Quick question about Fender Highway One's...

SlopeSoarer

... were they all made in the USA or are there Mexican versions?

Philly_Q

I'm pretty sure they all say made in the USA.  But the parts were made and finished in Mexico and assembled in the US, so it's a fine line.

I think that's right.  No doubt I'll be shot down in flames if it isn't.

SlopeSoarer

Philly_Q said:

I'm pretty sure they all say made in the USA.  But the parts were made and finished in Mexico and assembled in the US, so it's a fine line.

I think that's right.  No doubt I'll be shot down in flames if it isn't.

Cheers Philly, I've just dug up a thread on the Fender forum which suggest the hardware is MIM but body and neck are USA. That's good enough for me: )

Thanks again

guitars4you

Philly_Q said:

I'm pretty sure they all say made in the USA.  But the parts were made and finished in Mexico and assembled in the US, so it's a fine line.

I think that's right.  No doubt I'll be shot down in flames if it isn't.

that is how I read it as well

duotone

Remember drooling over these in Soho Soundhouse back in the day. 

Did they have satin finish necks?

Philly_Q

duotone said:

Remember drooling over these in Soho Soundhouse back in the day. 

Did they have satin finish necks?

They did.  Satin urethane neck finish, thin satin nitro body finish (again if I remember correctly).

And big headstocks too.

If only they'd had fat necks I'd have bought 10 of 'em.

Alnico

They came with a full size, USA Tremolo unit with 56mm screw spacing.
It was the same 6 point unit that they fitted to the AVRI.

JD50

There were 2 types of highway 1?

newi123

JD50 said:

There were 2 types of highway 1?

Yes, the early ones (like mine) had small headstock and thinskin finish, but they are not nitro. The neck isn't satin finished either.

The later big headstock ones are nitro finished.

Mines been my main gigging guitar for 17 yrs now, with a set of Seymour Duncan's in it.

JD50

newi123 said:

JD50 said:

There were 2 types of highway 1?

Yes, the early ones (like mine) had small headstock and thinskin finish, but they are not nitro. The neck isn't satin finished either.

The later big headstock ones are nitro finished.

Mines been my main gigging guitar for 17 yrs now, with a set of Seymour Duncan's in it.

If I remember one also had the grease bucket and the other not?

Philly_Q

I think they changed the bridges too, the early ones had the vintage 56mm spacing, the later ones had narrower (52.5mm?) saddle spacing but still with vintage mounting-screw spacing.

John_P

I have one of the early ones.    Small head, vintage trem.    I replaced the pickups with fender noiseless.    I thought the early ones were nitro as well though - sure that was one of the reasons I bought it, but either way it’s a cool guitar.  

newi123

I thought they were too, which is also one of the reasons I bought mine. Took it to a very well respected guitar tech for the pickup swap and he insisted it wasn't....... went back and checked the reviews and blurb and the originals were always referred to as thinskin rather than nitro. 

Either way, it sounds and plays great!

SlopeSoarer

newi123 said:

JD50 said:

There were 2 types of highway 1?

Yes, the early ones (like mine) had small headstock and thinskin finish, but they are not nitro. The neck isn't satin finished either.

The later big headstock ones are nitro finished.

Mines been my main gigging guitar for 17 yrs now, with a set of Seymour Duncan's in it.

I just picked up a small headed HW1 which was advertised as being a Mexican Highway One which was the reason why I posted the original question. 

I'm surprised it isn't nitro (but really doesn't make any difference to me) as it has worn quite well and the neck has subtly checked. 

So was/is it a polyurethane finish?

gavin_axecaster

I think all are nitro over poly undercoat, both pre and post "Ugrade" in 2005/6. When the American Special was introduced a few years ago it was basically a H1 with poly finish.

SteveRobinson

I've refinished a few of the early ones. The nitrocellulose wipes off with thinners leaving a thick polyester base coat.

SlopeSoarer

SteveRobinson said:

I've refinished a few of the early ones. The nitrocellulose wipes off with thinners leaving a thick polyester base coat.

That sounds bang on for the body. The neck I would say is nitrocellulose, do you think there will be poly under that? Not that I'm going to touch any of it.

FastEddie

duotone said:

Remember drooling over these in Soho Soundhouse back in the day. 

Did they have satin finish necks?

I managed to secure a lefty in blond, rosewood board, with a big headstock. 99% perfect. PuPs were too brittle.

They are a belter, easy to play and not so expensive you're worried about scuffing it. 

The finish was satin, you're right. So easy to play. 

SteveRobinson

SlopeSoarer said:

SteveRobinson said:

I've refinished a few of the early ones. The nitrocellulose wipes off with thinners leaving a thick polyester base coat.

That sounds bang on for the body. The neck I would say is nitrocellulose, do you think there will be poly under that? Not that I'm going to touch any of it.

I'm sure the neck is polyurethane, standard Fender USA.