Hi everybody

My brother bought a second hand Strat and he got it into his head that it was a fake. Based on the pictures below, does it look like the real deal? Also, does anybody have any details on the particular model of the guitar (if it is real). I searched the serial number on the guitar dater project website; apparently this guitar was made in the Corona plant between 2007 - 2008.
Thanks for the help







No serial number here, should there be?






"Fender" written on the tuners








Wood grain is visible here

A nice example of a highway one strat from 2007 in daphne or sonic blue.

Nothing to worry about with it mate, a very nice guitar.

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No no and no

Woohoo, thank you my friend My brother is delighted It is such an annoying feeling, not knowing for sure whether you got a real one or not, now there are no doubts

Thank you

Its a hard color to find also

Nice, thanks for letting me know mate

22 fret US made neck; big headstock; six screw bridge...

Exactamondo. +1.


That's right - I think it was introduced just near the end of the Highway One's production time if I remember right? That is a satin nitro finish too, if that's the sort of thing you care about.

Good find: how much was paid, I wonder?

BTW: welcome to the Forum, GuitarStarBar.

Cheers - C

It's as real as your brother's paranoia.



Nice guitar!

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Ceri, thanks very much for the info.



That is the kind of detail that is hard to come across with a Google search, cheers for that, I appreciate it .

The guitar cost 400 Euro, according to Google this is about $530. Not sure if thats good value or not, but USA made Strats are expensive enough over in Ireland (where I live), and I my brother loves it, so everyones happy



Haha, it's funny really, when he got the guitar he didn't really doubt that it was real. Then people start asking, "is it real?", and my brother starts to think maybe it isn't. Even when you're pretty sure it is real, I think you still have a niggle of doubt in your head until you are sure .

So thanks for the input once again, my brother and I really appreciate the help and you have made us exceedingly happy .

And thanks for the welcome Ceri.

Bye guys

Highway 1s were in production at least through the end of 2009; the American Special kind of fills a similar spot in the lineup and was introduced in January of this year. I've not seen a Highway 1 with a 2010 serial number, but I'm sure that Fender was still filling orders for them on into this year (assembling parts finished up in 2009 and therefore having 2009 serial numbers).

Hi nice clear pictures of the bridge saddles
I was wondering why the lettering on my 2004 Highway one saddles is different than yours ?
The Fender logo,s is in opposing directions and yours both go the same direction

have any ideas..??

Hit

Skimhit, hi.

Take a look at this picture:


It looks like your bridge saddles were made in the USA, whereas the ones in my pic must be either Japanese or Mexican made. As I understand it the origin of the bridge saddles or the tuners and other such components does not necessarily correspond with the country of manufacture of the guitar. So a USA made strat could have Japanese bridge saddles. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. Either way, it looks like you just got USA made bridge saddles.

So, happy days

No you're right. The Highway1's used a few Mexican parts. I don't have enough experience with em to know which ones for sure, but someone will undoubtedly list em. If you measure from the outside edge of the two E strings at the saddles, you'll likely get a measurement of around 52/53mm. Maybe even 54 mm if the strings have slid along the saddles a lot. Which to my mind will confirm the bridge was one of the Mexican components.

Make no bones about it mate, thats a genuine nice guitar. Some people aint crazy about the pickups, some don't like the tone controls, others dont like the frets. Theres always someone ready to piss on your chips. That's why Fender offer such a vast range of guitars, more chance of pleasing a bigger section of the market. If you like it, that's what matters, not anyone elses opinion. Though I will say I think Skimhit wasn't trying to put down your guitar at all. Rather just noticed something he/she hasn't come across before and queried it. Nothing wrong with questioning things, it's how we learn. Fender have used so many different components over the years it's a wonder we can identify a genuine guitar at all. Luckily there are clever people around who catalogue this stuff. And other clever people who question the validity of things they don't know.

Now, I wonder if these keys fit into the electric socket on the wall?

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No no and no

I agree with you there nikininja. Mexico, Japan, USA, it doesn't matter so long as you like it. If it did bother me, something like a bridge saddle could easily be replaced/upgraded I imagine.



You are 100% correct again. I didn't know either why the lettering was different on Skimhit's guitar, but it aroused my curiosity so I did a bit of research to see if I could find answers. We learn by not only by questioning, but also by answering .



It's like a bee hive, everyone combining their efforts to make their knowledge accessible to everyone else.



The hive says noooooo

Hi
Thanks all for the info:
I love my HWY1, they are great guitars no matter where the hardware is made, I also have a 2009 US standard to me they are equal, different for sure but both outstanding I have no favorite.
This Highway one just kind of came my way, it is a strange guitar two piece alder body 56-57mm E to e at the saddle .
When I first got the guitar I posted some pictures on this great site we have, and was told it is not uncommon to have a two piece body and it was a standard HWY1, that was the end of it, Then I saw you're clear bridge pictures and thought WTH?..

Beautiful guitar you have/ play and enjoy.

Hit

p/s my 2009 US is 53mm E to e

Interesting find, very nice Fender.

Not that it makes a difference. I purchased a Classic 70s strat MIM over 10 years ago with saddles originating in the USA (wide space). From what I understand, the neck plate (micro-tilt), pickups and tuners (Fendr f tuners) were also manufactured in the USA.

Also, my other MIM strat has the narrow space saddles, and the trem arms are not interchangeable.