This Stratocaster's pickups handle the job I need it to do. I play mostly Alternative Rock but when I go to playing Blues and sometimes Metal this guitar handles it all. I admit it lacks some vintage sound but come on we are in the year 2011. The Alnico 3 pickups make it scream and handle High Gain settings wonderfully on single position or on 2/4 positions. Blues tones sounds awesome with since the pickups are versatile due to the greasebucket circuits, I can mellow out the highs and not get to bassy, since when I play with Strats with the Bass on 10, I don't have to lower it on the amp between songs. I enjoy playing Sunshine of your Love and Pinball Wizard on this guitar.

It came with a decent gigbag, case candy such as manuals, polish cloth, tremolo, etc. The tremolo works flawlessly but sooner or later I will lay it flat on the body since I don't require to bend/vibrato all my strings at once when I can just do the one I want. I wish it did have a V neck but I can deal with the Modern C neck which feels like my Gibson P90 Faded Classic. The body has a Satin Lacquer like what Gibson uses on their Faded Models but I think the Lacquer used on Fender isn't as great as Gibson's Lacquer but I love the Satin Sunburst Finish. I'm always drawn towards guitar which let my guitar breathe and I get worn in after a few practice sessions. The just sustain more and sound more airy.

This guitar will give you all you need to have for 100% playability. The pickups sound clean and bite when you add some dirt. The Jumbo frets make the bends glide with easy. The picture don't do it justice until you play it.

The guitar was in pristine condition from what I can tell, and it was a Blemished model. I can't find nothing cosmetically wrong or hardware issues with it. I think it has a small nick that isn't larger then a pen mark but its invisible until very close inspection at the neck pocket, otherwise it is flawless. The guitar has perfect relief on the neck, perfect fret work, no sharp fret ends, no finish problems, no dings, no dents. Pickguard plastic still factory fresh. The action is 1/64 higher then what I'm use to but I will leave it there and let it go down from playing. I'm pretty sure this is will stand up to anything with proper care due to Satin finish.

Its a American guitar for the poorman who tires of upgrading pickups, filing fret ends and playing with 5+ Piece Alder Mexican Stratocasters. I have run into a few doozies that play 100% and other that weren't worth the trouble. I sure the value for these won't drop as low but they will rise eventually when Fender takes them off the market. I got a blemish price but I will not hesitate to buy it at retail price.

I contacted Fender Customer Services via email literally a couple times with no respond. I guess if it ain't about a Custom Shop issue they don't respond, but I give 6 out of 5 Stars due to zZounds for there great customer service, fast shipping, payment plans and pricing. I bought this guitar blemished and on a 4 Equal Payment Plan, I'm a college student whose a Music Major and I don't get much money but just enough so that I can pay off this awesome guitar and at a unbelievable price. Thank You zZounds, don't ever change.

I wanted this guitar since I saw it online, first its an American Stratocaster, the 70's headstock, the rosewood board, the sunburst, the satin lacquer. It makes you want it, but I guess if it had a little gloss, people would demand it more. I bought a black pickguard for it and will install it soon, so it can look like more appealing even though its fine just the way it is.

Guitarist/Drummer

Alternative Rock and Blues

this is one of the all time best sounding fender strats hands down. there are not very many guitars period that have the tone versatility or feel that the highway one sss strat has. this strat is the superior one out of all the fender strats for the reason it is so tone versatile and has the old school strat feel and features. classic - modern its all there and some more with this strat!

very old school strat features. none of the nonesence stuff fender puts on today's strats. the highway one sss strat reminds me of the fender strat's from the late 60's early 70's

sooo! easy to use and playable.

the quality of craftmanship on this strat is THE BEST! YOU DO NOT NEED A BACK UP GUITAR with this strat. the studio - live performing this is the strat you want for the road.

the value is A+ ON THIS GUITAR. i know the 2007 highway one's are sought after by many guitarist and the 2007 daphne blue highway one is going for $1,200. i'm going to pay that much for mine but its well worth the price.

this is a sheer genuis strat. nitro finsh - tone versatile old school strat looks and feel you cant ask for anything more.

active musician

rock - blues

very tone versatile/modern and classic its all there and much more! one of the all time best sounding strats fender has put out in many years. the Alnico III pick ups are simply one of the best pick ups made by fender. there in the top 5 all time best fender pick ups ever made!

this is a real strat!none of the extra bells and whistles that most strats have today it's a old school strat for shure. the parts are A+ love the custome shop designed grease bucket circut! like i said one of the very best strats made.

very easy to use its simply old school and i love it!

the craftmanship i would most certainly compare to the custome shop made strats!

i paid $930 for mine rite before fender drop there prices on most of there strats and its worth every penny and a lot more. the Daphne Blue highway one sss strat was discontinued back in january 2008 i have seen this guitar sell for $1,200 t0 $1,400