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.
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.
| SSS Model | HSS Model | |
| Headstock | Small 2 string trees | Large 2 string trees |
| Neck | Modern C 9.5" radius Maple with Maple or Rosewood Board | Modern C 9.5" radius Maple with Rosewood Board |
| Body | Alder | Alder |
| Finish | Low gloss acrylic (satin) | Low gloss acrylic (satin) |
| Bridge | 6 point vibrato Zinc Block Standard Spacing | 6 point vibrato Zinc Block Standard Spacing |
| Pickguard | White 11 laminated white controls | White 11 laminated white controls |
| Pickups | 3 white covered 6 pole piece single coils | 2 white covered 6 pole piece single coils and 1 uncovered black Humbucker |
| Neck Finish | Satin Polyurethane | Satin Polyurethane |
| Other features | Blank Neckplate No Microtilt | Blank Neckplate No Microtilt |
| 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.
The 2006 Frontline still features version 1 but also states that these now feature the greasebucket
tone circuit.
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 along with the
vibrato unit.
| SSS | HSS | |
| Headstock | Large 2 string Trees | Large 2 string trees |
| Body | Alder with satin nitro finish | Alder with satin nitro finish |
| Neck | Modern C 9.5" radius Maple with Maple or Rosewood Board | Modern C 9.5" radius Maple with Rosewood Board |
| Bridge | 6 point Vintage Style Steel Block Narrow Spacing | 6 Point Vintage Style Steel Block Narrow Spacing |
| Pickups | 3 White 6 pole piece Alnico 3s middle reverse wound | 2 Black 6 pole piece Alnico 3s and Black Atomic HB |
| Pickguard | White 11 screw laminated with White controls | White 11 screw laminated with Black Controls |
| Frets | 22 Jumbo | 22 Jumbo |
| Other Features | Greasebucket Tone Circuit, Blank Neckplate, No microtilt | Greasebucket Tone Circuit, Blank Neckplate, No microtilt |
| 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 |
Launched in 2010 appearing in the Frontline of that year alongside the Highway 1s. SS and HSS models were available. 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 | HSS | |
| Headstock | Large 2 String Trees | Large 2 String Trees |
| Body | Alder Gloss Urethane Finish | Alder Gloss Urethane Finish |
| Neck | C Shaped 9.5" radius Maple with Maple Board Satin Finish | C Shaped 9.5" radius Maple with Rosewood Board Satin Finish |
| Bridge | 6 pt Vintage Style Trem with Narrower spacing | 6 pt Vintage Style Trem with Narrower spacing |
| Pickups | 3 White Covered Single coil Texas Specials | 2 Black Covered Texas Special Single Coils and Black Atomic Humbucker |
| Pickguard | White 11 Screw Laminated Plastic with White Controls | White 11 Screw Laminated Plastic Black Controls |
| Frets | 22 Jumbo | 22 Jumbo |
| Other Features | No Microtilt Blank Neckplate Greasebucket tone circuit | No Microtilt Blank Neckplate Greasebucket tone circuit |
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
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.
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.