Fender Highway One series discontinued?

[Bongolation]

The highway 1 and American specials are just hyped up mexican basses...assembled in USA.

You're completely wrong, though they used to be that way.

The current Precisions are identical to the American Standards except for the bridge, machines and finish/detailing. The Jazzes have those difference plus having different pickups. The recent 3/11 HO Jazz I kept had a two-piece blank and neck far superior to my three-piece American Standard's and was in this case built better.

FMIC has eliminated a lot of incremental differences between models to streamline production and reduce component inventories. HOs used to have cheaper MIM-grade hardware, but now (except for the machines) they have the same as the American Standards.

I wouldn't have had an old one as a gift, but the new ones are a smart buy, especially when you can pull and sell that stupid BAII for $150-$200 and maybe use the profits for snazzier machines (though the ones that come on it are functionally fine).

 

[meatwad]

+1 ^

 

[Bongolation]

It'd be worth a few more bucks to me if they could up the HWY1s fit and finish a bit

Fit and assembly quality is absolutely no different than any other MIA production Fender's, irrespective of price -- which is to say, "a total crapshoot."

My HO Jazz is a far better (and better-built) bass than my American Standard in everything that counts.

An HO Telecaster I got new a while back had the best, most conscientious fretwork I've ever seen on a MIA production Fender (how?...why?).

A 2011 HO Precision I benched had a totally defective fretboard and was made with the wrong parts.

A 2011 HO Precision made on the same day was perfect.

Etc., etc., etc...

What conclusions you can draw from this I leave to you.

 

[michael_atw]

I sold two pulls to a local dealer for $300 in May.

BTW, FMIC was shipping new HOs as recently as four weeks ago, to my direct knowledge, so they're not "discontinued." Why they're not on the site, I don't know, as Fender keeps discontinued models on the site for a year or so to to support existing stocks in the stores.

I wasn't anticipating the meteoric rise; a few months ago I listed one for $67 (what I would always list them at) and it went in 2 minutes and I realized something was different. I went and looked at completed listings and was dumbfounded.

Same with Musicmaster guitars, basses, and amps. Most of them are largely thin, toneless Leo Fender frankensteins; two years ago I'd get 70's MM's any day for $300. Now, they go for $450-$500 relatively regularly.

 

[Bongolation]

I wasn't anticipating the meteoric rise; a few months ago I listed one for $67 (what I would always list them at) and it went in 2 minutes and I realized something was different. I went and looked at completed listings and was dumbfounded.

The selling price on eBay doubled for new BAII pulls in less than a month, from ~$110 to ~$220.

I don't know what they bring now, but the bottom will fall out before long when aftermarket stocks come back. I sold two to a local dealer for 2/$300 cash when they were about $200 on eBay because I didn't have to pay fees and go through a bunch of hassle, which I need less than a few extra bucks.

I was thrilled to be rid of them.

Some arithmetic:

I got that crazy deal for a 3CSB HO Jazz for $429, shipped. The one I got was perfect, a two-piece body, spot-on assembly. I unloaded the BAII for $150 and replaced it with a vintage style I had (and vastly prefer). Polished out the dry nitro body, looks great.

$279.

With those kind of numbers, I decided to splurge on a genuine Fender tortoiseshell PG for $28.

 

[meatwad]

Fit and assembly quality is absolutely no different than any other MIA production Fender's, irrespective of price -- which is to say, "a total crapshoot."

My HO Jazz is a far better (and better-built) bass than my American Standard in everything that counts.

An HO Telecaster I got new a while back had the best, most conscientious fretwork I've ever seen on a MIA production Fender (how?...why?).

A 2011 HO Precision I benched had a totally defective fretboard and was made with the wrong parts.

A 2011 HO Precision made on the same day was perfect.

Etc., etc., etc...

What conclusions you can draw from this I leave to you.

No doubt, Fender's QC has a history of being inconsistent. But I'm not talking about that whole pissing match, where Joe Schmoe's Squier VM plays waaay better, and has a tighter neck joint than John Q's diamond-encrusted CS...

I'm talking about how the ones I played just didn't quite feel... finished. I suppose it's the paint that makes it seem that way. Just my opinion, so I'm not knocking what anybody here plays. I just like a gloss finish on a new instrument.

 

[meatwad]

I got that crazy deal for a 3CSB HO Jazz for $429, shipped. The one I got was perfect, a two-piece body, spot-on assembly. I unloaded the BAII for $150 and replaced it with a vintage style I had (and vastly prefer). Polished out the dry nitro body, looks great.

$279.

With those kind of numbers, I decided to splurge on a genuine Fender tortoiseshell PG for $28.

Now that is how you do it!

 

[Bongolation]

I'm talking about how the ones I played just didn't quite feel... finished. I suppose it's the paint that makes it seem that way.

No, that's real.

The detailing isn't up to that of the AS, but they screw up the ASs as often as they get them right, so I'd just as soon do the detailing myself. I do better fretwork and setup than they do anyway.

The HOs don't have a rolled fretboard edge, but the amount of roll on any particular American Standard may be nonexistent as well. There's no perceptible roll on my AS Jazz.

The "dry" nitro polishes out extremely easily and actually looks like a true vintage gloss finish with almost no effort (several threads here on how). You can get it to have an extremely high gloss if you want, but I don't.

I hate the AS finish as it's terribly fragile and a total waste of a lot of money. The previous American series finishes I liked much better as they were more durable, but consumers believed the myth that finish thickness makes a tonal difference on a solidbody (it doesn't), so Fender marketing humored them.

and has a tighter neck joint than John Q's diamond-encrusted CS...

A tight pocket is a flaw, not a feature, especially on a Fender. There should always be some lateral clearance on both sides to the depth of the pocket. The crucial fit is the face. Fender knows this perfectly well, but like the thin finish, they deferred to the ignorant bubbas in their focus groups.

 

[meatwad]

No, that's real.

The detailing isn't up to that of the AS, but they screw up the ASs as often as they get them right, so I'd just as soon do the detailing myself. I do better fretwork and setup than they do anyway.

That's great if you are into that sort of thing, but it's not for me. I know how to adjust my own instruments, but leveling frets and stuff like that I leave to the other guys.

The HOs don't have a rolled fretboard edge, but the amount of roll on any particular American Standard may be nonexistent as well. There's no perceptible roll on my AS Jazz.

I can definitely feel the roll on my American Standard Precision compared to un-rolled necks, but it's nothing compared to the edge of my StingRay's neck. It's been smoothed down and broken in by years of heavy playing, something every neck needs regardless of how it was made.

The "dry" nitro polishes out extremely easily and actually looks like a true vintage gloss finish with almost no effort (several threads here on how). You can get it to have an extremely high gloss if you want, but I don't.

I hate the AS finish as it's terribly fragile and a total waste of a lot of money. The previous American series finishes I liked much better as they were more durable, but consumers believed the myth that finish thickness makes a tonal difference on a solidbody (it doesn't), so Fender marketing humored them.

Let me say here that I was set on a 3TSB Highway One Precision, up until a few months ago. The plan was to put on a black or tort guard, thumbrest, covers, Hipshot tuners, and get a tweed case. First thing that went wrong was NOBODY had a 3tsb in stock, ANYWHERE... There was plenty of black ones around, but they felt like what I described above, and I was just too let down overall to buy one and feel good about it.

I definitely came to appreciate the American Standards during the process, and eventually chose one over a sweet '62 AVRI P. It had the look I was after, felt better than anything else I had picked up, and I actually like the thin finish and glossy headstock. The new AMSTD stuff doesn't look like it's encased in plastic, and since it is more fragile, maybe it will wear nicely down the road. Perhaps not as well as the HWY1's nitro, but surely better than a CBS Thickskin finish. I also feel the difference in tone between the older thicker finish and new thinner finish is entirely inaudible. Some people will buy it though, because Fender said so.

A tight pocket is a flaw, not a feature, especially on a Fender. There should always be some lateral clearance on both sides to the depth of the pocket. The crucial fit is the face. Fender knows this perfectly well, but like the thin finish, they deferred to the ignorant bubbas in their focus groups.

Let me also say here, I had given up on Fender for years, and mainly because of their shifty 3-bolt Jazz necks. And the ones the didn't shift, usually warped or the truss couldn't take out enough relief, ect... My first experience with a Precision was a '76 SB maple, and it had a twisted neck. Out of all the CBS Fenders I've owned, only two were anywhere near greatness - 1969 Jazz and a '78 Precision. I wish I had them both back right now, but I wouldn't trade my 2011 P for both of them, unless it was all for the insane money I could make...

 

[johnk_10]

when i stated earlier that i thought that discontinuing the H1 series was no great loss, i wasn't dissing them or being a snob at all. i actually think they are/were very nice basses. i've owned a couple of them, and serviced/set up quite a few of them for others.

i do think that their finishes were a bit too thin & fragile and just don't think that it's that big of a deal. i suppose that they weren't that big of a money maker for them, otherwise they'd still be in production.

i've always thought that the AV RI line was, and still is the best that fender's had to offer for quite some time, and they aren't all that pricey, especially if you get one used.

 

[Bongolation]

i do think that their finishes were a bit too thin & fragile and just don't think that it's that big of a deal.

Imagine how you'd feel about it if you'd bought an American Standard and paid $REAL MONEY$ for a thin, fragile finish.

That's my point on that.

i suppose that they weren't that big of a money maker for them,

That's OK with me. They can make their money on someone else.

otherwise they'd still be in production.

As far as I know, they still are. They were shipping them as recently as four or five weeks ago. They've just been off the site for a couple of months for some mysterious reason, which in itself is not that unusual.

i've always thought that the AV RI line was, and still is the best that fender's had to offer for quite some time

I don't think I'd disagree, especially considering my dissatisfactions with the American Standards.

and they aren't all that pricey.

I dunno, I think they are kind of overpriced for what they are and, worse, you never seem to see them on long sale.

The thing about HOs is they turn up fairly often as crazy loss-leaders. If they were significantly different (as they used to be, Mexican necks, scrapwood bodies, etc.) that wouldn't make them that attractive. But now (in the case of the Precision) they have the same grade blank, the same pickups, the same neck, the same electronics & PG as the AS, the only differences being the bridge, machines and finish/detailing, none of which I like on the AS anyway...what's not to love?

After polishing out the body, dumping that BAII for a king's ransom and retrofitting a vintage bridge (of which you would approve ) I only have *$291* in this Precision instead of $1200 for the AS (or $1450 for the RI).

$909 buys a lot of pizza and cat food, vato.

[I know you're not a fan of the graphite-reinforced necks, but having some old Fenders and living in a volatile climate, I have grown to love the added stability and ease of adjustment access on the new necks.]

If the vintage pickups were a big deal, up until a few weeks back I could get a new set of Fender Vintage '62s (as on the RI) for as little as $52...but the price has since gone up. I don't find the new 61276/7 set to be bad all-around pickups for my purposes, though.

 

[TheFantod]

Okay folks, just called Fender directly. According to the rep I spoke with,

The Highway One Bass series was discontinued last month and will no longer be produced.

That's straight from Fender.

 

[Marial]

Well, I guess I'll just have to find a Hwy1 P here on TB to go with my Hwy1 Jazz. For what I do it's the best BG I've ever owned and definitely the best bang for the buck. The sunburst is beautiful and the nitro finish is wearing nicely, it has the rosewood fingerboard I prefer, and after a set up by Mike Lull it's a dream to play. The only thing I'm likely to change are the pickups at some point. To each their own, but I absolutely love mine.

 

[DeathFromBelow]

Okay folks, just called Fender directly. According to the rep I spoke with,

The Highway One Bass series was discontinued last month and will no longer be produced.

That's straight from Fender.

Better pull my head out of my *** and get me one then....

 

[Bongolation]

Okay folks, just called Fender directly. According to the rep I spoke with,

The Highway One Bass series was discontinued last month and will no longer be produced.

That's straight from Fender.

I guess that June shipment I talked about above was *THE END*.

Oh well, if you got a long deal on one, good for you!

 

[Wannaflea]

Oh COME ON! Dammit! Was just saving for one of these for xmas time!

 

[tastybasslines]

You're completely wrong, though they used to be that way.

The current Precisions are identical to the American Standards except for the bridge, machines and finish/detailing.

Hardshell case also not included as like the AS.

 

[Pablito82]

All I can tell you is, that I wouldn't trade mine for anything. The neck is by far one of the best and the stiffening rods have helped me get unbelievably low action, along with awesome looks and sound. I may change out the GB tone circuit, but that is a 10 dollar fix. Couldn't be happier.

It seems to me that the Fender "aristocrats" poo poo on this bass any chance they get. It's not really MIA...blah blah blah...it is.

+1

 

[Bongolation]

Hardshell case also not included as like the AS.

Thanks for reminding me how much I hate that case, too.

 

[LoveThatBass]

IMO, no great loss.

+2

I bought a 2011 American Special and the necks are really nice. The neck is thinner front to back than the American Standard and has a Satin finish on the back and headstock which makes for it being a bit faster and smoother to move up and down the neck. The Quality is there as I tested 4 more besides the one I bought (2 different stores) and compared it to 2 American Standards (which were excellent) and found them similar in feel and tone (with volume and tone pots at max) with the exception the Special has the Grease Bucket tone circuit so it doesn't get as dark sounding as the American Standard but it always remains clear. I like it myself but some purists probably would scream. The tuners and Bridge on the Standard is of course superior and better looking but the ones on the Special are quite usable. Also the Special comes with a Deluxe Gigbag and the Standard a very nice case. You get the T-Bar for adjusting the truss rod which is nice. The tone is excellent and most of all doesn't have the nitro body and it doesn't detract from the tone one bit plus it looks a lot better than that thin satin nitro which is what I disliked the most. Couldn't get past the looks. The down side is they carried the bridge and tuners over from the Hwy 1. Tuners are ok but I replaced the bridge with a heavier mass BasicZ Full Contact bridge. The bass now gets sustain out the wazzoo!.