Vintage White Color Telecaster

[Atlantopeth]

Hello everyone,

I'm brand new to the world of Telecasters and have set my sights on an 2022 American Performer vintage white a few days ago.

I didn't have a huge crush on the color, but its playability completely convinced me to buy it
So, I'm a little pernickety and I can't help but let out a sigh every time I take the guitar out of the gigbag. I looked on some websites for other Tele in vintage white and to my surprise, the models from a few years ago seemed much better finished, with a slightly yellowish white. Are there several shades in this color at Fender for the American Performer series ? Has this finish changed over time ?
Finally, I know this series has a poly finish so is there any chance that this yellow will lighten or maybe darken over time ?

Thanks for reading this far !

~2010 :

2022 :

 

[ponycar]

I actually like the "custard" white of that guitar. I've found that with various whites, a subtle change in pickguard, say from white to parchment, mint green or some combination can make a huge difference in how the colors work together. Perhaps tortoise etc.
Doing an experiment with a neck humbucker, though, complicates things a bit.

 

[Killing Floor]

“Vintage” isn’t a color. Neither is Sonic or Daphne or Olympic.

Pointing this out because it’s relevant. The reason you like one vintage white and not another is that nobody has an actual Pantone reference for the color. It’s vintage white if someone says it is. There’s not a consistent standard.

 

[Spazzmaster]

Google Fender vintage white and you'll see a lot of different colors.

 

[John C]

Hello everyone,

I'm brand new to the world of Telecasters and have set my sights on an 2022 American Performer vintage white a few days ago.

I didn't have a huge crush on the color, but its playability completely convinced me to buy it
So, I'm a little pernickety and I can't help but let out a sigh every time I take the guitar out of the gigbag. I looked on some websites for other Tele in vintage white and to my surprise, the models from a few years ago seemed much better finished, with a slightly yellowish white. Are there several shades in this color at Fender for the American Performer series ? Has this finish changed over time ?
Finally, I know this series has a poly finish so is there any chance that this yellow will lighten or maybe darken over time ?

Thanks for reading this far !

~2010 :

View attachment 1119655View attachment 1119656

2022 :

View attachment 1119657

The 2010 model was the American Special, the predecessor to the American Performer, and the color is not vintage white, it is olympic white. "Vintage white" is supposed to sort of look like an olympic white finish that has aged and yellowed over the years. Further during the run of the American Specials the olympic white was replaced by "vintage blonde", which is supposed to represent a white blonde color that had aged and yellowed over time - and the vintage blonde would fall in-between the olympic white and the vintage white in terms of the amount of yellow in the finish.

Also - depending on the lighting and background my American Performer can look more yellow/banana cream/custard than in other lighting and backgrounds. Here's a few diferent shots of mine (mine's a 2021 - purchased in early [EDIT TYPO] November December and per Fender's lookup had shipped out of the factory that October):

Old group shot - I no longer have the miami blue American Pro II Strat, just the Tele and the LP Tribute:

 

[schmee]

I like that white better the more yellow color myself. I may have said the opposite 10 years ago though. The yellowish is nice too, but I'm a bit over it. Too many import $150 versions with that color now maybe...?
My $79 Monoprice Indio:

 

[Atlantopeth]

First of all, many thanks for all your answers !

I actually like the "custard" white of that guitar. I've found that with various whites, a subtle change in pickguard, say from white to parchment, mint green or some combination can make a huge difference in how the colors work together. Perhaps tortoise etc.
Doing an experiment with a neck humbucker, though, complicates things a bit.

You're absolutely right, I was also thinking of switching the white pickguard to a tortoise shell.

“Vintage” isn’t a color. Neither is Sonic or Daphne or Olympic.

Pointing this out because it’s relevant. The reason you like one vintage white and not another is that nobody has an actual Pantone reference for the color. It’s vintage white if someone says it is. There’s not a consistent standard.

Yes, I understand better !

The 2010 model was the American Special, the predecessor to the American Performer, and the color is not vintage white, it is olympic white. "Vintage white" is supposed to sort of look like an olympic white finish that has aged and yellowed over the years. Further during the run of the American Specials the olympic white was replaced by "vintage blonde", which is supposed to represent a white blonde color that had aged and yellowed over time - and the vintage blonde would fall in-between the olympic white and the vintage white in terms of the amount of yellow in the finish.

Thank you very much for those explanations. I'm a little lost with all these nuances but I understand better.
Either way, it's a great collection !

 

[Esquier]

There's a white called Antique White now, I think. It's the colour of the Esquire prototypes from the late '40s. My pine body special is painted in that hue

 

[2HBStrat]

Hello everyone,

I'm brand new to the world of Telecasters and have set my sights on an 2022 American Performer vintage white a few days ago.

I didn't have a huge crush on the color, but its playability completely convinced me to buy it
So, I'm a little pernickety and I can't help but let out a sigh every time I take the guitar out of the gigbag. I looked on some websites for other Tele in vintage white and to my surprise, the models from a few years ago seemed much better finished, with a slightly yellowish white. Are there several shades in this color at Fender for the American Performer series ? Has this finish changed over time ?
Finally, I know this series has a poly finish so is there any chance that this yellow will lighten or maybe darken over time ?

Thanks for reading this far !

~2010 :

View attachment 1119655View attachment 1119656

2022 :

View attachment 1119657

Yours is a beautiful guitar. I much prefer white over the fake looking aged banana yellow color.

 

[Fiesta Red]

1995 MIM Special Tele in Vintage White, slightly modified in the first pic, very modified in the second.

 

[Tarkus60]

My 2006

 

[Maguchi]

Hello everyone,

I'm brand new to the world of Telecasters and have set my sights on an 2022 American Performer vintage white a few days ago.

I didn't have a huge crush on the color, but its playability completely convinced me to buy it
So, I'm a little pernickety and I can't help but let out a sigh every time I take the guitar out of the gigbag. I looked on some websites for other Tele in vintage white and to my surprise, the models from a few years ago seemed much better finished, with a slightly yellowish white. Are there several shades in this color at Fender for the American Performer series ? Has this finish changed over time ?
Finally, I know this series has a poly finish so is there any chance that this yellow will lighten or maybe darken over time ?

Thanks for reading this far !

~2010 :

View attachment 1119655View attachment 1119656

2022 :

View attachment 1119657

I won't disagree with the persnickety comment. I love both those colors equally, and would happily play either one. Once I start playing a guitar, the body is facing forward and I can't really see what color it is anyways, because I'm either looking ahead or at the fretboard. The yellower one is probly Fender's idea of what an aged white guitar would look like, while the lighter/whiter one is probly what a brand new one would look like. Why is there two different shades with the same name? You'll probly have to ask Fender that one.

 

[John C]

Yours is a beautiful guitar. I much prefer white over the fake looking aged banana yellow color.

Actually his is the American Performer HS Tele in the aged banana color; he was commenting that he liked the older olypmic white color on the American Specials that he found online better.

 

[2HBStrat]

Actually his is the American Performer HS Tele in the aged banana color; he was commenting that he liked the older olypmic white color on the American Specials that he found online better.

Oh, okay, I misunderstood. I agree with him.

 

[Hoodster]

As others have indicated, vintage white is what fender calls the banana cream color that is supposed to approximate aged Olympic white. In my opinion it is among the coolest of colors for a telecaster, especially paired with rosewood. Here’s mine:

 

[Hoodster]

Tom was fond of it as well:

 

[jondom22]

Agree with the others. Cream/banana/vanilla with a parchment single ply guard and rosewood neck looks awesome.

I just put this together. “Vintage white” body from MJT, with a Fender American channel bound neck.

 

[Atlantopeth]

Thank you all again for your many responses.
Your guitars are really splendid, I find that this finish is really beautiful with a rosewood neck.
I will see to replace the pickguard too !

 

[Sgt Pepper]

There is an Olympic White and Olympic Pearl, which is one of my favorite Fender colors. This Telecaster is Olympic Pearl

 

[Blue Bill]

That color is one of my favorites, too.