First Look: Fender American Performer Telecaster

#fender #telecaster #johnbohlinger
More First Look videos: bit.ly/FIrstLook
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2019

[@ia5662]

Such a stud of a Tele...that color combo kills it against the rosewood board. Beautiful guitar, beautiful tone.

[@clintwilson6380]

You ain't kidding.

[@YJMusic72]

I got the sonic blue Performer Tele with two single coils. And it's a great axe! Feels great, plays great, sounds great, looks great! Couldn't be happier!

[@GregThorneKTM500NB]

Right on John. Thanks again man for your reviews, insight and great playing.

[@garyhall9087]

I played one a few weeks ago in a music stores,and it's a incredible guitar. As a matter of fact, I'm going back in a few weeks and buying one exactly like the one you're playing. Thanks for the demonstration.

[@stevec.1802]

A versatile and simplistic guitar for a variety of styles. Nice switching options too. Love your demos too.

[@ArvidNielsen]

Big thumbs up for the always no-nonsense reviews.

[@SpecialC2474]

Love your reviews, intelligent with a tinge of humor/sarcasm in there somehow, and objective also. Also love your chord phrasing

[@ResurrectionFern]

"A cool little spank to it" :D I'm getting this guitar in the mail any day now! This exact color and model I can't wait!

[@mookytc]

Great playing John! Would love me one of these Tele's!

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

I ordered one in Aubergine yesterday, hopefully I’ll have it in my hands tomorrow. Thanks for the review

[@AkiraSpectrum]

love these performer tele's

[@Bryan-kl5rr]

Me too. I really like the Penny finishes. Hopefully they stick around until i can justify another guitar purchase.

[@nickbrylka-mee6917]

I have one of these- love it.

[@mikebuckman5182]

Now this is a First Look:,Good to see the old fella.

[@massimos6863]

Awesome playing John! and awesome sounding Guitar great Demo

[@enzoiovine2077]

I have this guitar but I play it completely in other way this guy does. Love the mellow sounds of the neck pickup so I use it in my jazz band. My personal Ed Bickert tribute tele

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

I bought the same model last week and its the best tele I have played/owned since I sold my 2001 Fender 52 AVRI. This one is a keeper!

[@s0uldrift3r]

Great playing John! My professional Strat needs a sister, so my performer is coming in the mail 😎👍

[@TRose-hc9pv]

Really cool slide guitar!!! Beautiful Tele!

[@keithmcneil883]

You just sold me on this guitar. Thanks!!!

[@ernieflanaganstingraybassm1463]

Beautiful Tele John !!!!

[@jaklemon74]

I’ m from Italy excuse me for imprecision English, Very nice video, this guitar series is incredible, the price is correct, the materials are good and also the build, the sound to this yosemite pick up for me are the best, nice job for this Telecaster, everything a thoroughbred horse deserves

[@888jimm]

bellissmiso English 😂😂

[@retrolee]

Another great review #johnbohlinger --you're the best in the business ! Thanks

[@joelmiddaugh8229]

That is some great tone out of both pickups. They both sound exactly like great versions of what they are. I'm sure the amp has something to do with it, but still.

[@1willywonker]

that guitar sounds magic

[@Creaulx]

Well - I think you just sold me on this model. Love the colour, but the versatility is also👌.

[@josephbelcher2568]

Great demo. Really like it but just wonder how a Filter-Tron would do in the neck.

[@koolade76]

I love mine it’s got the perfect neck and fret size for me

[@pablo9364]

Good talk and very nice. Some good deals on these

[@Esquire-ul9xs]

This dude could beat up my poor old grandma and make it sound good...

[@racyagentmac]

Damn that's gangsta and messed up🤘😂

[@shellsjoint]

love the poster in the back!

[@user-mc7hm7fj6o]

Lovely demo, wow, and this tele is so hot!!

[@safeandsound100]

why wouldn't you want a humbucker on the neck of a tele when you can tap it to single coil too - best of both worlds. Good review John. Keep it safe out there.

[@StymyParsley]

I think even splitting the humbucker won’t sound exactly like a single coil even if it gets close

[@crimsondragonfly5127]

You are awesome and inspiring - you make this guitar sound awesome- I just ordered one, but I have to say it will be a while before I can make it sing the way you do! I've always been a Strat guy when it comes to Fender, but have been intriqued with the Tele since a couple of my buds play them. Watching this vidoe closed the deal for me. I like the traditional aspects along with the double tap humbucker-but the sound is what makes it, knowing that the tone is in the hands, I still think this one will be an awesome addition to my collection-looking forward to it. Thanks!

[@bobboitt3126]

Love the color and pickups. Needs locking tuners, not a fan of those bridge saddles and the grease bucket tone control prevents that wah effect like Roy Buchanan used to get.

[@smalltownnightlife]

Finally a guitar I can perform with!

[@clancykobane9102]

what the heck have I been doing all these years??

[@gonebymidnight2881]

🤣

[@gonebymidnight2881]

Bear in mind this is for non professional performers, if you get paid for the gig they have a more expensive model.

[@SuchaDoofus]

@@gonebymidnight2881 Exactly. Finally a guitar I can perform for free with.

[@auxorion]

@@gonebymidnight2881 LMAO

[@bengalvin9932]

i think i am in love! the tele is pretty cool too.

[@donharrold1375]

Nice guitar. You’re a real Tele guy!

[@jayb6217]

That's the kind of guitar you want to play until all of the paint comes off.

[@andylee9884]

That's gunna take some time!

[@dragan4658]

Yes! Crank that volume & gain and off you go!

[@Tomtom-fy7tm]

Hello what a beauty Green surf color i suppose sounds amazing,i’ve got a telecustom72 reissue 99 since 18years but i never like the neck pick up would like to change for a similar like this,what it is? paf Gibson?

[@Jtatnell]

So, a G&L Bluesboy? I built this exact guitar with a Warmoth body a long time ago. Have a Gibson burstbucker pro in the neck and a Jerry Donahue in the bridge. Sounds amazing!

[@wiggledixbubsy98]

The Jazzmaster for this series is just a Doheny

[@sketchyold]

Congratulations

[@Jtatnell]

@@sketchyold thanks?

[@enricofiori7641]

Great video! Have you ever tried Telecaster Vintera? Better American performer or Vintera? Many thanks!

[@nsrfreak]

Cool t-shirt

[@pedalscapes]

Nice Demo, cheers :)

[@DBSG1976]

Beautiful Surf Green Tele!

[@Mrsmacieks]

Its actually Satin Surf Green

[@c.caveman1743]

@@Mrsmacieks the color is Surf Green, the finish is satin.

[@benallmark9671]

It’s a thin satin to boot. The paint comes off real easy which I like.

[@shellsea9520]

❤ Tks U man , This is the one for me Hv watched many different tele reviews and this is the one that really suit's what I want to use it for in my band I can not wait to be available to play it Will be a good day SUBSCRIBED ❤

[@shellsea9520]

Nice 💗 Tunes😊

[@gabyponce6737]

Very nice. What tuning are you in? I’m guessing standard 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@FilipeDaSilva-or2jz]

Love it. I went for the Vintage White version with the Maple Neck. Reminded me of Albert Collins's Tele.

[@benallmark9671]

Do you still have and play it ?

[@cmkilcullen8176]

should one bother to get brass compensated saddles for better tuning? I am surprised that Fender fixed so many "glitches" but did not think of that...

[@VonBluesman]

Hey John, what humbucker did you put in your Tele and did you wire it to split the coils ? Hey jazz guitar, Mike Stern still kills it on tele

[@jasong546]

Consumers who revere the early models as the best, while demanding improvements, and then hate the improvement because it’s not an early model lol! That’s who they listen to John. I have done it myself!

[@wallyg3]

Nerd alert - Really looking forward to seeing how they wired this. Sounds great.

[@Richard_P_James]

According to the Fender website, the fingerboard is listed as maple - assume it's just stained to look like rosewood.

[@marike1100]

This one is rosewood. The Performer series comes in both rosewood and maple neck versions.

[@travgpeters1]

strongly thinking of getting one of these used . its at my main guitar shop right now . just there . hmmmm

[@j_music_8779]

Hope you did 🙂.

[@RobertSandifer]

So yeah. Dream guitar?

[@jixxxxer17]

the one i got in vintage white the long adjusting screws for the barrel bridge stick way out and are like weapons IDK maybe it's a defect lol not happy tho bought online , Peace !

[@chrisgrabowski2678]

John, do you know if "ash trays" are still made for modern tele's ? Strictly for visual affect. Thanks for the review. You don't hear "So What" everyday :)

[@johnbohlinger]

I've not seen one for years.

[@hrodbert696]

Not sure if this is the specs you'd want, but... shop.fender.com/en-US/parts/telecaster-parts/pure-vintage-telecaster-ashtray-bridge-cover/0992271100.html

[@chrisgrabowski2678]

@@hrodbert696 Thank you!

[@c.caveman1743]

A really late response, I know...but just ordered one today off Amazon for $40 CDN, shipped...if you're still looking.

[@RachelFromEurope]

What a beautiful guitar! What's the name of the color? Thanks so much!

[@samrotschild]

Surf green

[@mtm105]

Rosewood?? FBI/DOJ contraband? smh lol. I just ordered one off Reverb. After studying teles, someone on forum suggested this. I like the jumbo frets. And the pups.

[@jerryrn62]

Only guitar you need!

[@vodkavolvo5529]

I have tried a 60s custom with neck humbucker

[@TheOriginalCoda]

and....?

[@mineralt]

That color rawks

[@pasdedeux4444]

Would this be suitable for a 50 year old beginner who mainly wants to play chords or is the fret size too large?

[@yrmthr]

Yes, this guitar will not let you down

[@TayyarePilotuOfficial]

Did any guy know the guitar colour?

[@andyleotell]

Billy Bob Thornton plays guitar! Nice!

[@Cheguebuddha]

Dear Tele layers, please tell me, is the neck on this model thin C or more of a medium C shape? I dont like thin necks hence asking. Thank you

[@andersonfuller7912]

I have the exact guitar in the video and it is a very thin, shallow neck (compared to most guitars I have played) which is why I got it - I love a thin, low-profile neck. Full disclosure though, I have quite big hands.

[@benallmark9671]

@@andersonfuller7912agreed

[@excellerateurbreath]

What is the color called of the one in the video?

[@ianclunie9753]

I think it's sea foam green

[@spotmfd9431]

I had the chance to play one of these at local GC and the were great except for the humbucker pickup. Almost bought it but the humbucker was too bright. Why can’t anybody at fender but Tim Shaw design a pickup that sounds like humbucker pickup. By the way Kieth Richards and Bonnamassa do not use Fender humbuckers on there telecasters.

[@brianv4]

Really? Better look again... kzbin.info/www/bejne/imTagpiBnLyYjJo . BTW, it's spelled KEITH ;-)

[@craiger2399]

It's interesting that you hear it as too bright. I hear it as darker than some of my other buckers, but perhaps it's the differences in individual pickups. Tim Shaw DID design these, by the way.

[@bluehappyscrap]

AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀🎈😀

[@MichaelMaksymiw]

Hi John. Is it heavy?

[@craiger2399]

Mine is 7.2 lbs.

[@crazychicken808]

John looks like Dylan Mattheisen and it doesn't help that Dylan also made a video for the performer tele

[@flexwinggpipi]

Lovely guitar but you know the tone is what comes from your hands

[@nendokan]

Hey John how are you? I hope you're well. Just a question, I've always wondered why Fender always put the hum bucker in the neck position and not the Bridge? Obviously, Les Paul's have them in both neck and bridge to give maximum tonal options and of course sound? Gary fro Tasmania/Australia

[@MarkKunie]

G&L Bluesboy would kick this things butt into next week

[@christocr]

You dig G&L. We get it. But would you G&L people quit crashing every goddamn Fender party on KZbin? Give it up. Go play your G&L for God's sake. You guys are worse than the Flatwound Bass String Brigade.

[@Erindorn]

Love the look of all the new Performer series guitars, but unfortunately, for some reason, they decided not to offer ANY of them left-handed. I don't get it. I could see it with some of their boutique models, but this is a mid-level series, and they didn't make any of the models available for lefties. At this price point, you'd think they'd sell a bunch. Too bad. :(

[@leftyshep]

Chris Cogan I agree wholeheartedly!!!!

[@dibuccio]

John, Yosemite is a national park in Northern California!!!

[@RBolognese]

I want one . Sunburst w maple neck

[@drinkspecials]

Does it come with a maple fretboard

[@arturolinares6565]

Only with certain colors

[@Adamtfrank]

I have the same color guitar just a squire version I've upgraded into a partscaster. I love mine and it plays and sounds beautiful. Was 180 bucks I'd put it up against yours

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

Love these but why dors Fender feel they dont deserve a hardshell case😢.Comes with a gig bag like 1300 is not deserving enough of a price.Lovd this guitar tho best thing lve seen in a long time

[@GuitarJawn]

who remembers the original Fender Performer?

[@clancykobane9102]

Hey everyone its the Fender (insert random word here) Telecaster!

[@jeffadams7833]

This dude blows out loud other guitar players no to Neve r touch another man's guitar watch the video of him with Lynyrd Skynyrd Richie meadowlark just about to swing on it when he tries to touch his guitar out of these rack everybody knows you don't touch another man's guitar you don't touch another man's hog and you don't touch another man's truck or is woman then it's just golden rules this dude is a d****** how does he get these gigs I'll never know you can't play nothing put somebody on they can

[@ryanfulldark2775]

@@jeffadams7833 Wow, serious lack of education there, pal. Instead of watching this you ought to be taking some grammar and spelling lessons. 😬 🤦‍♂️

[@demeoanthony1810]

@@jeffadams7833 Richie Meadowlark??? Lolll Come on man do better than that. It’s Rickey Medlocke he came back to Skynyrd as replacement guitarist however he does have history with the band. He played as an original drummer for the band briefly but didn’t rejoin what was left of the band until 1996 at which time he played guitar with them.

[@celam1244]

Is this the HS or the HUM?

[@itsmorphed6416]

SH or hum . Same thing

[@cmkilcullen8176]

Follow up on my last comment. I did end up getting compensated brass saddles and a real bone nut put into mine. Feel a bit more confident in it. Sound is so very spanky and yes, Keith Richards - like.. on the chords

[@Lalairu]

Sister Rosetta :3

[@bandicoot5412]

Got 4/11's on mine plus an alternate fail switch

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Can this be bought without the Bucker?

[@itsmorphed6416]

Yes .

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

@@itsmorphed6416 I ended up buying a mint 2018 American Special Tele in Sherwood Green last June. The Performers have Yosemite pickups with a 4 way switch don’t they? I’m not sure if I’d like to add anything to the typical 3 way of a Tele. Great guitars though. It’s a pity the Strats have that horrible big headstock that started with the facelift Highway One Strats in 2006. Fender need to kick that habit in the head! Awesome licks and tone in that video. I love these supercharged Fenders.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

@@itsmorphed6416I checked one out and I didn’t like the satin finish. I bought a mint blonde American Special, and I already have the Sherwood Green model. I put Yosemite pups on a 2007 Highway one so I’ve the best of both worlds now!!

[@martinhoog2420]

I just bought one!

[@adamkrauss303]

I was diggin the tones from this model while putting it thru its paces at GC. However, I have had a BIG issue on virtually all teles at GC with the horrendous fret finishing that can easily rip your fingers open. While this one wasn’t the worst I’ve come across it was still not great. The sales guys blame it on wood shrinkage which may be true but still unacceptable and not something I come across on such a global basis with other makes and models.

[@christianroder4393]

I'm sure Jim Jarmusch is his twin brother.

[@marike1100]

It's a pity that Fender left off the belly cut, but other than that, this guitar is killer.

[@leinie6683]

doing a review - reading right off the fender web page- wow !

[@sluggdiddyyddidgguls]

was watching a random video with John and I assumed it was from years and years ago because he had not a spot of grey..... Turns out it was like 10 months ago... What gives? He wears it well but.. how on earth did that happen?

[@johnbohlinger]

I renounce hair dye on my last birthday. The jig was up.

[@johnbohlinger]

I renounced hair dye on my last B Day. Read this column for the details www.premierguitar.com/articles/27036-last-call-be-where-you-belong

[@wdsmith23]

Shame it's not lacquer. I would be worth the upcharge.

[@Lowtech14]

To my ears this version is de-twanged a bit. Your ears may vary

[@jordanpratt9384]

"Finally a guitar you can perform with " bahaha

[@auxorion]

Just set it to humbucker, and roll off the highs, so only your neighbors can hear it.

[@PeterDad60]

Leo Fender designed the Telecaster to be simple, easy and inexpensive to make and to also be a good sounding electric guitar. He succeeded in spades. I see no reason to spend more that $250 for an Indonesian Fender Squire Affinity Telecaster like I did. It's as good as my $2,000 Gibson 2017 SG STD. HP. So no, you cant tempt me to spend more money on a different version of my Telecaster. The important thing is that I have my original Fender Telecaster and I don't need another as it does every style of music that I can play.

[@rakoboy8]

who shit in your cereal

[@MichaelEdelman1954]

If you can’t tell the difference, sure.

[@TheDaaazer]

No knock against Squier - I have several, including an affinity strat (meh), a Vintage modified 70's strat (fantastic), and also a tele (pretty good). They are great instruments, very playable, and I like them very much. But to say that one cannot tell a huge difference between my Squiers and my Fender American strat, and also my new Performer tele... There is a HUGE difference in sound also playability. Night and day. Just my two cents.

[@nitrospice1222]

this guy reminds me of Billie Bob Thorton

[@pigjubby1]

I love the Tele body but not its sound. Humbuckers on a Tele is nice.