SoundsĪ conundrum with reviewing such iconic guitars is exactly what to plug into, let alone what to play. This problem is certainly irritating and hopefully this is an isolated incident. The Strat's bridge is just off-centre sufficiently to stop you from being able to get the vibrato arm in place without using excessive force. Niggles? Well, there are a couple of shoddy points. The guitar features a single-piece neck of a lightly flecked maple and both come with a padded Fender Deluxe gigbag. The cast and sealed tuners are made by the far eastern Ping hardware factory. The vibrato block has been changed from zinc to more vintage-accurate steel and the string spacing at the bridge is slightly narrower - with the bigger frets and smoother playability, it's clear Fender didn't want us slipping off the edges.Įlsewhere everything remains within the ballparks that made the 1950s originals of these designs so compelling. The Strat's middle pickup is also reverse-wound with reverse polarity, so positions two and four on the five-way pickup selector should be devoid of hum pickup.
The Strat's neck and bridge pickups (there's no tone control on the middle pickup) benefit from their own greased-up tone pots.Īny electricians among you will appreciate the information that each Greasebucket tone control wiring includes two ceramic disk capacitors alongside a 4.7k ohm metal film resistor. I actually named it myself after the can of used bacon grease that used to sit on our stove at home when I was a kid." So now you know! Here’s a nice, clean used one for a lot less.Ĭopyright 2005 sheltonsguitars.Replacing the vintage-style single-coils are what Fender describes as Hot Strat single-coils that are all based around an Alnico III magnet foundation, a mid-strength magnet that should provide a slightly enhanced, hotter performance when compared to an Alnico II.Īdditionally, the guitar offers Fender's increasingly popular Greasebucket tone circuit that was developed in the Custom Shop as a way of rolling off the high-end without the usual low-end woomph of a standard passive tone control circuit.ĭidn't this have something to do with a certain Billy Gibbons? "We designed with him in mind," states Fender's Mike Eldred, "and he was the testing guy. A new one will set you back $729 in the super stores. Made in the USA with tone and feel that rival and sometimes beat the more expensive American Standard and American Deluxe Series.
FENDER HIGHWAY ONE STRATOCASTER 2010 SERIES
Comes in a free lightweight gigbag.įender’s Highway One series has long been one of my favorites. Still nice looking and very well taken care of. It shows a light finish scratches and some indents. The electronics and pickups work and sound great. The big frets make big blues bends as easy as pie. Like most Highway Ones I’ve had in stock, this sunburst example is a fine guitar.
It ages well too and makes for a cool and natural relic vibe! What a guitar for the bucks! A really killer look! The finishes on all Highway Ones are a thin satin matte lacquer that really lets the tone out. This example is finished in cool 3 tone sunburst and features the hip 70s style headstock. A vintage style trem and American Standard sealed tuners round out the package. A trio of hot Alnico 3 magnet single coils dish out classic Strat tones. The one piece, modern C shaped maple neck features a 9.5 inch radius maple fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets. Looking for a real USA MADE Strat? Fender’s Highway One Series has long been one of my favorites! Great American made tone and features at a great price! The body is alder for killer tone. 2010 Fender Highway One Stratocaster ! SOLD!