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Post subject: Re: why did they discontinue the Highway 1?
Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 12:48 pm
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Why would Highway 1's still be on the market, if the can sell the American Special Basses for at least $200. or more. It's business, It's Dollars and Sense. Then again, why have the American Special if they are only about $200. less than an American Standard?
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Post subject: Re: why did they discontinue the Highway 1?
Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:43 pm
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moochy13 wrote:
bearing in mind the highway 1 was invented as the lowst rung budget US made guitar (what the am. special now is), and me believing that MIJ guitars are at minimum american std quality, id take the MIJ over the highway 1/am special.

also fender japan pump out more variety of interesting spec guitars and finishes.

Moochy, I hear the Fender Japan is better than this or that thing frequently. I've yet to find a Fender Japan instrument with electronics on par even with USA. Highway 1 models had better electronics than Fender Japan stuff too. Fender Japan has strong points, but electronics isn't one of them as a general rule.


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Post subject: Re: why did they discontinue the Highway 1?
Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:53 pm
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The Highway 1 model was discontinued as the USA budget line was revamped. Trucking bodies and necks up and down Highway 1 between Corona and Ensenada for finishing in Enseanda and then back for assembly in the USA extended not shortened the manufacturing process. It just wasn't very efficient and all the trucking back and forth complicated things, but was a bit cheaper in the end.

A few people didn't like the fact they weren't all USA made but internationally done and then marked made in USA. Fender was always very upfront about the entire process. Some people wanted the budget line to be all USA made, so now it is.

The American Specials are an equivalent model to the Highway 1 but cost more because the Specials are 100% USA manufacturing instead of a combination of USA and Mexico plant efforts.


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Post subject: Re: why did they discontinue the Highway 1?
Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:13 am
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Newbie here.

I had to add my 2 cents on the Highway One. I love everything about my highway one jazz....the feel, the sound, the action. The neck is 2008, body is 2011 ebay parts put together and I strung it B E A D. The satin finish awesome.

The only downside is that it does get nicked very easily.

All in all, i play this most over my 60's fenders and a Warwick Corvette.

I'm sad they're not making them but business is business.


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Post subject: Re: why did they discontinue the Highway 1?
Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 12:51 pm
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moochy13 wrote:
bearing in mind the highway 1 was invented as the lowst rung budget US made guitar (what the am. special now is), and me believing that MIJ guitars are at minimum american std quality, id take the MIJ over the highway 1/am special.

also fender japan pump out more variety of interesting spec guitars and finishes.


In my view, Asian electronics used on Fender Japan basses are inferior even to Fender's MIM bass electronics. The hardware is not as good as American Standard basses either, but the Asian hardware is not as inferior as the Asian electronics. Good wood, fit and finish on the Japanese basses for sure though, and yes in those areas a Fender Japan bass is closer to USA quality than the MIM Fenders. The guitars might be entirely different but Fender Japan basses are not even close to an American Standard in the two areas of electronics and hardware.


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Post subject: Re: why did they discontinue the Highway 1?
Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:17 pm
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jumbo frets. not same


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Post subject: Re: why did they discontinue the Highway 1?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 1:10 pm
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I've played a couple American Specials. I don't think they are a rebranding of the Hwy series...more like an American Standard with old style hardware(which I do prefer).

Some comparisons...

The Hwy's had ceramic pickups/The Am. Specials have Alnico
The finishes on the American Specials are super nice.
The wood and balance on the Am. Specials is much better than the Hwy's.

I'd take the more traditional Special over the American Standard.


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Post subject: Re: why did they discontinue the Highway 1?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 2:02 pm
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I have the Corgan strat (now discontinued). Everyone tries to put it down and say it's just a highway one. I don't know about that and I've never held a highway one in my hands but the corgan strat has great workmanship--smoothest neck I personally have ever held.


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Post subject: Re: why did they discontinue the Highway 1?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 3:16 pm
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I just checked out a Corgan demo. Looks and sounds like a great guitar to me.


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Post subject: Re: why did they discontinue the Highway 1?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:29 pm
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I think they diconned them for a few reasons. The finishes were not good on the two I had. And I'll put it nicely as I can-- the two I owned- a J bass and a P bass ...well.... they just sounded like poo poo. Sorry, don't hate. I know it's different strokes( no pun intended) for different folks. For all I know the HWY 1 's are the Holy Grail of the Universe. I kind of doubt it though.


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