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I said I would never do this...

#41
I find this happens a lot after friends try out one of my Fenders at a gig or jam. Fenders just cut so well and many people are impressed by this and then they want one. That's what happened to me.

I have had Warwicks, Laklands, EBMM and many others and even without active electronics, Fenders still cut great.

And... they are solid and reliable.
And... you can play almost any style of music with them.
And... they look good IMO.
 
#42
I started playing bass at around 8. Until I was about 13 I was only into "modern" basses (Ibanez in particular). I started getting into pop-punk and they all had Fenders and Stingrays, so I tried some out and realised just how much better I felt they were and suddenly went very anti-modern bass.

It took me another 8 years to really see the light and buy a Rickenbacker, but I still love the P bass (not quite as keen on the Jazz, hate the necks).
 
#43
dawned on me too a month before I turned 24.
must be biology or something :)

anyway, I like to use metaphores when I praise the mighty P so here goes: the P is like a 500g antrecot steak - the ultimate meal for the real man. you may eat other stuff but you'll always want a steak when you are really hungry and you wont turn down one even at 2am.
well, others may like sophisticated food but there is no doubt that when those meidum-rare juicy steaks hit the grill even the die hard vegies start to drool.

or in short - I like PBasses.
 
#46
NineSpine said:
For years Ive owned and sold many basses, always scoffing at Fender. Ive owned Ibanez, Warwick, Spector, and even a G&L (which I sold because it was too much like a Fender) and tried out a dozen other brands.

Now, I didn't scoff at Fender because of their sound, and to be perfectly honest I never gave the sound a second thought because I was just so turned off by their looks. I couldn't stand it. Something about the giant headstock and that classic look really turned me off, a LOT.

But as usual, as I got older (I'm not old, just older than I was before: I'm 24) my mind has changed... I had an epiphany about a week ago and my new bass will be a Fender Highway one P-Bass with a rosewood fretboard in the White Blonde color scheme.

For some reason, I immediately appreciated the old school look and ESPECIALLY appreciated the Fender P-Bass sound. I can't put my finger on it, but it's as though I'm seeing it all for the first time.

I guess my real question is: Did this ever happen to anyone else? Also, I would appreciate some feedback on the Highway One P-Bass if anyone has experience with it. It's right in my price range (even moreso if I can find a used one), but so is a used American model. Would I be better off with the used American?

YOU DECIDE!

EDIT: Yes, I know the Highway One is made in America too, but when I said "American", I meant the higher end American line.
Click to expand...

Always had a thing for Fender basses , its the look and the sound, you cant beat a p bass for a good solid bassline. I plan on making the next bass I buy a MIJ Precision Bass
 
#47
NineSpine said:
For years Ive owned and sold many basses, always scoffing at Fender. Ive owned Ibanez, Warwick, Spector, and even a G&L (which I sold because it was too much like a Fender) and tried out a dozen other brands.

Now, I didn't scoff at Fender because of their sound, and to be perfectly honest I never gave the sound a second thought because I was just so turned off by their looks. I couldn't stand it. Something about the giant headstock and that classic look really turned me off, a LOT.

But as usual, as I got older (I'm not old, just older than I was before: I'm 24) my mind has changed... I had an epiphany about a week ago and my new bass will be a Fender Highway one P-Bass with a rosewood fretboard in the White Blonde color scheme.

For some reason, I immediately appreciated the old school look and ESPECIALLY appreciated the Fender P-Bass sound. I can't put my finger on it, but it's as though I'm seeing it all for the first time.

I guess my real question is: Did this ever happen to anyone else? Also, I would appreciate some feedback on the Highway One P-Bass if anyone has experience with it. It's right in my price range (even moreso if I can find a used one), but so is a used American model. Would I be better off with the used American?

YOU DECIDE!

EDIT: Yes, I know the Highway One is made in America too, but when I said "American", I meant the higher end American line.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I played a Rickenbacker 4000 for years, still have it, still love it. I have bought other basses and my brand for now is Waterstone. I love them!

Well, my brother loves my Rick and I said, "Yeah, I am not a Fender guy! Never really understood the fame of those basses." He then said "Well, they sound amazing and record really well." So, I went to my local music store, picked a few off the wall and fell for the exact P bass Highway One you did, same finish. So I now have a P bass in my collection and I really do like it a lot.
 
#48
NineSpine said:
I had an epiphany about a week ago and my new bass will be a Fender Highway one P-Bass with a rosewood fretboard in the White Blonde color scheme.
Click to expand...

I have that exact bass :D . You'll love it! Mine is strung with D'Addario Chromes and it sounds great. It's clear when I want it to be, and it's got thump when I want that. All around, I'm very satisfied with my Highway 1 P.
 
#50
Im a Fenderholic no doubt..but i was a jazz only Fenderlover. Dont get me wrong the P bass were cool and all and i wanted one but it just wasnt my bag. I get out of a R&R band and into my love music blues and blues rock and its P -bass time and i'm in love with my MIM P i just fixed up. I added original U.S. pups and bridge, and a Fender white tort pickguard , chromes and whoa..... its a bute.

Funny i can look at tons of high end fancy furniture wood like basses and go uhhh yea.... one beat up Fender vintage P or J and im drooling :D
 
#52
I got my first "real" Fender 2 1/2 years ago. It was a HW1 Jazz. I was looking for a red bass and this was all they had in the shop. I tried it, tried a few much more expensive Fenders Jazz's to get a feel for what they should sound like and the HW1 played better than all of them. About a year later i needed to go 5 string and so got a Lakland 55-01. It was an easy transition and for over a year i was happy and thought this was the future but at the back of my mind i really wanted the P bass sound.
Two weeks ago i decided i didn't need active electronics etc, just one or two knobs and a jack socket. I got a MIM 50's classic P in HB. Its a lovely bass but i felt the neck to be a monster to play. so here i am today, with my new, flat black HW-one P and its the best bas i have owned IMO and IME. lovley neck, closer to my Jazz than the MIM is. Looks nice in a vintage way and the set up is perfect for me right out of the box. nice gig bag as well.
I feel the neck finish on my old HW1 Jazz is a bit better than on the HW-one but its still very playable.
 
#53
Interesting to see this thread pop back up after so long.

Well I have the Highway One now and it ROCKS!

I actually ended up getting a Squier Jazz also that I am slowly replacing parts in until it is nice.

I've never been happier with an instrument, although I do still miss my G&L L-2000 from awhile back. I'll get one of those eventually...

Also, for an update in case anyone cares, this revelation about Fender has led to some other epiphanies for me.

I find myself perfectly content with my Traynor YBA-200, which I was ready to sell for a higher powered amp.

I have narrowed down my pedal board to 4 or 5 pedals.

I am no longer looking for an 810, I'll be fine with a 410.
 
#56
I never liked Fender basses, not for the sound (because I think they sound great), and not for the looks (some of them are very nice looking), but because the necks have always felt uncomfortable to me. I'd love to have a Jazz bass if the neck felt like, say, a Rickenbacker neck. On all the Fenders I've tried, there's just something about the neck shape that feels way too awkward to me.
 
#58
Nine-
I played bass for about 25 years before I owned a Fender. When I first started playing, their size and shape reminded me of what had been, and I was looking for something new. Wish I would have come around earlier. There's just something about them; tone, spacing, balance, the way they just seem to 'fit' your body. Sometimes you have to play one for a little while to really get it. First piece of advice that I'd offer anyone is to seriously consider owning a Fender. My P & J have helped me approach this whole bass thing in a different way. Thanks Leo!
Good Luck To You!!
 
#59
NineSpine said:
I guess my real question is: Did this ever happen to anyone else?
Click to expand...

Yes.

It just came in the form of a beautiful Modulus Quantum 5 in trans green w/ flamed maple top. :)

Once you go this route, a P or J just seems so inferior by comparison.

They do look purty though, especially in a creme finish w/ tort pickguard and maple. Just hate playing them.
 
#60
I really have never met a fender worth a purchase, ive played the marcus millers, geddys, j bass 24, standards, american standards and deluxes, both highway ones, and standard deluxe, and only one has came close to being purchased, a used 00' american deluxe precision bass. It was at guitar center black with tort pickguard- it sounded and played so great on the p bass pickup and was just a dream and then i went to dial back to the j bass humbucker- which i was savin like the icing on a cake- and the blend acted like a volume control-no j bass pickup-dead-broken. So no purchase, dont know where it is now if its spoen for or not, i just find fender's quality to be choppy and inconsistent
 

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