Standard or Highway One Strat?

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I'm a beginner and am looking to upgrade from my "starter pack" guitar. It's done its job, but doesn't stay in tune for long and I think the sound quailty is poor.

I'm looking at a Fender Strat, they seem to be great all around guitars. Question is, Should I go with the Standard "Mexi" Strat or pick up an American made Highway One? Is there really a $350 difference in quality and playability? With the extra cash, I could upgrade to a pretty descent amp. But if the Highway One is that much better, I'd be happy to pay the price.

Thx.

[kingmann90]

I'm a beginner and am looking to upgrade from my "starter pack" guitar. It's done its job, but doesn't stay in tune for long and I think the sound quailty is poor.

I'm looking at a Fender Strat, they seem to be great all around guitars. Question is, Should I go with the Standard "Mexi" Strat or pick up an American made Highway One? Is there really a $350 difference in quality and playability? With the extra cash, I could upgrade to a pretty descent amp. But if the Highway One is that much better, I'd be happy to pay the price.

Thx.

Personally i'd save the money and go find a good mexican (Play a bunch of em at guitar stores). The Highway one from what ive seen is basically mexican parts put together in america so its not much different from a 400$ MIM strat. But go play them to see which you want for sure.

[nlsstar]

I have a MIM Strat and love it...I personally felt it was a good value and money well spent...if i was to go to a true MIA Strat I couldn't get the Highway..it would have to be from the custom shop...all or nothing...lol...
Mitch

[ez-one]

Personally I have owned or played the MIM, MIJ, and USA strats and the US made strats are far superior to the MIM ones. Some of the old MIJ ones are pretty awesome, but if you compare woods, necks, fretwork, electronics, finishes, etc.. the American made ones are way better guitars. Fender Mexican made electroincs are pretty much junk. ALso if you ever decide to sell or trade it, the American ones will hold their value better. I have an American Deluxe Strat that is by far the best sounding most playable guitar I have ever owned.

[raymix]

Hi ez-one - You'Re just the one I have to ask questions :)

I'm totally obsessed my having an American Strat, tell me more about it please. How's the action ? Tremolo is decent (stay in tune) ?
How about the famous tone ? You have pic of your own MIA ?

I know, I may look like a child in front of a candy store but I want to upgrade guitar too and I don't want to spend loads of cash on different guitars that won't make me happy and I'm sure that Strat is the final answer.

Thanks in advance.

Friendly,

Ray.

[ez-one]

Like I said, its probably the best guitar I have ever owned.... the Deluxe have the noiseless SC pickups and the S-1 switching that really add to their versitility. I don't know how good this photo will come out but here goes. Its probably a thumbnail that needs to be clicked on

[raymix]

Nice strat ! Lucky dog :)

Btw, is that a National acoustic guitar on the far left ? (just the bottom of it is peeping out).

Is that V-type neck you have on your Strat ? Is that comfortable ?
I tend to get my thumb tired after long practice with bar chords with my cheap-a$$ Strat-clone I have, looks like a C-shape neck, bot sure (maybe I put too much thumb pression, I dunno) , maybe some other neck design would fit better for me.

Gotta js-30 jacskon with a thin neck and it's easier to practice longer with bar chords instead of chunky neck.

Sorry for all these questions !

Ray.

[ez-one]

its the C neck, I find it great, the guitar peeking out of the corner of the photo is a bell brass Liberty USA made (asembled) but I think from imported parts. One thing to consider when looking at the strats, the Highway 1 I beleive has a HHS pickup configuration, so its kinda like a hybird Strat, its going to have some of the strat tone, but the HB pickups are going to sound more like an SG or LP type tone, if you want the true Strat tone, consider getting the American Standard Strat Heres a link to one at Sweetwater.com, they put their guitars in a gallery with several photos and S# so if you order from them you get the exact guitar that you were looking at. When I got my tele, I looked at about 4 of them, waited a week and then looked at a couple more, when I found one that had a woodgrain patteren that I really liked I ordered it, then they did a complete setup on it before shipping it out.. kinda cool for an interent company. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StratAMMCCO/
Two other things the accoustic is a Tay lor 414C Limited the other thing is that if you follow Davids instructions for learning barr chords he gives some tips and pointers for making them easier to play

[xrated]

One thing to consider when looking at the strats, the Highway 1 I beleive has a HHS pickup configuration, so its kinda like a hybird Strat, its going to have some of the strat tone, but the HB pickups are going to sound more like an SG or LP type tone,

Thx all for the replys. BTW, You can pick up a Highway 1 in both the HSS config and the standard config. I guess just like anything else, I have to play them both and decide for myself. (I just get a little intimedated when I go to the guitar shop and play Mary had a little lamb when the guy next to me is playing Stevie Ray Vaughn );)

[raymix]

I just get a little intimedated when I go to the guitar shop and play Mary had a little lamb when the guy next to me is playing Stevie Ray Vaughn );)

Oh my , I hear ya !!! too much embarassing ;)

Thanks ez-one for replies :)

Ray.

[ez-one]

When oyu are at the shop remember that even SRV probably played Mary has a little lamb at one time, so just pertend you are practicing your SRV licks :-)