Fender launches American Performer Raw Ash Strat and Tele

Fender’s latest addition to the American Performer series are the Raw Ash Stratocaster and Telecaster. Like their names suggest, these guitars are all about tonewood grain.

Overhauling its most affordable USA-made instrument line, Fender launched the American Performer series in late 2018. The series superseded the American Special range, and gained popularity thanks to its new finishes and new pickups – the Yosemite single-coils. Now, Fender has unveiled two limited-edition entrants to the range in the American Performer Raw Ash Stratocaster and Telecaster.

Like the others in the series, both guitars feature Yosemite single-coil pickups and Greasebucket tone circuits. The latter feature allows you to roll off treble without losing gain or clarity. In terms of tonewoods, both feature a satin-finished solid ash body, modern C-shaped maple neck and 9.5-inch-radius maple fingerboard. Hardware on each of the guitars differ slightly. The Tele has a thru-body Fender six-saddle Tele bridge, while the Strat opts for a six-point synchronised tremolo instead.

Both list for $1,249.99. More information at Guitar Center.