I've owned this guitar for about 1 1/2 years and the shop told me it was a limited edition of the American Special series... I couldn't find the exact specs of my guitar anywhere, so I emailed Fender the serial number and they say it's a Highway One... but the specs still don't cover the colour or the pickups of my particular guitar... anyone know what it is likely to be/what pickups it would have?

Sorry for my mug in it, but it's the best picture of it.
(It's since been modified, this is in it's original condition)

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Fender 2009 Highway One Limited Edition (Bigsbified)
Traynor YCV-40 Tube Amp
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Boss SD1
Boss DD3
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Dunlop Crybaby GCB-95
Digitech Whammy WH-4

AFAIK the American Special series only started last year?

Well I bought it in January of 2010... do actually only a year and 2 months... didn't think back! But I'm not sure... the shop guy said it was American Special... although he first thought it was another model and the price was wrong (he didn't look at the 'made in USA' on headstock), he was wrong about that too. I ended up getting £140 off the original price! Just because I loved it and he felt bad for letting me think I could afford it!

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Fender 2009 Highway One Limited Edition (Bigsbified)
Traynor YCV-40 Tube Amp
Boss OC3
Boss SD1
Boss DD3
Boss DN2
Boss FZ5
Boss NS2
Boss RC-20XL
Dunlop Crybaby GCB-95
Digitech Whammy WH-4

It's a sweet looking guitar for sure.

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He who dies with the most Strats wins.

I've never heard of an American Special in that color. Plus the American Special has a maple fretboard on it's sss version. The hss version has a rosewood board. The Highway One series may not offer any kind of white finish now but they offered different colors in previous years. Not sure if they ever made white ones.

It's possible that it could be some kind of limited edition. Sometimes Fender will have what they call "Special Run" models that are only available from certain dealers such as Musician's Friend. Could be possible that this was some special run guitar. It's also possible this guitar and neck are not original to each other. In other words, somebody might have put a different neck on the guitar.


I'm guessing it's probably a Highway One from a few years ago or maybe a special run/limited edition. The reason I doubt it's an American Special is because they just came out in '10 and only the hss version has a rosewood board whereas the Highway One guitars have been available with rosewood fretboards.

Thank you! That settles it for me then... it is 2009 so obviously it couldn't be a Am Special... I bought it from an professional dealer as new, so it's not been reassembled by someone. It had all the stickers and crap on it, no second hand guitars in the shop. It has a really thin white finish. And it's not shiny, but really smooth. I couldn't see any evidence of there ever being a white Highway One, I'll just have to assume it's special!

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Fender 2009 Highway One Limited Edition (Bigsbified)
Traynor YCV-40 Tube Amp
Boss OC3
Boss SD1
Boss DD3
Boss DN2
Boss FZ5
Boss NS2
Boss RC-20XL
Dunlop Crybaby GCB-95
Digitech Whammy WH-4

You might be able to email Fender and give them the serial number and they can tell you exactly what it is.

It's a nice looking guitar. I don't care for rosewood boards or large headstocks on my own guitars but I love a white Strat. That one's quite lovely.

Thanks for the advice, but I already emailed Fender, and they weren't able to tell the exact specifications, just that of the general 'Highway One' model. The reason I ask what it is still is that I still can't the colour or the corrects pickups that match what I have, not in the Am Special or H One specifications!

It doesn't change anything really... it's still the same guitar I've always loved. I'd just like to know if I were to upgrade the pickups... what I was upgrading from!!

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Fender 2009 Highway One Limited Edition (Bigsbified)
Traynor YCV-40 Tube Amp
Boss OC3
Boss SD1
Boss DD3
Boss DN2
Boss FZ5
Boss NS2
Boss RC-20XL
Dunlop Crybaby GCB-95
Digitech Whammy WH-4

I have two highway one stratocaster, and i love them.

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BOSS DS-1 DISTORTION
BOSS OS-2 OVERDRIVE/DISTORTION
BOSS OD-3 OVERDRIVE
BOSS SD-1 SUPER OVERDRIVE
VOX TONELAB ST

If the finish is dull, not shiney, then it is most likely a Highway 1. I have never seen a white one before, but thats not to say that Fender did not produce them. I own a Highway 1 and an American Special. The Highway 1 has a bit more bass and mid in the pickups than the American Special. I love them both for different tones they offer. Also, as far as I know the American Specials in SSS configuration in 2010 all have maple necks and the HSS's have Rosewood.

Regardless whether it is a Highway 1 or a American Special, I love the color. Love to see a current pic with the Bigsby on it.

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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

The American Special is a Highway One Upgrade, with high gloss finish and Texas Special Pickups.

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BOSS ST-2 POWER STACK
BOSS ML-2 METAL CORE
BOSS MT-2 METAL ZONE
BOSS MD-2 MEGA DISTORTION
BOSS DS-2 TURBO DISTORTION
BOSS DS-1 DISTORTION
BOSS OS-2 OVERDRIVE/DISTORTION
BOSS OD-3 OVERDRIVE
BOSS SD-1 SUPER OVERDRIVE
VOX TONELAB ST

Another cool idea is to offer the US Special HSS with a maple fretboard and a Floyd Rose locking trem* since Fender offers a Blacktop Stratocaster with this kind of bridge.

These options (especially the Floyd Rose tremolo) would make the guitar ideal for any music style from classic blues-rock to aggressive shred.

* Shouldn't be confused with the American Special Floyd Rose Classic from the 1992-2003 era.