As any axe-wielder knows, you can’t talk about the history of guitars without going long on Fender. The iconic guitar brand is an absolute powerhouse of the six-string, and they have been for decades. From classic ’50s Stratocasters to Kurt Cobain’s duct-taped Jaguar, Fender both helped create guitar culture as we know it and managed to stay relevant within it through ever generation. So, when they drop a new line of guitars, it’s worth checking out, no?
Enter Fender’s all-new Player II Modified line, a souped-up take on last year’s Player II Series. Launched with a ripping video featuring the self-dubbed Nickelback of noise rock IDLES, the new drop makes good on its name and boasts a host of common modifications and technical upgrades.
Not familiar with mod culture? Unsure of what the changes really mean? Interested in what it’s like to actually play? We’re here to answer all of your questions and share our time playing around with the instrument. What’s more, we’ve got deeper insights straight from the source with our interview with Executive Vice President at Fender Products and Manufacturing Justin Norvell. Plus, you can also enter to win a brand-spanking-newFender Player II Modified Telecaster® in Dusk here. Before you get your hands on one, though, here’s everything you need to know.
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What Is Fender’s Player II Modified?
The Player II Modified is a new line of guitars from Fender, taking some of their most legendary models and adjusting the hardware for a sound that’s both classic and fresh. The electric guitars and bass guitars included are the latest in Fender’s ever-evolving Player series, which kicked off when the brand introduced the Player I Series in 2018 to replace the Standard Series. Last year, they released the Player II Series, fully updating the original line to offer quality Fender builds at a more affordable price point. Now, the Player II Modified takes those adjustments even further.
Inspired by popular modifications players often make to their Fender guitars, the Player II Modified line differentiates itself from the Player II Series in a few key ways. What are those key ways? We’re glad you asked.
What’s the Difference Between the Fender’s Player II Series and Player II Modified?
Fender’s Player II Modified guitars offer performance-driven mods for select Player II models. For the electric guitars, these modifications include upgraded wiring/electronics (including push/pull switches on select models), noiseless pickups and/or modified humbucker pickups, block steel saddles and treble bleeds, and locking tuners. The bass guitars also boast new pickups, as well as an active preamp with passive tone control.
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Discussing why Fender dialed in on these specific alterations, Norvell told Consequence, “We kind of wanted to go with a ‘greatest hits’ package. Modification can get very specific and personal, which would kind of narrow the aperture, if you will. So, we were like, ‘What are some of the main things that we can go after that the center of gravity would see as upgrades?’
“We kind of wanted to put one straight down the middle,” he continued. “And then there’s obviously implied permission in there for if you want to get super specific and narrow.”
Not only does this mean you get a souped-up Fender tone straight out of the box, but it’s also the perfect way to dip your toes into wider gear culture. These modifications are just the beginning!
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