So here's the deal: should I trade my Epiphone Les Paul Custom II for a Fender Hwy 1 Strat -- the new style, with the 70s headstock and rosewood fingerboard?

Anyone have any feedback at all on this? Are the new Hwy 1s as good as the old ones etc?

Have you played the Hwy1 strat yet?

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explorationx

Not yet, but I would play it before finalizing the deal, of course. Here's one other question: I've noticed that the headstock on the model this guy is offering has different string trees than the one on the Fender website. You can find the pic here: http://saskatoon.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLargeImage?AdId=97335186&img=http%3A%2F%2Fimg1.classistatic.com%2Fcps%2Fl%2Fkj%2F09%2F1%2F3%2F122%2Fr3%2F16288e3_18.jpeg

Is that not a legit strat?

Looks legit to me, check this out:

http://www.sweetwater.com/guitargallery ... sZ8170906/

btw - it looks just like my old highway one! That was a great guitar..I would go play that asap if I were you..

What year is it?

I searched and found what I think is a 2007 hwy1 strat that has similar string trees...
http://media.photobucket.com/image/old% ... rat-01.jpg

Then I noticed it has HSS pickup config...
Look at the HSS on the fender web site here:
http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0111760306
same string tree set up...

Maybe this guitar has been tampered with? Maybe someone modified it, or that isn't the same pickguard & pickups it had originally...
I always ask questions about used guitars & don't care if the seller finds it annoying.

I have never owned a hwy1...
Anyone else have an opinion on this?

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explorationx

I would think it depends on what guitars you have now. Do you have any other LP's or Strat's? Also do you mean a LP Ultra II or a Custom? I have never heard a a Custom II only Ultra II's and Special II's. Now if your is a Special II I would trade as long as the HWY was in good shape, if yours is a Ultra II I would not trade it. But then again it a goes back to what you already own because I like to have many different guitars to play.

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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

This looks like the exact model from sweetwater

http://www.sweetwater.com/guitargallery ... sZ8170094/

LOL except for the black dots on the neck, but I don't think sweetwater is pulling funny business =). There is a similar HSS setup on there with the exact same string trees, like what bss said, just search Highway one.

Again,,I wouldn't worry about it.

The Custom II just means that, instead of the white or black finish, it has a flame maple top. My only other electric is a Telecaster, which is the one I play most often. My LP I just don't seem to get as much use out of -- probably because I'm not so much into hard rock anymore -- so I figured it might be worth it to get a Stratocaster.

Thanks so much for the help, everyone! I'll keep you all updated when I hear back from the guy selling...

OK. so its a Custom Plus they had the Flame Maple cap, gold hardware finished in either Heritage Cherry or Vintage Sunburst. The early ones had hardrock maple necks the latter ones Mahogany neck. The Maple neck ones are hard to find and where made 04.05 and now those Plus models are no more either way.

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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

This (http://profile.ultimate-guitar.com/profile_mojo_data/7/0/2/1/702172/pics/_c427109_image_0.jpg) is exactly the guitar that I have. I was just in a shop the other day and noticed that the new ones are selling for $940 CDN plus about $100 more for a case. Moreover, I got particularly lucky with this instrument. I spent a long time looking for it, and it's by far the best Epi LP I've ever played. I love it, but I just don't play it that much. It's not really the best guitar for the music I'm playing these days and I have become more and more devoted to the Fender sound lately.

I think the Hwy 1 strat would sound better through my amp (a Pro Junior) and be more suitable for the country-rock I play and better complement my Telecaster. Part of me wants to keep it around in the hopes that I'll find a use for it, but part of me wants a guitar I can use immediately.

Custom Plus and this the Maple neck version gave my son a Mahogany neck one.

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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

What do you think? Hang on to the Epi and wait for the Strat, or make the deal and have a new axe?

I say go for the Strat

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Custom Shop '59 Strat with John Cruz Master Design Pickups
Vibro King
Fulltone Clyde>Deja-Vibe>TS-808>TS-9>Boss Tuner

I would never give the one I have up for a HWY 1 but It all goes to what you like. I have sold many in the past though. I have been seeing HWY's selling fairly cheap now days with the economy as such but no Custom Plus's you just don's see them as you do others.

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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

Personally I don't let go of guitars very easily... I have friends that miss instuments they have sold or traded. You need to play some strats to be sure, it sounds to me u have a connection with this instrument even though you haven't been playing it a lot lately. In my past I have waited and added another guitar to the family instead of trading one. I can always sell it later. But that is just me. Take your time and play the strat for sure... Don't act out in haste.

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explorationx