Thoughts on American Performer w/ Humbucker?

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

Does anyone here have any experience with the American Performer Tele Hum? I already have (and love) a Classic Vibe 50s Tele. I have been searching for a good Tele with a humbucker in the neck. I tried out a couple of Squier configurations, but nothing has been quite right. I'm considering the American Performer, but wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts.

I played one a few times in a store, but this would be my first American guitar, and the most expensive one I've ever bought, by far. So I'm taking my time and getting as much input as I can. Any info would be appreciated.

Here's the model I'm looking at.

 

[Dismalhead]

After having both a Tele (neck) and Strat (bridge) humbucker equipped guitars, I've come to the personal conclusion that the only humbucker I want in my Fender guitars are the Fidelitrons in my Cabronita. If I were to try another humbuckered Fender, it would be cheap, like a Squier Classic Vibe - and then I'd put in whatever aftermarket pickups I thought sounded best. From my experience, Fender doesn't make very good humbuckers.

 

[KC]

IF IF IF you can find one to try out, check out an Ernie Ball Music Man Valentine. The neck humbucker sounds fantastic both full on and split, the bridge is fat and bright and fun, the neck is killer, quality impeccable, I picked up one off Reverb for not much more than the Performer. Hard to find, and crazy expensive if you pay list price, and you're going to want to play one before you buy just to see if that's the one for you -- but it seems like a great approach to the neck humbucker idea.

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

These replies are helpful, thanks! Maybe there's a reason I've never been satisfied with Teles with humbuckers, and throwing down a bunch of money on an American model won't solve the underlying issues.

 

[sax4blues]

I bought this new 2021. For me the guitar feels and plays great. The Humbucker is not particularly loud compared to my Les Paul. Also it is microphonic to pick taps so hand position is important.

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

I had mostly talked myself out of getting this model, but there's one selling locally for $850, which I think I can get down to $800. They sell new for $1,450 and the used ones I see on Reverb, etc. are never less than $1,100. So I'm still considering giving this one a shot.

 

[Creaulx]

Considering one of these as well, but mostly because it's the only American made Tele in a decent price range available in surf green. I already have an SS Am Pro II and an HH Deluxe so this would hopefully be a versatile third option, especially with the split coil HB. Youtube demos sound good, as they always do. I imagine the humbucker could just be wax potted if it was extremely microphonic. Can't find one locally to try out.

 

[Crow3000]

FWIW, I tried one and didn’t like the neck humbucker in this model. I thought it sounded muddy. Knowing I could swap it out that wasn’t a deal breaker and I gave it another test run. I thought the build quality was good, but the jumbo frets on that model just drove me nuts so I passed.

 

[MisterZ]

There's also the G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy, if you're looking for a neck humbucker AND a Thinline.

 

[1stpitch]

I don't have this model, so I can't directly comment on that one, but I do have a couple of Teles with humbuckers. I ended up changing the pickups on both of them. The Fender humbuckers I had in those sounded a little weak and sterile.

On the flip side, I have a Player Strat with a Fender humbucker in the bridge that sounds really good.

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

I had mostly talked myself out of getting this model, but there's one selling locally for $850, which I think I can get down to $800. They sell new for $1,450 and the used ones I see on Reverb, etc. are never less than $1,100. So I'm still considering giving this one a shot.

As an update, I ended up taking the plunge on this one! (See NGD thread with photos here: https://www.tdpri.com/threads/ngd-american-performer-hum.1125209/)

I only got to play it for an hour or two before work took over my life again, but so far I REALLY like it. I'm going to put my usual 10 gauge strings on it (it came with 9s), so that might necessitate a new setup. But so far I am very happy with it.

 

[Controller]

Congrats! So nice to pick a winner!