All user reviews for the Fender Highway One Stratocaster [2006-2011]

A strat, all that was more classic! Lightweight (3.5 kgs for mine), easy handle, easy access to acute ... In short, I refer you to other reviews for more information on the specifications.
This is one of the first Highway 1 (started in 2002 if I'm not mistaken series).
All paint and glaze that covers the body of the guitar is very light in terms of thickness which explained the democratic price of the instrument. However, use is another story and guitar finds unmistakably full SOFC and scratches rather quickly ... Too bad ... It is also unfortunate that Fender decided to make the body of the guitar 3 parts ... Even if the use is not noticed much, on paper, a 2-piece body is preferable to sustain and sound propagation.

UTILIZATION

The ergonomic shape of the Strat and its low weight make this instrument a tool of choice for the musician. The varnish of the handle is nice, as the key (rosewood for me), the frets are polished and properly handle C promotes gambling.
However, the guitar is not free from blame. And fittings remains unreliable and is often on the tuner since the mechanical and vibrato models remain vague. The knobs are quite effective and do the job without either reach the pinnacle of nuance.
The acoustic guitar projection is not staggering but given the price, it seems average.

SOUNDS

The pickups are nice and offer the full range of sound you should expect from a Stratocaster-type guitar.
However, it is clear that these microphones are relatively "neutral" in terms of character despite the staggering of the studs. They also lack a bit of power ... Too bad.

OVERALL OPINION

I used it for over 10 years.
She had found a second life as I had offered him a new shield with excellent MS Tornado microphones and an electronic worthy of the name (selector 7 positions, capacitor paper-in-oil, wiring to the old ... ). I also shielded the guitar (which is not a luxury). The original mechanical Fender also deserved to be changed for Mecas locking to improve holding agreement.
The quality / price is right.
This is an excellent starting point for the upgrade (in my opinion it is more logical to start with this guitar with a Strat Mexico).

It's a Start!


- Top mics not to my taste
- Bridge I find light and rusted in no time
- Mechanical standard, nothing special
- Varnish very fragile
- Guitar very well finished, no apparent defects

UTILIZATION

Very comfortable neck that despite the flaw that I rule slightly. The ergonomics are perfect, it is a strat.

SOUNDS

So this guitar has made me see all the colors. I played a lot in live with and microphones simply m'insupporte. It was the symphony of buzz, I could even capture the radio again!
I opened it, I stuck it copper everywhere but to no avail, it was still quite present. So I asked Fender Tex Mex pickups and there it was better except that I did not like these pickups too runny.
I finished by asking EMG DG 20 and then WOW! Perfect, nothing more buzz the guitar dream.

My rating does not include change of pickups.

OVERALL OPINION

It's been 7 years since I played it and I love it .. The violin is wonderful despite a lack of resonance.
Change mics been beneficial and bridge will soon be leaving for a better one.

Wholesale solid foundations and not overly expensive, there's more that custom!

I bought mine at a local dealer for around six hundred out the door.

I own three strats. Two are American Standards and one Highway 1. The Hwy 1 has the best sustain and tone of all three. I much rather prefer it's vintage style trem
over the new style because it feels lively and bouncy in comparison. (which is good because I really pound the strings.)I think I'll try to trade one of my Americans in on a cheaper Hwy 1.
I dont believe the Americans are worth the extra $300 - $400.

All three of my strats have severe cracks in the same place...that piece of wood that seperates the neck joint and the front pickup routing (under the pickgaurd). I can understand it on my Hwy 1 because I really abuse it on the road, but my Americans hardly leave the cases. Oh well, thats why there Elmers wood glue...

I actually stripped the finish off exposing the natural wood and it looks great. The neck joint is really tight too. The neck and frets are awesome. The Hwy 1 feels a little lighter than my Americans, which is good after 4 sets.

I believe the Highway 1 strat is the best buy in there line-up. It's great for blues, country and classic rock.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I went to Guitar Center to purchase a small practice amp and found this blonde USA made strat on sale for their Green Tag sale at $370. I could not pass it up.

I honestly like everything on this guitar, I usually play Les Pauls, but this one has made me switch to Fender. It is light in weight, and the action after a professional setup is fantastic. It has an extremely fast neck and a great tremelo and good sustain. It sounds like a dream to me.

nothing, for $370 for an American Strat, you find a better deal.....

Made in the U.S.A. by Fender, say no more.

I would have paid twice as much for this guitar.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought the guitar at World Music in Nashville for $399. The people there are great.

The guitar was a demo model. It is in great condition, but I'm sure it had been on the showroom floor for a while.

This guitar is in transparent cocoa (it's not a really attractive color) with a maple fretboard.

An American-made Strat for $399!!! That's only about $50 more than a Mexi-Strat.

The guitar is in great condition. The people at World Music set the guitar up. No buzz, no rattles.

The most important thing is sound. And this puppy sounds great.

I don't really like the cocoa color. No big deal.

Fender cuts costs by using a thinner finish. But it does give the guitar a "vintage" look.

Perfect. I can't find any flaws. The neck is bolted in tight. The neck is smooth and comfortable.

I fully intended on buying an American Standard Strat. But when I saw the Highway One at $399, I could not justify paying $400 more.

Is the Highway One better than the American Standard? Probably not. The pickups are little harsh, but that adds to the "vintage vibe."

Is it better than the Mexi-Strats? I have played some good Mexican guitars, but these Highway One's have a smoother feel.

This is the best $399 I've ever spent on a guitar.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I had been playing the eletric guitar nearly a year now and the magic and intense feeling of power and fun that it gave me had not worn off. I had a Squier Standard and though satisfied seeing a fender made me green with envy. I was passionate for a fender U.S.A but knew that with the cheapest being around £800 it would be a long time before my chacne to purhase one arrived. This is when i saw the Highway Stratocaster, it was in bonners eastbourne and cost £599 i played it and couldnt put it down and next week is was mine to keep.

Well, if you want a Fender built guitar made in the U.S.A a classic vinatge style guitar it has to be a strat. The highway strat is the cheapest U.S.A built fender but by no means the worst. I play Eric Clapton and Blink 182 riffs with it and it suits them both briliantly. The quality of sounds is amazing; juicy, warm, mellow or twangy and bright. The Laquer finish which is what makes it so cheap gives it a class look. The best bit about the guitar though is the neck which fits so snuggly and perfectly your hands feel alive. Highly Recommended if you want Style, Class, Sound and the name.

Next to nothing, this is a brilliant buy and unusually for guitars you have gained high quality for a lesser amount of money. The only thing i noticed is that the tone knobs can be slighly loose and that the finish can dent easily but if you are careful it darkens slowly in time and once played on for about 4 months improves drasticlly.

The quality is a world above the mexican made fenders and a breath away from the standard series. The neck used for the neck is top knotch and all nuts and bolts firmly in place. You really get the feeling you are holding more than the amount you pay for it.

So to sum it up, if you want a guitar with character, thats a classic design for a cheaper price made by the best guitar company then this is tyour guitar. Whatever you play soon it'll become the olny guitar you want and can match i think even the deluxe series. An Amazing guitar the best Value for Money ever!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I wanted to buy a guitar which was versatile, good enough to keep for a lifetime, reliable and looked great. So I asked my guitar teacher what would be my best option? He said that there was a highway 1 strat on sale in Russel's music store in Cork city (Ireland) for 939 euro. I know that is a high price for a highway 1 but everything in Ireland is really expensive anyway. That was actually a reasonable price because another music shop was selling the exact same guitar for 1000 euro.

This guitar has everything I need. The 5 tones I have with the pickup selector switch is great! I can play anything from the likes of Chuck Berry to Ynguie Malmsteen.
When I got it first I was disappointed with the tremolo because the G string kept going out of tune. But to my delight I carefully put a small amount of oil on the nut and the strings now stay in tune with even the most stupidly outrageous whammy bar abuse!!

Only the fact that it cost so much. But it should be a lot cheaper if you dont live in Ireland.

Its a Fender strat made in U.S.A. Enough said!

This is a guitar which would suit anyone. It looks great, sounds great and feels even better to play. I would recommend it to any guitarist because it is so versiatile and such fun to play.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this piece of an American icon for the price tag of the usual $599.99. I have to say I love it, and I finally own a "strat" not a knockoff. The finish is smooth as butter (cocoa) and the maple neck is sweet, smooth, and playable. The 1st test I gave it was the usual string bend on various strings, and a little bar use ie: David Gilmour, and it stayed in tune !! The action needs to be lowered as with all guitars from the factory. The bar is a little long for my taste, but that's life, I am seeking David Gilmour's modified shorter trem arm, ex. and concert you see him in with Pink Floyd. All in all if you want a Fender, I recommend this one !

Satin lacquer finish, ability to stay in tune, over all Fender vintage tone, headstock that says "Made in U.S.A.", perfect size frets for bends, etc.

All the music stores that carry these just leave them hanging, collecting dust, not adjusting the action after they receive them for sale.

Made in the U.S.A. Enough said.

A beauty at a good deal. I really recommend this

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

This guitar was purchased at Long and Mcquade in calgary for 829.00 canadian dollars.

The setup was perfect, the neck is smooth, silky and well made. the blue saphire finish looks great. The guitar stays in tune very well even with moderate to heavy tremolo use. the guitar sounds great througha tube amp.

can't really find any dislikes. the pickups could have soem extra winds in them to make them hotter and warmer. but you still get vintage tones through a nive old fender tube amp.

flawless. however, it took me a few hours to find the right fit. i always go for feel rather than looks. not all the guitars feel the same, so you have to be meticulous and dilligent to find the right fit for you.

i have many guitars (including a 1955 fender stratocaster which i have now retired). i'm very impressed that fender coudl make a no frills finish guitar and make a high quality instrument. i may even pick up the highway 1 telecaster now.


This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

$599.99 from a gear website. I've always wanted a strat & thought $600 for an american strat was a good deal.

This guitar is worth every penny in my opinion. I got the blonde finish with the maple fretboard. My main ax was a Les Paul at the time so it took awhile to adjust to the rounder neck but now that I have it feels very comfortable. I love the way the pickups sound especially through a tube amp. The trem actually stays in tune alot better than I thought it would.

The finish is kinda light & easily scratched but I take care of my gear so for me that's no problem.

C'mon it's a USA made strat! I've seen SRV hold his strat in mid air by just the tremelo bar & then literelly throw it on the floor. After a little tuning it sounded perfect. If Fender builds 'em like that then I've got nothing to worry about.

For the money, you cant get a better USA made guitar. It suits blues & southern rock very well but also clean work too. I dressed mine up a little with a white pearloid pickguard & it gave it a great look.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

i got this guitar at matchetts music for £450.i got this guitar because i was getting an upgrade from my squier strat.

where do i start. well the look,mine's blue with a lacquer finish and a rosewood fretboard.i got set up in the shop.i also like the price its an american strat apart from the bridge,but i cant really tell the differance between the sound quality so its not worth paying £200 quid more for a bridge.

this is very minor,but this guitar is very easy to scratch because of the lacquer finish.but this very minor.apart from that no complaints

the construction of this guitar is excellant now we know why fender are number 1 for guitars.the quality is perfect not a single defect anywhere.

BUY tHIS GUITAR.you will not get any better for your money.this is the best guitar i have ever played.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I got this guitar at musician's friend. They had the Cocoa finish overstocked so I got a great deal, only 399.99

Great quality and tone. Made in the USA. The finish looks like it will age very elegantly. Also the finish does not show many fingerprints like some of it's glossier cousins.

Action was a little high and the neck was off just a hair but I took it to my local guitar shop and got it set up quite nicely for around 15$ so I'm sure you could do the same.

Alder body with a laquer finish, translucent maple fretboard (23 frets-medium jumbo), strat single coil pickups

This guitar is great. I was wanting to buy a Fender strat and was looking at some of the asian models. This American beauty just kinda fell in my lap but i'm glad it did. Great value and good ol' Fender quality.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I went to Guitar Center one day and was shocked to see the spaghetti logo (American only) on a beautiful new strat for only $559.00. I've played many American Srats before, and knew right after I picked it up that this wasn't just a cheap version of the American. Five minutes later I threw down the cash and walked out a very happy man.


The neck on this guitar feels great.
It has medium jumbo frets which are my preferred size.
I like being able to see the wood grain under the paint job. I don't care for plastic looking guitars.
The pickups sound great. Alot of twang.


This isn't the most versatile guitar. The pickups are not designed for heavy distortion.
Other than that this guitar is the goods.

The Highway 1 uses a vintage vibrato unit, but I like to keep mine blocked so I couldn't tell you about its performance. Instead of a lacquer finish it uses a coat of glossy paint that lets you see the wood grain underneath. The body is made of Alder. The bridge pickup is very bright and twangy. The middle and neck pickups are a little fatter sounding than vintage pickups. All five settings sound good in their own way. Would be best suited for a bluesy crunch type of sound or for playing in clean. The neck on mine has a maple fingerboard, but I also saw one with a rosewood board. Extremely well built guitar. I also own a Mexican Standard and you can feel the superiority of this guitar right when you pick it up.


I urge anyone thinking about buying a Mexican Standard to save up $200 more and buy the Highway 1. You won't be sorry.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The Fender Stratocaster is the evolution of the original Fender telecaster guitar from tender music company. This guitar is basically the instrument that revolutionize and redefine rock 'n roll. It's a great sounding guitar and almost perfect instrument from start to finish. It has a great balance and crate feel and that's why it's been bleeding instruments and electric guitar for the last half century.

UTILIZATION

Fender Highway 1 Stratocaster Features:

* Color: 3-color Sunburst
* Body Type: Solidbody electric.
* Finish: Satin nitrocellulose lacquer.
* Neck Wood: Maple.
* Neck Shape: Modern "C" shape with 9.5-inch radius.
* Body Wood: Solid alder.
* Machine Heads: Fender / Ping standard cast / sealed tuners.
* Fingerboard: Rosewood.
* No. of Frets: 22.
* Position Markers: Dot inlays.
* Pickups: Three vintage style single coils with staggered polepieces and Alnico magnets.
* Controls: Master volume, two tone.
* Bridge/Tailpiece: Vintage style synchronized tremolo.
* Pickup Switching: Five-position blade switch.
* Hardware: Chrome.
* Case: Deluxe Gig Bag included
* Scale Length: 25.5 inches.

SOUNDS

The tone of this guitar is fantastic. Especially when you couple it with a nice heavy amplifier such as a Mesa boogie or a Marshall amplifier. You get a great singing sustain in tone that is very blossoming and fruitful. It has a great earthy tone that mixes well and pretty much any style of music you can imagine. There really isn't a style music that this guitar can't fit in unless you're talking about heavily dropped tuned metal guitar sounds. Other than that is get the guitar can pretty much do just about anything. It's extremely versatile and overall just a perfect instrument. I really like the sound of these guitars primarily with the Marshall amplifier but pretty much any amplifier that you have this guitar will bring out the best and I gear.

OVERALL OPINION

You can find his guitars for right around $730 new on the online retailers and in most retailer guitar shops. You can also find them used pretty easily as well. I suggest trying out a few in finding out which neck you prefer because the next can change from guitar to guitar as well as with each reissue and model number.