Do NOT Buy A Fender Player Strat Until You Watch This

Thinking about buying a Fender Player Stratocaster? WAIT! 🚫 Before you make that decision, check out this in-depth comparison video where I put the Fender Player Strat head-to-head with the high-end Fender American Professional II. Discover the surprising similarities and differences between these two iconic electric guitars and see why you might want to reconsider your choice.

In this video, I dive deep into the features, sound quality, playability, and overall value of both the Fender Player Strat and the Fender American Pro 2. Whether you're a seasoned guitarist or a beginner, this comprehensive review will help you make an informed decision.

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#FenderPlayerStrat #FenderAmericanPro2 #StratocasterComparison #GuitarReview #ElectricGuitar #GuitarComparison #FenderStratocaster #GuitarTips #GuitarTone #GuitarPlayability #Guitarist #BeginnerGuitar #ProGuitarist #GuitarCommunity

[sair]

One is made in Mexico by a Mexican the other is made in the US by a Mexican inmigrant

[Bopsterjazz]

Honestly, I love my Player so much. I got it last year for Black Friday and it has some special specs, roasted maple neck, and Fat 50s pick-ups. Which if they didn’t offer those upgrades, I probably would have waited and saved for an American, but this guitar feels so nice and I still had enough cash to snag a practice amp.

[ckatheman]

The new Player Plus MiM's are absolutely loaded including locking tuners, noiseless pickups, high quality saddles, coil split on the HSS model and the volume tone mod. They are not cheap though, just north of 1K.

[smokeless]

Just got a Player II in birch green and rosewood. Maybe I got lucky but no QC issues with mine.
Well set up and ready to go right out of the box. First time I could afford a real Fender and I'm really pleased.
As for hard or soft cases you can't plug them in and they don't play!

[stancoleshill]

I really liked the sound of how you played the Peppers.

[allghilliedup]

Squier Classic Vibes are one of the best in the affordable range. I had one for years and it sounded good!

[Mexxx]

Out of my small guitar collection .. the guitar that gets played the most is;

A mint Fender Player Stratocaster 3T sunburst pfboard, I picked up for around 460 AU Dollars (around $300 US)

Plays like butter, not the best pickups around, but certainly not the worst. I can always get the atypical "strat" sounds out of this guitar, I need, fast. Even the pf fingerboard doesn't seem to be any sort of problem to me, and after the years I've owned it, I've surprisingly grown fond of it, as its unique among all my other guitars.

[MrMfalzone]

I got a player HSS plus maple top and I’m keeping it! I keep wanting the better one but I’m moderate at best so WHY?? I’m perfectly happy with the player. Got it used for $500 and it was Mint! I’m not complaining one bit. Thanks, you saved me some cash….also have 2 Sire’s that I love and recommend to anyone on here. Instant Les Paul. I think better! Throw in some Gibson Hums and you’d think you’re playing a custom made LP. Again, I’m moderate but I think Mr Franklin may just agree with me.

[danedearmond]

I think it all depends on what you're looking for in a guitar.

If you aren't the "guitar tech" savvy type and can't do your own setups and adjustments, then maybe getting the more expensive Fender right off the bat could be a better "bargain" (while not cheap, you likely won't have to spend extra to get a good guitar). It's nice to be able to open the box, and just play without having to worry about adjustments or setups....

However, if you know how to use a screwdriver and a soldering iron (and have an IQ above 50), then I see VERY little reason to spend an extra $1000+ on a nicer American Fender when more often than not the MiM's (Player series) just need a minor touch up / setup which can take you all of an hour when you first get it.

I got a 2020 Fender Player (Tidepool w/ AlnicoV pickups), and I got lucky with it. It came in very well setup, no sharp corners or fret ends, no painting flaws or cracks. It came in perfect. The only things I've had to do with it were preference things? I DID recently replace the pickups (not that the originals were bad, they weren't, I just happened to have a nicer set I preferred, Some High-output Scarred Strat Single Coils from Cathy at the youtube channel "Scar my Pickups" which made it a bit more low and low-mid heavy than the std. MiM pickups) and I swapped out that ugly white pickguard for a Black 3-ply which looks great with Tidepool blue body).

All that aside, honestly the best deal you can get is to build your own Partscaster. You can buy a loaded Fender Pickguard (for $300 - 400) for all the electronics and source the body, neck and tuners online and end up with a much better guitar than a Custom Shop wallet-killer and get an AMAZING strat that is ALL YOURS for less than $1200 USD. And it will SMOKE any Fender less than $3k.

[AngelMartinez-qscf]

Both are great players. But which do you believe and handles overdrive better. I play a lot of Classic Rock, i.e. AC/DC, Beatles, Zeppelin, Greenday, 38 Special, Stones. That kind of music. I like the maple sound, it's got more bite and snap to it.

[djizzah]

i have a player got it on sale $550, it is incredibly good for the price, i like the USA models theyre great and will definitely appreciate in value more than the mexican but to play and own for a budget price, the player mexican model is outstanding

[mikeanthony]

We don’t buy based off after processed recording sound but more so about the feel and inspiration drawn from the guitar and player fenders necks are so squared…. AmProii necks are really something to feel . They play great worth the money.

[IDropzGuitar]

Hey bro, I’ve never bought a brand new electric before, want something permanent and I’m interested so far in the hagstrom fantomen but I’ll ask you before I go buying on what you recommend, my budget is about how much that hagstrom is worth which is $1500 roughly ‘AUD’

[scrpted-byzp]

I watched your last video and I’ve been looking for a good cheaper guitar and I’m torn on what to get, either the squire strat or tele . Which do you think is better

[EpicCookieGamer]

For this past Christmas I splurged and got me a pro ii and I honestly love it. I got a Mexican Strat back in 07 and it just had all the issues, electronic issues, tuning issues, felt clunky for some reason, to the point where I just had it as a backup to an Ibanez and Les Paul. When shopping around I tried both but I felt that the smoothed fretboard edge, neck cutout of the pro and the pickups were worth it. I did upgrade to locking tuners and blocked the trem. There’s just something about it that makes me want to play it. Holding both of them feels like you are playing an art piece. I don’t think you could go wrong with either one.

[AngryCummins]

Man, I have my heart set on that White MIM Strat. But at the same time I always wanted to have a higher end Fender like an American Ultra or a Professional II. Thinking about buying the white player Strat and modding it.

[Rndmsr]

Hello sir, I'm looking to buy the fender player Stratocaster (hss) but it sounds really clean tone, so can it play grunge/distorted type sound? Like the sound in the intro of the song "do i wanna know by artic monkeys"? (Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm a complete beginner and don't know anything about electric guitars)

[deshawn]

I played both and the American Professional two is better guitar. Sounds better, different type of pickups, and necks and all feel different. The Vintera 2 60's Strat is better than the Players 2. American Professional 2 has VMod 2 pickups.

[iancurrie]

Oh boy. The errors are flying fast and furious with this.
-they do not have the same neck shape
-they do not have the same bridges, bridge block, or trem arm system.
-they do not have the same tuners
-the "classic Fender strat pickups" as he calls them are no such thing at all. They're V-mod II which have different magnets for different pole pieces, something seen on NO "classic Fender pickups ever."

I find it interesting to see that he can actually play down to the 12th fret without realizing that the intonation is not set correctly on the Player.

When he discusses the differences, he somehow misses 90% of the differences. Almost like it's willful.
Aside from the few things he mentions: tuners, string tree, totally different fret wire, micro-tilt adjustable neck, break angle over the nut, tinted neck, neck profile, strap buttons, aged pickups and knobs and switch, better switch, bridge, steel block, trem arm system, rolled fingerboard edges, ball ends on the frets, parchment vs white pickguard, inlays, properly leveled and crowned frets resulting in a lower action, rosewood vs Pau Ferro when not maple, bi-flex dual action truss rod with walnut plug, plus thing things he did mention: pickups, push-push switching, contoured heel, nut. Yeah, basically no different at all!

In short, I'm sorry I watched this. This guy doesn't know what he's talking about at all. He can't even see the differences between two guitars he's holding in his hands.

[donmunson]

Sorry, but you lost me when you couldn't identify the V-mod2 pickups in the Pro. Which is why there was so much more depth in the Pro's tone. And you might take a closer look at the bridges, They are not identical.