I've looked all over the internet and talked to a few online dealers and they tell me that Fender is no longer making the Highway 1's...Musicians friends is the only one with a few supposedly comming in and they bumped the price $50.... What's going on??....am I better off with an American Made Strat anyways... I hate noiseless pickupsthough..and love the Texas specials... Tried a cheaper American Special version and didn't think it was worth the price difference of a regular American Strat.. also the Texas specisl (mexican has 3 Texas specialls in it for 400dollars less than an American.. Going to buy a strat but not sure which way to go..any help would be appreciated..tried a mexican Strat and felt the American Strat although $500 more was probably worth it the Mexican pickups were really weak and lifeless IMO...Want a guitar to KEEP and not be dissatisfied with after 2 months and have to get something else. Is the American worth the money.. and should I pay the extra for ash..is that a big difference in sound or will the alder give me the tone I'll be happy with. I only use tube amps. I have a Blues Jr and a Jet City 333 Half Stack I really like but I'm not into high gain....classic rock from the 70's is more my thing. I have a Reverend Guitar I really Love but allways wanted a Strat....jsut not a Mexican..really didn't like the sound...But the one with the 3 Texas specials and the maple neck might be worth it for $400 less than an American. Any input would be appreciated. I want a strat that's a keeper for life...not something I see on craigs list every week for $300

Get the American Standard. Then you won't always be wondering if you got a lesser guitar. In my experience, when I am playing guitars to potentially purchase, I'll find "the one" and I'll know it immediately. It happened with my Hwy One and with a 2001 American Standard. I knew right away I had the right guitar. So, go play a bunch of 'em!

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI

Would not discount the Mexican Strats...the 60s Classic with Texas Specials makes a great combination...I just picked a new one up for $600 w/ pickups installed

As for being a "Lesser Guitar" I don't think so...no offense but mine plays as well as my 82 57 Vintage Reissue feel wise, and the Texas Specials really have some great oompoh and make these guitars really open up.

I have several guitars and the two I play most are the two Mexican Strats...mostly because I don't have to worry about any road rash happening to them, but I also play them because they feel and sound great, and loading them the TS makes them shine and for a whole lot less than an American guitar (not that they are not great guitars, but both my Mexicans are keepers and players).

FWIW

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

What are these?

http://www.fender.com/products/index.ph ... e%E2%84%A2

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Bill

Go to a shop and play them, you'll know which one is for you. I did exactly the same last week, the American Special was definitely a step above the Roadhouse (MIM with Texas Specials), it has a lovely neck and sounds great. The MIM's are nice guitars, it's true you get what you pay for.

I think the American Standard replaced the Hwy 1

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American Special, you meant.

Yes, my mistake. Thanks for the correction

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Yes, they seem are in backorder on all dealers. Will this be the end of Highway series up to come ?

i dont know. i have a post up asking brad this same question by still no reply.
yeah i wouldnt discount the MIM strats. way better quality today than they were 10 yrs ago.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Now why would the powers that be eliminate such an iconic model from their lineup ?

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He who dies with the most Strats wins.

happens all the time for reasons we cant seem to understand bro.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Why are they still listed on this website?

http://www.fender.com/products/search.p ... =Highway+1

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Bill

2011 catalog, page 46:

http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewer ... 5826&er=82

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Bill

I checked with several online dealers and have been told by all of them that they are not being made anymore. Musicians Friend has some suposedly comming in but they jack up the price because they're getting the last shipment so screw them...If the American Special replaced the Highway one I have to say I was NOT impressed...for $849...with that little a difference I'll go American. tried the Mexican Strats and the only one I liked was called a Texas Special...Black White or 3 Tone all with tortise color pickguards and Texas special pickups. All with timted maple necks...don't care for Rosewood on a strat. I tried a few Made in Mexico strats and was extremely dissapointed with the pickups as compared to the American Strats. I'm not worried about beating up a guitar (so buy cheap doesn't apply) because I take alot of pride in my instruments and I treat my Reverend guitar like gold. I see on their sight they have a guitar called a six gun they claim to be a "strat killer" but I don't even think they have any in the US yet and Reverend guitars are extremely hard to find. I have to send away untried to get one and I don't like nor will I do that anymore. I gues it's between the Texas Special with the 3 Texas special pickups or an American with the 3 Alnico V pickups (am I right on the pickups for the American?)... Leaning American.. want to keep this for life and I just don't know if getting a Mexican guitar is one I'll want to keep for life when I can get a Made in the USA strat that I KNOW will be a keeper...any input is appreciated and those who have written. Thank you very much for your replies.. brand new to this forum thing and appreciate the knowledge being shared