Fender Player II Strat VS Player Series Strat - Is It Worth It?

[@benpowersguitar]

A special thank you to Robert Clark on this one. Check him out at Robert Clark 🎸Atmospheric Guitar Exploration.

[@robertclarkguitar]

Awe man. You didn't have to do that bro. Lol. Thanks for the shout. I was just blown away that they ar least changed some things that I think were worth changing. The rolled edges are a nice upgrade. The tuners is personal choice. The colors are great in my opinion. Excellent review brother. Hey and thanks again. I hope all has been well. I need to hit you up soon on IG or etc as there are changes coming for me again. Haven't been on lately longest I've not uploaded yet. I'll be back soon tho. I'm actually moving back to parents to help them out again. Dad isn't well...and because my camper was destroyed...My brother is coming down to build me a tiny home cabin to stay in while helping them out. I'm actually happy about that but worry until I get there as it will be around Sept or Maybe Oct before my brother can get week to come down and build it with me. I'll probably do a massive Vlog of the build too. My little Roo Studio. Hahah. Not gonna do plumbing but I will do electrical and finish inside interior. Maybe a porch or maybe loft not yet sure. He does this for a living. And I was hunting campers. The cost was looking like used risky campers would be like 10k. So he offered if I held off and wait he would do this for me as a gift for watching them helping etc. Which it helps me as well as you know. I'll still be watching granbabies. But dad can't remember things much. He cuts grass and starts on his rider cutting the fields of the power lines and won't stop. Climbs up ladders for no reason and forgets what he's doing. Main thing is trying to keep him from hurting himself. So I'll be working alot in yard and repairs on house ...dishes for mom and you know lighten their load. Anyway. That's it. Lol. Meanwhile I'm still doing my thing.

[@benpowersguitar]

@@robertclarkguitar Damn man, that's not the best of times. I am sure things will turn out well for you though.

[@rollingstart_90s]

You asked if the Player 1 series is still relevant? If a guitar is good, it is good, no matter if it was made 20 years ago. You're lucky! both guitars look great. I'd love to have that new coral red.

[@petersouthwell5971]

Thanks for saying that. THat's what irritates me about "player II". For exactly this reason. A nice playing well setup guitar is exactly what the name implies. It's not suddenly a bad guitar because a newer model comes out. Guitars are not IPads. They don't go out of date. Try actually playing a 1959 Strat.... Thing is hideous to play. Thos guitars are going for $60,000. And yet... buzzing hideous ass thing that vintage gear is.. .It's highly sought after. People in guitar land aren't looking for the latest 2.0.0.. like tech gear. It's a different animal.

[@WickedFesterBand]

I have a Player Series One. I rolled the fretboard myself, so I’d probably like the Two. I put locking tuners on my Series One. Not gonna drop the money on a Series Two though. I have the Pau Ferro. Yeah, looks dry. The rosewood from my 1992 neck is killer.

[@OptimisticMansion-yl1wq]

I have the original Player Series in Buttercream with a maple fretboard. I think it’s excellent and wouldn’t get rid of it. It plays and sounds like a Strat. What more do you want?

[@benpowersguitar]

Like I said in the vid, keeping my original Player Series as well. They are great. I do like the rolled FB edges on the II's, but I can do that myself. The original Player is absolutely a keeper.

[@CHOEYGMUSIC]

Great video man :) these days, I have been feeling like some of the 'lower end' or cheaper model just play so nicely and sounds great. By the way - interesting to see you mention the electrical hum can be from home interference

[@carpathus]

That Coral Red P2 looks for all the world like a slightly brighter less orange Fiesta Red. It really looks great. 🎸✌

[@benpowersguitar]

That was my thoughts on it. Love it in person.

[@NetVoyer]

I think the biggest difference is in the HSS configuration where in position 4 the player I had a split coil and the player II does not. Beyond that they are both really nice guitars.

[@AliaksejKa]

Thanks for the video! Choosing between Player and Player ii. Leaning toward Player I series. It's lighter. I wonder what color is your mapleneck Player I?

[@benpowersguitar]

The weight really varies from guitar to guitar for both models. I have seen up to 1.5lbs difference pretty often. If buying new, I might use Sweetwater, just so you know the exact weight of the one you're getting. My Player 1 is the Limited Edition Surf Pearl. You can only get it new from Musicians Friend/Guitar Center. At least as far as I could find. I think they are on sale right now as well.

[@AliaksejKa]

@@benpowersguitar In the reviews people say that Player II is heavier than Player 1 for about a half kilogram.

[@benpowersguitar]

@@AliaksejKa I just weighed both of mine. My Player 1 & 2 are both exactly 7.2lbs. There are always lighter and heavier ones. If you can, always get the weight from the seller. Many models can vary by more than a pound.

[@Derekanic2]

I definitely still feel like my original player series is the one for me. Might be interested in a player 2 tele however🤔

[@ccjmusic]

Great comparison video Ben! I think it would need an in person comparison for a lot of people. As you may remember I can't play on a maple fretboard because it screws with my eyes (makes my left eye strobe) and I prefer the darkness of real rosewood to the lighter/more orange alternatives, but if it doesn't feel right that doesn't matter. But from what you have said, I think the Player II would get my vote too.

[@benpowersguitar]

We need to get you some luminous dots. I have the side ones on my JivaJr & that Jackson Pro Plus I demoed. They are nice to have.

[@ccjmusic]

@@benpowersguitar I guess it would depend on if there was enough contrast with the maple in daylight. It is weird I have no problem with dark text on a white background, but dark dots on maple just makes my left eye vibrate. No problem with light on dark.

[@benpowersguitar]

@@ccjmusic Hey, whatever works man.

[@voiceofexperience]

The Player V1 is and remains the OG & the king of sales.

[@stratplayer2]

I have a 1997 pre-Jimmy Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat. In Sonic blue. U can see it in some of my videos I know it’s not as good as the player series but I love it

[@benpowersguitar]

Oh wow, I remember those. I almost bought one, instead bought a used MIJ '57RI. Loved that strat. Very cool you have one.

[@jimmybob5541]

That red player 2 is beautiful. I have a silver sky se, and it’s incredibly nice, but just doesn’t get that strat tone, so I’ve been considering trading it in for one of these.

[@benpowersguitar]

Thanks, I am loving the color more every day. Wow! My next video (just did Silver Sky SE) is Silver Sky SE VS Fender Player/Player II. Spoiler, the Fender Player/Player II wins.

[@jimmybob5541]

@@benpowersguitar I could definitely see reasons to prefer either! Looking forward to the new video

[@rocktorrocks]

Now that the player I strats are being discounted would you say the player II improvements are worth the additional $200 above what the player I goes for now? I also noticed the maple fretboard on the player II has a darker stain compared to the I.

[@benpowersguitar]

If it's your daily player, the rolled edges may make a real difference. I think it really depends on how you feel about that one feature. The rosewood is nice, if you're not looking for maple. I have seen the maple color vary slightly, but it does seem a little better on many I have seen. I do play my Player II more than the Player.

[@CitizenSoldier500]

i still like my 2017 standard. haven't seen anything in the player 1 or 2 to justify an ''upgrade''. 6 screw bridge works great, tuners are great, stays in tune great

[@benpowersguitar]

I loved my 2004 standard. Had it 13yrs.

[@calvinnguyen4218]

I have the Player 1, and I did roll the fretboard myself. I had a problem with rolled fretboard from the factory in another guitar where they rolled the fretboard too much so that the outside string slides over the edge easily when playing fast. Rolling the fretboard is not a difficult job and can be done quickly when changing your strings the first time. Just get your hand a little dirty. My Player 1 is good enough for me.

[@benpowersguitar]

Yep, he's right. It's easy to do yourself and SOO worth it. I love the return of rosewood, but as I said in the video. The rosewood, the rolled edges and a debatable tuner change (I like them) isn't much of anoverall change and it should be a lower price. I love my Player II, but I love my Player 1 just as much. Both guitars should be $650 as far as I am concerned. Thanks for watching. I appreciate it.

[@whatifspaghettidoesntexist]

As a guy who own the first player, I swill prefer the first player, however the colours and the upgrades might be better. Player with no mod is already good enough for an amateur like me

[@benpowersguitar]

Love my Player 1, nothing wrong with that guitar.

[@wolfunplugged]

is there a difference in sound?

[@benpowersguitar]

Not in the pickups. There will be slight differences in sound due to fretboard materials like always.

[@wolfunplugged]

@@benpowersguitar ok thanks for the information!

[@mariachiblues2755]

How do the pickups compare? Aren't they revoiced on the Player II?

[@benpowersguitar]

They are the same on the SSS strats. I believe the HSS got a new humbucker and some other models got new pickups, but not 100% on those.

[@tadask.4931]

How about neck profiles? Are they similar or…? I did not get it when you mentioned something about player being deep C? They both supposed to have a modern C, if I recall correctly. Do they feel different?

[@benpowersguitar]

Sorry for the confusion. Short answer, same neck profile. What I stated, was the Player Series was actually on it's second incarnation before the Player II, as some of the original Player had more of a deep c, at least the couple I played. All Standard Player Series strats have the modern c, which was carried over to the Player II. The only difference in the neck is the rolled edges and the option for rosewood over pau ferro. Heck the only other difference in the guitar is swapping for the vintage style tuners.

[@tadask.4931]

@@benpowersguitaryeah, thats what got impression off after looking official promotion videos and talking to our local fender dealer. New colours and more aged looks are nice though :)

[@tadask.4931]

I guess I might stick to my current strat, that is actually some "weird" edition of Squier Classic Vibe from 2013 - proper alder body, quarter sawn neck with very thin laminated rosewood fretboard, sort of early 60-s style fenders would have. 9.5 radius though. I have Duncan SSL-1/ssl-5 combo in it now - sounds killer, feels like a proper strat, set up and playability is better than a couple of mex and usa fenders I had before. It's very annoying when your best strat so far is Squier :D

[@benpowersguitar]

@@tadask.4931 If it plays good and sounds good, it is good.

[@MarkStearle]

Love the red color

[@patrickkeating5329]

I have the player 1 and hard to file the frets down. They are not wildly different, but I think I’d rather have the rolled fretboard out of the box.

[@willistaylor4077]

I'm getting a Player Strat 1, as it was a nice weight and the neck was good. Australia probably won't get the Player 2 in stock for a while.

[@benpowersguitar]

I love my Player 1, great guitar. Shame you won't see the II's for a while.

[@louis-ik1ub]

Music junction has player ii in stock

[@johnlark2637]

"so let us talk about the differences" - continues to list what they have in common

[@benpowersguitar]

ha ha, fair enough. Though I think I made it clear there isn't much difference. Seriously, the SSS model has different tuners, a rosewood option and rolled edges. Not real different.

[@retiredguyadventures6211]

I bought an original series Player Plus Top aged cherry HSS strat back in 2020. I really like the guitar but I might pick up a Player II neck when they become available. Why buy yhe whole guitar new when the only difference is the neck! I watched a Fender rep say that they stayed with the original Player pickups at least with the strats. There are a lot of KZbin reviewers (mostly from music stores) claiming the Player II guitars have "revoiced" pickups whatever that means, but the Fender rep never mentioned anything about them.

[@benpowersguitar]

Yeah, I am really fond of the Player necks, especially the new one.

[@frinchk]

What about the sound difference?

[@benpowersguitar]

Same pickups in SSS models

[@Pilan_Bee]

If u can find good sale for player 1, like 150-200$(which is possible sometimes) , could be perfect with little upgrade. U might get better guitar… but u must make ur hands dirty a bit. Other then that just get player II and play… and i love the new colors ** not PF **

[@benpowersguitar]

Thanks for watching.

[@typecek_ondralive5023]

Is the Player II better than the player plus series ?

[@benpowersguitar]

I haven't tried them. They didn't seem to offer enough for the price difference at the time.

[@roofkorean6948]

My only 2 complaints about the Player ll series are that the color options are kind of ugly imo with a few exceptions, and the Jaguar is more like a Jaguar lite. Other than that I think they're great. I really like the rolled fretboard edges. I did hear somewhere that they changed the bridge for the Teles, not sure how I feel about that but as long as it's functional and sounds good then it shouldn't be a problem. I always preferred maple fretboards on Fender guitars and basses in general, so I could care less about the upgrade from Pau Ferro to Rosewood, however I've heard a TON of people requested it so it's cool they listened. Personally, if I was planning to buy a 2nd P-bass, then I would consider a darker fretboard just to change things up, but I wouldn't care if it had Rosewood or Pau Ferro.

[@benpowersguitar]

For me, this was the only color I was excited about. I understand changing up the colors now and then though. Yeah, not my favorite run either for colors, except this red. It looks great in person. Thanks for watching.

[@roofkorean6948]

@@benpowersguitar I agree 100%. The one you got is one of the few I'd actually consider. Looks great!

[@BkBk-gy6vr]

The colors are ugly, that's why I went with black can never go wrong with black, yes some people want something new and black is too boring for them but to me it's classic and never ugly.

[@benpowersguitar]

@@BkBk-gy6vr A black strat is one the most iconic guitars out there. Never a bad choice.

[@nichohells]

They have the same pickups

[@benpowersguitar]

Yep, the SSS didn't get a pup change. I heard the HSS did, but didn't check it out.

[@MelaniCholie]

♥ my huge like to you

[@benpowersguitar]

Thank you so much Melani.

[@Chicken853]

Not to be rude or anything but I kinda hope the player series gets discontinued then maybe after a couple years they will skyrocket in price cus I got a tele player I

[@benpowersguitar]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@petersouthwell5971]

If you don't have a guitar. And you want out of box vintage setup. The player II. If you don't care. or your going to upgrade the thing anyways with like Fender Locking Tuners (Player I is presetup so you can jsut drop them in) Player I. I think it was a bit of a mistake to call it a player II... It's really a Player I Vintage Classic. IMHO. Why I don't like about Player I vs Player II.. Is that it's a setup difference. Really. They're over marketing preferences as improvements. Which they're potentially not. The vintage tuners.. Hate those... Id have to re drill them and resize the wholes to put in my fender locking tuners I like.. Pain in the ass. Player I.. Is pre drilled for a no brainer drop in of those fender locking tuners. What I don't like about the name Player I vs Player II.. Is it suggests Player II is an upgrade. Well IMHO it's just a setup difference. Player I is for more modern tastes. Player II is for a guy chasing vintage. I don't like the name because it attempts to invalidate a perfectly great mid tier guitar.. The player I.

[@benpowersguitar]

Vintage Classic is actually a really good. These really could have just part of the Player Plus models if they didn't want to rename anything.

[@DirtyStringz]

The new classicgear tuners are just meant to look like vintage tuners but still use the same mounting system so you would just as easily be able to swap them out for locking tuners!

[@petersouthwell5971]

@@DirtyStringz Oh that's awesome to know!

[@KTLBT]

A strat is a strat

[@benpowersguitar]

Thanks for watching.

[@hanscovers6849]

It's the same guitar, come on.

[@benpowersguitar]

Pretty much. 3 changes. Rosewood option, classic style tuners and rolled fretboard edges. I was pretty clear that there isn't much new about this, and that the price is too high for the changes as well as some of the changes being disliked by some, like the tuners. It's why I say people are going to have to decide if it's worth it to them and that the original Player is still great, especially if you don't care about the rosewood. I don't what your come on is about, unless you didn't actually watch the video.

[@BkBk-gy6vr]

I have both. The Player ii is definitely better.

[@benpowersguitar]

I definitely prefer my Player II.

[@soserchristianguitar9202]

Why?? I don't think so

[@benpowersguitar]

@@soserchristianguitar9202 I know I personally prefer the feel of the rolled edges for longer playing. So that makes it better for me.

[@CitizenSoldier500]

@@benpowersguitar all you need is a flat piece of wood and sandpaper. an extra 200 bucks is a lot for a rolled fretboard

[@benpowersguitar]

@@CitizenSoldier500 To be fair. $500 in 2004 is $830 2024. Like my $2300 Am Vntg II '61 is actually a little cheaper than they would have been in 1961. So the price hasn't really gone up much over the years, but I understand. I have rolled several of my own guitars. Most players I have known don't like working on their guitars.

[@trevorD1156]

No made in Mexico fender has ever been worth its retail price. Buy a squier, then save for a Japanese or American fender... Mexican fenders make better kindling than guitars.

[@benpowersguitar]

That's your opinion. Not based on fact, but you're allowed to dislike what you dislike. I personally have never cared for most US Fenders or Gibsons. A couple here and there, but I always thought both were way over priced. But that's why there are so many different guitars, there's so many different players.

[@optimus3305]

I have a 2018 player and I immediately rolled the edges, if that’s the biggest difference I don’t know what all the rage is about.

[@benpowersguitar]

Rosewood and rolled edges isn't a huge jump.

[@optimus3305]

@@benpowersguitar mine is maple only because they didn’t use rosewood at the time wich I prefer, but I still would’ve had zero problems rolling and setting it up.

[@benpowersguitar]

@@optimus3305 Yeah, my Player is maple for the same reason.

[@optimus3305]

@@benpowersguitar Unless you have enough money for a tech it’s foolish to NOT know how to setup your guitar, roll edges, set intonation, adjust trust rods and bridge saddles, etc, it came with 9’s, I set it up for 10’s, every player should learn how to do all that, in my opinion.

[@benpowersguitar]

@@optimus3305 I absolutely agree.