Looks like the highway one has been quietly dropped off the products list...

You'll be missed. You are my first (and only) Stratocaster and you sound like a million bucks.

I prefer to think of it as a great platform.

It took a set of SD pickups, and a few other tweaks, but my Highway is now the really good Strat it promised to be.

If indeed they have been dropped, then I'm sad to see them go.

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

Well, there are certainly plenty of them out there, so it's not like they'll be going extinct. I prefer a nice, slightly used Strat anyway. I'll admit, though, they do not hit the market used as often as many other Strat varieties. People who own them tend to hang onto them.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

The ones that I've played seemed like very decent guitars. I liked
what Fender did when they upgraded them back in '05/'06 I think.

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

Don't leave home without it!

You can still get an American guitar with no frills in a satin finish. They're called American Specials. I have often felt that Fender made way too many models anyway.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Matverna......thanks for bringing that up! I, too, just checked the product listing....and YES.....the Highway One is no longer listed there! (sigh)



Ah...yes.....I have lamented on this very same subject in another past thread.....
ADEY.....you are 100% correct about them being a great PLATFORM!
I have modded ALL of my Highways....and they became AWESOME guitars!!

I love(d) the look, feel, and all around "vibe" of the Highway One...but I will be the 1st to admit/accept it's shortcomings! (Pickups(crap)...tuners(crappier)..)

So...for about $300.00 of premium components invested; bringing the total cost of each guitar to about $1000.00.....I now have instruments that I would confidently put up against Custom Shop stuff costing thousands more!

I've really enjoyed collecting this series.......

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I refuse to have a battle of the wits with an unarmed man!

Goodbye Highway 1. I am glad to have one in my collection. It did get some modifications, but even before it was modified it was a very nice guitar. I hate to see them go, but Fender now has the American Special.

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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

Yep, I modded mine with pickups and tuners also. I don't really like the larger, 70's style headstock, but that's just a personal preference. I'm glad I got one before the big changes in '06. Although mine is an '06 model, it must have been from early in the year, before the changes. I have always loved this guitar. Even when I traded in one of my strats for my new American Deluxe, it was the American Standard that went, and I kept the Highway One. Great guitars.

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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

Let's not kid ourselves, the American Special (I own one.) IS a Highway One with a thicker coating!

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I refuse to have a battle of the wits with an unarmed man!

And Texas Specials!

...and an Atomic (DH-1) humbucker in the bridge for screaming fat lead sounds!

Believe me....those aren't desirable distinguishing options between the two!
Whether it's the cheesy Alnico III's in the Highways or those watered down versions of Texas Specials.....the stock pickups totally bit butt!
I couldn't ditch them fast enough!!
Don't even get me started on that poor excuse for a humbucker....The Atomic (DH-1)...that 'thing' is a piece of crap!
"Screaming fat lead sounds".......my eye!!! It delivers NOTHING of the sort!
They both are serving me better now as wonderful refrigerator magnets!
And even in that function....they suck!

(I really have to work on NOT internalizing my feelings and just say what's on my mind....oh well...)

Regardless.....R.I.P. Highway One.......the ultimate MOD guitar.....

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I refuse to have a battle of the wits with an unarmed man!

Yeah, that was my point.

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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

I did think of you and your endless collection of Highways when I read the original post!

Must seem like a bereavement..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

"ENDLESS??!!"
Heck....I only have 9!!
Now what the heck am I gonna obsessively collect??!!?

I really do feel like I'm mourning the dead..................

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I refuse to have a battle of the wits with an unarmed man!