MIM Historic vs. Hwy1 Strat

[RGN]

I found two that I liked today... I went to a local store vesus GC to try to support them. No $349 MIM strats in stock w/ 3 singles so I went up a notch. (They will match GCs price on any Fender stuff)

One is a natural ash finish MIM 70s strat with that wonderful big headstock. This guitar really rings great and plays very well. It looks like a three piece ash body and it is nice looking. They are asking $599 for it but I imagine I can get a slightly better deal. The list on this is over $800.

#2 is a rather ugly blond Hwy 1 American strat. It also really sounds great.. i think it is that thin lacquer finish. I like the jumbo frets and the 22nd fret. This was $599 also.

Any thoughts on which one I ought to grab? I have no real preference. I like the looks of the MIM one better bit I like the fact #2 is made in America. Both play and sound great.

 

[beandip]

Re: MIM Historic vs. Hwy1 Strat

Get the HWY 1. If you dont like the color, just some brown KIWI shoepolish, and it'll add a little more butterscotch color to it.

 

[RGN]

Re: MIM Historic vs. Hwy1 Strat

hate to bump but I need some help....

thanks beandip

 

[stratsandaks]

Re: MIM Historic vs. Hwy1 Strat

I went strat shopping a month ago in the same price range. Knowing I was going to fully gut the electronics and install Duncans or Fralins, I disregarded the sound of the stock pups and just listened to the guitar acoustically.

I chose the Highway 1 for two reasons:
1) I prefer the feel of the American series neck
2) I found that the thin laquer finished (though ugly) strats sounded better, to my ears anyway. YMMV

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: MIM Historic vs. Hwy1 Strat

I'd go highway 1 too. That 22nd fret really comes in handy when you have it.

 

[joelap]

Re: MIM Historic vs. Hwy1 Strat

+1 for the Highway 1.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: MIM Historic vs. Hwy1 Strat

Love my Highway 1, I like it better than the Am Standard I used to have. I really missed that strat until I picked up this one. I have the blond, and it really grows on you.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: MIM Historic vs. Hwy1 Strat

the highway 1 strats are superior. I'm considering buying one sometime.

 

[Norman_T]

Re: MIM Historic vs. Hwy1 Strat

Not suprising I am going to say go for the Highway - but you should get a better deal than $599 (and make sure that you get all the goodies - bags, candy etc etc). I take it this is the maple neck one and not the rosewood one?

Whilst you can get away with the pups that are in there - the one weakness is the bridge pup which will need replacing at some point. The neck and middle pups are good. For me it is a question of replacing all 3 of them (eventually) but it should be okay if all you are doing is the odd gigs and/or using it as a back up. Don't worry about the finish on that body getting chipped and all that - my one has a few but really nothing to get overly excited about and I have used it probably on 20 or so gigs.

Go for it and let us see some pics!!

 

[mrid]

Re: MIM Historic vs. Hwy1 Strat

but you should get a better deal than $599

I agree. I paid $599 for an American Series strat a couple years ago.

 

[RGN]

Re: MIM Historic vs. Hwy1 Strat

What is a fair price for a HWY1?? I am thinking of looking around for a sunburst model today.

 

[Norman_T]

Re: MIM Historic vs. Hwy1 Strat

What is a fair price for a HWY1?? I am thinking of looking around for a sunburst model today.

around $400 or less - but some other guys may be able to chip in

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: MIM Historic vs. Hwy1 Strat

In all fairness - I'd say between $450 and $500.....new. I got an incredible deal on mine at $360 at guitar center. You can't expect to pickup an American strat for that....it was a fluke overstock deal. They were only selling the teal and blond Hwy 1's at this price, and they had about a dozen of them. Each had some minor store wear on them, a few dings and brusies, but nothing severe.

A Highway 1 is worth every bit of $500 in my opinion, with a gig bag. The only thing that truely needs replacing is the bridge pickup. Other than that the stock parts are really good. I was so impressed with the necks on the Hwy 1's, almost all of them I played felt just as good as the $850+ American series.

I wouldn't be afraid to buy one off eBay after my experience with them. I ran across very few that were just dogs. The biggest issue with the one's I played was neck allignment. A simple loosening of the screws and a shift of the neck would fix most. I did have to shim mine slightly, but that's it.