A few years back I got a NEW Highway One HSS from Guitar Center.
And I have been using it in my home studio that is not that bright.
I was cleaning it in a sunny room last weekend and on the back I see imbedded in the finish backwards “RJ” in big block letters. The SN is good on the head “USA 06-07” I don’t know what to think.
Anyone have an idea of what’s going on here.
You can see the R in image the J is out of view closer to the neck on the flat part of the body...


Thanks

Never seen anything like that in my 49 odd years...but the finishes on the Highway Ones is pretty soft and my best guess, it was sitting in the case against something (did it come with one of those Silver and Black Fender Straps with the big "Fender" on it?) and it got transposed somehow onto the finish.

FWIW

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

hi,
thanks for the fast reply!

I just got the guitar nothing else came with it.

It's like under the finish, you can't feel anything if you rub it it feels smooth.

You got me, unless it somehow was next to something in shipping from the factory?

Anyones guess, maybe someone else will have an explanation...it was probably there all along and maybe just through wear (or light as you stated) it finally showed up...can't believe something like this could get past qc at Fender since it surely seems pretty noticable now and it seems under the finish since the finish is smooth on top of, but it could be something transferred to it or the finish reacted to it, but that letter is pretty obvious.

Maybe someone at Fender wanted to autograph it for you

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

Does it effect the play? You been happy all these years why worry about it?

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

SIMPLE!It BUGS me to think that I may have a RJ strat copy guitar body with a fender neck!
I thought I was buying a USA Fender Guitar without defects. And if there is some funny business going on here someplace…

If you get a fender from guitar center new, it's not going to be fake as they are authorised fender dealers and get their stock from fender, or a wholesaler who gets them from fender.
Highway1 finishes are pretty soft and as such when playing a white one with jeans on, the blue from your jeans can transfer/absorb into the white. My guess tis that its transfered something from a shirt you may have been wearing as it's located on the body cutaway.

laquer does wierd stuff. Anything could have touched against the body and could have made a mark. Any kind of solvent effects laquer. Laquer" out gasses" for a long time. It dries weird- almost like it doesn't. Tons of nicotine and or humidity will make it sticky because the paint is breaking down. Swet will dull the finish. You shouldn't be too suprised at anything a laquer finish does. Some polishes will rub a laquer finish off the guitar-- so.............. I don't know-- it's just all different with laquer.

Not much reason to fake a HWYone! Not very expensive to start with.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

If anything, it more likely proves it's genuine. I got my Highway One used from a friend who likes leaving her strap on her guitars all the time. The finish on the guitar is all weird and bubbly over a good portion of the body where the strap must have reacted with the finish. If you had a Strat with those letters on it with a poly finish, then I'd be suspicious. But given that it's a Highway One, I wouldn't worry about it.

If it's really bothering you though, you could always take the neck off and check the markings in the neck pocket. I'll even post pictures of the inside of my Highway One's neck pocket for comparison if you'd like.

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To me it looks like it was leaned against something that reacted with the lacquer.

With Nitrocellulose you have to be careful about what touches it. Stands with the surgical tubing eat the finish. So do any host of synthetic materials.

My guess is that it was leaned up against something. It might have only taken a couple minutes too.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Thanks folks,
I can understand what you are saying about the finish type but the Idea that a letter could rub off a shirt or some other type of transfer is stupid. This guitar was being played by me or it was hanging on the wall. And if it was an issue with the finish then I think that all you Fender guys would have at least heard or seen it before. But you are ALL stumped and just guessing… these are letters not strage shapes.

I still think that is possible that MAYBE Fender is importing RJ bodies for some of their guitars. And that makes them assembled in America NOT made in America. And I won’t stop looking for a truthful answer until I get one. Something is not right here and blind Fender lovers where the wrong folks to ask.
Sorry to have bother you all…

NRA (TROLL) guy, maybe that’s why the Highway One’s are so “cheap” as you put it.
AND No power in the real world so you try and spit on others to feel good about yourself. (pathetic!

cvilleira (NRA guy) is definately not a troll. He's been around here for quite a while and has some good points. Everyone has tried to help you out as best they can. There is no need to act like this when they are trying to help you.

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I never actually thought of a shirt, but do you have one that has a corresponding message.
You never know what stuff printed overseas might have in it.

The reason you should wash clothing before you wear it is that most stuff shipped overseas in cargo holds is treated with formaldehyde (or other such chemicals,)to discourage vermin. Who knows what else could be in the printing on a shirt if it's from China or somewhere else with somewhat lax manufacturing standards.

there's no way Fender is importing cut rate guitar bodies from the Philippines. The have a huge manufacturing plant for this.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

He was just saying cheap in price not in playability. It'd be more profitable to fake a CS Strat. Anyway, that lettering is not that of RJ Strats and why would they stamp their bodies there? Can we see the rest of the guitar?