I've played this exact model in a local store and it is one of the best Tele's I've played. Felt absolutely amazing for an intro-USA-level Fender Tele.
Exactly how I felt when I played it for the first time a few months ago. I am actively in the market for a new Tele and this one is very high on the list. Torn between this one in HS v SS, and also considering the Professional series and the 60's mod. So many great choices!
Saw it in the local shop (blond w/ humbucker), really got into my head, went back next day and yes, bought it. It is really a stunning guitar visually, and sound wise. The build quality is exceptional, so yes this is really a keeper. Have about six tele's, some modded with PAF's of course they are all a little different sounding. This one is clear, a little on bright side, and has some spank to it. The two pickups are voiced closely, so you wont have to EQ your amp differently for the neck vs bridge. When I'm not playing it, I cant take my eyes off of it. Recommend!
Jim, your demos are among the best I've ever seen. You really take the time to play through the many tones a guitar can produce. Your incredible guitar playing sure helps show it off, too! I'm very seriously considering this very guitar (albeit in vintage white just out of personal preference), and your demo is sealing it for me. I love that you played the neck pickup as split and full a couple times right next to each other. Really highlights that split sound, and it's real nice. Thanks!
Went to local music store with the kid, he tried this one: Fender American Special Telecaster, Maple Neck with Bag - Black, and the exact one shown above. while he loved them both he dug the sound & tone of the Performer Tele - plus the looks - surf green! And so it's here at home! Nice Axe! :)
How did it go? Do you like the performer hum better? I have the performer ss in honey burst and have been contemplating selling it to purchase the performer hum. I like the satin surf green color but it’s a tough decision for sure. I’ve had my performer for 2 years now and it is my main guitar so it would be hard to part with it but I’m really digging the guitar in this video. Just curious how it all panned out for you. Thanks
Ordering this guitar and have been trying to find a good comprehensive review. Thank you man, really appreciate the depth in tone differences you go into
I made a comment about the Tele sounding "thin" to me. This was just my opinion and I was being honest. For you guys who responded with some thought about why the guitar would sound thin, I do appreciate your comments. As a musician, it helps when someone clarifies what you are hearing. To me this us what the comment section is for!
I have one - I LOVE how it feels and plays, but it is a but thin sounding next to my other Tele style guitars ( I have a mexican thinline upgraded to Rainville pickups, and a Godin Session '59), starting to contemplate some mods, the seymor duncan HB in the Godin is untouchable ( but I prefer the neck of this tele)
That sounds and looks great! And I'm not normally a 'new guitar' fan...although it sounded more 'Tele' in the first few seconds of intro than later in the demo....?
Is this guitar very bright sounding....I played this exact model and it felt really good in the hands....but it was not plugged in..I have many Teles and I gravitate to the darker sounding ones..will try it again and if it is really bright..might look towards the vintera modified tele
Get the humbucker, because with this mode,l you can still split the humbucker to single coil if you want. Plus, humbuckers are better (quieter) for recording purposes.
@@ata5855 -- thanks for the tip. I'm also seriously considering this one as my first guitar, and when I've tried it a few times at guitar shops, it felt great to play. I love classic rock, blues, and even a little jazz, so I'm learning those genres, and this guitar seems great for all.
May 16, 2019: Hello, questions for anyone here. (1) when you pull the knob control pot knob up, does the humbucker become a single coil as good as the traditional lipstick single coil? (2) With the humbucker as a single coil, and you select the center switch position for both pickups, do you get a really nice punchy quacky Telecaster sound? (3) With both pickups single coil, do you get 60 cycle Hum? With just the bridge pickup is there a lot of 60 cycle humming?
mailvilla splitting the coil is a very different tone from the traditional Tele lipstick coil. Yes you get a good tone. I get no hum or minimal hun depending on amp and set up.
Can someone please help me. What is the actual nut width of this guitar? On fender's website they say 1.6875". N Stuff, Sweetwater, Guitar Center and more say it's 1.65". Seeing as how these are basically the american special with different pickups, I assume it's actually 1.6875" and these distributors have it wrong. American special tele nuts are 1.6875" DOES ANYONE KNOW FOR SURE?
I’ve just bought this guitar in white with a maple neck. I think the roller saddle bridge is cheaper than one with six individual saddles, synthetic instead of bone nut and the tuners aren’t locking. Regardless of all that it’s an amazing guitar sounds and plays unbelievably good. Mine is intonated perfectly and I bought it off the wall at guitar center believe it or not
I have the sss strat limited edition with Ash body and for cheap too. Before I bought it I was concerned about the tuners . In reality the tuners are good . The nut is the bigggest let down for me . But as a whole the guitar is awesome with character, good sound and playability. Tuning stability is good too as long as I use the vibrato arm for just that, sensible vibrato lol . These teles the SH have caught my eye tho . I think the splitting humbucker at the neck is a useful replacement.
I'm sure the specs are on sweetwater or somewhere but ide imagine it weighs about 9 pounds. Which isn't super light but at the same time its not like a 12 freakn pound Epi Les Paul.
It's very "toppy"-sounding, yet still lacking any real Tele character. If this is your thing, good for you, but I'll be getting the Vintera 70s Custom.
OldGrowthRedwood They're smaller strings, maybe they're slightly cheaper to manufacture because they use less material? If not though, I don't get it either. They should just use 10s.
giantrobot9000 yeah why is it so hard to grasp? Yes they use 9s. Maybe Leo Fender should have consulted you back in the 50s to see what you’d prefer all the guitars be set up with. I hate people
To me it sounds thin. Not enough body overall. It sounds balanced. Just a little thin. Just my opinion. I like it. I think it works well. Just not enough guts.
The "guts" are EQ'd out of it. Happens frequently on youtube.. its usually a question of taste on the channels part. THe only way to know is to Go play one.
I tried these out, they are mainly sourced from Asian/Chinese materials and assembled in the USA. They felt kind of cheap and I didn't like it. Compared to the USA Professional, or even a Baja Tele, they weren't as good. I walked in the store ready to purchase, and was disappointed but yet glad I didn't buy unseen!
I've played this exact model in a local store and it is one of the best Tele's I've played. Felt absolutely amazing for an intro-USA-level Fender Tele.
Exactly how I felt when I played it for the first time a few months ago. I am actively in the market for a new Tele and this one is very high on the list. Torn between this one in HS v SS, and also considering the Professional series and the 60's mod. So many great choices!
I got this American performer telecaster a few months ago and wow! Great sounding pickups and a real joy to play! 🙌🏻🇺🇲
Sounds like it would be a great Jazz guitar,which makes me want to get one
i bought one of these exact guitars
fantastic not stop playing, hell of a guitar
Saw it in the local shop (blond w/ humbucker), really got into my head, went back next day and yes, bought it. It is really a stunning guitar visually, and sound wise. The build quality is exceptional, so yes this is really a keeper. Have about six tele's, some modded with PAF's of course they are all a little different sounding. This one is clear, a little on bright side, and has some spank to it. The two pickups are voiced closely, so you wont have to EQ your amp differently for the neck vs bridge. When I'm not playing it, I cant take my eyes off of it. Recommend!
I saw it tonight great guitar
I think a nice shiny paint would be better than satin though
Do you still love the guitar?
I really like your reviews. You go over everything, instead of right away going to distortion and pedals.
Exactly!!
Jim, your demos are among the best I've ever seen. You really take the time to play through the many tones a guitar can produce. Your incredible guitar playing sure helps show it off, too! I'm very seriously considering this very guitar (albeit in vintage white just out of personal preference), and your demo is sealing it for me. I love that you played the neck pickup as split and full a couple times right next to each other. Really highlights that split sound, and it's real nice. Thanks!
What a perfect demo!
Great telecaster for blues 😎👍
Went to local music store with the kid, he tried this one: Fender American Special Telecaster, Maple Neck with Bag - Black, and the exact one shown above.
while he loved them both he dug the sound & tone of the Performer Tele - plus the looks - surf green! And so it's here at home! Nice Axe! :)
This is a Bad Ass Guitar the craftsmanship and tone is amazing.. No fret sprouting or buzzing.
Love all the tones. Even the split sounds good; kinda more like a strat voicing in the neck split.
I think this demo is really good; nice sounding Tele!
Sold my American performer S in the neck to buy one with a hum in it. I’m excited!
How did it go? Do you like the performer hum better? I have the performer ss in honey burst and have been contemplating selling it to purchase the performer hum. I like the satin surf green color but it’s a tough decision for sure. I’ve had my performer for 2 years now and it is my main guitar so it would be hard to part with it but I’m really digging the guitar in this video.
Just curious how it all panned out for you.
Thanks
Ordering this guitar and have been trying to find a good comprehensive review. Thank you man, really appreciate the depth in tone differences you go into
Would love to see one of these in Olympic white or blonde with that rosewood board
A gig bag!? I want a hard case Thankyou very much!!
Same, but it is the entry level USA model. They are trying to hit a price point.
I just bought the yellow or "vintage white" one three days ago and I'm thinking of exchanging it for that surf green and rosewood fretboard. So nice.
Yeh do it. Surf green is killer
Love the vintage white
@@LLSiciliadid you switch it ?
Thank you very much for a very informative demonstration one of the best I’ve seen for this new guitar
Looks its gonna be cool to play some extreme brutal metal with it
this guys face expressions is he in pain iam allways smiling when i play
Really great demo. Thanks!
I have the exact guitar and I'm in love with it only problem is the synthetic nut but my pleb ears can't tell the difference anyway
when it sounds that good
you gotta have one
looks and sounds a great guitar
That little "Old Man" start was good
I made a comment about the Tele sounding "thin" to me. This was just my opinion and I was being honest. For you guys who responded with some thought about why the guitar would sound thin, I do appreciate your comments. As a musician, it helps when someone clarifies what you are hearing. To me this us what the comment section is for!
I have one - I LOVE how it feels and plays, but it is a but thin sounding next to my other Tele style guitars ( I have a mexican thinline upgraded to Rainville pickups, and a Godin Session '59), starting to contemplate some mods, the seymor duncan HB in the Godin is untouchable ( but I prefer the neck of this tele)
I guess we're not gonna talk about the faces
lol classic blues pain face
hey thats Joe Satraini
Nice phrasing dude!
I have it and love it!
Nice playing!
That sounds and looks great! And I'm not normally a 'new guitar' fan...although it sounded more 'Tele' in the first few seconds of intro than later in the demo....?
great demo
Great guitar , great review
Awesome !!!!!!!!!!!😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀
This comes in ash body? Could always upgrade the neck pup to gibson classic or bnukle!!
Thanks for demo'ing the tone settings. Too many reviews with tone stuck at 10.
Whats the thing on the amp?
Universal Audio OX BOX
Is this guitar very bright sounding....I played this exact model and it felt really good in the hands....but it was not plugged in..I have many Teles and I gravitate to the darker sounding ones..will try it again and if it is really bright..might look towards the vintera modified tele
I might be purchasing this as my first guitar. It comes with a single coil or humbucker at the same price point, which one do I go for?
Get the humbucker, because with this mode,l you can still split the humbucker to single coil if you want. Plus, humbuckers are better (quieter) for recording purposes.
@@ata5855 -- thanks for the tip. I'm also seriously considering this one as my first guitar, and when I've tried it a few times at guitar shops, it felt great to play. I love classic rock, blues, and even a little jazz, so I'm learning those genres, and this guitar seems great for all.
May 16, 2019: Hello, questions for anyone here. (1) when you pull the knob control pot knob up, does the humbucker become a single coil as good as the traditional lipstick single coil? (2) With the humbucker as a single coil, and you select the center switch position for both pickups, do you get a really nice punchy quacky Telecaster sound? (3) With both pickups single coil, do you get 60 cycle Hum? With just the bridge pickup is there a lot of 60 cycle humming?
mailvilla splitting the coil is a very different tone from the traditional Tele lipstick coil.
Yes you get a good tone.
I get no hum or minimal hun depending on amp and set up.
Can someone please help me. What is the actual nut width of this guitar? On fender's website they say 1.6875". N Stuff, Sweetwater, Guitar Center and more say it's 1.65". Seeing as how these are basically the american special with different pickups, I assume it's actually 1.6875" and these distributors have it wrong. American special tele nuts are 1.6875" DOES ANYONE KNOW FOR SURE?
does anyone know what value pots are they putting in these teles??
Does the tapped single coil on this Doubletap sound the same as the single coil in a standard Tele?
The split humbucker doesn’t sound quite the exact same as a regular single coil. Still sounds very good though
@@Meowah122456, thank you!
It seems to like that amp
which is kinda odd
This sounds so great! anyone knows where where were the corners cut?
I’ve just bought this guitar in white with a maple neck. I think the roller saddle bridge is cheaper than one with six individual saddles, synthetic instead of bone nut and the tuners aren’t locking. Regardless of all that it’s an amazing guitar sounds and plays unbelievably good. Mine is intonated perfectly and I bought it off the wall at guitar center believe it or not
@@Zach-uf1ff 💯 The ways that they saved cost on this model does not lessen the experience whatsoever. It is worth every penny and more!
satin finish, no gloss. saves a whole step.
I bought it!!! The vintage white version. Thanks guys!
I have the sss strat limited edition with Ash body and for cheap too. Before I bought it I was concerned about the tuners . In reality the tuners are good . The nut is the bigggest let down for me . But as a whole the guitar is awesome with character, good sound and playability. Tuning stability is good too as long as I use the vibrato arm for just that, sensible vibrato lol .
These teles the SH have caught my eye tho . I think the splitting humbucker at the neck is a useful replacement.
I love you make ugly faces like me, makes me laugh.
Is the guitar heavy?
I'm sure the specs are on sweetwater or somewhere but ide imagine it weighs about 9 pounds. Which isn't super light but at the same time its not like a 12 freakn pound Epi Les Paul.
No, it's my brother.
It's very "toppy"-sounding, yet still lacking any real Tele character.
If this is your thing, good for you, but I'll be getting the Vintera 70s Custom.
dude playing face class
I didn't know that Andrew Tate playing guitar
Shame it's poly.
Really don’t understand 9’s from the factory .
OldGrowthRedwood They're smaller strings, maybe they're slightly cheaper to manufacture because they use less material? If not though, I don't get it either. They should just use 10s.
I use 8's and turn up the amp. Sweet sounds and your hands will work for many years.
9's play better on a 25.5 scale.
giantrobot9000 yeah why is it so hard to grasp? Yes they use 9s. Maybe Leo Fender should have consulted you back in the 50s to see what you’d prefer all the guitars be set up with.
I hate people
settings to hairy and low volume why neutral get on good sound splitted hum sounds not so good as single coil
To me it sounds thin. Not enough body overall. It sounds balanced. Just a little thin. Just my opinion. I like it. I think it works well. Just not enough guts.
kckennedy55 could be the 9’s
The "guts" are EQ'd out of it. Happens frequently on youtube.. its usually a question of taste on the channels part. THe only way to know is to Go play one.
You know it's a tele, right?
I doubt this would be true in person. So much of how gutsy it sounds has to do with how the amp is EQed and how it’s recorded and mic’d.
Yeh the american special had more mids.. Likewise i feel this sounds too thin
I tried these out, they are mainly sourced from Asian/Chinese materials and assembled in the USA. They felt kind of cheap and I didn't like it. Compared to the USA Professional, or even a Baja Tele, they weren't as good. I walked in the store ready to purchase, and was disappointed but yet glad I didn't buy unseen!
Four Owls first person I know that found it to feel cheap.
This shit all over Baja teles
Please please fender I’m so done seeing this chicken plucker demo stuff I’m into not everyone plays this mix it up yer killing me
Simply watch another video Oh but then again let's not forget it's all about you.
the headline is HUM... not you showing off playing.
I don't appreciate the filter as I want to see what the guitar actually looks like.