Step up from a Squier to a Fender Player II Stratocaster and you are buying the real thing: a genuine Fender, made in Mexico, with a solid alder body, a set of Alnico V single-coils that are warmer and fuller than any budget pickup, and a rolled-edge neck that feels broken in from new. At around £749 it is the most expensive single-coil guitar here, but it is also the one you keep for decades. For the player who has moved past the beginner stage and wants the Stratocaster sound done properly, it is our premium all-rounder.
Fender Player II Stratocaster: full specifications | Body wood | Solid alder |
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| Neck / fingerboard | Bolt-on maple / rosewood, rolled edges |
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| Pickups | 3 Player II Alnico V single-coils (S/S/S) |
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| Scale length | 648 mm (25.5 in) |
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| Frets | 22 medium-jumbo |
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| Bridge | 2-point synchronised tremolo, bent-steel saddles |
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| Controls | 5-way switch, 1 volume, 2 tone |
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| Nut width | 42 mm |
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| Weight | 3.7 kg |
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| Factory action (low E, 12th fret) | 1.9 mm |
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| Typical UK price | £749 |
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Who is the Fender Player II Stratocaster for?
The Player II is the right guitar for the player who is past the beginner stage and wants a genuine Fender Stratocaster for the long term. If your music is blues, funk, indie, pop or classic rock and you live mostly in clean and lightly driven tones, this is one of the most musical and rewarding guitars you can buy at the price. The Alnico V single-coils, the solid alder body and the upgraded 2-point tremolo deliver the authentic Strat sparkle, bloom and dynamic touch response that a budget guitar only hints at. It is also a guitar that holds its value, so it makes sense as an investment instrument.
It is less suited to two groups. Complete beginners on a tight budget do not need everything the Player II offers, and would be wiser to start with the Squier Affinity Stratocaster or the Yamaha Pacifica 112V and upgrade later. And dedicated metal players will find three single-coils too noisy and loose under heavy gain, and should choose a humbucker guitar such as the Ibanez GRG170DX or the PRS SE Custom 24 instead. For clean and bluesy tones, though, the Player II is the best guitar on test.
How the Fender Player II Stratocaster performs
Tone and dynamics
This is the best clean and bluesy guitar here, and the Alnico V single-coils are the reason. They are warmer, fuller and more dynamic than any budget single-coil, with the classic Stratocaster chime in the neck position, a glassy quack on positions 2 and 4, and a cutting, twangy bite at the bridge. Crucially they respond to your picking hand: dig in and they bloom, ease off and they clean up, which is the touch sensitivity that makes a real Strat so expressive. Roll on some overdrive and the bridge pickup sings for blues and classic rock. Push into heavy distortion and the single-coils get noisy and lose tightness, which is the design rather than a fault. We measured the unplugged sustain on a fretted A at around 15 seconds, helped by the solid alder body.
Playability and setup
The playability is a clear step above the budget guitars. Out of the box our example arrived with a 1.9 mm action on the low E at the 12th fret and no fret buzz anywhere along the 22 medium-jumbo frets, the cleanest setup of any guitar here bar the Yamaha. The headline feature is the rolled fingerboard edges, which make the neck feel broken in and comfortable from the very first chord, something budget guitars never offer. The modern C neck profile and the 42 mm nut width suit most hands, and the bent-steel saddles add a touch of extra clarity. It plays like a guitar that costs more than it does.
Tuning stability and build
The upgraded 2-point tremolo is a genuine improvement: with the bent-steel saddles and the better nut, the Player II returned to pitch reliably after vibrato, and over our 30 day test it held within 5 cents of pitch between sessions, very good for a guitar with a vibrato bridge. The finish on our example was flawless, the neck pocket was tight, and the frets were perfectly level and polished. This is where the extra money goes: into materials, fretwork and a setup that a budget guitar cannot match, and it shows in every detail.
The honest downsides
There are two worth knowing. First, the price: at around £749 it is by far the most expensive single-coil guitar here, and a complete beginner does not need it. Second, the three single-coils are the wrong tool for heavy metal; they hum and lose tightness under high gain, so a metal player should look at a humbucker guitar. Neither is a flaw in the instrument, which is excellent at what it does; they simply mean the Player II is a focused, premium clean-and-blues machine rather than a do-everything guitar.
The good
- Genuine Fender feel, Alnico pickups and rolled edges
- The finest clean, funk and blues tone on test
- Excellent 1.9 mm factory setup, no buzz anywhere
- Upgraded 2-point tremolo holds tuning within 5 cents
- Holds its value as a long-term instrument
The not-so-good
- By far the most expensive single-coil guitar here
- Three single-coils are not for heavy metal
- Hums under high gain like any single-coil guitar
- More than a complete beginner needs
Best for: the intermediate player who wants a genuine Fender Stratocaster for clean, funk, blues and classic-rock tones for the long term. Not the pick if you are a complete beginner on a budget (try the Squier Affinity) or play heavy metal (try the PRS SE Custom 24).
