Yea I am looking to buy my first Stratocaster and I am really digging an all black one and i found one. The Fender FSR Highway One Stratocaster HSS. I am liking the look but my question is about the neck. I am not sure if the Rosewood neck is going to be all that good so i am wondering if anybody who has this guitar or has a rosewood neck would tell me how it plays and your personal preference. Thanks,
Noah

highway one sucks $@! I think its a waist of money better of getting road worn. I was just like you until I found E.J. maple strat and that is the best strat right now.

This is a "waist of money" ...

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

your right waist hahaha lol

LOL at Orville's post. If you like the guitar, then that's that, and let nobody tell you otherwise. If I had one, I would most likely polish it on the back, top, and bottom to make it look a bit used. Maybe a few nicks and dings. That, gentlemen, is Road Worn.
In the end, you must play and decide if the guitar feels right. I haven't played one, but they are decent guitars, say the general population. The only possible issue is the size of the frets, which are a bit large.

I like rosewood fretboards. I prefer maple on a black guitar, though.

Thanks guys and girls you saved my butt a couple hundred bucks

How was a couple hundred bucks saved? What have you decided?

There is nothing wrong with the Highway Ones: they are a great no-frills made in the USA Stratocaster. The American Standard has a few more features than it, but the Highway One will serve you proudly.

If you don't like the satin finish, they are easily glossed up with a little polishing compound and your "elbow grease."

Do you have a link the the special HSS you are considering?

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I like the highway1 its a quality guitar for a very reasonable price. I dont like the 70's headstock but thats a personal preference. To say the ej is the best strat out there now is a bit daft. Its a factory run machine made instrument being compared to things like masterbuilt one off's. Without including those master built guitars i can still think of 3 factory run strats that i prefer to the EJ. The deluxes, reissues and hotrods all pip it to the post in my book. Non of them have some fella that i dont rate much signature on the headstock.

Isnt preference a funny thing.

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No no and no

pols080596,

I absolutely love my HWY 1 Stratocaster. I have a 3 tone sunburst with a rosewood fretboard. Rosewood/Maple is a personal choice. Every guitar I have ever owned except for two has had rosewood fingerboard. Let me put to you this way, I never had a rosewood fretboard show wear as easily as I did from the maple necks.

As far as tone and playability, I have an awesome guitar. I have the SSS model. You would most likely like the HSS better.

I would recommend that you play the HWY 1 and the Road Worn series. Play several different ones from each series and let your hands and heart pick the guitar for you. 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

I still think that E.J. maple is better than E.J. RW or should I say any other stratocaster out there. I know the price is just to high for some people but you get what your looking for. PRICELESS

I prefer maple overrosewood everday. Asthetics aside its just easier to maintain.

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No no and no

Well I might stick with a Rosewood and get the Fender Deluxe Fat Strat HSS... My current guitar which is a old Strat look alike( It is an Bently[now known as Austin Instruments] Blues edition and that has a Rosewood and to tell you the truth it really isnt bad at all but my step dad has a Tele with a maple neck and i absolutely love that so once again i am asking for some of my peers and mentors for help ... if you find a good quality strat with a maple neck within $500-$800 that would be great

The Highway One is a great guitar but I agree with nikininja on the maple neck, I prefer the maple over the rosewood neck...