HWY 1 P Bass

I have a 2003 Highway One Jazz Bass (non-Badss bridge. 3-tone SB, WD Tortie scratchplate)- it's my "go-to" bass guitar. Everybody who plays it wants to buy it from me! So i'm a fan of the Highway Ones definitely!

 

Highway 1= big bang for the buck IMO. Same with American Specials.

 

Definitely - especially on the used market...


- georgestrings

 

Except a highway has a Badass 2 bridge, and graphite rods in the neck as well as being MIA. Mine happened to also have an Am Standard pickup too.

ALOT more bang with a Hwy IMO.

 

I have a 2006 Highway One Jazz Bass, and I love it!! No way I'll let it go! It would take nearly twice what I paid for it to find something comparable...

That being said, there's a lemon in every batch. I'd definitely check it out, if you have access to it.

 

MIM P is nice, but the HWY1 is nicer

 

To each their own, I suppose - but there really wouldn't be much difference in the bodies, if any at all - and some people prefer a nitro finish over what you're calling a "real" finish... Hardware is pretty much the same, unless it's a One with a BAII bridge - but the biggest difference *to me* is the necks - the Highway One basses have the posiflex rods in the neck, which generally makes them a better neck...


- georgestrings

 

I know it has been said already but the Highway 1's are fantastic had one for a while and loved it. The only reason I sold it was because I was stupid.

 

IMO & IME the Highway One line was the best bang for the buck in the whole Fender bass catalog. Figures they would discontinue them

 

You are correct about the Hwy basses having a Badass bridge. However you are wrong about the neck. The American Specials have Posiflex graphite rods. Check the specs: http://www.fender.com/en-CA/basses/...on-bass-rosewood-fingerboard-3-color-sunburst.

 

I own a MIM P. It is a nice bass but the Hwy 1 has better components and as long as it is not beat up would likely be a better bass than the MIM P. My PUPS on my MIM P are not that great and I am looking to switch them out, the truss rod cover on the back of the neck was not flush so I had to sand it out and reseal it... It is a good insturment for the price but it is just not finished well.

 

The 2004 models had a standard bridge (I have one, and it´s the one bass I´m never ever going to sell - it´s brilliant). The version with the badass bridge came later (along with the TV logo I think).

 

Thanks for pointing that out - didn't realize that. If these are made as well as the HWY One's, the tradeoff between the 2 seems then to basically be a poly finish and the option for a maple board on some models, AFAIK the Hwy One's didnt offer maple boards at all. Seems pretty equal and some people don't like the Badass bridges anyway.

 

+(highway) 1

 

I like both but I am a sucker for a maple board. I wouldn't mind a Hwy 1 Precision to go with my AS Precision. Great basses.

 

I'm never selling mine (famous last words). I did change out the Greasebucket for a standard .047 cap though.

 

Definitely famous last words I am keeping the Greasebucket on my Jazz but I don't see too much value in it on my Precision. I just want to add a HipShot Xtender to my Precision and I am good. That said, my Precision is my favourite bass and these basses are definitely the most comfortable Fenders I have played.

 

If I recall correctly, Fender confused everybody by switching from "Highway 1" to "Highway One" in circa 2006. At the same time they switched to the upgraded components (like the BA bridge, graphite reinforced neck, and vintage logo style IIRC). The sale price increased significantly too.

In the used marketplace, people use "Highway 1" and "Highway One" interchangeably, so beware that they are not equivalent. The later "One" models (2006+) are generally more valuable. But of course every bass is unique and YMMV, etc.