Vintera or American Performer ?

[RhythmFender]

What’s the best value here, all things considered? I like vintage pickups. Are there still fret edge issues with the vinteras? Are the performers worth the little bit of extra money? Are the Yosemite pickups vintage sounding enough? Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[adjason]

cant really speak to this but I will say if you like vintage style pickups the old classic 60's or classic 50's strats sounded really better than American standards to me, but most of the American standards I played, did play a little better. I'd look used on your local craigslist...and sonic blue and white are both cool colors-you can;t go wrong with either

 

[Reedo]

I had a Mustang Performer, I bought on a whim. I ended up returning it. I can only speak for the Yosemite pickups in that model, however they were the most weedy sounding pathetic pickups I have ever owned. If I had kept the guitar, I would have taken them out without a second thought. I later tried a Performer Jazzmaster, and they were just as thin sounding. Before you buy, please try both of them out. All of the Vintera Tele's I've played, including my 60s Mod all sound really good. However, the pickups in my new Squier Classic Vibe Custom Telecaster, sound a lot beefier than both my Vintera 60s and the bridge pickup on my Vintera 70s Custom.

 

[John C]

I had a Mustang Performer, I bought on a whim. I ended up returning it. I can only speak for the Yosemite pickups in that model, however they were the most weedy sounding pathetic pickups I have ever owned. If I had kept the guitar, I would have taken them out without a second thought. I later tried a Performer Jazzmaster, and they were just as thin sounding. Before you buy, please try both of them out. All of the Vintera Tele's I've played, including my 60s Mod all sound really good. However, the pickups in my new Squier Classic Vibe Custom Telecaster, sound a lot beefier than both my Vintera 60s and the bridge pickup on my Vintera 70s Custom.

Sometimes you can luck out with the American Performers - I still have my Mustang. Like you I bought it on a whim, but I lucked out in that mine isn't too terribly weedy/thin sounding. I've since played 3 other Performer Mustangs and they were all thin, weedy sounding. I've also played the Performer Teles and Performer Strats and same deal - thin, weedy sounding pickups.

The Vinteras - I've had the 60s Strat and the 60s Modified Strat, loved the pickups in both but ultimately returned them as my left hand issues have resurfaced and I'm not comfortable playing 25 1/2" scale guitars for the foreseeable future.

 

[RhythmFender]

cant really speak to this but I will say if you like vintage style pickups the old classic 60's or classic 50's strats sounded really better than American standards to me, but most of the American standards I played, did play a little better. I'd look used on your local craigslist...and sonic blue and white are both cool colors-you can;t go wrong with either

standards are a step up from the performer, right? Are the classic 50’s made in Mexico?

 

[adjason]

Yes standards are a step up from performer and classics are made in mexico

 

[nathanteal]

standards are a step up from the performer, right? Are the classic 50’s made in Mexico?

Depends on your definition of "step up." IMO, no. They're pricier, yes. Not better though. I'd take a Performer before a Standard/Professional.

To the OP, I have really only had experience A/B'ing the Vintera '60s Modified Strat and an HSS Performer Strat. Both held their own against the other, but I was partial to the neck profile/frets of the '60s Mod. I've played a few Perf. Teles and haven't loved them like I did the American Special. And then I preferred the '60s Bajas to the Special. So...however that works out to the current line, take that for what it's worth.

 

[DADGAD]

I have not handled a Vintera Tele yet. However, in December of 2018, I spotted an American Performer Tele at the local GC. The thing that attracted me to it was the color. Then I noticed things I usually don't like. I don't like 22 fret Fender Teles. I don't like large frets. I don't like bright white maple necks.

Then, I plugged it in to a Deluxe Reverb RI. WOW! What an amazing sounding guitar! That splitable neck Yosemite pickup is steller. Want jazz tone? You go it. It is not wax potted and resonates in a good way. Splitting the neck humbucker, you still get all the classic Tele tones. The bridge pickup is great, too. This is my number one guitar out of 25. I gig with it and record with it. Even though it had it's finish damaged by a luthier, it did not lose it's soul. I don't baby it in the least. These new, vintage looking tuners, are fantastic. I wish all my other Fenders had these things.

Hope this helps.

 

[RhythmFender]

Depends on your definition of "step up." IMO, no. They're pricier, yes. Not better though. I'd take a Performer before a Standard/Professional.

To the OP, I have really only had experience A/B'ing the Vintera '60s Modified Strat and an HSS Performer Strat. Both held their own against the other, but I was partial to the neck profile/frets of the '60s Mod. I've played a few Perf. Teles and haven't loved them like I did the American Special. And then I preferred the '60s Bajas to the Special. So...however that works out to the current line, take that for what it's worth.

I think the vintera modified are similar to bajas but I’m not entirely sure.

 

[RhythmFender]

I have not handled a Vintera Tele yet. However, in December of 2018, I spotted an American Performer Tele at the local GC. The thing that attracted me to it was the color. Then I noticed things I usually don't like. I don't like 22 fret Fender Teles. I don't like large frets. I don't like bright white maple necks.

Then, I plugged it in to a Deluxe Reverb RI. WOW! What an amazing sounding guitar! That splitable neck Yosemite pickup is steller. Want jazz tone? You go it. It is not wax potted and resonates in a good way. Splitting the neck humbucker, you still get all the classic Tele tones. The bridge pickup is great, too. This is my number one guitar out of 25. I gig with it and record with it. Even though it had it's finish damaged by a luthier, it did not lose it's soul. I don't baby it in the least. These new, vintage looking tuners, are fantastic. I wish all my other Fenders had these things.

Hope this helps.

 

[RhythmFender]

thanks. I don’t mind Mexican made guitars at all, but I was kind of looking forward to my first American made guitar ever, and the performers seem affordable. Kind Of surprised to hear weird things about the pickups, but I’m glad you like yours. I like the look of your guitar a lot. I think it’s a real looker. It’s funny, I always read you had to get lucky to find a good Mexican made guitar, and now I keep reading you’ve got to get lucky to find a good American made guitar. I know the MIM keep getting better and and better, though and I love my ‘96 upgraded MIM Strat. Unfortunately I want a new guitar soon and I can’t go play any because all the showrooms are closed until who knows when. I guess I could order and return but returning guitars is such a pain in the ass. Or I could just wait awhile until showrooms open again.

 

[Kmaxbrady]

I’m biased cause I just ordered a vintera and I want to be right, but the way I see it, I’d rather have the best of the Mexican line, than the cheapest of the American line. Also I wrote off the performer (American special) long ago because I can’t stand jumbo frets.

 

[RhythmFender]

I’m biased cause I just ordered a vintera and I want to be right, but the way I see it, I’d rather have the best of the Mexican line, than the cheapest of the American line. Also I wrote off the performer (American special) long ago because I can’t stand jumbo frets.

Congrats! What vintera did you order?

 

[Kmaxbrady]

More thoughts.

No offense to anyone who owns and loves the performer series, I’ve played a few and they are perfectly good guitars (if you like those massive frets).

I guess I just don’t get what the performer is supposed to be from a marketing perspective.

My impressions of what Fender is going for:

ultra - flagship model, fancy, perfection in every detail, shows off the best they can do

American original - Vintage look feel and sound for those who don’t want to pay 10k+ for a real blackguard. On top of that, these just scream “mojo”

professional - no nonsense, awesome US made guitars. This is the standard for the Pros.

Performer - the cheaper professional? The budget option for those who want USA on the headstock? ‍


..again no offense, they’re not bad guitars by any means, they just fill a weird spot in the fender line up.

 

[Kmaxbrady]

Congrats! What vintera did you order?

50s sonic blue!

 

[adjason]

I'd hold off until the stores open and go play a bunch if I were you-sounds like you are the type of person who does not want to buy/sell repeat...

 

[RhythmFender]

50s sonic blue!

very cool! Was just looking at that. I really like the look of the 50’s fiesta red and sunburst as well. The 50’s modified gets a soft v neck and custom shop pickups, which is cool, plus I could get classic butter scotch blonde with it too. I’m basically just a rhythm player, I don’t much shred, my leads are simple simple, so I don’t think I’d mind a big neck at all. I am trying to play/learn more blues though lately though, because I like the blues a lot! I bet I’ll be happy no matter what I end up choosing. I just want a Tele so bad! Such classic guitars for all genres!

 

[Paulie_Boy]

...these just scream “mojo”

Yep. That's the idea. Then the novice/intermediate player buys it, only to discover that they don't sound any better than they did on their Squier. "Where's the mojo? Maybe I need to swap out the pickups..." The tail continues to wag the dog.

Guitars are like shoes. You need they try them before you buy them. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Ess Eff]

I have not handled a Vintera Tele yet. However, in December of 2018, I spotted an American Performer Tele at the local GC. The thing that attracted me to it was the color. Then I noticed things I usually don't like. I don't like 22 fret Fender Teles. I don't like large frets. I don't like bright white maple necks.

Then, I plugged it in to a Deluxe Reverb RI. WOW! What an amazing sounding guitar! That splitable neck Yosemite pickup is steller. Want jazz tone? You go it. It is not wax potted and resonates in a good way. Splitting the neck humbucker, you still get all the classic Tele tones. The bridge pickup is great, too. This is my number one guitar out of 25. I gig with it and record with it. Even though it had it's finish damaged by a luthier, it did not lose it's soul. I don't baby it in the least. These new, vintage looking tuners, are fantastic. I wish all my other Fenders had these things.

Hope this helps.

Haha... I have the exact same Tele Hum but had the totally opposite experience.

Tuners were terrible and a couple had to be replaced under warranty, the nut was badly cut n replaced under warranty, couldn't get a good sound out of the humbucker (way too warm), the coil tapped tone was not remotely Tele, and the huge frets are an acquired taste.

But, each to their own experience.

All my MIMs are special models (signature, classic player, fsr ) and all vastly superior to the Performer model.
.

 

[John C]

More thoughts.

No offense to anyone who owns and loves the performer series, I’ve played a few and they are perfectly good guitars (if you like those massive frets).

I guess I just don’t get what the performer is supposed to be from a marketing perspective.

My impressions of what Fender is going for:

ultra - flagship model, fancy, perfection in every detail, shows off the best they can do

American original - Vintage look feel and sound for those who don’t want to pay 10k+ for a real blackguard. On top of that, these just scream “mojo”

professional - no nonsense, awesome US made guitars. This is the standard for the Pros.

Performer - the cheaper professional? The budget option for those who want USA on the headstock? ‍


..again no offense, they’re not bad guitars by any means, they just fill a weird spot in the fender line up.

That's pretty much correct for the Performers - although part of their appeal is for those who like the wider nut width neck and larger frets; also these are the only current USA models with Fender's "Modern C" neck shape.