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Post subject: HWY 1 P-Basses
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:57 pm
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Roadie
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What's the general consensus on the above named basses? I've heard a bit of bashing for the price vs. product. So what is the story?

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Post subject: Re: HWY 1 P-Basses
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:22 pm
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If you find a H.O. you like off the rack, GREAT! What usually happens is people buy a H.O. and then start slapping on upgrades. Next thing you know you have $1,200 in it. Might as well buy a USA Standard and be done with it.

I bought a H.O. Jazz several years ago. Neck went bad. Sold it as broken. Maybe they are better now. But if it isn't great off the shelf, just save up some more money for the USA Standard or Deluxe. Because it is hard to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.


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Post subject: Re: HWY 1 P-Basses
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:11 am
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I concure emphatically and not withstanding in the rain.


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Post subject: Re: HWY 1 P-Basses
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:00 pm
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So how about in a couple of years, would it make a good starting point, in terms of body and neck construction, to upgrade and/or experiment with?

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Liam

-Candy Apple Red Precision Bass (Maple fingerboard) carrying Rotosound Steve Harris Strings
-1980-something Bentley Series 10
-Fender Rumble 15


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Post subject: Re: HWY 1 P-Basses
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:59 pm
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I had two H1's- an 05 Jazz and an 05 P bass-- I believe those were 1st year basses or close to it. They were okay basses. Niether one was very resonant. Replacing the pickups didn't help much either. They reminded me of late 90's Mexican Std. basses. Although the finishes on the H1's were laquer - they appeared to have been done in a way that I can only describe as cheap. It couldn't have cost more than a few bucks worth of paint to do. That doesn't sound very good but I tend to call them like I see them. As far as in the future taking those basses I had and trying to hot rod them into sounding better-- I wouldn't do that personally. I'd start out with a higher grade Fender bass and do modding to one of those. Like Brother Dave said "you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear"-- or something like that. That's what you'd be up against with any bass that just doesn't sound good because of body wood (usually) or whatever. Throwing money at a bass doesn't always work.


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Post subject: Re: HWY 1 P-Basses
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:30 pm
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So far as wood goes, the Highway One bodies were being made from lower graded body blanks than anything else in Corona. Any lower scoring blanks that were not good enough for Highway Ones were then trucked to Ensenada for MIM production. Now all the wood arriving in Corona goes to Corona production with the addition of the American Specials taking up some of the load. I would guess that since the American Specials cost more than Highway Ones that the wood that used to go to Highway Ones now goes to the American Specials, and the wood that used to go to Ensenada is possibly being used for Highway Ones. This is just speculation, but the wood that used to go to Ensenada has to go somewhere. The Highway One necks underwent major improvements several years ago.

If I was looking for a bass to modify I'd get a close Chinese knockoff of whatever Fender bass you have. There are several clones out there that you could buy for under $200 or even less than $100 used on eBay. I bought a black 2nd Generation P-Bass clone for about $60 shipping included on eBay a few years back. I used it for cap tests, pickup tests, trying out different strings, etc. and when you are done you still have a backup/beater at the least. Use that Asian bass as your "proving ground" and when you find a mod that really makes a big difference to the point that you can't live without it on your Fender, ONLY THEN move that irresistible mod over to your Fender. Not all mods are improvements and some cause more problems than they are worth. Using a cheap clone you can sort out what really makes a difference, what doesn't, skills like soldering and setup plus learn where dangers lie. You can also A/B your Fender and your knockoff to see how much difference each mod made. If you totally butcher it, no tragic loss. The cheap clones are abundant. Should not take you 5 minutes to find dozens. Most parts are interchangeable with a real P-Bass but the pots most often are not as Asian plants use mini-pots on most of them. You might have to route out the control cavity some to accommodate full sized USA pots and might have to Dremel a bit on the pickup cavities. They are a good way to learn what you are doing.


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Post subject: Re: HWY 1 P-Basses
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:28 pm
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If you can't see the wisdom behind what Brother Dave just posted, go back and keep reading it until you get it.

Great advice Brother Dave, of course if i start thinking of upgrades, the e-mails will start filling up your inbox again.


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