Fender Highway One vs American Standard Tele
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Posted on Apr 25, 2007 11:14 am
eatblueshell
Member Since: Sep 04, 2005
Question for everyone, I've been considering upgrading guitars, from a Highway one Telecaster, to a American Standard Tele, I know there are some differences, but I am curious if I should just upgrade a few things on my guitar instead of trying to go out and buy a whole new one.
First off, I know that the Pick-ups are different, The pick-ups in the Highway one are pretty loud when it comes to gain, are the Pick-ups in the american standard known to be quieter?
And more importantly, are the electronics the same grade? I know that pick-ups are the centerpeice which the electronics stand around, but in order for the guitar to sound as great as it can, it needs to have decent electronics, so I ask, are the electronics in the Highway one as good as the ones in the American standard?
Fender has some quality control issues with the highway one, I've here people say different things about the craftsmanship, mine seems to be really well built, no problems with the fretting, or the neck or the level of the nut or whatnot, which are common problems from what I've heard,
So since I'm not TOO concerned about the finish on the guitar, I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile to just upgrade the pickups on the Highway one, or just to sell of this tele and get an american standard?
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TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Apr 25, 2007 12:52 pm What is your reason for 'upgrading'? Are you unhappy with the Highway One? That's where I'd start. Do you just want the 'brand label'?
Go to a dealer and play them side-by-side (if you're going to drop a grand plus on a Tele, they should be more than happy to let you. If they are not, go down the road to the next store). What are you looking for in the way of sound? Are the hot pickups on the Highway One what you are looking for? The Standard Tele is going to be exactly what it was intended to be. No more, no less. And to my mind, it's pretty much a perfect guitar for what it does. It's not a huge-gain tappity tappity monster, it's not a Les Paul, it's not a Strat. It's a Tele. It does what it says on the box.
Play 'em side by side, and pick the one that suits you best.
Prince's favourite guitar is a cheap Hohner Tele. For him, it's exactly right. I have a Squier Strat that I'll never part with. Your guitar needs to be an extension of your playing, not the other way around. Don't buy something unsuitable for the wrong reasons.
Sorry I don't have the panacea for your ills.
Apr 25, 2007 01:08 pm Tall Chap's advice is spot on...
I used to be a Fender-only man. I identified myself with the Fender twang and the look and the image, etc.
About a month ago, I was ready to drop a load on a new guitar, specifically someting with "Fender" on the headstock. I played about 20 different guitars, and went home with a G&L Tribute ASAT.
See the thread: www.homerecordingconnecti...12303&frm=2
I've played three gigs with this new guitar, and I'm SO glad I broke away from the "gotta have a Fender" mentality...
Just something for you to think about...
Jim
Apr 25, 2007 01:08 pm Well, I like the tone, it's the loud noise you get when you play overdriven. And I guess I want to feel like I have a quality instrument. and this one seems to be well built and all, but I suppose the peace of mind is what I am aiming for. I went through this same thing with acoustic guitar.
I had a Takamine EAN40c, which sounded wonderful, but it had basically no finish on it, and it was cedar, meaning it wasn't designed with longevity in mind, so I got rid of it and bought the LTD2006 Model they had which was solid spruce and Solid Rosewood, and had a full gloss finish, and it feels just right.
I don't want to buy a fender american tele just because it comes with more prestige, but I want the peace of mind that I am playing a quality instrument.
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Apr 25, 2007 01:48 pm Quote:
but I want the peace of mind that I am playing a quality instrument.
Well, as I mentioned, my Squier Strat is a quality instrument. It's well built, plays wonderfully, and does everything I want it to do (and I have other guitars to do other things - I don't want it to be a shred-machine/distortion hound!). There are other Squier Strats that I've tried that were junk. There have been American Standard Strats that I've tried that were just awful. They didn't work for my purposes at all. The right guitar is the right guitar. Although the quality control should be better with an American Fender, you can't be absolutely sure you won't get a lemon.
My bass was custom built to my exact specifications. It's truly the right bass for me. Another player might hate it (set up, tone etc.).
dB-Wan would hate it anyway as it's a four-string!!!HAHAHAH!
As for GuitarJim, he tried the ASAT and fell in love. Try a bunch, and see which one fits. Don't limit yourself.
You never know, there could be something hanging in a guitar store that's just begging you to take it home.
Apr 25, 2007 01:56 pm Real men play 5 strings. :-)
Picking a guitar (or bass) is tough people put too much emphasis on the electronics and not enough on the wood...a tele isn't a tele...a paul isn't paul...they can have identical wiring and specs...but the cut of wood the body is made from and strip that makes the neck is all equally important.
The best guitar I ever had was the first I ever had, but I was too stupid to know it at the time. It had no brand on the stock, was some les paul knockoff with old dimarzios in it...but that cut of wood...man, it had sustain, it had balls...but I sold it so I could by some off the shelf SG that I ended up selling cuz it just wasn't the same.
Ya gotta play it...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 26, 2007 08:45 pm I'll add my 2 cents as well.
G & L are in my eyes dare I say it, a better built guitar. The new Fenders are lacking the quality of the older Fenders when Leo was still in the mix. Now they have become another off shore build em and ship em type center. Unless of course you buy something from the custom shop, but I wont go there.
G & L ASAT is still hand built the old way. They take pride in the soul of the guitar. Or as dB put it, the slab of wood it was cut from. I honestly believe if you tried a G & L you would hear and feel the difference. I don't own one anymore but had one in their early days and man did it rock.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Apr 27, 2007 11:19 am The noise you describe when playing with distortion is probably more a result of the guitar using single-coil pickups, which are much more prone to picking up 60-cycle hum. I know that Fender offers their SCN noiseless pickups on their American standard and American deluxe guitars.
Maybe that's more of what you're after: noiseless pickups. The Highway 1 is a great Tele IMO.
That said, I'd kill for an American Standard Tele.
