American Performer Jazzmaster

[ThePearDream]

I like it.
I like both strat & jazzmaster trems.
If it had a two point trem and came in Mystic Seafoam I'd be all over it.

[Danley]

What's up with the trem arm hole?

Some sort of (temporary) plug ?

Fender's pic for that serial number shows trem arm ...

Lol. Glad I'm not the only person who has never purchased a Strat new. I think they sometimes keep a trem arm set-spring enclosed by the sticker.

[mackerelmint]

Strat trems on guitars that aren't strats are a big no from me.

[Larry Mal]

What's up with the trem arm hole?

Some sort of (temporary) plug ?

Fender's pic for that serial number shows trem arm ...

It's just a little sticker that Fender puts over the hole until you thread the bar in.

[wooderson]

If this had humbuckers (like the new MIM model) I think I'd be more interested - basically an HH Strat with a more comfortable body.

[marqueemoon]

Anyway, I’m much more excited about the American Aquarium Drinker Jazzmaster.

[Stephen_42]

Any news on this American Performer series in general? Presumably there's more in the line than just the Jazzmaster.

[kamillebidan]

An American Performer Jaguar, and we'd be in business.

[Axolotl]

I'll join the "strat bridges on a jazzmaster look gross" chorus. But like Danley said, there are plenty of offset flavors now, so it's not so heretic as it used to be for me. The color looks very promising in the pics tho. Is it burgundish, copper-like or what?

[Stephen_42]

So I've been playing with the Fender serial number thingy to see what else is there.

Apparently there's:
- This Jazzmaster in sunburst / tort (US18065111)
- An American Performer Tele with a humbucker in the neck (US18065197 - surf green; US18065277 - aubergine*; US18065277 - sunburst)
- An American Performer HSS strat (US18065377 - surf green; US18065397 - penny**; US18065678 - all black; US18065999 - honeyburst)
- A J-bass (US18065507 - sunburst; US18065504 - white; US18066888 - satin surf green)
- A P-Bass (US18065101 - penny?)
- A regular Tele in a nice honeyburst kina finish (US18065211)

*evidently this colour was named by somebody who has never seen an aubergine in their life. Looks like a slightly darker CAR.
**or "copper" to the rest of the world

I feel like a detective discovering all these apparently unreleased models! Makes sense that whatever is announced at NAMM would be in production and hence have a serial number already.

I did this fairly randomly, so there are probably more hidden gems. Presumably you can do something similar with Squier / Mexican / Japanese models if you have a just off the press serial number to start with too.

If anyone finds something from similar sleuthing... you know what to do. Please share! (Prize*** for whoever finds me a new run of Jag-stangs)

***the prize is my eternal love and gratitude. What more could you want?

[leokula]

This looks great, that shade of burgundy is amazing. I'd totally rock that!

[Kent]

What's up with the trem arm hole?

Some sort of (temporary) plug ?

Fender's pic for that serial number shows trem arm ...

It's just a silver sticker over the hole. Normally, a small spring is inside and it keeps the spring from falling out.

[Beyer160]

Oh, yay- another Jazzmaster for people who don't like Jazzmasters. Apparently Fender thinks there are a lot of those people.

[loveinathens]

[Danley]

Oh, yay- another Jazzmaster for people who don't like Jazzmasters. Apparently Fender thinks there are a lot of those people.

If I like all of Jessica Alba except for her feet, does that mean I don't like Jessica Alba? (I swear to god I don't know what her feet look like btw, just an example.)

Think about it another way- they tried several times to do the Jagmaster, and it got discontinued at least twice- And this is *more* like a Jazzmaster than that.

Also not to repeat myself, but Fender actually makes a greater number of distinct models that use the traditional bridge/vibrato setup, than use a Strat bridge. It's not like 'we're' being left cold. So maybe Fender doesn't recognize a vast market for 'fake' Jazzmasters.