the pants for the overdriven tones and leads. i love the high quality components (saddles and nuts, etc) of the deluxe series.
you're right that the strat is great for cleans. my next one will likely be the deluxe american with a humbucker. i really think the humbucker adds some kick in the pants for the overdriven tones and leads. i love the high quality components (saddles and nuts, etc) of the deluxe series.
papersoul
New member
Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
I hate the feel and look of the Deluxe series. Hate that roller nut, yuk.
I also think for what a strat is made for, leabe it alone, three singles. Use a stacked HB or rails bucker if need be. Honestly I use my Gibsons or PRS for that. Listen to bands like Manchester Orchestra where you hear beautifully driver single coil pickups.
I hate the feel and look of the Deluxe series. Hate that roller nut, yuk.
I also think for what a strat is made for, leabe it alone, three singles. Use a stacked HB or rails bucker if need be. Honestly I use my Gibsons or PRS for that. Listen to bands like Manchester Orchestra where you hear beautifully driver single coil pickups.
Mr. B
New member
Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
I stand by what I said. The early finish was chip-o-matic. I don't know how many new ones hanging in stores I saw with large chunks already gone. The string spacing on the early bridge was too wide for the size of the frets, and the high E string would fall off the fret ends easily during vibrato. (they fixed this with narrower spacing on the new bridge saddles, which most people did not notice) The older A5 magnet pickups were absolute bland crap. The newer A3 pickups may not be traditional, but they sound much better.
I've stated my case... what is yours?
I stand by what I said. The early finish was chip-o-matic. I don't know how many new ones hanging in stores I saw with large chunks already gone. The string spacing on the early bridge was too wide for the size of the frets, and the high E string would fall off the fret ends easily during vibrato. (they fixed this with narrower spacing on the new bridge saddles, which most people did not notice) The older A5 magnet pickups were absolute bland crap. The newer A3 pickups may not be traditional, but they sound much better.
I've stated my case... what is yours?
AudioWonderland
New member
Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
I own a 2002 model and other than the pickups none of what you said is accurate. I tried several in the shop when I bought mine and looked through a few dozen more they had hanging there and none were chipped. 10 years later mine still has no chips. Never had a problem falling off the fretboard doing vibrato. In fact they used the AmSt wire on those which was absolutely perfect and a huge improvement over the Mexican models.
I own a 2002 model and other than the pickups none of what you said is accurate. I tried several in the shop when I bought mine and looked through a few dozen more they had hanging there and none were chipped. 10 years later mine still has no chips. Never had a problem falling off the fretboard doing vibrato. In fact they used the AmSt wire on those which was absolutely perfect and a huge improvement over the Mexican models.
papersoul
New member
Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
Been talking to my guitar tech today who has been in the business for 30 years. He said the early Highways are some of the best around. Very resonant, well made, very tight neck pockets, great feel, great trem, nice, sweet vintage tone out of the pickups and perfect string spacing, basically identical to the Standards of the time. I had a 2000 Standard that was insane!
Been talking to my guitar tech today who has been in the business for 30 years. He said the early Highways are some of the best around. Very resonant, well made, very tight neck pockets, great feel, great trem, nice, sweet vintage tone out of the pickups and perfect string spacing, basically identical to the Standards of the time. I had a 2000 Standard that was insane!
papersoul
New member
Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
Well I got the 2003 Highway One Strat. It is very nice! My only compalint is the lack of a micro tilt adjustment. I have come to expect that on a strat and the Highways I guess do not have this feature.
I also have a Telecaster I ordered so if I like that better, I will sell this and take the Tele. It is a 2012 Tele.
Well I got the 2003 Highway One Strat. It is very nice! My only compalint is the lack of a micro tilt adjustment. I have come to expect that on a strat and the Highways I guess do not have this feature.
I also have a Telecaster I ordered so if I like that better, I will sell this and take the Tele. It is a 2012 Tele.
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
I only have a micro-tilt on my 2009 AS Tele. I've never had a need to touch it.
I only have a micro-tilt on my 2009 AS Tele. I've never had a need to touch it.
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
Just Hwy1, AmSpecial, and MIM Strats.
Just Hwy1, AmSpecial, and MIM Strats.
papersoul
New member
Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
Thanks bro, so American Standard have remained the same through the 90s, to current?
Thanks bro, so American Standard have remained the same through the 90s, to current?
hareek
New member
Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
Are you saying you used the screws on the exterior to deck the bridge? To eliminate the floating bridge? If so, you're supposed to use the screws inside the guitar on the plate that holds the springs to do that. And if the guitar came with 3 springs, you should maintain that and just use the screws to increase the tension on the bridge to pull it down first. Only add springs if necessary. The goal is to balance the tension of the springs against the tension of the strings. You really should only be adding more springs if you use higher gauge strings.
This article shows you how to adjust it if it's too high. Obviously just keep "adjusting" if you want it flat to the guitar.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5325639_fix-floating-bridge-fender-stratocaster.html
Are you saying you used the screws on the exterior to deck the bridge? To eliminate the floating bridge? If so, you're supposed to use the screws inside the guitar on the plate that holds the springs to do that. And if the guitar came with 3 springs, you should maintain that and just use the screws to increase the tension on the bridge to pull it down first. Only add springs if necessary. The goal is to balance the tension of the springs against the tension of the strings. You really should only be adding more springs if you use higher gauge strings.
This article shows you how to adjust it if it's too high. Obviously just keep "adjusting" if you want it flat to the guitar.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5325639_fix-floating-bridge-fender-stratocaster.html
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hareek
New member
Re: Fender Highway One strats!?
No they've changed a bit. I have a '99 standard. The difference now seems to be the shorter tuners for the high E and B strings, and the elimination of one of the string retainers on the head stock. They've also changed the bridge saddles too. I personally like the older saddles as they looked better and were more rounded for the string to lay across versus a sharper point of contact on the new ones. It probably doesn't make a difference, but to me it does. All of these changes are intended to be upgrades to the older model so in theory the newer ones are upgrades. Whether they're actually better or not depends on who you ask in my opinion.
No they've changed a bit. I have a '99 standard. The difference now seems to be the shorter tuners for the high E and B strings, and the elimination of one of the string retainers on the head stock. They've also changed the bridge saddles too. I personally like the older saddles as they looked better and were more rounded for the string to lay across versus a sharper point of contact on the new ones. It probably doesn't make a difference, but to me it does. All of these changes are intended to be upgrades to the older model so in theory the newer ones are upgrades. Whether they're actually better or not depends on who you ask in my opinion.
