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I recently acquired a blue one and it has a small ding that goes all the way to the wood. I know this is their "budget" USA model, but I would like to fix the blemish and try to maintain it as it is a very playable guitar. Any suggestions, also, can I "paint" over the body with some kind of clearcoat to protect it?
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I still keep practicing though.... Mostly because I hate my neighbors.-MakeAJazzNoiseHere -
Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
I recently purchased one of these, too (couldn't pass it up when the local shop had them on sale for $450 new). Great sounding / feeling guitars.
If the chip just involved the finish flaking off of the body, exposing the wood, the thing to determine is if the body is sealed with an undercoat before the colored finish is applied. I'm not sure about that, but if so, the wood probably isn't in any danger.
If you want to be safe, you can actually use superglue to repair dings like this. Clean the spot with alcohol or lighter fluid, allow to dry (happens fast with those fluids) and apply superglue to the spot carefully. Obviously, it won't fix the damage cosmetically, but it will seal and protect the wood. Ding repairs rarely match perfectly anyway, but if you want to get into painting / sanding I'd suggest getting a qualified repairman to do it for you if you're not a whiz with that sort of thing.
Good luck! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] -
Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
It's a Nitrocelulose finish. Lighter fluid may damage the clear coat and if left on for too long it may get down to the color. It's stained then clearcoated. It's just a thinner coat and not buffed out. So It's less expensive to do.
Although the electronics and hardware are Mexican the body and neck are US and it's all put together here in Corona (mmmmmm Beer) California.
GilComment
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Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
Its actually a thin Satin finish I think, or thats what I've read at a few different places.Comment
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Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
It seemed like a thin satin to me, at least the ones I've seen. There didn't seem to be *any* type of clearcoat whatsoever. Those finishes are *thin* - the couple I saw in the shop had bare wood exposed from just some little bumps. Good if you want that SRV look in a matter of days, I guess.Comment
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Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
I have seen those and some colors look good and others just do not. The darker the color, the better they looked I thought. I liked then Cocoa color alot, I think it kinda looked more natural because of the color. I think one of those Highway 1 Shredders that are new out might look great in Pewter or Black, you can get them in H/H or H/S/S I may look into an H/H model in Black or Pewter [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Jack.Comment
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Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
They use real Floyds as well I think, or from what I can make out from fender's pic. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]Comment
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Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
Yep, real Floyd`s!! If you want a real strathead shredder now, it would seam like the Classic Hotrod Fender would be the current choice, either in the Highway 1 or the regular model, but the regular one is like over $1000, so the Highway 1 is a better deal, except for the cheesy paint job [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] But the Black should look decent, kinda Goth looking [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] Jack.Comment
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Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
I have clear coated two of them now for people. Use nitrocellulose lacquer and you will be fine. I highly suggest clearing it as the finish they use is just color coat and very fragile.
Oh and by the way. All Mexico Fender's have USA bodies and necks. The bodies and necks are cut out in Corona California and shipped down to Mexico to be final shaped, sanded, fretted, finished, and assembled. The standard Highway one models (with standard trems) have Ping made tremolo's not Fender. The difference with the Highway one series is that the bodies come back to the USA after being final shaped and frets installed, then the guitars are finished, fret dressed, assembled, and setup here in the USA.
[ June 01, 2003, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: Jim Shine ]Comment
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Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
The Highway !'s are clear coated according to Fender. They more or less seal the finish and don't buff it out. If the didn't clear coat it the color would come off on your skin. Like the Paduak Washburn N4's that were just stained and not clear coated. And it is a Nitro clear coat.
GilComment
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Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Not true. Many vintage Fender guitars in custom colors (non metallics) had no clear coats. All Fender Mustangs (with exception being most white models) made before 1968 had no clear coats. It is plain colored lacquer sprayed on and buffed out. No clear coating. I never held one where the pigment was coming off on my skin. On guitars I have painted or factory jobs.Originally posted by JACKSONFREAK:
If the didn't clear coat it the color would come off on your skin.
Gil
Yes, Fender clears the Highway 1 models, but it is only one or two coats. If you even attempt to wetsand to prep for buff out you will hit color almost immediately. You must seal it with atleast 4 additional coats of lacquer before buffing it out.
[ June 03, 2003, 03:20 PM: Message edited by: Jim Shine ]Comment
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Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
What is a Ping made Floyd, Chinese or? Jack.Comment
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Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
I don't think these have Floyds made by Ping, I am sure they are Schaller.
Ping is a guitar hardware company I believe based out of Korea. They have made Japanese and Mexico Fender bridges as well as hardware for many other major guitar factories all over the world. They are sort of the Samick of the guitar parts world.Comment
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Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
If pre 58 Fenders didnt have a clear coat explain to me why when the finish checks it is a clear finish that is checking and not the color. And why an all original 56 strat we had at work had a clear coat. I have painted several guitars myself although with most cases the finish didnt come off with normal use but it did when I started to sweat. But yet my 76 Les Paul that is nitro and clear coated doesn't. Maybe it's just me.
GilComment
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Re: Fender Highway 1 finish question
in all fairness, jim mentioned custom colors not being cleared... with the exception of the mustangs (or was it jaguars...damn that alzheimer's!). granted, jim can answer for himself, but i don't think there's many here that seem to know the fender stuff quite like he does. kinda reminds me of greg and old charvels at times... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
sullyComment
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