• Made in USA

Here's an American-made Strat with a few interesting tricks up its sleeve.

This 2006 Fender Highway One Stratocaster Upgrade brings together classic Strat styling and some thoughtful improvements. The Honey Blonde finish gives it a great vintage look, while the thin satin nitrocellulose lacquer lets the wood show through without burying it under a thick plastic-looking finish.

The maple neck has a comfortable modern C profile, a maple fingerboard, and 22 jumbo frets. Add the larger 1970s-style headstock, and you've got a Strat that looks a little different from the usual crowd.

The electronics are where the Upgrade designation really comes into play. Fender fitted this model with upgraded Alnico single-coil pickups and its Greasebucket tone circuit. That circuit lets you roll off the highs without adding unwanted bass or turning your tone into mud. A nice little bit of Fender engineering.

A few particulars:

• 2006 Fender Highway One Stratocaster Upgrade

• Made in the USA

• Alder body

• Honey Blonde finish

• Thin satin nitrocellulose lacquer

• Maple neck and maple fingerboard

• Modern C neck profile

• 22 jumbo frets

• Large 1970s-style Strat headstock

• Upgraded Alnico single-coil pickups

• Fender Greasebucket tone circuit

• Classic Stratocaster tremolo

An American-made Fender with a nitro finish, upgraded electronics, and plenty of classic Strat character. A whole lot of guitar without having to take out a second mortgage.