Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Tidepool Maple Fingerboard

What we say:

Fender’s Player Series is a fresh update of their most beloved models for today’s contemporary guitarist. The Player Series replaces the Mexican Standard Series and brings with it a host of exciting new features. Each Player Series guitar features 22 frets, new colours, a newly designed neck carve and upgraded pickups. Whatever style you play, you’ll be sure to find a favourite amongst the raft of new models available.

Adding a bridge position humbucking pickup to a Stratocaster is one of the most common modifications to this most versatile of guitars. Adding girth and sustain to the bridge tones is essential for today’s more muscular styles of Rock music.

Fender have done just that with this Player HSS Stratocaster. This is just the same in spec as the Player Strat with the addition of an Alnico II humbucker. This is part of a complete pickup redesign across the player range. The new single coil pickups, made with Alnico 5 magnets, are beautiful sounding, full of classic Strat glass and chime. Paired with the humbucker, this is a massively versatile configuration! Indeed, we cannot think of a genre out there that can’t be handled confidently with the HSS Player Strat.

So what else is there on this Strat? Let’s see.

The bridge design is refreshed and deploys a range of player preferences: a modern 2 point pivot is matched up with vintage bent steel saddles, a canny and sensible choice from Fender to keep both vintage fans and modern players happy..

As with the rest of the Fender Player range, the Stratocaster’s neck has a Modern C carve with a 9.5” radius fingerboard and medium jumbo frets. This is a neck that everyone can enjoy playing on: it’s not too retro and not too modern.

This great Stratocaster is a great buy for the gigging musician looking for versatility and classic tones. It’s available in a range of finishes, this being Tidepool with a Maple fingerboard.