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Highway One's (Jazz or P) Build Quality Hiearchy

X

xray

Feb 15, 2009
544
6
Kona, HI
#1
I read on the Fender forum that the HO is barely American.

Is it true that the Fender hierarchy for Build Quality goes like this:
1. Custom Shop -select everything - total USA
2. Classic American Standard - leftovers from Custome Shop - mixed products - assembled in USA
3. American Standard - Left overs from Classic American Std - mix products - assembled in USA
4. Highway One - dregs from wood pile - oversea hardware - sent to Mexico for routing and assembly of body - sent back to Fullerton for neck / body assmebly?

So the price is equally proportionate to assembly origin.

Also what is pre/post CBS?
 
#5
There build quality is fine. You may not get vintage frets or lightweight tuners but they are built in the US and are as good as the Am Special and only a step below the Am Standard. They are fine quality instruments. I have one to back up my Am Standard and play it quite frequently. They made some very good upgrades after 2006, you'll have worries.
 
#7
kedo said:
The nitro finish is applied in Mexico due to environmental regulations related to application of nitro in the US. The bodies are shipped to Ensenada down US Highway 1 - hence the name.
Click to expand...

Fender sprays nitro in the US as well. I don't think these are sprayed in Mexico. I tried to find that information but there is nothing to support that theory on the web.
 
#10
xray said:
I read on the Fender forum that the HO is barely American.
Click to expand...
There's so much misinformation in that post I haven't the time nor inclination to correct even half of it, but baloney like that is the sort of lore you get on the FDP since FMIC pulled out of participating there.

Also what is pre/post CBS?
Click to expand...

That's a good question.

There are three schools of thought:

1: Before/after 3 January, 1965 when the sale to CBS was technically finalized and official on paper.

2: Before after autumn of 1965 when CBS actually took over the company (up to that point CBS hadn't been running Fender operations).

3: Before autumn 1964 when Fender did some small changes like getting rid of nitrocellulose pickguards in order to satisfy the insurance underwriters prior to the sale.

To me, #2 seems the most meaningful.

Pre-CBS instruments are completely inconsistent, each handmade by fallible humans. Some are OK, some are dogs. The magic (and money) is purely in their rarity. FMIC told me that when they were first trying to make "reissues," they found that there were no such things as vintage specs on anything on the many originals they looked at, so they just tried to strike some averages and mainly tried to copy what they thought was the best of the rest. It was arbitrary. This is completely my experience, and I went through a LOT of them back before they were worth anything and I was flipping gear for a living.
 
#12
Since we're talking Hwy Ones, or 1s... I seem to recall there being a difference but that could be hooey too.... How does one determine the year of these instruments? I absolutely love mine Hwy1 Jazz, but I can't recall when I bought it new and I'm just curious to know when it was made.

As for quality, mine has been bomb proof. I had it pleked at Mike Lull's shop a few years ago and recently had it in for an adjustment at another local shop (American Music in Fremont) and Jimmy said the neck was absolutely perfect. It's been dead stable and I've had no issues with the electronics. At some point I will probably install different pickups just to experiment, but it's been fantastic through tons of gigs and recording sessions.

Point being, I don't care where it was made, it's a great bass.
 
#13
Johnny Alien said:
I don't think that Highway Ones are finished in mexico.

The original Highway Ones used the same bodies, necks and hardware as the Mexican line but were finished and assembled here. After that they started to use the MIA bodes and necks.
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Johnny, neither the original Highway 1's, or the Highway ONES ever used the same bodies as either the MIM Standards or the American Series/American Standards, on Jazz basses if that is what you are referring to here ...

BTW, we need to be a little careful using terms like Mexican line, and MIA bodies and necks, as there are several different models/series in both :)
 
#14
tjh said:
Johnny, neither the original Highway 1's, or the Highway ONES ever used the same bodies as either the MIM Standards or the American Series/American Standards, on Jazz basses if that is what you are referring to here ...

BTW, we need to be a little careful using terms like Mexican line, and MIA bodies and necks, as there are several different models/series in both :)
Click to expand...

When they were first released the necks were the same as what was used on the MIM standard line. They had the truss rod adjustment at the headstock and also used MIM hardware. Fender confirmed that they were the same. I guess I don't know about the body but the neck was a MIM standard neck. They soon switched over to necks with the truss rod adjustment at the heel so obviously they were no longer the same.
 
#15
yup, am aware of the necks, they ran for 3 years with the headstock adjustment at the headstock, and my comment was just clarifying that you meant the MIM STANDARD line, as there are several "Mexican lines" (although I think 'series' woud be a more accurate wording) that use a variety of necks ... my comment was that the bodies of any Highway Series Jazz have never been the same as the models stated above, as their has never been any channel routing ...

no biggie, just that there is already so much confusion and misuse of terms regarding both of the Highway Series, that it helps to keep the confusion down to keep comments that are inaccurate cleared up for those considering them ... :)
 
#16
The 2006 and newer Highway Ones are excelllent basses. I perfer them to the new Specials. Nitro finish, BA bridge. Seems to me that the Specials are less bass for more money, at least in terms of what I go for. That said I've played Am Special P's and J's and they are very nice as well. Just prefer the other. YMMV.
 
#18
What is a good price for a (new) Highway 1 P bass?

Local shop has a 3 color sunburst that I thought was really cool on closeout for $629. I really dug it and would be interested if they will take a trade.

My wife will kill me though.
 
#19
I'm not saying I agree or disagree with what was printed on the Fsite. I was interested in learning the truth here! Fender doesn't validate any of the info that gets posted unless it comes form a tech. Plus I was kind of shock a portion of it was made in Mexico.


IMO: You should be able the price to around 500-550. I paid 515 for my HO(1) Jazz from a music store on eBay with a nice HSC. I sold the BAII for 80, bought a fender std old school bridge for 20, and said now the price is right. Under 500 would be a killer deal.

So if the quality of wood isn't the difference what is?
 
#20
Fireguy said:
What is a good price for a (new) Highway 1 P bass?

Local shop has a 3 color sunburst that I thought was really cool on closeout for $629. I really dug it and would be interested if they will take a trade.

My wife will kill me though.
Click to expand...

I cant imagine you will be able to find a new Highway 1 P bass anywhere around ... used they pop up on occassion though ...

You can still find a new Highway ONE though :) ... and to some that would be a good price, and to others it is still a bit high ... and to those that bought them in the mid $450 range a while back, it would be way too much
 

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