Do NOT Buy A Fender Player Strat Until You Watch This

Jimmy Franklin

27 Jun 202409:02

Summary

TLDRIn this video, the presenter compares two Fender guitars: the Fender Player Stratocaster and the Fender American Professional 2. Despite the significant price difference, with the Player Strat at $679 and the American Pro at nearly $1800, the presenter argues that the Player Strat might offer better value. Both guitars share many features, including Alder bodies, C-shaped necks, and Fender proprietary pickups. The American Pro comes with a hard shell case, while the Player Strat comes without. The presenter plays both guitars to showcase their tones and highlights the unique push-push knob feature on the Player Strat that engages the neck pickup. The video suggests that the Player Strat's quality and features make it a great choice for guitarists, possibly outshining the need for the higher-priced American Pro.

Takeaways

🎸 The Fender Player Stratocaster and the Fender American Professional 2 are both made of Alder wood and feature C-shaped necks with medium jumbo frets.
💰 The Fender Player Stratocaster is priced around $679, while the Fender American Professional 2 is priced just under $1800, making the latter more than double the cost.
🔊 Both guitars are equipped with Fender proprietary pickups, with the Player Strat featuring Fender Player pickups with Alo 5 magnets and the American Pro 2 featuring Seymour Duncan pickups.
🎵 The script includes a comparison of the sound of both guitars, suggesting that the Player Strat might offer a better value for the price difference.
🎼 The American Pro 2 comes with a hard shell case, whereas the Fender Player Stratocaster comes without a case.
🎶 The American Pro 2 has a real bone nut, while the Player Strat has a synthetic bone nut.
🎚 The Player Strat has a unique push-push knob feature that engages the neck pickup, offering a creamy sound when all pickups are simultaneously engaged.
👂 The script suggests that the Fender Player Series has become so good that it might be more worth it to purchase over the high-end models.
🔩 The electronics of the Player Strat can be upgraded with a fully loaded pick guard, which can be done for less than the price difference between the two models.
🔗 Links to both guitars and a video showcasing every level of Stratocaster are provided for viewers to compare and make their own judgments.

Q & A

What are the two Fender guitars discussed in the script?
-The two Fender guitars discussed are the Fender Player Stratocaster and the Fender American Professional 2.
What is the approximate price difference between the Fender Player Stratocaster and the American Professional 2?
-The Fender Player Stratocaster is priced around $679, while the American Professional 2 is just under $1800, indicating a price difference of over double.
What are the common features shared by both the Fender Player Stratocaster and the American Professional 2?
-Both guitars are made of Alder, have C-shaped necks, medium jumbo frets, 25 1/2 in scale lengths, 9 and 1/2 in fretboard radius, stamped twoo tremolo systems, and do not come with locking tuners. They also have proprietary Fender pickups.
What type of pickups are used in the Fender Player Stratocaster and the American Professional 2?
-The Fender Player Stratocaster has Fender Player pickups with Alo 5 magnets, while the American Professional 2 features Seymour Duncan pickups.
How does the speaker describe the sound of the Fender Player Stratocaster compared to the American Professional 2?
-The speaker suggests that the Fender Player Stratocaster might sound just as good as the American Professional 2, despite the significant price difference.
What is the difference in nut material between the two guitars?
-The Fender Player Stratocaster has a synthetic bone nut, while the American Professional 2 has a real bone nut.
What additional feature does the American Professional 2 have that the Player Stratocaster does not?
-The American Professional 2 comes with a hard shell case, while the Fender Player Stratocaster does not come with any case.
What unique feature does the American Professional 2 have with its tone knob?
-The tone knob on the American Professional 2 is a push-push knob that engages the neck pickup when pushed, creating a different sound configuration.
What is the speaker's opinion on the value of the Fender Player Stratocaster in the current market?
-The speaker believes that the Fender Player Stratocaster offers great value for its price and could be a better 'bang for your buck' compared to the higher-end American Professional 2.
What advice does the speaker give regarding the potential shift in guitar market value?
-The speaker suggests that there might be a market shift where mid-range guitars like the Fender Player Stratocaster offer more value compared to high-end models, making it a good time to consider purchasing such guitars.
How does the speaker propose to upgrade the electronics of the Fender Player Stratocaster?
-The speaker mentions that one could replace the electronics with a fully loaded pick guard from an American Strat for an additional cost, which would still be less expensive than purchasing the American Professional 2.

Outlines

00:00

🎸 Comparing Fender Player Stratocaster and American Professional 2

The speaker discusses the value of purchasing a Fender Player Stratocaster in 2024, comparing it with the more expensive Fender American Professional 2. Both guitars are made of alder, feature C-shaped necks, medium jumbo frets, and a 25.5-inch scale length. They also share the same tremolo system and lack locking tuners. The speaker plays samples of both guitars and invites listeners to determine which sounds better despite the price difference. The Fender Player Stratocaster is priced at around $679, while the American Professional 2 is priced at nearly $1800. The speaker suggests that the Player Stratocaster might offer better value for money.

05:09

🎵 Differences Between Fender Player and American Professional Stratocasters

The speaker highlights the differences between the Fender Player Stratocaster and the American Professional 2. The American model comes with a hard shell case, while the Player model does not include any case. The electronics are a point of contention, with the American featuring Seymour Duncan pickups and the Player having Fender proprietary pickups. The speaker also notes a unique feature of the American's tone knob, which acts as a push-pull switch to engage the neck pickup. The speaker suggests that the Player series has become so good that it might be more worth it to purchase one over the high-end models, especially considering the price difference. The speaker also mentions the possibility of upgrading the electronics for a more significant price difference than the guitars' base prices.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Fender Player Stratocaster

The Fender Player Stratocaster is a type of electric guitar manufactured by Fender, known for its versatility and iconic design. In the video, the speaker compares this model to the more expensive Fender American Professional 2, suggesting that the Player Stratocaster offers great value for money. The comparison highlights the guitar's features and the potential for it to be a 'bang for your buck' option.

💡Fender American Professional 2

The Fender American Professional 2 is a high-end electric guitar that is part of Fender's American Professional series. It is mentioned as being significantly more expensive than the Fender Player Stratocaster. The video discusses whether the higher price justifies the perceived difference in quality, with the speaker suggesting that the cheaper model might offer better value.

💡Alder

Alder is a type of wood used in the construction of guitar bodies. The script mentions that both guitars being compared are made of Alder, which is a tonewood known for its balanced and bright sound. This detail is part of the common features between the two models, indicating that the material used does not significantly differentiate them in terms of sound quality.

💡C-shaped neck

A C-shaped neck refers to the profile of the guitar's neck, which is comfortable for many players and allows for easy playability. The video script notes that both guitars have C-shaped necks, suggesting that this is a standard feature that contributes to the playability of the instruments.

💡Medium Jumbo Frets

Medium Jumbo Frets are a type of guitar fret size that is larger than standard, allowing for easier bending of notes and a smoother playing experience. The script mentions that both guitars have medium jumbo frets, which is a detail that contributes to the overall playability and feel of the instruments.

💡Scale length

Scale length refers to the distance between the nut and the bridge of a guitar, which affects the tension of the strings and the guitar's playability. The video mentions that both guitars have a 25 1/2 inch scale length, which is a standard measurement for many electric guitars and contributes to their similar feel.

💡Fretboard radius

Fretboard radius is the curvature of the fretboard, measured in inches. A 9 and 1/2 inch radius, as mentioned in the script, is a common measurement that provides a balance between ease of playing chords and solos. This feature is another commonality between the two guitars, indicating a similar playing experience.

💡Stamped twoo tremolo system

The stamped twoo tremolo system is a type of vibrato tailpiece used on electric guitars, allowing for pitch bends and vibrato effects. Both guitars in the video script are equipped with this system, suggesting a common feature that contributes to their playability and versatility.

💡Fender proprietary pickups

Fender proprietary pickups refer to the specific electric guitar pickups designed and manufactured by Fender. The script mentions that both guitars have these pickups, with the Player Stratocaster featuring Fender player pickups with Alo 5 magnets and the American Professional 2 having Seymour Duncan pickups. These pickups are a key component of the guitar's tone and play a significant role in the sound comparison.

💡Hard shell case

A hard shell case is a type of protective case for musical instruments, providing a high level of protection against damage. The video script contrasts the inclusion of a hard shell case with the American Professional 2 versus no case with the Player Stratocaster, highlighting a difference in the value proposition between the two models.

💡Push-push knob

A push-push knob is a type of guitar control that can be pushed in to change the function, such as activating a pickup or changing the tone. The video describes a unique feature of the American Professional 2 where the tone knob also engages the neck pickup when pushed, providing a different tonal option. This feature is not present on the Player Stratocaster, making it a distinguishing characteristic of the more expensive model.

Highlights

The Fender Player Stratocaster is considered a good buy in 2024.

The Fender Player Stratocaster is priced around $679, while the American Professional 2 is just under $1800.

Both guitars share many common features, including Alder body and neck, medium jumbo frets, and a 25.5-inch scale length.

Both guitars have a 9.5-inch fretboard radius and stamped twoo tremolo systems.

Neither guitar comes with locking tuners.

The Fender Player Stratocaster features Fender player pickups with Alo 5 magnets.

The American Professional 2 has Seymour Duncan pickups.

A blindfold test is suggested to determine which guitar sounds better.

The American Professional 2 comes with a hard shell case, while the Fender Player does not come with a case.

The American Professional 2 has a real bone nut, while the Fender Player has a synthetic bone nut.

The American Professional 2 has a heel cutaway, which is a feature that costs an additional $1800 compared to the Fender Player.

The Fender Player Stratocaster has a push-push knob that engages the neck pickup.

The Fender Player Series is praised for its quality and accessibility.

The electronics can be upgraded in the Fender Player for an additional cost, making it comparable to the American Professional 2.

The video includes a comparison of every level of Stratocaster, showcasing 10 different guitars.