Newbie question: Hwy 1 vs. MIM Std. Tele

Blues Jr · May 10th, 2006, 07:52 PM

Hi all...

I'm in the market for a new Tele. I've come across a nice Hwy 1 Tele in Honey Blonde that plays and sounds pretty nice. Also came across an '06 MIM Std. Tele in Black that also is really nice, and has MJ frets now. The Hwy 1 is actually heavier than the MIM Std, and I was surprised at how resonant and lively the MIM is. From what I understand the Hwy 1 has a little MIA and MIM heritage, and both guitars basically share the same electronics.

I really like the neck on the Hwy 1, but not a huge fan of the satin finish. The older Hwy 1's I've seen get beaten up pretty quick. The pickups sound ok to me. The MIM absolutley needs a pickup change, but overall the guitar is really nice. The neck on the MIM is pretty nice too, and plays great.

My thinking is maybe taking the MIM Std., swapping the pickups (Fender OV's?), adding a vintage bridge & brass saddles and a bone nut and viola I've got a really nice Tele that will play and sound great for a long time to come, and come out about the same price as the Hwy 1.

What do you guys think?

I like both guitars, but only can get one!:(

Bones · May 10th, 2006, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blues Jr

Hi all...

I'm in the market for a new Tele. I've come across a nice Hwy 1 Tele in Honey Blonde that plays and sounds pretty nice. Also came across an '06 MIM Std. Tele in Black that also is really nice, and has MJ frets now. The Hwy 1 is actually heavier than the MIM Std, and I was surprised at how resonant and lively the MIM is. From what I understand the Hwy 1 has a little MIA and MIM heritage, and both guitars basically share the same electronics.

I really like the neck on the Hwy 1, but not a huge fan of the satin finish. The older Hwy 1's I've seen get beaten up pretty quick. The pickups sound ok to me. The MIM absolutley needs a pickup change, but overall the guitar is really nice. The neck on the MIM is pretty nice too, and plays great.

My thinking is maybe taking the MIM Std., swapping the pickups (Fender OV's?), adding a vintage bridge & brass saddles and a bone nut and viola I've got a really nice Tele that will play and sound great for a long time to come, and come out about the same price as the Hwy 1.

What do you guys think?

I like both guitars, but only can get one!:(

Well, you seem like you are weighing out the options in a fairly comprehensive way, ultimatley the decision is going to have to be yours. I own 3 modded MIM teles and if you pick out a good one, they are hard to beat for the price and are fun to mod. The only reason i would consider a Highway one would be to get a rosewood neck.

jwsamuel · May 10th, 2006, 08:53 PM

The 2006 MIM Tele is much closer to the neck on the Highway One, now that Fender has changed to medium jumbo frets on it. I've owned both Highway 1 and MIM Teles and would now do exactly as you propose...get an MIM and use the difference in cost to equip the MIM exactly as you want.

Jim

militele · May 10th, 2006, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwsamuel

The 2006 MIM Tele is much closer to the neck on the Highway One, now that Fender has changed to medium jumbo frets on it. I've owned both Highway 1 and MIM Teles and would now do exactly as you propose...get an MIM and use the difference in cost to equip the MIM exactly as you want.

Jim

+1 Jim - I have tried a couple of MIM standads, both very nice. Nicer than the Hwy 1 I had. Don't know much about any other MIM's except Thinelines (have 4) if the MIM Std is anything like the them, I wouldn't think twice!
Good Luck!
GW

metal tiger · May 11th, 2006, 12:16 AM

Thats a tough call to decide which one really. Moding the guiitar will cost you more in the long run but may be worth it no matter which one you choose.

I suggest buying the guitar that has the best weight and neck. The rest you can change.

Raymondo · May 11th, 2006, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blues Jr

Hi all...

I'm in the market for a new Tele. I've come across a nice Hwy 1 Tele in Honey Blonde that plays and sounds pretty nice. Also came across an '06 MIM Std. Tele in Black that also is really nice, and has MJ frets now. The Hwy 1 is actually heavier than the MIM Std, and I was surprised at how resonant and lively the MIM is. From what I understand the Hwy 1 has a little MIA and MIM heritage, and both guitars basically share the same electronics.

I really like the neck on the Hwy 1, but not a huge fan of the satin finish. The older Hwy 1's I've seen get beaten up pretty quick. The pickups sound ok to me. The MIM absolutley needs a pickup change, but overall the guitar is really nice. The neck on the MIM is pretty nice too, and plays great.

My thinking is maybe taking the MIM Std., swapping the pickups (Fender OV's?), adding a vintage bridge & brass saddles and a bone nut and viola I've got a really nice Tele that will play and sound great for a long time to come, and come out about the same price as the Hwy 1.

What do you guys think?

I like both guitars, but only can get one!:(

mate get the highway keep it standard and dont mess with it, let it get bump scrtched worn it gives it characture. i like to think of a tele as a brand new sofa, you buy it put it in your house its nice it looks good, it matches etc, but after a while it starts to mold to your ass it feels comfy and to you becomes the ultimate place to sit, the more knackered it gets the comfyer it gets people start to tell you to get a new one because it looks old but they couldnt possibly understand just how comfy it is

understand?

jwsamuel · May 11th, 2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metal tiger

Thats a tough call to decide which one really. Moding the guiitar will cost you more in the long run but may be worth it no matter which one you choose.

It may cost more, it may not. A new MIM Tele is about $399. A new Highway 1 Tele is $629. That's a $230 difference.

If you take an MIM Tele and spend $230 upgrading it to be just what you want, would you have a better guitar than if you had just bought a Highway 1 and left it stock? In either case, the cash outlay would be the same.

Jim

maestrovert · May 11th, 2006, 11:14 AM

which of the two sounds best to you ?

there ya go.....

y.m.m.v.

metal tiger · May 11th, 2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

It may cost more, it may not. A new MIM Tele is about $399. A new Highway 1 Tele is $629. That's a $230 difference.

If you take an MIM Tele and spend $230 upgrading it to be just what you want, would you have a better guitar than if you had just bought a Highway 1 and left it stock? In either case, the cash outlay would be the same.

Jim

I just ordered the Joe Barden pickups for my MIM tele.

http://www.joebarden.com/main.php

The cost of the pickups alone is almost as much as the guitar. After I change out the rest of the hardware the final cost will be well over what a Delux American Tele would have been. So I guess you gets what you pay for.

Mark Davis · May 11th, 2006, 02:18 PM

MIM STD and HWY1 have the same tuners.

The HWY1 uses the same pickups the 50's Classic MIM uses which can be purchased used easily for $40-50 a set of 2.

The HWY1 has a thin acrylic lacquer finish the MIM std is thick poly thats about the only difference.

jwsamuel · May 11th, 2006, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metal tiger

The cost of the pickups alone is almost as much as the guitar. After I change out the rest of the hardware the final cost will be well over what a Delux American Tele would have been. So I guess you gets what you pay for.

Well, noe you are talking about a Deluxe American Tele. The original question was about an MIM and Highway 1. So, if you had bought a Highway 1, or even an American Deuxe, would you still be switching to the Bardens?

Jim

Telemarkman · May 11th, 2006, 03:05 PM

Mark Davis wrote :

Quote:

The HWY1 has a thin acrylic lacquer finish the MIM std is thick poly thats about the only difference.

True, but that is not an unsignificant difference - it really means that the HWY1 will "relic" in a short period of time,
while the MIM std will, with careful treatment, look "like
new" for many years.

Take your pick...

Blues Jr · May 11th, 2006, 11:26 PM

Hey guys, thanks for your comments.

I checked out the guitars again today. The Hwy 1 is nice, but I'm going with MIM Std. This black one i found has a nice full neck, plays great, is light, and very resonant. When I strum a chord, i can feel the vibration of the guitar in my hands, and in my gut. My Jimmie Vaughan Strat feels the same way, and that guitar is a great player.

I'll pick up a vintage bridge & saddles, install a new nut, and maybe Fender OV pickups and I believe i'll have a very nice playing and sounding guitar;)

FraKo · May 12th, 2006, 05:09 AM

I did the same. Just think about swap the pup's, but that's not necessary. And Mark is right: for a few bucks you can get a set of classic 50/60's pick up and a vintage bridge, way less than the price difference between a Standard MIM and a HW1 model.

May 10th, 2006, 07:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Blues Jr Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 101	Newbie question: Hwy 1 vs. MIM Std. Tele Hi all... I'm in the market for a new Tele. I've come across a nice Hwy 1 Tele in Honey Blonde that plays and sounds pretty nice. Also came across an '06 MIM Std. Tele in Black that also is really nice, and has MJ frets now. The Hwy 1 is actually heavier than the MIM Std, and I was surprised at how resonant and lively the MIM is. From what I understand the Hwy 1 has a little MIA and MIM heritage, and both guitars basically share the same electronics. I really like the neck on the Hwy 1, but not a huge fan of the satin finish. The older Hwy 1's I've seen get beaten up pretty quick. The pickups sound ok to me. The MIM absolutley needs a pickup change, but overall the guitar is really nice. The neck on the MIM is pretty nice too, and plays great. My thinking is maybe taking the MIM Std., swapping the pickups (Fender OV's?), adding a vintage bridge & brass saddles and a bone nut and viola I've got a really nice Tele that will play and sound great for a long time to come, and come out about the same price as the Hwy 1. What do you guys think? I like both guitars, but only can get one!:(

May 11th, 2006, 12:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
metal tiger TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Los Angeles California Posts: 48	MIM Tele vs Highway 1 Thats a tough call to decide which one really. Moding the guiitar will cost you more in the long run but may be worth it no matter which one you choose. I suggest buying the guitar that has the best weight and neck. The rest you can change. __________________ 2006 Hwy 1Tele - Sunburst maple 2006 Am Strat - Olymic White rosewod 2005 52RI Tele - Butterscotch maple 1983 ES 335 - Sunburst madness

May 11th, 2006, 11:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 6,485	which of the two sounds best to you ? there ya go..... y.m.m.v. __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

May 11th, 2006, 02:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,741	MIM STD and HWY1 have the same tuners. The HWY1 uses the same pickups the 50's Classic MIM uses which can be purchased used easily for $40-50 a set of 2. The HWY1 has a thin acrylic lacquer finish the MIM std is thick poly thats about the only difference. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

May 12th, 2006, 05:09 AM	#14 (permalink)
FraKo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Milan, Italy Posts: 1,278	good choice I did the same. Just think about swap the pup's, but that's not necessary. And Mark is right: for a few bucks you can get a set of classic 50/60's pick up and a vintage bridge, way less than the price difference between a Standard MIM and a HW1 model. __________________ FraKo-the-gnome 1/2 Member of the Double Bound Telecaster Owners Club

May 10th, 2006, 08:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
jwsamuel Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2004 Location: Upper Holland, PA Age: 51 Posts: 2,046	The 2006 MIM Tele is much closer to the neck on the Highway One, now that Fender has changed to medium jumbo frets on it. I've owned both Highway 1 and MIM Teles and would now do exactly as you propose...get an MIM and use the difference in cost to equip the MIM exactly as you want. Jim

May 11th, 2006, 11:26 PM	#13 (permalink)
Blues Jr Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 101	Hey guys, thanks for your comments. I checked out the guitars again today. The Hwy 1 is nice, but I'm going with MIM Std. This black one i found has a nice full neck, plays great, is light, and very resonant. When I strum a chord, i can feel the vibration of the guitar in my hands, and in my gut. My Jimmie Vaughan Strat feels the same way, and that guitar is a great player. I'll pick up a vintage bridge & saddles, install a new nut, and maybe Fender OV pickups and I believe i'll have a very nice playing and sounding guitar;)