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Post subject: Amer. Std. vs. Mexi vs. Highway One
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:58 am
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I currently own a Mexi Strat that I've been pretty happy with. I'm looking for a second guitar and am considering a Tele, having owned one years ago and 'cause I've always liked them. Unfortunately the Fender site does not provide side-by-side comparisons, so I was hoping someone could give me a basic rundown of what distinguishes these instruments, especially the American Standard vs. the Highway One. I'm less concerned with aesthetics than with tonal quality, staying in tune, quality of assembly, etc.

Thanks in advance!


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:46 pm
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hi Josh! I own both a American standard stratocaster and a Highway one Telecaster. I bought the highway one because i got it for almost nothing, and never thought a highway one could play as well as the AM standard... but it did! The thing is... the finish on the higway one wear pretty quickly.. so if you like to keep your guitar in perfect condition, don't buy it. But for the small difference of price, i would go for a AM standard because it comes with a nice hardshell case and the finish doesn't wear out that quickly. Both are fine guitars. They both have a great tone, can't tell wich one is better yet... but for the quality and assembly... i find my american standard better.

Good luck on choosing the right one for you! :D


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:37 pm
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Hello Joshk,

I've owned my mexico tele
for about 11years never let me down.

I'm considering getting another one.
American standard in
natural ash w/rosewood

or

the GE Smith model

Best of luck on your choice

Cheers.


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Post subject: Tele Selection
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:17 pm
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I'll admit to never owning an American made Fender guitar (I have owned a couple of MIJ Mustangs and Jaguars). I have a MIM telecaster I purchased about five years ago. I replaced the bridge with a 52 reissue bridge and the pickguard with a 52 reissue telecaster. I love the guitar and have had absolutely no problems with it. It is great and for the price you can't beat it. A friend of mine who worked in the Fender factory in CA assembling guitars says it plays and sounds every bit as good as the American ones but costs about $700 less. That's just my opinion. I really enjoy my MIM telecaster.


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Post subject: Thanks!
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:05 am
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Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I've owned my MIM Strat for around five years and have never had a problem with it. I've never owned an American-made Strat but I've played them and I can't really tell the difference. In fact my guitar instructor keeps telling me my MIM is one of the best-sounding Strats he's ever heard. I have a friend who used to sell guitars in NYC (on 48th Street). He basically said what you did -- that the American-made guitars are probably better but not $700 better.

So......I'll head out to Guitar Center this weekend, play 'em all and make a decision. I don't gig so durability isn't too much of an issue.

Thanks again!


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:41 am
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A Tele will be a great addition for you. I gave my son my m.i.m. Tele when I purchased my American Tele. a few years ago. Today I got them both out to do a little comparison. The American now has 10 gauge strings and the m.i.m. has 9's. The neck feels a little smaller on the m.i.m, and the action is lower on it. Both play great, but I think the lower action and slightly less beefy neck make the m.i.m. a little easier to play. The m.i.m. feels more like a Strat neck. Both sound very good with almost no noise, but I have to give the edge to the American for the tone. The sound is a little more full, slightly clearer, and a little less raspy on each of the switch settings on the American. The hardware is also a little better quality on the American. I will admit I wanted an American made guitar when I purchased this Tele. I think you could be proud of either guitar. If money is not an issue go with the American. If money is an issue go with the Mexican and possibly change the electronics later. By the way, my nephew has a Hwy 1 Tele and he loves it. The finish is dull and not very durable, but the dull finish might allow the wood to resonate better. Good luck in choosing.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:14 pm
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I own a Highway 1. I played it and and American Standard at guitar center before I made my decision. I really thought that the Highway 1 had more tone. The write up on it does say the lighter nitro finish allows for that and for a more owned look over time. Whichever you choose, they both sound great, I just thought the Hwy 1 had more tone. Good luck.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:59 pm
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I have a Highway 1 Tele and love it -- pretty versatile sound. I've tried US made and there's a small difference in playability sound, but not enough to justify the price difference for what I do (mostly rhythm on rootsy/folksy/bluesy type tunes) with it. The 2003 HWY1 I have doesn't have the classic twang of some models though, possibly a consideration if that's the sound you want.

I also have the MIM '72 Thinline repro and that's very nice. I use that more for jazz sounding stuff and for leads on a Tele. It has somewhat of a hollow-twangy sound and I think of it as my country-jazz axe.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:04 pm
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jaqueline560 wrote:
hi Josh! I own both a American standard stratocaster and a Highway one Telecaster. I bought the highway one because i got it for almost nothing, and never thought a highway one could play as well as the AM standard... but it did! The thing is... the finish on the higway one wear pretty quickly.. so if you like to keep your guitar in perfect condition, don't buy it. But for the small difference of price, i would go for a AM standard because it comes with a nice hardshell case and the finish doesn't wear out that quickly. Both are fine guitars. They both have a great tone, can't tell wich one is better yet... but for the quality and assembly... i find my american standard better.

Good luck on choosing the right one for you! :D

Jaque,

On the matter of that tone, do you hear any difference? Do they sound virtually the same? Or not? Just curious because I thought the pickups and the body construction/materials/finish might make some difference.

Thanks.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:10 pm
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MIM VS MIA AGAIN
MIA


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 4:46 pm
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jburtonisking wrote:

Jaque,

On the matter of that tone, do you hear any difference? Do they sound virtually the same? Or not? Just curious because I thought the pickups and the body construction/materials/finish might make some difference.

Thanks.


I only have my highway one for about 2 weeks now.. and now i can tell that they have a different tone.. mostly because my MIA is a strat and my highway one is a telecaster... but honestly, the higway one sound as good... or better as my American standard. I get alot more of sustain with my highway one.. which i really like (also because its a tele) but i'm really impressed with the tone i can get with that Highway one.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:12 pm
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Telecasters in general have a little more mid and not as bright sounding as a Strat and when cranked up on an amp on 10 also give more distortion than a Strat will. I'm talking straight into the amp no distortion boxes or anything like that.

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Fender Natural reissue 70's Stratocaster!


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:45 pm
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So, I went into my local GC and played all 3 guitars, and while the neck on the MIA felt a little better than the MIM, I liked the sound of the MIM better (believe it or not). Maybe it was the strings on the MIA, who knows. All they had was black and I wanted a red one so I ordered it from their web site. I didn't care for the "ashtray" bridge on the Highway One.

It arrived yesterday and I'll be getting it set up tomorrow (I use all-nickel 10's and it came with 9's). That ought to beef up the tone a bit. One question though -- the black plastic cover for the pickup selector came off pretty easily -- is it supposed to? If not I'm sure I can have a GC tech fix it for me.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:07 pm
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That's cool that you actually took the time to try all of them. Many people rely soley on the opinions of others, which usually doesn't work out well for them. I don't doubt that the MIM sound was more pleasing to you. They seem to have more of a gritty sound most of the time. What was about the Hwy 1 bridge that you didn't like. It's pretty much just like all the other standard Tele bridges. When you said ashtray, were you inferring that there is a cover with the one you tested? Mine didn't come with one. Although, I sure would like to have one. Once again, great job on working through this with your own efforts to decide what you like. Hopefully your decision will satisfy you for years to come.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:55 pm
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Not a cover; the plate has raised edges on the Hwy 1 but not on the MIM or MIA. I know some people like it; I wasn't crazy about the way it looked.


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