After getting my end of year bonus at work I thought I should spoil myself a bit and here it is! A new Fender Player II Series Stratocaster made in Ensenada, Mexico! Unlike the other new MIM Fenders, this one has a rosewood fretboard that's hand rolled like the American Fenders. The neck feels identical to my 2003 American Standard Strat and plays like butter. It has the same satin finish on the back of the neck.
Me being me, of course I had to mod it. I got rid of the stock white pickguard and put on a mint pickguard to give it a classier look. I also swapped out the pickups for a Seymour Duncan SSL-5 in the bridge and SSL-1 pickups in the middle and neck positions. The stock pickups were decent, but these pickups brought the guitar to a whole new level! I think I might change the wiring to 50's wiring to get a bit more clarity when rolling off the volume, but it stills sounds great right now. This guitar is definitely a keeper!
I love these recent Player series guitar. I think it was 2018 when they switched to the 22 fret neck and the exact same neck profile as the American Standard. They're a killer value for a Strat or Tele.
CONGRATS AND HNGD!!! WOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Walt said: When the hour is nigh & the lights are low & I got a toothpick of a shwag joint in my teeth & my friends want to hear me play Into the Void or TNT or Cemetery Gates I plug my $600 guitar into my $150 amp and I am a Rawk gawd
Awesome. Looks killer. I keep eye balling a couple of these at the local store. They really do play well, and if I were more of a strat guy, I'd probably have brought one home by now.
After spending ALOT more time with this guitar, I'd be hard pressed to believe this is not an American Strat. Even with the stock pickups. Compared to my 2003 American Standard Fat Strat and my 2021 American Professional II Series Tele, I would swear this Strat was a USA made Strat. The Ensenada plant has really stepped their game up over the years. I can't say enough good things about this line of Mexican made guitars. I'm definitely eyeing one of the Jazzmasters from this line down the road!
