"Tan lines".... outstanding! I bought my 98 mia new in 99, and it already had a "tan line" on the pickguard from that sticker in the store. I put a peal pickguard on it as soon as I changed the strings anyway though.

I've not actually heard/read anything about them being discontinued, but it makes a funny kind of sense to me - I got mine at a bargain price ($1299.00 AUD, reduced from $1500.00 AUD) just over a month ago. The guy at the store - a Fender dealer - mentioned that he was getting "new stock", and that the one I had in my hands was the last one he had in the whole store (I'd asked him what other colours he had apart from Midnight Wine). He also mentioned an upcoming price rise.

Anyway, I'm picking it up on Friday of next week. I'll post some pics when I get it (in the appropriate thread), and I'll ask him if they are being discontinued when I pick it up.

Thanks for the "tan line" info, Orvileowner! I never heard about that before.

The one I'm getting is an '06 model (it has the little diamond anniversary badge on the back of the headstock), and it's obviously been in the store since then, so I'll get those stickers off ASAP!

I've had a chequered history with Strats. I used to own a lovely '74 model (natural finish, maple board), but had to sell it not long after I got married (long, long story, and a genuine regret of mine, sadly).

Years before that, I owned a "Contemporary" Strat, made in Japan, with a Kahler locking trem (it had stylized Fender F's on the knobs, and a black pickguard, knobs, etc), that I played to death, but which I lost when our house was burgled! In a weird coincidence, it was also a transparent burgundy colour like my Highway One (obviously it had the conventional gloss finish, unlike the H1). I bought it brand new, but it wasn't as exciting to me as buying a "real" Fender. I know that sounds a bit stuck-up, but I just think of the U.S. models as being the "real" ones and the rest as being...I don't know, stand-ins or something.

I've never purchased a brand new, genuine American made Fender Stratocaster before, so I'm really excited about this Highway One!

There's no way on Earth this one will ever be parted from me. If they have been discontinued, then I'm doubly glad that i managed to get one in the nick of time - the neck on this guitar is just sublime.

Yes its a great road name but a guitar ? bluesy thats a mean collection of strats very nice mate and your Highway one is your favourite, my favourite is so far a 62 RI because its very light and feels comfortable and easy to play.

I agree. Ok, you have a great story about "why" Highway One is a part of history, but how does make a half-american/half-mexican strat any better or cooler, and why name it after a road? How do those two things connect?

I can see a Highway One Edition for a Harley Ultra Glide, or for a Camaro or something. Were there a ton of fender strats being played all along Highway One that would make that such an obvious name choice? Do people think back then and say "The old Highway One? Great memories. LOTS of Stratocasters!, for sure!" Stupid name.

Highway One guitars are not being discontinued. They sell too well to be discontinued. Amazing value for the cash.

I agree. However, I'm thinking too that the Highway One guitars might have received some kind of cosmetic and/or hardware overhaul and are waiting in the wings with a price increase as has been done recently with so many other Strat models. This time though, maybe the dealers were tipped off before hand to unload existing inventory so they won't have any complaints like the abundance of NOS they still have now with, for example, the pre-2009 MIM Standard Strats.

This is merely my opinion, I have no evidence to support my musings; YMMV.

_________________
You dig?

Have you driven this road? Between weaving around cows and narrowly escaping 200 foot drops into the ocean I guess I never had time to enjoy it!!!!!

i own a few 2007 sss highway ones and like
said befor the best fender strat fender
has put out in many years. it will become a
collector's item, if hendrix was a alive he would
have owned many sss highway ones.

There are most likely millions in circulation already so I doubt very strongly, just like their 50th Anniversary models that they will ever be bonafide collector's items. And let's just say for argument's sake that the H'1s did make it to that status, it would be child's play to mutilate other models in an effort to counterfeit them. YMMV

_________________
You dig?

It could in the year 2099 Just like a Ford Pinto

_________________
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

You have a point!LOL

_________________
You dig?

You could be right CV!!

it´s a personal idea that each guitar sounds different. So each guitar has his own history and value besides his real value. That happens in every strat that you will find from earlies ´60 to recent ´09. Each guitar reflects his owner (from a maniac to someone that really doesn´t care).
So why i should care if in the next 200 years will be a collector item. The real value comes from your fingers. Should Stevie, Hendrix, Eric or Any guitar leyend care if the guitar cost around 1 million?
I thinks the H1 it´s a great guitar. There´s always one strat out there for you!

_________________
"music make peolpe smart..."

I hope it isn't to be discontinued any time soon. I love mine (upgraded model). It feels sophisticated and expensive in my hands and sounds very fine into the bargain.

I suspected that it had still more to give and upgraded the pickups to Seymour Duncan APS2s. It's now nothing less than a superb guitar. Despite it being slick, it can still roar when you dig in.

Great value, great quality. Buy while you still can..