Fender Precision: American Standard vs. Highway One

[cazksbass]

I've got a P-bass in my horizons, but probably not until the first of the year. Lately I've been hearing the buzz about the American Standard, but then yesterday some talk about the Highway One came up and now I'm looking at both. Apparently at some point the Highway "1" became the Highway "One", to further muddy the waters.

I did a search here on TB, but I can't find much in the way of a shootout between the American Standard Precision and the Highway One Precision. What I have uncovered is that they're both wonderful instruments and great players. What about quality of the electronics? Same? Not same?

What do you guys say?

 

[basstotheface]

Different fingerboard types, maple for America, rosewood on Highway.

Neck- American has a graphite reinforce maple, no clue about highway, would guess maple though.

Pickups- Nod to the American, better pups.

Bridge- American has a HMV, Highway has a Leo Quan.

I think people like the Highway because of its Greasebucket feature. Which is something American does not have so that's nice for the Highway.

 

[joeyl]

highway has the graphite reinforcements also now. The main difference for me is that the Highway's neck was not as rounded over than the American, so it was a bit less comfy because the fingerboard edges dug into my fingers, also the one that I played had more fret sprout than the American. The finish is thinner also on the Highway and overall feels a little bit "cheaper" than the MIA. And I cannot stand Badass bridges....

 

[chump stain]

I like the nitro finish on the Highway One. I wish it came with a maple fretboard.

 

[vinxbass]

The pups on the American Standard are a little more powerful, more oomff.

 

[MiniMoose234]

I love the nitro finish on my highway one. I switched out the BA cause i added a bridge cover (and later pickup cover and thumbrest) and a tort guard, and it looks pretty good in the red wine finish.
I didnt like the greasebucket that much, i switched it out pretty quick.
Over all its a great bass though, the pickups arent great but pretty good. for the money you save you can use it on a new pickup

 

[Loves2Jam]

I got the standard MIA 6 months ago and I'm loven it.

 

[cazksbass]

I like the nitro finish on the Highway One. I wish it came with a maple fretboard.

OK, I was reading that the Highway One is made in the U.S.A. and then shipped to the Mex plant in Ensenada via Highway One (hence the name) to get the nitro finish, which is illegal in the U.S., then shipped back to finish assembly. Also I read that the nitrocellulose finish allows the wood to release moisture over time - allowing the wood to get lighter, eventually. So, it would seem to me that the Highway One stands a chance of sounding better 20 years from now whereas the American Standard will forever sound like it does today.

 

[cassius987]

Having played both, I'd get a Highway One. The American P sounded good but had the characteristic "stunted" or "choked" sound I hear on most American Fenders (that apparently many people like to hear). The Highway One is a little more open-sounding in my experience so that's what I would get. They seem equally playable to me.

 

[cazksbass]

Having played both, I'd get a Highway One. The American P sounded good but had the characteristic "stunted" or "choked" sound I hear on most American Fenders (that apparently many people like to hear). The Highway One is a little more open-sounding in my experience so that's what I would get. They seem equally playable to me.

Dang - I may have to get one of EACH!

 

[christw]

I've played both and actually dig my Highway 1 more than any American Standard I've touched. American Deluxe... some of those I like a little better in the tones department.

My one complaint with my Highway 1 is that I can't seem to be satisfied with its tone because no matter what I do to it, it's still too Precision-y. The recent swap to a DP127 helped. The feel is perfect though.

 

[SlingBass4]

Having played both, I'd get a Highway One. The American P sounded good but had the characteristic "stunted" or "choked" sound I hear on most American Fenders (that apparently many people like to hear). The Highway One is a little more open-sounding in my experience so that's what I would get. They seem equally playable to me.

+1 - Pretty much my take...but a subjective topic, for sure. I find the Highway One closer in sound to a '65 Jazz I once owned with virtually no finish left on it. I now own both a Highway One J-Bass and P-Bass with Warmoth necks. Perform your due diligence and play both IF at all possible for awhile to see what your fit is. In a situation/comparison such as this - there's really no losers

 

[PawleeP]

I love the nitro finish on my highway one. I switched out the BA cause i added a bridge cover (and later pickup cover and thumbrest) and a tort guard, and it looks pretty good in the red wine finish.
I didnt like the greasebucket that much, i switched it out pretty quick.
Over all its a great bass though, the pickups arent great but pretty good. for the money you save you can use it on a new pickup

what is a greasebucket?

 

[Gluvhand]

what is a greasebucket?

A type of tone circuit Fender introduced with the Highway 1 guitars and basses.

 

[Jeff K]

"Holy thread-resurrection, Batman!!"

 

[Warpeg]

"Holy thread-resurrection, Batman!!"

"The year is 2010 and 'Batman: Under the Red Hood' had just been released and went straight to video...."

 

[pauldebass]

So which one did he get I wonder? How did the Hwy One stand up over time. I'm looking at a used one.

 

[Jctanner78]

I just found a 2003 highway 1 that is mint. I can’t put it down.