MarkG3 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 (edited) I did a search and I couldn't find a dedicated thread for the Highway series, lets get all the pics and say a bit about your Highway! Mine is a 2010 precision which I love! I got her in March 2011 from dv247 online so took a gamble but it was worth it!. I love everything about this bass especially the finish! I love seeing worn basses that show they have been used! So mine has got a few dents along the bottom side from gigging and some belt rash on the back which are the most noticeable. There are a few little chips near the straplock next to the bridge where my wireless pack rubs against the body. Where my arm/wrist rubs against the body has shined up so the finish will probably start wearing down soon. Also around the pickups are a lot of pick marks but you can't really make them out as my pics are a bit sh*t This is my main bass as I love playing with this bass and couldn't fault it! Got her strung with some d'addario chrome flats which makes the playability even better! The only upgrades/changes I have made have been : 3 ply B/W/B fender scratchplate Schaller Straplocks Edited April 21, 2012 by S9_S12_Bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Are HW1 Strats allowed? Very pleased with mine and all the guitarists who play it seem to love it. Am very interested to try the bass HW1s and I'm surprised there aren't more of them on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 Yea go on then! My brother has a Highway One strat as well which he loves. I was gutted to hear that they have been discontinued though. Mine plays and sounds so much better than my USA standard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 Any highways about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrene Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 (edited) Here's mine - I've had it since Saturday and I'm not overly impressed to be honest - I'll give it a bit to grow on me but I usually know what I like fairly quickly... Bit battered and bruised but lot's of people like the roadworn look apparently.. [attachment=99894:Fender Jazz1.jpg] [attachment=99895:Fender Jazz10.jpg] [attachment=99896:Fender Jazz7.jpg] Edited February 17, 2012 by TheGreek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrene Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrene Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 Nice! TheGreek what colour is your Jazz? What about it don't you like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 [quote name='S9_S12_Bass' timestamp='1329156183' post='1538080'] Nice! TheGreek what colour is your Jazz? What about it don't you like? [/quote] I think it's Lake Placid Blue but I am guessing...I think it lacks something in the tone department..I like a warm "coffee" tone - sort of 80s funk sound with lots of mid tones (reminiscent of Jaydees/ Alembics and Wals) but unfortunately the Highway just doesn't do it for me. There have been suggestions to change the p/ups and install an East preamp - to me this defeats the purpose of buying a factory instrument - Fender should have installed the right p/ups in the first place. As I said I'm going to give it a chance to grow on me but when I played earlier today I went straight for my Status - I didn't even think about the Fender...doesn't bode well for it's future I'm afraid.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted February 17, 2012 Author Share Posted February 17, 2012 Yea that's a shame but I always find you get a feeling for a bass if its right or not. I think the only thing I would change is possibly the pickups but I find the stocks are still good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbassist Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I've played a couple of the fender highway series basses and loved them! Great value too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 (edited) [quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1329165890' post='1538317'] I think it's Lake Placid Blue but I am guessing...I think it lacks something in the tone department..I like a warm "coffee" tone - sort of 80s funk sound with lots of mid tones (reminiscent of Jaydees/ Alembics and Wals) but unfortunately the Highway just doesn't do it for me. There have been suggestions to change the p/ups and install an East preamp - to me this defeats the purpose of buying a factory instrument - Fender should have installed the right p/ups in the first place. As I said I'm going to give it a chance to grow on me but when I played earlier today I went straight for my Status - I didn't even think about the Fender...doesn't bode well for it's future I'm afraid.. [/quote] There's a reason I play both Status and Fender, they're completely different animals with very little overlap in tone. The Status can do a reasonable impersonation of a "Super" Jazz or "Super Precision" as well as all the other modern bass sounds plus the characteristic "Status" sound, but if you want that classic Fender vintage sound you need a basic unmodified Fender and I reckon the Highway 1 would probably do the job. I wouldn't bother swapping the pickups or adding a preamp as I doubt it will get you the sound you're looking for, also it won't sound like a Fender anymore either! Edit: To sort of get back on topic some HW1s, sorry they're only guitars: [IMG]http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx159/richardmatthews_photos/forum%20stuff/HW1.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx159/richardmatthews_photos/forum%20stuff/HW1Body.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx159/richardmatthews_photos/forum%20stuff/HW1Head.jpg[/IMG] Edited February 19, 2012 by Fat Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Very nice!, what are the tone differences between the two Rich? I would of thought the maple neck would make it a bit snappier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 [quote name='S9_S12_Bass' timestamp='1329813418' post='1547621'] Very nice!, what are the tone differences between the two Rich? I would of thought the maple neck would make it a bit snappier? [/quote] Yes, generally a bit brighter although I'm no guitar expert! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Although i dont have them any more ive had 3 over the past 7 years. An original HW-1 Jazz, a HW-one P and a HW-one Jazz. Loved them all. The first. This was the bass that replaced my Squier JV P. I went out looking for a red bass and out of all the red basses in the Bass Centre this one played and sounded the best. The HW-one P. Horrible pick guard. I only put it on to see what it would look like. I hated it. I sold it on here and last tiem i looked it was all black, even the hardware. This was the bass i settled on when i couldn't get a decently made MIA back in 2010. I sold this on as although it was a better bass i actually preferred my CV Jazz neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 All very nice Dave, I have to agree with you on that scratchplate on the precision, it doesn't really do the bass justice! I really like that red/black on the jazz what colour red is that? Also how long did it take for that bit of finish to wear to the wood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Thanks. That tort PG was a very cheap ebay one and looked horrible, even before i put it on. The red one is transparent wine i believe. This is the first gen version and i put the BAII on it (so Fender nicked my idea ;-) The coating started to come off very quickly on this bass, probably within a few months. Its only the actual paint part, the wood still has a coating on it. I ended up swapping it with Wayne for his SUB. It was probably the best Jazz bass i've had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 Haha I'm sure they did! Did the first gen Highways have a nitro finish as well then? As I always thought they were poly? There has got to be more Highways on this forum than this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomE Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Here is mine that i bought from Basschat. I did upgrade the PuPs as i always do This one also features an Audere preamp. I love everything about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazzer Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 [attachment=101208:photo.JPG][attachment=101209:photo.JPG] My 2010 HW P-bass in black with rosewood & mirror pickguard fitted....yes I'm a Phil Lynott fan! Also my 2009 USA P in sunburst. The HW is just as good in my opinion & is ageing nicely (helped along slightly by me) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBbass Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Fantastic series! IMO they are better than the american standards for just over half the price used. I plan on picking one up soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted February 28, 2012 Author Share Posted February 28, 2012 Both very nice! Lazzer in terms of the wear did you use a bit of sandpaper or just loads of playing? After the finish goes into the shiny look how soon after that did the top layer of the paint come off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 [quote name='S9_S12_Bass' timestamp='1330349147' post='1555960'] Haha I'm sure they did! Did the first gen Highways have a nitro finish as well then? As I always thought they were poly? There has got to be more Highways on this forum than this! [/quote] To be honest i cant remember what the finish was on the HW1, your probably right though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazzer Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 [quote name='S9_S12_Bass' timestamp='1330428217' post='1557181'] Both very nice! Lazzer in terms of the wear did you use a bit of sandpaper or just loads of playing? After the finish goes into the shiny look how soon after that did the top layer of the paint come off? [/quote] I actually used a Leatherman multi tool, roughed it up a bit with the file, scraped it a bit with a blade even chipped it a bit in places. I took a pan scrub to the machine heads & control nobs & have to say they look fantastic.... I had no problems mentally lol in doing this, especially after seeing a you tube vid of Marlowe DK at the Sandberg factory, where they showed some of their ageing techniques. Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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