First off, Fender’s Highway One Strat is a high quality, but fairly no-frills affair, at a very reasonable price…but it does sport one very unique innovation — a high-resonance finish [made of satin-lacquer] that apparently allows this guitar to absolutely sing with sustain.
While I haven’t played one myself, user-reviews suggest that it isn’t just hype, though I did see a few hints that the finish can ding rather easily…just something to keep in mind.
The Highway One Strat, while perhaps not totally loaded, does offer some nice features, including a vintage fingerboard, American Special Single-coil pickups with staggered poles, and of course the obligatory synchronized tremolo.
The Fender Highway One Stratocaster Features—
- Alder Body
- Maple C-Shaped Neck
- Rosewood or Maplefretboard With 22 frets
- Master Volume & Two Tone Controls
- Three Single-Coil Strat® Pickups With Alnico Magnets
- 5-Way Pickup Switching
- Greasebucket™ Tone Circuit On Neck & Bridge Pickups
- Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo
- Chrome Hardware
- Satin Lacquer High-Resonance Finish
The Highway One Strat comes in a number of colors, but my personal favorite is this lovely, and refreshingly subtle, Honey Blonde.
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March 21st, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Hey - good notes on the Highway 1 Strat. As I noted awhile back I have a 2005 Sunburst strat, which is a very, very nice axe for quite affordable change. The finish is beautiful, and as you suggested requires (deserves is maybe a better word) a little extra care. I too love the Honey Blonde model.
The grease bucket electronics are what they are, no more, no less, and more than acceptable, and fun. I particularly like the weight and balance of the guitar, and the neck - very supple, yet firm enough. This model has the traditional headstock, and in late 2006 Fender “upgraded” the headstock to the larger 70’s style headstock. Bad move for my money. Can’t beat traditional.
I also have the matching Highway 1 Tele, same year, same finish, same rosewood board. Same great comments too.
American made solid axe. Find a good one and buy it. After that, go find a Classic 50s model strat for your next great surprise. Mine is in Fiesta Red, and the tinted maple board and neck are amazingly well done. What a fun axe, and actually wonderful Mexi quality too.
Keep up the good work.
Ken