Fender has announced the new limited-edition American Performer Timber models. These Stratocasters and Telecasters use three different tonewood options: Spruce, Sassafras, and Sugar Pine.
American Performer Timber
Fender is experimenting with tonewoods for the new limited-edition American Performer Timber models. These three tonewoods include Strats and Teles made from Sassafras in a satin Mocha finish, Spruce in a satin Honey Burst finish and Sugar Pine in a satin Two-Color Sunburst finish.
They have Modern C profile maple necks and 9.5-inch radius maple or rosewood fretboards (depending on the guitar’s finish) fitted with 22 jumbo frets.
Strat in Two-Color Sunburst, Honey Burst, and Mocha at Thomann
Yosemite
All the models come loaded with Yosemite single-coil pickups, three in the Strat models and two in the Tele models. These pickups are made using flat-staggered pole pieces to increase output.
Fender states that the coatings let the coil breathe while controlling feedback—a shellac coating for the neck pickup and wax potting for the bridge pickup. This sounds like marketing hype, but I’ll reserve judgment on this bold statement as I haven’t tried them.
Tele in Two-Color Sunburst, Honey Burst, and Mocha at Thomann
Extra Switching
The Stratocaster has a push-pull tone control that adds the neck pickup to all pickup positions and a push/pull Greasebucket tone circuit. Instead, the Telecaster has the Greasebucket tone circuit as its upgrade, which they have put on many of their guitars, as it helps maintain highs when using the control.
Verdict
These limited-edition Strats and Teles could be worth checking out, as they use tonewoods that are not always associated with Fender. I’m sure the three colours will appeal to many, though they are all brown and too safe for my tastes.
The tricky part will be deciding which of the three tonewoods you prefer.
More Information
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