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Post subject: American performer vs Jimmy Page
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 9:56 am
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Hey guys I’ve always wanted a Tele, I have a les Paul and a strat right now but love tele’s. So, when I heard about the dragon version I was stoked because I’m a huge Led Zep fan and I don’t play in a band so for me it’s cool to have an iconic looking guitar. I really thought I’d spend whatever for it because I thought for sure it would be an American, I wanted my first made in America guitar. But, it’s a MIM and the $1,400 price rate makes me nervous. On one hand I have to believe Fender is going to treat them well and make sure they’re top notch. On the other hand the price tag, $1,400 vs $1,100 and the only difference is a hard case and a logo. I love my strat and it’s a MIM but I wanted the joy of a USA made guitar. Is the difference negligible or is Fender just straight trying to pull a fast one selling a MIM guitar for $1,400. Should I just get the American Tele and call it good? Is it a better guitar?


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Post subject: Re: American performer vs Jimmy Page
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 12:53 pm
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The concept of paying XXX monetary units to get YYY level quality is a dinosaur. These days, product prices are what a company believes the target group will pay.

Personally, I regard Fenders over the 1K price tag to be quite sufficient quality for any player, regardless of if they come from USA, Mexico or Japan.
But personal matters are… hmm... personal. So my only valid piece of advice is to get the Telecaster that appeals to you most. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: American performer vs Jimmy Page
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 4:49 pm
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jmattis wrote:
The concept of paying XXX monetary units to get YYY level quality is a dinosaur. These days, product prices are what a company believes the target group will pay.

Personally, I regard Fenders over the 1K price tag to be quite sufficient quality for any player, regardless of if they come from USA, Mexico or Japan.
But personal matters are… hmm... personal. So my only valid piece of advice is to get the Telecaster that appeals to you most. :wink:


Such good advice haha! I'm not really knocking quality of guitars made elsewhere. Originally it was more of a pride thing, to buy and support American, at least it is for me. The stick up for me was the price tag and if you're paying more for not really an "inferior" guitar but paying more for name and without name is it then a $800 guitar? I dunno. I want to be happy with what I get but I cant find a reason to justify $1,400 regardless of how much I love the design. If I don't go JP Tele, then I have a ton of questions on the SS/HS.


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Post subject: Re: American performer vs Jimmy Page
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 7:39 pm
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There is nothing wrong with MiM. There *are* differences though.
Personally, if I wanted a Tele and had $1400 burning a hole in my pocket, I'd go with an American Pro and get the hard shell case and bi-flex truss rod.
The Performer has the walnut truss rod opening inlay, but it is not a bi-flex.
The Baja is a nice middle of the road option.

The Page Tele? It's like the rest of the signature models... you are paying $600 for a decal, unique paint job, and a $150 case, but don't expect the quality to be any better than a $675 MiM Player. Buy it because you want it or you think it may hold some collector value.
Personally, if I were to go MiM, I'd go with a Baja for $825.

The Performer is very nice, but add $150 for an HSC and you're getting close to the cost of an AmPro. One thing the Performer does give you is jumbo frets... if you like that (I do).
I have a 2017 American Special Strat, and the neck is beautiful, but the main reason I picked it over an AmPro was the large CBS style headstock that I grew up with.

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Post subject: Re: American performer vs Jimmy Page
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 8:42 pm
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CB91710 wrote:
There is nothing wrong with MiM. There *are* differences though.
Personally, if I wanted a Tele and had $1400 burning a hole in my pocket, I'd go with an American Pro and get the hard shell case and bi-flex truss rod.
The Performer has the walnut truss rod opening inlay, but it is not a bi-flex.
The Baja is a nice middle of the road option.

The Page Tele? It's like the rest of the signature models... you are paying $600 for a decal, unique paint job, and a $150 case, but don't expect the quality to be any better than a $675 MiM Player. Buy it because you want it or you think it may hold some collector value.
Personally, if I were to go MiM, I'd go with a Baja for $825.

The Performer is very nice, but add $150 for an HSC and you're getting close to the cost of an AmPro. One thing the Performer does give you is jumbo frets... if you like that (I do).
I have a 2017 American Special Strat, and the neck is beautiful, but the main reason I picked it over an AmPro was the large CBS style headstock that I grew up with.


I have a 2017 MIM strat that I absolutely love so I don’t see anything wrong with them at all! I like the idea of owning a nice, American made instrument with the higher end parts.

Thanks for the insight though! I ‘like’ the JP version and it was what was originally going to push me over the edge to get a telecaster until I saw the MIM thing along with the price tag. I’m leaning more towards the performer now in the H.S. setup with coil tapping. I don’t need the hard shell case so I can save a little cash this way and keep my wife happy, she wasn’t real thrilled when I pre-ordered a $1400 guitar. I’m going to check out the AM pro’s though, thought they were $1,800, must have been an even higher end model I saw.

I may have to go to GC, I can’t recall if I’ve played jumbo before, I’m pretty certain my strat is medium jumbo.


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Post subject: Re: American performer vs Jimmy Page
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 9:59 pm
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Rockies85 wrote:
Thanks for the insight though! I ‘like’ the JP version and it was what was originally going to push me over the edge to get a telecaster until I saw the MIM thing along with the price tag. I’m leaning more towards the performer now in the H.S. setup with coil tapping. I don’t need the hard shell case so I can save a little cash this way and keep my wife happy, she wasn’t real thrilled when I pre-ordered a $1400 guitar. I’m going to check out the AM pro’s though, thought they were $1,800, must have been an even higher end model I saw.

$1449 for a dual Shawbucker Deluxe and $1549 for the basic Tele.
The American Original and Elite are $1850+
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I may have to go to GC, I can’t recall if I’ve played jumbo before, I’m pretty certain my strat is medium jumbo.

Superbowl Sunday... best day for Guitar Center, you can actually get a free amp and hear yourself instead of the Junior Dimebags :D

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Post subject: Re: American performer vs Jimmy Page
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 10:28 pm
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CB91710 wrote:
Rockies85 wrote:
Thanks for the insight though! I ‘like’ the JP version and it was what was originally going to push me over the edge to get a telecaster until I saw the MIM thing along with the price tag. I’m leaning more towards the performer now in the H.S. setup with coil tapping. I don’t need the hard shell case so I can save a little cash this way and keep my wife happy, she wasn’t real thrilled when I pre-ordered a $1400 guitar. I’m going to check out the AM pro’s though, thought they were $1,800, must have been an even higher end model I saw.

$1449 for a dual Shawbucker Deluxe and $1549 for the basic Tele.
The American Original and Elite are $1850+
Quote:
I may have to go to GC, I can’t recall if I’ve played jumbo before, I’m pretty certain my strat is medium jumbo.

Superbowl Sunday... best day for Guitar Center, you can actually get a free amp and hear yourself instead of the Junior Dimebags :D


Man, I’m not that old but guitars are getting seriously expensive.

Lol good idea, I have time to go before the game. I love to go to check things out but I can never hear anything because there’s always a guy playing as loud as possible.


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Post subject: Re: American performer vs Jimmy Page
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 10:55 pm
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Rockies85 wrote:
Man, I’m not that old but guitars are getting seriously expensive.

Not really... My '78 Strat was $600... and that was CBS "quality". Guitars have only tripled in cost, gas has gone up about 5x.
Quote:
Lol good idea, I have time to go before the game. I love to go to check things out but I can never hear anything because there’s always a guy playing as loud as possible.

I go during the game.
Guitar Center, Costco, and the shooting range. Get more accomplished in one afternoon than I normally can in a weekend.

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Post subject: Re: American performer vs Jimmy Page
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 5:19 am
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Go with the MiA or you will always want one. I have 8 Fenders of various types. Three are MiMs and 4 MiAs I only really like playing one of the MiMs. The other two are OK but have niggly issues, too heavy, wrong frets, less pleasant neck etc. None of my personal issues mean the MiMs are bad guitars it is just I prefer the MiAs as they don't have issues for me.

I have a real problem with overtly obvious signature models - such as the JP and JH as they can make you look like a wannabe and seem out of place when not playing covers of the original Artist ... so even more wannabe. Just my humble opinion.

EC's, EJ's etc are far more discrete (even to an extent a RG) because they are not especially visually recognisable. OK a RG is recognisable if you are into RG but to your average punter it is just a heavy relic.

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Post subject: Re: American performer vs Jimmy Page
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 5:26 am
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CB91710 wrote:
Rockies85 wrote:
Man, I’m not that old but guitars are getting seriously expensive.

Not really... My '78 Strat was $600... and that was CBS "quality". Guitars have only tripled in cost, gas has gone up about 5x.


Indeed so. Modern Fenders are (on the whole) terrific value in today's money. They also have a build quality and consistency that they could only dream of back in the day.

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Post subject: Re: American performer vs Jimmy Page
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 7:33 am
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CB91710 wrote:
Rockies85 wrote:
Man, I’m not that old but guitars are getting seriously expensive.

Not really... My '78 Strat was $600... and that was CBS "quality". Guitars have only tripled in cost, gas has gone up about 5x.
Quote:
Lol good idea, I have time to go before the game. I love to go to check things out but I can never hear anything because there’s always a guy playing as loud as possible.

I go during the game.
Guitar Center, Costco, and the shooting range. Get more accomplished in one afternoon than I normally can in a weekend.


$600 in 78’?? Wow I guess I underestimated what guitars used to cost tbh. Price tags in the thousands is sticker shock for me. If I was in a band I might be able to justify it but i can only play when I have free time.

I can’t miss the game! It’s a good excuse to hang with family and friends.


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Post subject: Re: American performer vs Jimmy Page
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 7:36 am
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John Sims wrote:
Go with the MiA or you will always want one. I have 8 Fenders of various types. Three are MiMs and 4 MiAs I only really like playing one of the MiMs. The other two are OK but have niggly issues, too heavy, wrong frets, less pleasant neck etc. None of my personal issues mean the MiMs are bad guitars it is just I prefer the MiAs as they don't have issues for me.

I have a real problem with overtly obvious signature models - such as the JP and JH as they can make you look like a wannabe and seem out of place when not playing covers of the original Artist ... so even more wannabe. Just my humble opinion.

EC's, EJ's etc are far more discrete (even to an extent a RG) because they are not especially visually recognisable. OK a RG is recognisable if you are into RG but to your average punter it is just a heavy relic.


Thanks! I’m leaning that way now, if I don’t buy it now I’ll eventually want one again anyways so why not just pay the extra right now! I can understand the idea that it makes you look like a wannabe. But, I’m 33 and not in a band so my give a damn is busted on if anyone cares if I possess a signature instrument. I’m in the camp of buy what you want and enjoy it but I can also see the flip side that you are yourself and you should express yourself, not try to be like someone else!


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Post subject: Re: American performer vs Jimmy Page
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 8:10 am
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I’m going to be in a death spiral soon. I love the performers tone with the push/pull HS on the guitar center video, amazing how a player can sell you huh?

Is a humbucker a sin on a Tele? It sounds so perfect in that video i saw.

But the colors of the Am pro are phenomenal and they have the Shaw pickups. Good thing my wife is going out of town for the next 2 weeks. I’ll have plenty of time to watch hundreds of videos and obsess over the decision. GC is definitely a must here, I can’t decide.


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