fender pbass hwy1, fender bullet bass 80s or a tele bass

edcars

edcars

Mar 7, 2008
360
394
5,096
houston tx
#1
hey guys, just need some advice. i've been gasing for a pbass but the bullet and tele caught my eye. saw a mia highway1 for a good price and saw a bullet bass , a hundred under my budget and the tele is a bout a couple of over my budget.

just wondering if anyone had a bullet and a pbass and how far the difference in tone and the neck is.
i love the tele headstock tho but i'll be happy with a regular pbass.

so just wanting advice. i play in a punk band btw. thanks in advance guys!
 
Last edited:
#3
I have a Highway 1 P and a 1974 Telecaster bass, and have recently refurbished a Bullet for a friend.

  • The Highway 1 is a P bass. Nothing more, nothing less. Mine is an exceptional player.
  • The Telecaster humbuckers are useless, IMO. It sounds like a wooly, muddy mess. I added a P pickup to mine so that i could use it.
  • The Bullet is decent. It plays fine and is a USA bass, but it was clearly an economy '80s US bass. No frills - and that says a lot considering I like P basses. It sounds a bit thinner than a P bass, but is definitely in the family.
 
  • Like
Reactions: edcars
#5
wvbass said:
  • The Telecaster humbuckers are useless, IMO. It sounds like a wooly, muddy mess. I added a P pickup to mine so that i could use it.
Click to expand...
There's an important distinction to be made between the original Tele Bass (1968-72) which in most respects was a replica of '51 P-Bass, an the second generation that sported the humbucker, 3-bolt neck and a larger pickguard. The former are fine instruments if sonically limited in the same manner that Leo's original creation was. These will also set you back a pretty penny nowadays if in original condition or close to it. The second generation...not much good to be said about it. Definitely not one of Fender's best moments, even in the troublesome 70s.

  • The Bullet is decent. It plays fine and is a USA bass, but it was clearly an economy '80s US bass. No frills - and that says a lot considering I like P basses. It sounds a bit thinner than a P bass, but is definitely in the family.
Click to expand...
I always liked the Bullets for their thin necks. Agreed with the "economy class" assessment. A decent modding platform IMO, if one is in love with a Tele headstock.

Various replicas of '51 P-Bass that Fender built over the years may also be worth one's consideration. And, should everything else fail, there's always Warmoth with dozens of different options...

All of that being said, there's absolutely nothing wrong with Highway One, and this is coming from someone who's not a P-Bass hothead by any stretch of imagination.

My $0.02 only...
 
  • Like
Reactions: edcars
#6
I should say that I also have a '51 RI Precision, which is essentially the same as a first generation Telecaster bass. There are three potential downsides: 1) Some people don't like the concept of a two-saddle bridge because of the required intonation compromises; 2) the lack of body contours is a little uncomfortable when played while seated; 3) I don't usually float my thumb on a four string, and the pickup makes an uncomfortable thumb rest. Sounds great, though, and no bass looks cooler!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ghastly and edcars
#10
so here's the highway 1 i went with. got it on reverb which went down to $500 from $600. it's a 2005 highway 1. ordering a tort as soon as it gets here. i may not replace the bridge. i'm pretty excited. :D thanks guys for the advice
Screen Shot 2017-08-26 at 3.11.24 PM.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: mexicant, wvbass, Turock and 4 others
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back