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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:01 am
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Hi Brio and welcome.

I have no idea how you'd find one locally. Your best bet is to look on ebay. They were only made '85 - '86, and production numbers are thought to be low.

Now here's something for everyone... The one and only Performer V proto.
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:56 am
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Brio wrote:
Hi, I am new here to the posts. Does anyone know of where I can buy a Performer bass. I am located in the NYC area.

Brio

Do a search on http://www.gbase.com

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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:39 pm
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Is it just me or do they have UBER thin necks?


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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:52 pm
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Very thin, narrower than a Strat or Tele.

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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:54 pm
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Narrower than a jazz bass then? Cause that'd be pretty awesome. (I hate my short fingers :()


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Post subject: Performer Bass
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 12:59 pm
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I've only had mine for a couple of months (dark blue sparkle finish) and, with the exception of my Squier JV 62 Precision, it's the best bass I've ever played (and I've been playing since 1961)!
The neck is FANTASTIC and it records extremely well with no buzz or hum.
Only made for one year??!! WHY??!!


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Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 1:13 pm
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Location: Devon, England
Just too radical a departure I reckon.

I love mine and I also get a kick from the fact that everyone who sees it wants to talk about it. I gig it most weekends.


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Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:29 am
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Howdy guys.

I've been away from the forum for a while but am glad to see this thread still active.

A few replies to previous posters:

"Confirmed. With both pups selected, setting either one (or both) volume to zero results in no output."

Here's yet another confirmation. All three of mine are that way.

"Now here's something for everyone... The one and only Performer V proto. "

Wow! Is that yours? I'm in love, and I don't even like 5 string basses!

"[So the necks are n]arrower than a jazz bass then?"

Yes. The nut is 1.5" like a Jazz Bass but the saddles are 5/8" wide, rather than the standard 3/4", so the strings stay closer together all the way to the bridge than on any other bass I've ever seen (except some 5-strings).

"Only made for one year??!! WHY??!!"

From reading a bit and making some assumptions, here's why I think they were only made for one year. I could be wrong and welcome any corrections and conflicting opinions. I don't claim to be an expert.

In the mid-80s, Fender management had bought the company back from CBS and were focused on rebuilding their business and reputation. They went "back to basics" and focused on Stratocasters, Telecasters, Precision Basses, and Jazz Basses. These were proven sellers and oddballs like the Performer and the Katana were dropped. Plus, I'll bet the Performers didn't sell well. They're too weird looking for traditionalists and the string spacing makes them feel different than any other four-string bass I can think of.

"everyone who sees it wants to talk about it"

Very true. I've been gigging and jamming with mine since about 1991 and it's always a topic of conversation: "What the heck is THAT thing?", "Hey, is that an Ibanez?", "don't stab me with that headstock!", and my favorite, from a guitar player I jam with sometimes these days, "that's a sushi bar bass!"

Here's a shot of me and my Burgundy Mist Metallic sushi bar bass on stage back in the '90s...

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Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:14 am
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I was inspired by this! I remembered the Performer name from years ago, but I'd no idea it looked this radical.
So I did a bit of checking. In an old Fender Basses book, it was next to a Katana bass (same neck but 20 fret), which I also didn't know about!
All the reviews on Harmony Central are encouraging - but someone there claims that Fender Japan made 600, but had to destroy 400 due to a dispute with Ibanez about the neck! Any truth in this story I wonder?
Anyway, thanx for this - it's gone straight to the top of the GAS list...


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Post subject: TBX tone knob and volume control
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:08 pm
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I've been gigging with my Performer for about 20 years now. SO here's the deal the notch in the tone knob at 5 according to the owner manual is where a traditional Jazz bass tone would be at 10 so it's just a little more bright (personally keep mine set at he notch on 5 most of the time)
The volume knobs forward knob neck pick up middle kob bridge pick up.
You can affect the tone and texture if in the middle toggle switch position more bright roll back on the neck pick up more warmth roll back on the bridge pick up. A slight movment of the knobs can change the =tone and feel of your sound. Makes it very versatile but difficult if you just want to over all reduce your volume. Tricky takes some practice to get it just right when the sound man tells you your amp output is too hot and you can't get to the amp to adjust it.
Truelly an amazing beast the Performer is. gives great two handed play ability ala Stu Hamm, slaps with attitude, and can play a baby a lullaby without touching the amp. I love mine wish I could get my hands on the five sting prototype tht was pictured in Klaus what's his names fender bass book


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Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:13 pm
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If i knew how to I'd post a pic of me and my beloved Performer from January playing in Austin

Or go to my myspace page
hambonekc and hear some live recordings


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:13 am
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Location: Devon, England
I've decided that the time has come to update the Wikipedia entry for the Performer. So I've done it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Performer_Bass

I'd really appreciate it if you guys could have a look at it and correct any obvious inaccuracies. Also this is my first Wikipedia entry so the formatting could do with smartening up too.

Finally, if you have any good photos please upload them onto the page.

Thanks


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:33 pm
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I know I'm digging up an old post here, but would anyone like to share what gauge strings they're using on their Performer? I bought mine with a set of uber-light scale strings on it, and I'd like to get something thicker. But I'm worried about getting strings that are too heavy, given the thin-ness and length of the neck.

Comments? Opinions?


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 1:40 pm
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I use Elite Stadium 40-100 on mine. I find that standard gauge is too much for the neck - well it is for me anyway.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:16 am
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I used D'addario XLs 50 - 105 roundwounds for at least ten years with no problems.

Now I have D'addario Chromes 45 - 100 flatwounds on the one I play the most because the low frets are pretty worn and flatwounds hide some buzz that I was getting from the roundwound XLs. Plus, Chromes sound great and last forever, but I'm getting off topic.

Personally, I would install most any set of rounds or flats on a Performer without too much worry about the neck. You'll need to check/adjust intonation and probably adjust the truss rod but I wouldn't worry too much.

One problem you might find with a fatter set of strings is the nut slots might be too narrow. This can result in the strings sitting too high at the nut and making the notes at the low frets sharp even if your 12th fret intonation is dead on. With the factory nut, you should be able to run a .105 E string just fine, but if a previous owner had a new nut installed with the thin strings you have now, you might find fatter ones sit too high or even cause the nut to crack or break.

The stock nuts on Performers are plastic and I once cracked one right in the middle while tuning up. The edge of nuts can break off with an E string that's too fat also. I've seen this on both basses and guitars. Not trying to scare you here; just throwing out everything I can think of to you and future readers.

One last thought: D'addario lists string tension for their strings at www.daddario.com. Perhaps other manufacturers do as well. You might be able to compare string tensions in the gauge you prefer from various manufacturers online. I did this when it was time to change strings on my acoustic bass guitar to make sure I didn't pull the bridge off the top with strings that had too much tension.

Good luck!


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