Opinions on Highway One

Re: Opinions on Highway One

Good guitars. But,you can find a nice used American Standard for about the same price or cheaper!!! On the other hand as some have said,a good MIM Strat for the money is the way to go IMO,especially if you can find one from the 90`s!! I have a 96 MIM Strat and it`s every bit as good as my 04 MIA!!!
 
Re: Opinions on Highway One

Well the Am. Series has a different bridge design, so it's not really the same IMO.

The biggest endorsement I can give the Hwy 1s is that I've never played a bad one.

Luke
 
Re: Opinions on Highway One

I swapped the saddles and pickups on my '03 Highway and it's a great guitar for the money. I have about $900 in it total with a Fender hardshell case and for that kind of money, I don't think you can beat it.
 
Re: Opinions on Highway One

****, I didn't know prices went up to $750!

I got mine last summer brand new for $550, it had a blemish on it so the price was lower.

Ifeel like the HW1 Strats are great if you just simply need a Strat in your collection for the diversity. I love playing 25 inch and shorter scale necks with set necks and string through bodies more than 25.5 inch scale necks with floyds and tremolos. But I just needed a Strat for those SRV and Jimi songs.

I only play my HW1 about 10% of the time. I wanted something better than a MIM but not as expensive and unecesary as a Standard USA Strat. My sounds great and never goes out of tune. Once I get a new amp and perhaps some other guitars, I will throw a cool rails in the bridge and 2 Texas SPecials in the middle and neck.

If you really love Strats and thrive on them, look into getting a Standard USA model. Other wise, lets say for a LP freak, the HW1 is great to buy because its a somewhat cheap way to having a good Strat in your arsenal.
 
Re: Opinions on Highway One

Yeah, I like everything about it except the pickups and I am not sure about the bridge, its got a pretty big block but then again I really know nothing about strat bridges. The neck was real easy to play on with the jumbo frets. I see what people are saying about the flat finish but I would get the sunburst which looks awesome in the flat finish, real old school. I would probably upgrade the pickups. I love the Fender Custom Shop texas specials(not sure on the exact name). I know what you guys are saying about the price though 200 more for an American standard, but I really do not like the American Standard too much, I would rather just get another MIM.

What the heck is this greasebucket though. I read what it does and listened too it, didnt sound like any thing special to me....
 
Re: Opinions on Highway One

I've tried only one, about 3 years ago, but it was a very fine Strat. Better than many of the Americans on the rack at the store.
 
Re: Opinions on Highway One

Rid said:
Mine have rolled off edges....
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Are you sure? Yours is also from the original series. I can't recall the specs for those but the new ones most definitely don't. The only Highway 1 I see from the specs with rolled fingerboard edges is the Texas Tele.

Of course Rid, yours could be naturally rolled along with the natural relicing. ;)
 
Re: Opinions on Highway One

Well it is just like a normal US series, except the hardware and the satinfinish.
Rolled off, nicely dressed, well cut nut, just played out of the box after a tuneup:)
It even has CTS pots and a Switchcraft jack.
Well now it has a JB, and two Jackson J-100 singles, and an old Gotoh trem from one of my old Tokais, the tuners are old Fender tuners from the 90's, not the new Ping ones.
 
Re: Opinions on Highway One

Did you hand roll them yourself? They don't come with rolled fingerboard edges and the old series didn't come with them. That is one of the main features of the American Series. Play an American Series post 1999-2000 and the neck will feel totally different. The edges are a little rounder on the Highway 1's than MIM's, but more like the 90's American Standards (which were not rolled either).
 
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Re: Opinions on Highway One

Dunno...when was the last time an American company had any kind of consistency??
Especially in the musicbuisness :D
They are rounded, as much as my old Kramer is...very comfy.
 
Re: Opinions on Highway One

tone? said:
Eh, not to be an ass, but that aint quite the same guitar after that is it?
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No, but I wanted the thin finish and vintage bridge. I still think the guitar (pre upgrade) is a great value, but I like to tweak my guitars to get them the way I want them.
 
Re: Opinions on Highway One

Rid said:
Dunno...when was the last time an American company had any kind of consistency??
Especially in the musicbuisness :D
They are rounded, as much as my old Kramer is...very comfy.
Click to expand...
Hey now....LOL. You takin' cheap shots? (j/k) (I tend to agree though....LOL)

Rounded and hand rolled is different. Trust me, they're not hand rolled like the American Series. They are comfy that is for sure.

I wish that Fender didn't change the Highway 1's to be honest. I was all up in arms about getting one and then they changed them AND raised the prices. At that point, I figured may as well just get an American Series instead if I want another Strat.
 
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Re: Opinions on Highway One

Highway one was my very first guitar. I was almost going to buy a schecter from the only and only guitar center guy that sounded like he knew what he was talking about, but for some reason, my eyes fell on the guitar and it was love at first sight. I'm so glad i bought it. I had know knowledge of guitars back then, and although im still a novice in the realm of guitars, i feel i made the right choice of picking up that strat

Now with that said, that strat has endured so much from, so much tinkering, and even with stock pups, i somehow find my way back to it eventually.
 
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