If you’re in the market for a Fender Telecaster, you’ll need to decide if you want a more affordable Mexican Tele, or the more expensive USA-made alternative. But what exactly is the difference between them?
| Mexican Telecaster | American Telecaster |
| $850-$1200 on average | $1400-$2600 on average |
| Pau ferro fingerboard | Rosewood fingerboard |
| Usually 5-piece bodies | Usually 2 or 3-piece bodies |
| Polyester body finishes | Polyurethane or nitrocellulose body finishes |
| Pickups made in Mexico or Korea | Pickups made in the USA |
| Some models include a soft gig-bag | All models include a soft gig-bag or hard case |
I’ve noticed that there is a decent bit of misinformation out there which I think originates from comparisons between older Made in America (MIA) and Made in Mexico (MIM) Telecasters. I’ve heavily researched this article to identify the precise specification differences between current models as well as played them extensively.
Contents:
- Price and Models
- Pickups and Tone
- Other Specification Differences
- Build Quality
- Fender Player vs American Performer Telecaster
- Is the Price Difference Justifiable?
- Which Should You Choose?
Prices and Models
Before we jump into the specification differences between the MIM and MIA Telecasters, I wanted to first address the main difference, cost.
There are several different Fender Telecaster models available which vary in price and by the manufacturing location, so here is a table to summarise.
| Fender Telecaster | Made In | Average Price USA | Average Price UK |
| Player | Mexico | $850 | £650 |
| Vintera | Mexico | $1100 | £850 |
| Player Plus | Mexico | $1100 | £870 |
| Vintera Modified | Mexico | $1200 | £960 |
| American Performer | USA | $1400 | £1100 |
| American Professional II | USA | $1700 | £1700 |
| American Original | USA | $2150 | £1900 |
| American Ultra | USA | $2150 | £1950 |
| American Vintage II | USA | $2200 | £1950 |
| American Ultra Luxe | USA | $2600 | £2150 |
Pickups and Tone
Since there are several versions of Mexican and American Teles, it’s possible to get quite different tones from guitars made in the same factory, as they all use different pickups. However, a common theme is:
- The pickups on Mexican Telecasters are made in Mexico or Korea
- The pickups on American Telecasters are made in the USA
Just because the USA Telecasters have USA-made pickups, does not mean they sound better. I have played all of these guitars and there are several examples where I personally prefer the tone of the Mexican Telecaster. It really is just personal preference.
I’d highly encourage you to go to your local guitar store and try doing a blind tone test, either by asking the store assistant to help or by taking a fellow guitarist. This is the best way to remove any bias and figure out which you actually like the sound of, without any preconceived notions.
In the meantime, check out this video to hear a tone comparison of different Mexico and USA Telecasters.
Also, remember that pickups are one of the easiest components of an electric guitar to upgrade. So, if you really like the tone of the American Pro II for example, but prefer all the other features (and the price) of the Vintera Modified, you can easily swap the pickups out for the best all-rounder.
Here is a table showing the different USA-made pickups and how much they cost to purchase aftermarket.
| Guitar | Pickups | USA Price | UK Price |
| American Performer | Yosemite | $120 | £100 |
| American Professional II | V-Mod II | $125 | £150 |
| American Original | Pure Vintage ‘59/ ‘65 | $150 | £150 |
| American Vintage II | Pure Vintage ‘57/ ‘61/ ‘73 | $150 | £150 |
| American Ultra/ Ultra Luxe | Ultra Noiseless | $200 | £150 |
Other Specification Differences
Since there are so many different MIM and MIA Telecasters, there are several differences in specification even within models made in the same country, e.g. bridge design, tuning machines, fret size etc.
However, I have analysed all the current MIM and MIA Telecasters and found four tangible differences which are true for all the different models:
- Mexican Telecasters have maple or pau ferro fingerboards, whereas American Telecasters have maple of rosewood fingerboards
- Mexican Telecasters have a 5-piece or 7-piece body, whereas American Telecasters have a 2-piece or 3-piece body
- Mexican Telecasters have a polyester body finish whereas American Telecasters have either a polyurethane or nitrocellulose finish
- Mexican Telecasters either come with a soft gig bag or no bag at all, whereas all USA-made Telecasters come with a case/ bag, with the vast majority having a hard-shell case
In terms of the fingerboard material, it really doesn’t matter if you go for the maple option, but if you want the darker wood then the material is different. Rosewood is seen as a more expensive and desirable option, but some players will prefer the smoother feel of a pau ferro fretboard. Check out my article comparing rosewood and pau ferro fretboards for more info.
I’m in agreement with the general consensus that the 2-piece/ 3-piece bodies on the USA Teles look nicer than the 5-piece/ 7-piece bodies on the Mexican versions. However, this is only the case when the guitar doesn’t have a solid finish.
In the vast majority of cases, you can’t see the joins or even the grain of wood since Fender primarily use solid finishes. I personally have also found it to make no noticeable difference on tone either.
In terms of the finish, polyester (found on the MIM models) is probably the least desirable but some will prefer the glossier look. Check out my article on poly and nitro finishes to learn more.
Here’s a list of the gig bag/ cases included with each model:
- Fender Player (Mexican): no gig bag or case
- Fender Player Plus (Mexican): soft gig bag
- Fender Vintera (Mexican): soft gig bag
- Fender American Performer: soft gig bag
- Fender American Professional II: hard shell case
- Fender American Original: hard shell case
- Fender American Vintage II: hard shell case
- Fender American Ultra/ Ultra Luxe: hard shell case
Build Quality
I want to start by saying that Fender guitars made in both the USA and Mexico are generally very well made. Although unlikely, it is still possible however to run into QC issues with guitars made in either location.
- USA-made Fender Telecasters are made in California
- Mexican-made Fender Telecasters are made in Ensenada
These factories are both owned by Fender (which is a very good thing) and are actually only 186 miles away from each other. It’s not uncommon for parts to be sent between factories.
It’s no secret that the USA has the best reputation for producing guitars worldwide. They are extensively QC checked and use the highest quality materials.
However, Mexican Fender guitars also undergo rigorous QC checks and I have tried many myself and noticed no issues.
The only real differences you may notice are:
- USA-made Telecasters typically have smoother fretwork
- USA-made Telecasters generally have more rolled fingerboard edges (although this is far more noticeable on Custom Shop models)
- The nut edges are typically slightly smoother on USA-made Teles
- The setup out of the box is usually a bit better and requires less tweaking on an American Fender guitar
Check out my article on where Fender guitars are made to learn more.
Resale Value
American Fender Telecasters are often regarded as a better investment as they hold a higher percentage of their value when it comes to reselling them. However, since Mexican Telecasters are cheaper to begin with, you lose less money if you sell the guitar compared to with a USA-made Telecaster.
Here is a table showing the price of second-hand Telecasters compared to brand-new ones. The prices are averaged from 10 different guitars in “excellent condition” from Guitar Center and Reverb.
| Fender Telecaster | New Price | Second-Hand Price | Difference |
| Player | $850 | $700 | $150 (18%) |
| Vintera | $1100 | $800 | $300 (27%) |
| Player Plus | $1100 | $870 | $230 (21%) |
| Vintera Modified | $1200 | $820 | $380 (32%) |
| American Performer | $1400 | $1200 | $200 (14%) |
| American Professional II | $1700 | $1400 | $300 (18%) |
| American Ultra | $2150 | $1700 | $450 (21%) |
| American Original | $2150 | $1800 | $350 (16%) |
| American Ultra Luxe | $2600 | $2200 | $400 (15%) |
Fender Player vs American Performer Telecaster
Now let’s compare the specifications of the most popular Mexican Tele (the Fender Player series model) with the cheapest American Tele (the Fender American Performer series model).
| Feature | Player Telecaster | American Performer Telecaster |
| Fretboard | Maple/ Pau Ferro | Maple/ Rosewood |
| Body Finish | Gloss Polyester | Satin/ Gloss Polyurethane |
| Fret Size | Medium Jumbo | Jumbo |
| Truss Rod Nut | 3/16” Hex Adjustment | 1/8” American Series |
| Pickups | Player Series Alnico V | Yosemite |
| Bridge | 6-Saddle String-Through | 3-Saddle String-Through |
| Tuning Machines | Standard Cast | Fender ClassicGear |
| Headstock | Standard | Oversized ‘70s |
| Gigbag Included | No | Yes |
| Made In | Mexico | USA |
Check out my in-depth comparison between the Player and American Performer series for more detail.
Is the Price Difference Justifiable?
The price difference between a brand-new Fender Player and American Performer Telecaster is $600.
Here is a table showing the different components and how much they cost to purchase aftermarket.
| Player Telecaster | American Performer Telecaster | Price Difference |
| Neck = $300 | Neck = $500 | $200 |
| Pickups = $80 | Pickup = $120 | $40 |
| Bridge = $60 | Bridge = $70 | $10 |
| Standard Cast Tuners = $70 | Fender ClassicGear Tuners = $70 | $0 |
| No Gig Bag = $0 | Gig Bag = $120 | $120 |
The total price difference of these parts = $370
Keep in mind that this is the cost to purchase parts aftermarket. It will cost Fender a lot less than this to make these parts.
Since most of the QC/ build quality improvements that the USA-model has over the Mexican-model are related to the neck, I’ve not added any extra costs here.
The only other differences that could affect the cost that we’ve not addressed are:
- How many pieces the body is made from
- The body finish
This means that we have $230 left unaccounted for, which is the premium that comes with purchasing a USA-made Telecaster and the prestige it comes with.
Which Should You Choose?
It really depends on which you prefer the sound of, and the specific features you’re looking for. I’d recommend trying the different models in your budget and trying to ignore where they are made from (even do a blind-test if you can).
Reasons to Choose a Mexican Telecaster:
- Better value for money
- Still feels and sounds excellent
- Can be upgraded and still works out cheaper than the USA version
Reasons to Choose an American Telecaster:
- Best possible build quality, hardware and pickups
- More prestige and heritage
- Better quality accessories included
Here are more articles you might find useful:
– Fender Player vs Player Plus
– Fender Player vs Vintera
– Fender American Performer vs American Professional II