NBD: 2006 Highway One Precision with vintage refit

[shrigg]

Here is my latest and new favorite: a 2006 Fender Highway One Precision Bass. I wanted to make this P into a vintage funk machine so I had my tech polish the nitro finish to a shine, install a Fender nitrocellulose Tortoiseshell pickguard, swap out the Badass II for a vintage 60's Fender bridge, install an original 60's Fender P Bass .10 tone cap in place of the Grease Bucket tone circuit and install an original 1967 Fender F neck plate.

Check it out, it got killer vintage feel and nails the 60's P Bass tone and the graphite-reinforced neck plays like absolute *buttah* with Labella 760FX flats (my favorite). All this and it weighs only 8 lb. 4 oz. I'm loving it!

Enjoy the pics!

-Darren

 

[PlungerModerno]

Hey dude! Sweet bass!

I can imagine the thunder!!!!

 

[Tommygunn]

I'm completely jealous. That was always my favorite color of the 50s RI/Hw1

 

[Wallace320]

I had my tech polish the nitro finish to a shine, install a Fender nitrocellulose Tortoiseshell pickguard, swap out the Badass II for a vintage 60's Fender bridge, install an original 60's Fender P Bass .10 tone cap in place of the Grease Bucket tone circuit and install an original 1967 Fender F neck plate

Nice piece really! Congrats my friend...

Watching your, ehm, "ex" signature, declares that you're possibly under GAS influence in a somewhat "vintage" manner!

Great man, good

Coupla questions
#1: why don't a Hipshot BT7 bass extender?
Is the one for E string HB7 machinehead
#2: are you gonna keep L. Quann B. Ass II?
Here in Italy we can buy it already mounted, or order it
from the US

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[EricF]

Lovely!

 

[shrigg]

Nice piece really! Congrats my friend...

Watching your, ehm, "ex" signature, declares that you're possibly under GAS influence in a somewhat "vintage" manner!

Great man, good

Coupla questions
#1: why don't a Hipshot BT7 bass extender?
Is the one for E string HB7 machinehead
#2: are you gonna keep L. Quann B. Ass II?
Here in Italy we can buy it already mounted, or order it
from the US

Cheers,
Wallace

The Badass will be sold soon. I don't like D tuners... they aren't vintage enough for me, lol

 

[georgestrings]

Very Nice!!!


- georgestrings

 

[makaspar]

Niiiiiice! Get some vintage (style) tuners to complete the suit...

 

[kedo]

Nice! I did the same with my 2011 HW One. Vintage threaded saddle bridge, '62 pups, ditched the greasebucket. Its lightweight, and fantastic. Its. A shame they discontinued them.

 

[shrigg]

Niiiiiice! Get some vintage (style) tuners to complete the suit...

Yeah, If I was really gonna go all-in I'd get vintage "Fender" tuners and rub off the Made in USA and serial number off the back of the neck. But that's not a reversible mod. Maybe someday if I find a deal on some vintage tuners. But I'm extremely pleased with it just the way it is.

 

[shrigg]

Just reshot the pics in daylight. Much better color rendition, looks almost like aged Olympic White. Original post updated with the new pics!

 

[petrus61]

Nice! If I did it, I would have to re-do the logo to make it more authentic to the 60's but that's just me.

 

[shrigg]

That logo *is* correct for a 1968... The neck plate is close enough that it "could" have been original. Good enough for who it's for anyway... ME, lol.

 

[pasta4lnch]

nice!

 

[1SHOT1HIT]

Couple questions, if you don't mind answering, or anyone else can.
What is this greasebucket stuff your referring to?
First time hearing these terms.

Also what is that sitting just below your (G) tuner on the back side of the headstock?

And the volume knob appears to have something on it too????

Sorry for the new guy questions, I appreciate the time.


I love this color and think your well on your way to having an incredible bass.
I'd love to vintage-ify my Squier Classic Vibe 60's P Bass.
Thinking really long & hard about refinishing the sonic blue with nitro very soon.
Either keeping it Sonic Blue or maybe Shell Pink to match my Jazz or even Sea Foam.

I may just have to sub this thread to get some ideas for what to change up.

Good luck with it I'd kill to hear it.
Any chance of a sound clip?

Oh and what's the story with that bridge? The new one, w/ the threaded saddles?

 

[1SHOT1HIT]

Sorry about all the questions, something about this bass struck me, and you definitely have my interest.
I really like the looks of this one.

 

[spiritbass]

Cool, you even relic'd the string silks!

 

[shrigg]

What is this greasebucket stuff your referring to?
First time hearing these terms.

Also what is that sitting just below your (G) tuner on the back side of the headstock?

And the volume knob appears to have something on it too????

Oh and what's the story with that bridge? The new one, w/ the threaded saddles?

1. Greasebucket is Fender's cheapened tone circuit that they put in Hwy One models to differentiate them from American Standards. It pretty much blows, does not respond the way a vintage tone knob should.

2. That is a 60th Anniversary Fender emblem which they put on these in 2006

3. There's nothing on the volume knob, maybe you see a reflection.

4. The bridge is a 1960's Fender bridge, that's how they used to make them

Thanks for your admiring comments. I must admit that I admire it daily!

 

[Wallace320]

I hope Shrigg'll forgive me for vitually takin' place, but GreaseBucket circuitry is (as opposed to what happens with tone knob on BlackTop Jazz) a system into the tone capacitor that enhances a brilliance and tightness of trebles when same knob come clockwise engaged.
So it's an upgrading (nowadays on American Special series) for instance very much like the Leo Quann Bad Ass bridge (or the detuner I suggested for those relatively modern machinehead) not coherent with a "vintage protocol" of sort.

The thing that is noticeable behind the headstock is the 2006 Fender's 60th anniversary logo (I know it very well being, in same position, behind my son's short scale Precision jr.).

On volume pot, it looks like slipped away glitter. Another touch of vintage style "wear n'tear" treatment...

The bridge looks like an American Vintage 4 saddles. Quite resembling the one on Pino Palladino's Precision. That's why I asked for the Bad Ass to let. As we have to order it from the US directly (no importer here), Shrigg could talk about the bridge and offer it, in a way...

Hope to be if any help

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[wvbass]

I hope Shrigg'll forgive me for vitually takin' place, but GreaseBucket circuitry is (as opposed to what happens with tone knob on BlackTop Jazz) a system into the tone capacitor that enhances a brilliance and tightness of trebles when same knob come clockwise engaged.

I think this describes the TBX tone control. The greasebucket just rolls off highs a little differently. Something about band pass instead of low pass.