The new February 2010 issue of Guitar World has a full page ad "Introducing the new American Special." It gives a (currently dead) link: fender.com/americanspecial and says "By the People, For the People." "Everything you want in an affordable U.S. made guitar is within your reach. Guitars for the times."

The neck of the Strat pictured looks like that of a Highway One, but now they are available in both rosewood and maple.

I guess we wait for the link to come alive ... and see if clearance prices hit the Highway Ones ...

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I got my H1 from a Fender dealer (here in Australia) back in August, and he mentioned a price rise (which we've all noticed by now, obviously) and "new models". I got my guitar at a fairly low price - $1299.00 AUD - when the H1 usually retails for around $1500.00 AUD (although it tends to vary depending on which state you're in - there's a place in Sydney currently selling them for $1278.00, and other places here in Melbourne selling them for $1450.00 - yeah, I know, we get screwed big time over here with the prices).

I recall that he said the H1 I was about to plug in and try out (and eventually bought) was the last one he had in the store. I asked (for no really good reason) "will you be getting any more?", and he paused for a moment before saying, a bit cagily, "Well....not at that price, no".

I assumed that this meant the new stock would be priced at the new RRP after the price rise, and got so carried away with just playing the guitar that I completely forgot to ask about the "new models" in any detail. I wonder if the last H1 in his shop was priced so low (by Australian standards) because the guy knew this particular type of Strat was "on the way out"?

Is it the end of the Highway one or more of a revamp? Its a big seller, but has some controversial issues. Not everyone likes the finish and people either love or hate the pickups. What else on the American special is different? The finish looks to have the urethane high gloss and it comes with texas specials.
I think we'll find that fender has circumvented the issues with the guitar rather than update the model. That either the Highwayone or American special will dwindle away rather than be pulled from the catalogue. The outcome of that I suspect will be down to sales.

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No no and no

If that is the ax you like buy one and put it away.Or dont stress as you can always find one on ebay,

I still Love the HWY-1 finish, the big headstock thing is what took me away from them.

both very much just personal opinions.

The early necks were sweet by anyones standards as far as playability.

It is a great platform for building a nice vintage looking american Strat.

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Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive

I , too, LOVE the HWY 1 finish!

The BIG headstock is really what drew me to them!

They ARE indeed GREAT platforms for building a dream guitar.....I own 7 of them and have re-done each of them to my own personal specs!
I couldn't get a custom shop model with all the features I've put in these babies!

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I refuse to have a battle of the wits with an unarmed man!

I love my Hwy One. I don't like the new ones with the big headstock though. Everyone who sees mine thinks it's an American Standard, and it is very similar looking. I think it does have the exact same neck as the Am. Standards of 2006(I can't say for sure though, side by side I can't see a difference - besides the 2 string trees?)Anyway, here's some pics. I have changed the pickups and tuners.

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI

Hollis Prince i like the look of your highway1 alot better than the new ones.
i to am not a fan of those big headstocks

Hollis, did the pre-upgrade H1's have jumbo frets? The larger frets were the aspect of these guitars that really attracted me to them - I honestly don't care one way or the other about the type of finish or the size of the headstock (although I do think the 70's style headstocks are cool, but would've bought the guitar regardless of that particular feature, due to its playability).

I'm just curious - were the 2006 upgrades purely focused on the electrical components? Were the necks and frets essentially the same on the pre-06 models?

I cannot wait to see this. I want to see what is different. I thought it was going to have a "Road Worn" look to it as well, but that may have been a rumor.

RK

Whatever the case, 2010 is obviously going to be a fun time to be a Stratocaster fan.

..........i.e. marketable product, in a down economy.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Thanks, Tanner1994

Simon M, the pre-upgraded Hwy One's had the medium jumbo frets, same as the Am. Standard. I really think they were the same necks. Someone else may know for sure...

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI

Ah, thank you. I'd thought - based on Fender's H1 site - that the larger frets were a new addition to the range as of 06, but there's little "official" info on the pre-upgrade H1's (that I could find online).

The neck on my (2006 model) H1 is certainly much different than the neck on an '09 American Standard, that much I can say from personal experience.

I'm going to base my opinion on only 1 Highway One I tested. It sucked. The frets were not laid in right, they cut my fingers. Tex-Mex pickups (Not Texas Specials someone mentioned in the forums) were terrible and the 70's headstock looks like a clown designed it. I played the Fender Deluxe Players Strat (MIM) and it was so much better. I thought I made a mistake when I bought my MIM Lonestar Deluxe with the price being more then the Highway One. But after testing the MIA strat, I'm glad I didn't buy one. Its poorly slapped together and has the same quality as a Squire. You're paying for a "Made In the USA" and nothing more. I'd rather buy a Deluxe MIM then a Highway 1.