If guitarists were forced to choose one guitar to play for the rest of their lives, surely it would have to be this one: The Fender Stratocaster, a true classic and the most popular electric guitar of all time. The Player Series Stratocaster shown here is made in Mexico and gives players the most affordable way to get their hands on a Strat with the Fender logo on the headstock. The guitar's features are anything but budget-level, of course, and it combines high-quality woods and hardware with updated tone circuits and a fresh and appealing look that includes a one-piece maple neck with a matt finish on the back and an alder body, shown here in a tasty-looking "Buttercream" finish.
The Fender Player Series Stratocaster is the same in many ways as the original design that Leo Fender came up with in the early 1950s. The neck and fingerboard are made from a single piece of maple, and the neck features a modern "C" profile. The fingerboard adds an extra fret to the original model's 21, thus providing even more freedom for lead playing. As mentioned before, the body is made from alder and comes in a high-gloss "Buttercream" finish. The classic Stratocaster pickup combination of three single coils is also present here, but these feature AlNiCo-5 magnets for a more modern twist on the bright, dynamic sound for which Stratocasters are known. Fender has modified the electronics compared to the original Stratocaster design by giving the bridge pickup its own tone control, while the second tone control is shared by the middle and neck pickups. This model also features a two-point tremolo system, which dramatically reduces friction and enhances tuning stability.
The Fender Player Series Strat MN BCR is an extremely flexible guitar, but its pickup configuration of course means that it specialises in some areas more than others. Specifically, this guitar is most suited to clean sounds and moderate levels of distortion - this is where the pickups really come into their own with a punchy, open sound that retains plenty of character and fullness within the recommended gain limits. Players of Country, Western, Blues, and Classic Rock music can thus be sure of a great sound on stage and in the rehearsal room. The Fender Player Series of course also includes Strats with pickup combinations more suited to heavier musical styles.
Fender is without doubt one of the most legendary guitar and amplifier manufacturers of all time. The company was founded in 1946 by its namesake Leo Fender († 1991), whose innovative ideas brought a breath of fresh air into the musical world. His Telecaster, Stratocaster, Precision Bass, and Jazz Bass are not only classics – they also continue to shape the styles of musicians in countless genres to this day. Timeless Fender amplifier models such as the Bassman, Twin, Deluxe, and Princeton also enjoy a stellar reputation. Besides maintaining its classic product portfolio, however, the company is also constantly developing new products that make Fender a driving force in today’s music industry.
Since it was launched by Fender in 1954, the Stratocaster has established itself as the ultimate electric guitar and can thus be found in virtually every style of music. The Fender Player Series is aimed at the mid-price market segment, and the Mexican-made guitars combine quality that will satisfy demanding players with an affordable price that makes them interesting for beginners as well. And even at this price point, they proudly bear the "proper" Fender logo. These guitars also offer high resale values, perfect for players who want to upgrade or who perhaps decide that the guitar isn't the instrument for them after all (in which case their Fender definitely won't be to blame!).