Hi Guys,
Just thought i would bring this topic up for debate, i never thought that the highway 1 were part built in the usa but with mexican parts, i presumed they were all american and am now on a bit of a downer since i have found this out, it was confirmed by fender, any thoughts anyone?
Cheers

Why? Does your guitar all of sudden sound bad or not play well?

No, of course not. Okay, a couple of things...

1) You did not pay for an American Standard. So you should not expect for it to have its tailpiece, pickups, etc.
2) Having the same quality internal components as a MIM Strat is a good thing. The MIM Strats are killer guitars with a huge following ... even from those with MIAs in their collection.
3) If all that matters to you is the "Made in the USA" thing, then be happy. So, when some dippo asks you "Is your Strat American?" ... you can say "yes".
4) Because it is MIA, it will appreciate faster (or depreciate slower, these days) than its MIM counterparts.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

Pretty much everyone on there already knows that. Sorry that you weren't aware before you bought it though.

But, like what was already said, does that "magically" make it inferior if you already like the rest of it?

You know what an american standard is and what is costs. What did you think this was - the same thing just cheaper? Things don't drop in price unless there is some cost cutting measure to remove that cost in the first place.

If you wanted an american, then you simply should have bought an american. There's nothing wrong with a H1 strat though, or even the MIM standard series for that matter. You get what you pay for though. You didn't want to pay for the MIA, or didn't have it in your budget, so you got something cheaper. Well, you got exaclty what you paid for.

This whole MIA vs. MIM thing stumps me.

If you find a guitar you love then grab it and don't let go. The rest is just so much chatter.

If your wife were made in Mexico, would that make her less of a wife than one made in the US?

This is not to say that MIMs are better than MIAs or vice versa. I don't want to start that discussion again!! I just don't find it to be very relevant when it comes to my final buying decision.

IMHO....

my son plays highway 1 strat & tele. they sound and play better than my guitars, which are a 52 re-issue and a 40th anniversary limited ed. strat. those texmex pick-ups are pure rock-n-roll

Dgonz,
i know you get what you pay for, but they are marketed as made in the usa, dosnt mean i dont think its a cool axe., but i should have read the small print!

Don't know if it is the same in America; in Europe you are legally permitted to mark a product "made in Germany", "made in Britain", etc if it comprises a surprisingly small quantity of parts that were actually created in that country, and if the majority of assembly took place there.

As it happens, Marshall amps of AVT and higher models are indeed made in the UK to a degree that all of us would recognise as genuine. But don't buy a Vox amp and think you are getting a British product - to name but one...

And as most here are saying - who cares anyhow? If an Outer Mongolian can build a beautiful guitar I want it!

Cheers - C

See, I was not aware of that. If they're being deceptive about that, then I agree with ya.

I'm looking at the MIM and H1 series on this site's product listings. I don't not see mention of either being US, Mex, or any combo of that, in the details or specs.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but how do you figure its being marketed as an american guitar? Because the H1 name sounds american? There are probably some things I'm not aware of though. Just curious.

And in any case, I'm sure it's still a great guitar. But knowing "what" it is exaclty would be nice to know before hand.

On another side note mentioned above: having a hot MIM girlfriend is not a bad thing

Guitars originated from a latin country didnt they?

Hey your guitar is part ethnicly correct. I'm sure in time you will learn to love the American parts.

Trust me mate, i got mim's and mia's. My current favourite is a chinese £200 knock off les paul. That will undoubtedly have changed by next month, more probably by my next cup of tea in 15 minutes.

Country of origin matters little. Its where they reside now that counts in my book.

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No no and no

thank god the highway one isnt a american standard.
the new american standard is the most overrated guitar
out there today. the highway one is the same alder/ maple woods
as the american made strats. cut from the same machines as the mia strats. and the alnico III pick ups are in my opinion a much better
pick up. tone versatility/and handles distortion better than any american standard pick up ever could. the necks and body's on the highway one are
a work of art simply brilliant. the highway one is made in the USA and a all out brilliant strat. i would take the highway one over the new american standard any day and every time.

You would be surprised to find out how many parts on all guitars are actually made overseas.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

To be fair, this official Fender video (which alwaysstrat pointed us towards) gives a pretty unequivocal impression that the Highway One is a USA built guitar. As it largely is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqSYDHNpAx8

Cheers - C

and how true this statment is