Some of you may remember my post from last year... It was titled "Fender Quality". Fun reading. Check it out. The moderator locked my thread. After that I was pretty convinced that Fender could stretch six strings across a piece of dog poop and some of the folks on this forum would get all upset if you pointed out the poop. If you are one of these passive aggressive lonely losers that lurks here waiting to get confrontational from the safety of your computer monitor I would appreciate it if you would just not reply to this. This is just an account of my most recent buying experiece and a follow up to my last one. I hope it helps someone who is considering a Highway One strat in their buying decision.
I bought another highway one as a backup to the aforementioned. I said I wouldn't but I did. The one I have been playing for the last year has grown on me so much that I just had to have a backup for it.
I swapped out the bridge saddles and sustain block with Callaham replacements on this one before I ever played a note. The frets look polished. I don't know if they were but they don't look like the frets did on my last one. Can't comment on the fretboard quality because this one is maple. Neck was set straight... Nothing to gripe about except that DAMN TRUSS ADJUSTMENT bolt. The allen wrench that comes with the guitar is very loose when inserted in to the neck adjustment in the headstock, right out of the box, factory fresh, just like my other one... Oh well, I bought the tapered allen driver from Stew Mac a year ago... Not a big deal really once you have the aftermarket tool that is made specifically to deal with Fenders crappy truss bolt.
Other than that I am happy as hell with the thing.
I really like these Highway 1's. They are Fenders least expensive USA strat but they come with everything I want and nothing I don't. I love the straight 9.5 radius fret board, compound radius fret boards look weird to me. I don't like them and i'd play with a 7.5 radius if I didn't bend.
I play hard rock/ metal and the high output single coils are seriously awesome. Blues dudes don't like em cause they don't know what they're for (it aint a chime or bell like sound that they were designed for, high gain through a big amp is where these pickups are right at home). Both my highway one strats are the alnico 3 SSS models and they absolutely CRUNCH through my amp and cut through the mix perfectly. I ALWAYS used humbuckers before I bought the first highway one strat and never thought I would like singles until I owned one of these. The vintage bridge with the modern saddle spacing and the traditional stud spacing is awesome. I love vintage tremolo’s but like floyd/ gibson spacing better than the traditional vintage bridge saddle spacing. Love nitro... 70's head stock is killer. Would buy an Yngwie but not into scallops and would prefer the high output singles with a noise gate to the stacked buckers... It's like they made it for metal guys...
Anyway, this one didn't come with a bunch of problems except for the truss screw, but I was expecting that so I wasn't disappointed... Much happier the second time around.
Anyway, if you are one of those forum dorks who cruises around looking for someone to piss off then please go practice playing your guitar. You probably need to anyway. This is just a follow up to my last buying experience and report card on my recent one. Hope it was informative. Hope it helps someone with their buying decision.
Me love you long time,
Naughtius Maximus

glad it all worked out the second time around. I haven't owned one, but I talked a friend into buying a hwy 1 about 4 years ago, and he loves it.

As far as the agitators, I've found they are everywhere. There are some good folks on this forum and other strat forums. I've posted a bit more than usual lately, and have had some smart fellas chime in with some good opinions. Unfortunately, there will always be a pompous group of know it alls who will argue their knowledge until they are blue in the face, and then throw out a pathetic attempt at an insult just to make themselves look and feel like they have the upper hand. I had a couple of these little battles before (not on this site, though). Lately, I've learned that they are like the nerds who used to make the crop circles....once you give them attention, they will keep at it. If you leave them to their own devices, they will fade into obscurity when they find out no one listens to what they have to say.

SOLID!

Good to hear your review and experience. I like my '05 modded Hwy 1 Strat, especially the neck, and even recently bought a Hwy 1 Tele. No complaints from me!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

You know man,I'm happy that you're happy with your axe,but you aren't much better than some of the people you don't like here by starting off your post and doing a lot of name calling...it goes both ways....but have fun anyway and play per guitar.

I've heard great things about the Highway One's. I think it's neat the OP is able to play hard rock/metal with the single coils. I'm no metalhead, but I'm always trying to see how much overdrive and sustain I can crank out of my strat. Not as easy as humbuckers, but I think that's part of trying to be creative. Anyway, congrats on being able to give a good report on your guitar.

the dog poop special. Think there may be a custom shop limited edition in the works here.

Jeff