NBD Fender Heavy Metal IV

[aero58]

That’s cool. Is it active or passive? And is the neck like a jazz (1.5” nut)?

 

[FatOwlBass]

I dig it! Is that from the 90s? Kind of looks like it but I've never seen one before.

I believe 1990 according to serial number.

 

[FatOwlBass]

That’s cool. Is it active or passive? And is the neck like a jazz (1.5” nut)?

Passive 3 single coils. Nut looks like 1.5 inch. The neck feels amazing. So far my favorite Fender neck.

 

[aero58]

Passive 3 single coils. Nut looks like 1.5 inch. The neck feels amazing. So far my favorite Fender neck.

Cool - thanks!

 

[Dynomuttasaurus]

SCORE! Great bass and amazing profile if you love a unique look and fast jazz neck. I added one of these to my stable about 5 years ago.

If anyone is looking for a sound sample:

Instrumental using DG B7K & Walrus Eras for overdrive bordering on distortion. Finger-style using neck & middle pickups.


Through the classic SamsAmp Bass Driver DI. Finger-style using the neck & middle pickups.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

The Fender HM 4. Just arrived today.
My understanding is these were USA parts assembled in Japan. The Alder body has a crazy marble finish. Black hardware, 3 jazz bass pickups, 5 way switch, master volume, TBX tone control.
Best fender neck I have ever played. The range of tones available is great.
It needs a good cleanup but I am loving it already. A rare gem.
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Congrats. Awesome find! Make sure you post again and let us know what you think.

 

[Ondoval]

Holy moses! Never knew this was a thing! So cool! <3

 

[mikecd1]

What a score, congrats! Heard of these but never saw one. How does the pickup switching work?

 

[JIO]

Pic of the back of the hs? I like the look of those tuners, at least from the front!

 

[winston]

I loved the ones I tried at Guitar Center back in the ‘90s, same with the Kubicki electronics Jazz basses.

 

[Iridescentone]

Pretty cool bass, always wanted to snag one when they were avail used, especially one with a normal headstock.

Reminds me a little of the Fender/Heartfield basses (yet another of several great Fender endeavors that never quite caught on).

If that HM sounds anywhere near as stong as a Heartfield, I say Great score!

 

[Water buffalo]

Here's a pic of the five string I use to own. The one I have now is not in as good of shape.

 

[FatOwlBass]

Pic of the back of the hs? I like the look of those tuners, at least from the front!

 

[FatOwlBass]

Getting it cleaned up. Polished frets, cleaned fingerboard and oiled it, buffed headstock and tuners. I will get the body cleaned up better once I take the pickups and electronics out so I can buff it proper.

 

[Number179]

Very cool. New model to me!!

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Epic bass! Never seen one of these before, a pretty unique design from Fender.

 

[Wood and Wire]

Getting it cleaned up. Polished frets, cleaned fingerboard and oiled it, buffed headstock and tuners. I will get the body cleaned up better once I take the pickups and electronics out so I can buff it proper.
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What the heck?!

If Fender had that design for the contoured heel back in the 90's, why on earth did it take them 30 years to make it a standard feature on the American Precision?

 

[FatOwlBass]

What the heck?!

If Fender had that design for the contoured heel back in the 90's, why on earth did it take them 30 years to make it a standard feature on the American Precision?

Contour heel should be the standard and the old school block should be only on reissue/classic series basses IMO.

 

[Wood and Wire]

Contour heel should be the standard and the old school block should be only on reissue/classic series basses IMO.

Totally!

 

[JTNuney]

That is WILD. As a Fender-obsessed teen in the ‘90s, I don’t know how I missed seeing those back when they were new.

But I am VERY DISAPPOINTED in my fellow TBers that no one’s proclaimed it the “Best Bass for Metal” yet. I mean, it has Heavy Metal *and* Roman numerals in the name! What more do you need? Unnecessary umlauts on every vowel?

(Dibs on “Unnecessary Umlauts” as a band name…)