Whats the major difference is quality between the Fender Highway One series and the Fender American Standard series ?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Fender highway one
- Thread starter Bubbacritz
- Start date
as far as i know, the highway one is american-made parts assembled in mexico. the finish on the highway one is the nitro, which i actually prefer
I think the story is US cut parts sent to Mexico for finish and then shipped back for assembly. I have 2 (a P and a J) and the necks are fantastic on them
I would consider them lower quality than an American Standard, just as the Standard is lower quality than the Deluxe. They all sound good and play good, but you have a choice of how to balance cost and features. I would be happy with any of them.
Edit:
I think it would be more accurate to say that the price differences are more reflective of features offered rather than higher or lower quality. The quality differences are not that significant.
Edit:
I think it would be more accurate to say that the price differences are more reflective of features offered rather than higher or lower quality. The quality differences are not that significant.
Yep, plus the the MIA Standard has the graphite reinforcement bars in the neck. Worth it, IMO to help eliminate dead spots.
So you consider the BadAss 2 bridge inferior to the standard USA bridge, really?
I do. The Badass is just a huge hunk of metal (and weight) that you don't need. The MIA Standard bridge is also either string through body or bridge and it's a quick release. Which to me, is great.
I actually can't stand the Bad Ass bridge. I bought one a couple of years ago, and every bass that I put it on, I ended up taking it off - MIA P basses and a Squier VM fretless jazz. Sold the bridge and never regretted it.
I now play just a 2008 MIA P bass. A few weeks back, I played a MIM Road Worn P in the shop, which sound-wise was definitely on par with my MIA, and it definitely blew away the H1 they also had hanging there, which sounded thin and gutless. The Squier CV P bass also blew away the H1, as did the Squier VM P bass. I wouldn't buy one, unless I planned to mod it by replacing the electronics, in which case I would buy a used one at a really cheap price, or just get something else. The H1 Jazz might be ok, dunno.
The standard USA bridge is fine, especially the new ones. I never had a problem with the earlier (post 1996) ones either, and have no experience with the ones before that other than similar ones on other basses. People used to replace them back in the 70s and 80s, as those ones were essentially the same as what you see on a MIM standard or a Squier VM today. After time, the saddles would slip down the screw threads - nothing non-permanent Loctite wouldn't fix, but people also believed the higher mass would increase sustain and minimize deadspots. Not sure if that's ever been scientifically proven or not. All I know is, for me, putting a BA bridge on was like hitting the "Suck" button. The new USA bridges also have high mass, but operate more like a regular standard Fender bridge. Nothing to file, nothing to fiddle with.
I now play just a 2008 MIA P bass. A few weeks back, I played a MIM Road Worn P in the shop, which sound-wise was definitely on par with my MIA, and it definitely blew away the H1 they also had hanging there, which sounded thin and gutless. The Squier CV P bass also blew away the H1, as did the Squier VM P bass. I wouldn't buy one, unless I planned to mod it by replacing the electronics, in which case I would buy a used one at a really cheap price, or just get something else. The H1 Jazz might be ok, dunno.
The standard USA bridge is fine, especially the new ones. I never had a problem with the earlier (post 1996) ones either, and have no experience with the ones before that other than similar ones on other basses. People used to replace them back in the 70s and 80s, as those ones were essentially the same as what you see on a MIM standard or a Squier VM today. After time, the saddles would slip down the screw threads - nothing non-permanent Loctite wouldn't fix, but people also believed the higher mass would increase sustain and minimize deadspots. Not sure if that's ever been scientifically proven or not. All I know is, for me, putting a BA bridge on was like hitting the "Suck" button. The new USA bridges also have high mass, but operate more like a regular standard Fender bridge. Nothing to file, nothing to fiddle with.
Highway 1 basses have the graphite reinforced necks and the same pickups as found in the USA Vintage series, The Standard Vintage Alnico V Pup.
Major differences are nitro finish, string through body, bridge and tuners, greasebucket tone control.
rewire the greasebucket and you have almost the same specs as the classic Fenders with an upgraded neck and bridge. When you find a good one, these are the best bass out there for the money right now IMO
Highway 1 also have graphite bars. The Am Std also has that nasty route on the neck pickup and cavity lead, not so on the HWY 1, nice and clean.
I would say that the biggest difference is in the sound. The HWY1 emphasizes more of the midrange Jaco type sound (the bridge pickup screams), where as the AM STD has a more beefy tone to it, sounding better with both pickups full on.
This.
Also, a very minor point, but the American Standards come with a hard case and a bunch of little trinkets.
What's the price difference? If I were you, I'd save up an extra $200 for the American Standard and then you can be set in stone forever.
American Standard- $1399
Highway 1- $799
Perhaps with an upgrade in pickups, one can achieve the same sound as the Am Std, and for much less than $600.
The Am Std is really nice, but for that kind of money, I'm upset about that route (of course, this could mean absolutely nothing to someone else).
Highway 1- $799
Perhaps with an upgrade in pickups, one can achieve the same sound as the Am Std, and for much less than $600.
The Am Std is really nice, but for that kind of money, I'm upset about that route (of course, this could mean absolutely nothing to someone else).
Dunno what you mean by quick release. Where did you get the idea? You still have to thread the strings through the bridge when you top load. Nothing quick about it. It's actually a hassle to get the ball ends to sit right in the slot on the new high mass MIA bridge. The new design is a pain to get the string right without twisting.
