Fender Highway 1 Telecaster Vs Joe Strummer Telecaster

[Indie_Kid]

Hi all, looking to get a new guitar I think its between the Fender Highway 1 Telecaster Vs Joe Strummer Telecaster. I currently have a 72 Custom Telecaster which I think is awesome, I've never had any problems with the tele (mim) and prefer the feel and sound of it to my epiphone dot. Might trade in the dot as it don't get much use. I like the beat up look of the strummer but its approximately £350 more (MIM), I've heard good things about the highway 1 (MIA). If money weren't an issue which would you go for? Does the strummer warrant such a difference in price? Quality wise does where its made make a huge difference?
Any thoughts would be appreciated

[hamfist]

Bear in mind that a big difference between these two guitars is that the Highway one has a 43mm nut width, compared to the Strummer's 42mm.
   the extra mm gives a really useful bit of extra room for big fingers (like mine !).
   Most teles have 42mm nut widths.  If you like the extra room that 43mm gives you, then the models to look at are the American standard tele, the highway one, and the nashville teles.  I like the Nashville teles a lot. They are MIA, relatively cheap, and are tonally more flexible than a standard tele.
  Whatever you get, have fun choosing !

Alan

[hamfist]

Bear in mind that a big difference between these two guitars is that the Highway one has a 43mm nut width, compared to the Strummer's 42mm.
   the extra mm gives a really useful bit of extra room on the neck for big fingers (like mine !).
   Most teles have 42mm nut widths.  If you like the extra room that 43mm gives you, then the models to look at are the American standard tele, the highway one, and the nashville teles.  I like the Nashville teles a lot. They are MIA, relatively cheap, and are tonally more flexible than a standard tele.
  Whatever you get, have fun choosing !

Alan

[Elliot]

Highway 1 any day.

[Fourth Feline]

Highway 1 is what I would chose between the two. I spend some time over on the 'Telecaster discussion forum' - and Highway 1 Teles seem very popular, whereas the JS Tele does not seem to have impressed folk that live and breathe Telecasters. I can see that the idea of 'instant relicing' would be attractive, but the relicing on the J.S Tele is said to look clumsy, whereas I hear that the thinner finish on the HWY1 ages nicely on it's own. It's certainly worth doing a search over on the TDRI forum.

If going down the affordable but great feeling / sounding Telecaster route, seriously consider the MIM Baja Telecaster. I have one and I can't put it down since bringing it home !

The Baja has 6 tone options, ( 4 way switch & an extra phase switch built into the volume control ) - yet looks very retro, especially the Blonde / blackguard one. I did not buy mine for the extra wiring, just for the chunky wide 9.5 " radius neck and playability. Les Paul players in need of more cut and snap will like the Baja.

To answer your original question though, If I had to buy another Tele ( on a budget ) right now, it would be the Highway 1.

Enjoy the search  :D

[Gizmo]

Ive not read about the highway but the review of the strummer guitar in Guitarist magazine a few months back couldnt stop raving about it. I think they said for the money its one of the best teles you can get. (bordering on the custom guitars)

I would make sure that if you get one, you get one with the sticker pack though. They only made a set number with the pack. You can customise the tele with the stickers/transfers and make it unique.

[Mr Ed]

The Highway one, for sure.

Joe will be turning in his grave at the thought of a guitar bearing his name, what a shite idea.

[indysmith]

+1 on the highway. Signature punk guitars. erugh. what an oxymoron.

[Indie_Kid]

component wise does does there deserve to be such a vary in price? or are people just buying an expensive paint job?

[Mr Ed]

The Strummer costs more because it says "Joe Strummer" in the title and is basically a bog standard Tele.

The Highway 1 series comes with a very good reputation and that's deserved, especially these second generation ones with the upgrades.

[Philly Q]

For me the most significant difference is that the Highway 1 has a 9.5" radius and jumbo frets.  I just wouldn't be able to cope with the Strummer's 7.25" radius and skinny frets.

But I'd pick a Baja over either of them, for the bigger neck and versatile electronics.

[Ian Price]

Go for a Baja - I don't have one but have tetsed a few. They were all fantastic. Out of the JS tele and a HWY1 I would go for the HWY1 anyday.

[Ratrod]

Gotta admit though, that Joe Strummer Tele looks f-ing cool.

[dave_mc]

If money weren't an issue which would you go for?

money is always an issue, though, that's the point. any time anyone says (well, at least any time i say it) something is "good", "for the price" is implied... if money weren't an issue we'd all be slinging '59 les pauls and have tylers, suhrs, hubers etc. out the wazoo. if that's even a word...  :lol:

I haven't tried the strummer. I have tried the highway one, and it's alright. but i'd rather have a second hand tokai or similar japanese copy. they're cheaper too. vintage feel (7.25" radius, skinny frets etc.), though, and if you don't like that, the highway one is probably better. EDIT: actually i'd probably rather have a blade or (presumably, as i've only tried their gibson copies) edwards if i'd rather have a more modern-feeling tele.

obviously, personal opinion and all that.

[Philly Q]

actually i'd probably rather have a blade or (presumably, as i've only tried their gibson copies) edwards if i'd rather have a more modern-feeling tele.

I think (although I haven't tried them either) all the Edwards Strats and Teles have vintage frets and 7.25" radius.