New fender player series?
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Silence Kid
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Re: New fender player series?
It's tough to imagine selecting an MIM Standard above say a VM Squier; even a Deluxe Squier. Although all of them are pretty much in the "play them each first and pick the best one" category.
It's tough to imagine selecting an MIM Standard above say a VM Squier; even a Deluxe Squier. Although all of them are pretty much in the "play them each first and pick the best one" category.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: New fender player series?
Mine is an '05 or '04. (I don't have it here, so I don't remember exactly, but I know I bought it new in '05.) I bought it for the color, mainly. I kept it bone stock till '12, and it was actually one of my two most played guitars, because I just kept it lying around in my room without having to worry about it. I like the skinny frets, and I don't play much past the 12th, so I don't care if a guitar has the higher ones.
In '12, I finally caught the modding bug and I went hog wild, replacing pretty much everything on it, as well as polishing up the matte neck, and dulling down the glossy body. It has Fender CS '54's that I've had for about 20 years, and that have been in and out of a few of my Strats. Custom wiring that I designed. Bladerunner vibrato (a piece of crap that I want to sell, and replace with a Callaham). Custom ordered nickel Sperzel tuners with #6 small buttons. It's had a pro fret dressing and a new bone nut since this pic was taken.
I'm fixin' to send it in to MJT for a strip and refinish in nitro of the same color (no fake aging). Then I'm gonna throw a '65-style small headstock rosewood veneer board by Musikraft on it, and maybe track down an orphaned cheap-o body for the neck (or just throw it up on the wall). The pickguard, pickup covers, screws, neck plate, and strap buttons will be stock. Pretty ridiculous, but what the hell! I'm sentimentally attached to it at this point.
This color is so awesome! So glad they brought it back.
Mine is an '05 or '04. (I don't have it here, so I don't remember exactly, but I know I bought it new in '05.) I bought it for the color, mainly. I kept it bone stock till '12, and it was actually one of my two most played guitars, because I just kept it lying around in my room without having to worry about it. I like the skinny frets, and I don't play much past the 12th, so I don't care if a guitar has the higher ones.
In '12, I finally caught the modding bug and I went hog wild, replacing pretty much everything on it, as well as polishing up the matte neck, and dulling down the glossy body. It has Fender CS '54's that I've had for about 20 years, and that have been in and out of a few of my Strats. Custom wiring that I designed. Bladerunner vibrato (a piece of crap that I want to sell, and replace with a Callaham). Custom ordered nickel Sperzel tuners with #6 small buttons. It's had a pro fret dressing and a new bone nut since this pic was taken.
I'm fixin' to send it in to MJT for a strip and refinish in nitro of the same color (no fake aging). Then I'm gonna throw a '65-style small headstock rosewood veneer board by Musikraft on it, and maybe track down an orphaned cheap-o body for the neck (or just throw it up on the wall). The pickguard, pickup covers, screws, neck plate, and strap buttons will be stock. Pretty ridiculous, but what the hell! I'm sentimentally attached to it at this point.
This color is so awesome! So glad they brought it back.
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Silence Kid
New member
Re: New fender player series?
Can't see the pic; happy to hear I'm not the only person polishing matte necks.
I inherited a Wine Red (I think?) '0X MIM from my dad, but don't have the heart to play it much yet; it's still 500 miles away at one of his houses.
Nice Birdseye on the neck actually.
Can't see the pic; happy to hear I'm not the only person polishing matte necks.
I inherited a Wine Red (I think?) '0X MIM from my dad, but don't have the heart to play it much yet; it's still 500 miles away at one of his houses.
Nice Birdseye on the neck actually.
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Kamanda~SD
New member
Re: New fender player series?
I don't know what they jumped to in the States, but here it's only a $80 increase looks like (that's $60US). Pretty standard price increase even without the upgrades. That's not bad at all.
I don't know what they jumped to in the States, but here it's only a $80 increase looks like (that's $60US). Pretty standard price increase even without the upgrades. That's not bad at all.
cliffenstein
New member
Re: New fender player series?
I'll be picking up a Polar White with Maple fingerboard Stratocaster in a year or so:
I'll be picking up a Polar White with Maple fingerboard Stratocaster in a year or so:
cliffenstein
New member
Re: New fender player series?
I went to my local Sam Ash last night and tried out 5 different Player Stratocasters. They're excellent guitars for sure...however, after trying them out, my desire to buy one has waned. The necks on all I tried were identical and, when compared side by side with several new Standard Stratocasters, it was evident that the Players were a touch thinner in depth than the Standards. The American Professionals in the store had much thicker necks. So, in the end, the Player Stratocaster is not for me.
I went to my local Sam Ash last night and tried out 5 different Player Stratocasters. They're excellent guitars for sure...however, after trying them out, my desire to buy one has waned. The necks on all I tried were identical and, when compared side by side with several new Standard Stratocasters, it was evident that the Players were a touch thinner in depth than the Standards. The American Professionals in the store had much thicker necks. So, in the end, the Player Stratocaster is not for me.
Silence Kid
New member
Re: New fender player series?
Def. approve of thin necks myself.
Def. approve of thin necks myself.
Nightburst
New member
Re: New fender player series?
Yeah they look great and have nice specs. I played 2 of the new player strats last weekend and they weren't bad but I wasn't blown away either. The pickups are okay and so is the neck. I think with a bit of TLC these can be great value guitars that you don't have to worry about too much where you take them so you'll end up playing them more.
Another couple of Mexican strats I played: the fender classic series 60's stratocaster blew them out of the water by a lot. Neck felt so much better, and pickups were probably better because they sounded just great.
They were very close to playing a USA strat.
Yeah they look great and have nice specs. I played 2 of the new player strats last weekend and they weren't bad but I wasn't blown away either. The pickups are okay and so is the neck. I think with a bit of TLC these can be great value guitars that you don't have to worry about too much where you take them so you'll end up playing them more.
Another couple of Mexican strats I played: the fender classic series 60's stratocaster blew them out of the water by a lot. Neck felt so much better, and pickups were probably better because they sounded just great.
They were very close to playing a USA strat.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: New fender player series?
I’m still never buying a new fender again. They’re all the same. Haven’t you noticed? I haven’t ever been able to tell fenders above a certain quality apart
I can’t tell if it’s an American guitar or a Mexican guitar or a classic player or a standard or an artist model or whatever the hell they decide to call a mode designation basically representing a collection of finish options at different price points
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’m still never buying a new fender again. They’re all the same. Haven’t you noticed? I haven’t ever been able to tell fenders above a certain quality apart
I can’t tell if it’s an American guitar or a Mexican guitar or a classic player or a standard or an artist model or whatever the hell they decide to call a mode designation basically representing a collection of finish options at different price points
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
cliffenstein
New member
Re: New fender player series?
Different models are not due to finishes. They’re due to hardware, pickups, truss rod placement, neck profiles, fret wire, etc.
Different models are not due to finishes. They’re due to hardware, pickups, truss rod placement, neck profiles, fret wire, etc.
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Mr. B
New member
Re: New fender player series?
I have bought 2 made-in-Mexico Fenders over the last couple of years, and returned them both. The last one being the Fender Surf-Green P/J bass, which would have needed quite a large neck shim in the neck pocket to get the string height anywhere near correct on day one. The other was a bad neck alignment problem on a Standard Strat. Those are both flaws that are much more than cosmetic. I ended up with a couple of Squier versions of those that are pretty much perfect after a pickup change. I will either be buying Squier or Fender USA from now on.
I have bought 2 made-in-Mexico Fenders over the last couple of years, and returned them both. The last one being the Fender Surf-Green P/J bass, which would have needed quite a large neck shim in the neck pocket to get the string height anywhere near correct on day one. The other was a bad neck alignment problem on a Standard Strat. Those are both flaws that are much more than cosmetic. I ended up with a couple of Squier versions of those that are pretty much perfect after a pickup change. I will either be buying Squier or Fender USA from now on.
Re: New fender player series?
I tried a couple of the new Player series Fender's here in Australia last weekend - I like them!
The specs really suit what I like in a Fender - juicy MJ frets, 22 of them, 9.5" radius, and decent trem/bridge hardware. The new Sonic Red looks nice too. A lot like Fiesta red, but a tad darker (less orange).
I tried a tele with the Pau Ferro fret board and it was well weighted and balanced and just played nicely.
I think the only thing I've never liked about mex builds that is still prevalent on the Player Series gats is that the shoulders of the fret boards are too square. US and Jap made Fenders have had them rolled, which rounds them off nicely. If the Mex builds did this I'd probably not bother with the extra bucks on the US or Jap builds.
I tried a couple of the new Player series Fender's here in Australia last weekend - I like them!
The specs really suit what I like in a Fender - juicy MJ frets, 22 of them, 9.5" radius, and decent trem/bridge hardware. The new Sonic Red looks nice too. A lot like Fiesta red, but a tad darker (less orange).
I tried a tele with the Pau Ferro fret board and it was well weighted and balanced and just played nicely.
I think the only thing I've never liked about mex builds that is still prevalent on the Player Series gats is that the shoulders of the fret boards are too square. US and Jap made Fenders have had them rolled, which rounds them off nicely. If the Mex builds did this I'd probably not bother with the extra bucks on the US or Jap builds.
mariosyjp
New member
Re: New fender player series?
NGD !
The guitar looks great, sounds and feels more contemporary than vintage (think late 80s Gilmour, Clapton).
Out of the box the setup was terrible (action really high, nut slots very shallow, intonation terrible etc)
Compared to my classic series 60s it sounds darker (even though it is a maple vs rosewood), the neck feels thicker.
There is the bouncy feel of the maple fretboard of course but the tone is overall round and dark - something to do with the pickups maybe but the guitar is like that also unplugged.
Paid 590€ new.
Overall I'm happy because I wanted it to sound the way it does, however I will need time to get used to the neck which is a little wide and quite thick.
Even though it feels weird to my left hand it is still super comfortable and does not tire me.
The body shape is amazing, just fits perfectly on your body and under the right hand.
NGD !
The guitar looks great, sounds and feels more contemporary than vintage (think late 80s Gilmour, Clapton).
Out of the box the setup was terrible (action really high, nut slots very shallow, intonation terrible etc)
Compared to my classic series 60s it sounds darker (even though it is a maple vs rosewood), the neck feels thicker.
There is the bouncy feel of the maple fretboard of course but the tone is overall round and dark - something to do with the pickups maybe but the guitar is like that also unplugged.
Paid 590€ new.
Overall I'm happy because I wanted it to sound the way it does, however I will need time to get used to the neck which is a little wide and quite thick.
Even though it feels weird to my left hand it is still super comfortable and does not tire me.
The body shape is amazing, just fits perfectly on your body and under the right hand.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: New fender player series?
That is nice!
It is screaming for a single-ply white guard, IMO.
That is nice!
It is screaming for a single-ply white guard, IMO.
mariosyjp
New member
Re: New fender player series?
Right now I think it's screaming for a second string tree! I cut too deep the nut under G and even though it does not buzz there are vibrations going behind the nut and I hear weird hollow overtones..... I'd rather not drill a hole.in my new guitar though....
Right now I think it's screaming for a second string tree! I cut too deep the nut under G and even though it does not buzz there are vibrations going behind the nut and I hear weird hollow overtones..... I'd rather not drill a hole.in my new guitar though....
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