Recently got my Fender Stratocaster Highway One, 3-Tone Sunburst, Maple Fretboard, DEC/2009.
Sent it for professional setup, thuss rod ajustment is nearly perfect now, but other things as Action, Pickups and Intonation must be on the players taste I believe.
As it uses super-jumbo frets and almost-exclusive Fender Hot Alnico III pickups, i can´t find any reference on standards/defaults for setting up this awesome axe.



I found it good with action 5/64" (2 mm) on the bass side, and 4/64" (1.6 mm) on the treble. As if I get close to 4/64" (1.6 mm) on the bass side some huge fret rattle happens, sometimes buzz. I´m using Elixir Nanoweb 0.9-42. Would 0.10´s get good on this axe ? Or will I get more buzz if i like the lower action setting ? Is my actual setting good or looking standards for this Highway One Strat ? Suggestions please!

And for pickup height i found on neck (3.0 mm) on the bass side and 5/64" (2 mm) on the treble side; for middle 5/64" (2 mm) on the treble side and 6/64" (2.4 mm) on the bass side and for the bridge 4/64" (1.6 mm) on the treble side and 6/64" (2.4 mm) on bass side. I´ve done by pressing the last fret and mesuring from the pole piece to the bottom of the string; Is that ok ? Better suggestions for this Hot Alnico III pups ?

My bridge has been locked down by the luthier, and i didnt messed with it. Should I ?

Its my first real Fender Stratocaster, and by that i´m asking here for directions on setting up this axe properly.
I really want to taste the same time some Hendrix and some Gilmour on this very same axe.

Can someone give me some tips on setting up this specific fender line product ? Any help will be apreciated! Thanks!


J.Korb, Brazil
Fender Stratocaster Highway One
2009, Sunburst, Maple

Congratulations on your new guitar! It's a nice one. Also welcome to the forum. Fender uses a generic setup for their strats . It's a good place to start and you can fine tune it to your likes from there. Here is a link to Fender's recommended setup.
http://www.fender.com/support/stratocas ... _guide.php

If you do a search on this forum you will find a lot of useful information. One such search would be "The nickle method" that forum member Chet posted for pickup heights. Stick around as there are a lot of knowledgeable people that are willing to help you with any question you may have.

Thanks for this reply, unfortunatly I live in Brazil and can´t get access to "nickels" easily.
I´ve followed the setup guide from fender, but it didnt specify the Hot Alnico III pups standards, so there´s my doubt.
I´m really in love for this strato and getting really perfecionist on its setup. I would really like to know how professionals at Fender recommend me the Action and Pickup ajustments for the Super-Jumbo + 0.9-0.42 and the height for the Hot Alnico´s III.
Thanks !

2 Nickels = 5/64
1 Nickel = 3/64

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Really apreciate your reply!
What i´m really after is specs like on the Stratocaster Setup Guide:

ACTION
Neck Radius Bass Side Treble Side
7.25" 5/64" (2 mm) 4/64" (1.6 mm)
9.5" to 12" 4/64" (1.6 mm) 4/64" (1.6 mm)
15" to 17" 4/64" (1.6 mm) 3/64" (1.2 mm)

HWY1 neck radius is 9.5", but does this apply even to the super-jumbo frets ?

PICKUPS Bass Side Treble Side
Texas Specials 8/64" (3.6 mm) 6/64" (2.4 mm)
Vintage style 6/64" (2.4 mm) 5/64" (2 mm)
Noiseless™ Series 8/64" (3.6 mm) 6/64" (2.4 mm)
Standard Single-Coil 5/64" (2 mm) 4/64" (1.6 mm)
Humbuckers 4/64" (1.6 mm) 4/64" (1.6 mm)
Lace Sensors As close as desired (allowing for string vibration)

HWY1 has Hot Alnico´s III, does it apply to any of those listed, or there´s a specific measure for those pickup´s ?

Thanks in advance for all who are answering me!

Best regards from Brazil!
Joao Korb.

You must understand that the Fender Setup Guide http://www.fender.com/support/stratocas ... _guide.php is just a guide. No 2 guitars are exactly alike, and everyone has a different setup that they like.

Personally I like my neck (neck relief) as flat as possible, I like my action as low as I can get it without buzzing, I like my pickups set down almost even with the pickguard.

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Thanks again!

Sorry about my ignorance, but I´m no such experienced on setups, and I consider myself as an amateur player, so I just want to get my stratocaster as close as perfect it can get for my learning journey be more pleasent for the ears.

Just got 2 nickels (5cent coins) from a friend of mine, I´ll take a try on that and let my ears tell me whats good or not! Thanks for that!

If anyone has experienced setting up Highway One Stratocaster please enlight me with your measures for action and pickups!

Thanks again all for the help until now!
Any other suggestions will be welcome!

Best regards from Brazil!
Joao Korb.

It is really a personal preference. All depends on your likes in tone and feel! We all have different settings that we like better than others. Fenders specs. are just a starting place that they recommend. Good luck and don't be bashful about asking questions but some answers can't be set in stone, if you know what I mean!!

Hello!

Congrats on your new purchase!

The Great thing about the Strat you've just bought is its a Strat! They are so easierly adjusted. Have a play with the settings find out what you like. I don't like the action to be too low on mine because i like to bend notes alot so raising the saddles a little sorts me out. Before you start to adjust anything I'd recommend taking measurements and or some photos so that you can return it to it original position for comparison.

If your not confident making the adjustments have a chat with a decent guitar tech and get them to sort it out for you. Just make sure you have a good play before you leave the shop.

Hope this helps

Enjoy!

Andy

_________________
Pending Greatness

Thanks for you replay Andy!

How high do you like your action compared to mine ?

The nickel method helped me a lot, Im still learning how to hear what "she" wants... Thanks for your support guys! Any other information or experience on Highways will be apreciated...

Last night my fingertips felt in blood... even in pain I still cant get away from "her"... Whats happening?! Whats that effect that this stratocaster is owning over me?!

I love my Highway 1. I have my pick-up covers almost flush with the pickguard. I can not tell you the mm/inch that it is. I started with the "Nickel Method" and tweeked it to my liking. I no longer have a single coil in my bridge position, but my Humbucker is almost 1/8" above the pickguard.

I was the same way when I bought mine. I could barely put it down. Now I play my Highway 1 at least an hour a day. I also my my other Strat about a half-hour to an hour a day.

You will soon build calluses on your fingers and you will be able to play longer without your fingertips hurting.

Congrats on your purchace. I did see your other thread on pickups, might I suggest sticking with the Alnico III's for a while longer. See if you can fiddle with them for 6 months to a year, if you are still not happy with them, I would go for the:

Neck: Custom Shop 69´
Middle: Custom Shop 69´
Bridge: Seymour Duncan SSL-5

_________________
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

Thankyou very much for such valuable information, very much apreciated for your opinion! Rock on Highway Ones!