Fender Highway1 Showmaster H-H?

[shreddermon]

Anyone see or try one of these yet? I'm curious how good they may be. Is the trem an original Floyd, or just a licensed copy? And is it US or import?

[ June 13, 2003, 09:38 PM: Message edited by: shreddermon ]

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: Fender Highway1 Showmaster H-H?

I believe Fender now owns Floyd Rose, so it would make sense that they use a Floyd Rose bridge on their guitars rather than a licensed bridge.

[Riscchip]

Re: Fender Highway1 Showmaster H-H?

The Highway 1 showmaster, like all of the US Special series features an American made body and neck. I haven't seen one up close, but it looks to be an original floyd rose--not sure though. My highway 1 strat came with Korean made tuners & Mexican made electronics / bridge (still a great guitar). I would imagine the same cost saving hardware / electronics choices were made with the showmaster (it has the same tuners, I see), but can't say for certain.

I think it's probably a really nice guitar for the money, just like my Highway 1 strat (though I'll confess to having upgraded the pickups, electronics and tuners since I got it).

[shreddermon]

Re: Fender Highway1 Showmaster H-H?

Rischip, that's basically what I was thinking. Swap out the pickups and pots, and maybe it's very good guitar? I wouldn't care too much about the tuners, since you rarely use them with a Floyd. But if the Floyd isn't an OFR and needs swapping, too, the cost of upgrades probably doesn't make enough sense.

NOTP: I don't believe Fender owns Floyd Rose. I think it's more like they held the distribution rights. Not sure, but I think that contract recently expired. So it may have now gone to a different company. Besides, Fender has a long history of using both OFRs and licensed copies.