i played the road worn 60's tuesday night at a local
music store. nice guitar BUT! its NO! highway one sss
not even close.

Gotta add my 2 cents to this. About 2 years ago, I had the chance to buy a 2005 Hwy 1 SSS with the blond/beige finish. I personally thought it was the most bland, boring looking Strat I had ever seen. It also had some pretty large chunks of finish missing, but no dents accompanying them. That meant to me that the finish is not up to the task of staying intact, and looking good for a while. I am also not a fan of the relic look.
For me, a bright Fiesta Red, Olympic White or Sunburst as deep as the deep blue sea is the way to go, but that is just me. I like a bright, clearcoat over a nice finish.
Also, the dull satin finish does not allow you to blind people in the front row from the stage light reflections, which is always fun!!!

I too have always found the Hwy 1 to be bland looking. I have a 2005 Chrome Red Am. Std. and that thing just gleams. I also have never been a fan of the 70's large headstock.

I played one about a month ago and the neck and fretboard felt horrible. I guess I am just used to the rolled fingerboard edges. No doubt people love their Hwy 1's, but it just wasn't for me.

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2005 Fender American Stratocaster W/Seymour Duncan Hot Rails in bridge and Seymour Duncan SSL-5 in neck.
1995 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
Line 6 Spider II 150 watt head W/Ampeg 4x12 Cab
Laney Pro-Linebacker PL65R

I like the blonde colour but it could do with a nice bit of ash showing through it, bit like a mary kaye but yellower.

The only thing asheticaly i dont like about the highway's is the big headstock. If they went back to a traditional headstock i'd snap one up. Shallow me cant get past the big bulk at the end of the neck. Hotrod or fiesta red would pretty much guarantee my purchase too.

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No no and no

when i decided to buy another strat i started researching different models and i real piles of people reviews so i was PUMPED to go try a highway one .

i walked into a guitar shop and there one was the first thing staring me in the face, I was excited, I picked it up and in half a second i just knew it was not for me,

i though oh ,mabye its just this one, so after going through there different models and then going to other guitar shops and trying out others i was really dissapointed


in the long run it was a blessing I ended up getting an outstanding deal on a brand new 09 american deluxe hss qmt

http://s587.photobucket.com/albums/ss31 ... 577705.jpg

The guitar mentioned above

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No no and no

Yeah, I prefer the regular headstock as well, but still like the 70's headstock mainly for it being different. Fiesta red would be a nice optional color.

my Tele is a Hwy 1 and it's a great guitar.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

I have no problem with the 1970s large headstock. The first real Strat I ever played was a 1979 25th Anniversary model in Porsche silver, with the word "Anniversary" on the upper section. To me, that WAS a Strat headstock. My first electric was a 1979 Musicmaster, again with the large headstock.
Now I have several Strats, and they mostly have the smaller 50s/60s size version, which I also like. I have heard that the 70s style provides better tone and sustain, but my guess is it would be minimal at best.
I must say in general, I like the HWY one as a guitar, just not the matte finish. It really is a throwback to the older days of basic Strats, pure and simple. No S-1, 2 pt. trem, roller nut, staggered tuners etc. I kinda like the idea, I just can't get past the finish. That being said, If I get a chance to buy one at a good price(less than $500) I may buy one.

i love the huge headstock, i thought about getting a amer std with the normal headstock, but there is something about the huge headstock on a strat that i like.

Well the Highway 1 Stratocaster is not for everyone. I love mine. For me growing up in the 70's, it is what I remember Strats looking like. My cousin had one and it looked awesome.

For me it is a real no frills Fender Stratocaster. I like the oversized headstock and the jumbo frets. For stock pups, they have a nice tone.

I hate to see Fender discontinue this line, but all guitars get d/c'd or changed at some point. Even the Highway 1 has changed since they started producing them. You think that a 1960's Fender Stratocaster had S-1 switch or a 2 point tremelo? Oh well on to the new line/variation. Let the resale value start climbing.

RK

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

RK this is so well put. the highway one sss
is such the real deal.

You ended up with a nice guitar though in that American Deluxe!

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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

I did buy a late 2005 HSS in March 2006. I thought the bland satin amber finish made the guitar look like cheap discount department store furniture (think Walmart, or K-mart or Target furniture - yuck). So I polished it to a nice gloss. That made it look like a regular guitar with nice wood instead of fake wood furniture.

My finish has held up fine. No chunks have come off. It sounds like that guitar you saw had a defective finish. Perhaps the raw wood was contaminated and couldn't take a finish.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

[quote="orvilleowner

Orville: this is a bit off the post, but the only way to reach you. Have you seen the thread on the James Burton Guitar Festival??

Where does Seattle's 'Louie Louis' "Play-in" as I call it, stand with respect to this?

Doc