Can anyone tell me the history of these models? Also I noticed that there were some drastic changes made to the guitars in about 2006. What caused all of this to happen?

It seems to me that people either love them or hate them. So what are your thoughts?

Also tell me about your HWY1 (year made, color, style and what you love/hate about it).

Last question: What are the specs to the early HWY1s?

Paris

Mine is a 2009 HWY One HSS Flat Black model.

Upgrades:
LR Baggs Piezo bridge and CNTRL X preamp
Seymour Duncan JB
Black Pearloid Pickguard and Trem Back Plate

I love my strat (HWY 1) it is an amazing tone machine and a work horse.... it has been on tour around the US and gigged with several times a week...

I'm really surprised to see the equal love,hate, stats with this guitar. I got the flat black. It has become my main guitar, over my sunburst American standard. I added a after market snakeskin pickguard to match my snakeskin tolex Vibroverb. I love it.

I bought my 2004 Hwy 1 Tele based on it's price (great value), the '50's styling is pretty cool, it has the greasebucket tone cirvuit, and it's made in the USA.

I changed the pickups for Seymour Duncan 1/4 pounders (I've got a "thing" for high output pickups)

I changed the plain white pickguard for one with a pinup girl on it.

They are great guitars at a great price.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

I love my Highway, but knew I was going to replace the bridge pick-up from the get-go. I played several different ones...SSS and HSS alike. I just did not like any of the bridge pickups. So I got a deal on a SSS model, and modified it to a HSS with a Dimarzio Super Distortion. I can play Blues, Metal, Punk, Rock, or anything else I decide.

By the way I love the Alnico 3 neck and middle pick ups, thise will not change.

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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

Uh..........I LOVE them!!
I did , however have issues with the pickups, tuners and saddles.
Once I changed them ALL......these went from good guitars to FANTASTIC guitars! They make GREAT stage guitars and perform well under the rigors of the road!
ALL have premium pickups, Fender/Schaller locking tuners, and Graph Tech saddles!

The ENTIRE color spectrum of the series!



AND a F.S.R. Highway thrown in for good measure!



I LOVE the matching painted headstock!

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

HWY1... I envy your collection......

The FSR HWY1 has a large headstock with a 50's spaghetti decal. Very rare piece.

Cosmetically, this guitar resembles very much to a James Tyler Dann Huff signature Classic, minus the active circuitry, the gold hardware and the three coil-tap switches. You can upgrade this FSR HWY1 with all the necessary components, though.

Nah! I love her the way she is!! The large headstock with spaghetti logo was what sold me on her! I HAD to have her!
Gold hardware is irrevelant to me. I changed the IMPORTANT stuff....the pickups , tuners, and saddles!
I played out with her LIVE this week and she did amazing!!
I've got a Gibson 490T in the bridge and a DiMarzio Area 67(n) and a Area 58(m).

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

I've got a 2006 SSS Highway One with a rosewood fretboard (the 70's headstock model), and I love it. I've been playing for twenty two years, and have owned a variety of different guitars in a variety of price ranges - from my horrible MIJ "Hondo" Strat copy (my first guitar), to my beloved (but long gone) 1974 natural finish maple fretboard Strat. I've owned several guitars over the years, most of them Fenders, or copies of Fenders.

My Highway One is the equal of anything I've ever played, and I love it to death. The only change I've made is to install a set of Schaller locking machine heads on the guitar. I know many folks dislike the alnico 3 pickups, but I'm a fan of them.

The neck fits my hand just right, and I really like the larger frets. I intended on buying an American Standard the day I got my guitar, but after playing several, I decided I just didn't like the necks - the H1's neck was perfect for me, though.

I'm not sure about the telecasters, but in 2006, Fender changed the headstock to the CBS era headstock. In my opinion, I think people were purchasing Hwy 1's while stores had stock piles of American Standards. The dull looking finish could be waxed and buffed to look just like an American. With the satin finish neck, it was a fantastical fast neck.... I love the telecaster and would pick one up if I could...

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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