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Highway 1 Precision

#21
The newer ones have the BAII, reinforced necks and also a grease bucket tone control. That means it doesn't boost the low end when you turn the treble down. Not sure i like that but i leave mine at max most of the time anyway. Also the truss rod is adjusted from the body end of the neck on the newer ones.
They also come with a better gig bag and tools for making truss rod and bridge saddle adjustments.
 
#27
Is the neck width of the HWY 1 anything like the vintage ones? Is it thinner? I love the thump of a "P" but i couldn´t get past the ones with the chunky necks, i mean i am spoiled by the neck on my ´73 Jazz. So is how is the neck on this HWY 1 little Rascal?

(The BadAss II is a great upgrade to this bass IMHO , I would love to get one and drop some Dimarzio´s on it)
 
#34
dave_bass5 said:
The neck width is closer to my jazz than the neck on the 50's classic MIM i had. much easier to play IMO. Even coming from my 55-01 s string i found the MIM a bit of a hand full, not the HW-one though. very fast neck.
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Agreed! I'm not big on the wide P bass necks and I was looking at an American P bass with S1 switching or the HWY1... The HWY1 felt better with the jazz style neck, was lighter and I love the unique satin finish.
 
#35
whoapower said:
Agreed! I'm not big on the wide P bass necks and I was looking at an American P bass with S1 switching or the HWY1... The HWY1 felt better with the jazz style neck, was lighter and I love the unique satin finish.
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Yeah, something about the finish drew me to it. I was going for a Lakland GB but i just love the flat black finish. Plus the BG' s neck is also wider.
We must point out though that the HW1 does have a P neck and not a jazz. Its just a bit narrower than some P's.
And lovely to play of course. I wasnt over the moon when i first played mine. the back of the neck seemed a bit rough but its fine now. its just not a smooth as my HW1 Jazz.
 
#36
DavePlaysBass said:
The MIM 50's P is worth looking at if looking for a middle of road cost P. I had both and preferred the 50's P. Better finish. More solid feel. Better cut / sound in a band setting. YMMV.
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A local shop has a 50's reissue P -bass for 600.00 that i played and loved...good price... last one. They also have a new older non upgraded Hwy1 P in the light blue like the pic in the above post for 600.00 it has the reg bridge no BA.

I dont like BA bridges and dont want an upgraded one to pay for it just to have to swap it out and sell it so i compared the two. I felt the 50's re-issue was the better bass but they are both nice. The 50's reisssue with the reversed tuners metal pickguard , maple neck with rolled edges....drool :) oh where was i ..are special for sure.
The guy working there even has a nice MIA P i tried. Its used for the same price and it was like new but it was the 50's reissue first followed closely by the Hwy1 and a 3rd the MIA.

The shop will give me decent trade in value on two of my MIM jazzes im not playing much anymore so i need to decide if i want to do it or not. I will say thou my new/used 03 MIM P i use now sounded as good as any of them and felt just as good...but its really all american now with original 62 reissue pups and vintage bridge but i need a back up right? :D
 
#37
That MIM 50s' classic is lovely i have to admit. I had one for a week while i was waiting for the HW to arrive and it looks more expensive that it is. lovely, lovely neck. But too wide for me.
Mine was in HB and it did look special. everyone i showed it to thought it cost a fortune. The only negative comment (other than mine) was my girl friend saying "it looks like an old man's bass".
shame.
 
#40
I think the pickup is similar to the american series, but I don't know for sure. I had a MIM P and a pre-upgrade highway 1 at the same time, and the H1 had infinately more clarity and definition. The MIM was very muddy and almost turned me off to P's completely. I later changed the pickup for nordstrand NP4 and to be honest, it doesn't really sound much different than the H1 stock pickup. The tone pots are definately better than the MIM too.

Since then I've also had the chance to own a Mike Dirnt sig P and it kills both the MIM and the H1, especially in terms of bottom end. Because of that bass, my neighbors now hate me. The neck, however, is chunkier than a standard P, though I find it equally comfortable despite its bulk.
 

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