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Post subject: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 8:51 am
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When I first saw the news about the Fender Player Series, my first thought was another price increase.

10 years ago, new MIM Stratocaster Standards were $399 new; slowly they rose to $499 and now $599.

The new MIM Player Series that replaces the Standard starts at $649; first impression was just increase prices.

But a closer look reveals the upgrades. from what I've read, the new Player Series is very close to a Classic Players edition; two-point trem, 22 frets, bridge tone control (absolutely necessary mod in my opinion), and improved pickups.

Realistically, the only difference between this new series and the Classic Players seems to be the fretboard Radius. Classic Player being a flat 12" and modern standard 9.5" of the new Player Series.

So really, you are saving about $100-150 over the Classic Player only by sacrificing the fretboard radius and vintage style tuners. Pickups are subjective, so I'll exclude that.

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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 6:59 pm
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DetroitBlues wrote:
bridge tone control (absolutely necessary mod in my opinion)

But most likely dropped the middle tone control.
My AmSpec has the tone pots wired to the neck and bridge only, no jumper to the middle pickup.

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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:08 pm
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CB91710 wrote:
But most likely dropped the middle tone control.
My AmSpec has the tone pots wired to the neck and bridge only, no jumper to the middle pickup.


On the Player series the first tone control affects the middle and neck pickups and the second tone the bridge pickup as opposed to modern USA Strats which had the first tone for the neck and the no-load circuit for the middle and bridge pickups.


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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:50 am
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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 7:47 am
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On the P-bass, which is what I play 99% of the time these days, the only meaningful physical change I can see is the switch to an Alnico pickup. That change may numb the desire of some owners to swap out the (formerly ceramic, I believe) stock one in search of more bottom end and more authority.

Cosmetically, I love those new buttercream and tidepool blue colors with the maple boards.

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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 12:28 pm
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The Buttercream P-Bass looks much cooler with a 3-ply black pickguard.


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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 5:15 pm
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Hmmm...

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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 5:29 pm
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This is really seductive. Fortunately for my bank account, I'm not in the market for another Strat...or so I keep telling myself.
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Too bad they aren't making the Jaguar in this color.

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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 1:30 am
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Miami Mike wrote:
Hmmm...

Image


Why not offer the Player HSH with a Floyd?


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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 12:33 pm
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chromeface wrote:
The Buttercream P-Bass looks much cooler with a 3-ply black pickguard.


I dunno... I had so many PBs with black PGs in the '70s that I've lost interest in them. I sorta like the 3-ply white. I hope it's not that (imo awful) mint that we saw/see on the AmPros. If I were going to swap the stock PG, I'd probably throw a dark tort on it -- the darker the better.

Eh, the point is moot; I've got 2 PBs already, and a red Cab I never use. And a MM SR neck-through I rarely use and should probably sell. I need to control my urges to buy things I don't need.

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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 8:53 am
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Running errands yesterday I drove near a GC and stopped in -- I scanned the rack and not seeing anything asked, "any of the new player series in stock?"
sales person, "We only got two in, a Tele and a Strat, and they immediately sold out as quick as we got them."

So looks like these guitars are popular and still short on inventory shipments.

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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 9:46 am
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The Bass Player Series is somewhat similar to an American Standard Series with the Alnico V pups, before Fender went to the CS60's pups. That should be a pretty good sounding MIM bass.

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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 6:10 am
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Mr. Nylon wrote:
The Bass Player Series is somewhat similar to an American Standard Series with the Alnico V pups, before Fender went to the CS60's pups. That should be a pretty good sounding MIM bass.


but doesn't have the posiflex graphite support rods as the Professionals.


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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 6:14 am
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spacewolf wrote:
This is really seductive. Fortunately for my bank account, I'm not in the market for another Strat...or so I keep telling myself.
Image
Too bad they aren't making the Jaguar in this color.


Buttercream looks cooler with either a tort or 3-ply black guard. Similar to Vintage White but slightly darker.


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Post subject: Re: New Fender Player Series
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 1:50 pm
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chromeface wrote:
spacewolf wrote:
This is really seductive. Fortunately for my bank account, I'm not in the market for another Strat...or so I keep telling myself.
Image
Too bad they aren't making the Jaguar in this color.


Buttercream looks cooler with either a tort or 3-ply black guard. Similar to Vintage White but slightly darker.

Personally, I think it's lovely just the way it is. I can't even imagine it with tort, and black would be a shocking contrast that would make it look way too serious. JMO, YMMV and all that.

This is also what I was getting at in your other thread - a light-colored guitar with a maple fretboard looks BEAUTIFUL. *drools*

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