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Fender Performer series

#21
Sean Parsons said:
Poser series has been shelved as the marketing team preferred Fender Fanboy which has a nicer ring to it. ;)

Joking aside, it is surprising to read some of the comments. I had no idea that so many judged guitars on things like pick guard colours and names not to mention hatred of the continuous development of classic guitars. Very odd reception.

I never tried one of the American Special basses but did own the Telecaster which was great and very hard to beat at that price.

I'm looking forward to trying out the Performer Precision when I come across one in the shops.

Hands and ears are still the best way to judge.
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Totally agree! Hands and ears are really the only way to judge, I've seen a few pretty instruments that felt or sounded like garbage, and vice versa.
 
#23
I saw a few of the American Performer basses at Long & McQuade last weekend. I didn't get a chance to plug & play, so I cannot comment on the tone. The LPB and Surf Green are pretty eye-catching, but I wonder if that satin look is more trendy than timeless? The one thing that really stood out was the *rough* fretwork -- noticeable fret sprout and sharp, unfinished edges. Maybe I picked up an Affinity without realizing it?
 
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#24
@Sean Parsons, I'll withhold judgment until I play a Performer, but I'm leery because of the Greasebucket. I had a Hwy 1 P-Bass and it was fine otherwise, but the Greasebucket just didn't work for me. As always, YMMV.
 
#27
I really like the Penny color, would love to put my hands on a penny J-bass with a maple board to compliment my two Highway One P-basses.

Contrary to the HW1:s I don't see a graphite reinforced neck or a nitro finish. The nitro finish I could probably do without, but the graphite? To my knowledge the only real difference between the Performers and the Players is the pickups and the country of origin?
 
#29
I finally saw and heard both the American Performer Precision and Jazz Basses at my local Sam Ash (no one else had them). I really, really, really wanted to love these basses. The good. Overall, well-made and nicely finished. As the price would indicate, slightly nicer than the MIM Player series, and not as nice as the upscale models. Nice playable necks. The bad. They both sounded... dead. The Precision was worse than the Jazz, but there was no ring, no sustain. I played through a Rumble 500 (I own one) with everything set the way I always play. I could not adjust the volume or tone in any way to improve the dead, almost muted, tone.

In all fairness, I was playing a Tony Franklin yesterday. No comparison. I grabbed a Rickenbacker 4003 at Sam Ash and plugged-in to the same amp and settings. Beautiful ringing tone with sustain. Again, no comparison. My wife, who has no preconceived notions, asked if the American Performer Basses were defective.

I need some feedback from others who have played these new AP basses before I completely eliminate them from my new bass search. Thanks.
 
#30
Never played any performer or player yet, but if it's like American Special vs Mexican Standard, I'd choose the Mexican one in a heartbeat. Better quality (imho) with cheaper price. Cmiiw, but I can afford to buy a new much better MIJ Fender with the same price as the American Special.
 
#31
Just yesterday checked out the Fender American Professional Precision and Jazz basses. It has a deep rich tone, that is the type of tone I look for in a bass. Even tried the elite.It was so hard to decide which one I liked...could have brought home two. Then saw the fender Mustang bass another nice one. Have had different basses peavy and spector...went to fender like the tone.
 
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#33
No I didn’t. Been trying out the Professional series since this past summer because really liked the feel...then it was between Precision and Jazz. Currently I have a Marc Hoppus Precision...eventually will post pictures once I figure out how this site works.
 
#34
DrGregC said:
Nice playable necks. The bad. They both sounded... dead. The Precision was worse than the Jazz, but there was no ring, no sustain. I played through a Rumble 500 (I own one) with everything set the way I always play. I could not adjust the volume or tone in any way to improve the dead, almost muted, tone.
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This surprising. I'm hearing mixed reports about bad frets, lifelessness.

I'd have imagined they are using the same production line as the American Specials. Although I didn't play bass at that time I did have an American Special Tele which was one of the tidiest and most resonant guitars I've ever had. Weird!

They need to get it right because I'm pretty sure I'm not the only thinking, at that price point, you may as well save a few hundred extra and get an American Professional.
 

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