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Highway 1 Precision

R

Richard89

May 7, 2007
190
2
Sweden
#1
Im going to get a new bass soon, and I have been thinking of buying a MIM Precision, but I got a nice deal on a used Highway 1 P bass, not the upgraded version. But are the Highway basses actually better than the Standard Mexico made basses? I have heard that they have similar pickups, neck etc.

What do you think? Should I buy a used Highway 1, or a new MIM?

It would also be nice if someone could post some pics of a sunburst highway 1:)
 
#2
IME the Hwy1 basses are much nicer than the MIM basses. A lot of the parts are the same, but something about the Hwy1 basses are just special. I don't know if its the finish or if they have different pickups. I know the tone circuit is different. I don't think I've played any MIM P that sounds as good as the Hwy1 Ps I've played. But, there are some nice MIM basses out there too, and with the right upgrades you could probably get an MIM to sound just as good or better than a Hwy1. But, to me the Hwy1 needs no upgrades. I like them just the way they are. So, I guess it depends on your taste and whether or not you would want to upgrade it in the future.
 
#3
i sure do love mine! picked it up for a SONG this summer. never really considered myself a P bass guy, the necks always felt too big compared to my geddy. it just kind of sat in a case for a few months, until recently. i absolutely fell in love with it! i love the way it feels, i love the sound, i love the way it sits in the mix... everything about it. in fact, my band played our first show this past weekend, and i ended up deciding to play it insted of the jazz at the last minute. i don't think you can go wrong with a highway one P. i really couldn't tell you the differences between it and a MIM as it is the first P i have really ever spent any great deal of time with, but i have ZERO complaints with the one i got. there is nothing like being in love with a bass.
 
#5
Ive just switched from a Lakland 55-01 back to my HW1 Jazz and had forgotten how nice it was to play. But i prefer the P sound so i ordered a 50's classic MIM. Its a really nice looking bass and i couldn't fault anything about it but the neck felt a bugger to play. Even coming from the 5 string. I sent it back and got a HW-one (upgrade) in flat black and am over the moon i made that decision. The neck on the HW-one is much better. Closer to a Jazz IMO and very easy to play. Ive not used a HW1 P but i think the dimensions are the same, just without the reinforcement.
I say get the HW1 as well.
 
#7
Here's mine with a tort guard and it plays great.

DSC00121-1.jpg
 
#14
Rumblin' Man said:
+1 on the older version HWY1.
Click to expand...

make that a plus 2 ... I had one pass through here last spring' - it was competing for a space in my line up and lost - but to a 62 RI J - which is over dbl the price. From a fit and finish perspective, the H1's are built with more attention to detail.

Far as the recent ones go, I don't want the BA bridge on mine, the reinforced neck doesn't sound like a bad idea though.
 
#15
Highway 1 all the way! I bought a pre-upgrade HWY 1 from GC and got a great deal on it. It was good as is, but I made a few upgrades and now I couldn't do without it. I swapped out the PU for a '62 RI. I think that it sounds incredible now. I replaced the white pickguard with a black/white/black one. I put bridge and pickup covers on. I added a thumb rest. I put Dunlop straplocks on it. I've got it strung with Chromes.

Lucy5.jpg

Lucy6.jpg

Lucy7.jpg


I swapped out the tuners for a set of vintage Hipshots with a Bass Xtender.

Parts006.jpg


I also changed the neckplate on it.

Parts005.jpg


I now have my dream bass and couldn't be happier.

Even if you do nothing to the HWY 1, it is IMHO a much better bass than a MIM.
 
#16
HWY1s are generally pretty light, no? I'm thinking of selling my 11 pound '81 back breaker and getting a HW1 P or J. Anyhoo with the topic; I'd never consider a MIM or CIJ over a USA based on the instruments I've played. There are exceptions to the rule but that's the basic gist of it. That being said I'm reasonably satisfied with my Korean Squier bass (and will me happier once I upgrade the electronics) so I can't say all imports are bad (because I'd be a liar!).
 
#19
Im thinking of downgrading my P and putting a vintage bridge on it just so i can put a bridge cover on. My Jazz has a BAII on it now so can i use the bridge from that or are the string spacings different? Or does anyone know of a bridge cover that goes over a BAII?

Sweet bass JD. Can i ask what type of scratch plate you got? Im mean is it an American standard? I want to order a new one and dont know exactly what type to ask for as there seems to be a few slightly different ones (size and fit wise)
 

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