• ELECTRICS 3x Player Series Alnico V Strat single-coil pickups, 5-position blade pickup selector switch, master volume, neck/middle tone, bridge tone • SCALE LENGTH 25.5”/648mm • NECK WIDTH 42mm at nut, 51.8mm at 12th fret • NECK DEPTH 21.1mm at first fret, 22.3mm at 12th fret • STRING SPACING 36mm at nut, 51.7mm at bridge • WEIGHT 8.5lbs/3.8kg Plus, if you really want that American Strat sound without breaking the bank, you can always buy an MIM and mod it with new pickups, electronics and hardware. This is a popular and comfortable neck profile for chords, leads, and all types of playing – a favorite among Stratocaster players. I would even say that this guitar feels like an extension of you, rather than an awkward piece of wood that you’re trying to get used to. To the untrained eye and ear, Mexican-made and American-made Stratocasters may seem interchangeable. Dave Murray California Stratocaster - Artist Series (2015-Today) Classic Player Strat HH - Classic Player Series (2015) 2016. Yet, this is where the similarities between the Standards and Players end. To make the gateway as appealing as possible, they include some thoughtful updates, such as modern C-shape necks carrying 22 frets, Alnico 5-magnet pickups (some models have Alnico 2 or Alnico 3 magnets), and sleek bodies that are hand shaped as … To be honest, for a long time I liked playing my Mexican Stratocaster better than my American Standard. If you already have a Stratocaster, or maybe a few, this would be another great addition to your guitar stable, either to keep stock or to customize as you see fit. I’ve used various pickups on my Strats in the past, including custom pickups from Lace Sensor, Dimarzio, Seymour Duncan, and Lindy Fralin. This guitar easily handles a wide range of tones and styles. The only real downside to the Fender strat is the price point. It’s a proven guitar, and I’m sure you’d be happy with it. You can cover so many tones and styles, it’s just enjoyable and inspiring to play. The Fender Player Series is Fender's newest line of affordable high-quality guitars. The rear contour on the body makes it very comfortable to hold and play, whether I’m sitting and practicing, or standing for hours on end at a rehearsal or live performance. Despite being manufactured in Mexico, it is a legit Stratocaster in every sense of the word. They are both great guitars with some slight differences. “Midnight wine” is no longer available for the Player Stratocaster, but you can choose between five other colors: 3-color sunburst (like the original 50s Strats), black (like Eric Clapton’s “Blackie”), polar white (the Jimi Hendrix-style look), tidepool blue (for 60s flavor), or buttercream yellow (a new option). Yet, it may not be the best option if you’re into heavier genres, you frequently use your whammy bar or you want that pure, bright vintage Strat sound. REAL DEAL SOUND. There are serious diminishing returns when you enter the realm of American made guitars. There’s a reason that Stratocasters have been so popular for decades, in nearly every style of music. In terms of value, the clear winner is the Fender Player Series Stratocaster. All fret edges are smooth, with no rough edges. There were many similar-priced guitars I tried whose fret ends dug into my hand as I slid up and down the neck. My playing became more diverse because of its tones, my technique became better, my ear got better at tweaking tones, and I found myself often playing with lesser gain than I usually would because I loved the tone so much. Logos aside, both neck plates are equally well-made. For Service Diagrams for instruments currently in production, please visit the instrument listing on Fender.com, scroll down a little and click on the Support tab. Yet, even the Player series doesn’t quite match the richness of American Strats, as we’ll see in the next section. After hearing Stevie Ray Vaugahn and a few other Strat players, I knew I had to have that tone, and my metal guitars at the time couldn’t get that sound. Ashley Vaughn Fender Player Series Stratocaster is keeping it classic with some contemporary updates. Deluxe Strat - Deluxe Series (8/2016-Mid 2020) Deluxe Strat HSS - Deluxe Series (8/2016-Today) White Opal Sparkle Standard Stratocaster - White Opal Series… I’m Dan Hoang. The older MIM Standard series also has some different features to the newer MIM Player series, which Fender released in 2018. In fact, it’s the sound quality of the American Strat that really sets it apart from the lower-cost Mexican models. MIM Strats have the same distinct headstock as MIA Strats. Replacing the venerable Mexican Standards these guitars bring all of the character, sound, and playability that you know and love, with some strategic tweaks to the overall feel and hardware of the range. The type of frets on both are “Medium Jumbo”, so they should be the same but I always felt the Standard was a better playing guitar from the start. When you’re holding your MIM Strat in front of you with the bridge to your left and neck to your right, you can switch between the following: On HSS Strats like mine, the first and second positions produce even thicker tones, thanks to the humbucker pickup. There’s also a micro-tilt adjustment on the American Strat, meaning that it’s easier to shim your neck if you want to adjust your string action. Want to see more? This video looks at the major differences between the MIM Fender Standard Stratocaster and the MIA Fender Standard Stratocaster. Many companies make single-coil replacement pickups, as well as single-size humbuckers tor different tone options. A view from the back of my Mexican Strat. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better value in a guitar. The biggest difference in hardware between the Player and Standard series is the pickups. My favorite radius, this 9.5” radius makes the fretboard round enough to fit in your hand well, but also flat enough to play correctly and accurately – a great mix of both. My American Standard is highly-modified: refinished body, locking tuners, custom pickups (Seymour Duncan JB Jr, Lace Silver, Lace Blue), custom wiring, several custom pickguards, blocked bridge, hand-smoothed contours. Unlike the tuning pegs on American-made Strats, the ones on Mexican-made Strats are straight instead of staggered. Can anyone explain the difference between Mexican-made Fender Stratocasters and American-made Fender Stratocasters? With the five-way selector, you can choose between: The Fender Stratocaster probably has the most iconic design for a guitar in the world, next to only the Gibson Les Paul. Whether you're a vintage Strat connoisseur or simply a value-conscious hobbyist who is on the prowl for a great deal, you're definitely in the right place for a Fender used Stratocaster. My Standard has a rosewood fretboard, which has an even warmer tone than pau ferro. I’ve learned a ton over the years and would love to share some tips with you! After having played Stratocasters almost exclusively for many years, that difference is very small. Helps strings move just the right amount to stay in tune while bending, and cut at the right height for string action to make playing easy. In fact, a good amount of the most well-known rock, blues, and country songs were recorded with Stratocasters. Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Eric Johnson, Fender Player Stratocaster Electric Guitar, How To Play The Harmonic Minor Scale on Guitar, ArtistWorks Review – Premium Online Guitar Lessons, Yamaha APX500III Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review, MXL 990 Review – Affordable Condenser Microphone. There are no worries about ease and comfort with a Stratocaster. If you plan to change string gauges, you may need to adjust the specs somewhat to compensate for the changes in string sizes. I play a lot of blues, country, indie, ambient, and some classic rock on it. There are other differences between these two guitars that you can’t always put in a chart, small things that don’t matter to many people, but that some others might like and therefore will pay extra. Fender Stratocaster Player Series, made in Mexico 2018, in bright gloss white with maple fretboard. By contrast, Standard Strats have a six-screw bridge, like the vintage MIA Strats. I feel this Stratocaster is the most balanced of all guitars in terms of the way it’s made. Released in 2018,the newest version of the classic Stratocaster is made to replace the old Made in Mexico standards. Then after a week I knew why: Fender released the Player Series. Some of these links are affiliate links meaning we may earn commissions on purchases. The cursive, CBS-era Fender logo on my Mexican Standard Strat. If you look at the neck plate of the Standard Strat it should be blank, while the Player Strat should have a scripted Fender F logo. After looking at the spec comparison, you might ask yourself why someone would buy the American Standard version when the specs are pretty similar, but the American costs over twice as much. The Strat ironically mirrors the fortunes of Fender the company itself. The inspiring sound of a Stratocaster is one of the foundations of Fender. Mexican Fender strat g5VG Stratocaster powered by roland w/soft case. Fender literally wrote the book on electric basses, laying the foundation for musical innovation and evolution. All Mexican Strats are built with a 9.5”-radius fretboard. If you’re looking for a Stratocaster, if you’re not sure that you want one, or if you just came across this review and like guitars, read on and you’ll see why the Fender Player Stratocaster is such an iconic guitar. So I was looking for a guitar for a while now. Still, the Fender Mexican Stratocaster can give you that good-quality, signature Strat sound at a lower price. My Standard has hotter ceramic pickups, which have more output, more distortion and stronger mid-range tones. Instead, mine has an open-coil humberbucker pickup at the bridge and single-coil pickups at the neck and middle. I was a major metal head when I started playing and had no interest in Strats. They just don’t have that extra oomph that makes an American Strat an American Strat. This tremolo allows you to lower the tension on all strings, which lowers the pitch of the notes. Yet, only the Player series preserves the two-toned Spaghetti letters of the American-style Fender logo. Yet, unlike the American-made and Mexican Standard Strats, the Player series have one tone knob for the neck/middle pickup and one for the bridge pickup, instead of the traditional neck pickup knob and middle pickup knob. If you look at the neck plate of the Standard Strat it should be blank, while the Player Strat should have a scripted Fender F logo. Nothing on this guitar makes you feel like you’re settling, and you feel quality and attention to detail all around. They use better hardware, pickups, etc. Introduced this past July at the Summer NAMM show, the new Player series guitars seek to lure younger guitarists to authentic Fender sound and vibe. I consider this my modern Strat. This MIM is nearly identical to my own, except for the SSS pickups. To kick off this Fender Player Stratocaster review, let’s first take a look at some of the specs that make this guitar so great. Their made in Mexico guitars are now made up two series – the Player and the Vintera series. It’s a legit Fender Stratocaster…enough said, Ergonomic shape; comfortable neck and body, Sound quality on par with American verions, Single coil pickups aren’t suited for high gain, Thin c-shape neck might not be comfortable for those with bigger hands, Fretboard radius doesn’t allow for very low action. … Series Player (7) Orientation Right-Hand (6) Left-Hand (1) Color Woods Fingerboard Material Body Material Neck Shape Modern C Pickup Type I find the classic dual-cutaway body makes for easy access to upper frets when you’re playing up high – more so than the single-cutaways Les Paul style of body. Very good, versatile tones from these three pickups. This is not uncommon with heavily-used guitars that are moved around a lot, and played for hundreds of hours, though. The Fender Stratocaster, colloquially known as the Strat, is a model of electric guitar designed from 1952 into 1954 by Leo Fender, Bill Carson, George Fullerton and Freddie Tavares.The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has continuously manufactured the Stratocaster from 1954 to the present. Yet, the experienced guitarist can spot the key differences, from the tuning pegs to the tremolo bridge to the sound of the single-coil pickups. I will note that after my first year of heavy playing and performing with this Player Stratocaster, the input jack starting cutting out randomly. Ike is a great guitar player as well and can play any guitar he wants. Charvel has made custom guitars for a long time, signature models for a number of professionals, and unique guitars of all kinds. If you play heavier music, need higher gain or like to dive-bomb the tremolo, this might not be the best guitar for you like the stock model. If you want the best of the best, something like an American elite with the Fender name proudly emblazoned across the headstock will easily set you back over $1,500. Nothing on this guitar makes you feel like you’r… I love recording music and filming guitar covers and I occasionally post them on YouTube. Don’t worry – I only coiled the cables for my Vox wah pedal review, to show how they connect to the pedal. While it seems like a difficult task, replacing one of the top guitar models of all time, Fender introduced the Player Series Stratocaster in June 2018 with just that in mind. Especially since I play guitar almost every day, I was happy to find one with a smooth, comfortable fretboard. In this comprehensive review of the Fender Player Stratocaster, you’ll learn why this model is not only a great guitar but a great value for players of any level, from basic beginner to touring professional. My Fender Mexcian Strat connected to my Vox V845 wah pedal and Yorkville Image IG-20 amp. The new models are bringing in all the power of the classic MIM Strat, but with a few untraditional updates. As noted, Stratocasters and highly-customizable, and you’ll have a wide variety of pots and pickups, should you ever want to upgrade the electronics, or just customize them for creative reasons. With an endless choice of tuners, pickups, knobs, bridges, and pickguards, and inner components, there is no limit to how much you can customize this. And it was sent to Asia and to Mexico to be made for the purposes of cost-cutting. The neck feels smooth and slim. I’ve been playing guitar for over 10 years now, and I’m a total nerd when it comes to gear. In my opinion, few guitars are as versatile as a Stratocaster as far as tone options. Do yourself a favor and look into this Player Series Strat. A view from the back of my Mexican Strat. This Player Series Stratocaster is a great guitar if you leave it stock, but it’s also open to high customization if you want to go that route. WIth its dual-cutaway, contoured body, three pickups, and five-way pickup selector, Stratocasters are easily the single-most versatile guitar you can buy. The Mexican Stratocaster, like the American Stratocaster, benefits from sturdy chrome hardware that keeps your strings firmly in place, balances the tension between the front and back of your guitar and adjusts the volume and tone of your output. Logos aside, both neck plates are equally well-made. The lighter-colored maple fingerboard gives a slightly brighter tone, and has a more polished feel on the fingerboard. It was first built in the US, where it has been brilliant and then just plain terrible. Whether you keep it stock or customize it, just having this workhorse guitar is a great feeling. Featuring this classic sound—bell-like high end, punchy mids and robust low end, combined with crystal-clear articulation—the Player Stratocaster is packed with authentic Fender feel and style. Nonetheless, the single volume knob and the 5-way pickup selector remain the same on all Fender Mexican Stratocasters. But I didn’t just want a guitar that looked good. These popular mid-level Fender models offer the same classic look as the American Stratocaster at about half the price. But make no mistake, the Fender Player Stratocaster is no copy. This balances the tension between the front and back components of your guitar and gives you smoother vibratos when you use your whammy bar. The Players Series guitars embody that coveted Fender sound and form that has made our guitars iconic with so many generations of creators." Another major difference between the two series is the tremolo bridge. I’ll cover the differences between all these mid-level Strats. Most of the time, you will see Ike playing this stock Player Series Stratocaster on stage, and he gets some amazing tones out of it. They have a versatile and consistently strong sound, whether you’re playing 50s rockabilly, 70s prog-rock, 80s blues or 2000s alternative. Still, there are key differences in the design, hardware and sound of the MIM (Made in Mexico) versus the MIA Strat, which I’ll cover throughout the article. For years they wrote, recorded and performed together. Additionally, the tuning pegs on the MIA Strat are staggered, with the space between the posts decreasing toward the high E string. Much more so than a Les Paul-style guitar, which always seemed very heavy and awkward to me. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive regular updates. The Player Series takes Fender's classic electric guitar designs, offering a generous range of features for a tricked-out spec that makes them ideal for today's musician, then builds them at the Big F's Mexican factory and sells them at a very attractive price. I would recommend the MIM Strat to intermediate guitarists who want to upgrade from their entry-level models, like the Squier Bullet Strat. Enter the Fender Mexican Stratocaster. On a closer look, you may notice some subtle design and hardware differences between the American and Mexican Strat. The Fender Stratocaster is one of the first mass-produced electric guitars dating back to 1954. Most Fender Player Series are eligible for free shipping. I’d also recommend it to ambitious beginners who practice regularly and need a good-quality guitar with smooth frets that won’t rip up their hands. That being said, Mexican Strats are still excellent sounding guitars. Respecting Fender's heritage while maintaining an innovative spirit, the Player Series blends authentic Fender tone, sound and style with a modern edge that's versatile enough to handle any style of music. After years of playing a hand-me-down Yamaha RGX310, my family surprised me with the ultimate graduation present: the chance to pick out my own electric guitar. I prefer guitars with strong mid tones, so I chose an MIM Strat with a rosewood fretboard. The holiday season is finally here! I speak from experience because I constantly adjust them while I perform. My biggest problem with my Strat is that it’s constantly out-of-tune when I play with a whammy bar. Another example of this guitar being a solid, versatile workhorse is Ike Willis. The Player series Strats feature an scripted Fender “F” logo instead of a plain chrome neck plate. This guitar is made to be played for hours and hours. The build quality of the Fender Player Stratocaster is much better than you’d expect in this price range. From its comfortable neck and body, versatile tones and easy playability, there’s no other guitar that can do all the things I need and have all the tones that are in my head like a Stratocaster. Player Stratocaster 7 results Filter Filter Filters. In Sage Green Metallic. It also has a modern c-shaped maple neck. The nut width is slightly narrower on the American Strat, at 1.650” instead of 1.685”. Designed for authentic Fender tone—with a bit of an edge—the Player Series alnico single-coil, split-coil and humbucking pickups keep a foot in the past while looking to the future. If you ever decide to customize this guitar, you have an unlimited number of options regarding pickups. However, it’s definitely NOT 3 times as good as the price would suggest! I bought a Fender Player Series Stratocaster and never looked back. It has been ordinary and at times, out of fashion. Because of their single-coil alnico pickups, MIM Player Strats have a brighter tone than the MIM Standards, which makes them sound more like MIA Strats. Whether you’re just learning to play, or play professionally, the design of this guitar is made to fit your well and to be comfortable for as long as you want to play it. My Mexican-made Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS was the perfect choice for me, because of my budget and style of playing. This helps reduce unwanted noise from nearby electronic devices and lights. Has new Fender locking tuners, new roller string tree, new strings, new tortoise shell pickguard, and the amazing Seymour Duncan Everything Axe humbucker pickups set. This way, you’ll get a better idea of which one might be the one for you. The Strat has been through some rocky times. Phillip McKnight is a Fender player, dealer and repairman, and even he wasn’t sure of the differences between them, aside from their retail prices. Eight years ago, I became the proud owner of my own Mexican-made Strat: a Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS. You start with the classic comfort-contoured alder body with a gloss polyester finish, then add a 3-ply parchment pickguard and a trio of Player Series Alnico 5 Strat single-coil pickups. You start with the classic comfort-contoured alder body with a gloss polyester finish, then add a 3-ply parchment pickguard and a trio of Player Series Alnico 5 Strat single-coil pickups. All fret edges are smooth, with no rough edges. Player Strats, like modern American-made Strats, have a two-point tremolo bridge. And it’s a big one. It captures everything you would expect from a Strat at an affordable price. When I entered my local music store on that fateful day, the first thing that I noticed about the Fender Mexican Stratocaster was its sleek, eye-catching design. USA ship Swapping the factory tuners for locking tuners can help keep this guitar in tune better if you play to use the tremolo a fair amount. The Player series Strats feature an scripted Fender “F” logo instead of a plain chrome neck plate. In superb condition, hardly used, but with many upgrades. The only warning I would have is that you could very well become addicted to Strats and let your other guitars collect dust. The volume and tone pots work well, and the pickup selector is very solid. From blues, rockabilly, country, classic rock, and many other styles, these pickups won’t disappoint. There are probably a thousand other guitar brands that have copied this exact design. Unlike other Fender models, Stratocasters have a five-way selector switch that activates different pickups and gives Strats their classic sound. This is especially true with the cover bands I’ve played in since I have to change sounds so often to accommodate multiple different bands and styles of music. A solid classic rarely needs to change, and the Player Series Stratocaster is a great example of that. It has been cheaply made and had a cheaper Fender-owned Squier version. Yet, whenever I need that extra vibrato, I can easily screw it back into the bridge. Overall, I can confidently recommend theFender Player Series Stratocaster. Get the best price on Fender Player Series at Guitar Center. I’ve had some nice, fast metal guitars in the past that are built for speed and did that job well, but this Strat was the first guitar that I truly enjoyed playing more than any other. Have a look at the best Fender Stratocasters I’m Dan Hoang. Yamaga did a great job creating a guitar that gives you a lot of what Stratocaster fans want but in a slightly different style. In contrast, the classic SSS Strats are better suited for rock, blues and country. Fender has produced various flavors of their headstock logo over the years, and this 70s is always a favorite style among many players. Especially on the Player HSS models, this creates more nuanced bridge tones. Loving it so much I bought a 98 American Standard a few years later, and I can’t imagine anything else I’d ever want in a guitar. If you want one guitar to play pretty much anything, and you like the tone, look and feel of a classic Stratocaster, then I’m positive you’ll be happy with this guitar. This guitar can change however you want it to. One of the first things I noticed about my Strat when I tried it at the store was its smooth frets. In terms of build quality, sound quality, hardware, woods, etc, The Fender Player Series Stratocaster offers 90% of what the American Strat offers, but at a fraction of the price! After testing other models in the same price range, I chose this Mexican Strat because of its good-quality design and versatile sound. The Standard series Strats have 21 frets, while the Player series have 22––just like the MIA Strats. I’ve been playing guitar for over 10 years now, and I’m a total nerd when it comes to gear. You’d be surprised at how similar they sound. So, because this is such a versatile and customizable guitar, it’s hard to think of who WOULDN’T love this guitar. The most important factor to consider when choosing a guitar is whether it feels comfortable to you. Ask your non-musical friends what image comes to mind when they picture an electric guitar––chances are, they’ll describe the solid-bodied, double cutaway-shaped and white pickguard-ed image of a Strat. When I finally decided to buy a Mexican Standard Strat they were suddenly sold out. Just know that this guitar can and will evolve and grow with you, and (like mine) will be a lifelong friend, through all phases of your playing, through any style of music, and with any level of customization, you might want to throw at it. I’ve played hundreds of shows with this guitar that include rock, jazz, blues, country, metal, ambient, and grunge. This is a very underrated guitar, and a great guitar in its own right in many ways. This configuration is different from most MIM and MIA Strats, which have single-coil pickups (SSS) at the bridge, middle and neck. This Stratocaster has a style that has been copied since it arrived. A good-sounding, solid replica of classic bone. I’ve met Ike a few times and have two friends that were in his touring band. Fender Player Stratocaster . The tuners move smoothly and make tuning quick and easy. The Player's Stratocaster in particular boasts a body made of ash with a maple neck and either a rosewood or maple fingerboard, as well as three of Fender's patented Noiseless pickups. If you want stronger treble, you’re better off with maple. . After a quick soldering fix and check of all existing connections, there haven’t been any other such issues in many years. In some cases, I even preferred the Mexican Strat! An awkward guitar can really get in the way when you’re learning to play, and also when you want or need to play for a long time. I’ve learned a ton over the years and would love to share some tips with you! Also, the American Professional Strat runs about $1,450. This subtle flattening of the traditional c-shape makes it easier to move around your fretboard, especially if you have smaller hands. Players closely capture the bright, snappy charm of the MIAs, while Standards offer a warmer take on the classic Strat sound. Just like watches, cars, cameras, and other products that have different levels of features, some people want a simple, great product that will last, and some others want something a little higher-end, even if both products do the exact same thing. If you don’t already have one, I really feel you need to look into a Stratocaster, and this Mexican Strat is the perfect introduction to the world of Strats. Fender recently announced its new Player Series, which will replace the company's Mexican-made Standard Series.Player Series models will feature Alnico pickups and satin-finished maple necks across the lineup, as well as updated body radii, 22-fret necks, upgraded bridges, new finishes and a revised logo.New finishes for the Player Series include Sage Green, Polar White, Tidepool, … The Fender Player Stratocaster combines the guitar's sleek, elegant lines with the perfect blend of vintage and modern features. The Player Series of Fender guitars are made in Mexico, with the American Standard (or now the American Professional), being made in the USA. The bridge pieces work well, look great and adjust easily. I would spend hours and hours switching between the pickups, tweaking the sound, and just enjoying the inspiration that all the tones gave me. I usually play without a whammy bar, because I don’t like constantly needing to re-tune my guitar. Even the less glamorous deluxe models sit at around $800, and the American standard series that many players clamor for generally retails at around $1,000. I felt the American’s frets were just a little too high and that made it a chore to play easily on the higher frets. Design and hardware aside, sound is where Mexican Strats truly shine. Not to say that you’d be disappointed with an American Stratocaster. I play a lot of blues, classic/modern rock, grunge, metal, djent, and jazz on it. I sometimes notice a buzz after I change my D’addario NYXL strings on my MIM Strat. I can tell you that as a guitar player, this guitar has opened up so many possibilities and ideas that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Like the MIA, it has a 25.5″ scale, an 11-hole pickguard and a contoured alder body that fits comfortably on your lap while you’re sitting and rests comfortably against your stomach while you’re standing. Many people do play heavier styles on Stratocasters, and there are many aftermarket parts you can buy to upgrade and customize this guy in pretty much any way you can imagine. I’ve kept my Player Series Stratocaster stock but modified my American Standard Stratocaster. Disclosure: We are a professional review site that receives compensation from the companies whose products we review. However, both Standard and Player fretboards are exactly the same length. A solid guitar all around, the 50s era of Strats are a favorite among Strat fans, and bring you back to this iconic guitar’s beginning with its style and features. There’s no other guitar that gives you as many options to change with your tone, your musical phases, and your playing in general. This might just be the worst-kept secret of the guitar world in 2018: The new Mexican -made Fender Player Series is a revamp of the whole Fender Standard line-up, with some tweaks and a new, updated Jaguar model. The inspiring sound of a Stratocaster is one of the foundations of Fender. Each position has its own distinct tone, and can cover a wide range of music styles. The tuners move smoothly and make tuning quick and easy. Players have the option of a maple fretboard, optimized for brightness, or a pau ferro fretboard, optimized for warmth. The bridge pieces work well, look great and adjust easily. Get the best deals on musical instruments and recording equipment at Sweetwater. It’s the same classic design, sound, and stylings, but made with a more budget-friendly goal in mind. I wanted it to have a good-quality sound and design. Currently, the Mexican Player Series Stratocasters are priced around $700, and the American Performer Stratocaster costs roughly $1,150. In terms of craftsmanship and attention to detail, the American models are slightly better across the board. Luckily, the MIM Strat achieves that balance between looking good and playing well. This is a big bonus when you rehearse or perform and don’t want the keep the line signal and noise-free as you can. Darrel Braun actually made a very good video breaking down the tonal differences between the American and Mexican Stratocasters. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Although the American Professional is considered to have better-quality components, electronics, and other details, this Standard version is by no means a “lesser” guitar. The neck feels smooth and slim. The frets on the Player Series Strat were the perfect shape and height. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top "horn" shape for balance. The Fender Standard single coils that come on this guitar are well-suited for many styles of music and will give you the classic Stratocaster sound you’re looking for. Featuring this classic sound—bell-like high end, punchy mids and robust low end, combined with crystal-clear articulation—the Player Stratocaster is packed with authentic Fender feel and style. The build quality of the Fender Player Stratocaster is much better than you’d expect in this price range. The following setup procedures and specifications are for your Stratocaster as equipped with the strings that come on the instrument as standard equipment from the factory. And it has seen various reincarnations, but it is still here. I can tell you that after decades of performing, recording and some touring, a good Stratocaster is still my #1 guitar of choice. Although there have been some slight variations in headstock design (like any product, just to make things different from year to year), the design of this guitar has not changed since it first hit the stores in 1954. So, I usually create vibrato with my fingers instead. Guitar Advise is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You can never go wrong with a Stratocaster. The Mexican-made Player Series replaces the Standard models, and is primed to be the brand’s most affordable—and beginner-friendly—line. This guitar immediately felt like “home” to me when I first picked it up. Fender Player Series Stratocaster Guitars Fender’s most accessible instrument range offers heaps of choice and contemporary aesthetics that’ll stand out from any crowd. It has seen dozens and dozens of companies copy it. As a long-time owner of both Mexican Player Series and American Standard versions, I can tell you that this Mexican Stratocaster is pretty much a perfect guitar all around. Just know that you are paying a premium. The Player Series includes: six Stratocasters, two Telecasters, a Jaguar, a Jazzmaster, four Jazz Basses, a Precision Bass, and a Jaguar Bass. This guitar is a great choice if you’re looking for something similar to a Stratocaster, but want a unique spin on it. This is why HSS and especially HSH Strats (which also have a humbucker neck pickup) can handle heavier genres like grunge and alternative metal. Ike was Frank Zappa’s right-hand co-writer and bandmate. Fender's Deluxe Series provides MIM guitars that have higher-end apointments, such as pickups and wood options, special finishes, and gold hardware. Not good for heavy or aggressive tremolo use and dive-bombing, which will cause your guitar to go out of tune fast. Small-handed guitar players will also like the medium-jumbo frets, which means your fingers don’t have to stretch as far when you’re playing barre chords or power chords. By contrast, Players have alnico (aluminum-nickel-cobalt) magnetic pickups, like MIA Strats. Everything I play on this guitar is effortless, which brings out the best in my playing, and will allow you to express your musical ideas very easily.