Fender Announces the American Performer Series Basses
After replacing their Standard Series with the Player Series, Fender has continued to revamp their product lines by introducing the American Performer Series. The new collection replaces their American Special line as their most affordable models built in the Corona, California factory. It includes three of their flagship bass models: a Precision, a Jazz, and a Mustang.
Common new features on the basses include the Greasebucket Tone System, which Fender says lets you cut treble without losing gain or muddying your sound, as well as their new Yosemite pickups. “Handcrafted in Corona, California, Yosemite pickups are specifically voiced for each instrument and position to create sonically versatile and musically useful sounds,” they write.
The American Performer Precision Bass actually features a P/J pickup set. It is built with an alder body that comes in four finishes: 3-color Sunburst, Arctic White, Satin Lake Placid Blue, and Penny. The first two colors are paired with a rosewood fingerboard, while the latter two have a maple board. Other features include a “Modern C”-shaped neck, a 9.5″ fingerboard radius, 20 medium-jumbo frets, and tapered-shaft tuning machines.
The new Jazz Bass carries many of the same features with a pair of single-coil pickups and the classic offset body shape. Its color schemes also include 3-color Sunburst and Arctic White for the rosewood fingerboard configurations, while the maple fingerboard versions come in Penny and Satin Surf Green, as pictured.
A throwback to vintage basses, the Mustang model has always had a place with bassists. The new American Performer version features a 30-inch scale with 19 medium-jumbo frets for that old school feel. The Yosemite pickups include a Mustang split-coil in the middle position and a single-coil Jazz pickup in the bridge position. Unlike the Precision and Jazz, every version of the Mustang includes a rosewood fingerboard. It comes in 3-color Sunburst, Arctic White, Aubergine, and Satin Surf Green.
The Fender American Performer Series will be available soon with each model carrying a price tag of $1,199.99.
Fender American Performer Precision Bass Specs:
| Scale: | 34″ |
| Body: | Alder |
| Body Finish: | Satin Polyurethane |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Neck Profile: | Modern “C” |
| Neck Finish: | Satin Urethane Finish |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood or Maple |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 9.5? |
| Frets: | 20 |
| Inlays: | White Dots (Rosewood), Black Dots (Maple) |
| Pickups: | Yosemite Split Single-Coil Precision Bass, Yosemite Single-Coil Jazz Bass |
| Controls: | Volume 1. (Middle Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Greasebucket Tone Circuit (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass) |
| Bridge: | 4-Saddle Vintage-Style with Steel Saddles |
| Tuners: | Fender “F” Light-Weight Vintage-Paddle Keys with Tapered Shafts |
| Colors: | 3-Color Sunburst, Arctic White, Satin Lake Placid Blue, Penny |
American Performer Jazz Bass Specs:
| Scale: | 34″ |
| Body: | Alder |
| Body Finish: | Satin Polyurethane |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Neck Profile: | Modern “C” |
| Neck Finish: | Satin Polyurethane |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood or Maple |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 9.5? |
| Frets: | 20 |
| Inlays: | White Dots (Rosewood), Black Dots (Maple) |
| Pickups: | 2 x Yosemite Single-Coil Jazz Bass |
| Controls: | Volume 1. (Middle Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Greasebucket Tone Circuit (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass) |
| Bridge: | 4-Saddle Vintage-Style with Steel Saddles |
| Tuners: | Fender “F” Light-Weight Vintage-Paddle Keys with Tapered Shafts |
| Colors: | 3-Color Sunburst, Arctic White, Penny, Satin Surf Green |
Fender American Performer Mustang Bass Specs:
| Scale: | 30″ |
| Body: | Alder |
| Body Finish: | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Neck Profile: | Modern “C” |
| Neck Finish: | Satin Urethane Finish |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 9.5? |
| Frets: | 19 |
| Inlays: | White Dots |
| Pickups: | Yosemite Split Single-Coil Mustang Bass, Yosemite Single-Coil Jazz Bass |
| Controls: | Volume 1. (Middle Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Greasebucket Tone Circuit (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass) |
| Bridge: | 4-Saddle American Performer Mustang Bass |
| Tuners: | Fender “F” Light-Weight Vintage-Paddle Keys with Tapered Shafts |
| Colors: | 3-Color Sunburst, Arctic White, Aubergine, Satin Surf Green |
