Fender Highway Strat

Kommerzbassist

Kommerzbassist

Thunderbirdologist
Hey guys... say... why are they so cheap?
It seems like they have a resonant body 'n' stuff... but shouldn't that make them more expensive?

thanks
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

It may be wise not to ask such questions... ;) Fender may catch on.

I've pondered that many times, and all I can come up with is finish. It's a pretty simple finish that wouldn't require the labor that many of the other MIA strats would. The pickups are also nothing special - typical off the shelf Fender "vintage style" single coils with staggered pole pieces. Beyond that, I don't know what the differences are.

All told, though, the HWY1s are great strats. Very comfortable, playable axes that are just like their MIA brethren, sans a fancy finish.
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

I kind of like the flat non polished finnishes on those strats... Has the worn in feel....

WhoFan
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

the hw1 strats are good bodys and necks with crappy hardware and electronics.
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

Odd, Jeremy. I bought my HWY used (and it is an 03 model) and it had the Fender closed tuning keys and the exact same stamped saddle bridge found on the Clapton signature strat. It's so new and looked so untouched that I always assumed these were original parts.
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

Hmmm so it seems like a Highway Strat for about half the price of a normal one and only abit more than a MIM is quite worth thinking of...
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

its cheaper. the hardware and pups are pretty much the same stuff as the mexicans but even the mexicans have better pots and switch
fender/ping tuners on the hw1 not the fender/schallers they use on the americans
cheap pups and cheap pots and switch and a cheaper ping vintage style bridge with a cheezy block. the american vintage ri bridge is a much heavier, more solidly build unit. the block is about two or three times the mass of the cheaper one which gives you much better sustain
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

No cheap pots, it is all shielded and neat the output jack is a Switchcraft, the pups may not be customshop or anything, but they sound rather good on my HW1 Strat.
It is all reasonable stuff, it works, it is way better than most of the crap they made in the 80's and early 90's.
Sofar the bridge works fine and does not sound dead or thin, it keeps in tune rather well, just opend the nut slightly for the 10's and sanded the grooves with a fine grain paper.
I'll only change anything on this one if it wears out, funny for a change:D
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

Ah crap that the bridge is cheap... cause I'm planning to get a highway strat so I can take several parts out of it (the neck for example)... and I thought I could use the bridge too, but it looks like I'll have to get that extra...
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

I don't like the colors, I'll already have my pickguard with electronics and pickups fixed and yes... actually, if I could buy an American Strat neck alone (not those stupid vintage tinted), I'll be happy with that too, as the HWY1 trem seems to be BS
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

find a body on ebay. The translucent lacquer blue bodies look very very nice, like the one John has. Just get all the parts on ebay or something, it will come out cheaper and you wont waste money on crap parts that you'll throw out anyway.
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

Well... if I'd only take the neck out of it, it would get a new one + new pickups and be my #2 guitar... I mean the colors aren't that bad, but my number 1 just needs to be a nice glossy 3 color sunburst... although the trans blonde has some style too... ah whatever.. lets see how much money I earn in summer to blow out on guitar stuff
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

Kommerzbassist said:
Hmmm so it seems like a Highway Strat for about half the price of a normal one and only abit more than a MIM is quite worth thinking of...
Click to expand...

Especially if you like the broken in feel. For example, the fret edges on the HWY1 are nicely rolled. The MIM strat will have sharper fret edges.

And I thought the HWY1 retailed for about $200 less than the American Strat?
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

i have a hw1 strat, its that kinda funky see thru cream color, comfy neck.
not bad guitars, but with a new bridge and electronics it can be better than a "real" american strat.
 
Re: Fender Highway Strat

jeremy said:
its cheaper. the hardware and pups are pretty much the same stuff as the mexicans but even the mexicans have better pots and switch
fender/ping tuners on the hw1 not the fender/schallers they use on the americans
cheap pups and cheap pots and switch and a cheaper ping vintage style bridge with a cheezy block. the american vintage ri bridge is a much heavier, more solidly build unit. the block is about two or three times the mass of the cheaper one which gives you much better sustain
Click to expand...

That bridge on the HWY1 guitars sounds like the Vintage style copy on my Tex Mex strat.... Looks like a vintage bridge..... but it is different.

WhoFan
 
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