Fender Strats: Highway1 upgrade vs Classic '60s

[Porto Leone]

which is better in terms of quality and playability?

[Lake Placid Blues]

I'd say the highway one is better in terms of playability. It has a flatter radius and bigger frets. If it was 60's custom players strat, rather than just a 60's custom, then it would probably be the players strat, because of the 12" radius board.

The highway one has slightly overwound alnico 3 pickups now, and I like the thin finish feature. You can always buff a better shine on it if you want.

I don't know about any possible diffrences in build quality.

[JohnnyGuitar]

The Highway 1 looks like an impressive axe. I want to try it.

[WhoFan]

HWY1 plays better for me..... i like the 60's as it has the whole vintage vibe and i love the surf green one... but the HWY1 is more of a cross between a 70's vintage style with modern features....

[JohnnyGuitar]

WhoFan - the Jumbo frets on it - are we talking about wide jumbos or thinner (like the ones on the SRV Strat for example)?

[Ayrton]

For me it was the Highway One. I like the thin finish, and vintage trem, but I replaced the necks with Warmoth and dropped in Fender custom shop pups.

Nothing wrong with either guitar, so play both and get the one that you like the best.

[WhoFan]

WhoFan - the Jumbo frets on it - are we talking about wide jumbos or thinner (like the ones on the SRV Strat for example)?

Wide Jumbos is what i would descride the HWY1 frets... simular to the new MIM Standard Frets

[slightly_rude]

Wide Jumbos is what i would descride the HWY1 frets... simular to the new MIM Standard Frets

The '06 introduced Hwy1's have Dunlop 6100 frets. The SRV strat uses 6105's and a Malmsteen strat or a Jackson use 6000's. All three are about .056" high but vary in width; 6105 = .090", 6100 = .110" and 6000 = .118. The American series or MIM Stds use kind of a hybrid. They measure about .106" wide and .043" high.
I have guitars that use each type mentioned and I like the 6100's the best for feel and bending.

[JohnnyGuitar]

Nice... that's what I like.

Wait, it's not nice... now I have GAS!!!!

[Porto Leone]

one more thing... is the paint of the Highway-1s so thin and sensitive in all the colors? flat black and daphne blue look more reliable to me in the pics i found in the net.

[the guy who invented fire]

Truth is you can;t go wrong either way...I prefer the necks on the classis series but those thin finished HW1 bodies are out of the world...my old HW1 Tele just sounds better that just about any other Tele I've ever played...granbted I have upgraded almost all of the parts including the pickups but those thin finished bodies just sing!

[The Kernel]

I have an HWY1 2006 strat, and it will be with me forever. The only problem is that the finish scratches easily! If you don't mind a couple of dings, go for the HWY1!

[Fender_Punk]

I think the "upgraded" Hwy 1s look like complete sh*t. They look completely like 70s guitars and seem like they're try to chip off the high end. The Hwy 1 used to be like the middle ground between an MIM and an MIA but I think I'd take an MIM over a Hwy 1. And to your question: I'd take the classic 60s!!!!!

[EveryMn]

I think the "upgraded" Hwy 1s look like complete sh*t. They look completely like 70s guitars and seem like they're try to chip off the high end. The Hwy 1 used to be like the middle ground between an MIM and an MIA but I think I'd take an MIM over a Hwy 1. And to your question: I'd take the classic 60s!!!!!

What are you smoking, and what should I tell the police?

[WhoFan]

I think the "upgraded" Hwy 1s look like complete sh*t. They look completely like 70s guitars and seem like they're try to chip off the high end. The Hwy 1 used to be like the middle ground between an MIM and an MIA but I think I'd take an MIM over a Hwy 1. And to your question: I'd take the classic 60s!!!!!

i don't like the 70's style Fender logo on the Teles but the strats are OK looking to me.... I like the light blue and black ones the best...

[Heavy]

I'd go with a classic 60's player. CS '69 pickups. I like the vintage tone-modern playability vibe. A little meatier neck too.

Overall quality is hit and miss for both. You really have to play the individual guitar.

[tubeman87]

Hell there's not much love for the Classic 60's Player so I'll choose it, + it already has the CS '69 pups in it, good pups.

[Porto Leone]

CP '60s... it makes me skeptical that the price is too low, considering the CS 69 pickups cost the 1/4 of the whole guitar itself. and i find the 2-point vintage (?!?) trem kinda weird, plus there only two color options.

[WhoFan]

The Classic Players strat is a great strat... but i think that was a different axe then what the original poster meant... i think most of us felt he was talking about the MIM 60's Reissue..... The total Vintage vibe Strat..

Now the new Classic Players strat like the Gold one designed by the Fender Custom Shop builder but made in Mexico is a great axe!!! No questions

[Porto Leone]

WhoFan got it right!