Fender Player II Stratocaster
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- We are an independent review website and do not sell products. Purchases are made with the retailer you choose.
The Player II Stratocaster is Fender's mainstream Mexican-made Strat, refreshed in 2024. It keeps everything that makes a Strat a Strat — three single-coil pickups, a 5-way switch and a vibrato bridge — but adds small upgrades that make it more comfortable straight out of the box.
Specifications
| Body | Alder (some finishes use chambered ash or mahogany) |
| Neck | Maple, Modern "C" profile, rolled fingerboard edges |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood or maple, 9.5" radius, 22 medium-jumbo frets |
| Scale length | 25.5" |
| Pickups | 3 × Player Series Alnico V single-coils |
| Controls | Master volume, 2 tone, 5-way switch |
| Bridge | 2-point synchronised tremolo with block saddles |
| Tuners | Standard cast/sealed |
What's new compared with the original Player Strat
The most noticeable change is the rolled edge on the fingerboard, which removes the sharp corner you feel when sliding your hand along the neck — a detail usually reserved for more expensive models. Fender also revised the finish options, including some bodies in chambered ash or mahogany instead of alder.
Sound
The Alnico V single-coils deliver the expected Strat palette: glassy clean tones in the neck position, the "quack" of positions 2 and 4 for funk and blues, and a bright, cutting bridge pickup. As with any single-coil guitar, there is some hum with high-gain settings; players focused on metal will be happier with a humbucker-equipped guitar.
Playability
The Modern C neck is a middle-ground shape that suits most hands, and 22 frets give a little more range than vintage-style Strats. The two-point tremolo returns to pitch well for light vibrato, though heavy dive-bombs will need a careful set-up.
Verdict
Good for: players who want a "real" Fender Strat with a versatile, classic sound that will last for years.
Consider instead: the Squier Classic Vibe '50s Strat if budget is tight, or a humbucker guitar such as the Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s for heavier styles.
