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Post subject: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 5:34 pm
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Ok guys, need your help on deciding:

I'm wanting to buy a cheaper strat for those smaller venue gigs where my guitar can get bumps and dings. I have an AmPro but I dont want it getting dinged on these venues.

I have an opportunity to buy a used, mint condition 09 HWay 1 but was wondering if I'm better off with a new Player strat instead. I had the Player before and though I liked it, I returned it to get the AmPro instead which I liked even better. Haven't tried a HWay 1 before.

I keep my guitars stock so I'm after the one which has better sound and playability.

Thanks in advance.


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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 5:36 pm
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It's all up to what you like.
The MiM player is a little cheaper, not a whole lot of difference in quality.

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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 2:20 am
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https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/guitars/fender-highway-one-stratocaster-25974

I understand that the Player Series are very good guitars and certainly great value for money. Would I buy one? Not over another HW1.

I have a MkII HW1 (as per the review although mine has a rosewood neck) and have been very pleased with it. It was pretty much unused when I bought it as it was bought new by an accoustic player to try electric and then never did.

I love nitro finished bodies, I love jumbo frets and like the feel of the neck generally (now). The PUPs sound great as far as I am concerned. As a purest, I was sceptical of the Greasebucket Circuitry but it works very nicely. The body is light (which I also like). I'm not a great fan of the large headstock but it is purely aesthetics.

Some issues I have addressed:-

Fret ends - The jumbo frets weren't especially well finished on the ends, or the neck rolled, so I spent some time flushing and rounding the fret ends as well as adding a bit of a roll to the neck.

Pick Up Poles - For some reason the PUP poles seem to stick up a long way and more so on the outer poles. The poles aren't chamfered and I would catch the with the edge of my thumb when finger picking.

Image

I solved it by printing a spacer to go between the cover and the top of the PUP

Image

Now it is as sweet as a sweet thang.

Image

At the end of the day it was a budget guitar, which was discontinued for the American Special, so it isn't going to be perfect (at least in the first instance) but it does feel more player orientated than the Special. It feels like a guitar to do work with.

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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 3:36 am
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I like Highway Ones, too - then again, I haven't yet tested the Player at all. Don't know if my likings are any help for the OP, though.
"Better sound" means one thing to me, maybe another to the OP - but I'd describe a Hwy1 as more rough, less vintage than the AmPro. (Don't know if Mr. Sims agrees..?)
"Playability" in guitars of this quality class is, IMHO, totally a setup thing.

One thing: if you've test driven the Player and didn't fully ignite to it, think about if you will be fully satisfied with it in the long run.

Out of curiosity, why did you choose those two specific models? I mean, there are a lot of candidates, e.g. a little older and already worn American Series/Standards, AmSpecials, MIM Classics or RoadWorns (60's if you prefer dark fingerboard), MIJ's and so on.


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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 4:47 am
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jmattis wrote:
...but I'd describe a Hwy1 as more rough, less vintage than the AmPro. (Don't know if Mr. Sims agrees..?) ..


It is certainly a bit hot. I wouldn't say necessarily rough but I play a lot of neck PUP and it has a nice mellow vibe in that position. It doesn't have the spanky chime of a "Classic" Strat but I can find that a bit ice picky any way.

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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 12:48 pm
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John Sims wrote:
Pick Up Poles - For some reason the PUP poles seem to stick up a long way and more so on the outer poles. The poles aren't chamfered and I would catch the with the edge of my thumb when finger picking.

Image

I solved it by printing a spacer to go between the cover and the top of the PUP

Image

Now it is as sweet as a sweet thang.

Image


That's positively diabolical, John!

:mrgreen:
Rawk on!

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 4:06 pm
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Yes, that spacer is a really good idea, John! Even by hand, that would be easily made. Or cut the tops off old/surplus p/up covers - that'd be even easier. Would save me getting into trouble over 'pole-pushing'!!!

On the Player or Hwy1 thing, for me it comes down to whether you like jumbo frets on a Strat. I don't - for me it would be a deal-breaker. I went back to med jumbos on my Special - lovely!

The other consideration is the nitro body. Very desirable, even if it is a bit roughly done on the Hwy1. Over the MIM, if I saw a Hwy1 cheap enough to allow for the refret, I'd pick that every time. Unfortunately, I rarely see a cheap Hwy1 over here any more!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 4:39 pm
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I think the biggest playability/tone difference between the two are the Jumbo frets of the Hwy1/AmSpec, and the Player's Medium Jumbo, and the Hwy1/AmSpec Texas Specials vs the Player's Alnico-5.
The frets aren't THAT different... and the Texas Specials are polarizing with some loving them and others hating them. They are pretty hot and are very strong in the midrange and top end. Of course, an Alnico-V is also going to be pretty strong.

The headstock is purely cosmetic (small weight difference). The 6-screw vintage style vs 2-point bridge on the Player may or may not be a big deal.

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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 4:41 pm
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Peter S wrote:
Yes, that spacer is a really good idea, John! Even by hand, that would be easily made. Or cut the tops off old/surplus p/up covers - that'd be even easier. Would save me getting into trouble over 'pole-pushing'!!!

Or three fiber washers... or only one if the goal is just to lower the bass end pole.

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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 2:43 am
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CB91710 wrote:
Peter S wrote:
Yes, that spacer is a really good idea, John! Even by hand, that would be easily made. Or cut the tops off old/surplus p/up covers - that'd be even easier. Would save me getting into trouble over 'pole-pushing'!!!

Or three fiber washers... or only one if the goal is just to lower the bass end pole.


Indeed. Or thick card, or even a couple of matchsticks either side of the pole pieces. I only used the 3D printer because I have one and it meant I could adjust the height pretty accurately.

A good call by Peter on the vintage trem over the two post. I much prefer the vintage so that would be another + for the HW1.

And you are quite right over no longer finding them cheap in the UK. I paid £500 for mine (IIRC) in pretty much as new condition. If you can find them they seem to be around the price they were new now.

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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:19 am
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Quote:
I think the biggest playability/tone difference between the two are the Jumbo frets of the Hwy1/AmSpec, and the Player's Medium Jumbo, and the Hwy1/AmSpec Texas Specials vs the Player's Alnico-5.

I prefer Medium Jumbo & Alnico 5 over Jumbo & Texas Specials...so it wouldn't even be a debate in my mind. The rest of the "feel & playability" can be worked on in a day on the bench in my Studio.


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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 12:39 pm
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To get things OCD-right; a 2009 Highway One would not have Texas Specials if it's original.
Quote:
Features an alder body, a modern ‘C’-shaped maple neck with a rosewood or maple fingerboard
and 22 jumbo frets. Additional features include three hot single-coil pickups with AlNiCo
3 magnets (middle pickup is reverse wound/reverse polarity)
, a vintage-style synchronized
tremolo system, Greasebucket™ tone circuit and a satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Includes
Deluxe Gig Bag

The part number for those pickups is 0054594000 - same for all three, but I guess they knew which one is the RWRP. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 7:44 am
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Hwy 1

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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 5:05 pm
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Thanks brothers for the advice.

Haven't decided yet which one to choose. Might even get a Godin Session instead as its on sale right now (like really cheap), and it plays and sounds really good too.

OR

Might just stick with my AmPro and let the guitar take its course and have a relic in about 2 years...:-D


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Post subject: Re: 2009 HWay 1 or Player Strat?
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 1:40 am
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BluesmanAsWell wrote:
....

Might just stick with my AmPro and let the guitar take its course and have a relic in about 2 years...:-D


'snot going to happen. Poly is pretty much bullet proof. Had one for 20+ years and the body still looks like the day it left the factory.

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