Fender recently surveyed guitarists and bassists around the world, asking them questions to discover what they would change or upgrade in their instruments, if they could, to make playing easier and to better achieve their musical aspirations. What types of things would they supplement, alter, discard, or mold if they could visualize the perfect guitar or bass? More frets, new colors, different neck shapes, specialized pick-ups? At last, the musicians’ requests have been heard, designed, and created, and with that, the company is introducing the new Fender Player Series of Telecasters, Stratocasters, Jaguars and more.
From refined crystal-clear pickups to fresh new colors, there’s a lot to love about the Fender Player Series. Whether you want a clean tone, fuzzed out, reverb galore — anything goes — these new guitars and basses allow you the perfect updated platform for personalizing a sound and style unique to your every whim. The new “C” shaped necks make it easier to play, and extra frets allow for increased soloing room. Alas, the traditional vintage Fender hardware aesthetic remains but the updated modern technology enhances the experience.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the new styles so you can decide which one is best for you:
Fender Player Series Stratocaster
The new Player Series Stratocaster () brings us a little gift: an extra fret, now with 22 frets instead of the typical 21 of the original series. For those of us who like to play in E (and who doesn’t like to play in the key the guitar was meant for?) we now can take it further as this fretboard allows us to bend the high D up to an E. The new Player Series Strat also includes Alnico 5 pickups and a dedicated tone control for the bridge pickup. Created almost 60 years ago, the classic Stratocaster is as popular as ever — and now with an updated 2018 makeover.
Fender Player Series Telecaster
The Player Series Telecaster (), my new favorite, is a must-have for the versatile guitarist. The classic 3-way switching opens up a huge range of tonality while the Pau Ferro neck — replacing the Rosewood — is smooth and easier to play than ever. The classic Telecaster 3-way switching and new Alnico pickups are designed for clarity and precision. To enhance the traditional twang and bite of a Telecaster, bent-steel saddles have been added to the newly string-through-body bridge.
Fender Player Series Jaguar
The Player Series Jaguar () is sleek with modern contours and an effortlessly smooth design, all poised to bring melodic depth to the guitarist looking for innovative sounds. The Jaguar combines both an Alnico 2 single-coil pickup at the neck and an Alnico 3 humbucker at the bridge for chunky tones or whispery textures, depending on your mood. The Jag’s usual pickup toggle switches have been replaced with a 3-way switch, the bridge decked out as before with the floating tremolo tailpiece.
Fender Player Series Jazzmaster
The Fender Player Series Jazzmaster () is another classic design by Fender, gaining popularity as it ages into its new modern image. For the new Player Series Jazzmaster, the traditional single-coil pickups are replaced with a pair of Alnico 2 humbucking pickups. The “Modern C”-shaped neck’s comfortable contours and smooth finish are ideal for almost any player, with hands large or small. Like the Jaguar, the six-saddle, vintage-style adjustable bridge also sports a floating tremolo tailpiece and screw-in arm.
Fender Player Series Precision Bass
The Fender Player Series Precision Bass () sports the classic “spaghetti” Fender logo, an homage to the series’ authenticity and incomparable heritage. The Precision Bass, like its legendary cousins the Strat and Tele, has stepped it up with an update to Alnico 5 split single-coil pickup, a 3-ply pickguard, synthetic bone nut, vintage-style disc string trees, and open-gear tuning machines. Ask most bassists and they will tell you that the name Fender P is synonymous with thunderous bass tone and visual elegance.
Fender Player Series Jazz Bass
The Fender Player Series Jazz Bass () is equipped with a newly comfortable Modern “C” neck profile with a 9.5″-radius fretboard, the classic Fender logo, and a whole lot of power. The New Player Series Jazz Bass boasts punchy tone and modern versatility- find it in a sharp new color such as Polar White, or make a bold statement from stage armed with the Sonic Red Jazz Bass.
Fender Player Series Jaguar Bass
The Fender Player Series Jaguar Bass (), stylized with modern shape and an offset body, packs a rumbling punch and sleek visual for the creative bassist. Like the other basses in the Player Series, the pickups are loaded with Alnico 5 magnets, giving you more output than before, with plenty of room for versatility. Find it now with 20 frets, modern “C” shaped neck profile, and the classic “F” stamped neck. Be the first to try out new colors such as Sage Cream Metallic and Buttercream.
