I just got one in Black with the HSS configuration and it’s absolutely awesome!! Now with the rolled fretboard edges I feel they’re very comparable to the old American Standards!! 👍
@@miketuttle9319 lol I understand completely. So it’s been about 2 months on the player ii. It’s still in my hands every day for a few hours. I love this guitar, only thing I’m not in love with is the bridge pup.
Fantastic overview and congrats on the new Strat. Just picked up my own last week in the 3 color burst HSS and it’s incredible.. had a well-respected tech do the setup (and specifically for 10’s as well) and it’s so great. I am considering locking tuners as my MIM thinline tele deluxe has them and I’ve gotten spoiled, but I like the aesthetic of the Classic Gears more I may just have to give them a shot. I also noticed the guitar is a lot quieter than my Telecaster (in regards to both guitars single coils, and the tele’s being Noiseless at that). Seems to be a lot less 60cycle hum for me. Plays great, no complaints so far besides having to adjust my picking hands position to adjust to the bridge/volume knob being RIGHT THERE. Amazing video brother, highly recommended just as you articulated! Take care!
@@Stephenmichaelsguitar so happy to hear you’re still digging it! I hope my joy doesn’t fade it really is spectacular and I’m proud I pulled the trigger on it and a proper setup. Compliments the tele perfectly… now to just get a promotion or two and cop a nice Jazzmaster hahahah. Take care my guy!!
I just pulled the trigger yesterday. Videos I’ve watched are so crossed between “poor quality” and “looks great and plays well out of the box”… initially it was the cosmetics that caught my eyes. It truly is a beautiful corral red imo. Anyways, cool review! I am considering dropping some ‘61 pickups in mine
Ahhh,love that Bonnie Raitt song.You are a great player sir.Those new player 2s look great.I need to check one out for myself.After many years of playing and partocasting I have come to the conclusion that I prefer single trussrod necks.Neck and body has to work together but most of the tonal character comes from the neck imo.Neck,bridge and pickups is my order of Stratocaster tonal bliss :).
@@swede7160 thanks. Yeah these are surprisingly great necks. I’m all in on these player II’s. I have a few part casters and while they’re dialed in, there’s something about these player ii.
I can't justify the price of good Fender Stratocasters these days, I played a GL Fullerton deluxe recently and was blown away with it, and the price is not as high as Fender. If you don't want to change the string trees to keep it authentic, you can spray the bottom of them with PTFE, they then become much slicker, team it uo with a Graphtech nut and you are off to the races! You can also mask off the saddles and lightly spray the string slots also.
I have a 2020 original Player "Plus Top Aged Cherry" HSS strat with a maple fretboard. I like the guitar, but will be replacing the neck with a Player II rosewood fretboard when they become available. I put locking tuners and a graphtec nut on the neck and will probably do the same on the new neck.
@@tbone2451 thanks for watching. If you’ve played both already, then I respect your opinion. From my perspective the new players are far and away light years better than the original. I’d compare it to the American Pro II minus the heel and Shaw designed pups.
@@StephenmichaelsguitarI know it’s a fine guitar. I might eventually add one. I was just hoping they would have changed up the pickups and added more color choices.
@Stephen Michaels What do you think of the volume? I feel like it goes from 0 to 10 with little movement of the potentiometer. i have the green birch one.
@@Stephenmichaelsguitar Wow, it's interesting. When I grabbed the previous one it was - for me - the worst experience Fender ever. Dry, ascetic, not any pleasure from it.
@@bluwng I remember when they were $300. Fortunately, for $799 you get a lot of guitar in these new player II’s, but when I see fsr mim’s over 1k I shake my head.
@@andrelangenbach4202 I thank you for your comment, I was very critical of the original Player series. I’d say unbiased in that I’m not being paid for my opinion.
I just got one in Black with the HSS configuration and it’s absolutely awesome!! Now with the rolled fretboard edges I feel they’re very comparable to the old American Standards!! 👍
@@edlicari3909 I even feel they are on the level on the American pros. I’ve enjoyed mine immensely.
@@Stephenmichaelsguitar for sure!! 👍
Nice playing and review. Damn, I’m tempted even though I keep telling myself I’m going to slow down on acquiring more guitars.
@@miketuttle9319 lol I understand completely. So it’s been about 2 months on the player ii. It’s still in my hands every day for a few hours. I love this guitar, only thing I’m not in love with is the bridge pup.
Fantastic overview and congrats on the new Strat. Just picked up my own last week in the 3 color burst HSS and it’s incredible.. had a well-respected tech do the setup (and specifically for 10’s as well) and it’s so great. I am considering locking tuners as my MIM thinline tele deluxe has them and I’ve gotten spoiled, but I like the aesthetic of the Classic Gears more I may just have to give them a shot.
I also noticed the guitar is a lot quieter than my Telecaster (in regards to both guitars single coils, and the tele’s being Noiseless at that). Seems to be a lot less 60cycle hum for me. Plays great, no complaints so far besides having to adjust my picking hands position to adjust to the bridge/volume knob being RIGHT THERE.
Amazing video brother, highly recommended just as you articulated! Take care!
@@CMvidproductions I traded a tele for it. And I have no regrets. This is a far better guitar.
@@Stephenmichaelsguitar so happy to hear you’re still digging it! I hope my joy doesn’t fade it really is spectacular and I’m proud I pulled the trigger on it and a proper setup. Compliments the tele perfectly… now to just get a promotion or two and cop a nice Jazzmaster hahahah. Take care my guy!!
@@CMvidproductions I understand completely… here’s to the next one mate!
I like your picking. You are greatly appreciated by me.😊
@@fritzherrmann762 thank you…
Congrats Steve! And yes the Nut is always made for 009’s. I might need to grab one
@@jayteesgear it’s a great instrument. Thanks for watching and the comment moment!!!
I just pulled the trigger yesterday. Videos I’ve watched are so crossed between “poor quality” and “looks great and plays well out of the box”… initially it was the cosmetics that caught my eyes. It truly is a beautiful corral red imo. Anyways, cool review! I am considering dropping some ‘61 pickups in mine
@@andrewbarrientes1625 I keep thinking about the 61’s as well, but I’ve been happy with this guitar as is. Really loving it.
@@Stephenmichaelsguitarwill try to remember and check in once mine comes around! Hopefully I’ll share the same contentment as you
Ahhh,love that Bonnie Raitt song.You are a great player sir.Those new player 2s look great.I need to check one out for myself.After many years of playing and partocasting I have come to the conclusion that I prefer single trussrod necks.Neck and body has to work together but most of the tonal character comes from the neck imo.Neck,bridge and pickups is my order of Stratocaster tonal bliss :).
@@swede7160 thanks. Yeah these are surprisingly great necks. I’m all in on these player II’s. I have a few part casters and while they’re dialed in, there’s something about these player ii.
Beautiful playing , love the color.
@@ianhanson85 many thanks Ian. Appreciate you watching!
I can't justify the price of good Fender Stratocasters these days, I played a GL Fullerton deluxe recently and was blown away with it, and the price is not as high as Fender.
If you don't want to change the string trees to keep it authentic, you can spray the bottom of them with PTFE, they then become much slicker, team it uo with a Graphtech nut and you are off to the races!
You can also mask off the saddles and lightly spray the string slots also.
@@AndrewAHayes I like the G and l’s, the pups are a bit hotter, but a nice guitar. Congrats!
I have a 2020 original Player "Plus Top Aged Cherry" HSS strat with a maple fretboard. I like the guitar, but will be replacing the neck with a Player II rosewood fretboard when they become available. I put locking tuners and a graphtec nut on the neck and will probably do the same on the new neck.
@@retiredguyadventures6211 you’ll love the neck. I’m actually planning to put one on my old tele mim.
The addition of vintage tuners is nice . Other than that, it’s the same guitar with slightly rolled finger board.
@@tbone2451 thanks for watching. If you’ve played both already, then I respect your opinion. From my perspective the new players are far and away light years better than the original. I’d compare it to the American Pro II minus the heel and Shaw designed pups.
@@StephenmichaelsguitarI know it’s a fine guitar. I might eventually add one. I was just hoping they would have changed up the pickups and added more color choices.
@@tbone2451 these pups seem hotter than the player ones, but it could be completely placebo.
Thank you for your opinion. I might buy one soon. I just have some doubts about the vibrato - Do the strings stay in tune?
@@alafenetre81 find this one still great.
@Stephen Michaels What do you think of the volume? I feel like it goes from 0 to 10 with little movement of the potentiometer. i have the green birch one.
@@Luismiguitar interesting. I’ll check and report back.
Really dig the review! With all the refinements, would this be a better choice than the Am Pro II?
@@valobit I have both. Thru are different. Play both. The neck heel on the am pro is great…
Do you immediately change the strings when you buy a Fender? I must say that I always restring a Fender with Ernie Ball strings.
@@ronwest217 absolutely - as they have 9s on them and I use 10’s…
How bout fretboard experience? Dry and rough bending and vibratos like in the previous series or butter effect finally, like it should be?
@@Robert_Fordin one of the best necks I’ve ever played.
@@Stephenmichaelsguitar
Wow, it's interesting.
When I grabbed the previous one it was - for me - the worst experience Fender ever.
Dry, ascetic, not any pleasure from it.
@@Robert_Fordin yeah the original players are terrible.
nice color
@@MarkStearle right? I totally agree.
Have you checked how thick the bridge block is? I need to know if it's gonna need replacement or if it's good out of the box. Great video man!
@@julianllop9582 I don’t know the measurement, but it is a thick block. I personally don’t see a need to change it. Thanks for watching,
this guitar is better than the first version .. i think
@@ERICKFLAGPRODUCOES I agree.
The day of $500 MIM guitars are over. Price went up 100% in five years.
@@bluwng I remember when they were $300. Fortunately, for $799 you get a lot of guitar in these new player II’s, but when I see fsr mim’s over 1k I shake my head.
If you are a Fender fanboy and purchased the guitar because you instantly loved it... how can it be unbiased? :)
@@andrelangenbach4202 I thank you for your comment, I was very critical of the original Player series. I’d say unbiased in that I’m not being paid for my opinion.