I own a Mexican Stratocaster and I changed the pickups to the samarium noiseless cobalt that uses the deluxe edition and it sounds amazing. Everybody loves the sound of my guitar, even the most insufferable purist. My dad bought me this guitar when I was 13 years old, it has a very emotional value to me.
I took my Player MIM series out of the hard case, after over a month, and it was still perfectly in tune, I love my MIM, Player Series, just awesome !! thanks for posting and thank you UA-cam ❤😂
I live in El Paso texas on the border of Mexico. I go to Ciudad Juárez on the regular and love Mexico to the core as a Mexican American. I’ve owned from American Gibsons and fenders to cheap Ibanez and squiers. Let me tell you folks. The guitar that felt just the damn best was my old Mexican telecaster. After all these years of buying and selling guitars, I’ve landed back to a good ole Mexican strat. And it’s my all time favorite. And in case none of you know, the work ethic of Mexicans is through the roof. We are born workers and only produce the best quality. The only thing mexico struggles with is corruption and money being spent in the wrong places. But let me tel you. You put a factory of anything in Mexico, it’s going to be made with excellent quality. Don’t ever doubt buying a Mexican guitar, as it will definitely be made of the best quality. I just bought a player series and I love it. Just ask the guitar store to shave down the sharp frets if it has any. Find your perfect action, and you’re golden for life ;)
Gospel! You couldn't force a Mexican at gun point to build you a shitty strat. Have worked in a hundred plus factories over the years. Mexican workers ain't no joke.
Yes.. Exactly.. My finger is very comfortable on the neck of Mexican strat than the US.. Dont care if the guitar is cheap or expensive but The most important for me is about the neck and your finger...
That's a very reassuring and uplifting message, for some reason I got a lot of warmth out ou it. Also, I just bought a Vintera series JM, and it is a fantastic instrument, I really couldn't have dreamt about anything better. Just the standard preparations like shielding and proper setup (and a pickguard swap in my case) made it into an instrument that I han honestly say sounds every bit like a top of the line vintage-style JM as any of the American ones that I have heard. I can't imagine anything being an "upgrade" to it, it's just a fantastic guitar and I can't see any corners being cut. Anyways, thank you!
I am on the fence about getting one of these or the bottom end performer. These player plus guitars have a ton of up grades. I am afraid I may wish I would have gotten the performer. Do you own one of the MIM fenders? I am really just wanting to noodle around with at home. Maybe play out some.
@@lozo2331 he’s talking about playing at home. Why spend double just to get one to pluck around at home? Obviously an USA is better, but you won’t notice all those differences with a small at home amp set up
and if you feel the need, you can upgrade to Seymore Duncan pickups for instance and buy a rosewood neck if that's what one want and swap the nuts to lock nuts if that preference is what you want. But i honestly like PF, i got it on my bass and it sounds great
I have a Player Strat (buttercream one) and I absolutely love it. I have put in Fender locking tuners, which was driven more from laziness than anything, but it's easy to do with the non-vintage set. Great guitar, gets a lot of use in my house over far more pricey guitars, it's got mojo!
I'm looking at the same guitar - there's an HSH version with a Pau Ferro neck that's cheaper than the SSS MN and I want to find out why!! Sweet looking guitars.
The player series are exceptional value for money and hold their own against more expensive models, the key to being a better player is not buying a more expensive guitar but working on technique, I also love the tidepool blue colour.
Great video. Second one of yours I’ve watched. You spoke to exactly what goes on in most of our heads, that we need the next best thing instead of enjoying the tool we already have. I’ve bought and sold several guitars over the years and still think fondly of the player strat I had (my first “nice” guitar). I have a pro 2 tele now and still find myself thinking I “need” one of those road worn vintera models.
Great review Jules! I’ve got a Player Strat and love it and agree with the points you made. One upgrade I made was changing the tuners to the Performer Vintage split tuners for a more classic look and they have a higher gear ratio of 18to one, than the standard tuners that come on the Player. They’re only $44 and and another benefit is they lighter. My overall guitar weight dropped an ounce.
My favourite Strat is a Made in Mexico Fender Player Strat. I have 7 Fender Custom Shops and 4 Gibson Custom Shops. The best of the bunch is the Player Series.
I bought a brand new unsold 2022 model player strat that ended up at a pawn shop for $250, and it has become my main guitar. Cheap enough to not hurt if I scratch it, but nice enough to make me want to play it every day. Love it!
VERY nice feature, sir! This was more than a review but a great story feature! You also play very nicely so keep up the good work with practicing or whatever you're doing. 👏👏👏
My Player strat has been my #1 guitar for over 3 years now and I have no desire to replace it. In fact, I recently bought another one so I can keep one guitar in Eb and the other in standard tuning. I compared the Player and Professional strats quite a bit and the Player neck just felt better to me. Couldn't really tell what the extra $1000 for the USA-made guitar was paying for, other than it was "USA-made". Have never once regretted my decision, they are solid instruments.
The build standard of a stratocaster has been reached. The USA product goes beyond standard. You stop questioning and judgement. They all meet the standards. You get on with your life and stop doubting the manufacturing. You adjust your image. The sound matches the guitar's image. You paid for professional image design.
What about the comparison between the player and the others Mexicans guitar.vintera 50 standard and modified? What do you think about? Maybe the vintera 50" is more "bluesy" and the player more modern strat?
I bought a new Mexican Strat back in 2002 in midnight wine with a maple fingerboard. Although I now have quite a collection of guitars (including an Epiphone Les Paul '56 Gold Top, a Classic Vibe blonde Tele and a Danelectro 56-U2) the Strat is still my go to guitar. It has a lovely sparkling sound and a nice low action so it's just a great guitar to play. I've often thought about buying an MIA Strat but in the end this one sounds so good and plays so well that I don't think it's worth it.
These Player Series guitars are crazy good. I used to have a '97 American Standard and the Player I just got is straight on even with that guitar. I'll admit I was rather surprised it is that good, but it is. It's not always about what is more expensive or where something is made, even though it's easy to think that.
I have owned a custom shop John English 50th anniversary strat, a Rory Gallagher strat , a custom shop strat specced by myself . When hitting hard times I had a Squire classic vibe 60’s strat which I recently sold and bought a player strat in polar white with maple fretboard . I’ve got to say out all the guitars I’ve owned this one I bonded with straight out of the box . The build quality, playability and sounds are pure Fender , so much so I don’t feel the need for another Fender to fill any gaps. The Fender player strat is an affordable masterpiece. The other thing I will say is people comparing the player strat with the Squire classic Vibe and saying they are very close, absolute bullsh*t , I had my squire cv for 10 years and it is nowhere near the player strat in playability , build quality , feel and electronics. Yes the squire cv has great pickups but that is it, the player is a much better guitar and well worth price. You get what you pay for , quality is not cheap.
A Squire is equally good as long as you like the neck size. Everything else can be modified to pro level specs. But having it modified to your specific specs could cost over a $1000
Yeah, I have a 2006 Jazz Bass Deluxe made in Mexico, purchased new for about $800, if I recall correctly. It came with Fender noiseless pickups, so the only real differences were some of the other bits. I installed a Badass II bridge, Hipshot tuners with a d-tuner on the low E, cleaned up the solder joints, painted in better shielding, and did a little fretwork. It’s been a workhorse for almost 20 years now. Love it.
I scored an old standard MIM strat for 500 dollars Canadian last year (great deal) and I love it. Great sounding pickups, stays in tune, neck feels better than some USA Fenders I've tried. It will be a while before I upgrade for sure.
Great Video, with an important conclusion. My Strat was bought with a £5k budget, and I auditioned every Fender in that price range, plus the Silver Sky. I ended up with a Mexican Vintera II, and I couldn't be happier.
Just bought the blue one. Had a surf green one. They sound awesome. The reason your getting a fuller sound is the age of the wood from the 60s vintage. Naturally, the older wood will have a heavier resonance like a fine wine in a sense. In 40 years or so the player will have a similar sound.
I have a Player Series Strat in black, the same year as yours. I got it used in mint condition for €300 with a gig bag worth €80! I don’t really need one but, because I love my Player Strat so much I’m buying the Tidepool Player Tele next week. Your videos hit the nail on the head!
I have had the privilege to experience both American and Mexican built Fenders. I currently own a Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster and a MIM Fender vintera 50s modified Telecaster. The American Deluxe is a second hand guitar that I have owned for more than 10 years and is still playing well. The build quality is superb and it is hard to pick up any faults in terms of quality. The only thing that ever bothered me about the guitar was the noiseless pickups which were swapped out for Dimarzio True Velvet single coil pickups. I purchased a MIM vintera 50s modified Telecaster new from a local guitar store. Upon purchase, there were a couple of issues with the build quality including: A loose cut neck pocket, Nut string slots which were cut to large, a lack of roll over on the fingerboard, string ferrules were set in incorrectly, A crack in the finish located by the neck pocket and a nut that was cut in a way where the strings are slightly offset. The guitar also had fret sprout but that is not always linked to build quality. Despite all these issues, the guitar sounded really great. I spent some time working on the playability issues including dressing the fret ends, rolling over the fingerboard and refiling the nut slots which made the guitar play like an absolute beast. I believe that with a little bit of work, you can turn a MIM into a top notch instrument. However, off the shelve, You could pickup some issues with the quality.
In 1998 or so I bought a "Nashville Deluxe" Telecaster (made in Mexico). It's the best guitar I've ever had. It needs a fret job now because I have played it so much, but it's a great sounding and high quality guitar. It's going to get that fret job and I'm going to keep playing it. Nothing can make me give it up.
Great assessment. I mainly p!ay my MIM strat even though I own several guitars. Once I set it up to my needs, I think it plays and sounds great. The only negatives for me are the ringing from the trem system and lack of humbuckers.
There is an illusion that usa made Fenders are superior to MIM models - this is almost laughable. Since the earliest days of Fender, Leo employed Hispanic workers - and the signature of Tadeo Gomez on a vintage Strat from the 1950’s is highly sought after - or indeed the pickups wound by the wonderful Abigail Ybarra. I have filmed at the Fender factory in California many times - and the workforce is still mainly Mexican… so why anyone would this MIM instruments may be inferior in any way is a mystery to me. I’m lucky enough to own vintage Fender guitars and amplifiers - but also quite a few Mexican Strat and Esquire models too. They are perfect guitars in every way (as are Fender’s Japanese production). My friend George Marinelli is Bonnie Raitt’s guitarist … he owns vintage Fenders - BUT it’s a candy apple red Mexican Stratocaster he uses on tour with the band - and he bought it straight off the wall from a guitar store in Nashville. All he did was change out the bridge pickup for a Hot Rails. You have a beautiful guitar there - in a great colour - and it sounds superb. Don’t change it if you enjoy it. Mexican built Fender guitars are superb - I’d never part with mine.
No one thinks a MIM is inferior because Mexican workers build them. It’s about materials and the building process. They simply spend less time on making sure everything is done perfectly.
@@Ironworthstriking There’s nothing inferior about the build quality or components of my MIM guitars. Fender initially shipped bodies, necks and other parts from Corona to Ensenada to be assembled. MIM instruments are superb 👍
I happen to have the identical Stratocaster, I've replaced the pickups with Fender noiseless as I play a lot on my computer, so no 60 cycle hum. I agree entirely, that if you can see past brand snobbery, these Mexican strats are more than good enough for most players needs. This is a time of great value guitars.
Have 2 Standard MIM and 2 Player MIM... all 4 are beautiful guitars, not worth replacing... just put some better Fender or DiMarzio pickups, and it's superb!
I love my Mexican stratocaster. I put the locking tuners on as a preference, not a need. It's an affordable upgrade on its own. It stays in tune very well. I'm also about to swap the nut with an unbleached bone one and install a free way 10-way switch. Someday, I may go all out on some custom shop pickups, but the standard ones are just fine for now. I like the idea of having an American Telecaster at some point, though.
I love the Mexican strat. I've always loved the strat for its bright spank but lovely fullness that's almost like a phase on certain notes. The vintage is a little dark, I feel like you could get that tone on other guitars. In no way am I diminishing the joy and character of owning a vintage strat. Every guitar has its character and every player has their favourite child haha
I had the exact guitar you featured. The SSS in Tidepool. I traded it in (and about $500) to Guitar Center for a mint used American Professional. The American feels great, but, with exception of a little fretwork they felt pretty much the same. Actually, I had a Squier Classic Vibe HSS and that also felt great. The moral of the story: play what feels and sounds good to you. Forget about the name or where it was made. Cheers
I looove my Player HSS Strat, my number 1 guitar. Just darkened the bright Pau Ferro fretboard with dark brown rifle stock oil. Looks great with the sunburst finish, white pearloid scratchboard and black PUs and pot knobs! I've owned a Squier Classic vibe Strat before, but the Player is better!
My grandfather bought me a MIM Deluxe Player Strat for my 11th birthday, 12 years later it's still my #1 guitar. I haven't done any mods, it came with vintage pickups(alinco2), which I love. This model also has an ash body.
I bought a 2020 Fender Player cherry burst HSS strat, and had a Graphtec nut installed on it. I also installed locking tuners. It's my first Fender so I can't compare it to others, but to me it sounds and plays awesome.
I like your honesty I just got a fender player stratocaster 2018 buttercream yellow was thinking about getting rid of it because they have a 2021 version but I think I will just hold on to it now
I bought a USA Telecaster a few years ago, supposedly with some kind of custom shop pickups, etc about $1300 at Guitar Center... Had it 2 days, played a bit with the boys, and then... I took it back. It was a dull boring guitar.. A couple years later I saw a Fender Special Edition MIM Tele online for $450 (no case or bag) and I bought it figuring I'd custom shop it, Pup's from Lollar, and whatever else it needed to make it great. That was a few years ago and I all I've done is put in compensating brass saddles. Other than that I haven't changed a thing. I love it just as it is. I've heard similar stories about the MIM Fenders. Turns out they may be the best ones out there!
Enjoying your videos very much. My 'main' guitars are a Fender Japan Blue Flower telecaster, as shown in your video, and a PRS SE Custom 24. However, I also have an early Japanese Squier Strat, which appears to have Fender original parts, and a neck to die for. Some years ago, I fitted a set of Texas Special pickups, and I've had to replace the selector switch, but it's a fabulous instrument apart from that, and is one of the best Strats I've ever heard, even though it 'only' says Squier on the headstock 🙂
Thanks for this. I was doing a ton of research on the differences between the different types of strat out there, and after playing a bunch of them in my price range, I went with this. Cheers.
I have an HSS player (BK) and love it. I have a more expensive guitar (not Fender) and I have been pondering whether I should upgrade to an Elite/Pro-II. I do think the Player is very close to the level of the American guitars and will not part with my money quickly unless I can be persuaded the upgrade is worth it on other merits like playability, etc. Fender actually made a really good guitar with the player.
Thanks for the video, I really enjoyed your honest review of the MIM Strat. I had two G&L's and I have to say that if you can get past the headstock they are superb guitars, the floating bridge and tremolo system is outstanding. That being said, there is nothing like a strat and l too was excited by the promise of the player plus but when I picked one up I just really didn't get on with the feel of the neck or the rolled edges. The only guitar I've ever really noticed a dramatic improvement on quality/playability was when I picked up a USA made PRS Custom 24 S2, that was noticeably better in every respect.
Great video. I have a new polar white one coming next week that I snagged with a pre black Friday sale price that is almost at the 2018 price from a local guitar shop.
Had the player series several times, allways liked them. Last week i walked into a guitar store, to buy strings. I bumped into a 2010 american special strat, and it was instant love while playing it. I really bonded with everything in no time. The Woods were better, resonance better, playing it was better, it really felt like an usa strat i played in the past. It was a no brainer, and goes to show 10 Guitars in line each one is different.
I’m in the same situation. I bought a 2003 American strat and am selling the player. The US strat is a premium instrument. You feel it after using the player for a while. Fender is not dumb enough to offer the same guitar just made in Mexico. It’s not nearly as well made or finished. Trust me on this.
@@macuse2008 I work in a luthier shop, we build and repair guitars: most of the times I actually can't understand why spending that money for an american one. I've seen things You wouldn't expect on guitars with that price range. Very shameful.
I have this exact guitar. A MIM tidepool player strat. I have 11 guitars but it is my number one and favorite guitar. The color, the maple neck, the shape of the neck and just the overall feel of the guitar is just great. Very versatile tool, can still easily play heavy stuff with it. I’m sure the American strats feel even better but this is fine for me. I also bought it back when they were like $600 a few years ago, crazy that they’re over $800 now
I've had my 2014 Mexican Standard since 2018. I love that thing. I had a 2012 American Standard and I got rid of it. It didn't get played as much as my MIM. The pickups were super chimey. Neck felt amazing though.
Fabulous video nice playing to I feel the same to .Mex guitars are great instruments in the own right .great vibe to them .I have had experience with USA strats to and end up playing a vintage JHS Thomas Blug Strat 🤣🤣🤣🤣mex guitars are fabulous though .especially the signature models
I bought a 2021 mex strat and have regretted it ever since. The neck is a disaster. I use the neck measuring tool and adjusted the truss accordingly. After installing the strings, the neck took on a bend as I tightened the tuners. Had to go back and tighten the truss a number of times; very frustrating. It has a string ping on the 1st and 2nd like a string buzz, but the height adjustment was right on. After finishing my set up, the 1st and 2nd string still rang. I changed the nut and carefully filed for proper height. I saw a video on this issue and apparently there is no cure. The guitar is garbage.
Your neck issue is only found on "Original" or any Vintage Style Strat. They all have 7.25" radius fretboards. Choking out is very common on these necks, unless you get a really good tech to set them up for you. You should try an American Pro as it has the same radius neck as your Player series. Plus, it has the modern updates that players like, such as rolled frets and two point tremolo. Of course, with the new JM PRS SE getting ready to hit the market, you might want to try it first.
You can get past the headstock if you really like the guitar. I wanted a nice acoustic for years. I thought one day I would own a Taylor but then I played a seagull and it was wonderful. The headstocks are very strange especially for an acoustic. I finally bought one and have been very happy with it and it looks normal to me now. It also cost less than half of the Taylor.
i have a player strat and its faultless beautiful trem set up, lovely neck, good build quality, i cant fault it and i bought it brand new at half the price of its equivalent in a Usa manufactured model
The first guitar I ever bought was a mexi strat. Still own it and play it constantly, but I turned it into my Yngwie guitar (scalloped fretboard, YJM pickups and tuned to Eb). I also own a proffesional 2 which is also amazing, but ive always loved the mexi.
I think the nitpicking about the various pros and cons of Mexican made to US made is crazy. Have just been given a Player Strat by my son in law as a present. I have a 30 year old American Strat of my own. The spank from the player is sublime. As an engineer/machinist by trade, I cannot tell the difference in the build quality. Guitars are mass produced CNC machined to the exact tolerances. The final assembly / fettling is in human hands. It is down to the player. A good player will make any guitar sound good. A crap player will sound crap on the most expensive guitars ever made. Get a grip.
I love the color and tone your getting from that blue strat. It neither hot or muddy, guessing lower output p/ups? To my ears it just sounds nice and chimey with that clean bell tone I want in a strat. Gonna look for one like it now used. Love your videos I've watched so far! I'm in the USA but I'd buy it off you anytime.
My 2015 MIM strat is beautiful, great neck and flawless finish. I decided to swap out the ceramic pickups with fender alnico Fat 50’s. Sounds different, not necessarily better,but I’ll keep them in the guitar. Also own Baja Tele and MIM Ventera jazzmaster. They have a great factory in Ensenada.
The Mexican is now the standard. The USA is like having aftermarket parts installed on the standard. The custom shop is the highly tuned aftermarket guitar.
I spent almost 2000 on a American Elite Shawbucker Strat, the passing lane switch came not functional out of the box new. Within one year, the ebony fretboard cracked. Totally got a lemon. Working on warranty now. I'm 4 weeks in, Fender support will only talk to the repair expert, ice been a little discouraged from Fender, but I will see if they hold up to their warranty. I haven't even had a chance to peel plastic off puckguard since it's been in the shop since I purchased for one problem or another.
I'm very disappointed in mine. Frets have not been adjusted to fit the neck, and middle pickup cut out after about a half hour. Taking it in for warranty work today.
I'm kind of a guitar snob, and would have only considered an American previously. I've owned several EJ, customs, and older standards. I was helping a friend find a guitar, and played a bunch of their used guitars. I found a Player MIM series that acoustically sounded better than any of the guitars I tried, including the Americans. The only ones comparable were the semi hollows I tried. My friend wanted an LP style, so wasn't interested. I wasn't there for a guitar, but went home thinking about that guitar. Had to get it the next day, and it's a keeper. I'm still shocked by how good it sounds, even compared to my custom shop.
I bought the cheapest 15 year old MIM strat on Reverb and a bunch of parts (Tusq nut, bridges, tuners) and took it to a luthier who recommended to leave it stock. They are a perfect machine.
I own a 23 year old Mexican stratocaster and I agree 100% Fender has been letting it's followers down for years with less quality in the American line. Very honest video, this what I love about you. What are your thoughts on the new Ultra line? Also I've purchased a Godin Radium winchester brown telecaster style with 5 position switch and coil split options
I have a MIM ‘13 Tele and honestly I still cannot believe that a scrub like me owns a Fender. I absolutely love it, and I also have a 50’s vibe Squier and honest to god I absolutely love it as well. I’m only a very new player, but I love it. I’d like to own a SSS Mexican Strat, in black and I’d make it the same colour scheme as my Tele.
Player, player 2, player plus are the new rebranding of Made in Mexico fender guitars. Made in Ensenada Mexico like me 😂. By the way, if you ever visit try the fish tacos, and thank me later.
Recently I wanted to try something higher quality and I ended up getting a used fender stratocaster made in mexico for $500. I could have gotten another cheap beginner guitar for 3 or 4 hundred but I'm glad I paid the extra for the high quality guitar. If you want nice things you have to pay more, even if it's only a little bit nicer and it's not that much of a difference. If you compare 10 Fender stratocasters to 10 squire stratocasters you'll notice all the fenders are nice and some of the squires are not so nice 😉 trust me $1000 for a good guitar is worth it if you are a good guitar player.
I have a MiM strat that I'm about to put a SD Pearly Gates in the bridge. A lot cheaper than upgrading to the Player Plus (which is also a beautiful guitar).
Well done. All true. I sometimes find myself getting caught up in the idea of buying a new guitar because it does this or does that or has humbuckers or single coils or is made here or made there. It's dumb. In the end, find what you like, play what you like and wear it out. Make your guitar a part of you. It's not what you play, it's how you play. Don't get fished in by all the marketing.
my MIM deluxe HSS strat is the only strat I will ever need. I'm sure theres better ones out there but this one feels like the one. Candy apple red with black pick guard and white pickups/knobs the neck is like no other guitar I've felt before. Even better than my American 52 reissue tele also, sometimes even if 1 guitar sounds better than the other, the one that FEELS most comfortable to play is the better one in my opinion, as you said, longer practice sessions! more comfort! more practice! more better! lol
I have my standard mexican tele since 2014, plays great, i haven't changed anything except for a refret, bone nut and graphtech saddles. planning to buy the player plus strat belair blue and keeping em both.
Okay so Jules - Got my lake placid blue limited edition strat today and sat down plugged it in and played for 6 hours straight ❤guitar is all anyone would need 👍 its really just a beautiful instrument 🎉cheers
I just got a MIM Fender Player Stratocaster Plus Top - Tobacco Sunburst with Pau Ferro Fingerboard - SSS. It is absolutely beautiful and it sounds freak'n awesome! (or as awesome as I can make it sound being a relative newbie). Love, love, love the sound of this guitar. That being said, I am considering way down the road, changing the pups to Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Strat Pickups, we'll see. I need to hear these pups in person. I'm into blues (SRV, KWS, etc) and rock (grew up on Led and Aero, Stones, etc). I have a Marshall DSL40 to run it through, which is great but I need to find a smaller amp that I can get that bluesy sound through at lower volumes. Anyone have suggestions?
I will say that if you have a guitar that you like playing, but want a little something more in the sound, then maybe changing the pickups are the thing to consider. I have several MIM and player series strats, and I have put in some Bare knuckle Mothers milk in two of them and they sound amazing. I have some of the Bare knuckle Old Guard in one as well and they sound good, but not special, like good but common (neutral personality wise). I have one with the Seymour Duncan SSL1's and it sounds good, but not for my style for rock, I prefer the Bare knuckle Irish Tours for rock stuff. I have tried from Fender the Texas specials, which were good but a little hot for me in some situations (and perfect in others), the fat 50's which were really great, the custom 53's (I believe, don't have the box in front of me) and that was my favorite of the Fenders and the Tex Mexs were good , but also a little lacking in personality. I tend to like pickups that are vintage to vintage+ in terms of output for most of my playing. I use a boost pedal if I need more and overdrives to add gain (ProCo Rat is my pedal of choice). I feel you can always add gain and output in pedals, but it is much harder to take away if your pickups are too hot. I like the Texas Specials, just not for my normal playing. I find the Irish Tours are about as hot as I normally like to go. also a guy in Nashville Vaughn Skow (I think that is right, sounds like that anyway) makes some pretty great pickups. I got some that were a mix of alnico 3 and alnico 5 (ALNICO 3 under the trebles and 5 under the bass strings pretty sure) I think they are called Vaughn's Velvets. They sound so sweet and beautiful your teeth hurt, but also not high output, so maybe not for all tastes. anyway, I appreciated your video. I have a bakers dozen or so of Mexican strats and never saw the need to buy an American one. they have their benefits, but once you put a set of pickups in your MIM, at $300 or less in a lot of cases, the returns are diminishing quickly in going up the model line. In fact, I put the Texas specials in a pink Squier bullet strat with DR brand neon green strings and went gigging with it. People looked at it askance until I started playing it. afterwards it was not uncommon for people to ask what kind of guitar it was (not every time, but enough that it no longer surprised me, only a few people care so it was only a half dozen give or take). it looked like a child's toy, but sounded like a M******* F******* which was what I wanted. eventually I had to replace the electronics because the selector switch was not made for that, but it was a Squier bullet, the entry level strat! bullets are lighter and thinner, but a MIM strat has good pots and switches from the jump. sorry to ramble, just thought you need to maybe move beyond the stock pickups to find what you seemed to be looking for. this is especially true if you like the feel of the guitar you already have! it is cheaper than buying a whole new guitar for sure and the soldering is not that tough on a strat. regardless, good luck and thanks for the video!
I just looked, there are the custom 54's (not 53). I also was looking at the 57/62's from the fender custom shop, and bare knuckles '53 veneer boards, but after a while you realize you don't have to try every combination once you find a few that work, you have to stop meddling with your and get back to practice! 😄
@@milankotevski1663 it might sound that way to the uninitiated, but to change the pickups in a guitar is a less than 1 hour job. Like I said, I have several guitars and don't love the standard pickups that come in the fender MIM and player strats, so I almost always change them out. A guitar is a tool that we use to make music. Why would you keep using tool that you have issues with when you can improve it. are you really advocating just grinding away in resentment of the subpar tone of your guitar? that doesn't sound too productive. If you don't like the way a guitar feels, maybe replace it or fix the issue. if you like the feel but not the sound, maybe improve the sound (new strings, new pickups, new pick, etc). It's not that complicated. you will play better with an instrument you are happy with. You will want to practice more. You will make better music. that is my opinion, so I improve my tools when I can. of course, you are more than welcome to your opinion, and if it works for you , never change! 🙂
Your conclusions definitely are the right ones. For me, I'd never buy a Strat with a 6-point trem. The 2-point is far better. I'd test the trem to see how well the strings stay in tune. Also, what's the lowest string height without string chocking when bending.
I own a 2015 Standard strat and I love it! Great neck. I put a treble bleed into in and Texas Specials. I do not need to spend billions on an American Professional etc.
If you´re looking for a H-S-S Strat style guitar, I would definetely recommend the Yamaha Pacifica 612 models over the Player Plus Strat. Sure, it doesn´t say "Fender" on the headstock, but these guitars are build like tanks and you get a lot of value for money, like S.Duncans stock, Graphtech TUSQ nut, Grover mini-locking tuners, Wilkinson bridge.
@@popcornsniper It's a 22 fret, bolt on HSS Strat with Yamaha on the headstock. If you can't get a Strat sound out if, it's not the guitar it's your incompetent arse.
I have two 1999 Standard series Fenders from Mexico. One Tele and one Strat respectively. I still have both and the Telecaster has gone through some mods to include wiring, bridge pickup replaced w/a SD Hot Rails, and the plastic nut was replaced with a bone nut. The Telecaster gets used regularly for performing and I'll play it til I die or it disintegrates......
I own a Mexican Stratocaster and I changed the pickups to the samarium noiseless cobalt that uses the deluxe edition and it sounds amazing.
Everybody loves the sound of my guitar, even the most insufferable purist.
My dad bought me this guitar when I was 13 years old, it has a very emotional value to me.
As a Thai who had never watched your videos before, it really spooked me to watch you go to Siam to browse guitars at local shops that I frequent.
I took my Player MIM series out of the hard case, after over a month, and it was still perfectly in tune, I love my MIM, Player Series, just awesome !! thanks for posting and thank you UA-cam ❤😂
I live in El Paso texas on the border of Mexico. I go to Ciudad Juárez on the regular and love Mexico to the core as a Mexican American. I’ve owned from American Gibsons and fenders to cheap Ibanez and squiers. Let me tell you folks. The guitar that felt just the damn best was my old Mexican telecaster. After all these years of buying and selling guitars, I’ve landed back to a good ole Mexican strat. And it’s my all time favorite. And in case none of you know, the work ethic of Mexicans is through the roof. We are born workers and only produce the best quality. The only thing mexico struggles with is corruption and money being spent in the wrong places. But let me tel you. You put a factory of anything in Mexico, it’s going to be made with excellent quality. Don’t ever doubt buying a Mexican guitar, as it will definitely be made of the best quality. I just bought a player series and I love it. Just ask the guitar store to shave down the sharp frets if it has any. Find your perfect action, and you’re golden for life ;)
Gospel! You couldn't force a Mexican at gun point to build you a shitty strat. Have worked in a hundred plus factories over the years. Mexican workers ain't no joke.
This is exactly what I was thinking. Mexican work ethic and craftsmanship is some of the best in the world.
Yes.. Exactly.. My finger is very comfortable on the neck of Mexican strat than the US.. Dont care if the guitar is cheap or expensive but The most important for me is about the neck and your finger...
Saludos, ¡soy de Ciudad Juárez!
That's a very reassuring and uplifting message, for some reason I got a lot of warmth out ou it. Also, I just bought a Vintera series JM, and it is a fantastic instrument, I really couldn't have dreamt about anything better. Just the standard preparations like shielding and proper setup (and a pickguard swap in my case) made it into an instrument that I han honestly say sounds every bit like a top of the line vintage-style JM as any of the American ones that I have heard. I can't imagine anything being an "upgrade" to it, it's just a fantastic guitar and I can't see any corners being cut. Anyways, thank you!
The player ones are great. Absolutely good enough for anyone from beginner to pro. Will last a lifetime too.
I am on the fence about getting one of these or the bottom end performer. These player plus guitars have a ton of up grades. I am afraid I may wish I would have gotten the performer. Do you own one of the MIM fenders? I am really just wanting to noodle around with at home. Maybe play out some.
@@jaypitchford9020 Speaking as someone who works at a guitar store, I prefer the performers almost every time to any player guitar.
@@jaypitchford9020 I think the Player Plus may be the right fit.
@@lozo2331 he’s talking about playing at home. Why spend double just to get one to pluck around at home? Obviously an USA is better, but you won’t notice all those differences with a small at home amp set up
and if you feel the need, you can upgrade to Seymore Duncan pickups for instance and buy a rosewood neck if that's what one want and swap the nuts to lock nuts if that preference is what you want. But i honestly like PF, i got it on my bass and it sounds great
I have a Player Strat (buttercream one) and I absolutely love it. I have put in Fender locking tuners, which was driven more from laziness than anything, but it's easy to do with the non-vintage set. Great guitar, gets a lot of use in my house over far more pricey guitars, it's got mojo!
Hiya 👋, I bought the same one, and think it’s a good buy (I ‘paid retail thru the nose’ so to speak).
I have it too and think she’s a 💎 gem
I'm looking at the same guitar - there's an HSH version with a Pau Ferro neck that's cheaper than the SSS MN and I want to find out why!! Sweet looking guitars.
The player series are exceptional value for money and hold their own against more expensive models, the key to being a better player is not buying a more expensive guitar but working on technique, I also love the tidepool blue colour.
I’ve got the same colour player but in a HSS setup. I really love how it sounds and fit & finish are top notch on mine. 👌
Great video. Second one of yours I’ve watched. You spoke to exactly what goes on in most of our heads, that we need the next best thing instead of enjoying the tool we already have. I’ve bought and sold several guitars over the years and still think fondly of the player strat I had (my first “nice” guitar). I have a pro 2 tele now and still find myself thinking I “need” one of those road worn vintera models.
Great video. And a great conclusion. You have your priorities straight.
Great review Jules! I’ve got a Player Strat and love it and agree with the points you made. One upgrade I made was changing the tuners to the Performer Vintage split tuners for a more classic look and they have a higher gear ratio of 18to one, than the standard tuners that come on the Player. They’re only $44 and and another benefit is they lighter. My overall guitar weight dropped an ounce.
My favourite Strat is a Made in Mexico Fender Player Strat. I have 7 Fender Custom Shops and 4 Gibson Custom Shops. The best of the bunch is the Player Series.
I bought a brand new unsold 2022 model player strat that ended up at a pawn shop for $250, and it has become my main guitar. Cheap enough to not hurt if I scratch it, but nice enough to make me want to play it every day. Love it!
I have a MIM I had Texas Special pickups installed. I also had a Schaller Bridge and fender looking tuners. Im totally satisfied with it.
Like all your vids. Intelligent and informative. Keep it up ! Thanks.
VERY nice feature, sir! This was more than a review but a great story feature! You also play very nicely so keep up the good work with practicing or whatever you're doing. 👏👏👏
My Player strat has been my #1 guitar for over 3 years now and I have no desire to replace it. In fact, I recently bought another one so I can keep one guitar in Eb and the other in standard tuning. I compared the Player and Professional strats quite a bit and the Player neck just felt better to me. Couldn't really tell what the extra $1000 for the USA-made guitar was paying for, other than it was "USA-made". Have never once regretted my decision, they are solid instruments.
I agree. Tried both guitars at guitar center the other day, and the player’s neck felt better. Maybe it was the modern C shape.
The build standard of a stratocaster has been reached.
The USA product goes beyond standard.
You stop questioning and judgement.
They all meet the standards.
You get on with your life and stop doubting the manufacturing.
You adjust your image.
The sound matches the guitar's image.
You paid for professional image design.
What about the comparison between the player and the others Mexicans guitar.vintera 50 standard and modified? What do you think about? Maybe the vintera 50" is more "bluesy" and the player more modern strat?
@@nicolagabbas6512 I dont have any experience with the Vintera series or other Mexican strats. My Player strats get as bluesy as I need them to be.
@@imCurveee thanks
I bought a new Mexican Strat back in 2002 in midnight wine with a maple fingerboard. Although I now have quite a collection of guitars (including an Epiphone Les Paul '56 Gold Top, a Classic Vibe blonde Tele and a Danelectro 56-U2) the Strat is still my go to guitar. It has a lovely sparkling sound and a nice low action so it's just a great guitar to play. I've often thought about buying an MIA Strat but in the end this one sounds so good and plays so well that I don't think it's worth it.
These Player Series guitars are crazy good. I used to have a '97 American Standard and the Player I just got is straight on even with that guitar. I'll admit I was rather surprised it is that good, but it is. It's not always about what is more expensive or where something is made, even though it's easy to think that.
I have owned a custom shop John English 50th anniversary strat, a Rory Gallagher strat , a custom shop strat specced by myself . When hitting hard times I had a Squire classic vibe 60’s strat which I recently sold and bought a player strat in polar white with maple fretboard . I’ve got to say out all the guitars I’ve owned this one I bonded with straight out of the box . The build quality, playability and sounds are pure Fender , so much so I don’t feel the need for another Fender to fill any gaps. The Fender player strat is an affordable masterpiece. The other thing I will say is people comparing the player strat with the Squire classic Vibe and saying they are very close, absolute bullsh*t , I had my squire cv for 10 years and it is nowhere near the player strat in playability , build quality , feel and electronics. Yes the squire cv has great pickups but that is it, the player is a much better guitar and well worth price. You get what you pay for , quality is not cheap.
A Squire is equally good as long as you like the neck size. Everything else can be modified to pro level specs. But having it modified to your specific specs could cost over a $1000
Yeah, I have a 2006 Jazz Bass Deluxe made in Mexico, purchased new for about $800, if I recall correctly. It came with Fender noiseless pickups, so the only real differences were some of the other bits. I installed a Badass II bridge, Hipshot tuners with a d-tuner on the low E, cleaned up the solder joints, painted in better shielding, and did a little fretwork. It’s been a workhorse for almost 20 years now. Love it.
I scored an old standard MIM strat for 500 dollars Canadian last year (great deal) and I love it. Great sounding pickups, stays in tune, neck feels better than some USA Fenders I've tried. It will be a while before I upgrade for sure.
Great Video, with an important conclusion. My Strat was bought with a £5k budget, and I auditioned every Fender in that price range, plus the Silver Sky. I ended up with a Mexican Vintera II, and I couldn't be happier.
Vintera II represent! Got the 50s Vintera 2 Strat this week and it's awesome
Just bought the blue one. Had a surf green one. They sound awesome. The reason your getting a fuller sound is the age of the wood from the 60s vintage. Naturally, the older wood will have a heavier resonance like a fine wine in a sense. In 40 years or so the player will have a similar sound.
but they are also totally different pickups?
9:48 why are those Fenders so expensive? Is that 39,000, 75,000, and 29,00 in sterling????? Am I missing something here?
I have a Player Series Strat in black, the same year as yours. I got it used in mint condition for €300 with a gig bag worth €80!
I don’t really need one but, because I love my Player Strat so much I’m buying the Tidepool Player Tele next week.
Your videos hit the nail on the head!
I have had the privilege to experience both American and Mexican built Fenders. I currently own a Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster and a MIM Fender vintera 50s modified Telecaster. The American Deluxe is a second hand guitar that I have owned for more than 10 years and is still playing well. The build quality is superb and it is hard to pick up any faults in terms of quality. The only thing that ever bothered me about the guitar was the noiseless pickups which were swapped out for Dimarzio True Velvet single coil pickups. I purchased a MIM vintera 50s modified Telecaster new from a local guitar store. Upon purchase, there were a couple of issues with the build quality including: A loose cut neck pocket, Nut string slots which were cut to large, a lack of roll over on the fingerboard, string ferrules were set in incorrectly, A crack in the finish located by the neck pocket and a nut that was cut in a way where the strings are slightly offset. The guitar also had fret sprout but that is not always linked to build quality. Despite all these issues, the guitar sounded really great. I spent some time working on the playability issues including dressing the fret ends, rolling over the fingerboard and refiling the nut slots which made the guitar play like an absolute beast. I believe that with a little bit of work, you can turn a MIM into a top notch instrument. However, off the shelve, You could pickup some issues with the quality.
Great review man! You really got things right. Who cares what brand guitar you play as long as you play and have a great time doing it right? Rock on!
In 1998 or so I bought a "Nashville Deluxe" Telecaster (made in Mexico). It's the best guitar I've ever had. It needs a fret job now because I have played it so much, but it's a great sounding and high quality guitar. It's going to get that fret job and I'm going to keep playing it. Nothing can make me give it up.
Great assessment. I mainly p!ay my MIM strat even though I own several guitars. Once I set it up to my needs, I think it plays and sounds great. The only negatives for me are the ringing from the trem system and lack of humbuckers.
There is an illusion that usa made Fenders are superior to MIM models - this is almost laughable.
Since the earliest days of Fender, Leo employed Hispanic workers - and the signature of Tadeo Gomez on a vintage Strat from the 1950’s is highly sought after - or indeed the pickups wound by the wonderful Abigail Ybarra.
I have filmed at the Fender factory in California many times - and the workforce is still mainly Mexican… so why anyone would this MIM instruments may be inferior in any way is a mystery to me.
I’m lucky enough to own vintage Fender guitars and amplifiers - but also quite a few Mexican Strat and Esquire models too.
They are perfect guitars in every way (as are Fender’s Japanese production).
My friend George Marinelli is Bonnie Raitt’s guitarist … he owns vintage Fenders - BUT it’s a candy apple red Mexican Stratocaster he uses on tour with the band - and he bought it straight off the wall from a guitar store in Nashville.
All he did was change out the bridge pickup for a Hot Rails.
You have a beautiful guitar there - in a great colour - and it sounds superb.
Don’t change it if you enjoy it. Mexican built Fender guitars are superb - I’d never part with mine.
It's not an elusion if you can sell it for more money. It's a fact.
No one thinks a MIM is inferior because Mexican workers build them. It’s about materials and the building process. They simply spend less time on making sure everything is done perfectly.
@@Ironworthstriking There’s nothing inferior about the build quality or components of my MIM guitars.
Fender initially shipped bodies, necks and other parts from Corona to Ensenada to be assembled.
MIM instruments are superb 👍
@@bobhewitt5047 I agree they’re great guitars but the quality of the parts is definitely not as good.
@@Ironworthstriking I haven’t checked the recent production, but the early ones were brilliant.
Japanese Fenders are superb too - especially Fuji Gen
I happen to have the identical Stratocaster, I've replaced the pickups with Fender noiseless as I play a lot on my computer, so no 60 cycle hum. I agree entirely, that if you can see past brand snobbery, these Mexican strats are more than good enough for most players needs. This is a time of great value guitars.
Have 2 Standard MIM and 2 Player MIM... all 4 are beautiful guitars, not worth replacing... just put some better Fender or DiMarzio pickups, and it's superb!
I don't get any hum from my player strat, I thought that was a thing of the past with the shielding they have now etc.
I love my Mexican stratocaster. I put the locking tuners on as a preference, not a need. It's an affordable upgrade on its own. It stays in tune very well. I'm also about to swap the nut with an unbleached bone one and install a free way 10-way switch. Someday, I may go all out on some custom shop pickups, but the standard ones are just fine for now. I like the idea of having an American Telecaster at some point, though.
I love the Mexican strat. I've always loved the strat for its bright spank but lovely fullness that's almost like a phase on certain notes.
The vintage is a little dark, I feel like you could get that tone on other guitars. In no way am I diminishing the joy and character of owning a vintage strat. Every guitar has its character and every player has their favourite child haha
Mexican Stratocasters from 2015 onwards have an improved neck profile and are some of the best guitars I have played.
I had the exact guitar you featured. The SSS in Tidepool. I traded it in (and about $500) to Guitar Center for a mint used American Professional. The American feels great, but, with exception of a little fretwork they felt pretty much the same.
Actually, I had a Squier Classic Vibe HSS and that also felt great.
The moral of the story: play what feels and sounds good to you. Forget about the name or where it was made.
Cheers
I looove my Player HSS Strat, my number 1 guitar. Just darkened the bright Pau Ferro fretboard with dark brown rifle stock oil. Looks great with the sunburst finish, white pearloid scratchboard and black PUs and pot knobs! I've owned a Squier Classic vibe Strat before, but the Player is better!
Excellent video. Great strat.
My grandfather bought me a MIM Deluxe Player Strat for my 11th birthday, 12 years later it's still my #1 guitar. I haven't done any mods, it came with vintage pickups(alinco2), which I love. This model also has an ash body.
I bought a 2020 Fender Player cherry burst HSS strat, and had a Graphtec nut installed on it. I also installed locking tuners. It's my first Fender so I can't compare it to others, but to me it sounds and plays awesome.
I like your honesty I just got a fender player stratocaster 2018 buttercream yellow was thinking about getting rid of it because they have a 2021 version but I think I will just hold on to it now
And a Godin Lgx-Sa. Godin provides the quality Fender used to provide
I own two mex strats, and have no complaints
I bought a USA Telecaster a few years ago, supposedly with some kind of custom shop pickups, etc about $1300 at Guitar Center... Had it 2 days, played a bit with the boys, and then... I took it back. It was a dull boring guitar.. A couple years later I saw a Fender Special Edition MIM Tele online for $450 (no case or bag) and I bought it figuring I'd custom shop it, Pup's from Lollar, and whatever else it needed to make it great. That was a few years ago and I all I've done is put in compensating brass saddles. Other than that I haven't changed a thing. I love it just as it is. I've heard similar stories about the MIM Fenders. Turns out they may be the best ones out there!
Enjoying your videos very much. My 'main' guitars are a Fender Japan Blue Flower telecaster, as shown in your video, and a PRS SE Custom 24. However, I also have an early Japanese Squier Strat, which appears to have Fender original parts, and a neck to die for. Some years ago, I fitted a set of Texas Special pickups, and I've had to replace the selector switch, but it's a fabulous instrument apart from that, and is one of the best Strats I've ever heard, even though it 'only' says Squier on the headstock 🙂
Jules, The PRS Silver Sky SE is only £799.00 at Andertons and it is flawless in sound, playability and fit/ finish. I absolutely love it.
Thanks for this. I was doing a ton of research on the differences between the different types of strat out there, and after playing a bunch of them in my price range, I went with this. Cheers.
Another brilliant vid mate, keep it up, cheers.
This video was very well done and really nice to watch
I have an HSS player (BK) and love it. I have a more expensive guitar (not Fender) and I have been pondering whether I should upgrade to an Elite/Pro-II. I do think the Player is very close to the level of the American guitars and will not part with my money quickly unless I can be persuaded the upgrade is worth it on other merits like playability, etc.
Fender actually made a really good guitar with the player.
Thanks for the video, I really enjoyed your honest review of the MIM Strat. I had two G&L's and I have to say that if you can get past the headstock they are superb guitars, the floating bridge and tremolo system is outstanding. That being said, there is nothing like a strat and l too was excited by the promise of the player plus but when I picked one up I just really didn't get on with the feel of the neck or the rolled edges. The only guitar I've ever really noticed a dramatic improvement on quality/playability was when I picked up a USA made PRS Custom 24 S2, that was noticeably better in every respect.
7:00 Its a different nec so... thats where the sound diff coems from. Rosewood neck sounds a bit darker for me.
Ron Wood told me, in the '70's, "You don't play yhr headstock on the guitar!" "Don't get too hungup on the name":!
my 2000 mex ( 78) copy sounded as good as my original , but after having to sell my original 78 , the mex copy brings me back , great vid
Great video. I have a new polar white one coming next week that I snagged with a pre black Friday sale price that is almost at the 2018 price from a local guitar shop.
Great video man! Appreciate the perspective.
Had the player series several times, allways liked them. Last week i walked into a guitar store, to buy strings. I bumped into a 2010 american special strat, and it was instant love while playing it. I really bonded with everything in no time. The Woods were better, resonance better, playing it was better, it really felt like an usa strat i played in the past. It was a no brainer, and goes to show 10 Guitars in line each one is different.
I’m in the same situation. I bought a 2003 American strat and am selling the player. The US strat is a premium instrument. You feel it after using the player for a while. Fender is not dumb enough to offer the same guitar just made in Mexico. It’s not nearly as well made or finished. Trust me on this.
I have Player Series, MIJ, and MIA. The player series is the one I play the most.
@@macuse2008 I work in a luthier shop, we build and repair guitars: most of the times I actually can't understand why spending that money for an american one. I've seen things You wouldn't expect on guitars with that price range. Very shameful.
My MIM Road Worn 60s Stratocaster from 2009 is an amazing and beautiful girl. She plays so well and has changed my playing and enriched my life.
I have this exact guitar. A MIM tidepool player strat. I have 11 guitars but it is my number one and favorite guitar. The color, the maple neck, the shape of the neck and just the overall feel of the guitar is just great. Very versatile tool, can still easily play heavy stuff with it. I’m sure the American strats feel even better but this is fine for me. I also bought it back when they were like $600 a few years ago, crazy that they’re over $800 now
I've had my 2014 Mexican Standard since 2018. I love that thing. I had a 2012 American Standard and I got rid of it. It didn't get played as much as my MIM. The pickups were super chimey. Neck felt amazing though.
I’ve got a rare version of a Mexican Strat, it’s so lovely would not trade it in even for a custom Strat, USA start, or any guitar.
Fabulous video nice playing to I feel the same to .Mex guitars are great instruments in the own right .great vibe to them .I have had experience with USA strats to and end up playing a vintage JHS Thomas Blug Strat 🤣🤣🤣🤣mex guitars are fabulous though .especially the signature models
I have exactly the same guitar made in Mexico. 23 years old. Plays incredible. ♥️
Great video. Yes, the most important thing is enjoying playing the guitar!
I bought a 2021 mex strat and have regretted it ever since. The neck is a disaster. I use the neck measuring tool and adjusted the truss accordingly. After installing the strings, the neck took on a bend as I tightened the tuners. Had to go back and tighten the truss a number of times; very frustrating. It has a string ping on the 1st and 2nd like a string buzz, but the height adjustment was right on. After finishing my set up, the 1st and 2nd string still rang. I changed the nut and carefully filed for proper height. I saw a video on this issue and apparently there is no cure. The guitar is garbage.
Your neck issue is only found on "Original" or any Vintage Style Strat. They all have 7.25" radius fretboards. Choking out is very common on these necks, unless you get a really good tech to set them up for you.
You should try an American Pro as it has the same radius neck as your Player series. Plus, it has the modern updates that players like, such as rolled frets and two point tremolo.
Of course, with the new JM PRS SE getting ready to hit the market, you might want to try it first.
nah, the american original series is 9.5 radius
You can get past the headstock if you really like the guitar. I wanted a nice acoustic for years. I thought one day I would own a Taylor but then I played a seagull and it was wonderful. The headstocks are very strange especially for an acoustic. I finally bought one and have been very happy with it and it looks normal to me now. It also cost less than half of the Taylor.
i have a player strat and its faultless beautiful trem set up, lovely neck, good build quality, i cant fault it and i bought it brand new at half the price of its equivalent in a Usa manufactured model
The first guitar I ever bought was a mexi strat. Still own it and play it constantly, but I turned it into my Yngwie guitar (scalloped fretboard, YJM pickups and tuned to Eb). I also own a proffesional 2 which is also amazing, but ive always loved the mexi.
I think the nitpicking about the various pros and cons of Mexican made to US made is crazy.
Have just been given a Player Strat by my son in law as a present. I have a 30 year old American Strat of my own. The spank from the player is sublime. As an engineer/machinist by trade, I cannot tell the difference in the build quality. Guitars are mass produced CNC machined to the exact tolerances. The final assembly / fettling is in human hands. It is down to the player. A good player will make any guitar sound good. A crap player will sound crap on the most expensive guitars ever made. Get a grip.
What color is that blue? Gorgeous guitar.
And tbh even the squiers bullets and affinitys get the job done
I love the color and tone your getting from that blue strat. It neither hot or muddy, guessing lower output p/ups? To my ears it just sounds nice and chimey with that clean bell tone I want in a strat. Gonna look for one like it now used. Love your videos I've watched so far! I'm in the USA but I'd buy it off you anytime.
I like the MIM strat better. It has a spankier sound.
My 2015 MIM strat is beautiful, great neck and flawless finish. I decided to swap out the ceramic pickups with fender alnico Fat 50’s. Sounds different, not necessarily better,but I’ll keep them in the guitar. Also own Baja Tele and MIM Ventera jazzmaster. They have a great factory in Ensenada.
The Mexican is now the standard.
The USA is like having aftermarket parts installed on the standard.
The custom shop is the highly tuned aftermarket guitar.
I spent almost 2000 on a American Elite Shawbucker Strat, the passing lane switch came not functional out of the box new. Within one year, the ebony fretboard cracked. Totally got a lemon. Working on warranty now. I'm 4 weeks in, Fender support will only talk to the repair expert, ice been a little discouraged from Fender, but I will see if they hold up to their warranty. I haven't even had a chance to peel plastic off puckguard since it's been in the shop since I purchased for one problem or another.
I'm very disappointed in mine. Frets have not been adjusted to fit the neck, and middle pickup cut out after about a half hour. Taking it in for warranty work today.
I'm kind of a guitar snob, and would have only considered an American previously. I've owned several EJ, customs, and older standards. I was helping a friend find a guitar, and played a bunch of their used guitars. I found a Player MIM series that acoustically sounded better than any of the guitars I tried, including the Americans. The only ones comparable were the semi hollows I tried. My friend wanted an LP style, so wasn't interested. I wasn't there for a guitar, but went home thinking about that guitar. Had to get it the next day, and it's a keeper. I'm still shocked by how good it sounds, even compared to my custom shop.
I bought the cheapest 15 year old MIM strat on Reverb and a bunch of parts (Tusq nut, bridges, tuners) and took it to a luthier who recommended to leave it stock. They are a perfect machine.
I own a 23 year old Mexican stratocaster and I agree 100% Fender has been letting it's followers down for years with less quality in the American line. Very honest video, this what I love about you. What are your thoughts on the new Ultra line? Also I've purchased a Godin Radium winchester brown telecaster style with 5 position switch and coil split options
I have a MIM ‘13 Tele and honestly I still cannot believe that a scrub like me owns a Fender. I absolutely love it, and I also have a 50’s vibe Squier and honest to god I absolutely love it as well. I’m only a very new player, but I love it. I’d like to own a SSS Mexican Strat, in black and I’d make it the same colour scheme as my Tele.
Player, player 2, player plus are the new rebranding of Made in Mexico fender guitars. Made in Ensenada Mexico like me 😂. By the way, if you ever visit try the fish tacos, and thank me later.
Recently I wanted to try something higher quality and I ended up getting a used fender stratocaster made in mexico for $500. I could have gotten another cheap beginner guitar for 3 or 4 hundred but I'm glad I paid the extra for the high quality guitar. If you want nice things you have to pay more, even if it's only a little bit nicer and it's not that much of a difference. If you compare 10 Fender stratocasters to 10 squire stratocasters you'll notice all the fenders are nice and some of the squires are not so nice 😉 trust me $1000 for a good guitar is worth it if you are a good guitar player.
I think it sounds great! I'm thinking about getting me one of those!
I just ordered mine in this same color. I can't wait! I own an $80 Squire I got used for $60. Certainly I'll experience a drastic change.
I bought the same strat and put Dimarzio FS-1's in it. It plays and sounds great.
Those mexican guitars stopped being cheap when the plater series got introduced
I have a MiM strat that I'm about to put a SD Pearly Gates in the bridge. A lot cheaper than upgrading to the Player Plus (which is also a beautiful guitar).
Have you tried fender made in japan?
Well done. All true. I sometimes find myself getting caught up in the idea of buying a new guitar because it does this or does that or has humbuckers or single coils or is made here or made there. It's dumb. In the end, find what you like, play what you like and wear it out. Make your guitar a part of you. It's not what you play, it's how you play. Don't get fished in by all the marketing.
my MIM deluxe HSS strat is the only strat I will ever need. I'm sure theres better ones out there but this one feels like the one. Candy apple red with black pick guard and white pickups/knobs
the neck is like no other guitar I've felt before. Even better than my American 52 reissue tele
also, sometimes even if 1 guitar sounds better than the other, the one that FEELS most comfortable to play is the better one in my opinion, as you said, longer practice sessions! more comfort! more practice! more better! lol
I have my standard mexican tele since 2014, plays great, i haven't changed anything except for a refret, bone nut and graphtech saddles. planning to buy the player plus strat belair blue and keeping em both.
Okay so Jules - Got my lake placid blue limited edition strat today and sat down plugged it in and played for 6 hours straight ❤guitar is all anyone would need 👍 its really just a beautiful instrument 🎉cheers
I just got a MIM Fender Player Stratocaster Plus Top - Tobacco Sunburst with Pau Ferro Fingerboard - SSS. It is absolutely beautiful and it sounds freak'n awesome! (or as awesome as I can make it sound being a relative newbie). Love, love, love the sound of this guitar. That being said, I am considering way down the road, changing the pups to Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Strat Pickups, we'll see. I need to hear these pups in person.
I'm into blues (SRV, KWS, etc) and rock (grew up on Led and Aero, Stones, etc). I have a Marshall DSL40 to run it through, which is great but I need to find a smaller amp that I can get that bluesy sound through at lower volumes. Anyone have suggestions?
I will say that if you have a guitar that you like playing, but want a little something more in the sound, then maybe changing the pickups are the thing to consider.
I have several MIM and player series strats, and I have put in some Bare knuckle Mothers milk in two of them and they sound amazing. I have some of the Bare knuckle Old Guard in one as well and they sound good, but not special, like good but common (neutral personality wise). I have one with the Seymour Duncan SSL1's and it sounds good, but not for my style for rock, I prefer the Bare knuckle Irish Tours for rock stuff.
I have tried from Fender the Texas specials, which were good but a little hot for me in some situations (and perfect in others), the fat 50's which were really great, the custom 53's (I believe, don't have the box in front of me) and that was my favorite of the Fenders and the Tex Mexs were good , but also a little lacking in personality.
I tend to like pickups that are vintage to vintage+ in terms of output for most of my playing. I use a boost pedal if I need more and overdrives to add gain (ProCo Rat is my pedal of choice). I feel you can always add gain and output in pedals, but it is much harder to take away if your pickups are too hot. I like the Texas Specials, just not for my normal playing. I find the Irish Tours are about as hot as I normally like to go.
also a guy in Nashville Vaughn Skow (I think that is right, sounds like that anyway) makes some pretty great pickups. I got some that were a mix of alnico 3 and alnico 5 (ALNICO 3 under the trebles and 5 under the bass strings pretty sure) I think they are called Vaughn's Velvets. They sound so sweet and beautiful your teeth hurt, but also not high output, so maybe not for all tastes.
anyway, I appreciated your video. I have a bakers dozen or so of Mexican strats and never saw the need to buy an American one. they have their benefits, but once you put a set of pickups in your MIM, at $300 or less in a lot of cases, the returns are diminishing quickly in going up the model line.
In fact, I put the Texas specials in a pink Squier bullet strat with DR brand neon green strings and went gigging with it. People looked at it askance until I started playing it. afterwards it was not uncommon for people to ask what kind of guitar it was (not every time, but enough that it no longer surprised me, only a few people care so it was only a half dozen give or take). it looked like a child's toy, but sounded like a M******* F******* which was what I wanted. eventually I had to replace the electronics because the selector switch was not made for that, but it was a Squier bullet, the entry level strat! bullets are lighter and thinner, but a MIM strat has good pots and switches from the jump.
sorry to ramble, just thought you need to maybe move beyond the stock pickups to find what you seemed to be looking for. this is especially true if you like the feel of the guitar you already have! it is cheaper than buying a whole new guitar for sure and the soldering is not that tough on a strat.
regardless, good luck and thanks for the video!
I just looked, there are the custom 54's (not 53). I also was looking at the 57/62's from the fender custom shop, and bare knuckles '53 veneer boards, but after a while you realize you don't have to try every combination once you find a few that work, you have to stop meddling with your and get back to practice!
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Sounds like all you ever do is swapping pickups. Lol. Guitars are made to be played.
@@milankotevski1663 it might sound that way to the uninitiated, but to change the pickups in a guitar is a less than 1 hour job. Like I said, I have several guitars and don't love the standard pickups that come in the fender MIM and player strats, so I almost always change them out.
A guitar is a tool that we use to make music. Why would you keep using tool that you have issues with when you can improve it. are you really advocating just grinding away in resentment of the subpar tone of your guitar? that doesn't sound too productive.
If you don't like the way a guitar feels, maybe replace it or fix the issue. if you like the feel but not the sound, maybe improve the sound (new strings, new pickups, new pick, etc). It's not that complicated. you will play better with an instrument you are happy with. You will want to practice more. You will make better music. that is my opinion, so I improve my tools when I can.
of course, you are more than welcome to your opinion, and if it works for you , never change!
🙂
Your conclusions definitely are the right ones. For me, I'd never buy a Strat with a 6-point trem. The 2-point is far better. I'd test the trem to see how well the strings stay in tune. Also, what's the lowest string height without string chocking when bending.
I own a 2015 Standard strat and I love it! Great neck. I put a treble bleed into in and Texas Specials. I do not need to spend billions on an American Professional etc.
If you´re looking for a H-S-S Strat style guitar, I would definetely recommend the Yamaha Pacifica 612 models over the Player Plus Strat.
Sure, it doesn´t say "Fender" on the headstock, but these guitars are build like tanks and you get a lot of value for money, like S.Duncans stock, Graphtech TUSQ nut, Grover mini-locking tuners, Wilkinson bridge.
But he doesn't get the 9.5" radius. Neither the sound of a strat.
@@popcornsniper It's a 22 fret, bolt on HSS Strat with Yamaha on the headstock.
If you can't get a Strat sound out if, it's not the guitar it's your incompetent arse.
I have two 1999 Standard series Fenders from Mexico. One Tele and one Strat respectively. I still have both and the Telecaster has gone through some mods to include wiring, bridge pickup replaced w/a SD Hot Rails, and the plastic nut was replaced with a bone nut. The Telecaster gets used regularly for performing and I'll play it til I die or it disintegrates......
Nice video man! :) Thanks! Jack Pearson play with cheapest strat and he sounds amazing! :)