Fender 144562531 Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Fender Player Stratocaster electric guitar is an iconic instrument that has defined the sound of rock and roll for decades. Part of Fender's Made-in-Mexico Player Series lineup, this guitar brings classic Strat tone and feel into an affordable price range.

The Stratocaster was first introduced in 1954 and became popularized by guitar legends like Buddy Holly, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and many more. Its distinctive double-cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, and three single-coil pickups are instantly recognizable. The Player Stratocaster takes this familiar formula and incorporates some modern upgrades for today's musician.

This Strat features a lightweight alder body with a gloss polyester finish. The "C"-shaped maple neck has a satin urethane back finish for smooth playability. The fingerboard is made of pau ferro, which is tonally similar to rosewood. Other features include a 2-point tremolo bridge for expressive effects, vintage-style tuning machines, and a synthetic bone nut.

The Player Strat comes in a variety of attractive finish options, like 3-Color Sunburst, Polar White, and Buttercream. It represents an affordable Fender option for players seeking that quintessential Strat tone and feel. This review will take a close look at the build quality, sound, and features of the Player Stratocaster model.

Build Quality

The Fender Player Stratocaster features a solid body made of alder wood. Alder is known for being lightweight yet dense, providing a balanced and resonant tone.

The smooth modern "C"-shaped neck is also made of maple, adding brightness and stability. The fretboard is rosewood which compliments the maple neck nicely with its darker tone.

The gloss finish on the body contributes to the guitar's vintage vibe, though some may find it collects fingerprints more easily than a satin finish. The choice of quality tonewoods like alder and maple ensure this Strat will stand the test of time.

Fender's Player series guitars are manufactured in Mexico and Indonesia. While not American-made, they provide excellent quality and value in their price range. The hardware and electronic components are the same as those used on Fender's more expensive models.

Overall, the Fender Player Strat features classic Stratocaster design and appointments with solid hardware and electronics. The use of traditional tonewoods promises great playability and sound. This is a well-built and durable guitar made to Fender's high standards.

Another popular electric guitar in a similar price range is the Washburn WCG55CE-O. This guitar features a cutaway double-cutaway body made of mahogany, which provides a warm and resonant tone. The neck is also mahogany for tonal consistency. It has a rosewood fretboard and 22 frets, allowing excellent playability throughout the neck.

The Washburn WCG55CE-O is equipped with a pair of Washburn-designed humbucking pickups that provide a thick, rich sound perfect for blues and rock playing. There is also a coil split function for accessing single coil tones. The guitar has a Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece for great tuning stability and sustain.

Other features include chrome die-cast tuning machines, a 3-way pickup selector switch, master volume and tone controls, and a jack for connecting a 1/4-inch cable. The total package represents an excellent value electric guitar with versatile sound at a reasonable price point.

Comparing the Fender Player Strat and the Washburn WCG55CE-O, both are high quality instruments made with traditional tonewoods and components. The Strat offers the classic Fender sound with three single coil pickups, while the Washburn goes for thicker humbucker tones. The choice comes down to sound preference and aesthetics.

Either guitar would make a solid choice for an aspiring guitarist looking for their first serious electric within a budget. While not American-made, they provide excellent quality and features for the price. With proper setup and maintenance, both the Fender and Washburn models will last for many years of playing enjoyment.

Playability

The Fender Player Stratocaster features a smooth and comfortable "C"-shaped neck profile that will feel familiar to most players. The back of the neck has a satin finish that allows for fast, frictionless movement up and down the fretboard.

The neck is carved from maple and the fingerboard is made from rosewood. The rosewood fingerboard offers a pleasing, natural feel under the fingers. Some players may find rosewood better for legato playing and string bending compared to maple, due to its smoothness and absorbent properties.

The 25.5 inch scale length provides a nice balance of tightness and slack for chording and lead playing. The medium jumbo frets are an ideal size for most playing styles, allowing you to really dig in during leads without causing discomfort. They have rolled fretboard edges as well for added comfort during long practice or gigging sessions.

Overall, the Player Stratocaster has an extremely playable neck and fingerboard that lives up to Fender's reputation for quality and attention to detail. It's a guitar built for performance, with ergonomics and playability at the forefront.

The playability of a guitar is one of the most important factors for most players. While tone and aesthetics are also key considerations, if a guitar doesn't feel comfortable to play, it can be very limiting. This is why Fender has put so much focus into making the Player Stratocaster extremely playable right out of the box.

For guitarists looking for great playability at an affordable price point, the Donner EC1277 DLP-124B is also worth considering. This guitar features a C-shaped maple neck and rosewood fingerboard, providing a smooth and comfortable playing feel. The 25.5 inch scale length and medium jumbo frets are also geared towards playability and performance. While it doesn't have the brand prestige of the Fender, the Donner EC1277 offers comparable specs and playability at a more budget-friendly price point.

When researching new guitars, make sure to try before you buy if possible. Neck shape, fret size, fingerboard material, and other specs all factor into how comfortable a particular guitar feels for your playing style. Weight is another important consideration for playability and comfort over long periods. Don't forget to look into setup and adjustments too, as a well-set up guitar will be more enjoyable to play than one straight out of the box.

While the Fender Player Stratocaster is known for its smooth feel and quality construction, there are many other excellent options at various price points. The key is finding a guitar that inspires you to pick it up and practice regularly. Great playability is crucial, but you also want tone and aesthetics you love. Your guitar should motivate and reward you the more you play it.

Sound

Fender Player Stratocasters are known for their classic, versatile Strat tone that can fit into any genre or playing style. The tone starts with the alnico V single coil pickups, which provide crystal clear bell-like highs, punchy mids, and tight low end.

The bridge pickup brings plenty of bite and twang for lead playing while the neck pickup offers a smooth, rounded tone perfect for jazz and blues. The middle pickup finds a nice balance between the two. With the 5-way pickup selector switch, you can blend the pickups together to craft your own unique tones.

The solid alder body also contributes to the classic Strat sound, providing a balanced tone with crisp highs, pronounced mids, and solid low end. The gloss polyester finish allows the wood to resonate freely, enhancing sustain and resonance. Overall, the Fender Player Strat delivers the quintessential Stratocaster tone - from sweet and mellow to bright and cutting - an extremely versatile palette suitable for all styles of music.

Hardware

The Fender Player Stratocaster features quality hardware that provides great tone, tuning stability, and smooth playability.

Bridge

The Stratocaster has a vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge. This allows for expressive tremolo effects by depressing the tremolo arm. The bridge is designed to stay in tune well even with heavy use of the whammy bar. The saddles are steel for bright tone and good sustain.

Tuners

The headstock is equipped with Fender standard cast/sealed tuning machines. These tuners provide precise tuning stability. The tuning pegs turn smoothly for easy and accurate tuning adjustments.

Electronics

The pickups are newly designed Alnico V single coil Strat pickups from Fender. There are one volume and two tone knobs to shape the pickup tones. The 5-way pickup switch provides the classic Stratocaster pickup combinations from bright bridge tones to warm neck tones. The electronics deliver a versatile range of Stratocaster tones from articulate and snappy to smooth and mellow.

Versatility

The Fender Player Stratocaster electric guitar is known for its versatility across many musical genres. Its classic Strat design and pickup configuration allow it to excel at anything from blues and rock to pop, country, jazz, and more.

The versatile single coil pickups provide a wide range of tones from sparkling cleans to growling distortion. Combined with the 5-way pickup switch, guitarists have access to the famous Strat "quack" in the 2 and 4 positions and powerful lead tones in the bridge position. This tonal flexibility makes the Player Stratocaster a popular choice among musicians who need to cover diverse styles with one instrument.

The comfortable contoured body and smooth modern C-shaped neck invite expressive lead playing across the fretboard. The vibrato bridge also allows guitarists to add shimmering pitch effects to chords and individual notes. Whether playing intricate jazz chords, country twang, or soaring rock solos, the Fender Player Stratocaster provides the playability and tonal options desired by guitarists across many genres.

The Fender Player Stratocaster continues the Strat's legacy of versatility. Its classic design is well-suited for blues, rock, country, pop, jazz, and just about any style of music a guitarist needs to play.

Pros

• Great build quality for the price. The body is made of solid alder wood and the maple neck feels smooth and sturdy.

• Easy playability. The 25.5" scale neck, narrow tall frets, and C-shaped neck profile make this guitar comfortable to play even for long sessions.

• Versatile tone. The SSS pickup configuration with Fender Player Series single-coil pickups can produce a wide range of classic Fender tones - from sparkling cleans to fat, singing leads.

• Quality hardware. It has Fender-designed tremolo bridge and sealed tuning machines that hold tuning well under heavy use.

• Iconic Fender design. The classic double cutaway Stratocaster shape looks great and is an ideal guitar for a variety of musical genres.

Cons

• The Player Stratocaster has a lower level of fit and finish compared to more expensive Fender models. The frets may have some sharp edges that require filing down and the nut slots can be too tight.

• The pickups and hardware are decent quality, but not on par with American made Fenders. So the tone and sustain may not be as good as more expensive Stratocasters.

• The tremolo bridge can struggle to stay in tune if used aggressively. It may require some setup tweaks or upgrading to ensure good tuning stability during heavy use.

• The neck profile is a modern "C" shape that may feel chunky compared to vintage style strat necks. Players with smaller hands may find it uncomfortable.

• The painted headstock logo can wear off over time with heavy playing use. Annoying for collectors or players who want their guitar to look pristine.

Alternatives

Fender's Player Series Stratocaster offers great quality and value in its price range, but there are other electric guitars worth considering as well if you're shopping around $600-800.

Epiphone Les Paul Standard

The Epiphone Les Paul Standard is a great alternative to the Stratocaster for those who prefer the thicker, warmer tone of a Les Paul. This is an iconic guitar model at a more affordable price point, with a mahogany body and slim taper neck for comfort. The Alnico Classic humbuckers provide a balanced sound that can handle distortion well.

PRS SE Custom 24

For those seeking versatility, the PRS SE Custom 24 offers coil-splitting on its humbuckers as well as a 5-way blade pickup switch. This allows wide ranging tones from sparkling cleans to high-gain distortion. The maple top contributes brightness while the mahogany back brings depth and richness. The SE Custom 24 plays very smoothly with PRS's patented molded tremolo.

Ibanez RG450DXB

Metal players who want fast playability may prefer the Ibanez RG450DXB. The ultra-thin, flat Wizard III maple neck allows effortless shredding across all 24 jumbo frets. Combined with the two Quantum humbuckers, this guitar can handle aggressive lead playing. The floating tremolo adds expressiveness and the sleek curves make this Ibanez aesthetically appealing.

Yamaha Revstar RS620

For a more modern style, the Yamaha Revstar RS620 provides an original take on classic designs. The slim maple neck and 2 humbuckers give vintage warmth and bite. The cool asymmetrical double-cutaway alder body looks sleek. The RS620 offers something unique compared to the classic Strat and Les Paul models.

Summary

The Fender Player Stratocaster is a high-quality, versatile electric guitar that excels in a wide variety of musical genres. Its iconic double cutaway body shape is comfortable to play and provides easy access to the higher frets.

The guitar features a solid alder body, a maple neck with a modern "C"-shaped profile, and a rosewood fingerboard. This combination of tonewoods produces a balanced, articulate tone that works well for rock, blues, jazz, country, and more. The pickups are specially voiced to capture the classic Stratocaster sound, with enough modern hotness to handle heavier styles of music.

The hardware is durable and includes a synchronized tremolo bridge that stays in tune well during heavy use. Additional features like the no-load tone control make the Player Strat an easy guitar to dial in your perfect tone.

Overall, Fender's Player series offers notable upgrades over their lower-cost Squier instruments, with excellent attention to quality control and craftsmanship. It's a perfect choice for intermediate players looking to step up to a real American-made Fender.

The Player Stratocaster punches well above its mid-level price point in terms of build, tone, and playability. It's an extremely versatile instrument suitable for all genres, and an excellent value in Fender's current product lineup. For players seeking that irresistible Strat style and sound without breaking the bank, the Player Strat comes highly recommended.