Members Bert-O-325 Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 Are the pickups from a Fender Highway 1 strat any good? I mean, as replacements for those I'd have in a very inexpensive import strat-clone that I'm fixing up. I found these on ebay, that I might be able to get for less than $50 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330304731125 or would I be better served with something like these Texas Mex? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310117884265 I'm not into lots of distortion, mostly I just use some light echo and some light compression to play blues-ish (badly, I might add) - although sometimes I delve into effects pedal madness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cliff Fiscal Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 I liked mine quite a bit until I installed Texas Specials. I don't really care for a single coil in the bridge position of any Strat.....so I can't really comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Strat87 Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 I prefer the Tex Mex over the HW1 pickups. They have that vintage chimeyness with a bit more growl. The HW1s didn't really speak to me. YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members homestar_kevin Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 I've had my Highway 1 strat as my main guitar for like a year or so now and I haven't hated them enough to do anything about. They're pretty sweet to my ears Definitely will do for what you're looking for if you can get them cheap, but certainly not worth 100 or so dollars. at that price range I'd go GFS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bert-O-325 Posted February 2, 2009 Author Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 Okay - those comments are helpful! Thank you! Any other comments or opinions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cliff Fiscal Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 I've heard great things about the GFS strat pickups too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsupermanny14 Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 The HWY1 pickups are alright. There are people on this forum who love those things. They are pretty good. The guy has a buy it now price of $100 though, and that is stupid! Here is a link to pickersparts.com and they have the entire HWY1 one loaded pickguard for $120 if you're interested. http://www.pickersparts.com/khxc/index.php?app=ccp0&ns=prodshow&ref=pwpg_fender_usahwy1 They have a whole lot of other parts at good prices you may want to check out on that website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 I don't think they were terrible by any stretch, but not worth $100. For about the same price (or MUCH less if you're lucky) you can get the 57/62s which are VERY nice for cleans but maybe not the best for gain. Or for just a bit more, you can get CS69s which are absolutely outstanding. If you only have $100, I personally would probably would try my chances with a set of GFS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 Depends on what kind of music you play and what tone you're going for. If you want a more overdriven blues tone the HWY-1 pickups will work. If you want a vintage '50s or '60s tone forget about it as they're too hot. Below are the measurements taken from my 2006 HWY-1 set. They do use Alnico III magnets to offset some of those extra winds. Bridge: 11.58kMid: 11.73kNeck: 10.61k I have no experience with the Tex Mex pups so I cannot comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsupermanny14 Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 Depends on what kind of music you play and what tone you're going for. If you want a more overdriven blues tone the HWY-1 pickups will work. If you want a vintage '50s or '60s tone forget about it as they're too hot. Below are the measurements taken from my 2006 HWY-1 set. They do use Alnico III magnets to offset some of those extra winds. Bridge: 11.58kMid: 11.73kNeck: 10.61kI have no experience with the Tex Mex pups so I cannot comment. That's really hot wound! I wonder how much it hums? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members niceguy Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 I just installed Highway One pickups into the neck and mid positions of my MIM Stratocaster. They're overall good pickups. I don't find them to be too much of anything---not too strong, not too weak, not to muddy, not too clear. They're good, esp in the neck/mid combo. They are surprisingly not very FAT. Or maybe I just really like humbuckers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 That's really hot wound! I wonder how much it hums?None is positions 2 & 4. Actually, I can't remember. That guitar is in pieces in my closet. I need to put it back together and sell it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members valentsgrif Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 My HSS 2005 Highway 1 has nice balanced neck and mid, but the humbucker is pathetic. Mine are also very quiet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 My HSS 2005 Highway 1 has nice balanced neck and mid, but the humbucker is pathetic. Mine are also very quiet.Just so the OP is aware, the 2005 and earlier Highway Ones have different pickups from the 2006 and later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 Just so the OP is aware, the 2005 and earlier Highway Ones have different pickups from the 2006 and later. Yep, that's what I was going to say. 05 and earlier weren't has hot, and the mid wasn't RW/RP. I'm a fan of the new Hwy pickups, but I wouldn't pay more than $20 per pickup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zbasstringer Posted February 2, 2009 Members Share Posted February 2, 2009 My highway one strat has one major problem: when I go to the bridge humbucker, damn is that thing WAY louder than the single coils. The stock pick-ups are actually pretty nice. Fairly hot, but not too powerful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members saintdel Posted February 3, 2009 Members Share Posted February 3, 2009 My highway one strat has one major problem: when I go to the bridge humbucker, damn is that thing WAY louder than the single coils. The stock pick-ups are actually pretty nice. Fairly hot, but not too powerful. Check your string to p/u clearances. Sounds like the HB is too close or the SC's are too far away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bert-O-325 Posted February 3, 2009 Author Members Share Posted February 3, 2009 Just so the OP is aware, the 2005 and earlier Highway Ones have different pickups from the 2006 and later. Hey - thanks for that info! So the one guy has 2002's, so that would be different than yours, eh? No rw/rp middle? hm. I do tend more towards a "cleaner" (vintage?) sound rather than a distorted sound. Guess I'll let the Hwy 1 set go. So, what GFS for a clean, "vintage-ey" sound, then? I'm not looking for uber noiseless, either. Most people will probably think my playing is noise anyway (I'm just not very good ) BIG THANKS to EVERYBODY for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xupernaut Posted February 3, 2009 Members Share Posted February 3, 2009 I have a set of those in my mako strat. They sound pretty good I didn't pay much for them $35-40 iirc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsupermanny14 Posted February 3, 2009 Members Share Posted February 3, 2009 None is positions 2 & 4. Actually, I can't remember. That guitar is in pieces in my closet. I need to put it back together and sell it. You should definitely put it together! What's one more Strat in your collection? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted February 3, 2009 Members Share Posted February 3, 2009 You should definitely put it together! What's one more Strat in your collection? For him, a Highway One would just be another dust catcher that would set idly by while he plays his partscasters, 60s Players and MIA strats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted February 3, 2009 Members Share Posted February 3, 2009 For him, a Highway One would just be another dust catcher that would set idly by while he plays his partscasters, 60s Players and MIA strats. I'm afraid so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members voxfreak Posted February 3, 2009 Members Share Posted February 3, 2009 i think highway 1s are decent at best, theres definitely better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vinniemac Posted January 1, 2014 Members Share Posted January 1, 2014 Just a couple things to ponder. Depends on which Highway One Pickups. The Pre-2006 Highway One pickups are more of a vintage sound "50's-60's". After 2006 they are Hotter catering slightly to a Hard Rock Sound, and a little less of the Classic Fender Vintage sound.2005 Fender introduced the Greasebucket circuitry on Highway one which keeps the tone clean as you minimize the tone. 2005 is the only year with this sweet spot. Vintage Fender Sound with added Tone cleanup.If you have a 2005 H1, you will get a cleaner Vintage sound, but the Greasebucket Circuit is not in the actual pickup, so it can be a little deceiving when judging the pickups.IMHO, I believe the 2005 H1 is the best cleanest Vintage sound for H1 guitars. If you like Rock, go for the 2006> models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kayd_mon Posted January 5, 2014 Members Share Posted January 5, 2014 Hi, vinnie! Lots of necrothreads. People get annoyed and assume it's another take on spam, since we'll get 3 necrothreads, all from different posters, all on the same gear, all on the same day. Orsometimes it's the same poster. But you see why some people get annoyed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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