Highway One - customised or is fender database incorrect?

[Sifteruk]

Hello,
I've just purchased a highway one:
https://ibb.co/P4N0Hrm
https://ibb.co/7RjCsgs
https://ibb.co/8x3V9FV
https://ibb.co/8KxbfKk
https://ibb.co/Jncsd5h
https://ibb.co/KbLKqN3
https://ibb.co/GR6HGh3


As you can see it has single coil pickups with a sunburst body.
When I searched for the serial number, it suggests the strat was originally a humbucker and was midnight wine colour.

Is it likely the fender database is wrong about the colour and/or pickups or has someone done a job respraying the guitar and changing the humbucker out for a single coil?

these are the results:

Product Specs
Body
Alder
Body Finish
Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Shape
Stratocaster®
Bridge
6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
Bridge Pickup
Atomic™ Humbucking
Color
Midnight Wine
Configuration
HSS
Control Knobs
Black Plastic
Controls
Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Greasebucket™ Tone Circuit, (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup), Greasebucket™ Tone Circuit
Country Of Origin
US
Dimensions
5.00x15.00x42.00 IN
Fingerboard
Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius
9.5" (241 mm)
Fret Size
Jumbo
Hardware Finish
Chrome
Middle Pickup
Hot Single-Coil Strat® with Alnico 3 Magnets
Model Name
Highway One™ Stratocaster® HSS (2006-2011), Rosewood Fingerboard, Midnight Wine
Neck Finish
Satin Urethane
Neck Material
Maple
Neck Pickup
Hot Single-Coil Strat® with Alnico 3 Magnets
Neck Pickup
Hot Single-Coil Strat® with Alnico 3 Magnets

[DanTheBluesMan]

Welcome to the forum.

It's possible to be a partsocaster, with the neck from the guitar the database references.

Check under the pickguard to see if any of the pickups match the database description, see if there's any changes to the solder joints. Take the neck off and see if there are any dates/codes in the pocket and on the heel of the neck.

Not sure why somebody would buy a midnight wine guitar and refinish it in sunburst, but stranger things have happened. But I strongly suspect it is partsocaster. Who sold it, store/dealer or private individual?

Not a lot to tell from one picture.

[phantomman]

Partscaster is a definite possibility.

[OldStrummer]

The specs say HSS. Your photo is of a SSS. Partscaster.

[BobbyMac]

The pickup mounting screws and the switch mounting screws on the guitar in the picture are domed round head screws. Those are not used on Fender Stratocasters, which normally have oval countersunk screws. To me, that suggests that the pickguard and the screws are aftermarket, and I suspect that the body is not original to your neck. In my opinion, this guitar is a partscaster.

[Sifteruk]

Thanks for the feedback.
Here are some more images in case it helps shed further light
https://ibb.co/P4N0Hrm
https://ibb.co/7RjCsgs
https://ibb.co/8x3V9FV
https://ibb.co/8KxbfKk
https://ibb.co/Jncsd5h
https://ibb.co/KbLKqN3

Welcome to the forum.

It's possible to be a partsocaster, with the neck from the guitar the database references.

Check under the pickguard to see if any of the pickups match the database description, see if there's any changes to the solder joints. Take the neck off and see if there are any dates/codes in the pocket and on the heel of the neck.

Not sure why somebody would buy a midnight wine guitar and refinish it in sunburst, but stranger things have happened. But I strongly suspect it is partsocaster. Who sold it, store/dealer or private individual?

Not a lot to tell from one picture.

[Sifteruk]

I've updated main post with further images. Thanks for the feedback so far. Very interesting and informative.

[Sifteruk]

The specs say HSS. Your photo is of a SSS. Partscaster.

So if the previous owner had a highway one HSS and then replaced the humbucker with a single coil, the guitar is a part caster (as opposed to a customised highway one)? Or are you suggesting the body and the neck are not from the same guitar?

[Sifteruk]

Thanks for your feedback.
If the previous owner changed the humbucker to a single coil, he would have needed to change thr pickguard too so as not to have additoonal screw holes that are not used on a single coil. Might that explain why the pickguard and screws are not standard?

The pickup mounting screws and the switch mounting screws on the guitar in the picture are domed round head screws. Those are not used on Fender Stratocasters, which normally have oval countersunk screws. To me, that suggests that the pickguard and the screws are aftermarket, and I suspect that the body is not original to your neck. In my opinion, this guitar is a partscaster.

[Sifteruk]

Thanks for your feedback.Is it not feasible that the previous owner changed out thr himbucker for a single coil?

The specs say HSS. Your photo is of a SSS. Partscaster.

[OldStrummer]

I don't know if there's really a way to confirm an original neck on a Fender, since they are separately numbered. As for swapping out a humbucker for a single-coil, it's a rare humbucker that has the same profile: fit, pocket, etc. It could be a swapped pickup, but that still then begs the question: Is it original (as shipped from Fender) or is it a partscaster? I'm not one to pass judgement. I have a MIM Stratocaster where the middle pickup was replaced when the original went bad. Is it a partscaster? Not in my book, but that's a discussion for if and when I decide to sell it.

[Sifteruk]

Do you know if there is a way to tell what strat my body originally was part of?

I don't know if there's really a way to confirm an original neck on a Fender, since they are separately numbered. As for swapping out a humbucker for a single-coil, it's a rare humbucker that has the same profile: fit, pocket, etc. It could be a swapped pickup, but that still then begs the question: Is it original (as shipped from Fender) or is it a partscaster? I'm not one to pass judgement. I have a MIM Stratocaster where the middle pickup was replaced when the original went bad. Is it a partscaster? Not in my book, but that's a discussion for if and when I decide to sell it.

[S. Cane]

Do you know if there is a way to tell what strat my body originally was part of?

If it is indeed a Fender body and you’re lucky, there might be a sticker inside the routing with indicatives. As well as markings on the neck pocket. Pics might make us help you.

[AudioHTIT]

The pickup mounting screws and the switch mounting screws on the guitar in the picture are domed round head screws. Those are not used on Fender Stratocasters, which normally have oval countersunk screws. To me, that suggests that the pickguard and the screws are aftermarket, and I suspect that the body is not original to your neck. In my opinion, this guitar is a partscaster.

While my vintage ‘65 Strat has pickup height, and selector switch mounting screws like you describe (oval head countersunk), the two Fender Mod Shop Strats I’ve bought in the last year both have round head screws for pups and switch. If I back out the screws, the pickguard is not countersunk. Even some of Fender’s vintage pickguards I’ve seen lately don’t have countersinking, except for the pickguard screws. I think the countersink oval head pickup and switch screws are now a thing of the past (though they could certainly appear on something from the custom shop).

[Offshore Angler]

I'm not 100% sure, but I thought the Highway One's used the SW water based nitro that didn't have a high gloss. That looks like poly to me. I'm going to jump on the partscaster bus with the rest.