So at one time did the Highway One not have the 70's style headstock and the matte finish? I found a Transluesent Red Strat that the guy says is a Highway One, but all of the Highway One model Strats I've ever seen have the 70's style headstock with that flat finish. The guy wants to sell it and I'm more than likely gonna buy it. I'm just curious.

When the HW1 first came out they had the small headstock and gloss finish. The 70's style headstock appeared on the 2006 revision. I'm sure there are posters more knowledgable than me who can give you more precise info.

Actually they did have both the small headstock and a matte finish. However, if I'm remembering correctly the early matte finish was simply just not polished up at the factory, so it could be polished to a glossy finish if the owner so desired.

I wonder how come fender got rid of the smaller headstock and the glossy finish. I'm in no way "downing" the matte/ large headstock, I almost got one but decided on an American Special instead. I'm just more partial to the glossy finish. But I think its stupid they got rid of that. I mean I'm still very new when it comes to Strats but I've become addicted to them in the past few months, so I'm trying to learn all I can about them.

Probably from a Marketing stand point it was really hard to distinguish the Early highway ones from American Standards at a distance. Also the newer highway ones will buff to a gloss as well.

I have an 02 highway one with the small headstock. I wouldn't call the nitro finish matte, but it is not high gloss like the poly. But it could be polished to a much higher gloss.

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Ignorance IS bliss - and I am the happiest person here!

Highway 1 evolution:
2002-2005 = small headstock, acrylic lacquer finish, medium frets.
2006 = Greasebucket tone circuit.
2007 to current = large headstock, nitro finish, jumbo frets.

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.