We’ve seen sandblasted finishes from the likes of Jackson, ESP and PRS, and now Fender has got in on the act with the launch of limited-edition American Performer Strat and Tele electric guitars.
Both models feature transparent-finished ash bodies, which are then sandblasted to texture the surface grain.
The Strat is only available in a Natural finish, but the Tele comes in a choice of Natural, Daphne Blue and Surf Green.
Otherwise, they’re spec’d as per Fender’s regular American Performer guitars, with Yosemite pickups, Greasebucket tone controls, fast-playing C-shaped maple necks and rosewood fingerboards.
The Strat also offers the ability to add the neck pickup to any position by pulling on the push/pull neck/middle tone knob.
Both models are available exclusively at Sweetwater, starting at $1,149. And given these guitars feature ash bodies - a tonewood Fender intends to phase out over the coming months - they aren’t likely to hang around for long.
