Hwy 1 Tele neck slot routed for bucker?

Does anyone know for certain if the new Hwy 1 Tele has a neck routing that would accomodate a humbucker size pickup? I've never been a fan of the standard tele neck pup. I'd like to know if I have options before I spend $730 on the guitar. Thanks! :smile:

Did some research and it seems like they are not routed for anything bigger than a standard tele neck pickup.

Which is not a deal breaker. I just don't like that you can't adjust the neck pickup height - or is that false?

That's false. You just have to remove the pickguard. The pickup mounting screws are under there.

That's false. You just have to remove the pickguard. The pickup mounting screws are under there.

Right on. Thanks for clearing that up.
What a poor design though, eh? I like to be able to adjust my pickups while the strings are on and the guitar is plugged in. That way I get instant results and can adjust up/down accordingly. If I have to change my strings every time I make an adjustment... well that's just silly. Unless I'm missing something?

What's the most efficient way to dial in your neck pickup height then?
(aside from paying a tech to do it)

Please and thank you.

http://www.sweetwater.com/expert-center/techtips/d--12/29/2010

Ahhhh. So you don't have to remove the strings, typically. Good deal.

Sorry for this thread. I should have just done the research without bothering you fine folks for such easy questions. 1,000 pardons.

Don't worry about it. The Highway 1 is kind of a funny design. Normally the 8 hole pickguard goes along with a pickguard-mounted pickup, and if I remember right that design started in the mid-60s.

The idea of leaving the pickup mounted to the body is supposed to make it easier to adjust the truss rod, though I find it much easier to remove the neck than to fiddle around with whatever tool I can find to fit in the little gap between the neck heel and the pickup.

I've got a 2003 Hwy 1 Tele and would like to raise the neck pu. You mean I need to remove the neck to do that ??? Platefire

Don't worry about it. The Highway 1 is kind of a funny design. Normally the 8 hole pickguard goes along with a pickguard-mounted pickup, and if I remember right that design started in the mid-60s.

The idea of leaving the pickup mounted to the body is supposed to make it easier to adjust the truss rod, though I find it much easier to remove the neck than to fiddle around with whatever tool I can find to fit in the little gap between the neck heel and the pickup.

I've got a 2003 Hwy 1 Tele and would like to raise the neck pu. You mean I need to remove the neck to do that ??? Platefire

He is saying he finds it easier to remove the neck to adjust the truss rod on guitars where the adjustment is at the heel

Does anyone know for certain if the new Hwy 1 Tele has a neck routing that would accomodate a humbucker size pickup? I've never been a fan of the standard tele neck pup. I'd like to know if I have options before I spend $730 on the guitar. Thanks! :smile:

Not sure what you mean by "New" highway 1 Tele. My Hway 1 tele body from 2009 is routed for a neck humbucker.

Here is a current ebay listing for a 2012 Hway 1 tele body (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2012-American-Fender-Telecaster-Tele-NITRO-BODY-USA-3-Color-Sunburst-30-OFF-/200744765455?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2ebd52080f)showing a humbucker rout.

He is saying he finds it easier to remove the neck to adjust the truss rod on guitars where the adjustment is at the heel

Right. To adjust the pickup you just remove the pickguard.

On my '07, you must loosen the neck to get the pick guard off as it (the pick guard) is positioned under the heal of the neck (22 frets) and you can not lower the p/u to slide the guard back.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k182/IlapU2/Music/DSC_8486.jpg

DW

DW

Oh yeah, `07 - no humbucker route.

AND how is the ebay seller (reliablefender) selling a `12 when they were discontinued in the 2010 2011 transition

DW

Oh, christ. I forgot about that. So let me amend my earlier post about it being kind of a funny design and say that this guitar was designed by a committee of jackasses. Or at least one pedantic jackass. Probably a marketing person with a lot of clout. Those of you who have had to do a lot of corporate work where it always seems like there's a clueless person who demands to be appeased know what I'm talking about.

I can imagine them sitting around and this person saying "Our market research says that players like the look better without the mounting screws on the pickguard." And then the other guys say "Yeah, but we decided on 22 frets because that that's what the market research said. Did you ask if they'd mind having to remove the neck to adjust the pickup?"

"No, we wouldn't want to give the impression that we have an inferior product, or one that needs to be adjusted. Our customers should feel like the guitar is set perfectly from the factory. I've talked to the VP and he agrees."

At this point at least two people are considering whether they really care about the consequences of going postal, and wondering how easily they can get their hands on a gun.

I do have to admit that this marketing person did an excellent job with the logo, and I kick myself for not grabbing a hat or a tshirt when they were readily available.

He is saying he finds it easier to remove the neck to adjust the truss rod on guitars where the adjustment is at the heel

Usually I get a #1 buzzcut at the mall and do my math homework every time I change my strings. If not this, I must then go to Chipotle's. :smile:

Yeah, thats what I thought. The higher the neck pup is to the strings, the more the pick guard is locked in under the heel of the neck. If I did manage to get the pickguard off and raise the pickup higher than its previous position---I would never be able to the pickguard back on. You have to pull the neck!! I can't believe Fender made such a dumb design!! Platefire

Really, removing the neck is not a huge deal. Capo the 1st fret to keep the strings in place, detune, remove the bolts, remove the neck, do what you gotta do, then reverse to install.

When inserting the bolts, spin them slowly backwards until the bolt goes in a bit farther and you hear a little thunk. That means the threads are lined up and you won't be cross threading.

Yeah I've looked at some of your work---for you it's a walk in the park! But your description made it sound less complicated. Also I have in mind for that guitar a sheilding job---so if I take the pg off, I'll need to be prepared to do all the rest. Good a reason as any for procrastination and blame in all on Fender:roll:. Platefire

Oh yeah, `07 - no humbucker route.

AND how is the ebay seller (reliablefender) selling a `12 when they were discontinued in the 2010 2011 transition

DW

I understand the '09 and later Highways have the HB neck pup rout. The '08s and earlier do not. The change roughly corresponds with the introduction of the American Special (same body, different coating) although I'm sure there were some left over Highway bodies already ready to go.

While FMIC lists the model as "discontinued", that is their way of telling you, you simply cannot order one anymore. Meanwhile, they still churn out a few hundred here and there when MF asks for some, or the impulse hits them. IMO it is a mistake to assume that "discontinued" means that production is dead. Sure would not be the first time the Fender Website was polluted with confusing and deceptive information.

While FMIC lists the model as "discontinued", that is their way of telling you, you simply cannot order one anymore. Meanwhile, they still churn out a few hundred here and there when MF asks for some, or the impulse hits them. IMO it is a mistake to assume that "discontinued" means that production is dead. Sure would not be the first time the Fender Website was polluted with confusing and deceptive information.

Haw! :mrgreen:

As far as I know, Brad is still running all the sites for the FMIC empire by himself, which would be a hopeless enough task even without working for a corporation infamous for internal confusion and compulsive instability.

I've had some pretty funny exchanges with him over the years. I expect him to keel over and die in harness from some stress-related cause one of these days.