We’ve had some incredible deals on Fender’s Player II line this year. The biggest bargains came direct from Fender have now sold out, but worry not! I’ve found a host of limited-edition Player II builds with savings of up to 30% at Guitar Center and Musician’s Friend.
Currently, Guitar Center is offering an ‘exclusive’ run of four Fender Player II builds in Racing Green (handily one of my favorite finishes), including a Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster and Jazz Bass.
They all look way classier than the mid-range pricing would suggest, but my two picks of the bunch at GC have chunky discounts on them – with the Player II Telecaster reduced by almost $200 (was $839.99, now $649.99) and Player II Jazzmaster reduced by $170 (was $869.99, now $699.99).
Interestingly, though, these GC ‘exclusives’ also appear to be on sale via Musician’s Friend – and that is the place to go for the Player II Jazzmaster and the Player II Stratocaster, because at just $649.99 each, they both undercut Guitar Center (over on GC you’ll pay $839.99 for the Strat).
I’m honestly not sure what’s going on there, in terms of the exclusivity branding, but hey, it’s Cyber Weekend – it’s chaos out there – and that is why we do this. (OK, that and the fact I can expense takeaway food for the weekend.)
Finally, if Racing Green is not your speed, I note there’s also a very Gilmour-ish black Player II Strat available for $649.99 at Guitar Center (again, that’s a near-$200 discount on the list price).
In terms of their performance, tones and build quality, the Player II line is about as sure a bet as you can make for the money – and it has been a remarkably consistent high-performer in our reviews.
The Player II Telecaster is our go-to Buying Guide recommendation for Best Overall Telecaster, and the Strat, Telecaster and Jazzmaster all scored 4.5/5 in our tests.
They share specs including alder bodies, a maple necks (in Fender’s sweet spot ‘modern C-shape’), rosewood fingerboards and Alnico V single coil pickups. They maintain that vintage class, but make a useful bungs to modernity with things like six-saddle bridges (not the traditional spec on the Tele and Jazzmaster).
The latter also has a simplified switching system – cutting the traditional mini-switches and rhythm circuit for a three-position toggle, but it works extremely well.
“The Fender Player II Jazzmaster breathes new life into a beloved classic,” wrote our reviewer Daryl Robertson. “With its sleek alder body, gorgeous... finish, and the smooth playability of its rolled rosewood fingerboard, this guitar is a joy to play.”
Personally, I like the offset’s simplified electronics and I think there’s a poetry in the choice of Racing Green, given Fender’s traditional use of automobile finishes.
As ever, consider whether these are right for you – and take a small breath before pushing the buy button. However, if you love the look, don’t want to spend more than a grand and you’re more concerned about a guitar being fun to use than having painstakingly accurate vintage spec, the Player IIs are a great choice.
Either way, given the huge discounts on the Racing Green builds at Guitar Center and Musician's Friend, these are a great way to cross the line into the Player II series – and at a price that is unrivalled right now.
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