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Post subject: Highway One finish?
Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 10:51 am
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Hey peoples!

Just thinking about buying a Highway One HSS. I just wanted to ask you guys about the finish - will it last long? I don't want my guitar to have scratches or something (I have heard rumors that the finish does not last long - then again, some people say it does).

-coolvictor25

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Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 12:18 pm
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In my experience, the Hwy 1 finish is very easy to nick and scratch. It does not hold up like a poly finish will. Some folks like the satin nitro finish to wear easily, but not me. I had the chance to buy one, and passed due to the easily marred finish.


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Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 12:40 pm
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I've had a Highway One for a couple of months and only now is a bit of wear becoming visible(mind you I've only used it for some leisure playing at home, it's never been gigged or anything). I'm actually looking forward to some scratching/checking to start showing to give it a little personality.

If you're looking for a guitar that'll stay pretty in the long run, you might want to look for something that doesn't have a nitro finish.

Personally I think Hwy1's are great guitars that are very reasonably priced, though.


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Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 1:11 pm
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You dont want to get a HWY 1 if dings and scratches are your worry, the nitro finish will scratch very easily. That being said, if you do get one, youll never want to get rid of it and youll learn to love the scratches and "battle scars".


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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:27 am
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It,ll age just fine.I polished mines with cardova wax by dunlop.Actually it,s a hard surface on a highway one.


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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 7:08 am
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Can only add to what other guys are saying..

The Nitro finish is goung to wear fast and hard. My Highway has done little gigging work and is only 6 months old. I respect instruments and I'm not particularly clumsy. It has several little dings in the paintwork that wouldn't have troubled a poly finish. The area on the top on which my forearm rests is now looking decidedly shiny (mat/satin finish remember) and there are black smudges at the strap anchoring points from the leather strap I had on it. I've had to put on a suede strap of the same colour so the blonde finish doesn't become too discoloured.

And all this is fine. I knew upfront that this was going to happen. I wanted the guitar to develop a well used (relic?) look quickly, but have too much respect for instruments to deliberately abuse them.

Had I bought a poly (bomb proof) finish, I know the guitar would probably look like it just came out of the factory even in 10 years time.

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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:09 am
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I have a Hwy 1 Tele and I put GHS Guitar Gloss on it. It protects and shines the finish but not like a poly coat. Hwy 1s are players axes but as many will tell you they plan on keeping thiers, great sounding, USA built for less than $700 (the best deal on a USA made premium guitar on the market. Remember the early electrics with the nitro finishes..some still look good..if you take care of it...personally I'm not really into the roadworn look either but I love my great looking and sounding Hwy 1.

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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:11 am
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The Nitro finish is more delicate that the Poly for sure. I buff mine with carnuba paste wax and that provides an added layer of protection. The Nitro finish will wear and ding over time, but that's not a bad thing it just means that you play the guitar.

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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:38 pm
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Mine is polishing up quite a bit where it rubs up against me giving those areas a very shiny appearance. I kinda like that but the finish is thin, no doubt. If you are concerned about preserving a pristine finish, definitely go with a git w/ poly finish.


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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:51 pm
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Yep, mine too's really shiny where it rubs against me. I have no scratches or dings on the finish yet, but I like to keep my instruments looking nice and I don't gig the guitar. I just play it in the bedroom or at a friend's house. Sometimes I bring it to rehearsal; the guitarist in my band loves to play it. It's a great guitar. I'll never get rid of it. We have a very intimate bond.
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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 6:10 pm
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I don't mind the road worn look if it is me putting it there!!


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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 7:13 pm
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Hollis - That is a sweet Strat! Mine's got the HSS / rosewood - same color as yours. I love it and it plays/sounds awesome. I have no intensions of modding it either. Besides the shine, it's got a few dings/dents, but they were my fault... Once I get that first one out of the way (unintentionally!), I feel a little better about it - less worry!


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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 3:03 am
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My H1's several months old, and has never been gigged with, nor even left the room where it "lives".

It's already a bit shiny where my forearm rests, and the top body horn is getting a bit shiny from where it rests against my chest, but I was aware of that aspect of the nitro finish before I got it, so it's no biggie.

I am extra careful with it, though. More so than I would be with a poly-finish guitar.

It's just part of this model's character - but if it bothers you at all, definitely go with the poly finish; you can see from looking at them that it wouldn't take much to dent or scratch the finish.


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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:32 am
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The nitro goes shiny where my arm rests too etc etc.

I could only WISH that mine had more dings in it, I have put a couple of tiny ones there but I have not been fortunate enough to have any more. Dinging the guitar on purpose would be cheating and cosidering I don't drink alcohol and stumble around trying to play it may take a long time before she becomes "road worn" :cry:

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Post subject: Re: Highway One finish?
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:21 pm
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coolvictor25 wrote:
Hey peoples!

Just thinking about buying a Highway One HSS. I just wanted to ask you guys about the finish - will it last long? I don't want my guitar to have scratches or something (I have heard rumors that the finish does not last long - then again, some people say it does).

-coolvictor25


I bought a Highway One HSS two months ago. Though it came in a matte finish (Sunburst), after daily playing and cleaning the finish began to exhibit a luster in the first week. I believe that the philosophy of the Highway One was to market a guitar with a special finish which was designed to wear off relatively quickly, allowing the guitar to "age" quickly to achieve the "Road Worn" look but done by you rather than the factory. I would say that if the looks of a new and clean guitar is your thing, then avoid the Highway One because it will scratch up and wear and check. That's the whole reason for this line. The Deluxe Lone Star is a great option if your specific need is an HSS. It's an MIM though. If you are looking at the Highway One because it's USA made then that's your lowest option. The Deluxe Players Strat is awesome though it is SSS no matter where it happens to be made.

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