Hi All
I'm currently borrowing a 2009 Highway One Strat, with a view to buying it if I bond with it.
First trouble area I've noticed is how stiff the Machine Heads are, they really take a great effort to turn. Assuming they are stock, these will be 'Ping' tuners... which shouldn't be terrible?
Did some reading and the consensus on Stiff Tuners is that you shouldn't have to grease / lube them. If engineered properly they should turn just fine. Could this just be a duff set?
As I like the guitar for it's 1968 Blackmore Strat vibe, I might consider swapping the tuners for something more like what a 68 might have (although that seems to be a mixed bag between the Klusons and the later F-stamped tuners on various reviews of the Custom Shop Blackmore tribute strat...)