Help me choose: Highway 1 or Classic Player 60s?

[CA_Dan]

I'm in the market for a start and both of these are in my price range. The question is, what is the difference in quality between the USA Highway 1 strat and the Mexican Classic Player 60s (other than the paint)?

[FenderGuy53]

If you buy one from a store, rather than mail-ordering one, then quality is a non-issue, as you can find keepers in either model if you take your time and play through them.

Of more concern to me would be the setup on these two guitars. The neck radiuses are different, the number/size of frets is different, the pickups are different and the circuits are different. Granted, these things can be modified to your liking at an additional cost; however, since you're buying a new guitar, it makes more sense to buy something closer to what you really want.

My two cents... ;-)

[boris bubbanov]

The CP has the same PW29 Zinc block as the Standard MIM Strats do.

The Highway one has a steel block, PW36, not the best but the AV style 6 mount hole bridge is much more upgradeable.

But I like the CP 60's neck more; smaller frets, tuners more to my liking. Now, the very first batch of CP 60's upon introduction had real good stuff, including US made 69 pickups, but those are long since spoken for.

I want to recommend instead the MIM Jimmie Vaughan Artist series; better guitar for less money than either.

[CA_Dan]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

The CP has the same PW29 Zinc block as the Standard MIM Strats do.

The Highway one has a steel block, PW36, not the best but the AV style 6 mount hole bridge is much more upgradeable.

...


I want to recommend instead the MIM Jimmie Vaughan Artist series; better guitar for less money than either.

Excuse my newbie question, but what do you mean by the steel and zinc block?

I like the Jimmy Vaughan except for the maple fingerboard. I really want rosewood.

[rocksteady Max]

compare the 2 necks ... highway one is big, large, with big frets ... not everyones cup of tea

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by CA_Dan

Excuse my newbie question, but what do you mean by the steel and zinc block?

I like the Jimmy Vaughan except for the maple fingerboard. I really want rosewood.

First, I agree with Max about the Highway One frets being really very large. Too large for my needs. (but the neck is only .83 inches, not big at all IMO).

The bridge plate on your Strat is screwed to a large metal block, through which the strings are fitted and which accepts the tremolo springs. Steel is usually better than zinc, heavy blocks are usually better than light or skimpy ones, and high grade steel with no lead in it is better than the leaded steel in the PW36 Highway One blocks and these other imported blocks.

Sorry about the board wood choice. I will always throw over the board wood choice to get the best possible features on these other things, which I find matter more. Another point: A Jimmie Vaughan neck, like a Classic Player Baja neck, is generally hot sought after and gets a substantial premium and the Highway One necks absolutely do not, if you resell the item separately.

The Jimmie Vaughan has the USA Fender source AV57/62 bridge saddles and block assembly. Except for offering no chromed tremolo cover, it is identical to the bridge assembly on this CS Time Machine '60 NOS Strat, with an MSRP of over $ 2,500.00:

[CA_Dan]

OK - I played the CP and the H1 and the CP feels way better. I keep reading that it has a 12" radius fingerboard, but some older ones are advertised on eBay with 9.5" radius. Did Fender change the specs at some point?

[mrbdxmpl]

The specs didn't change, but I think the sticker was incorrect...I have a CP60 with the 12" radius, but the sticker on the pg said 9 1/2. Great guitar...mine has the USA CS 69 pups...sold my Jimmie Vaughan for it...I do wish, however, that it had a vintage bridge...not so much because it plays better (I like the 2 point trem) or looks better, but because it is slightly narrower. All in all, though, a great guitar for under $700...

[tazzboy]

Here is some video on the Highway one

[Gr8tfulEd]

Personally, I save up a few hundred more bucks and get a new American Standard. The Hwy1 and the CP 60's are both good guitars (in fact, I've owned both)- no question and you'd do well with either. But the new Am Standard is a cut above IMHO.
Good luck!

[Tim73]

I've only played blindingly good 60s strats from the MIM Classic range but the quality range has really varied on the USA entry level HWY1's. The MIM Classic can also go into a whole other league with a few simple upgrades (presumably this also works for HWY1 but I have no personal experience). If you are online, I'd go for the MIM but if you are in the shop go with your instincts.

[Dan The Man]

I've just bought a classic player '60's in sonic blue. It looks and sounds wonderfull, I can't comment on the HWY1 as i've never played one, but the CP is a very very good guitar.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Dan The Man

I've just bought a classic player '60's in sonic blue. It looks and sounds wonderfull, I can't comment on the HWY1 as i've never played one, but the CP is a very very good guitar.

The sonic blue is beautiful. All the colors of the guitar present very well together.

Congrats!

[Vizcaster]

The huge frets on the Highway One can be a dealbreaker. The 9-1/2" radius compared to the 12" radius is also a feature you'll notice, but not as much.

The matte finish is a non-issue - you can buff it out (Boris can testify to that) but the nitro on the Highway One is supposed to wear faster if that turns you on. The big headstock profile is also a matter of taste.

Also don't get bent out of shape when you learn how much of your "Made in USA" Highway One was actually made in the Ensenada factory. Don't get me wrong I love my Highway One Strat - mostly because I got it at blow-out prices in Sept '07 when they were selling for cheaper than a MIM and I could rewire it with a tortoise pickguard and Custom Shop Fat 54 pickups and still come out ahead on the deal (I did file the frets down however).

Oh and don't the Vaughan and Classic Player models come with proper split-shaft tuners instead of the Ping-made Schaller copies?

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Vizcaster

Oh and don't the Vaughan and Classic Player models come with proper split-shaft tuners instead of the Ping-made Schaller copies?

The Vaughan does. The 50's Classic Player has locking Gotoh klusons, not a true split shaft but a good tuner nonetheless. The 60's Classic Player was supposed instead to get nicer pickups and Mark says the early one also have some USA gruppo on them but the tuners were always the cheaper Ping vintages like Crays, Classics, Bajas, Deluxe Nashvilles and so on get:

http://www.fender.com/products//view...aster%26reg%3B

I'm not so sure about this Highway One Ensenada content. I have both a Highway One and a American Series that were both assembled by the same individual, "Cardenas". The vast percentage of parts shared between MIMs and Highway Ones are in fact from over the Pacific, I think. Suspect One on the HIghway One is actually the crummy pickups.

[timlaine]

As an owner of various strats over the years (including a 2003 HW1) it's a no-brainer CP60s strat. Best I've played

[rocksteady Max]

Originally Posted by Gr8tfulEd

Personally, I save up a few hundred more bucks and get a new American Standard. The Hwy1 and the CP 60's are both good guitars (in fact, I've owned both)- no question and you'd do well with either. But the new Am Standard is a cut above IMHO.
Good luck!

+1 I own one and don't even think about modding this perfect lady

[superchicken_VI]

I'm quite pleased with my Highway One, I'd rather play it than my buddy's CP60 anyday. I guess I get along with frets that are too big and crummy pickups. I think it's the best Strat I've ever played.

[Stevefried]

I have both a stock '06 HWY 1 and a '06 Hwy 1 with a 60th Anniversary MIM neck. The Hwy 1 hurts my left hand after a while I think because the neck is thin at the headstock. The MIM neck is thicker and feels perfect allways.

[Sleph]

... it's a no-brainer CP60s strat.

+1