Fender American Strat vs. Highway 1 Strat

[tunesmith]

Greetings slutty boys and girls one and all. I am NOT a guitar geek. I am just learning bass and it's my first fretted experience, but I am a total noob when it comes to guitars.

This is a problem, as I am going to buy one for my wife for her birthday at the end of June. I do know a LITTLE about guitars, and I decided that for a first electric guitar, there's nothing like a goold old Strat as a way to start it off right.

I am trying to decide if I should get a used American made or a new Highway One model. I can't afford a brand new American made, but there are several on Ebay and local ones on Craigslist and Recycler that are well in my pricerange.

So here are my questions, guitar slutz:

1. I hear that the main difference between the American and Hwy1 is quality of wood and finish. Is that true? If so, how does this affect look and quality 3-4 years up the road.

2. Anything technically I should know about that seperates the two?

3. Who wants to sell me a strat?

Thanks for the help.

Tunes.

[petsematary]

I've a strat but you can't buy it! :0)

Seriously though, there's a lot to think about when buying one. Country of origin, model and pickup configuration etc. Pickups obviously have to do with the style of music she plays. And so on.

The Highway 1 - is that one american? Or is it mexican? American standard stratocasters are great and maintain their value a lot better than mexos. But I'm not sure the HW1 is a mexo so I can't say. However, the standard american is probably better (and more expensive) than the HW1. If it was up to me, I'd go for an american one, or if I couldn't afford that, a japanese. They're super and not as expensive as the american ones.

There's a few good japanese resellers - Ishibasi for example. I've bought a couple of axes from them and I know friends that have too. Ishibashi's a great store and they ship worldwide. http://www.ishibashi-music.com/fenderjp/side1st.htm

So instead of buying a half-assed budget american or a mex, buy a japanese. That is, if you think the american is too expensive. Actually, IMHO, japanese ones are just as good - the american ones are just overpriced. Way overpriced.

[tunesmith]

The Highway 1 is American made. I don't know where to get a Japanese strat here... I do not want to get a Mexican one, although I am very fond of most all things Mexican.

Any other thoughts?

[petsematary]

I'd take the american strat then since it's bound to maintain its value better than the HW1 and I also think it's better. But you can get a japanese Fender FROM JAPAN...if you want to save a few bucks. So american strat if you've got the dough and japanese if you don't. I'd take a pass on the HW1 if it was up to me...

[wwittman]

How much ARE they?

I wouldn't buy a new Fender at all

www.suhrguitars.com

or

www.pensaguitars.com

[pan60]

isn't the hwy 1 Mexican American assembled?
seams i read that somewhere, but not 100%.
i would look for a older american or as mentioned, one of the Japanese models.
also i would look for a G&L they are american.
with that i think i would get a tele.
yep a tele.
a tele.
hel forget your wife's birthday, and just get me one.

[Yutaka]

I have a Japanese strat myself, and I actually picked it over quite a few American std I've tested at the time. The electronics in the Japanese strats are totally crap, however, and I'd recommend replacing the pickups with something better. I have Van Zandt vintage plus on mine, and they just made a huge difference.

Anyway, there's a thread at The Gear Page on Highway 1 strats you may want to check out.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/sho...threadid=82317

[Tim L]

G&L Legacy... I snagged a "96" a few months ago and couldn't be happier. Helluva lot more instrument for your money than the contemporary Fender "American" stuff... helluva lot!

[pan60]

i agree i collect G&L guitars and favor them over the fenders!

[Musiclab]

I bought an ash lite strat, has an ash body and a birds eye maple neck. Its a real guitar, the worst thing was the duncan pickups. I pulled them out and put fralins
in and for about 650 bucks I win.

[The Mime]

I have a Fender Tex-mex fat-strat, as the name suggests it's made in mexico. I replaced the tuning-pegs and got the pickups shielded properly and now it's a really great guitar. Sounds and plays beautifully, hardly any hum at all. I traded that guitar for a American Standard strat and I'm very happy I did, I got a better sounding guitar and some money back.

[darren_john92]

Originally Posted by wwittman

How much ARE they?

I wouldn't buy a new Fender at all

Welcome to John Suhr Guitars, Basses, and Amps - Expanding the Experience of Tone!

or

PENSA CUSTOM GUITARS : Flash 5 Plug-in Detection

Agree totally! The Highway 1 is awful and the new american standard stuff feels lifeless, Levinson Blade stuff is definately worth a look.

[Kim Bjäle]

I`ve just bought a Fender "Baja" Telecaster (mex). I`ve tried the Highway One Tele (they are american) but they sound awful but the "Baja" sounds amazing, very solid and custom shop mics...

[Mafugi]

I have a 97 american strat (in white) and I´m very happy with it. At the time I bougth it to have a "real" strat. It´s solid, feels good to play it (work it), and just soo sexy. But I think the mexican or japanese models are very good. Quite a lot of satisfied people out there. You can always change the hardware later on.

[Methlab]

The highway 1 is great for basses. I have the HW1 jazz bass, and the only difference is that the neck is Alder. It is all american hardware besides that and was made in America. I bought it over the pure American standard models I played.

All Fenders are different, so you have to play each one to see what you like. But the Highway 1 can be a great instrument.

[lord_bunny]

I love my HW1 P-bass. I've played standard americans and I don't really miss anything except the nicer hardware.

I am a HUGE G&L fan. My ASAT is the only guitar I've ever really bonded with and I'm considering having it buried with me when I go.

So, don't be afraid of the HW1, but G&L is probably the best value out there.

[djbrough]

I'm an owner of a Highway 1 Strat. The differences are as follows:

1. Highway 1 is Mexican Assembled with American Parts
2. Nitrocellulose "thin finish"
3. Alnico pickups differ from the american standard
4. Jumbo frets
5. No S1 switching

with all of that being said, It's an excellent guitar. I love the finish I have the tri-burst) and the sound of the pickups. It's got a great neck as well. They probably won't hold their resale value as well as an American Standard, but I don't plan on getting rid of mine.

Lastly, you can save quite a bit of dough if youby the Highway 1. It really is a great guitar. If you need the extra bells and whistles, go with the statndard.

[Jim Williams]

Originally Posted by pan60

isn't the hwy 1 Mexican American assembled?
seams i read that somewhere, but not 100%.

Do you want your Fender built by Mexicans in Mexico or by Mexicans in Santa Ana, California?
Only the labor rates differ. I prefer the models made in Ensenada. They seem to be more consistant, as if they care more about the jobs they do.

My Muddy Waters artist model is first rate, better than most American made models as at least they line up the neck and screw it together straight. My American made Tele's are all crooked. Maybe they have better eyesight down south...

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[fhames]

Deluxe American Standard maple neck. Nice.

[ZFire]

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Mexican Fender guitar. If you go and play the instruments, the playability and fit/finish are right up there these days.

[Track 7]

Originally Posted by Tim L

G&L Legacy... I snagged a "96" a few months ago and couldn't be happier. Helluva lot more instrument for your money than the contemporary Fender "American" stuff... helluva lot!

+1 G&L Legacy a much better build all the way around... put in the pickups of your choice and you have a lifekeeper axe

[pan60]

Originally Posted by lord_bunny

I
I am a HUGE G&L fan. My ASAT is the only guitar I've ever really bonded with and I'm considering having it buried with me when I go.

So, don't be afraid of the HW1, but G&L is probably the best value out there.

big G&L fan here as well!

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Do you want your Fender built by Mexicans in Mexico or by Mexicans in Santa Ana, California?
Only the labor rates differ.
Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

well i would hope this is in no way take racially, as that is not my intent.
the Mexican people have always built the Fender guitar so i have no issue their.
as well i believe product can be made any where and still be of great quality, the question is, will it?
and the hardware on imports is not always that great, i idea behind the import is to build a more affordable product, one that will meet a minimum given standard, and do so at a profitable entry point.
these guidelines effect more then who is , or is not, has or has not, assembled a given model.
now, having said that, i issue i see is that a lot of the import products are not made to the same degree of standards that i expect from a product.
and i will say that for some of the past U.S. made Fenders as well, they have made some products that i never felt were up to snuff.

[Suspects]

The American Deluxe Strat is a significantly better guitar than either the American Standard or the Highway 1; better quality tone wood, improved hardware and WAY better build quality (also more money, unfortunately). The new American Standards we've seen in the studio recently have been awful - really noisy and they won't stay in tune for long...

If you really want a Fender, look for a used American Deluxe.

My $0.02


Dave/Suspect

[danbronson]

Fwiw, I really dig the finish on the Fender HW1s. The thinner the finish, the less dead the guitar will be, and the more it'll resonate/sound like wood instead of plastic. I buy my guitars based entirely off of what they sound like after I've plugged in and had a good long listen and play, and all three of my main guitars (a PRS, a Gibson and an Ibanez) are without a gloss finish. They all have very, very thin finishes. I highly doubt that's a coincidence. I have a few other electrics with gloss finishes (one of which is an American made Carvin) and they just don't sound 'alive' if you know what I mean.

I don't know about the pickups and hardware though. I imagine they're better on the more expensive Fenders. The more expensive ones certainly look better too, but that's just me!

[Rednose]

To me the Americans have better build standards.
I have a Korean one thats nice, but you have to really check out a strat thats not American made.
To the people who say don't get a fender...hoagwash, they still make some great guitars.
You just have to personally inspect them.

[big country]

Originally Posted by pan60

big G&L fan here as well!

made in my home town

well i would hope this is in no way take racially, as that is not my intent.
the Mexican people have always built the Fender guitar so i have no issue their.

not true

[big country]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Do you want your Fender built by Mexicans in Mexico or by Mexicans in Santa Ana, California?
Only the labor rates differ. I prefer the models made in Ensenada. They seem to be more consistant, as if they care more about the jobs they do.



Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

and some worry about down loads

here I am worrying about lossing american jobs

but to some its not PC to express feeling invaded

[big country]

YouTube - Fender Factory Tour

[Nolet]

Buy a Fender that plays nice and feels good in your hands when you pick it up. That's 1000 times more important than wether it says Made in USA or not. By pure coincidence I picked up a Mexican Tele and a Mexican Jazz Bass. I could have gone for the USA ones, but the Mexicans just felt better.

[big country]

Originally Posted by Nolet

Buy a Fender that plays nice and feels good in your hands when you pick it up. That's 1000 times more important than wether it says Made in USA or not. By pure coincidence I picked up a Mexican Tele and a Mexican Jazz Bass. I could have gone for the USA ones, but the Mexicans just felt better.

I dissagree but then again try it for your self