Fender Highway 1 and American Special Stratocasters


First Version Highway 1 in Honey Blonde

The first version of the Highway 1 was launched in 2002, but doesn't appear in Fender's Frontline of that year. They appear in Arbiters UK price list in 2002. The price at the time was £600. This was replaced in 2006/7 by version 2. The American Special was launched in 2010, but not as a direct replacement the highway 1 continued to be available for another year or so.


Highway 1 Strat Version 1

For a short time only the SSS was available the HSS was launched in 2003. The Single coils are the normal classic pickups the Humbucker is an Atomic 11. Both had Medium Jumbo Frets, standard cast tuners and modern C neck.

Specifications
* Greasebucket Tone Circuit only included from mid 2005
SS 011-1100 and 1102 HSS 011-1700
Body Alder with Satin Acrylic Lacquer Finish Alder with Satin Acrylic Lacquer Finish
Neck Maple Modern C Satin Polyurethane Finish Maple Modern C Satin Polyurethane Finish
Fretboard Maple or Rosewood 9.5" radius 22 Medium Jumbo frets Rosewood 22 Medium Jumbo Frets 9.5" radius
Headstock Small 2 string trees see pictures for logo etc Large 2 string trees see pictures for logo etc
Tuners Fender/Ping Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines Fender/Ping Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Pickups 3 Vintage Style Single-Coil Strat Pickups with Staggered Pole Pieces, Alnico Magnets White covers Fender Atomic Black Bobbin HB uncovered and 2 Vintage Style Single-Coil Strat Pickups with Staggered Pole Pieces, Alnico Magnets White covers
Controls 1 Volume and 2 Tone both with Greasebucket circuits* Standard 5 way switching 1 Volume and 2 Tone both with Greasebucket circuits* Standard 5 way switching
Nut 43mm 43mm
Hardware Chrome Chrome
Bridge Vintage Style Sync Trem Vintage Style Sync Trem
Pickguard 3 ply white 11 hole modern style 3 ply white 11 hole modern style
Neckplate Blank No microtilt Blank No microtilt

Colours

Year SSS HSS
2002 Sapphire Blue, Crimson Red, Ebony, Teal Green or Honey Blonde N/A
2003 Sapphire Blue, Crimson Red, Ebony, Teal Green or Honey Blonde Amber, Walnut or Ebony
2004 Sapphire Blue, Crimson Red, 3 Colour Sunburst, Teal Green or Honey Blonde Amber, Walnut or Ebony
2005 Sapphire Blue, Crimson Red, or Honey Blonde Amber, Walnut or Ebony
2006 Sapphire Blue, Crimson Red, 3 Colour Sunburst or Honey Blonde Amber, Walnut or Ebony

In 2002/3 some Highway 1s were made in cocoa brown, but this isn't shown in any catalogue.

Some Images of Version 1
   
These are Sapphire Blue SSS

 
And a HSS Version 1 in Amber




The routing of a V1 SSS

Highway 1 Strat Version 2

This version was launched in 2006 and first appears in the 2007 Frontline. The most obvious cosmetic difference was that the SSS now has a 70s style large headstock. There were other differences too the pickups and frets have been changed

Specifications
SS 011-1160 and 1162 HSS 011-1760
Body Alder with Satin Nitro Finish Alder with Satin Nitro Finish
Neck Maple Modern C Satin Polyurethane Finish Maple Modern C Satin Polyurethane Finish
Fretboard Maple or Rosewood 9.5" radius 22 Jumbo frets Rosewood 22 Jumbo Frets 9.5" radius
Headstock Large 2 string trees see pictures for logo etc Large 2 string trees see pictures for logo etc
Tuners Fender/Ping Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines Fender/Ping Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Pickups 3 Hot Single-Coil Strat Pickups with Alnico 3 Magnets and Reverse Wound/Reverse Polarity Middle Pickup White covers Fender Atomic Black Bobbin HB uncovered and 2 Hot Single-Coil Strat Pickups with Alnico 3 Magnets All black
Controls 1 Volume and 2 Tone both with Greasebucket circuits* Standard 5 way switching 1 Volume and 2 Tone both with Greasebucket circuits* Standard 5 way switching
Nut 43mm 43mm
Hardware Chrome Chrome
Bridge Vintage Style Sync Trem Vintage Style Sync Trem
Pickguard 3 ply parchment 11 hole modern style 3 ply parchment 11 hole modern style
Neckplate Blank no microtilt Blank no microtilt

Colours

SSS HSS
2007 3 Colour Sunburst, Black, Daphne Blue, Blonde or Midnight Wine 3 Colour Sunburst, Black or Midnight Wine
2008 3 Colour Sunburst, Black, Blonde or Midnight Wine 3 Colour Sunburst, Black or Midnight Wine
2009 3 Colour Sunburst, Black, Blonde or Midnight Wine 3 Colour Sunburst, Black or Midnight Wine
2010 3 Colour Sunburst, or Black 3 Colour Sunburst, or Black
2011 3 Colour Sunburst, or Black 3 Colour Sunburst, or Black

   
The Version 2

An interesting HSS FSR

American Special Strat

Launched in 2010 appearing in the Frontline of that year alongside the Highway 1s. SSS and HSS models were available. The SSS was launched with a Maple fretboard a Rosewood alternative was available from 2016. The HSS was the reverse Rosewood at launch Maple option from 2016. First models had a Gloss Urethane finish later ones Satin Polyurethane on both the body and neck. Model no longer available in 2019 there is a model called American Performer which is the modern equivalent but with the new Fender Yosemite alnico 4 pickups and an extra option to have neck always on giving a couple of extra options similar to the way Burns have always done.






SSS 011-5600 and 5602 HSS 011-5700 and 5702
Body Alder Alder
Neck Maple Modern C Maple Modern C
Fretboard Maple or Rosewood 9.5" radius 22 Jumbo frets Maple or Rosewood 22 Jumbo Frets 9.5" radius
Headstock Large 2 string trees see pictures for logo etc Large 2 string trees see pictures for logo etc
Tuners Fender Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines Fender Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Pickups 3 Staggered Texas Specials White covers Fender Atomic HB uncovered and 2 Texas Special Single-Coil All black
Controls White 1 Volume and 2 Tone both with Greasebucket circuits Standard 5 way switching Black 1 Volume and 2 Tone both with Greasebucket circuits Standard 5 way switching
Nut 43mm synthetic bone 43mm synthetic bone
Hardware Chrome Chrome
Bridge Vintage Style Sync Trem Vintage Style Sync Trem
Pickguard 3 ply parchment, black or mint green 11 hole modern style 3 ply parchment, black or Mint Green 11 hole modern style
Neckplate Blank no microtilt Blank no microtilt


Colours
At launch in 2010 the SSS was offered in Candy Apple Red or 2 Colour Sunburst and The HSS in 3 Colour Sunburst or Black. In 2013 Surf Green was addded to the SSS and Candy Apple Red to the HSS. For some reason in 2015 both Sunbursts were temporarily dropped.
In January 2017
I can only speak for what is available in the UK which is that both models now have options of Rosewood or Maple boards in convoluted combinations which are:
The SSS 2 Colour Sunburst with Maple or Rosewood, Sonic Blue with Rosewood or Olympic White with Maple.
The HSS 3 Colour Sunburst with Maple or Rosewood, Black with Maple or Olympic White with Rosewood

   
An SSS in Surf Green one in Sunburst and an HSS in Olympic White>



The Headstock

Pricing
In January 2017 these are showing a recommended price in the UK of £939 although they are being sold at around £850 by Thomann, this compares to the new American Professional at £1399.
The American Special was discontinued around the end of 2018

A word about available colours
I have shown what colours were available at different times for Highway 1s and American Specials if you see one in other colours it doesn't mean it isn't genuine, there are lots of FSRs and short runs of colours which never appear in catalogues.

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