I found this FSR Olympic White one at a different GC in a nicer part of the state. When I saw the neck, I jumped on it! I'll be installing a Callaham vintage spaced tremolo in the next few days - that should make it play even better, if the legend is true! Here are some pics...

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'10 American Special Strat
'02 Les Paul R8
'08 Charvel US San Dimas
'85 Jackson Soloist

Splawn Quick Rod

That's a great looking strat, I must say. Very 70's looking! That does look surprisingly better than the Specials I've seen and played. I would get an American special Tele of that quality in a heartbeat. Mind you, I've been impressed with every Fender Factory Special Run I can remember. Good find!

Very nice Strat AndyK! OW, maple fret board with the big headstock is a killer look, great choice, nice flame on the neck. And, I have found the legend to be true....many times. Let us know your thoughts after.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

That's a really good-looking strat, man! Congratz!

Now you just have to get it scalloped YJM-style.

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2010 American Special HSS 3TSB
Marshall MG15FX

killer looking strat

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Wow! You scored on that neck.
Just my 2 cents... Callaham makes a vintage narrow bridge block and narrow saddles. I like the modern spacing. I have two of the modern Hwy strats with the Callaham block, saddles and bar... Love em. bought an entire assembly and wound up using the stock top plate on both. Callaham doesn't design his for people who float the bridge. You'll find that if you use his top plate you won't be able to dive the whammy much if you float to fender 1/8 spec. The block will bottom out. Use the stock plate and no prob. Just sayin.

Thanks all!



With these huge frets, it feels like it's scalloped already!

Interesting info on the Callaham trem. I usually float to half of Fender's spec, but I wonder why the Callaham block / design doesn't let you dive much unless you deck the trem? Seems pretty limiting, no? Thanks for the heads-up. The top plate on the Ping trem that came with the guitar is pretty junky, I would hate to not use the Callaham in place of the Ping. I'll set it up and see what happens. If the trem doesn't let me be me, I'll sell it and get an AVRI trem. Stay tuned!

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'10 American Special Strat
'02 Les Paul R8
'08 Charvel US San Dimas
'85 Jackson Soloist

Splawn Quick Rod

Wow, awesome looking Strat.

Cheers,
Robin

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http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
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F**K. I hate you for that neck. It´s gorgeous! Wish my highway came figured like that. Cheers mate!

Ha! Thanks. Your FSR American Standard is also pretty awesome!

I'm not used to a Strat with pure white pickguard and pickup covers. I originally thought I would want to go to a parchment / aged white look, but now I'm not sure. New Strats in the 70's always had white, not off white, right? What would you all go with (and don't say mint green - not a fan)?

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'10 American Special Strat
'02 Les Paul R8
'08 Charvel US San Dimas
'85 Jackson Soloist

Splawn Quick Rod

If I had that highway in hands, I would leave it stock, that neck is so awesome.. that highway will only increase its value over time.
But if you MUST mod that pickguard, I would go with a mint green and aged covers/knobs.

Very Nice

Yeah, for now, I'll leave it stock, pickguard and plastic I mean. It's an American Special, funny you call it a Highway1. On the back inside the trem cavity, it says Hwy1 on the bar code label. I wonder if this is an early American Special that was still labled HWY1, or are they all still called Highway 1 outside the USA??

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'10 American Special Strat
'02 Les Paul R8
'08 Charvel US San Dimas
'85 Jackson Soloist

Splawn Quick Rod

Ups! Sorry about that! I really thought all the way it was a Highway! I´ve never saw this version of American Special! I confused them cause they´re pretty much the same, but the pickups and finish.
Talking about Texas Specials, do you find nice on that pickup height? I got mine much lower than yours on my FSR, the bass neck is flush to the pickguard. Maybe I´m just trying to find some bells on those gritty pups anyway.

It could very well be a left over Highway1 that was never finished, not sure if that's what Fender was doing in the early days of the American Specials. The uniqueness is the special run color - American Specials are only available in candy red, or two tone burst normally.

Don't go by my photos for pickup settings! I still have to play with the heights, and will probably wind up with the neck pickup near flush with the pickguard. I love the Texas Specials though, beefy, and strong compared to vintage Strat pickups. And, if you just lower the guitar volume a hair, they clean up nicely!

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'10 American Special Strat
'02 Les Paul R8
'08 Charvel US San Dimas
'85 Jackson Soloist

Splawn Quick Rod