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Post subject: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 2:06 pm
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I'm looking at buying my first Fender guitar! I have several Fender amps that i love but i've never owned a Fender guitar. A little background, i've been playing for 20+ years but i'm far from a professional, just a hobby player with some band experience. I've always been more of a Les Paul/humbucker guy but tastes change and i want to open up to playing some other things and some new tones. I mostly play classic rock, some modern hard rock, blues, and i'd like to touch a little bit on some country for something new! I've wanted a Telecaster for some time now. So i'm stuck trying to decide between going the American route, the Special specifically, or i like what i've been reading about the Player Series MiM Tele's. Pro's an con's of either? I went to a couple Fender dealers, neither had squat for inventory of Tele's, not one Am Special or Player Series to try out. There is another local shop i'm gonna swing by, i know they will have at least a couple Player Series but they rarely carry any American Fenders. I guess what i want to know is how much different is the overall build quality, tone, and feel of the guitars? I'm not a fan of chunky necks, i've read the Player Series necks tend to feel less bulky than their Am. counterparts, true/false? Also, if i went the player series i'd probably swap out the tuners to locking units first thing. I'm not looking for a new "#1" guitar, i've have a couple custom shop guitars that will always be my go too's, just want a fun Tele to play with out breaking the bank, tho i'm willing to pony up the extra money for the American Special if it's worth the upgrade. I know, these are very tough generalization/opinion questions, but any help or insight is appreciated!


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Post subject: Re: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 4:44 pm
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I think from a quality and build perspective, they are comparable.
They are both "C" profile necks with 9.5" radius.
From a standpoint of feel when playing, the difference is going to be the AmSpec has "Jumbo" frets, while the player has "Medium Jumbo". I *really* like the feel of my AmSpec Strat neck/frets.

Beyond that, electronics, the AmSpec comes with Texas Specials and the "Greasebucket" tone circuit. The marketing line is the Greasebucket rolls off the highs without adding bass. It's basically a cap and resistor in bypass, so it keeps the midrange more "open" feeling without getting as "muddy" as a traditional tone circuit can feel.
AmSpec has the vintage style 3-piece bridge, Player has 6 piece block saddles.
It is made in the US, but it does not have the micro-tilt neck. The tuners are the same as current general production, so standard locking tuners will bolt right in.

I'd also consider the Baja. It has an S1 switch and 4th position on the lever for series/parallel/phased on the pickups.

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Post subject: Re: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 6:31 pm
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It would seem from posts here that there have been issues with the Player series bridges in respect of clearance on the string holes so that would knock the Player out for me.

I think the whole magic of the Tele rests in its traditional roots so would go with the "proper" bridge on an American Special, or, as suggested above a Baja. The Baja is perhaps even more desirable because of the vintage tuners.

There is little to choose in the feel of MiM and American Special necks as both tend to benefit from a bit of TLC on the fret ends.

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Post subject: Re: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2018 2:25 am
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Fender has resolved the bridge issue on the Player Tele.
The American Special is due for replacement maybe by a neck humbucker model called the American Performer.
Speculation?


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Post subject: Re: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2018 3:11 am
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64Galaxie wrote:
Speculation?


Sounds like it :wink:

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Post subject: Re: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2018 4:47 am
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64Galaxie wrote:
Fender has resolved the bridge issue on the Player Tele.
The American Special is due for replacement maybe by a neck humbucker model called the American Performer.
Speculation?


The American Special has come in a variety of flavours post HW1 so I wouldn't necessarily consider a specification change would require a name change. However, Fender Marketing Dept seem to make a habit of pretending different products are different for no other reason than to change the name and declare it "New". So anything is possible.

Despite the fret end issue (noted above) I have always considered American Specials to be solid value for money. I know we have the mystical MiM v MiA mojo and MiM's are sound instruments but badge snobbery can not be under estimated.

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Post subject: Re: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2018 7:32 am
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Thanks for the info! I had never really heard of the Baja Tele before now, interesting choice to throw in the mix. I'm going to look a little further into them!

John Sims, i have to admit i've always been a USA badge snob myself, but i recently bought a new Taylor 214ce DLX acoustic and didn't realize till after the fact that it was made in Mexico! I love the guitar and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it's build or quality so that's kind of opened my mind that maybe the MiM Fenders aren't all that bad as i thought and worth looking into. The American Special is still the way i'm leaning towards...

Until now, i had not seen anything about the bridge issue with the Player Tele's, no mention of that in any review i've seen or watched, but i see several threads here about it! Good to know they have fixed that issue, if i were to go the Player i'd have my local shop order me a fresh brand new one! Oh the decisions to make lol, i'm not in any rush so i'll keep researching till i figure out which one is right for me.


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Post subject: Re: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 11:37 am
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American Performer - reality!
https://reverb.com/item/17336458-fender ... w.ds&pla=1
Also available in Aubergine apparently.


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Post subject: Re: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 1:05 pm
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It doesn't have the speculated neck humbucker.

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Post subject: Re: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 1:37 pm
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The US Performer series leaked across the Internet. Models include Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, Mustang, Precision, Jazz and Mustang Basses, with the Precision and Mustang benefitting from a PJ configuration.

Here's the Performer Tele SH (pictured in Satin Surf Green with a rosewood fingerboard).

Image

There are no Jaguars, HH configuration, 5-string and fretless basses in this series.


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Post subject: Re: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 7:40 am
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64Galaxie wrote:
American Performer - reality!
https://reverb.com/item/17336458-fender ... w.ds&pla=1
Also available in Aubergine apparently.


Sound link. Thanks for that.

I'm a bit undecided over the tuners. Klusons are, by far, my favourite and I love the convenience of the slot and hole. Pseudo Klusons that fit two post necks seems a bit retro fake though, like the new Mini (which isn't) Fiat 500 etc.

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Post subject: Re: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 8:24 am
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Instead of using a super 5-way selector Fender opted for a push-pull pot in the master Greasebucket tone knob to unlock single-coil tones without any volume loss.


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Post subject: Re: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 3:16 am
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I'm thinking that the SS version in Honey Burst will replace a Baja on my wish list.

One assumes guitar shops will be trying to get rid of any old stock of American Specials now so an unused one could be a blinding buy potentially though.

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Post subject: Re: American Special Or Player Series Tele? Educate Me!
Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:18 am
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Just wanted to update this thread as today i just bought a brand new Player Series Telecaster!! Thanks for some of the info, did a lot of research and i think the Player is the right choice for me! I don't have it yet, the shop i go too had to order a Butterscotch Blonde one in for me but i should have it by the end of the week! I can't wait!!


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