How are the Highway One Starts?

Dark13579 · June 7th, 2009, 04:34 PM

I have been thinking about getting one of these. I want to hear some experiences with them. So any info would help. I'm thinking about getting the Honey Blonde with RW FB.

Frogger · June 7th, 2009, 05:27 PM

The new Highway I series Strats are "sleepers". For the price they are great playing and sounding examples that more Strat players should take for a test ride.

GuitarCrazy · June 7th, 2009, 05:31 PM

I have a 2006, which is awesome.

Bundini · June 7th, 2009, 06:29 PM

That's what I got the honey blond with rosewood. I love the HW1 necks so much that I bought 2 more on ebay to retrofit ay other strats, the necks are the best part with the jumbo frets and extra width compard to MIM or MIA necks.

The body has the thinner nitro, some swear that it makes a big difference compared to the 1" thick poly Glass" encased bodies and I agree it does make a bit of difference.

The pups are not for everyone, they are hotter, less vintage but they RAGE on OD pedals
I wanted more vintage sound so I put in Tonerider "Pure Vintage" pups and they are so sweet that I'll stack my HW1 to ANY other Strat that I ever played.

I put the HW1 pups into a Robert Cray hardtail and it is a tone monstor. Fender boosted the price to $950?!! which makes no sense in this recession but it is worth it. Maybe get a used one on ebay for $600 more or less, just make sure it is the updated 06 model.

Boris Bubbanov · June 7th, 2009, 08:22 PM

You might like monster sized frets; I hope you do because any Highway One minted after mid 2005 has them. Too big for me. I really despise the Upgrade Highway One Telecaster pickups, but the H1 Strat pups aren't too bad once you add a base plate to the bridge pickup and switch the lower tone control from the middle to the bridge pickup. I also put on a Glendale Chimemaster before I was happy. Oh, and a really fat neck with 6105 frets:

CrimsonHighway1 · June 7th, 2009, 08:40 PM

I like mine. It wouldn't stay in tune well when I got it (e-bay earlier this year). I put in Fender/Schaller locking tuners and a Graphtech nut and it stays in tune nicely now.

Bundini · June 10th, 2009, 03:05 PM

Boris
What is the Glendale Chimemaster?? Is that the bridge I see in the pic? Looks more tele than strat, is it an improvement?
What happens when you use a vintage pre "06 trem block spaced at 2 3/16th width with the modern narrow 2 1/16" saddels?

Boris Bubbanov · June 10th, 2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bundini

Boris
What is the Glendale Chimemaster?? Is that the bridge I see in the pic? Looks more tele than strat, is it an improvement?
What happens when you use a vintage pre "06 trem block spaced at 2 3/16th width with the modern narrow 2 1/16" saddels?

www.glendaleguitars.com

http://www.glendaleguitars.com/chimemaster.jpg

This one I have is the first generation one - bigger brass block, but a more fragile whammy system than the current Floyd Rose-ish one (out of stock).

The pre-upgrade Highway One (pre-mid 2005, small headstock) has a narrow mount array so you can't use the Chimemaster. It is the post mid 2005, big headstock "Upgrade" that I have, that has the dimensions you describe, and the Chimemaster is great for widening the string array some, but not pushing it all the way out to 2 + 7/32nds like an AV bridge would.

Bundini · June 11th, 2009, 12:07 AM

Thanks for the info.

You can BUNDINI LABORATORIES technical report on string patterns

Strat Hardtail bridge question thread

DamnYankee · June 11th, 2009, 11:35 AM

I love mine. Especially he neck.

Bundini · June 11th, 2009, 12:28 PM

Yeah, I love the necks, bought 2 more on ebay to refit my other Strats. I just cant stand the bone whiteness color so I sand em down and spray nitro vintage amber with nitro laquer.

I jsut put an ash body on one of my HW1's with a maple neck. Also used an aluminum
pickgaurd and it is absolutly incredable!!! The sustain has improved and it barks, chirps chimes and rings like never before especially on pedals. The pups are great.

Looks like Boris polished his sunburst? i polished my honey blond put on some gold and it looks like a Mary Kay.

Jake D · June 11th, 2009, 01:14 PM

I have a 2004 H1 strat with the small headstock. Sunburst with RW fretboard. I love it. I may change the pickups at somepoint, but it is a rock solid guitar with the most fantastic neck.

It is THE guitar for me. I'm done looking.

Offshore Angler · June 11th, 2009, 01:26 PM

My personal experience is is that I went to try them to have one as a backup for a new band, and I auditioned several of them. Not one of them was playable at a professional level. Too bad, because I would have loved to save the bucks. I am not a gear snob either. Just a guy who gets paid to show up an sound good. I honestly left the house expecting to come home with a HWY1. In contrast, nearly every single ASe I played was never more than a setup away from being ready to tour. So I had to bite the bullet and buy the Ase.

I could have taken a HWY1, done the required fretwork and electronics work and had a decent guitar, but rule number one is don't buy guitars unless they are nice and play and sound nice, and then leave them be. The difference in price between a HWY1 and ASe wasn't worth all wondering of what might have been had I chosen the HWY1.

People gripe and complain abotu fender prices, but in the world of professional grade instruments, US Strats are still about the cheapest thing out there. Don't overlook the G&L's either. They are danged nice.

If you think Strats are expensive, apparently you never had to buy a 335 for a gig.

RC33 · June 12th, 2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Offshore Angler

My personal experience is is that I went to try them to have one as a backup for a new band, and I auditioned several of them. Not one of them was playable at a professional level. Too bad, because I would have loved to save the bucks. I am not a gear snob either. Just a guy who gets paid to show up an sound good. I honestly left the house expecting to come home with a HWY1. In contrast, nearly every single ASe I played was never more than a setup away from being ready to tour. So I had to bite the bullet and buy the Ase.

I could have taken a HWY1, done the required fretwork and electronics work and had a decent guitar, but rule number one is don't buy guitars unless they are nice and play and sound nice, and then leave them be. The difference in price between a HWY1 and ASe wasn't worth all wondering of what might have been had I chosen the HWY1.

People gripe and complain abotu fender prices, but in the world of professional grade instruments, US Strats are still about the cheapest thing out there. Don't overlook the G&L's either. They are danged nice.

If you think Strats are expensive, apparently you never had to buy a 335 for a gig.

I have to disagree with this quote, think about all the old blues cats with there tuning and intonation way out and still performing professionally.

If you could hand Stevie Ray Vaughan a warped 60's Kay guitar that's been sitting in a attic for 10 years along with its rusted strings. I have no doubt in my mind he could manage a professional performance.

Lobotomy Boy · June 12th, 2009, 02:05 PM

I'm not so sure SRV would do so well with an old Kay--I have one from around 1940 (when Kay built Silvertone archtops for Sears) that my grandma owned. She retired it in the late 1950s when she got her Gibson steel guitar and I'm pretty sure it's never been restrung since then. I'd defy anyone to make music on that thing in its current condition.

Offshore Angler · June 12th, 2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RC33

I have to disagree with this quote, think about all the old blues cats with there tuning and intonation way out and still performing professionally.

If you could hand Stevie Ray Vaughan a warped 60's Kay guitar that's been sitting in a attic for 10 years along with its rusted strings. I have no doubt in my mind he could manage a professional performance.

Well, some us us can actually play something besides blues you know. I don't think I want to do a jazz gig with a peice of crap. Or a classic rock gig with a Kay with rusted strings. Nor do the people who pay me expect me to show up with POS gear. Maybe the people you work for aren't as discerning, but in the dog-eat-dog music business I take every advantage I can get.

RC33 · June 13th, 2009, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Offshore Angler

Well, some us us can actually play something besides blues you know. I don't think I want to do a jazz gig with a peice of crap. Or a classic rock gig with a Kay with rusted strings. Nor do the people who pay me expect me to show up with POS gear. Maybe the people you work for aren't as discerning, but in the dog-eat-dog music business I take every advantage I can get.

Point taken, I used blues as an example and the same example can be spread to different music fields. To sum it up its 99.9% the performer and not his equipment that get the gigs.

How well can you play? Vs How good is your equipment?

I believe the Highway 1 is a mighty fine guitar. I have spent some time setting it up and making replacements as I just required the nitro body and jumbo fretted neck, but I was impressed by it straight out of the box.

RC33 · June 13th, 2009, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobotomy Boy

I'm not so sure SRV would do so well with an old Kay--I have one from around 1940 (when Kay built Silvertone archtops for Sears) that my grandma owned. She retired it in the late 1950s when she got her Gibson steel guitar and I'm pretty sure it's never been restrung since then. I'd defy anyone to make music on that thing in its current condition.

I have a 1950s Harmony Arch top. Its action is so high I can just about get my pinky finger under the strings after the 12th fret. I have performed professionally with this guitar. Its fitted with a "Steal Reinforced Neck", a break through in those days!

Lobotomy Boy · June 13th, 2009, 09:12 AM

I've thought about having my old Kay refurbished because of its sentimental value, but it would cost more than buying one in nice condition off Ebay.

Offshore Angler · June 13th, 2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RC33

Point taken, I used blues as an example and the same example can be spread to different music fields. To sum it up its 99.9% the performer and not his equipment that get the gigs.

How well can you play? Vs How good is your equipment?

I believe the Highway 1 is a mighty fine guitar. I have spent some time setting it up and making replacements as I just required the nitro body and jumbo fretted neck, but I was impressed by it straight out of the box.

Look, there are a lot of guys with chops, but if they don''t have the looks or gear, we don't hire them.

Unfortunately, at the level above playing a local bar for $50 a guy, the music business is more about who you know and who you've worked with. There is a tendency for people to romanitcize that all they need is a POS guitar and chops to make it, but it is anything but that. You need to play some serious politics, grease a few wheels, and have a product to sell. That product is either sowngwriting or stagecraft. It is expected that you can play.

Look at SRV - a bunch of recyled AK and Jimi, but he was a performer and a great singer. His guitar work, when held to the standards of those he imitated - wasn't all that unique. But, since he could sing and put on a show he brought that style of playing to a new generation that hadn't seen it and enjoyed some commercial success.

I can name a lot of dudes that have or had mind-numbing guitar skills but can't headline anything bigger than a 1000 seater.

Equipment, sure you can get away with a doggy rig - UNTIL - there are keys in the band, and then your gear requires a higher degree of sophistication. You cannot be out of intonation of have dead spots, because the keys will rat you out every time.
Look at Sonny Landreth - the guy is doing things with a guitar that most would deem impossible, but he's not known except to the guitar playing world. He's probably as revolutionary as Jimi or EVH in terms of technique. How many of his CD's do you own?

RC33 · June 13th, 2009, 12:12 PM

Lots of great info up there and a lot of its true! but I feel your missing my point, my point is all guitars are capable of being played at a professional level. There's a lot of people out there who cant afford a top line guitar and maybe your comments could knock on there confidence a little and they might feel like there treasured axe just aint up to it!

Ive been lucky and managed to pick up a few different guitars from the top to the bottom grade they have all got there advantages and disadvantages.

Lobotomy Boy · June 13th, 2009, 12:33 PM

Good post, Offshore Angler--very informative. I see a lot of parallels between the music industry and my industry (publishing). I appreciate your insight.