It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:12 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: newer Highway One Teles
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 12:29 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 9:32 pm
Posts: 10
Location: Cloquet, MN
has anyone ever played a guitar more funky, stock?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:24 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:28 pm
Posts: 26
Its actually a really sweet guitar. I'm goin to pick one up sometime soon. I love the late 60's and 70's styling on it. made in the us. i mean really its a hotrodded american series guitar just with cheaper finish (i don't mind it)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:52 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 9:40 am
Posts: 261
Yeah, the new Hiway 1 Texas Telke has so much spank to it it almost hurts! Sweet machines, very durable. The strats are nice too.

_________________
"The beauty of grace is that it makes life unfair" - Reliant K


Top
Profile
Post subject: nitro is my preferred finish
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:16 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:36 am
Posts: 13
Location: seattle
I have a 2007 Highway One Telecaster (quietly referred to by Fender as the "upgrade" over the original Hwy1) and love it. The only modification I made was replacing the stock steel saddles with compensated brass ones, and having the guitar setup with 11s, which is a much better fit for jumbo frets than the 9s that come on it. The guitar just felt great in my hands and had a sound like none of the other Teles I played. This was due to two things: the hotter Alnico3 pickups and the nice, non-plastic covered finish.

Contrary to what is often repeated, the nitrocellose finish is one of the BEST things about this guitar. I debated whether to get this, the American Standard or the American Deluxe, but what sold me was the way the thinner, non-poly finish RINGS and sustains, especially now with the brass saddles. The nitrocellulose is not a "cheap" finish but highly desirable, not only for it's looks and the way it gracefully ages, but for the positive effects it has on tone. Play a non-poly finish like the Highway One back to back with another Tele with the same saddles and a poly finish and you will definitely notice the difference in the tone, but also physically in the way the vibration translates to your fingers.

If you look carefully at the specs for Fender's custom and artist model Telecasters (like the GE Smith model) you'll see that many of Fender's most expensive guitars have a nitrocellose finish like the Highway One, and for good reason: the tone is better and the wood is allowed to breathe and mature nicely.

Here is a description made by an experienced luthier in Dallas who builds and restores Telecasters, Les Pauls and Strats about the nitrocellulose finish in a section called "how to chose a guitar":

"How the wood is finished is a HUGE factor. In the old days guitars were finished with nitrocellulose lacquer. A long and hazardous process. Multiple coats needed long drying times. Then they invented poly urethane. A water based finish that would dry in less than one hour! Space age finish that would never crack like a nitro finish. It also never breathes and the wood never ages and develops character. The top of the line Stratocasters have a nitro cellulose lacquer finish that allows the wood to breathe and age naturally. The sound improves as the guitar gets older. Most modern guitars are made with a poly urethane space age finish that while resistant to scratches and dings tends to seal the wood and have an adverse effect on the tone. Much like wrapping your guitar surface in rubber bands. In the old days ALL good instruments had the nitro finish. Now to get one you have to spend some money. Nitro takes weeks to dry and cure. Thin multiple layers can take months to complete one guitar. Poly dries in less than one hour."

I am going to use my Highway One as a platform to customize it exactly the way I want it. The only other changes I might make are: pulling the jumbo frets in favor of the smaller "vintage style" Fender frets, and someday replacing the stock tuners with Schallers, but the latter is a low priority as the stock tuners work nicely.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: