Just picked up a new Highway One Strat from my local dealer. Serial # US11114204. Can some one please tell me the year and how fender designates this with the numbers. Also, can some one confirm or deny that the Highways are American guitar parts assemble in Mexico to keep costs down. I heard that the Jimmy Vaughns are assembled as such. Thanks from a fledgling guitar player, who just bought his first MIA Strat!

You are correct. The 1st generation Hwy1's (with the small headstock) pickups, gig bag and "case candy" are made in Mexico and the bodies and necks are made in the US.

I'm guessing not much has changed. I own a black '07 and I love it.

It was made in 2011 (2010-2011) which was the final year of the highway 1 series.

The (US) is the Highway 1 code, followed by 11 (2011), followed by the 6 digit serial number.

You're correct that the serial number is for a Fender made in the USA in 2011, but your interpretation is completely wrong.

The "US11" prefix means (of course) "made in the USA" in the year "2011". However, "US11" serial numbers will be found on all American Standard, American Deluxe, American Special, Highway 1, and USA-built Artist Signature guitars that use this "modern" serial number (I think the only ones that don't use these numbers are the Eric Johnson signatures).

It wasn't special for the Highway 1; it is their current system for all USA models that replaced the old "letter + digit" for year that they used from 1976 ("S6XXXXX" numbers) throught 2009 (Z9XXXXXX) numbers. There was a brief time in early 2010 when the serial numbers did not have the "US" part and only started with a "10"; I guess people complained that the numbers were too hard to read so they switched to the "US10" numbers in say April/May 2010.

The MIM guitars switched from using "MZ9XXXXXX" numbers to "MX10XXXXXX" numbers when they changed over to the new system in mid-2010 (MIM numbers change over in say July/August instead of January/February).

Nice, nice, nice, nice, ...nice! This makes my Hwy 1 speshul -- no complaints here!

I gots 1000xxxx, Made In USA (says nothing about parts being made or assembled elsewhere), just Made In USA!

...now, I gotta find a 1000xxxx Hwy 1 Tele Blk/Maple for a matching set, ftw!

Thanks folks..all the info helped. Now I know I have a 2011 Highway One. Just need more clarification on if the newer (post 2006, big head, hot pickups etc.) ones have any connections with Mexico or not, as one of you were suggesting they may because the earlier ones did. Plays great..I dont care..but would like to know If Fender is being just a little missleading with its USA designation at times.