That One Time When Fender Made the Strat "Metal" | 1985 Fender Performer MIJ Review + Demo

[@Trog]

The performer always looked goofy to me - but sitting down and playing it, it is quite comfortable with a range of tones! 🟢My Website: www.troglysguitarshow.com 🔴Reverb: reverb.com/shop/troglys?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly ❓Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-appraisals/ 👕 Merch: teespring.com/basic-logo-4245?pid=211

[@EwetoobSucks]

Well, Austin, it certainly looks like those guitar lessons are really Paying Off !

[@CONEHEADDK]

Anybody that knows anything about a "Jackson Grover", I'd like to know. I know, where there is one, an d the owner "believes"(?) that it was made like that - a black "metal" style thing with Groover OUs - as I recall it. When I bought and sold a few guitars years ago, I researched the combo, but couldn't find anything, except some claims that some companies threw out a few "prototypes" to get feed back on. I bet I can still get hold of it, if it's worth anything, but I dropped the idea of having a wall with the full range of colours and put up shelves instead, and I can't play, so I'm "only" thinking of maybe making some cash, if it's anything interesting..

[@murmur3966]

There was something very special in how you talked after playing this beautiful old girl. When you were documenting on the bench you were still in your professional guitar dealer mode "this is this and that is that", as you were dissecting it. You had a real pep in voice like you were excited about what you were learning from her as you went. Your playing was on a different level while playing her and it was great and fun, to hear you laugh while you were explaining all the functions. At the end your final thoughts were not only like you were a dealer and done sharing all the features. Your final thoughts were more like a very happy musician who just played a really great session and you shared that happiness with us, all with a genuine musician's excitement for playing. I could have honestly watched you jamming on the Performer for hours, because it seemed to bring you so much happiness that your playing was amazing. If I were you I would put that fender where you can just pick it up anytime and have fun with it like it was meant to be yours. Keep up the awesome demos and reviews because I can't wait to see more.

[@tabithastew9850]

the shape of this performer guitar is beautiful. they should reissue this hard.

[@dennisrogers8302]

If you're in the market, next best thing would be Moon Guitars. Their main strat model is nearly identical.

[@kiezersosay49]

Ever seen the fender talon? They made it to compete with the RR model. It has one of the points cut to the base...my father in law had one sitting there for years and i alwys thought it was an ibanez.

[@arthritisankle]

Beautiful? I think it looks super ugly. Haha

[@chiyo-chanholocaust8143]

You're serious?? That shape looks god awful. It's like if a person that didn't know how to cut wood tried to make a strat but failed

[@juanrobles3381]

@@dennisrogers8302 I own one best guitar I've owned.

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

Im a simple man. A friends sends me a picture of a guitar I tell them they need it.

[@flaviusrotarita6666]

Ahahahah, you're a good man

[@Jester-Riddle]

Be honest. You just know that Trogly is a sucker for Green Guitars ... !!! 😂

[@ARockyRock]

🎸

[@Idontwantayoutubehandle.]

"a friends"

[@EwetoobSucks]

It's OK ! We all know that he Wanted it anyway ! 😁

[@rebelred1458]

Years ago I was playing bass in a country band. The guitar player had one of these tucked away in his closet. I was curious so he let me borrow it for a while. Plugged into a high gain tube amp, bridge pickup, all controls dimed... It's an absolute shred machine. I absolutely fell in love with how it played and sounded, hated the green color and shape of the headstock. For me that guitar was one of maybe 3 or 4 guitars I've played over the years that seemed alive in my hands and made me sound like I knew what I was doing. I offered him a ridiculous amount of money for it but he refused to sell. Almost 20 years later, I'm still bummed out.

[@abrahammonroy3439]

Reverb my guy

[@pablogonnet11]

hell yes. there's always one or two for sale there@@abrahammonroy3439

[@84kjk]

Why don’t you just buy a different one then? They’re all the same

[@rebelred1458]

Haven't seen another one out in the wild and don't like purchasing instruments online.@@84kjk

[@jrp7837]

If the Performer comes back, it'll probably be Japan only and it will have a Floyd Rose on it. FMIC owns Jackson and Charvel so no reason to reissue it here, where it didn't do great the first time around.

[@danieljones8706]

Not much of a reason to make it a big release when the HM Strat is already reissued.

[@Metalbass10000]

I'm not so sure of that. Fender marketed many models in such a tepid way back then. The modern market is very different today also. Silver burst LP's weren't huge sellers or all that popular back then...

[@pulaski1]

@@Metalbass10000 Agreed - and look at the very limited original 1958 production run of Gibson Flying Vs and Explorers. It took the relaunch in the late 70's for most people to pay any attention to those models.

[@indiedavecomix3882]

I don't know...nostalgia is a funny animal. Probably wouldn't sell a ton of these now, but as a limited number reissue if they really lean on the 80s crowd, i think you'd get a fair share of nostalgia money.

[@ronsheehan]

The body shape reminds me of a Parker Fly, in some ways

[@taildragger53]

Very true!

[@verglas2890]

That is the same exact thing I was going to comment.

[@MRPERFECT_79]

First thing i thought of also

[@josephessman4845]

Most definitely

[@paulgordon6949]

@Keith Nowak yeah, that's exactly it

[@darthindomitus]

People called me crazy every time i talked about this guitar. My cousin had one, and whenever I brought up a "Metal Strat" people didn't believe me. I was never able to find it on google either. People just assumed I meant a BC Rich Warlock, but I knew it was a Fender, and it was definitely a Strat shape.

[@paulconnolly4483]

I remember when we got these into the store in mid 80’s. Let’s just say the 3 we received in 86 were donated to a school in 89. Definitely not my favorite fender but it was fun to see one again after all this time

[@wingnutmcspazatron3957]

Why did they not sell?

[@ruibessa5997]

Top man u are I say

[@originaftermath720]

A lot of youtubers can learn from how you review/reveal a guitars specs. these things may not matter to a bunch of players but I can say with certainly by me and most of my friends and lots of other people around the world that they actually matter immensely. every small spec of an instrument adds up to the over all make or break of that purchase/Relationship between you and your instrument . Well done!

[@johnalbasini5875]

If you want to check out Fender’s real attempt at a metal guitar, you should check out the Heartfield Talon guitars. Super Strats that were MIJ with multiple pickup configurations, really hot DiMarzio pickups and a Floyd Rose. I have a Talon with the HSH configuration. Fantastic guitars that were never really appreciated…

[@KainzMusic]

I remember those! One of the best necks I've ever had a hand on, buttery slick and easily played on!

[@neilpatrickhairless]

Talons are bad ass. Buckethead used to play one, he made it look tiny 😂

[@russellzauner]

they're basically an RG style body with a Jackson/Ibby neck profile and Jackson headstock...with the fender logo on it lol On occasion we see those designs we call "homermobiles" but this one actually worked. The Heartfield Elan is actually on my hunt list, the set/through neck model. They're gorgeous and sound amazing. I have a heartfield DR5 bass in reverse blueberry blackburst, defretted - they even reverse bursted the back of the neck! It rips.

[@Metalbass10000]

Absolutely checking those out! Appreciate the knowledge drop.

[@wbwillie]

Anybody remember the Stagemaster?

[@spynae]

I've been in love with the Performer series for years, I really hope they get an updated reissue, even if Japan exclusive.

[@hkguitar1984]

7:20, it is a 3-Way Blade Switch, it is not a Toggle Switch. A Toggle Switch operates on a totally different set of principles.

[@audioman612]

I have one of these in sunburst. I love the weirdness of it and the variety of tones I can get out of it. Nice to see this model getting some attention, especially now that there is a new performer series, burying this one even further. One correction: the TBX tone control can not boost treble. It is impossible to boost anything without active electronics. The TBX acts like a standard Fender 250kΩ tone pot between 1-5 (until the notch), but with the compressed scale (as in, 1 on this is like 1 on a standard 250kΩ tone pot, but 5 is like 10 on a standard 250kΩ tone pot). From 5-10, you essentially have a different pot that goes up to 1MΩ, which is quite high. For reference, guitars with humbuckers (which naturally have less treble) usually use 500kΩ tone pots, so this is double that. So, from 5-10, the TBX tone control does not boost the treble (again, that is physically impossible without active circuitry, or more precisely, some form of power source for a boost). It instead has such a high impedance value, that much more treble gets through compared to a standard 250kΩ set to 10. 1MΩ might actually be high enough to sound identical to a tone pot bypass (but I'm not positive on this).

[@rguitar78]

Keep up the great work Trogly, you are easily my favorite used car salesman on KZbin. No one does it better than you, or with as much quirky enthusiasm.

[@ryanheard]

These were known as Fender’s “Elite” pickups and came in the Performer series humbucker and Stratocaster versions. Their failure opened the way for Fender to sign an exclusivity deal with Lace Pickups that lasted until the 90s.

[@amineelouati6496]

They should definitely re-issue it. It would make a great addition to the Parallel Universe serires.

[@frankiechan9651]

I really like that general shape - the offset, the higher fret access - but I agree the upper horn could be shrunk a smidge. Not sold on the pointy headstock either. I'd also prefer non-offset pickups in it - I think it puts both pickups in odd positions. The neck pickup may as well be a middle pickup. It'd be interesting what Fender would come up with should they re-issue it.

[@trystensmith8673]

This confirms what I think when you are looking for a guitar. Find something that YOU love the sound of and inspires you to play. I actually really dug the middle and bridge pickups more than the neck one and I think it's important that we should really go with guitars based on our preference instead of others. Thank you for the video. It was a good one, keep up the great work.

[@muinarc0]

The locking system is located there so you don't need string trees. I had a mint Frost White one for several years, was a fun guitar and as you noted, very comfortable.

[@jwandhistools]

I had one of those. The quality was incrdible. The System One trem is the best locking trem I have ever used. The tone was just massive. My only complaint was the position of the neck pickup. I would rather have fewer frets and a real neck pickup.

[@acatwiththreenames3658]

I still own a 1990 HM Strat, I always thought this was the strat inspired by Eddie Van Halen. Oversized frets, a bridge humbucker, and weirdly, a Floyd Rose locking trem made by Kahler.

[@VirginiaWolf88]

I have one of those. 24 frets sweet

[@ArchieOnEarth]

I’ve always loved the shape of this guitar (allegedly influenced by the flat part of a Stratocaster’s back). I hope Fender reissues the Performer with “modern” electronics. Maybe even a version with 3 single coils or HSS for those who want their Strat tones on a quirkier shape. 24 frets prevents ideal neck pickup placement though (which is why PRS offers a 22 fret version of the Custom).

[@mikemcdaniel8746]

The body is Alder, i owed a Performer partscaster that had the finished striped to the natural wood. Bought it from a pawn shop because it looked cool, it had a charvette by charvel neck and the bridge was swapped with a Khaler from a G&L Rampage. It was a fun guitar. About 6 years ago i traded it along with a John Mayer strat for a 67 Antigua Fender Coronado, looking back it was a horrible trade, those John Mayer strats skyrocketed in value about year after i made that trade.

[@ArchieOnEarth]

Technically that’s a behind-the-nut string lock (opposed to a locks on the nut itself). Some say that the behind-the-nut locks have better open-string tone.

[@yamahargxtt]

My Yamaha rgx1203s has behind the nut and its amazing

[@nocturnal101ravenous6]

Makes no difference, I have used many locking string options including having no locking mechanism for a nut or the strings but just using regular locking tuners, with a tight pull before locking them so there is no wrap around but an 1/8th of the peg....It works just fine although people claim you will lose sound characteristics due to lack of String to metal to neck wood. Hard to say most differences are in peoples heads and is pure poppycock.

[@BigTony-bf5jr]

The fender performer is one of the sweetest guitars ever made, looove the look

[@boxfan6656]

Phil on Know Your Gear just gave you a shout out on his live show today - about an hour ago.

[@johnclayden1670]

I had a Performer Bass for a couple of years and (sadly) sold it. It was a splendid instrument: fine neck, 24-fret, quite light, and was a beaut to play. The only downside was that the electronics weren't quite as good as hoped.

[@hkguitar1984]

A word about the Fender TBX Control. My experience with the TBX on my Fender Stratocaster is that you can get many, many tones not available on a Stratocaster with regular tone controls, however you can't really get the classic Stratocaster tone with it either. As such, if you are looking for a classic Stratocaster sound stick with the regular tone controls. Still though, the TBX Control on my example can make my single coil bridge pickup sound almost like a humbucker the way it sculpt the EQ. Cool Review, thank you.

[@ruibessa5997]

Heya HK this axe does about 6000 per second tjek Elegy from Holland 1992 .95

[@hkguitar1984]

@@ruibessa5997 Interesting and thank you rui bessa

[@onefastmini]

This was my first guitar in 1986 when I was 13. I had it in Sunburst and was stolen from me when I went to college. I can’t bring myself to spend that kind of money that they go for now on a replacement. But man I wish I still had this guitar

[@mknewlan67]

May the bastard that stole that beauty from you spend the rest of their life with anal sores on their lips.

[@nitroxylictv]

It was a good thing it was stolen. Nobody should be seen with such an ugly guitar. Gave you the opportunity to get a better one.

[@jr2904]

@@nitroxylictv get bent

[@FunGhoul27]

I got my Pearl White at a close out at Sam Ash on Long Island. I think it was $150. Because it was "inexpensive", I treated that guitar a little harder and had fun with it. I learned all the Rush, and metal (Maiden), and flash (Ratt and Dokken) songs that I could on it because that trem is sweet! Low action, and super fast. I have quite a collection of guitars, but the Performer was just a perfect player for me, I loved the neck. I still have it, and it's got a yellow patina now, and the fine tuners need some love. I wish I bought a green one sooner, and I'd love to grab a bass, but the prices are insane. It is the reason that I go out of my way to find 80s Japanese Fenders, which I've got 3 or 4 of now.

[@danecope7243]

Keep fender Friday a thing please!

[@ohraisins]

I played one of these all the way down here in New Zealand. It was amazing, I couldn't believe it! Too expensive for me at the moment as they are pretty rare and it was valued at about $4000 NZ ( $2700 US ) but really unique and it played and sounded amazing. I really do hope they reissue them!

[@pjstamm2112]

There aren't enough Performer reviews! My gun-metal gray example found me about twelve years ago. I had never even heard of them until a friend mentioned it to me, and the next thing I knew, I laid out the cash because I just had to have it. I saw the body shape and I was sold. LOL

[@m1k3g3tz]

i had a '85 performer bass in tobaccoburst ... picked it up used for $300 in like 95 or 96 ... was my daily driver while i stripped and de-fretted my pv foundation 4 ... neck dive was a reality ... neck profile rivaled ibanez s series guitars, massive amount of tone options. sadly i sold it for half what i paid in 2003 ... to see them skyrocket in price 10 years later, now the basses are complete unicorns. from what i understand, FJ built the basses out of spare necks stockpiled during the transition, this was intended to be the elite model of jazz bass, with 24 frets - styled to market to the hair metal scene. the guitars were modeled after the basses apparently. if you can find a 4 string burst - those are the rarest from what i understand, the mint green and white were the larger numbers ... last one i saw pop up on ebay was about 10 years ago, and i think it ended up going for over 2 grand ...

[@jeromewagschal9485]

I have one of these...I was going to buy a brand new Japanese Contemporary strat that day and the Performer just blew my mind... Still does...I went back to buy the strat a few days later anyway...The Performer locking tremolo worked very well for a long time until the locking clamp didn't lock anything anymore so I simply removed it and I installed locking tuners...And I'm good to go for...A long time...

[@prefono]

I had never seen it! It's the first time I've fallen in love with a Fender. Why haven't they done it again? It is wonderful!

[@changestrangers]

Trogly needs to showcase more 80s Fender Japan gems

[@edwinstovall3334]

I actually have a Fender product called the "Performer", but it's an amp: The Fender Performer 650. Second best clean sound I've ever achieved, right behind the unlikely combination of a bass head and a tower-type PA speaker cabinet with 12s and a horn. Also has a tube-based preamp for some tube-type lead sounds. Loud as HELL!‼️😀

[@Greg-vd5om]

Trogly's in the HOUSE!!!

[@charlestheape9053]

Greg's in the HOUSE!!!

[@nathanielvargas3863]

Greg’s in the HOUSE!!!

[@zanem4526]

YEAHHH GREG

[@joaquinrodriguez206]

Is it you every single time i see this phrase?

[@manuele.itriagom.728]

@@charlestheape9053 Charles is in the house!

[@xJAWAx]

Never heard of this guitar before, but loved it as soon as you cracked the case open.

[@zanem4526]

19:47 it sounds like he’s gonna play the better call Saul theme

[@IainFrame]

I remember having a Squier Katana back in the late 80s. Absolutely loved it. It had that same pointy headstock, a standard Fender trem, one humbucker in the bridge, and a single volume pot. There was also the Fender USA version with a Kahler bridge but I couldn't afford that badboy.

[@gigi.savage]

Found this video again after seeing the bass version of this pop up on the website of a music store an hour and change away from me. Honestly tempted to make the drive out there just to see if I can mess around with it, these things look wild!

[@MarcCoteMusic]

I have three MiJ Strats - all identical, even down to the colour (Burgundy Mist) and, of course, the System One bridge. I bought the '85 new and have since purchased two others - 1986 models - about once a decade since. Those guitars are not only my best playing, they are also incredibly stable in terms of tuning. Mark Agnesi either had an unusual bad experience with the System One trem or his memory is faulty. It was an excellent trem system... and still is on all of mine. They do require some maintenance from time to time but only rarely.

[@arsbadmojo]

I was 16 years old in '85 and my dad had agreed to buy me a distortion pedal for my birthday. Went to the guitar store to try a few pedals and the clerk handed me a guitar to try them on. Within a few minutes, I didn't want a pedal anymore - I needed this guitar! It was a Squier Contemporary Strat, made in Japan. SSS but with that System 1 trem. Not only do I still have that guitar, if the house were burning down and I could only save 1 guitar, it would be that one - no question. I took the locking block above the neck off (I rarely use the bar, and never aggressively) but otherwise it's stock. I think it is a wonderful trem. very stable, very solid, big metal block, 2 point.

[@mbee379]

I think this design would really work well with a 7 or even 8 string configuration.

[@henryyan1672]

I was lucky to buy one of these guitars some 8 years ago. It really is incredible, but I sold it because it's quite a small bodied guitar, which combined with the extreme shape made it almost comical in appearance to play. They may incorporate the tech into a similar guitar, but I don't think it'll ever be remade as it's just too "out-there" to be commercially successful.

[@ABCDEFGHIJKELA...]

Man, I'm sold on that thing! I think it's beautiful(not big on the headstock, but that's forgivable considering the era). It sounds great, like a meatier Strat, just a tiny bit more beef, but that could be strings, and it sounds like it could use intonation also. what a cool cool unique guitar tho. I absolutely love the pickups!

[@sgt.grinch3299]

That is a cool looking guitar. Tones are substandard. I guess it would be good for punk music.

[@knedy]

Built in the same factory as Ibanez Japan, and since they were going for the same market I believe they went with basswood like Ibanez as well on the metal guitars of the 80s

[@michaelcarter1963]

I would definitely get one if I had the money! I think it has great tones! I noticed the pickups seem to be centered between bridge and neck but it does seem to have a great neck tone and bridge tone! Thanks for the great demo!

[@gmofftarki]

I'm surprised you didn't mention how beautiful the back of the neck is on that beast. I think I want one of these. I'm not in the market for a guitar currently, and I think that I'd hate how skinny the neck is, but it'd make for an interesting change of feel and, of course, it sounds great.

[@T2Baseball]

The trem which you later mentioned by name is a Fender System I. They were the stock trems on my favorite ‘85 & ‘86 mij Contemporary Strats, another name they revived recently. The trem is better than the Freeflyte they had on the Elites a model that also had the TBX circuit. The Clapton signature model also had the TBX. The trem bar you have is original.

[@Luxorcist]

Never really been into Fender guitars, but this is cool for sure. Probably my favorite model next to the Mustang

[@arodrigues14]

I want that guitar, like, actually

[@Jester-Riddle]

Seems like this guitar has good potential for not just a re-issue, but some updates to incorporate more modern features, such as improved top fret access, etc. I would certainly give it a try ...

[@teddyrascal6305]

Everything is right with this guitar. Different, mij, 80s, metallic... i would buy a reissue for sure.

[@elkhills1]

Well this is the damndest thing. I would swear I have never seen one of these before yet I built one! My first guitar was a white 1986 (I think) Japanese Strat. In 1988 my brother threw a party and somebody went into my room and ripped the tremolo off my guitar! They didn't just rip it off, they ripped it OUT. The wood was torn out where the 2 big pins hold it in. It was the EXACT SAME one you have on this Performer guitar. I took it to a guitar repair shop and had them put a Kahler on it. I hated it. The locking nut, same as on yours, would CUT the strings if I over tightened it. I bought a new Ibanez and the Strat sat broken and unplanned fir many years in a closet. Fast forward 15 years, I decide to build a guitar body myself, just for fun. I am a woodworker. I prep a block of mahogany, top it with 1/2" maple, because somebody told me thats what Les Paul's have and they sound the best. I bring out the Ibanez and trace out the curves, offsetting the opposite side. I draw out the forearms with a French curve, a drafting tool fir drawing curved, and I decide I like the BC Rich look of the pointy arms and I keep them. It comes out looking great, and I have it painted black at a car body shop I know people at. Man I wish I could post a picture here because I came up with the same damn guitar shape that Fender did here!

[@ruibessa5997]

U need a guitar(APEX) by Kamal chenaouy, this man was an early BC Rich Designer, all his axes are super on all, wood, playabelity sound you won't believe electricity overall design not over but on Top (Apex) 🎶👍👍👍ooh I've got one held a couple realy vavoom

[@jonlennon3348]

In the first riff you played it sounded really good almost better than real PAF pickups.

[@kitcanttat]

I nearly bought one of these when I was a student in Washington DC in 1986-7, tried one out at a music store in Crystal City VA. They might remember some idiot Limey walking in and asking about something called the 'Fender Prospector'. Never heard of that one, they said, and looking around I saw this and realised I'd got the name wrong. I tried it out but couldn't bring myself to shell out the cash as I'd already bought an Aria Pro II Straycat just to noodle with for my year abroad a few months earlier. I have been kicking myself, good and hard, ever since. If Fender or Squier reissue this I'll be at the front of the queue. I feel pangs of psychic pain every time I see one. I've collected plenty of other guitars and basses in the intervening years, but this is the one that got away ...

[@modergav]

Played on one about 12 years ago. Very cool guitar love this model

[@warmshower_]

Love the metalocalypse thunderhorse riff at 27:14 hahaha, its one of my go to's but I play it on a higher position

[@uwannaband]

The Performer was my main guitar for 25 years, and I only stopped using it because the frets were getting too notched to continue. The System 1 bridge / string lock is hands down the most elegant design ever - the Kahler and Floyd Nose look like they were designed in Russia - they work, but are ugly as hell. However, the System 1 must be set up properly. I am convinced the bad rap this system has gotten over the years is because the players just didn't understand the design. Pity. The string lock is more complicated than it looks on the surface: there are actually three hardened steel plates hidden under the cast metal body. The strings are squeezed between the steel plates and the nuts when tightened. I bet the steel plate in the middle is missing and the string is getting pinched into the string lock body. THAT WILL FAIL! Those hardened steel plates are almost impossible to replace but are crucial to the system working properly. Sadly, many (if not most) of the Performers that come up for sale have had the string lock removed (and discarded!) defeating the whole purpose of the System 1. Once that's gone, the fine tuners on the bridge become vestigial - you might as well just tune with the headstock tuners.

[@mike_lowndes]

there is such a thing as a 'refret' you know?

[@Johnnybomb1]

I remember Scott Grove reviewing these many years ago. From what I remember, in his opinion, these were the best Strats Fender ever produced. Along with the models that had Lace Sensors in them .

[@KK4CNM]

I really like the way this looks! I wish they would reissue this.

[@henrystewart3882]

I love these. It has been one of my favorite guitars of all time. I hope to own the burgundy mist metallic one eventually.

[@gorlagOv]

Those are good guitars.

[@thebeaner687]

Pretty sure that square in the black light behind the bridge is not from a sticker. It’s from the shadow of the bridge. Pretty sure this guitar was hung on a wall and the light from a window hit that guitar every day. Of course it was inside the house, that’s why it lost that yellowish green tint. Sun damage only turns a guitar yellow if it’s not in an air conditioned environment… guitar sounds much cooler than I thought

[@britshell]

Can't wait for this reissue. I unironically love it.

[@pentexsucks43]

Just wondering, why would you ironically love it

[@ruibessa5997]

Love it 4 sure looks great color and so on, mine is motherohpearl white the green blows my mind aswell

[@Bingopete71]

In 1985, I decided against purchasing one of these. I only sort of regret it. I liked the looks and the sound. Played great too. But it was 1985. Floyd Rose and Kayler were in competition and the System 1 was untested. Those pups sounded good too,but the shape told me if I ever wanted to swap them out meant routing the body and new pickguard. If Fender used normal style humbuckers, at least I could have swapped the tremolo unit later if needed. It was explained to me that these were made from the scrap left over from cutting Stratocasters and P Basses. The top half from one, the bottom from the other with a plank between them. So the woods conceivably might never have been matched and could be a mix on every unit.

[@hannibalbarkas1350]

This is honestly absolutely amazing. Hope they will reissue it.

[@lone-wolf-1]

I actually love the shape very much, both: body and headstock! Interesting how the bridge pup is slightly further away from the bridge and inverse tilted, and the neck pup is few mm behind a middle pup would be. So this guitar has basically a bridge and a middle pickup! If Troggly would add the distances of pickups from the bridge in his reviews, that would be an awesome and valuable information. Because the difference also affects sound. Some day I gonna build me one like this, but SSS with fixed bridge and 24.5" scale… or with two different telly bridge pups (warm and bright) in those placements…

[@zigzagrz]

Crazy cool, i have a 89 contemporary USA strat with the same trem, its been super stable for me

[@SeeJayPlayGames]

I had an 86 Contemporary Japanese Strat, in Burgundy mist with 2 humbuckers, and the System I... Early on, I accidentally bent the torque adjustment tool for the bar rotational tension, and ended up just ripping that tension adjuster off with the bar one day... still, the bottom part stayed so you could just easily pop the bar in and out. I ended up leaving the guitar with a friend... indefinitely... @TheTrogly'sGuitarShow The design of the trem is really more like a Floyd Rose than a Kahler, if you ask me. A Kahler is a fixed, flush-mount unit with a cam controlling string tension. This is a 2-point knife-edge floating bridge with springs in the back and fine tuners on the top. The roller bridge pieces don't function like the cam on the Kahler; they're just there so the strings don't bind up at the bridge. The locking nut was also kind of tricky in that it was made of a few too many pieces of metal, and if you put the string in it wrong, there would be a knife edge at the top of the lock that would cut your string on the back side of it. And that looks exactly like what you did. Bad design, but it was possible to fix with some krazy glue, which is what I did.

[@zigzagrz]

@@SeeJayPlayGames kahler does have some trems that are similar to a floyd, best example would be the original run of the fender HM's.

[@SeeJayPlayGames]

@@zigzagrz oh, I was thinking of the cam-based Kahler's, like the ones designed for fitment atop Gibsons.

[@zynosgd9982]

My former guitar teacher got himself a Performer bass a while ago and it's by far the best bass I've ever played!

[@charlestheape9053]

Where is greg

[@zanem4526]

Greg’s not in the house lol

[@gregolson5089]

Here

[@nitemirrormusic]

the look of the guitar is pretty cool. i remember it jumping out at me after looking though a fender guitar book. i was on the hunt for unorthodox fender body styles.

[@neg1977]

Man I need one of those knobs for my 83 elite series strat

[@GregsKitchen]

Great looking guitar, sounded good too!

[@mooper11]

You finally got to this guitar! Been waiting for this review for forever.

[@tahoemike5828]

I have a squire '87 MIJ Strat, with the System 1 bridge. Once in tune, it stays there. The one big difference I see is that on my guitar the truss rod access is in the heel, not under the locking nut.

[@thumpyloudfoot864]

That is the best Fender logo I have ever seen...

[@Jazzboy195]

There was one in this colour for sale in my local classifieds a couple years ago, and I really wish I could have grabbed it, I love how they look! It stuck around online for quite a while, but I just couldn't pony up the dough as a broke teenager.

[@sonicaids]

i love that color

[@mariodriessen9740]

I had a strat with the Fender System I. I loved it. It stayed in tune perfectly well. I never had issues with it and I used it intensively.

[@donkeyboy585]

I think I’ll keep my regular strat but I’m definitely digging that one

[@misterghee1]

Dropped it already🎶🎶👍👍

[@misterghee1]

Yeah I still have mine it's a champagne it's on Elegy 's Labyrinth of Dreams and Supremacy if you dig fast most melodic prog Metal with double guitars and nr1 drummer and singer with the intros and autros like you've never... Simply the best🎶👍

[@seanstevens4635]

Mick Mars would love it 🤣🤣

[@jubei7259]

Ha ha that's exactly who I thought of too when I first saw it lol

[@hmpz36911]

I thought of WASP, but I think you're more accurate!

[@Guanjyn]

Having owned a Mockingbird for many years, I’m over owning guitars with shapes similar but this looks really cool.

[@callofjeep2862]

Looks like an awesome guitar

[@barryschneider7314]

Thanks for the review. I’ve had mine for almost 32 years, untraditional for sure, but nice guitars.

[@worksucksletsdrink6011]

That's a slick guitar. I like it!

[@detectivemedia3957]

It looks like it was made with leftover parts from the original Elite Stratocaster. Rubber grip knobs. Enclosed pickups. That does look like the Schaller System 1 Tremolo that was not on the elite but Schaller was making excellent hardware for Fender in the early 80's.

[@dajerk7082]

I like it. Pretty cool.

[@Jasx1x]

Look at Trogly, diggin on the fender y'all. Look how much time he takes on the jam on this axe. He likes it. LOL. You Likes it. It is not a bad guitar guys. I learned to grind on one of these back in the day and I wish I would have kept it. There was nothing wrong with them. It was a great great guitar for the money and the tones you could get out of them where, well Trogly showed you here. I'm so glad you showed her up. Thanks Trogly. This was very enjoyable and a blast from my past.

[@misterghee1]

Yep the most fun he had in years with a guitar that is to say....

[@hkguitar1984]

#19. Woo-Whooo Walmart

[@dommadonia9207]

Looks like a Costco Glarry Clone.

[@heath9267]

I’ve been looking all over for one of these. I have a Fender Katana and last year bought the MIJ reissue of the Swinger so really wanna add this to my collection of weird Fender ‘One-Offs’

[@markjamesmeli2520]

Ok. I consider myself a Fender "buff," but I've never heard of these until 35 minutes ago. This is so off the charts for Fender that, I like the looks, but I don't know "why." I shouldn't!!! 😀The good thing about that ding is that it favors the backside of the body. Nice tones from this too. Thanks for sharing this. Question - If a pick up did become damaged, or blow out on you, could you put Strat-type pickup inside the white shells that are on the guitar already?

[@Metalbass10000]

I don't think that would be the best choice in that event... ... I know a few pickup builders who would do a good job making a replacement, and probably would enjoy working with you to make a pickup that really appeals to you.

[@parentevan]

Yes, that nut is a replacement. Originals were white. I have this guitar in MINT condition same color.

[@The.Adam.D]

Yeeeeeeeeee

[@nathanielvargas3863]

Congratulations!! You won the Walmart award for the very first comment! You are amazing! 🥇 🍪

[@LM-yt3rq]

I've spent the last 30 years looking for this same guitar. Loved it, and was forced to sell it in 89.

[@drloqutis2492]

The fender performer is one of the great guitars that never caught on, play one and you will see it is ahead of its time.

[@lomoholga]

It’s not ahead of it’s time it is clearly a product of it’s time The Parker fly was ahead of it’s time Even today the conservative guitar buying public still just wants guitars that are indistinguishable from ones made in the 60s Parker Fly with graphite encased necks, stainless steel frets, piezo pickups in bridge, stereo outs, blend knob etc apparently are just too much for people lol