Fender Highway 1 Strat

It's just a Strat so you know what it looks like and if you wanna know more just check the fender site.
Oh yeah, i have the cool red see through color
I'm giving this guitar a 9 in features because it's all there and i like the color.

Well, its a Strat so you can play almost anything with it. I usually play punk and hardcore and stuff like that, but i also play grunge on it and it can also handle blues really good. I don't play jazz so i can't rate that but its probably possible. I use a Randall RG75 amp but i tried a lot of other amps (soon i'll buy an Line 6 Vetta II) and the guitar sounds great on any amp.
When I went to the store to buy a new guitar i actually wanted a Splattercaster (cause they look cool) but when i compared it to this baby there wasn't any doubts. I also compared it to other strats (U.SA.) but they didn't had that warm smooth sound this guitar has. A few days ago i compared it to an deluxe strat (or something like that) and that guitar sounded just weak and shrill compared to my strat (the other guitar was 1400 euro!!)
I think this is the best guitar there is, and maybe there are better strats but they are way more expensive.

I read the other reviews and those people saying that the paintjob is bad are just stupid. ITS SUPPOSED TO LOOK THIS WAY!! and i like it because it looks really vintage.
I won't judge the action because that's just personal.
When i first got the guitar the pick-ups were too close to the strings and that made a weird vibrating sounds (only when amplified) it sounded a bit like it was out of tune (but it wasn't that) so i lowered the pick-ups and now i dont have any problems with it anymore.
And just because it looks great i gave this one a 9 too!

I've played several times live with it and that was just great (except for the strings that broke) from now on i wil always have a backup just because i abuse the strings once in a while.
Hardware and stuff looks fine to me but i only got it about a year so i'm not sure.
The finish is great!! The paint will come of very fast and every dent is clearly visible but i like that! makes me think of the guitar of SRV!
Strap buttons sucked so i put straplocks on it but i always do that with guitars.

i haven't dealed with Fender so i can't say anything about that.
I still have warranty (1 year) but i don't think i'll bu needing it.

I've played about 6 years and next year i'll probably go to an academy of music so i'm pretty serious about guitarplaying. I love this guitar and if anyone steals it i will hunt him down and in the time before i got my guitar back i would buy another one. I recently heard that the highway's are build in mexico and put together in America so that would make it an Mexico Strat but i don't care cause my guitar sounds great! (maybe i just got lucky and other highways suck, i don't know...)
oh yeah, one strange thing about the guitar: the bridge pick-up doesn't have a tone control. (usually there is one tone control for the middle and bridge pickup) Maybe I'll fix that but i don't really use tone control on the bridge because i like the sound already!
to sum it up: great guitar!!

Squiers and Mexicans aren't up to much so when I saw this at #399 (about $800), I went for it. Interestingly, I tried two Cocoa HS exactly the same- consequetive numbers and they both felt and sounded exactly the same - I did a blindfold test in the back room and failed! I went for a slightly better maple pattern! You know the specs so I won't bore you.

The only gripe is the pick-ups. Very Ally McBeal (thin), I raised them to the max too. I use an 83 US Standard Hard tail and the HS pickups just don't compare, I have to turn the bass up. They also hum a bit too- more than my No. 1. I use a GT6 so amps really don't matter! I'm about to replace the pick ups with Texas specials- if they don't work I'll use some 83 standard pick ups I have spare.
Someone told me Texas Specials can be a bit lacking in top end.

Cocoa is ok. The band boys like it, but I've always wanted an all white one so its at the decorators as we speak! My had a good couple dings after one month and its my number 2.

Its an American strat with 'thin' pick ups. At #399 a real bargain. From Sam's in Derby.

N/A

Been playing 25 years. Had to retire ny Gibson Les Paul (Ex Steve Jones Sex Pistols), it sits under the bed! Use three Strats now (see above), and an SRV. Its a good work horse strat, but I'm not sure about that terminology - surely you want play something a bit special? I wonder if I should've gone for a Telecaster now!

2004 USA Highway 1 Strat, 22 frets, S/S/S "vintage" Fender pickups, tobacco sunburst alder body with maple/maple neck/fretboard, vintage-style tremolo, modern sealed tuners, 25.5" scale. Fender includes a gig bag, but I paid extra for a case instead. The rolled-edge fretboard feels wonderful.

All the typical features of a Strat, which add up to a very flexible guitar, thus I'm giving it an "8". It would be nice if they included strap locks and a case - and I also really like the slotted backplate Fender uses on some Squiers (lets you adjust the claw screws without removing the backplate), but I'm happy.

I think this will be great for blues and classic rock. I have a stable of fine Jacksons for metal. I use this with my Tech 21 Trademark 10, which I sometimes run through a Marshall 1960A 4x12 cab. It sounds like a classic Strat. It does offer some piercing feedback sometimes (sounds microphonic). I like the sound, but I'm getting used to it. It doesn't have near the sustain that I'm used to, but it's not really fair to compare this to my neck-through Jackson with EMGs. I'm reminding myself that I didn't buy this for metal. Nevertheless, I think I'll replace at least the bridge pickup with a DiMarzio Virtual Vintage, as the soundclip for the Virtual Vintage Blues on DiMarzio's web site sounds the way I want this to sound. I also may get GraphTech String Saver saddles for it, as they are said to improve sustain, and they appear to have flush adjustment screws that won't poke my picking hand like the Fender screws do (these are nowhere near as sharp as the screws on my Squier Strat's bridge though)

Wonderful setup. Nice low action, floating trem, no rough edges on any frets, tight neck pocket. I'll give Fender all the credit for this, because the store where I bought it doesn't seem to employ anyone to set up guitars.

The finish is flawless for what it is. I like the satin look and the thin finish. I like that the wood can breathe, and the finish will age. I hope to relic this baby out over the years. I'm not crazy about the slight "orange peel" texture. I might take some 0000 steel wool to it to smooth it out, then go over it with a cleaner wax, swirl remover and polish, but that's just because I can never leave well enough alone. I have to personalize my stuff.

When I bought this, I could choose between this ($669 w/hardshell case) or a USA Strat Deluxe ($999 with hardshell case). Both were tobacco sunburst S/S/S configuration, with maple/maple necks. The differences between the two looked like mostly fluff to me (Deluxe had shiny finish, abalone inlays, S1 switching system, which will probably be superceded next year or so - remember Vintage Noiseless Pickups? Lace Sensors? the list goes on)

This thing is heavy, solid and built to last. The finish may well wear off. It already had a ding in it when I bought it brand new from the store (I live in a small town - they had a total of 1 to choose from). I hope the finish does wear off. I love seeing those worn-looking Strats, like the one Kenny Wayne Shepherd has. I think I could depend on this. Though I'm used to Floyds, this vintage-style trem stays in tune very well.

Never dealt with 'em.

I've been playing for over 20 years. I have 7 electric guitars (4 Jacksons, 1 Kramer, 1 Squier Strat, 1 Highway 1 Strat), 3 amps, a few effects, etc. If this were lost or stolen, I'd be interested in getting another just like it. I enjoy it. I had a beautiful Fender Custom Shop Strat with a gorgeous cherry sunburst (my favorite color) flame maple top, flame maple neck, pearloid pickguard, etc., that I never felt comfortable playing. It was like driving a Cadillac. Not as much fun as a VW, IMO. I love the stripped-down aesthetic this guitar has. It's a player, and that's just what I wanted. I think it was so cool of Fender to offer this at a reduced price, instead of calling it vintage and jacking up the price, like they do on their Closet Classics and Relics. This is just what I wanted. A quality USA Strat with the important stuff included and the frills left out. Thanks, Fender!

2002 fender highway strat, 22 medium frets, 3 single coils, red color... well the normal strat ;)

To be honest i was really dissapointed. I really like players like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Deep Purple... And the guitar just doesn't fit disorted sound at ALL! I'm using a Marshall 60w Valve combo, so i guess the disortion is ok (as it is with an ibanez rg). ;)
You can play Hendrix, you can play clean stuff, you can play Clapton, you can vary alot... But geez, never use disortion with it! Buzzing, no basses, nu full sound, no middle tones... i guess it's just the pickups.

i didn't have to do anything. just plugged in and played. :)

i can depend on it. definately. it's solid, the strap buttons are also solid. the hardware seems to be a bit... well i don't really depend on it. ;) i wouldn't play it on a gig without backup. i wouldn't even play it on a gig because i play metal and rock... :P

It's ok for playing Clapton and Hendrix and stuff like that, but you won't get any full sound with disortion. no middle tones, no bass tones. just treble. i guess it's just the cheap pickups. except this, the guitar is a real fender stratocaster! if it was stolen i would buy a les paul. :P

I have just recently purchased a 2003 Highway Strat in Honey Blonde.
It's as stock, the shop had a factory soiled model knocked down to 330 pounds, So I thought I would check it out. Having purchased an Ibanez SA220fm a few days earlier and not really getting on with it I exchanged it for the strat which I must say it the best thing I've done.

My main musical style is Blues and Blues/Rock.
Anything from the late great Stevie Ray vaughan to Gary Moore and the one and only Peter Green.
My amp model of choice is a Fender Deluxe 90 Dsp. I am using an Ibanez tubescreamer in the way SRV used one mainly as a boost for the overdrive, I have all the EQ on 5 on both channels I also use a Jim Dunlop Wah-Wah.
I find that this gives me a very good SRV sound. The sound is very raw and edgey and not as smooth as other strats I have tried and I find this suits me well

I have had to raise the action on a couple of the strings and tighten the springs in the back as I prefer the bridge to sit flush on the body I find this helps give a bit more sustain. The pickups are fine and I have not had any trouble with it or any other Fender guitars that I have owned in the past.

I currently use it as my main guitar in church as it's lighter in weight than my Gibson Les Paul, and at the moment suits the sounds and tones that I am listening to on cd and on videos. I have not put any strap locks on it yet but the strap buttons on the guitar are very sturdy.

I have phoned Fender europe on many times over the past few months mainly to enquire about amps and guitars that I have been looking at and I have found them to be helpful everytime.

I have been playing guitar for about 12 years now and I have owned many guitars from Gibson to PRS to Fender and Ibanez.
I sold my Gibson Les Paul Special and my Mexican strat to purchase a PRS late last year thinking that it would give me all I needed sound and tone wise. But I was wrong I took it back to Andertons in Guildford and exchanged it for my current Gibson LP standard in Trans-Amber, which looks very much like Peter Greens Gibson that Gary Moore now owns.
But I am now glad to own a Gibson and a Fender again as I find this covers a very wide spectrum of musical genres.

Being a very fussy musician and striving for my perfect sound I am always looking at changing my gear every now and then, but this time I can honestly say I have got everything I want at the moment

2002. Made in USA. 22 frets, s/s/s, etc.
Candy red, translucent finish, looks great!!

I started playing blues, then rock and now I am playing metal.
With the Fender, I heard that they can sound like a piano. Just put a set of 10's fender nickel coated super bullet strings and try playing the fat E near the 12 - 14th fret (clean) and you will start believing in Fender.

The bridge pickup can be a bit noisy at times, but the neck can be quite the opposite. Just dont get the pickups too close to the strings.

I read many reviews about the strat having cheap pups and not sounding close to the les paul. but those guys did not obviously try the strat with the Boss MT2 Metal Zone pedal. I almost started searching for a LP when I decided to try the MT2. Man, was i glad I did. I got the Metallica sound I was trying so hard to get for almost 4 months. That's because Boss MT2 (and other boss products) are made by Roland and Kirk uses a Roland's $700 Multi-effects pedal.

Its an 8 because the finish can be easily damaged even while placing the guitar back in the hard case. Get an all plastic guitar case not one with aluminum border.

But, its supposed to hold the sustain for a long time. Dont know about that much.

Ok, my previous guitar was a kramer. One day, I read about intonation and decided to play around with the saddles. Big mistake. The kramer never got back to its original sound. There were fret buzzes and rattles.

but on the fender, I have done everything except take out the pickguard. No rattles, no buzzes, no change in intonation. Tuning just holds and holds.

Bought it from ebay, so not expecting much support.

I have been playing for an year now.
Fender Highway 1 --> BOSS MT2 Metal Zone ---> MARSHALL MG10CD.

If it were lost, I would definetely buy another one. Its priced right in the range of affordable excellent guitars. I compared it to epiphone & Gibson SG. But, at that time, I was playing only clean and not distorted.

It's a basic Strat so you know what to expect. The only unusual feature is the satin ( low cost ) finish. The neck also has rolled edges which is a great feature as it improves the feel dramatically.
I have to rate it as 8 as for an off the wall guitar it is hard to beat for vesatility.

I wanted a strat to play hendrix tunes on but since buying this i have sadly neglected my collection of other guitars because this thing, despite it's low cost, is so addictive and versatile.
I play through good quality valve amps and the strat shines through with clarity and superb response. The low output of the single coils makes me play in an entirely different and more controlled way. It has converted me to a believer in clean distortion ( no i'm not talking shit here ) in the syle of Pete Townsend, Jimi hendrix and Tony McPhee. If i want heavy saturation i opt to ( carefully ) kick in my Zvex Fuzz factory.

Lets face it the finish keeps the cost down but it is very nice to the feel and lets the wood resonate well. Acoustically this guitar is very vibrant. In my hands it will wear badly and look something akin to Rory Gallaghers strat in a few years but if you don't mind this ( like me ) great, if it is a problem get a refin in a few years time.
The action was medium to high but this suits my taste. As an experiment i did lower the action and got horrible fret buzz so if you are a fan of low action you may need a set up to get you going.
The rolled fingerboard was an absolute delight, well done fender.
The frets are not perfectly finished and you could feel some scratchiness whilst bending when new but after extensive playing the strings smooth this out through friction wear. Once again if your a sort of sensitive player you may have to have this addressed before your happy.
Pickups, can't fault them, superb.

Same basic constuction as my only other bolt on an ibanez Jem which has been abused in my possesion for the past 15 yrs without incident and probably the most robust make up for guitar. Just watch Pete Townsend or Jimi hendrix try to bust one. It takes serious abuse before extinction. This guitar will only break if you are intent on doing such.

no idea

For half a grand this is the best you can get if you are after a strat type guitar. For the price asked it is perfect.

2002 model Highway 1, teal green, 22 medium jumbo frets,3 single coil pickups, vintage bridge hardware and sealed tuners. This model comes with a gig bag. On the whole, the stock equipment is OK, but anyone looking to make this more than a backup guitar should consider replacing the bridge saddles with a better quality replacement (such as string savers). I did this and was pleasantly surprised at the tuning and sound improvement. The pickups are ok, but noisy.

I've played for 30 years and gigged for the past 25, and I think this would be a nice back-up guitar for an experienced player, and a decent number one guitar for someone new to gigging. The Highway 1 can handle virtually any type of music, but doesn't seem particularly well suited to metal.

This was not one of Fender's better setups from the factory. The intonation was terrible and there were quite a few rough fret ends that had to be filed. The nut was cut rather poorly as well. However, my dealer did correct these problems.

This should be a reliable guitar. There is nothing complicated about the guitar or pickups that should cause a gig meltdown. I don't think the overall quality of the guitar is that of a main guitar, but it's a decent backup. I don't think the finish is going to last very long, but a lot of players like that beaten look.

Fender customer support, contrary to popular belief, is ok. You cannot expect immediate satisfaction, but if you can demonstrate that they have messed up they will correct problems. I did send this guitar back for repair, and while it was not repaired quickly (about 6 weeks altogether)it was repaired. It's better to get your guitars at a shop that you trust, this helps you avoid problem guitars in the first place.

I bought the Highway 1 to take the wear and tear away from more expensive guitars. I have several great Fenders (Strats and Teles), and I have no grudge with the company. This guitar is just OK. If it were stolen I probably wouldn't get another

My hw-1 was made in 2002 i believe. Got it as a local store was closing and stole it. Great wood and neck. S/S/S set up stock fender blah blah blah. Nothing very impressive.

Stock this guitar sounds like crap. Plain and simple. Great body tone, neck woods great, but pups SUCK!!!!! Run mine through a blues deluxe amp, fulltone fulldrive 2 and distortion pro, crybaby classic, and dd-3. No noise cancelling, weak tone. Soooooo, i wired tone controls that the 2nd tone knob controls both mid and bridge pups. Great mod, easy to do. Next, put in van zandts vintage model pups into this, changed the pickguard out and now.... BAM!!!!! This thing sound better than my SRV strat. SRV tone, vintage clapton tone, dire staights, you name it. Absolutly awesome. The finish really helps the axe breath tone. Now my SRV sits under the bed!!!!!! If my SRV was ever stolen, would buy another HW-1 strat and gut it and rebuild it!!!!!

Set up sucked. Spent some time with it, loved and and now truly awesome. Great finish, really breaths tone due to the thinner finish. Neck feels broke in, but thinking about taking 0000 steel wool and removing the finish from the back. Oh, and fender should keep the frets from getting finished when they finish the necks.

Love this guitar!!!!!! Everyone who has heard my SRV and this together love the tone of the HW-1!!!!! I leave the SRV under the bed, collecting dust. Very dependable, no problems structure wise. Had a problem with the pickups not picking up the high e string well. Replaced pickups with Van Zandts vintage pups, totally smokes!!!!!

Here is my beef. Had a falty pup in the bridge, would not pick up the high e. Took it to a authorize fender repair place, they ordered the replacement pup, 6 months later, still no pick up!!!!!! Thank God I put in Van Zandts, other wise would not have a playable strat.

I have been playing for 13 years, and this is the best sounding strat i have. I love it!!! If it were stolen i would buy another and put in van zandts again!!!! The neck is great. Like a womans hand you know really well, just feels right. I would give it higher markes, but the service thing bothers me.

2002 US Series "Hwy 1 HSS" Stratocaster:


22 beautifully dressed and polished med/large frets on maple "rolled edge" board; Ping sealed tuners; two Elite/Deluxe style string retainers on headstock. The neck is maple with rosewood fret board; is the same as all the modern American Series, American Standard, etc., Fenders; satin poly finished; C shape; Walnut finish; S/S/H pickups; Fender standard (Mex i suspect) single coils and atomic Humbucker.

Good sound but the single coils are noisy and lack punch; not good enough for a Guitar in this class and are badly matched to the humbucker.
I have a behringer ac-112 valve driven modeling amp (fantastic); a Fender frontman practice, crybaby wah.
I play Blues, rock, jazz/country/folk so i need something very flexable.
When i have finished my custom mods it will be perfect.

Factory setup was crap, very cheep asian maid copy's are better; fortunatly the guys i got it from set it up (bridge, neck, frets, nut)for me with 10's and now it plays very well.
the standard wiring and pickups (single coils) are terrible; however i will be fitting 2 kinman 69's and completly rewiring it with the correct pot value's and and a trick mixer setup (www.kinman.com); that will totally transform this axe into a very flexable rig with 7 switchable and mixer ajustable sounds.
The standard humbucker is very good.

Once i have finnished modifying it to fix its problems (mostly electronic and pickups) i expect this to be a very good axe.
I always have a backup axe with me anyway (setup for slide) because i do some slide numbers plus an acoustic for acoustic numbers, i also break a few strings so it would never have only one axe with me.
I don't imagine there would be any problems with this axe.

Fender don't deal with end users, only dealers.

Been playing 27 years, have an ibanez rx (great cheep axe) and a maton acoustic/electric (a wonderfull australian made axe).
Would hunt down thief, kill and dismember then sell body parts to buy another if it were stolen.
I have wanted a US Strat for over 30 years but was never rich enough afford one till now, as an entry level US Strat its a great Guitar despite its shortcomings (understandable for the price)