Let's settle it. HW1 time!

[The Kernel]

I have been hearing different reviews, opinions, etc. It's time to say everything you have to say about Fender's highway 1 series.

[CapoFirstFret]

I've got a HWY1 Tele and that thing plays like butter and sounds better than a hot blonde who's had too many tequila sunrises telling you that she "really likes the way your jeans look on you"

[Imp]

sound is the pickups, your fingers, any effects in the way, and your amp..

i could be given a '62 strat tomorrow and i can't say i wouldn't consider a surfer/surfer/twangbanger set!

[drew_half_empty]

they can sound as good as americans

then again there are some MIM's that can too

but i'd say your chances of a highway 1 sounding as good as an american are a lot better than with a MIM

[bloodswords]

great guitar, saving up to purchase another.

[JumpMarine]

GREAT guitars, but like anything there are good and bad in every line and price range. Try them all and pick the one that speaks to you.

[The Kernel]

I've noticed that the other MIA strats have American 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Stainless Steel Saddles, while the Highway strats have a Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo bridge. Also, the standard american strat seems to be heavier than the HW1s, even thought they are both made of alder. Anything to say about those points?

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Mine sounded good straight away...even with those ungood standart fender lowline pickups..
The pots and the rest needed no change, I changed the trem to an old gotoh, changed the pickups, relocated the stringtree and removed the second, plugged the holes and that was that....it is the only MIA Strat that I ever have kept for so long.
I usually stick to MIJ Fenders.

[Innocent_Bystander]

I liked mine stock, that's why I picked it up. At the time I had no idea what a Highway 1 really was, I just knew that I liked the sound and the look.

Over the next year or so of playing it, I started to want a slightly different sound from the pickups. My biggest complaint was that the bridge pickup was so thin sounding it was unusable. I decided to get a set of Fralin Blues Specials and with that upgrade I think the guitar sounds just as good as any MIA Strat you can buy and certainly just as good as anything for that price (guitar + pickups cost.)

I think the Highway 1's are great foundations for a USA made guitar. I only like a few of the colors with the satin paint, honey blonde being my favorite, so that's a bit of a sticking point. However, if you like the paint, for a few hundred bucks with a pickup and maybe bridge/sadlle upgrade, you can have a super nice guitar.

[MikeS]

Mine sounds great as is... would probably be even better with a pickup swap. The electronics are all stock right now, but I have upgraded the bridge to a Wilkinson VSVG, which I think is a good improvement.

They certainly have the potential to be every bit as good as MIA Standards. I happen to prefer the vintage style bridge over the 2 point Fender bridge so the HWY series made sense for me.

[Innocent_Bystander]

Mine sounds great as is... would probably be even better with a pickup swap. The electronics are all stock right now, but I have upgraded the bridge to a Wilkinson VSVG, which I think is a good improvement.

They certainly have the potential to be every bit as good as MIA Standards. I happen to prefer the vintage style bridge over the 2 point Fender bridge so the HWY series made sense for me.

I too prefer the vintage style bridge too.

[lex666]

I don't really care for the stock pups in the HW1. I think those definetely need to be swapped out.

[Mr. B]

You are getting better hardware, electronics, and pickups when you buy the American versions. The Highway One I bought before the upgraded versions had a bridge that had string spacing so wide that the high and low E strings were so close to the edge of the fretboard as to be unstable. The strings werent even close to lining up with the polepieces on the bridge P'up, with the original bridge. Bought a new bridge with narrower string spacing to fix that. The g-string nut slot was not spaced evenly between its neighboring strings and the nut had to be replaced. AFTER all that, and a pickup change which I had already planned on, its a pretty nice guitar.

I got that guitar new from MF for 499 when they were blowing out the older models. Theres NO WAY I would pay 750 for a new one, knowing I would have to upgrade hardware/pickups etc if I wanted to be satisfied. I have a $200 Squier strat which, with LESS upgrades and a little fret dressing/polishing etc, sounds and plays as well.

I would pay for a 200 dollar Squier, knowing I was getting lesser quality, but a good price, and be happy. I would pay 950 for an american strat, knowing I was getting good quality and paying for it. But I would not pay 750 for a Highway strat knowing I was getting neither a good deal, nor good quality.

Highway one guitars should be priced around 500-600 dollars for the quality you are getting.

[WhoFan]

The Highway One I bought before the upgraded versions had a bridge that had string spacing so wide that the high and low E strings were so close to the edge of the fretboard as to be unstable. The strings werent even close to lining up with the polepieces on the bridge P'up, with the original bridge. Bought a new bridge with narrower string spacing to fix that.

I'm not a huge fan of the vintage spaced bridges... i do use them as that is the Vintage strat thing but i much more prefer the narrow spaced bridges and the 2 post American Standard bridges feel great

a side note... One of my favourite albums this year for tone is the new Kim Mitchell cd-(Canadian Classic rock artist).... his new disc has an older 100% stock American Standard strat into a Plexi Reissue... man i wish i could get that sound at home! I will be buying a new American Strat soon and i plan to keep it stock

[WhoFan]

I'm a huge fan of the American Series/Standard guitars.... which is the closest MIA axe i would concider being the same wooden parts as the HWY1 axes.... Hardware and paint is different... besides that the build quality is just as good in my opinon...

But for me if i had the extra $500canadian i'd be buying the American Series strat myself... i prefer the finnish and hardware on those over the HWY1.. still the HWY1's are nice and i will not rule out buying one for myself oneday

[Mr. B]

But for me if i had the extra $500 canadian i'd be buying the American Series strat myself... i prefer the finish and hardware on those over the HWY1.. still the HWY1's are nice and i will not rule out buying one for myself oneday

$500 difference? that sound like a lot, but then I don't know the exchange rate between Canadian and American $. If the difference were 500 american I might consider the HWY 1. The difference between the American and the Highway one here in the states is only 200.

I did see a real cool looking COLOR combo on a HWY 1 the other day. It was Daphne Blue with an orange/brown tortoise shell pickguard. It looked horrible up close though. You know, PRS's cheaper line of guitars manages to put a very even coat of paint on their satin finish models. I could have done a better job with a 3rd grade paint brush than this highway one had. Huge ripples, orange peal effect all over, and an obvious bubble crater right on the face.

One thing I can't understand about Fender.... I have one Deluxe American strat (sunburst) with HSS pickups, and have wanted to pick up another Deluxe that was SSS for years, but I think most of the Deluxe lines finished are either pathetically DULL, or something sort of faddish that will be out of style in a few years. WHY can't Fender offer some interesting or classic color combinations to people who are willing to pay for their top of the line models???? I would be thrilled to have one in a more timeless color combo. Surf green, Shell pink, Daphne Blue, Fiesta red. Its about time they offered some new colors, whether they are better or not. They've had the same colors for 10 years.

[Binnerscot]

I thought the HWY1 was good, the only thing I noticed that really turned me off was the sloppy fret work I saw on the 4 HWY1 models that were in the store. I went with the an American Deluxe.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Love my neck on mine..the fretwork and nut was great out of the box!
Just sanded the slots slightly...just to be certain that they where smooth!

[WhoFan]

exchange rate between American and Canadian is almost par.... but products for sale in Canada have not adjusted so we still pay a lot more sometimes... prices for a new HWY1 with the 70's styleing at my local shop is $799 Canadian.... American Series is $1250-$1299...

once in a while you can find a new but discounted American Series around $999-$1199 range... They still have a few of the older HWY1's with the smaller headstock for $699

[Zhangliqun]

Only tried one but it was really good -- better than many of the American Strats in the store at the time. It's all about the individual piece of wood...