Fender American Performer PJ

[Gottastopbuyinggear]

Having been in PMT in Cardiff earlier in the year and found the new Mexican Player series before they were being advertised I found myself by chance in PMT in Bristol today and they had one of the new American Performer PJ's in.  I had a quick play on one, which turned out to be a mahooosive mistake because I absolutely loved it.

Having spent too much in the past on American made guitars I've never tried anything more expensive bass-wise than my MIM Jazz and Precision.  I don't know what it was about it but the neck on this one felt so comfortable.  It's (I assume) Jazz width but quite a lot chunkier than my MIM Jazz, and silky smooth.

I've got a bit of cash burning a hole in my pocket from gig money and some recent gear sales, so I was in dangerous territory.  Fortunately they only had the one colour, which I think they're calling "penny" (I may have got that wrong) which is a sort of bronze/copper metallic finish and it really didn't do it for me aesthetically.  Unfortunately I think they also do them in white, 3 colour sunburst and lake placid blue or something similar, so I could well be in trouble when a few of those arrive.

At £1,149 it's not cheap.  I'm assuming that's the standard list price and the street price will come down a bit after they've been out for a few months.

Edited November 28, 2018 by Gottastopbuyinggear
Edited to make sense - obviously too excited...

[paul_c2]

Are you looking for someone to say "yeah just go ahead and buy it!"? 

I'm afraid I'm not that person - not because I dislike USA Fenders, but because I don't really "do" GAS - well at least I hope not. Especially with 2nd, or 3rd or whatever basses (I have a bunch of pedals and amps - but for a good purpose). For me, I have one bass which does the job, and is good enough (and produces enough variety of tone) that it covers all the bases (excuse the pun) I need. Yeah sure, if I were a squillionaire I'd buy more stuff with impunity, or I'd just cruise around the shops all day and pick up needless stuff on a whim.

I guess you had already decided you had some spare cash and wanted something, just didn't know what....otherwise why would you have even gone to the music shop? To socialise? 

The only crumb of actual bass-based advice I can give is....before you buy a new USA bass, have you considered a Japanese Fender?

[AndyTravis]

I quite like the “penny” finish...

[NJE]

Ooh that penny finish looks lovely. There was a Fender CS precision around that had a similar finish.

[bassix]

I shall be going to see if my local shop has these in stock. Is it fair to say they are effectively the replacement for the American Special basses? 

[totorbass]

9 hours ago, paul_c2 said:

 Japanese Fender?

Japanese Fenders are quite a GAS and a fashion too. They tend to be a bit overpriced now and though they are often very good Indeed I had one or two that were very  mediocre.

@gottastopbuyinggear : The copper one sounded great, but maybe not the white one

Edited November 29, 2018 by totorbass

[Sandypjb]

3 hours ago, totorbass said:

Japanese Fenders are quite a GAS and a fashion too. They tend to be a bit overpriced now and though they are often very good Indeed I had one or two that were very  mediocre.

@gottastopbuyinggear : The copper one sounded great, but maybe not the white one

+1 to the Japanese-made Fenders. I'm seriously thinking of purchasing one of the 'Midnight' black-and-gold P basses. They really do look the business...

 

Anyone had experience of them?

[paul_c2]

I've played two - one of which I now own. I have also briefly played USA and Mexican ones, amongst others. Probably not as much as some members on here, who own both USA and Japanese so could properly compare; but in my own limited experience, a Japanese Fender could "do it" just as well as a new USA model. 

I agree about SOME of the prices - if you restrict yourself to already imported-to-the-UK examples. But if you take a chance buying an unseen/unplayed bass eg on www.reverb.com (as I did) you could save a lot of money on the UK-located instrument prices. I had a quick look on Reverb and they start from under £400. Figure on ~£100 for delivery and ~£100+ for import duty. So its still <£600.

[LewisK1975]

Anyone got a link to these?  I can't find any info anywhere online about a new Performer Bass?

[NJE]

Typical Fender, the instruments are out in shops before there is any official acknowledgement that they officially exist, they really are a useless bunch. In such a big corporation with such a huge amount of resources, why cant they find someone to update their website.

The original link I found has disappeared but I have pinched this from a chap on Talkbass:

"I asked about more details on the Yosemite pickups, he said that they don't have all the marketing info together since this series isn't supposed to be released until January. Retailers have been selling them when they're not supposed to and they're trying to get it all together faster, the customer relations dept hasn't even seen them yet"

Here's the specs:
 

Colors:
(0198600300)3-Color Sunburst (Rosewood Fingerboard)
(0198600380) Arctic White (Rosewood Fingerboard)
(0198602302) Satin Lake Placid Blue (Maple Fingerboard)
(00198602384) Penny (Maple Fingerboard)

Gloss Polyurethane, Satin Polyurethane (302)
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple, Modern “C”, Neck Finish:Satin Polyurethane
Fingerboard: Maple or Rosewood, 9.5” (241 mm)
FRETS: 20, Jumbo
Scale Length: 34” (864 mm)
Nut: Synthetic Bone, 1.625” (41.3 mm)
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Machine Heads: Fender® “F” Light-Weight Vintage-Paddle Keys with Tapered Shafts
Bridge: 4-Saddle Vintage-Style with Steel Saddles
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black/White/Black
Pickups: Yosemite™ Single-Coil Jazz Bass (Bridge), Yosemite™ Split Sin-gle-Coil Precision Bass (Middle)
Pickup Switching: N/A
Controls: Volume 1. (Middle Pickup)
Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup),
Master Greasebucket™ Tone Circuit (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass)
Strings: Fender® USA Bass 7250M, NPS (.045-.105 Gauges)
Case: Deluxe Gig Bag, P/N 0991522000


MARKETING COPY: Born in Corona, California, the American Performer Precision Bass delivers the exceptional tone and feel you expect from an authentic Fender—along with new, player-oriented features that make it even more inspiring to play. The American Performer Precision Bass includes the Yosemite™ split-coil Precision Bass middle pickup and a growling Yosemite single-coil Jazz Bass bridge pickup, designed for rich, expressive tones. With flat-staggered pole pieces to increase output and a shellac potting that lets the coils breathe while controlling feedback, Yosemite pickups produce dynamic sounds ideal for any musical situation. The American Performer Precision Bass also features Greasebucket™ tone circuitry that lets you shape your highs without adding bass, preserving your sound. The “Modern C”-shaped neck sports a 9.5”-radius fingerboard that’s comfortable for almost any playing style, along with 20 jumbo frets, allowing you to easily express yourself musically.

[Gottastopbuyinggear]

13 hours ago, paul_c2 said:

Are you looking for someone to say "yeah just go ahead and buy it!"? 

I'm afraid I'm not that person - not because I dislike USA Fenders, but because I don't really "do" GAS - well at least I hope not. Especially with 2nd, or 3rd or whatever basses (I have a bunch of pedals and amps - but for a good purpose). For me, I have one bass which does the job, and is good enough (and produces enough variety of tone) that it covers all the bases (excuse the pun) I need. Yeah sure, if I were a squillionaire I'd buy more stuff with impunity, or I'd just cruise around the shops all day and pick up needless stuff on a whim.

I guess you had already decided you had some spare cash and wanted something, just didn't know what....otherwise why would you have even gone to the music shop? To socialise? 

The only crumb of actual bass-based advice I can give is....before you buy a new USA bass, have you considered a Japanese Fender?

No, I tend to make my own decisions about what I spend my money on.  

One of the great things about life is everyone's different - music tastes, gear tastes, how much gear you want/have, etc.  The world would be pretty boring if we were all the same.  I get the impression that a pretty significant part of the community here are interested in gear and new releases, though, hence the reason for posting.  It was also a bit of an unusual moment for me - it's not often I pick up an instrument and get hit with a massive feeling of, wow - this feels just right.  I'll be looking forward to other peoples' opinions on this new series once there's a few more of them about.  Seems from the other posts here that there will be a few trying them.

As it happens it was pretty much a social reason for being in PMT.  I had some free time in Bristol while my youngest was at the offer holders only part of a university visit.  I met up with my eldest who's already at university there, and we decided to pay a quick visit to PMT.  He's into thrash metal and pointy guitars - not my taste, but it's got him into playing guitar and bass which I think is great.  But I am lucky to be at a stage in my life where, despite having kids going through university, I've got enough disposable income to indulge myself occasionally (after careful consideration and not on a whim) in things that give me pleasure, and I'm totally at ease with that.
 

[Gottastopbuyinggear]

22 minutes ago, NJE said:

Typical Fender, the instruments are out in shops before there is any official acknowledgement that they officially exist, they really are a useless bunch. In such a big corporation with such a huge amount of resources, why cant they find someone to update their website.

The original link I found has disappeared but I have pinched this from a chap on Talkbass:

"I asked about more details on the Yosemite pickups, he said that they don't have all the marketing info together since this series isn't supposed to be released until January. Retailers have been selling them when they're not supposed to and they're trying to get it all together faster, the customer relations dept hasn't even seen them yet"

Here's the specs:
 

Colors:
(0198600300)3-Color Sunburst (Rosewood Fingerboard)
(0198600380) Arctic White (Rosewood Fingerboard)
(0198602302) Satin Lake Placid Blue (Maple Fingerboard)
(00198602384) Penny (Maple Fingerboard)

Gloss Polyurethane, Satin Polyurethane (302)
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple, Modern “C”, Neck Finish:Satin Polyurethane
Fingerboard: Maple or Rosewood, 9.5” (241 mm)
FRETS: 20, Jumbo
Scale Length: 34” (864 mm)
Nut: Synthetic Bone, 1.625” (41.3 mm)
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Machine Heads: Fender® “F” Light-Weight Vintage-Paddle Keys with Tapered Shafts
Bridge: 4-Saddle Vintage-Style with Steel Saddles
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black/White/Black
Pickups: Yosemite™ Single-Coil Jazz Bass (Bridge), Yosemite™ Split Sin-gle-Coil Precision Bass (Middle)
Pickup Switching: N/A
Controls: Volume 1. (Middle Pickup)
Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup),
Master Greasebucket™ Tone Circuit (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass)
Strings: Fender® USA Bass 7250M, NPS (.045-.105 Gauges)
Case: Deluxe Gig Bag, P/N 0991522000


MARKETING COPY: Born in Corona, California, the American Performer Precision Bass delivers the exceptional tone and feel you expect from an authentic Fender—along with new, player-oriented features that make it even more inspiring to play. The American Performer Precision Bass includes the Yosemite™ split-coil Precision Bass middle pickup and a growling Yosemite single-coil Jazz Bass bridge pickup, designed for rich, expressive tones. With flat-staggered pole pieces to increase output and a shellac potting that lets the coils breathe while controlling feedback, Yosemite pickups produce dynamic sounds ideal for any musical situation. The American Performer Precision Bass also features Greasebucket™ tone circuitry that lets you shape your highs without adding bass, preserving your sound. The “Modern C”-shaped neck sports a 9.5”-radius fingerboard that’s comfortable for almost any playing style, along with 20 jumbo frets, allowing you to easily express yourself musically.

On this occasion, and when I saw the new Mexican Player series, I was told in PMT that there was an embargo an advertising until Fender had got their advertising out, but they were still allowed to sell them.  I guess it makes sense to get some into channel before they advertise, and if it leaks out a creates a bit of interest then probably all the better for it - nothing like free advertising!  

Looking at those specs I'm really surprised at the nut width - the neck felt deeper and rounder than any of mine, and I find chunkier P necks to be a bit too much of a handful.  I guess the particular profile just suited me.  I didn't play it for more than a few minutes, but I was taken aback by how good it felt.

[LewisK1975]

3 hours ago, NJE said:

Typical Fender, the instruments are out in shops before there is any official acknowledgement that they officially exist, they really are a useless bunch. In such a big corporation with such a huge amount of resources, why cant they find someone to update their website.

The original link I found has disappeared but I have pinched this from a chap on Talkbass:

"I asked about more details on the Yosemite pickups, he said that they don't have all the marketing info together since this series isn't supposed to be released until January. Retailers have been selling them when they're not supposed to and they're trying to get it all together faster, the customer relations dept hasn't even seen them yet"

Here's the specs:
 

Colors:
(0198600300)3-Color Sunburst (Rosewood Fingerboard)
(0198600380) Arctic White (Rosewood Fingerboard)
(0198602302) Satin Lake Placid Blue (Maple Fingerboard)
(00198602384) Penny (Maple Fingerboard)

Gloss Polyurethane, Satin Polyurethane (302)
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple, Modern “C”, Neck Finish:Satin Polyurethane
Fingerboard: Maple or Rosewood, 9.5” (241 mm)
FRETS: 20, Jumbo
Scale Length: 34” (864 mm)
Nut: Synthetic Bone, 1.625” (41.3 mm)
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Machine Heads: Fender® “F” Light-Weight Vintage-Paddle Keys with Tapered Shafts
Bridge: 4-Saddle Vintage-Style with Steel Saddles
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black/White/Black
Pickups: Yosemite™ Single-Coil Jazz Bass (Bridge), Yosemite™ Split Sin-gle-Coil Precision Bass (Middle)
Pickup Switching: N/A
Controls: Volume 1. (Middle Pickup)
Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup),
Master Greasebucket™ Tone Circuit (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass)
Strings: Fender® USA Bass 7250M, NPS (.045-.105 Gauges)
Case: Deluxe Gig Bag, P/N 0991522000


MARKETING COPY: Born in Corona, California, the American Performer Precision Bass delivers the exceptional tone and feel you expect from an authentic Fender—along with new, player-oriented features that make it even more inspiring to play. The American Performer Precision Bass includes the Yosemite™ split-coil Precision Bass middle pickup and a growling Yosemite single-coil Jazz Bass bridge pickup, designed for rich, expressive tones. With flat-staggered pole pieces to increase output and a shellac potting that lets the coils breathe while controlling feedback, Yosemite pickups produce dynamic sounds ideal for any musical situation. The American Performer Precision Bass also features Greasebucket™ tone circuitry that lets you shape your highs without adding bass, preserving your sound. The “Modern C”-shaped neck sports a 9.5”-radius fingerboard that’s comfortable for almost any playing style, along with 20 jumbo frets, allowing you to easily express yourself musically.

Any pictures floating about?

EDIT - I've just seen the other thread about the American performer Mustang bass.  I incorrectly thought that there was a new model Bass coming out called the Performer, DOH!  Now I understand it's a new series of instruments that seem to be replacing the American specials...

Edited November 29, 2018 by LewisK1975

[Gottastopbuyinggear]

1 hour ago, LewisK1975 said:

Any pictures floating about?

EDIT - I've just seen the other thread about the American performer Mustang bass.  I incorrectly thought that there was a new model Bass coming out called the Performer, DOH!  Now I understand it's a new series of instruments that seem to be replacing the American specials...

If you've googled "Performer Bass" then you've probably come across this already but apparently Fender did actually produce a bass with that name about 20 years ago:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Performer_Bass  - the guy in PMT was talking about them.  Get that headstock!

[Chiliwailer]

4 hours ago, Gottastopbuyinggear said:

  It was also a bit of an unusual moment for me - it's not often I pick up an instrument and get hit with a massive feeling of, wow - this feels just right.  

Sorry if this sounds like a cliche, it’s not meant to... but as you may very well already know, basses from the same series and even same batch can really differ. So other exsmples of that model may not have the same wow factor and feeling as the one you played. It’s happened to me loads, and made me buy basses which weren’t colours I was into - which is gernally always white! 

Either way, great to hear you got the buzz  

[AndyTravis]

[stewblack]

1 hour ago, AndyTravis said:

Gosh 

[AndyTravis]

46 minutes ago, stewblack said:

Gosh 

A bit more sparkle, but a nice shade.

apparently lpb is satin...Penny is gloss?

[stewblack]

That is lovely. Sparkle without being tacky. I like it.

[EliasMooseblaster]

On 28/11/2018 at 22:03, Gottastopbuyinggear said:

I had a quick play on one, which turned out to be a mahooosive mistake because I absolutely loved it.

At £1,149 it's not cheap.  I'm assuming that's the standard list price and the street price will come down a bit after they've been out for a few months.

I know that feeling; I had a similarly strong impulse when I tried a US Std Precision five or six years ago. Sometimes, it's surprising how such an "ordinary"-looking design can sound and feel so right.

But of course, that price tag is a consideration, and probably the same one that stopped me buying the aforementioned Precision - much as I liked it, I knew I already had a good quality P/J variation sitting at home. It's definitely worth shopping around to see what else is knocking around for a similar price. Schecter's Model T  comes quite highly recommended (not just by me), and there are various second-hand Sandbergs available on here with similar pickup configs.

If nothing else, it hopefully gives you a reason to venture out and have some fun trying a few different basses!

[grenadillabama]

I wonder how they sound different ? The American Special I have has more upper mids than other Precisions but this new American Performer also has the Jazz pickup. I do have an old JP 90 with those pickups (not the Yo. but extra loud) and it has a Jazz-width neck so not that exactly . Lake Placid is a cool blue so that one interests me. 

[Gottastopbuyinggear]

2 hours ago, EliasMooseblaster said:

If nothing else, it hopefully gives you a reason to venture out and have some fun trying a few different basses!

Ah, I'm already pretty well versed in trying them out!  I quite often have a quick mooch around PMT in Cardiff if we go into town at the weekend while Mrs Gottastop is clothes shopping.  

[kyuuga]

So it seems like these basses are already available on Thomann and some other websites...what's up with that? How is Fender so slow in actually revealing their product and creating some hype? 

Either they ship the guitars to stores after they've done their promo videos or they don't. Obviously stores wanna sell them asap, I don't blame them.