This is the Highway 1 "upgrade" released in late 2006. The first models, although already very good, were not hunanimité, even in dealers Fender who were not very competitive compared to some Mexican. The Fender Custom Shop has put his nose and the model has been redesigned, the pickups changed, namely:

- One head 70's, wide, which I find rather rare and successful brand.
- New colors nitrocellulose lacquer finish.
New-jumbo frets.
- 3 Alnico 3 (3 magnets), with middle pickup reverse polarity and winding to reduce the noise in position 2 and 4.
- Tone circuit "greasebucket" for neck and bridge pickups (the middle pickup has no tone control) to keep a certain tone with the brightness to zero.

For the rest, the bridge was "vintage" to 6 anchorage points with vibrato of the mark, so without risk.

The sunburst model presented here is really beautiful. For me being left handed I could enjoy that color with transparent wine rosewood fingerboard.

Note that this is the only model of the brand that can get left-handed at no additional cost. Thank you!
The varnish is very thin nitro particular: it has the advantage of leaving "sounding" the wood more easily and the disadvantage of being more fragile. 4 months since I have this guitar, I can say that this veneer is beautifully patina to points of friction, and donnnant interesting nuances and highlighting the wood grain under a beautiful cherry ripe! We may not like this polish. Appointment in 20 years ..... for a "relic !!???

Otherwise for the rest, quality manufacturing is well within the price range, nothing more, nothing less.

Remember that this is the Start of U.S. entry to 849 euros.

UTILIZATION

Operation is simple, as all Strat.Tous settings are possible, the strings do not curl. Just a small tendency to skid high E off the handle, but it can be used to my other guitar or failure of my game! Vibrato is easily solved. The handle is easy to play

SOUNDS

First used with an amp Peavey Bandit 112, a Crybaby 535Q, and Fulltone OCD overdrive.

I play blues, hardcore and prog.

Clean sound is really all sounds you expect from a Start: punch, brightness, chaleur.Aucun excessive background which proves that the microphones have been studied. And it's true that the circuit Greasebucket is surprising: one does not lose its bass and retains some gloss to the pitch to zero. One side "jazzy".

With distortion, with OCD and 3 super distorss of Peavey's really amazing for single-coil pickups: sisi can play metal with a Start and I must say that compared to my old Aria Humbuckers, this guitar is really "punchy" and racée.Une nice personality. It holds the road very well (normal for a Highway ...) and not be ashamed in the face of U.S. Strats range above.
The vibrato does not jump out of tune the strings (it's still not a Floyd Rose!) And remains an interesting asset in the game

In short, it was the sound of legend!

I now play with an amp SpiderValve Line 112. The sound of the guitar is of course transcended by the quality of this amp as well as clear sound that sounds (hyper) saturated. Fender has really put the package on its pickups and electronics: it's amazing fishing and ultimately very quiet for single coils.

OVERALL OPINION

Used for 1 year and a half, I would do this choice. It's not a Fender U.S. at a discount, that's for sure! You can really have fun on this guitar. Output with a lot of pub by the mark, it deserves its success (it's rare that Fender gave a name to one of its models ...).
Now the choice is so vast in the mark (at least for the left) that everyone can find happiness.
Me, I wanted the Start sound, universal (a sound that can only love because it is found in all styles of music), without ruining myself, and I'm not disappointed.

A beautiful and good guitar please!