NBD: '07 Highway One Precision. Questions replied. Photos now

Kikegg

Kikegg

Mar 3, 2011
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Madrid, Spain
#1
Hi all,
tomorrow I'll be a Highway One P-Bass new owner (pretty Honey Blonde colour w/BAII) and after a thorough reading here in TB it seems that stock tuning machines are its Achilles heel.

Are those really so bad? Comparable against Squier VM's tuning machines or Wilkinson's? Better? Worse?
If I changed them, what is the hole size? Which ones do you suggest as a drop-in replacement (weight is not an issue as far it does not induce neck dive)?

Thanks!
 
#2
Kikegg said:
Hi all,
tomorrow I'll be a Highway One P-Bass new owner (pretty Honey Blonde colour w/BAII) and after a thorough reading here in TB it seems that stock tuning machines are its Achilles heel.

Are those really so bad? Comparable against Squier VM's tuning machines or Wilkinson's? Better? Worse?
If I changed them, what is the hole size? Which ones do you suggest as a drop-in replacement (weight is not an issue as far it does not induce neck dive)?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
The Highway One tuners are better than the Squier VM tuners. If I was you though, I would drop in some Hipshot Ultralite tuners. They are around $75 and are better than the stock Highway One tuners. I'm really not sure what size your current tuners are though.
 
#4
Kikegg said:
Hi all,
tomorrow I'll be a Highway One P-Bass new owner (pretty Honey Blonde colour w/BAII) and after a thorough reading here in TB it seems that stock tuning machines are its Achilles heel.

Are those really so bad? Comparable against Squier VM's tuning machines or Wilkinson's? Better? Worse?
If I changed them, what is the hole size? Which ones do you suggest as a drop-in replacement (weight is not an issue as far it does not induce neck dive)?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I've been playing a Highway One Precision for a while now and have absolutely no complaints about the tuners on mine. I'd say play it for 4-6 weeks before you drop money on tuners.

You'd have a much better return on investment by replacing the pickup and Greasebucket tone control. :)
 
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#5
Wait until you have it in hand for awhile before sweating over tuner replacement.

TB is chock full of people who can't wait to mod and others who look really hard to find a flaw and when they do, it's baby out with the bath water time, replace the tuners even though only one is wonky and that could be a number of other causes, but they get new tuners! What fun!

Basses and their parts are crack.
 
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#7
Immigrant said:
Wait until you have it in hand for awhile before sweating over tuner replacement.

TB is chock full of people who can't wait to mod and others who look really hard to find a flaw and when they do, it's baby out with the bath water time, replace the tuners even though only one is wonky and that could be a number of other causes, but they get new tuners! What fun!

Basses and their parts are crack.
Click to expand...

Yeah, good advice! :thumbsup:
...collecting info, just in case!
 
#9
TB makes everything better and worse than it is.

You should realize that the people with problems are the people who post. All the folks with fully functioning tuners won't make a thread each time just to mention it.

Play it first before worrying about any issues.
 
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#12
mellowinman said:
Don't listen to me. I would leave the tuners alone unless they cause a problem, but as I said, don't listen to me, or anyone else.
Click to expand...

+1
Get the bass, play the bass, and decide for yourself if the tuners (or pickups, bridge, neck, pickguard :p) need changing or not. Ultimately only the individual user can (and should) be making that decision.

Don't get me wrong though, asking the question is not a problem. I think it's a common symptom of NBD excitement around here.
 
#13
Thanks all for your replies and advice. Today is the day and here are some photos.
Except for some spots in lower part (rubber-nitro reaction???) the bass is in perfect shape, no dings, almost no scratches... and a very nice tan color. Very desertic-like.

String spacing was uneven (19 to 23mm between strings, not in any particular order) but is now fixed each at 19mm and string height needs to be lower for taste. Fine.


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#14
Kikegg said:
Hi all,
tomorrow I'll be a Highway One P-Bass new owner (pretty Honey Blonde colour w/BAII) and after a thorough reading here in TB it seems that stock tuning machines are its Achilles heel.

Are those really so bad? Comparable against Squier VM's tuning machines or Wilkinson's? Better? Worse?
If I changed them, what is the hole size? Which ones do you suggest as a drop-in replacement (weight is not an issue as far it does not induce neck dive)?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I had an '06 HWY-1 P-bass for a while...no issues with the tuners...they seemed perfectly fine to me. It looked just like the one above except without the Badass bridge.

If you do have some tuning issues, try this: loosen the strings, then tighten all the screws into the headstock and then take a sharp pensil and darken the string slots in the nut (the graphite helps somehow...not sure exactly why but I learned that trick from by brother-in-law, also a bass player) and then tune back up.
 
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#17
Sweet bass. Precisions are the cream of the crop when it comes to bass's. My American Standard Precision made me a true convert from playing 100% Jazz Bass's. Now I play my Jazz bass's 50% of the time.
 
#18
Beautiful bass! I have a 2006 Highway One Jazz bass. I got a good deal on some Hipshot HB7 tuning machines, which I put on about 5 years ago. They're very pretty and work great. Very stable and tune accurately and easily.

That being said, there was nothing wrong with the standard machines; the Hipshots were a pure vanity move. The ultralights on the other hand are not a direct retrofit and will leave the screw-holes from the larger tuners exposed. Doesn't bother some people...

As for the pickups, the 2007 Highway One Precision used the 56003/56004 which everyone (myself included) raves about on the Road Worn and Classic 50s models. I've also used them on a couple of parts builds.

I replaced the Greasebucket circuit in my Jazz with a plain CTS 250k pot with a .047uf capacitor. To my ears the new setup sounded better.

I also like the Badass. They kinda went out of style, in my opinion due to the 80s rock machine image. I think it's a great bridge, easy to dial in on height and intonation. I use the vintage style threaded saddle bridge on builds though. I don't think it's as good, but I don't find the Badass to be $75 better. ;)

A lot of opinions in my post, worth a grain of salt at most!
 
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#19
Looks to me like you gotta adjust your strings at the bridge a little bit more. See how they all kick out to the right in your picture?
Move each one over one notch to the left, so you get a nice straight path from end to end.
 
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