Highway One Bridge is Crooked

Vizcaster · March 3rd, 2008, 10:03 PM

I noticed that the trem on my '07 Highway One Strat ('06 upgrade) is mounted slightly askew. The bass side of the bridge is closer to the neck, so from the back the treble side of the trem block is closer to the back wall of the trem cavity - makes it tricky to fit a temporary block for setups since a 1/4" piece of wood jams in the treble side but is loose on the bass side (that’s the size to get the bridge floating 1/8"). You can almost notice it by the gap on the pickguard.

I can't be sure if there's just one screw off position, or if the line of screws are drilled wrong. The saddle intonation adjustments are clearly enough to overcome the mal-postitioning, but I wonder if the trem action is compromised.

I have already put a lot of work into this axe, including buffing the body, rubbing out the neck finish, grind and polish on the frets, new pickguard/pickups/controls.

Any thoughts??

RollingThunder75 · March 3rd, 2008, 10:19 PM

I know this is a Strat forum, but I wanted to share a similar experience with a Highway 1 Tele so you don't feel so alone. I ordered the Tele online, and when it arrived I discovered not only a crooked bridge, but fret sprout that I wouldn't tolerate on a Squier (not a knock on Squiers, I'm just considering price point). Very disappointing in an American made guitar. I sent that one back, and I recently placed an order for another Highway 1 through my local dealer. Hopefully it'll turn out better. I read a lot of good things about Highway 1 Strats and Teles on this forum, but if I have a similar experience with this guitar, I'll be convinced that they're not even trying at the factory anymore, at least with this series of instruments.

Mark Davis · March 3rd, 2008, 11:05 PM

Measure from the big E and from the small e @ the 12th fret to the saddles see what you get.

If its off it can make it really hard to adjust.

If your the original owner Id mention it to your Fender dealer and see what they say.

Loco · March 4th, 2008, 04:19 AM

When Guitarist magazine carried out a report on the new Highway 1, the bridge was askew on that. You'd think Fender would get such an important detail correct after all this time. Bad enough allowing it to get into the hands of a customer, but sending it to a major magazine for test and review defies belief!

Can you still make a claim under the Limited Lifetime Warranty?

boris bubbanov · March 4th, 2008, 06:44 AM

I suppose if Fender deems the defect too mild to warrant replacement, you could try the toothpicks trick to realign the screw holes. Also, make sure it is strictly the 6 mount holes and not the block rout that is wacked; could be a bit of each, that might explain why you did not spot it at once.
Your last resort might be a tapered piece of wood for the chock.

Vizcaster · March 4th, 2008, 04:55 PM

I'm more concerned that the trem is somehow not working as smoothly as it could, although it seems to work pretty sweetly with four springs. The guitar has been buffed out and rewired with new pickups and the electronics cavity has been repainted with additional layers of carbon shielding paint and there are new strap locks - even if the warranty got me a new body that's a lot of work to do all over again.

Mark Davis · March 4th, 2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loco

When Guitarist magazine carried out a report on the new Highway 1, the bridge was askew on that. You'd think Fender would get such an important detail correct after all this time. Bad enough allowing it to get into the hands of a customer, but sending it to a major magazine for test and review defies belief!

Can you still make a claim under the Limited Lifetime Warranty?

The original owner if they got it new can try for a warranty repair.

Ive seen one of the guys from Fender customer relations help people here with their warranty probs.

Vizcaster · July 2nd, 2008, 04:16 PM

Well it seems actually that it's the trem rout that is not aligned properly, and that does not affect the function of the bridge (although it was fun to measure things for installation of a Trem Setter, and it would be interesting to try to cut a double-tapered block if I wanted to block the tremolo).

The bridge plate (and the six screws) seem to be the same distance from the last fret, measured with a Starret machinist's ruler, so the bridge is in the right place and pivots without pulling to one side or the other. The pickguard misalignment is another mystery; but the trem cavity definitely is not square with the bridge.

Mark Davis and Boris were right. Interesting if anyone else noticed the issue on theirs. Like I said, since I've spent a few hours making the guitar my own, the last thing I want is a new body on warranty.

mogascreeta · July 2nd, 2008, 11:11 PM

i too have this problem, but on a mim tele

CatfishStudios · July 2nd, 2008, 11:26 PM

Same issue on Brother in Laws Hwy1 Strat..I measured up, and the trem is aligned properly, but the route is slightly off....Somebody needs to look into this, I thought they were CNC'd ....so the problem would be in the software or somebody is misplacing the blank?

March 3rd, 2008, 10:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Vizcaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Glen Head, NY Posts: 618	Highway One Bridge is Crooked I noticed that the trem on my '07 Highway One Strat ('06 upgrade) is mounted slightly askew. The bass side of the bridge is closer to the neck, so from the back the treble side of the trem block is closer to the back wall of the trem cavity - makes it tricky to fit a temporary block for setups since a 1/4" piece of wood jams in the treble side but is loose on the bass side (that’s the size to get the bridge floating 1/8"). You can almost notice it by the gap on the pickguard. I can't be sure if there's just one screw off position, or if the line of screws are drilled wrong. The saddle intonation adjustments are clearly enough to overcome the mal-postitioning, but I wonder if the trem action is compromised. I have already put a lot of work into this axe, including buffing the body, rubbing out the neck finish, grind and polish on the frets, new pickguard/pickups/controls. Any thoughts?? __________________ "Why don't you just make 10 louder, and make 10 be the top number, and make that a little louder?"

March 3rd, 2008, 10:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
RollingThunder75 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: WV Posts: 397	I know this is a Strat forum, but I wanted to share a similar experience with a Highway 1 Tele so you don't feel so alone. I ordered the Tele online, and when it arrived I discovered not only a crooked bridge, but fret sprout that I wouldn't tolerate on a Squier (not a knock on Squiers, I'm just considering price point). Very disappointing in an American made guitar. I sent that one back, and I recently placed an order for another Highway 1 through my local dealer. Hopefully it'll turn out better. I read a lot of good things about Highway 1 Strats and Teles on this forum, but if I have a similar experience with this guitar, I'll be convinced that they're not even trying at the factory anymore, at least with this series of instruments. __________________ Live every week like it's Shark Week.

March 3rd, 2008, 11:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 57 Posts: 12,259	Measure from the big E and from the small e @ the 12th fret to the saddles see what you get. If its off it can make it really hard to adjust. If your the original owner Id mention it to your Fender dealer and see what they say. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

March 4th, 2008, 06:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,145	I suppose if Fender deems the defect too mild to warrant replacement, you could try the toothpicks trick to realign the screw holes. Also, make sure it is strictly the 6 mount holes and not the block rout that is wacked; could be a bit of each, that might explain why you did not spot it at once. Your last resort might be a tapered piece of wood for the chock. __________________ Bubban0v

March 4th, 2008, 04:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
Vizcaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Glen Head, NY Posts: 618	I'm more concerned that the trem is somehow not working as smoothly as it could, although it seems to work pretty sweetly with four springs. The guitar has been buffed out and rewired with new pickups and the electronics cavity has been repainted with additional layers of carbon shielding paint and there are new strap locks - even if the warranty got me a new body that's a lot of work to do all over again. __________________ "Why don't you just make 10 louder, and make 10 be the top number, and make that a little louder?"

March 4th, 2008, 04:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
Loco Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dorset, England Age: 53 Posts: 555	When Guitarist magazine carried out a report on the new Highway 1, the bridge was askew on that. You'd think Fender would get such an important detail correct after all this time. Bad enough allowing it to get into the hands of a customer, but sending it to a major magazine for test and review defies belief! Can you still make a claim under the Limited Lifetime Warranty?

July 2nd, 2008, 04:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
Vizcaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Glen Head, NY Posts: 618	Well it seems actually that it's the trem rout that is not aligned properly, and that does not affect the function of the bridge (although it was fun to measure things for installation of a Trem Setter, and it would be interesting to try to cut a double-tapered block if I wanted to block the tremolo). The bridge plate (and the six screws) seem to be the same distance from the last fret, measured with a Starret machinist's ruler, so the bridge is in the right place and pivots without pulling to one side or the other. The pickguard misalignment is another mystery; but the trem cavity definitely is not square with the bridge. Mark Davis and Boris were right. Interesting if anyone else noticed the issue on theirs. Like I said, since I've spent a few hours making the guitar my own, the last thing I want is a new body on warranty. __________________ "Why don't you just make 10 louder, and make 10 be the top number, and make that a little louder?"

July 2nd, 2008, 11:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
mogascreeta TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Age: 18 Posts: 38	i too have this problem, but on a mim tele __________________ All Tele, All The Time

July 2nd, 2008, 11:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
CatfishStudios Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon , United States Age: 32 Posts: 727	Same issue on Brother in Laws Hwy1 Strat..I measured up, and the trem is aligned properly, but the route is slightly off....Somebody needs to look into this, I thought they were CNC'd ....so the problem would be in the software or somebody is misplacing the blank?