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J-Bass - Highway One vs. Geddy Lee

S

Safari

Feb 6, 2009
29
0
Atlanta
#1
I'm looking to purchase a Jazz Bass, and have to keep it under a grand. Looking at the Highway One and the Geddy Lee as they both have good reviews and are in my price range.

Anyone have any thoughts/advice on these two? Should I just eat it and pony up for the American Standard?
 
#4
Zillions of threads in here on this. Try them both - the only substantive difference will be in how the neck feels to you (imho); of course if you don't want a black and white bass, the Geddy is automatically eliminated.
Were I in the market for a Fender J, I'd choose the Am Stnd (there's one at my hometown guitar shop still priced at $1195) primarily because the build quality's better; trussrod is more accessible, etc.
 
#5
Leaning toward the HW1 - I don't typically like bound fretborads, and the finish is tops, and after searching around on here I think I made that decision.

BUT . . . now I'm excited about the American Standard - isn't that always how it goes; push the budget and wet your pants!

So, HW1 vs. American Standard. Here are some new questions:

1) Ash vs. Alder? - Ash is option on the Standard
Don't know if it really makes that much of a difference beside visual?
I play strictly rosewood fretboards.

2) Badass II bridge vs. High Mass Vintage and String through body?

Any other differences, e.g. fit and finish, pickups that are finitely better between the two?

I play fingerstyle, mostly plucking but trying to hone my slap skills. Motown, 80's/90's covers, lots of Reggae and classical arpeggios.

My current Ibanez EDB600 is extremely versatile, but I'm looking for something that makes me bite my lower lip and do the chicken-head bob.
 
#6
Here you go:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5470698#post5470698

Lots of differences actually. The BLUF is usually that the Highway 1 is "MIM parts; selectively upgraded, made in USA," while the Am Stand is what it is; better neck construction, etc. Hwy 1 has a different tone circuit, etc. etc., so it's more than just the BAII bridge v. High Mass Vintage (which I happen to like). If you have an iPod, you could probably find Fender's podcast from last year on the 'new improved Hwy 1 roll-out.' - Free download.
 
#8
I like my Highway One pretty much - finding myself grabbing it a lot more often than my MIA J Deluxe.

I can't agree to Bassorama57 concerning the neck construction?
Feels nearly the same as the DLX besides the rolled fretboard edges and +2 frets. The newer Highway One features graphite neck support rods and the truss is also adjustable from the body side - just like the DLX.

The build quality on my HW is really good (very tight neck pocket), the body routing allows you to leave the pickguard away (not the case with the AM STD!!). 2-piece body with nice woodgrain (I own the 3-TS version).

The pickups are better than I thought - very quiet and nearly as hot as the DLX.

The cheaper tuners do a flawless job. The fretwork is great, too.

I am a MIA lover and thought of buying an AM STD (you know buying cheap means buying two times ..) - but compared to the quality of my MIA J Deluxe and P Elite I would definitely buy the HW again! I didn't feel the need of paying nearly the doubled price for the additional hard-case and some case candy :smug:

The only thing I have to get used to is the finish. It is really thin.. nice if you like the vintage look which probably won't take long to arise.
 
#9
Thanks for all the info folks! My local GC doesn't have any of the HW1 so I can't directly compare, but I do have a HW1 Strat and love it to death.

I'm also trying to be conscientious and buy MIA, which the HW1 is - sort of. But I saw something curious on my friend's newly purchased American Standard - a "Made in Mexico" on the back of the headstock. With a little research it appears that the American Standard is kind of the reverse of the HW1. Whereas the HW1 is assembled in America of Mexican parts, the American Standard appears to be assembled in Mexico of American parts.

What gives? Is this a fluke, correct, or did my friend just pay $1,200 for a MIM Jazz that entirely resembles a MIA Jazz - no difference whatsoever.??
 
#12
To the OP, I would get a used American Std. if I were in your shoes. Still in your budget and better than both the Geddy and the Hwy1 IME.

However, if you forced me to choose, I would probably go for the Hwy1. Most of the Geddy's I've played just seem a bit too thin in the low end. They are still nice though, and you will probably be happy either way. In truth, its almost too close to call between those two.
 
#14
Safari said:
With a little research it appears that the American Standard is kind of the reverse of the HW1. Whereas the HW1 is assembled in America of Mexican parts, the American Standard appears to be assembled in Mexico of American parts.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure where you are doing your research, but every MIA bass I've played says MIA on the headstock, with nothing on the back. Some of the Classic series MIM basses (50s P-bass, 70s Jazz, etc.) have the MIM label on the back, to preserve a vintage look. A lot of these basses actually use similar, if not the same, parts as American Vintage RI basses, but they are MIM and priced accordingly. If it says MIA on a Fender, it is built and assembled in America.

Sounds like your friend might have gotten swindled.
 
#15
I have a Geddy and it my favorite Jazz bass I have ever played too. It has the same BadAss II bridge as well. I am mostly a P player and once I got the GL Jazz, it put me on a rampage to find an MIA Jazz to upgrade so I could have the best. Problem is, I could never find one that I liked as much as the Geddy that was not close to double the price. Sounds good and feels good to me. I have seen alot of Pros using the GL Jazz on stage lately as well.
 

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