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HWY 1 Jazz Bass Write Off

#21
Oddly said:
I hope you don't mind me slightly de-railing, but I've been seriously looking at a couple of Geddy jazzes ... I wasn't aware they had neck stability issues that would need constant tweaking, or was there a reason your one did?

That aside, I hope you get a quick resolution to your problem that you're happy with.
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I don't know. The neck may have been fine. However I got sick of taking the neck off and tweaking it, putting it back on, tuning, setting action blah blah blah, rinse and repeat. I already had to do the washer trick to get more adjustment from the truss rod. I would go through the process and get it playable but never to where I liked it because of all the bs I had to go through. However every 2 or 3 weeks I would notice the action raising again. I thought about notching the heal and replacing pickups, that was the other problem, I wanted a thicker sound. So I saw the hwy 1 and thought, great this will fix all my problems, so I rushed into it lol
 
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#22
Tbone76 said:
If you can find a Fender American Special-series model, it's very close to the second-gen Highway One (it replaced it in Fender's model lineup) with the main differences being the body is poly-finished, and there's no Badass II bridge. They share the same neck and pups, though, so if you like the Slim-C profile with graphite support rods, that's the bass to find. FWIW, I had an American Special Honeyburst P that had the neck develop a twist, and I was able to source another American Special neck on the internet that was fine. My current Honeyburst P hasn't had any issues (2014 model) in the roughly 1.5 years I've owned it. I do wonder if the thinner neck is slightly less stable overall than Fender's other lines.
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I have a 2011 American Special Precision and the neck is very stable and straight. I have not even played another American Special bass so I cannot generalize about them. Perhaps I just got lucky...
 
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#24
Hevy T said:
Yeah I think this will be the option. Only thing is I want a Jazz. I have a P bass, 2 stingrays, so the only tone I am really lacking now is a jazz
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MIM Jazz basses are not that bad, some are actually very good, if you try a few out and find the right one. A pickup upgrade and setup goes a long way. If you look used, take the cash and wait. You can probably find a decent deal on an MIA Jazz in the $700 range. Good luck.
 
#25
Bassa Nova said:
MIM Jazz basses are not that bad, some are actually very good, if you try a few out and find the right one. A pickup upgrade and setup goes a long way. If you look used, take the cash and wait. You can probably find a decent deal on an MIA Jazz in the $700 range. Good luck.
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Yeah I thought about this. Theres nothibg wrong with mim. I just love my p bass. I thi k it was just the novelty of having an american fender
 
#27
I've got a black one and a red one just like yours and never had any problem out of either one.

I've also got a beater little MIM J i think of as my all weather combat model. It has a very stable neck and is in fact the bass i grab when i'm headed out for places with temp extremes. I've played it outdoors at 41 deg F and in an unheated barn when it was 36 deg F outside and both times set it out for about a half hour, tune it up and go with zero issues. My highway 1 basses are not as settled yet. They work in the cold, but need more tuning to settle down, but the MIM is a one and done. I always check it between sets and it might be an RCH out but only the tuner can tell. The other basses will need attention throughout the first set and will settle in early in the second.

the highway one basses sound better than a stock MIM so i've got Dimarzio ultra j pups in mine and that took care of that.
 
#28
Speaking of warping, I don't know that I trust that sighting down the neck thing to tell if a neck is warped. I had a friend tell me the neck on my Realistic violin bass is warped and showed me what he saw when he looked down the neck, and I swear it looks the same on all my basses. I think strings and frets skew one's perspective. And even though it can certainly happen, it's not often you see a Fender neck warp after 8 years. I'd definitely get a professional opinion on it.
 
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#29
Hevy T said:
I picked up a second hand Highway One Jazz from a local dealer which offers a 3 month "Performance Warranty" thank God. The neck is warped. So I have to talk to the manager to see what he is going to do for me.

They state that if it can't be repaired the instrument will be replaced with one of same or higher value. Now I feel he will try and pass a Mexican jazz off on me. Considering its either that or a new American STD for like 1800.

Not sure what I want to do in this situation. I need a Jazz bass. However I wanted one with the graphite rods for stability, because I got sick of adjusting my Geddy all the time. Would you go for a MIM as a replacent for an American HWY 1 or make him try and search for what you want. Or final option just return the bass and leave
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If he tries to pass a Mexican Classic or Artist series off on you, you're in luck. Those basses are flippin' amazing!!!
 
#31
ubernator said:
I'm going on dated info/experience here...

I know the original hwy 1 did not have graphite in neck, just your regular run of the mill neck.

When if ever did they add graphite to hwy1 or american special models?
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I don't know, but this old description on MF says they did have graphite inlays.

Fender Highway One Jazz Bass
 
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#32
ubernator said:
I'm going on dated info/experience here...

I know the original hwy 1 did not have graphite in neck, just your regular run of the mill neck.

When if ever did they add graphite to hwy1 or american special models?
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The first-gen Highway 1 model did not have the posiflex rods. The second-gen Highway One models do have the posiflex rods, The American Specials also have them. The posiflex rods were the main tangible upgrade to the second-gen Highway basses. I believe the name change/upgrades happened in 2007-2008. Fender's website also specifically mentioned the posiflex rods on their website when describing the American Special neck, coinciding with the Slim-C neck profile.
 
#34
JimmyM said:
I don't know, but this old description on MF says they did have graphite inlays.

Fender Highway One Jazz Bass
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Tbone76 said:
The first-gen Highway 1 model did not have the posiflex rods. The second-gen Highway One models do have the posiflex rods, The American Specials also have them. The posiflex rods were the main tangible upgrade to the second-gen Highway basses. I believe the name change/upgrades happened in 2007-2008. Fender's website also specifically mentioned the posiflex rods on their website when describing the American Special neck, coinciding with the Slim-C neck profile.
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I was definitely going by the first generation, I remember those were more like a pre 1995 am std, but with the cheaper satin finish and vintage style bridge. They didn't impress me much. It was the same time Gibson introduced the satin/worn finish guitars and Ernie ball came out with the sub. They were all going for USA at a lower price.

I do remember the budget line getting some upgrades and a gloss finish, I just forgot if they got the graphite. And if I am not mistaken, these upgrades came at a time when fender went through a price increase. Personally, I didn't like the original highway 1, I was too enamored with my pair of american standards. I had developed a thing for reinforced necks, and Warwick fit that bill too.

It was a feature I was willing to let slide on the geddy, which I also had since about 99 or so. Always wanted an am std neck with blocks though.
 
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#35
Hevy T said:
I picked up a second hand Highway One Jazz from a local dealer which offers a 3 month "Performance Warranty" thank God. The neck is warped. So I have to talk to the manager to see what he is going to do for me.

They state that if it can't be repaired the instrument will be replaced with one of same or higher value. Now I feel he will try and pass a Mexican jazz off on me. Considering its either that or a new American STD for like 1800.

Not sure what I want to do in this situation. I need a Jazz bass. However I wanted one with the graphite rods for stability, because I got sick of adjusting my Geddy all the time. Would you go for a MIM as a replacent for an American HWY 1 or make him try and search for what you want. Or final option just return the bass and leave
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2nd hand, was probably the first generation?
 
#36
ubernator said:
I was definitely going by the first generation, I remember those were more like a pre 1995 am std, but with the cheaper satin finish and vintage style bridge. They didn't impress me much. It was the same time Gibson introduced the satin/worn finish guitars and Ernie ball came out with the sub. They were all going for USA at a lower price.

I do remember the budget line getting some upgrades and a gloss finish, I just forgot if they got the graphite. And if I am not mistaken, these upgrades came at a time when fender went through a price increase. Personally, I didn't like the original highway 1, I was too enamored with my pair of american standards. I had developed a thing for reinforced necks, and Warwick fit that bill too.

It was a feature I was willing to let slide on the geddy, which I also had since about 99 or so. Always wanted an am std neck with blocks though.
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Yeah, the 2nd-gen Highway One was a fair step up from the original model. The original seemed more like a MIM model just assembled in the US, where the 2nd-gen had some upgrades that MIM models of the time didn't have. I don't remember what the original cost, but the 2nd-gen was $800 with a gig bag, I believe. The Highway One and American Specials have the most comfy P-neck profile, imo, with the Slim-C. It's a shame there's no current models with it. The Fender American Design Experience offered it as an option, but the new Fender Mod Shop doesn't.

OP, sorry for the derail.
 
#37
Tbone76 said:
Yeah, the 2nd-gen Highway One was a fair step up from the original model. The original seemed more like a MIM model just assembled in the US, where the 2nd-gen had some upgrades that MIM models of the time didn't have. I don't remember what the original cost, but the 2nd-gen was $800 with a gig bag, I believe. The Highway One and American Specials have the most comfy P-neck profile, imo, with the Slim-C. It's a shame there's no current models with it. The Fender American Design Experience offered it as an option, but the new Fender Mod Shop doesn't.

OP, sorry for the derail.
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My opinion on the late 80s-pre95 american standard. Just a Mex with nicer pickups and hardware. Which was why opinion in 90-91 was that the Mex was as good as USA. The USA bar got raised in 1995. I love my 98 jazz.

Considering how many years I had it and my 2000p, and how stable the neck is, makes me think OP got the first gen.

But even with the graphite upgrade, were the later models as stable as an American standard?
 
#38
ubernator said:
My opinion on the late 80s-pre95 american standard. Just a Mex with nicer pickups and hardware. Which was why opinion in 90-91 was that the Mex was as good as USA. The USA bar got raised in 1995. I love my 98 jazz.

Considering how many years I had it and my 2000p, and how stable the neck is, makes me think OP got the first gen.

But even with the graphite upgrade, were the later models as stable as an American standard?
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Unknown. The only neck that I've seen a lot of info on regarding being less-than-stable was the Japanese Geddy Lee, due to it's super thin neck profile. FWIW, my current Honeyburst American Special has been extremely stable, even with the Northeast temp/humidity fluctuations. I think my first one that twisted was more of a fluke. I do agree with JimmyM that a 2nd opinion may be warranted before deciding to return it, for the same reasons he stated. When mine went bad, the neck had a noticable counter-clockwise twist when the neck was removed. When sighting down the neck from the headstock, it was plain as day. I had another bass that appeared to have a slight twist, but it was all ok, as confirmed by a trusted shop.
 
#39
Tbone76 said:
Unknown. The only neck that I've seen a lot of info on regarding being less-than-stable was the Japanese Geddy Lee, due to it's super thin neck profile. FWIW, my current Honeyburst American Special has been extremely stable, even with the Northeast temp/humidity fluctuations. I think my first one that twisted was more of a fluke. I do agree with JimmyM that a 2nd opinion may be warranted before deciding to return it, for the same reasons he stated. When mine went bad, the neck had a noticable counter-clockwise twist when the neck was removed. When sighting down the neck from the headstock, it was plain as day. I had another bass that appeared to have a slight twist, but it was all ok, as confirmed by a trusted shop.
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I never had problems with the geddy, however I baby it, I used it live, just not as much as the am stds. For the greater part of its life I kept it in the case. I used it more during the first few years.

It is certainly not a tank like the am std. But I also never had problems with it or had to take the neck off. I am also considering using it more in the future, certainly for studio and local shows on decent stages. Wouldn't bring it on tour or to a rowdy dive though. It's the first run limited edition.
 
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#40
For the OP - Maybe consider a partial cash back from the store and get a Warmoth neck for it? I dig Warmoth necks and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. The manager may want to avoid taking the bass back if possible by maybe giving you a couple hundred back for the bad neck and making it your problem. Also might be worth checking Fender to see if it is still under any kind of warranty. I bought a higher line Fender bass a while back and they offered a generous warranty against such issues. This assumes you REALLY like the bass other than the neck issue. If not, return it and move on.
 

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