Is the Fender Player Stratocaster GOOD? [and is it an "entry level" guitar?]
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- čas přidán 31. 07. 2024
- For my Presets visit: johnnathancordy.gumroad.com/ Part of the response to the Silver Sky SE I have seen is that a) The Fender Player Series is very competitively priced and b) £850 is not 'affordable' or entry level. So I wanted to try a Fender Player Stratocaster to try for myself what they're like to play, what they sound like, and come to my own conclusion about whether they're worth the money.
Personally, I still think £550-600 is closer to "mid-priced" than an "entry level" guitar - but I'd be interested to know your thoughts on that?
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00:00 Split Screen Sadness
4:30 The talky bit and why I bought this
5:28 Thoughts AFTER playing it
9:16 An Entry Level guitar? - Hudba
Is a guitar that costs £550-600 entry level? Let the debate rage. Also why is Val Kilmer the best batman?
I am not sure how to answer that q. But there are many choices from different brands no matter the "budget". In my opinion "entry" is anything under 400 to 500 euro (350-400 BGP) - and only in terms of price - . I say that because I know that there are MIJ guitars that cost around 495 GBP (FGN Boundary models comes to my mind) in EU. MIJ guitars are not "entry" level guitars and since we can actually get an S type or a T type for 500 GBP (600 euro) or a MIM Fender in that same price range, i'd say that we have to consider those guitars as a "mid priced" intruments for a pro or am player. My two main guitars are both hand-made from small "boutique" shops in EU. My strat had a price tag around 1800 GBP and on the par (if not better) with Tom Anderson,Suhr, Fender CS in terms of overall quality and I only paid around 1000 GBP to have my T type made (from another luthier that gave me a really good discount and it was a "steal" all things considered). My point is that the "brand logo" (plus the country/region of the factory/luthier) is the main factor in the price and that does not always makes a guitar entry level or not.Bult quality and what kind of components are used imho tell if any guitar is entry level or pro level or whatever.Any pro musician can use a Yamaha Pac as his main guitar (and I am talking for the top of the line models) and these are on the same price range (660 GBP/800 EU for the 612v model).
Michael Keaton
I think, frankly, with the Sire sitting out there, that's a compelling buy entry or not. And oh...I'm Batman 8-)
He's not! Adam West was the best Batman. And here's the proof. czcams.com/video/RsYA8Gr5NTY/video.html
@@alien4422 Aaaaaadam West
I bought a player series strat about 18 months ago - bought it new online for a good price. the fret ends had a lot of sprout, but I worked on them and they're OK now. Fifty years ago I would have given anything to have a guitar this good. it sounds exactly as it should.
I own a USA telecaster and a Gibson Les paul standard for years. I bought a player strat last year (never had a Strat). I didnt have high expectations, and i was planning to mod the guitar with some new pickups.
I was wrong. I love this guitar and i like the pickups. No mod needed.
How is nobody talking about how amazing this guy played the Fender??
Agree...sounded great!
I was getting ready too. He is an incredible player.
2 weeks ago I snagged up a 2022 polar white one with a maple fretboard at a fantastic price. I give it a 5 out of 5 for playability, tone, appearance and price. Its been way too long since I bought a guitar this nice, and that includes guitars that cost double and triple what this one cost.
Hi, where did you buy it?
Nice having you in yesterday John. Good to hear your thoughts on the Player Strat. Enjoy. PM
Guys check out Project Music if you're locals - they have some amazing guitars in from Suhr to Mayones to Fender CS etc!
Saying it's an entry level guitar is like saying a Mercedes is an entry level car because you can always go buy a Ferrari. $800 is plenty for a couple pieces of wood!
This is exactly how I want to play the guitar. And I know I will never do.
There is sun, sky, peace and happiness in those notes... amazing.
i love your description, i feel the same. i wonder what type of music style / category this type of music is?
Don't sell yourself short. Long practice produces amazing results. If you can feel it when he plays, you can do it yourself. It takes years.
Fender Player Strats are the same price as the Silver Sky SE on Sweetwater. So it's really just choosing which one you like. Entry-level (done well) to me would be the Ibanez AZES unless your parents are rich which means you (unlike many of us) get to learn guitar on an $850+ guitar. To each is his own. I started on a cheapo guitar and upgraded as I could while my rich friends had vintage Strats and Les Paul's. Other than having a little guitar envy we still played in bands together and had a blast making music.
Looking forward to Player vs Sire S7/S7 vintage comparison! I'm looking for my second/intermediate guitar and I always wanted orange strat, but Sire seems to be much better value for money even though there's no orange option.
Fender Player Tele up here in Kidderminster. It’s great! Agree about the frets but a pro level guitar with a little bit of love.
killer playing in that intro section 👏
Fender MIMs are great, but Fender definitely hasn't kept up with the competition in terms of fairly easy and not incredibly expensive upgrades as they've continued to crank the price up. Locking tuners, rosewood fretboards (pau ferro just has a cheapened look IMHO), bone nut and more attention paid to fretwork would go a long way.
Some fantastic playing here, John!
I didn’t give a damn about no review after that intro. Beautiful playing 🔥
I've had decent luck on Teles and Strats buying player series bodies and attaching Fender's aftermarket roasted maple necks (thin oval, jumbo frets) the Pao Ferro boards are a bit different sounding than rosewood. I've done up 4 of them and only ended up selling one of them. Great tones yet again in the vid.
I think there a good option for someone depending on what they like and are used to. I just added on a new Telecaster Player last year. I actually have it in my lap right now. For me there a reasonable quality guitar. But I don't like them stock. I have to change the pickups and tuners to locking tuners. The neck is fine though yes isn't American fretwork, craftsmanship and wood grade. Same with the body. But I see them as a good base to modify. Once modified, there a good guitar overall and I prefer the modern C neck shape same as I have on my older American Tele's.
3:17 love the sound. I am happy that i am getting a strat finally 😁😁
I picked up a (2nd hand) MIM standard (2013 model) for a price i could not say no too a couple of years back (vintage style bridge), it took an afternoon to smooth the fret ends and give them a polish, and swap out the pickups/pots for some USA standard ones i had in a cupboard, and it turned a good guitar into a great one. A few other mods then happened, including callaham bridge block, highwood saddles and some vintage looking locking tuners, deglossed the back of the neck a little and honestly now its one of my favourite guitars. (I fully appreciate that those mods cost probably cost as i outlaid for the guitar, so dont recommend this approach for everyone, but for me it was a fun project)
I got my Fender Player Series Strat in black w/white pickguard, single coil pickups, & the maple neck and I’d looked for a good priced used MIM model in this configuration for awhile but most were $699 and I paid $500 from a co-worker for a mint guitar! I’m so happy and still have a new Fender hard case in my closet from past Tele experience!#Fender#Strat#Clapton,Beck,Gilmour,Perry,&Frusciante#GuitarHero’s#🎸🔥🤘🏻
Nice one, great to see a Player, I bought an FSR player with CS fat 50s pickups and I adore it.
I own two SE guitars, a Holcombe SVN and a Hollow body II and I have to be honest and say I'm disappointed in them for the price, even more so after getting the Player.
I'm really a bassist and my go to basses were always US deluxe 5 string Jazz. I can't afford them these days but now I'd struggle to excuse the cost when the players are so good, Players are what I'd call working guitars and I'd play one on any stage or studio, especially with a pickup upgrade.
Yeh I don't know whether maybe this one is better than most or right in the middle of the pack, but it's perfectly solid and playable (of course at this price it should be, but I didn't have the highest expectations)
@@johnnathancordy I haven't played a lot of Players but I'm always shocked at how good they feel for the money when I pick one up.
For me a guitar is about how it resonates, how solid it feels when playing, and how easy it is to play.
As long as everything does its job, comfortable neck profile, no sharp fret ends, holds tune, intonation, good action etc and the pickups can fully do the required things then I'm happy.
I've never been that sold on rolled fingerboards, bling binding etc. It's nice but not a deal breaker and definitely not worth a big premium to me personally.
Your playing is fantastic, i wish you could make a teaching video about about it. The guitar is great and a much better deal for the money, than the more expensive American models..
Thank you very much, was very good and informative
For me entry is up to 400 quid, above that there is a long range of middling, above 1500 ( I’ve never spent more than 600 on a guitar thus far ) I guess you’d expect a lot more. I’d urge you to give both Gretsch and especially Hagstrom’s a go if you’re gonna do a series like this. All Korean made, excellent value for money. What usually always decides it for me is when I can’t put the thing down for days on end. Never really about price but the instrument will either speak to you or it won’t. I’ve had 20 year old salt weathered Yamaha acoustics that just do the thing in the moment, and played 4500 quid instruments that simply don’t gel at all.
The Jet Guitars JS-300 is a fantastic playing and sounding Strat copy for £149 (if you can find them, they sell out as soon as stocked), so I'd say that sets the cost price range of an entry level guitar sub £200. Guitars in the price ranges above are intermediate and up level guitars.
That's what I figured too?
I have a squire 60s cv custom tele, phenomenal guitar, now that i broke it in, i just ordered a player strat today after trying it out, fantastic guitars, cant help it, im from the school of fender players. All the guitars i will ever need. Personal preference
Would be interested to see how the Player Plus compares to the Deluxe Roadhouse Strat.
I bought a Player Series stratocaster (an special edition black with maple neck and black pickguard) because I needed a strat for Eb tunning sometimes and don't want to use one of my more expensive ones for that. Really impressed with it, and mine only weights 3,5Kg!
Why don't you want to use an expensive one for that tuning??
@@jordanpratt3821 because I almost play everything in standard tunning.
Its very strange that the silver sky se is priced so much higher in the UK. In the US the player series Strat and the silver sky se are both $849.99
I have two Player strats, one in Eb and one in E. They are my #1 and #2 guitars.
I picked up a used Player Strat for $400 to use as my couch potato/daily driver to save on the wear & tear of my top shelf strats amongst other guitars and I can honestly say that I've grown quite fond of it, dare I say love it. I would have no trouble taking it out gigging and it's beautiful to boot in the surf pearl color.
I just got the player in surf pearl the mint pickguard with aged white knobs and pickup covers just go so well with the body and maple neck 😁
@@Zburgz Yep, it's a classy looking guitar and the light mint pickguard looks fantastic.
Nice playing. I have one with maple fretboard and put fender locking tuners on. Perfect.
Sounds fine to me, enjoyed your play style:)
Such nice playing
They are the old American Standard Strat. Fender gets new equipment every 15 years or so. The American plant gets all the new equipment. The Mexican plant gets all the old American equipment and the the old Mexican equipment goes to Asia - which is why Squiers are getting better. You are basically getting the old American Standard for a discount. Yes, the frets need a little work but that's any easy fix.
I helped one of my guitar students get one of these a few months ago (Telecaster) and I can't find anything bad to say. I don't agree that they are entry level guitars. There are some differences with my American Standard Strat (vintage) and Telecaster, however I would be fine using one at a gig.
Lovely guitar but I'm incredibly impressed by your smooth, effortless playing. Lovely
Hey John. How's the neck compared to a CS in terms of the shape etc?
Reviewing mine with a 45-day satisfaction return still. It opens up with great acoustics, this video makes me wanna keep it.
For me I would put a limit of £350 on ‘entry level’ as that is roughly what you can get a Squier CV for so I agree with you that this Player series, the Sire range and most definitely the PRS SE guitars are not entry level guitars! I also think the Silver Sky SEs have been over priced in the UK (although it doesn’t seem to have affected their saleability!) when you consider that they are more than the SE Custom 24s which have set necks, flame maple veneer, colour coded headstocks etc, all things that make them more difficult to produce.
Any PRS I’ve played has had a wide fat neck profile although they sound good ,-in particular the Bernie Marsden SE - they’re not for me . For the price of the Silver Sky SE you could surely pick up a decent second hand American Strat and the same applies to the Vintera range of Strats .
I bought one...swapped the pups with some Fender Fat Fifties , put on some Fender locking tuners, got the the tech guy who swapped the pups to do a setup and now I have a Very! nice guitar to play. This all cost me around $1500 Australian dollars.
Beautiful, beautiful playing my friend 👍🏻👍🏻
Wich amp you use in this video?
I've been playing acoustic for 30 years but know barely anything about strats or electric guitar setups in general. But this Player Strat sounds incredible to me. Im sure the incredible guitar skills play a part and I see nothing wrong with paying $1,089.99 CAD for this guitar.
Are you playing through an amp ? If so what model and pedals. Thanks, looking forward to you doing a demo with the PRS se.
Just an HX Stomp I think!
Me too, although it feels like it was ages ago now? Can't imagine hardly anyone will be interested by the time I finally get one lol
What are your arguments in favor of 6 screws trems? I owned both and I found that the tuning stability is better on the two posts version... A big plus for me when dealing with Strat style guitars.
Both are good
Absolutely bud
For me, the upper end for _entry-level_ guitar is around £400 (~ 500€ / $570). 🤔
I am a Covid-player, bought my first guitar in April, 2020. As an absolute beginner, my ceiling for "entry level" was Classic Vibe. I was able to afford any guitars, but the point of entry level gear is that you are unsure whether this hobby is for you... and you need to test the waters. So I would not consider the MIM entry level. I also went with a cheap practice amp for $100 first. (I am still playing daily and will order a boutique guitar to celebrate my 2-year anniversary... also upgraded my amp and have a half-dozen boutique pedals now)...
I pretty much agree w/ this but I think "entry-level" for whatever reason has come to mean entry into that brand. I know people refer to a 000-15m as the entry level American made Martin. That's a $1200 guitar. So I think the term has now come to mean something different than it used to. Fender has treated Squire as their "entry level" guitar for new players and that's the same w/ Epiphone for Gibson.
The interesting thing is Fender really does have Fender guitars that aren't too much out of the price range of what I'd say is a beginner. While Gibson has almost completely ignored that segment.
For me the price you pay early on is about resale value. I'd encourage someone to get a slightly nicer guitar only if they think they may want to sell it OR if they think that first guitar can be a lifetime guitar. The MIM stuff really could be that. Generally, people go through a phase where they want (but don't need) the name brand and upgrade. Or you could be like Jack Pearson and absolutely slay on a Squire. Anytime I get gear acquisition syndrome I remind myself Jack Pearson's main guitar is less valuable than mine and he is a million times better...It's the player.
@@RogerThat902 I guess that is a meaningful distinction: entry to the pastime of guitar playing or entry to a brand.
I'm left handed, so my choices are somewhat limited (not really - that's just GAS talk). But I started with a Squire Classic Vibe Tele. It had good reviews, got it on sale shipped (during Covid lock-down that was important as stores were closed) and it looked close enough to Bruce Springsteen's guitar. To be honest, I was concerned about the name on the headstock and considered a MIM...
I have no intentions of selling my tele. It was the instrument that made the biggest impact of my guitar career. I went from a non-guitar player to someone who was strumming rhythm playing "Cortez the Killer" while Neil Young soloed... That guitar gave me that feeling almost instantly (after 3 chords). No other instrument will be able to give me that high. (But I will probably chase it like most people who watched this video).
As far as musical heros playing "entry level" instruments? For me, it's Warren Ellis on a Classic Vibe Duo-Sonic.
It'll be interesting comparing all "entry level guitars". The AZES, Sire S7, Player Series and de SE. Though the Sire isn't market as entry level, it falls in the same price range.
The AZES ends up being half the price of a Player Strat over here, and then the Silver Sky SE is £850....maybe entry level doesn't mean what I thought it does lol
@@johnnathancordy Silver Sky SE cost just the same ($850) with player strat in the US, but is more expensive than player strat in UK and Europe. I don't konw why, maybe there is some tax or shipping issues that PRS couldn't overcome, but it definitely hurt PRS's ambition of competing Fender's entry level guitar in the worldwide scenario
@@Aguirrethewrathofgod yeh I saw that in the US theyre about the same as the Mexican? Crazy there's such a price difference over here, about £300 more!
Decided to buy a Fender Player Strat partially due to this video. I suspect that you could make any guitar sound good. But, at least I know that this guitar can sound good in the right hands. To me beginner guitars are around $500.00, intermediate around $750.00-$1250.00, and pro around $1500.00 +.
stumbled on this while researching this line of strats - did a double-take when i noticed you have 3 tone knobs! did it come that way?
I like the sound of alnico 5 better than noiseless pick up on my fender ultra,
I think the equivalent G and L has far superior pickups but the trem is awkward and the finish on fret ends a bit ropey . I prefer the neck feel if the older MIM Strats and think the old ceramic pickups are really good . The Player will be a great benchmark guitar and will be interested to hear /see a comparison with the Sire and a few others .
My G&L s-500 is a beast, can get many many different styles of sounds thanks to its original wiring. Mine has impeccable fretwork, I may have been lucky
@@surfinjim I was lucky enough to play a Deluxe Legacy American G and L , the neck was unbelievable but strangely the owner had put fender noiseless pickups in it . It didn’t work properly as the tone controls on those models are one for bass and one for treble apparently!! No locking tuners on a £ 1300 guitar though 😟
I’m currently considering getting a Fender player strat or a PRS SE custom 24, any suggestions?? Thx !
Hey Anthony! Very different guitars! Umm I'd try and play both in a shop or something?
I think the used market is best value for any beginner. You can get a fender mim strat for a reasonable price and enjoy the experience of learning guilt free.
Agreed, that's where my dad pointed me for my first guitar and I still buy used most of the time still!
Can a 2 point trem be decked successfully?
Would the deluxe roadhouse strat be a better option for someone that is looking to get their first strat?
Ive never played one but the specs look good
@@johnnathancordy can’t quite remember the strat you recommended to me during your livestream. It’s an older fender Strat model. Maybe a Texas ? But I reckon I asked for what would be a good intro to strat guitar. I mainly play modern metal and have experience on lots of other brands but want to get into my first strat for the clean noodling since I always get inspired with your videos
@@karlguzman9775 if you can find a Highway One, those are Us made?
I have a player and it's a great guitar for the price, the Alnico pickups sound fantastic and I prefer the 2 point trem system. The two things I noticed that are not so good is the trem arm is very loose and it's a plastic nut, bone would have been way better, neither of these two things put me off this great guitar. I can sort the trem and will upgrade to a bone nut.
I bought a Player Strat a couple of months ago and enjoy it quite a lot. I can make it sound as good as you but I’m working at it. I started following you on recommendation of Keith Williams I’m glad I did.
Good job John, you made it sing like every time you pick any guitar!!!!!!
It sounded like you on that guitar. Were you able to get the sound you wanted without much difficulty?
FSR model correct?
I think any guitar you can afford can be an entry level guitar. In fact - if there's a guitar that speaks to a beginner that might present the idea to stick with it more firmly in their heads I highly recommend it. Then you may end up like this lad ^.^
You sir are 100% true.
I got one of these 4 months ago. I thought it was "good", but not "great" value for money. I returned the first one as it looked as if a child had made it. The second one was acceptable, but still lower than the build standard of my PRS SE and Epiphone guitars at around the same price point. I think the Fender logo costs about £100. ;) I spent another £170 "improving" it. :)
This is uncanny, I bought a Player Strat (the Tidepool one with a maple neck) just this week! It's my first Fender and first SSS in a couple of decades. I have to say, I'm chuffed with it. Feels great, fretwork was good on mine, it sounds great, trem seems to work really well. Barely needed to do much of a set up. I agree, I wouldn't say at just north of £500 that it's a beginner guitar (my first guitar cost me £80, granted it was awful, but still!) but it certainly feels like I got a lot of guitar for a relatively low price.
Right? Maybe "Entry Level" doesn't have to be synonymous with beginner - maybe it just means the cheapest guitar that Fender make or something?
@@johnnathancordy that's a good point mate, I hadn't thought of that. I suppose it is by very definition an "entry level" Fender if you don't want to buy a Squier. I am impressed though, I'd heard a lot of snobbery about Mexican-made Fenders but this feels like a well put together guitar. I'm even tempted to get a Player Tele in the near future as a result.
@@chrisdavies9143 I would have grabbed the tidepool if they did a PF neck on one!
For a "made in Corona" it is an entry level Fender for that price.
@@johnnathancordy I've not got any experience of Pau Ferro fingerboards to be honest. Think mine are all either maple or rosewood so I tend to lean towards those. I'll be honest though, whilst I hear it might have some (fractional?) contribution to the sound, I base my choice of neck purely on aesthetics!
Right now the Fender Player Strat and the PRS SE Silver Sky are the same price 850 U.S. dollars.
Great guitars but hate the narrower nut width !!!
The Squiers are entry level. 400 pounds is nearing on $600 U.S., which I do not consider entry level.
A Mexican strat is something a to of working musicians use to gig year in and year out MHO, nit entry level.
That's a lovely strat!
Between this and schecter Nick Johnston which one would you recommend?
I prefer the Nick Johnston for build quality
I had a Player Strat that was very solid and also a Player Tele that was horrible! Now have a Sire T7 (same as yours) and feel that blows the Player Series out the water for similar money. The Sire is more in line with the Player Plus line I reckon.
I played a Player Plus quickly in store and though that's about right - rolled fretboards, locking tuners etc. Although I have to say in terms of being "closer" to a vintage strat, I'm not sure some of those upgrades (especially noiseless pickups) are necessarily desirable?
@johnnathancordy Yeah I get that mate. Great video as always, was the Sire one that prompted me to get one and glad I did 👌
I have a Player Series Strat like yours and it sounds like a classic strat, at least for me. The PRS and the Sire sounds a little bit off the classic strat sound. I'm no snob, but I rather have what I already have or spend my money on a G&L Legacy.
Interesting! I actually owned a G&L Legacy a while back and to me it didn't really have a classic strat sound either!
@@johnnathancordy I have an G&L S-500 and it sounds like a strat on steroids (the PTB wiring(volume, treble cut, bass cut) is more intuitive for me and I can dial classic strat sounds easily. The HSS (everyone, from Godin, to Sire, to Fender HSS, etc...) is not for my taste because it needs 500k pots, so the guitar becomes too bright. The Silver Sky sounds too smooth for a strat. Interesting what you say about the Legacy. I guess the mileage may vary for each. :-)
@@ErnestoGennariNeto yeh I just found it was a bit hot, and the body seemed quite big compared to a strat. Oh and the 2 point trem
It was a really nice guitar though
@@johnnathancordy Oh... I like the 2 point trem hahahaha
And I'm tall, it fits me well.
It's cool to read your impressions! Thanks, mate!
I think entry level these days is around £100. Gear4Music and Thomann for instance do guitars for this price and are perfectly useable for a beginner or "approaching" intermediate level. Next up I think anything goes! The Jet JS400 HSS Strat for £159 is an amazing guitar in my collection and after a fret polish and a decent set-up easily holds its own against the Player series (and in some ways is better because of the roasted neck and excellent fret work). I think what Im saying is above £100 the lines are very blurred as to what makes a great guitar.... great. Set ups and maintenance go a long way to making a "cheap" guitar play great. A well set up Jet will out play and feel better than a Suhr that hasn't seen a set up in 20 years??
I have 2 custom shop Strats , also USA standard and 2 fairly new MIM Strats and to be totally honest … the MIM ones are the best value for the $!
Johnnathan, Fender Player or Larry Carlton s7?
Video coming!
Great vid! My only issue with the player series (and most guitars at the moment) is that its a poly finish and I like the idea of a guitar which ages over time... not that I can afford a nitro finished guitar at the moment ahaha
I would caution that anomalies can and will be a matter of individual expectations within this price range, other matters like storage and stocking these in different climate conditions will also affect the guitars over all performance to a degree! but not to be totally out of character to sway them out of balance entirely! As always, do your buying research and purchase a Fender strat from licensed dealers when buying new!
I don't recommend buying a guitar from Amazon or Ebay, its rather a personal statement the requires hands on, and building a relationship with your local music shop! They will help you find what your looking for, and keep you satisfied wanting to come "buy" again!
Forget the guitar..what superb, tasty Satriani style playing!!!
Basically, the Mexican Player series is the exact same guitar as the American Pro. The big difference is the pickups and the fact that one of them is made in Mexico and the other in the US. Smaller details of course but they are basically the same guitar and holds the same quality.
Now, it's only opinion and preference but to me the Mexican Stratocaster is the best choice and most value choice out there. It's such a solid build guitar that you can take out and gig any day, it will not fail you.
But with all guitars you need to care for it as well.
The Silver Sky SE in my opinion is the biggest proof of PRS cheaping out. Someone else said that it's basically an overpriced glorified Squier and that's on spot.
They give you basic specs which I have no problems with, but then they give you a poplar body..
I don't mind poplar at all but the fact that they are charging you almost a 1000 dollars for it and use the same cheap wood as on the 100 dollar Squier guitars, when you can get a Squier or Fender made from alder for much less, that to me is just unacceptable.
PRS is known for being luxury guitars so it surprises me that they are using poplar and still charge us full stinking price.
The Silver Sky doesn't even have locking tuners and you can get Fenders in the same price range with it, and noisless pickups too if that is to your taste.
Fender Player for me, all day long!
Are you in the UK like me?
@@johnnathancordy No, I live in Sweden, so prices are different here.
Fender Player series guitars go for about 600-750 dollars here and the PRS Silver Sky SE goes for around 900-1100 dollars.
@@Wabin22 similar price difference to over here then - the player plus is like the same price as the SE will be. I think US folks have the SE and standard player at exactly the same price so it's a bit of a different equation for them!
@@johnnathancordy Yeah we all have to take that into consideration of course, as the price differ from what part in the world you live in.
The Fender Player Plus is way overpriced for me as well, and features no upgrades in my opinion. I prefer the more vintage style models and would rather have a Vintera for the same price as the Player Plus.
You only asked for this yesterday ? What did you move into an apt next to Andertons?
Had to go and buy it lol
Muahahaha... Gretsch next ? Asking for a friend... obviously 🙄
@@AlecBourneMidiMadScientist folks were asking about more GIBSONS.
@@johnnathancordy good luck with that!
A budget guitar is Squire Classic Vibe....
Been using one for teaching guitar for about 12 years now. I can honestly say it’s one of the best necks. Even the pickups I love. I got mine 2nd hand for £300 in a trade. Served me well. I played for £24 years now and own multiple “expensive” guitars. But that 2nd £300 strat beats them all
The player has only been out since 18 so you must have a standard. Not the same thing
@@TripsView they just call it a different name. It’s like road worn and vintera. Same stuff.
@@truthfactreality6814 actually standard and players have a lot of major differences. Mainly entire different trem system and pick ups
Also different body contours
I guess I'm in the minority here; I recently tried a Fender Player Strat (HSS) in a guitar store, and just didn't like the neck at all. I have a '70s Strat and an American Std bought around 2000, and both feel much better than the Player (not talking about sound/tone, only the feel of the neck/fretboard). I don't want to think of myself as a guitar snob, but maybe I am? I also didn't like the one or two Squiers that I've played. Some years back I played a Lone Star Strat (HSS) a few times in a store that was only about $500 or $600 US, and that felt way better. Kind of wish I'd bought it!
I've held a few Vinteras in hand and felt similarly to you here, I wonder if they vary a bunch? I think there's another topic at hand here - because like you say the Lonestar, Highway One, Classic Player etc are all videos that we're unlikely to see pushed as there's no marketing behind used guitars (or not in the same way as new ones) - but they're probably safer bets?
@@johnnathancordy I've never played a Vintera; it's funny that they did a '70s strat! My actual '70s strat has a 3-way pickup switch and no tone control for the bridge pickup! I guess they didn't want to re-create those wiring details!
Honestly the prices have gone up so much over the last few years it’s basically the same price as the silver sky. And I don’t think you get the same level of quality as PRS SE. I would like to see better quality wood including rosewood and better finishing on the frets and nut.
The prices vary wildly around the world, in the UK here there's a £300 difference!
These use to be $500 now some are just under $1K. Fender is so greedy.
Entry level price would be £150 - £350. There are some very good guitars in that price range from Jet Guitars to Squier to Yamaha, Harley Benton and more.
That's what I'd imagine entry level to be as well, so am a bit surprised when I see so many "entry level" references in the various copy for the Player series? Seems definitely mid priced to me?
It's not a beginning guitar its a guitar for musicians but it is not cheap either it is not a over priced custom it's a guitar that needs some upgrades
My player goes toe to toe with my MIA strats all day long.
I think my cutoff for entry level is $500, personally.
It's very good guitar for the money!
Testing
Having just bought a Fender Player Strat, I'm quite disappointed in what it offers for the price range. It's probably worth about £150 less, in comparison to other competitors such as PRS SE and Epiphone.
I can't see owning a Strat without the maple fretboard. Laurel does not get it.
I think at this price range they should do more work on the fret ends.yes they are OKish, but If SIRE can give a much better finish to their guitars at this price point then you can Mr Fender.
I think Sire have been a bit overzealous on a few examples that I've had though, and since you can't re-add fret material, I'd be hesitant to suggest that other companies should roll the fret ends/bevel them quite like Sire have been
@@johnnathancordy I suppose its down to personal taste. I like really smooth fret ends, I've bought some pricey guitars in the past that have had real cheese greater fret ends and its a pain having to spend time finishing them. However, as you say, you certainly don't want them over done.
If I could play like that life would be complete lol
Entry level should start at around 2k, cheaper than that I wouldn’t feel entered tbh
Fender player stratocaster is not entry level guitar.Entry level guitars cost 100-400 euros.This is proffesional guitar and play proffesional musicians.
This is straight away objectively a better guitar than the PRS because the fretboard radius is flatter - Means anyone with decent technical facility is going to be able to play it a lot easier. These rounded fretboards are a massive boomer relic that needs to die ASAP IMO, there is literally no valid reason for a guitar fretboard to be less than an ~ 11 inch radius and it actively stops a large number of people picking them up.
Kerrigan with the hot take lol
@@johnnathancordy Heard it here first, not worried about the chances of my future PRS endorsement tbh
@@johnnathancordy It's also worth noting that the difference made in a fretboard radius is not linear - the difference in feel between an 8.5 radius guitar and a 9.5 radius guitar is much more noticeable than that between a 14 and 15, for example
imho i know guitars pretty well and have played most models all prices for $199.00 to $2,200.00 id say anything above $550 is not entry level.ive owned 30 guitars in my life and have noticed once you get above $550.00 you have a giggable guitar that anyone would ever know what you paid for blindfolded
€200-400 is the entry level price range and Harley Benton destroys every brand priced up to €700.
They are $800 in the US. What about that price is entry level lol
That's exactly what I'm asking? To me that's a mid-priced guitar so I'm not sure why "entry level" is in the ad copy?
@@johnnathancordy totally agree. I would consider entry level $500 or less. In my case, it was a Squier Affinity Strat
Im the wrong person to ask about price. but what I will say is that this is my least favorite sounding stratocaster I think Ive heard on your channel. I mean just my preference right that's a dealbreaker for me; I do not _really_ like replacing pickups and if Im going to spend that Id rather buy a guitar with better pickups in it already so that when I go to sell it (and knowing myself, I would) I dont get hosed there. Im only willing to replace pickups in a guitar I dont plan on selling, so I replaced them in my Les Paul and Ive actually ordered some for my k-line just to try something different.
I bought a Fender Player Strat about 5 months ago. This was before the announcement of the PRS Silver Sky SE. Since I already owned two other Strats I would have waited for the PRS (which I bought but is still back ordered). The Fender Player is a nice guitar but nothing special. My 1995 Korean Squire Strat and my 2001 Fender Mexican Strat are just as good in my opinion (I really like the Korean one best). $850 is not an entry level guitar. A $250-300 Squire Affinity or Fender Mexican is an entry level guitar. In reality I should have returned the Player Strat. Not because it isn't a good guitar (it is) but because It is not significantly better than the two Strats I already have. I am disappointed by that. My Silver Sky should be here soon and I am excited about that.
yeah I got 5 Yamaha Pacifica 112Vs, , when I got saved 300€s, Itll be the 6th composition!, Fenders reps soo bad and their necks are oldy and pickups are staggered, and nuts are between the fretboard and the radius is from 50s hell, and I dont wanna go back into them flamin 50s thyme, thou its a much ayedored period of fuking and hugging and worrking sfter the WAR ,
Fender is ( not Leo..) like Charles Bukowskis Sinatra: painting a picture of past with water colors, as at same time everythin else gone to painting with I dont wanna know what,
alls I kno is when they asked Mark K, hey man what guitar you play, the bassist answered: just ordinary Schecters, so there