When I went to guitar center I noticed that the new American Stratocaster was at the lower boute. Easy to grab and play. The prices were lame and way too high. I played several of them. They all needed a setup. I wasn't that impressed. No new Standards were there. It is easier to buy a used model and that's fine. I've now got the player 1. I love it but come on, plastic nut? So dumb and I'll have hell to get that out. Painted frets! The attention to detail is in need. So, I can't roll thr fretboard or ill ruin the painted fretboard on the maple one. As it stands, it plays fine to me. I'll add new electronics, a tusc nut and a tusc string tree as well as locking tuners and that'll be fine. No go for thr new Standards, my Squier standard is better.
@@ranman58635The Standards have only just been released at Naam? You won’t see them in stores for a few eels yet. Also the player series has a synthetic bone nut. What ever that is. Painted frets ? Not sure what you mean. Also If you wanted rolled fretboard edges why didn’t you get a Player 2?
@kerrywilliams8100 , I bought my first fender yesterday for 250.00. That's why I don't get a fender player 2. Yea, there polyester on the fretboard and thry didn't do that before it was fretted. I'm fine with the guitar, I've just noticed that.
Realistically the fender standards are for people who can’t stomach “squire” on the headstock. They come from the same factory as the higher end squires and will likely be similar - nothing wrong with that, and I’m sure there’s a market for these, but they’re essentially classic vibes with a different logo
The specs bother me, though. Ceramic pickups and laurel boards...they shouldn't cost like 150 more than the Classic Vibes just becuase they say Fender.
@@retromacman620 I have a couple of great Indo made guitars on my rack. There will not be one with the name Fender on the headstock. This move just inspires me to explore other and better options in the price point
So happy that i purchased a player 1 tele. I made a setup , changed the tuners to vintage and the bridge pickup to a seymour duncan hot rails, so happy with it now (rock metal versatile) Maybe i will change the nut.
@ChrisJimenez2010 Because they usually are, ceramic is much cheaper to manufacture than alnico. That doesn't mean that ceramic pickups are necessarily "cheap" or worse, they're just different, usually with a fatter sound. Sometimes I prefer ceramic in single coils, since it gives them more body.
Just buy a squier and put a fender logo on the headstock. The only difference in the specs are it has a 2 way adjustable truss rod, and if im not mistaken some of the classic vibes as well as the 40th anniversary squiers have that as well. A lot of the Indonesia made squiers use mighty mite necks as well. If it has a skunk stripe and a wooden disc on the heal of the neck it's a mighty mite neck. Sammick necks are on a lot of the Chinese made squiers like the paranormal series, of which are great players..
I had an affinity tele. It didn't take long to wear the frets down. After a while it wouldn't stay in tune and creaked and moaned with every bend. I recently replaced the neck with a cheap one on amazon. I levelled and polished the frets, put in a bone nut and a roller string tree, locking tuners, and new pickups. I wonder how it would compare to a standard series? Cost wise it's about the same with the upgrades.
@seanpellegrino2989 no, in my opinion the the old MIM Fender Standard are better quality than the Affinity. However, if the QC is better, the setup, the necks and so on...these Standards could be better guitars even if the specs are similar on paper. Still over priced compared to what companies are doing, but...we'll see.
Really? Body is different, neck carve is different, neck finish, tuners, pickups, electronics, body, body finish all different. How are they identical.
@retromacman620 they could be slightly overpriced compared to other brands that are putting out guitars of a similar quality. I think Fender realizes that they have a little room for a slight markup based on the brand name and that people who can't make the jump up to the Player ii but want a new guitar will pay that. But I think people saying it's a $300 markup just to have a Fender logo aren't really taking into account what exactly is being offered. The quality definitely shouldn't be the same as an Affinity, especially with the better wood and the new pickups and better electronics. I owned one Squier Strat back in the day and was really pissed off at the saleswoman at my local music shop after a couple of months for not steering me toward something of a better build quality in the same or a slightly higher price range because Fender was out of my reach as a teenager without a job at that point. That Squier I owned was hot garbage and was literally breaking on me. I'm glad to hear newer Squiers are much better qualify wise, but I don't think people are getting Squiers that are better than this new Fender Standard.
I guess it’s more for folks that really want that Fender headstock. This pretty much performs similar to a Classic Vibe. For some people, paying some $120 for the branding might make sense. Kinda saves you from the GAS for the Fender later down the line.
Definitely prefer the Player II. Could it be mostly a PUP issue? How about fit/finish/playability? Don't think this series is a goer... when they get discounted by about 25%, I might think about it.... to mod! Thanks for a great vid!
Fender basically scamming yall no way im paying like £500 for a Squier in drag as the Squier Series are made of Poplar and Laurel woods , My advice buy a used Mexican Strat for £400 as it will be Alder bodies and with real rosewood , Fender will have to stop this madness as people will stop buying their guitars , Its like when Gibson made some of their SGs in Korea years back people voted with their feet and walked away.
Feels like they are going back to the standard series specs from the 90s - poplar bodies, ceramic pickups, 21-frets, etc. I had one of those for many years and, although I think the MIM guitars have improved over the years, the standards from the 90s were pretty decent guitars. In particular, I thought the ceramic pickups sounded really great with gain.
But those were Squiers not Fenders if i remember right ? im not paying half a grand for an Indonesian guitar when i can get an Affinity Strat for £180 from Thomann thats exactly the same
@@chrisayres5050 No - they were Fenders. The specs changed over time. I'm not an expert on the history of MIM Fenders, but I was a teenager in the 90s. For some part of the 90s, the MIM standard strats/teles had poplar bodies, ceramic pickups, and 21 frets - just like these new standards. The old standards did have rosewood board options, however.
@ Why? Indonesia has been making high quality guitars for years now. I've owned a few, including an Indonesian-made Yamaha Revstar. I think Ibanez's premium line all made in Indonesia. I'm sure there are a lot more great examples... There was a time when people would have balked at spending over $1000 for a Mexican made guitar or a Korean made guitar.
to me the real question is how much of a step up from the Squier Affinity is the Fender Standard? Specs wise it seems the Fender Standard is below the Squier Classic Vibe (since the classic vibe has vintage tuners and Alnico pickups). So makes me wonder if there is any difference between the Standard and an Affinity for less than 1/2 the price?
The Fender standard series is just a panic move to compete with other brands in that price range. Better guitars like Sire, Vintage, or the 2025 Ibanez AZ! Get a Squier Classic Vibe or save up a bit and get the Player II
That's exactly the strategy of fender: release this shit series for people to go either CV or player ii in order to increase sales. They end up winning, anyway
On one hand, this new Standard Series is a continuation of the old MIM Standard but now made in Indonesia and (in the case of the Strat) has a modern 2-point vibrato. On the other hand, because they are made in Indonesia, a lot of people feel that they are nothing more than glorified Squier guitars with a Fender badge.
Glorified? Yes perhaps only because the Fender logo, but I would choose a Squier CV over one of these Fender Standards myself, probably a nicer guitar at a cheaper price, both made in Indo…
The blue burst player 2 and surf green and few other colors have pretty much been on sale for $599 the last 3 years. Brand new. Every time I considered selling mine to get a Tele, I can't because its Always on sale. I would look for one of those. They might have finally sold out, but Musicians Friend would always have them on sale when I wanted to post mine. It's usually 2 or 3 colors they made a lot of.
I have a player strat that HAD alnico 5's... to be honest I was not a fan. I preferred to warmer tones of the ceramic pickups in my squier. HOWEVER, they both have Lace pickups now, soooooo.... if it weren't for the 21 fret board on the cheaper one, it would be the standard all day every day for me. Those block saddles are a huge step up from the bent steal saddles in my opinion too. So much more comfortable when playing, especially when muting.
I love my Custom Shop alnico on my USA strat and also the ceramics on my 90's MIM its different tones but man those MIM pickups sure do sing on leads with a bit of drive behind them
I also have a Player Strat and actually dislike the pickups. Ceramic pickups on my JET strat and Yamaha Pacifica sound much more pleasant and enjoyable.
The Standard has a less defined sound with a fatter, higher volume and more "umph." It feels a bit more aggressive, and when you throw in some distortion, it sounds a bit dirtier and louder. On the other hand, the Player 2 feels more “straty” (for lack of a better word)-more jangly, nasal, and quieter in volume, but it’s more articulate. It demands more precision when playing, as the cleaner tone makes it easier to hear the individual notes and phrases. With distortion, it stays cleaner, and the notes are more defined. Considering the Player 2 has a rosewood neck and the Standard has a maple neck, the clarity comes through more with the Player 2, thanks in part to its Alnico pickups compared to the ceramic pickups of the Standard. In simple terms, Alnico pickups tend to produce a clearer, more defined sound than ceramic pickups. Alnico magnets have a smoother response and more natural warmth, giving the notes better articulation and clarity. Ceramic pickups, on the other hand, are usually more powerful and have a higher output, but they can sound a bit harsher and less nuanced, especially when played clean or with distortion.
Unless you play clean I mean no reverb no delay clean, the sound is irrelevant. By the time you have reverb, delay, distortion, Fuzz you could be playing anything from a $100 to $100,000 guitar. It's the feel the playability and the look that count.
Just lower the player II price to $650 and solve all your problems. Don't waste money on the materials to make the "Standard" series. Just lower the price of the MIM player ii. CV already does the standard quality better, for a better price.
Well the way I see it we've all been complaining about the prices and Fender figured out how to make it affordable for everyone, and I do know that they have Fender quality control reps overseeing operations
... or get a used MIM Standard series. Must admit I'm liking the two point trem on and block saddles on the new Standard but really this is more or less the same guitar for the same money but moved to indonesia
I think it is funny that if they made the standard exactly how it is in Mexico people would be completely fine with it. But because it is made in the Squier factory they think it should say Squier on the Headstock. People, this is just to fill in that 600-dollar spot that Fender could no longer fill in Mexico. Pretty simple concept. It costs more than the Squire CV series because it is using better quality materials like the big block trem, full size alpha pots better gauge wiring and cutting cost on the magnets and wood. It is still being made to Fender's standards. You don't like it, then buy a MIM or Squier CV as they are still available. And if you have 1200 bucks or more to spend, get the USA models and feel really good about yourself.
If Fender made the standard like how it was made in Mexico it would cannibalize their MIM Player Series sales. For exactly this reason Fender lowered the specs of the Classic Vibe series a few years ago, the guitars were too good.
Honestly, it just seems like a rebadged Squier it uses the same body and fingerboard material as Squiers but it’s $170 more than the beloved classic vibe series. I say forget the standard series and just buy a fucking Squier. It honestly doesn’t bother me that it’s made in the same factory as the squiers for the price increase, it should have an alder and use Rosewood instead of Indian laurel. See it being worth it, but as is, it just doesn’t look like it’s worth the money especially seeing as how you can get a Schecter PT special if you’re looking for a telecaster that does have an alder body, the pick ups are probably better, it’s made in South Korea (if you know you know), and if it’s like every other Schechter I’ve played/owned the Fret ends will put even the player ii to shame. All that for just $100 more than the new standard series. In short, forget the new standard series it’s pointless either go with the player ii, the Squier classic vibe, or if you’re looking for a telecaster, the Schecter PT special that I mentioned.
If their going to be made in Indonesia from now on for the standard series why bother buying a fender unless you have to have the word Fender on your head stock. There are other well made non Mexican And American Brands out there for half the price and if wanting can be upgraded if one is inclined to do so. I suspect Fender is looking strictly at the dollar and profits and not looking at the quality and reputation but merely relying on the history of the Fender reputation to make profit, sadly an excuse to in future to put up the prices of there MIM and MIA made stock. Sadly I find it all very disappointing.
Not to mention Sire and Harley Benton. Fender meant something when it was USA and MIM but at this point I do not see a reason to buy new at $599 for something I can get at half the price
Thank you so much for not using your DAW to enhance the tone quality of those guitars to make thwm sound so amazing 😂😂 most influencers simply lie thru their teeth just to get more money and free things from these companies!
The new ones seem okay, but let's be honest, it's really just a marketing change from calling them Squiers more than anything else, then charging a bit more money because they have a Fender logo on the end of them. Frankly I'm surprised it's taken them this long to actually do it, because it makes economic sense. Although having said that, it has created something of a dilemma for Fender in that we know there are plenty of good Strat copies made in Indonesia which are well under that price point (Jet JS models and Fazley Outlaw series to name just two). These are often under 200 quid, but Fender could not be seen to be sticking a Fender logo on a guitar which was coming in at less 300 quid and still charging four times that for one built in the US with the same logo on it. However... For a very long time, although it was the marketing notion that it was a Fender if it was made in the US and it was a Squier if made elsewhere, there have been several occasions in the company's past where this was not the case at all, so if anyone thnks this is some drastic new shift by Fender to be putting that logo on things made in Asia, they're a bit behind on their history... Outsourced Fenders were made in Japan well over forty years ago, and these did have a Fender logo on them, nor was it true that all (or even any) Fenders were US-built for two other short periods in Fender's history. These occasions being twice in the 1980s; once when Fender temporarily closed the Fullerton plant to address CBS QC issues, and a second time when there was a management buy out from CBS which did not include the Fullerton factory, leaving the company without a US production facility until it built one at Corona. In both these instances, all Fenders were made abroad, simply because there was no operational US factory at all. In addition to this, there were also the Sunn Mustang 'Stratocasters' made during theis period for the European market, which were made for Fender in India at the same factory which made those excellent Encore Strat copies, which were often better made than contemporary US-built Fender Strats, as admitted by Fender itself when it temporarily shut down Fullerton to address QC problems. I have one of those Indian-made Sunn Mustangs, and so I can tell you from personal experience that they are indeed great guitars which are now starting to become quite sought after, although they weigh a ton because they have a mahogany body and the bridge width is ever so slightly narrower than a standard strat, which makes modding them a challenge. Avoid the later ones not made in India with the horrible headstock shape however because they are generally awful. We also need to remember that Fender also switched their marketing ethos from 'Squiers are the outsourced ones and Fenders are the domestic one' again when they started producing guitars in Mexico with the Fender logo on them. So an outsourced Fender, is not a new thing by any means. It's happened numerous times and in most cases when it did occur in the past, they were actually better guitars than Fender was making at the time. I know this is true, because I have a Chinese Squier Affinity which is far better than my US-built Strat and they are both from the early to mid 2000s. Back with that Standard however, ceramic pick ups are okay if the bobbin wiring amount and gauge is well matched to the strength of the ceramic magnet and not compromised by cack potentiometers, transistors, wiring, switches, jacks and crappy shielding, as is the case in any budget guitar which cuts costs in these ways. They do sound different to alnico ones though (not necessarily in a bad way, depending on your preference) and you have to drop ceramics away from the strings a bit to avoid affecting the string vibration owing to the strength of ceramic magnets, so if you like your pick ups close to the strings, ceramics are probably not for you. With regard to the neck and body materials, poplar is a slightly less dense wood than alder, so alder is a bit more resistant to shrinkage and slightly harder to cut and shape, which in addition to cost might be why it was chosen, although they are both hardwoods and do have a fairly similar amount of resonance. You will probably find a lot of hardwood furniture made from poplar and alder, notably kitchen unit doors and such. Some people claim that Poplar produces a bit more upper midrange frequency resonance, but I'm not convinced of that and even if it were true, some EQing could change that that either way, for either wood anyway. Poplar is actually a pretty decent wood for fretboards and it takes dye well, so it can be made to look like other dark woods pretty easily, thus I'm surprised they didn't go for that on the fretboards as well. Laurel is okay though, so this is no big deal although personally, I prefer a maple fretboard anyway and there is currently no production limit on using maple as there is with rosewood, so I'm inclined to think the maple neck versions might be the ones to have, being that they are less of a break with tradition.
There are a lot of better copies in that price range Sire for example. The only trick fender has is its history with guitar legends.. same as gibson. Take that away and they dissapear in the market.
The big difference is the standard is squire with about £60 of upgrades and a fender logo on the headstock .an utter shit show from fender .i tried one of these at the weekend they're total crap. a sire s7 is a around the same price and is in a totally different league from this piece of junk
To be honest this new Standard isn’t worth the junk it’s made from. Fender just flooding the market with rebadged guitar shapes made in sweatshops in Asia.
It's wild that people think the Standard series is garbage. It's for people who want a Fender without paying 800-1000 for a Mexican model. People upgrade electronics and hardware anyways so why does it matter? Fender elitists make me laugh.
You can get a mint used player series for $400-$500 where I live, it's a much better deal and many have a gig bag or case, some even have a pro set-up. I know, because nobody would buy mine. 😢
The ceramic pickups are hotter, guy is playing only clean, which tricks you that the less loud one sounds worse after the louder one (that's why we have loudness war in music mastering). I hear what I generally always disliked about ceramic single coil pickups: boomy bass strings, harsh and snappy treble strings, mushy (not a lot of detail or string separation) when playing chords. Proper alnico pickups are more balanced tonally. (credit where it's due, ceramics can work well when playing funky stuff)
Pretty good ceramics vs pretty good alnico Vs. The ceramics have higher output and stay a little bit cleaner but also are a little bit muddy and have rolled off highs. The alnicos have better clarity and dynamics but are borderline too bright/thin in this demo - realistically you aren't using the same amp settings for both these guitars but it's good to show the differences. I'll take lower output pickups with better clarity every time, you can always add gain and EQ to taste.
For the money. I'd take the standard and spend the £150 leftover on a pre-wired tex mex loaded pickguard or throw another £30 on top and buy a loaded American pickguard 👌
They want squire there own company but owned bye them they want the lower market for fender there trying to compete with prs. I no fender players hate this but the silver sky se and core took the market. I own fender prs gibby and ephiphone im not a head stock looker if it plays good sounds good it good
Agreed!! I have a mint blue burst player 2 strat, they have been on sale for $599 for years and I can guarantee nobody will give me more than 450, I would probably have to go to $399 to sell in less than a month, and then deal with 20 rude lowballers who don't show up even if I bend over.
Fender by Squier be ready to see the Classic Vibes disappear imo fender is going to get out of the Squier business and just make shit fenders for 600 bucks and let Harley Benton and co who already make better budget instruments Duke it out
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Alternate title: "Fender lowers its standards."
Also, it's prices. But American Fenders are still available for folks with deep pockets.
When I went to guitar center I noticed that the new American Stratocaster was at the lower boute. Easy to grab and play. The prices were lame and way too high. I played several of them. They all needed a setup. I wasn't that impressed. No new Standards were there. It is easier to buy a used model and that's fine. I've now got the player 1. I love it but come on, plastic nut? So dumb and I'll have hell to get that out. Painted frets! The attention to detail is in need. So, I can't roll thr fretboard or ill ruin the painted fretboard on the maple one. As it stands, it plays fine to me. I'll add new electronics, a tusc nut and a tusc string tree as well as locking tuners and that'll be fine. No go for thr new Standards, my Squier standard is better.
@@ranman58635The Standards have only just been released at Naam? You won’t see them in stores for a few eels yet. Also the player series has a synthetic bone nut. What ever that is. Painted frets ? Not sure what you mean. Also If you wanted rolled fretboard edges why didn’t you get a Player 2?
@kerrywilliams8100 , I bought my first fender yesterday for 250.00. That's why I don't get a fender player 2. Yea, there polyester on the fretboard and thry didn't do that before it was fretted. I'm fine with the guitar, I've just noticed that.
But tusq is plastic right? @@ranman58635
Realistically the fender standards are for people who can’t stomach “squire” on the headstock. They come from the same factory as the higher end squires and will likely be similar - nothing wrong with that, and I’m sure there’s a market for these, but they’re essentially classic vibes with a different logo
The specs bother me, though. Ceramic pickups and laurel boards...they shouldn't cost like 150 more than the Classic Vibes just becuase they say Fender.
@@retromacman620It's better to get a classic vibe.
@@edema.3418 agreed, honestly though, becuase of the 2 point bridge and satin finish neck, I'd like this if it wasn't 600$...
Classic vibe has better pickups
@@retromacman620 I have a couple of great Indo made guitars on my rack. There will not be one with the name Fender on the headstock. This move just inspires me to explore other and better options in the price point
Classic Vibe For Life
I actually prefer the sound of the standard and the walnut trussrod insert is a nice touch.
No walnut stripe on the standard
So happy that i purchased a player 1 tele.
I made a setup , changed the tuners to vintage and the bridge pickup to a seymour duncan hot rails, so happy with it now (rock metal versatile)
Maybe i will change the nut.
Why tf is player II so thin sounding… Glad to hear Standard have some body in its tone
The difference between Alnico and ceramics.
@@machito53why do people say ceramics are in cheaper guitars?
@ChrisJimenez2010 Because they usually are, ceramic is much cheaper to manufacture than alnico. That doesn't mean that ceramic pickups are necessarily "cheap" or worse, they're just different, usually with a fatter sound. Sometimes I prefer ceramic in single coils, since it gives them more body.
Just buy a squier and put a fender logo on the headstock. The only difference in the specs are it has a 2 way adjustable truss rod, and if im not mistaken some of the classic vibes as well as the 40th anniversary squiers have that as well. A lot of the Indonesia made squiers use mighty mite necks as well. If it has a skunk stripe and a wooden disc on the heal of the neck it's a mighty mite neck. Sammick necks are on a lot of the Chinese made squiers like the paranormal series, of which are great players..
Just buy used FENDER USA and save a pile of money in the long run instead of buying budget guitars with cheap electronics and poor resale value.
I had an affinity tele. It didn't take long to wear the frets down. After a while it wouldn't stay in tune and creaked and moaned with every bend. I recently replaced the neck with a cheap one on amazon. I levelled and polished the frets, put in a bone nut and a roller string tree, locking tuners, and new pickups. I wonder how it would compare to a standard series? Cost wise it's about the same with the upgrades.
Could you play a Squier Affinity next to a Fender Standard? They seem like the same guitar, except the Fender headstock and 350$ price increase
Yup
@retromacman620 is a Squier Affinty the same as an old MIM Fender Standard?
@seanpellegrino2989 no, in my opinion the the old MIM Fender Standard are better quality than the Affinity. However, if the QC is better, the setup, the necks and so on...these Standards could be better guitars even if the specs are similar on paper. Still over priced compared to what companies are doing, but...we'll see.
Really? Body is different, neck carve is different, neck finish, tuners, pickups, electronics, body, body finish all different. How are they identical.
@retromacman620 they could be slightly overpriced compared to other brands that are putting out guitars of a similar quality. I think Fender realizes that they have a little room for a slight markup based on the brand name and that people who can't make the jump up to the Player ii but want a new guitar will pay that. But I think people saying it's a $300 markup just to have a Fender logo aren't really taking into account what exactly is being offered. The quality definitely shouldn't be the same as an Affinity, especially with the better wood and the new pickups and better electronics. I owned one Squier Strat back in the day and was really pissed off at the saleswoman at my local music shop after a couple of months for not steering me toward something of a better build quality in the same or a slightly higher price range because Fender was out of my reach as a teenager without a job at that point. That Squier I owned was hot garbage and was literally breaking on me. I'm glad to hear newer Squiers are much better qualify wise, but I don't think people are getting Squiers that are better than this new Fender Standard.
I guess it’s more for folks that really want that Fender headstock. This pretty much performs similar to a Classic Vibe.
For some people, paying some $120 for the branding might make sense. Kinda saves you from the GAS for the Fender later down the line.
Definitely prefer the Player II. Could it be mostly a PUP issue? How about fit/finish/playability? Don't think this series is a goer... when they get discounted by about 25%, I might think about it.... to mod! Thanks for a great vid!
Fender basically scamming yall no way im paying like £500 for a Squier in drag as the Squier Series are made of Poplar and Laurel woods , My advice buy a used Mexican Strat for £400 as it will be Alder bodies and with real rosewood , Fender will have to stop this madness as people will stop buying their guitars , Its like when Gibson made some of their SGs in Korea years back people voted with their feet and walked away.
The difference: one is a Fender, other one is a Squier.
"not that there's anything wrong with that"
Both are Fender. One is made in North America and one is made in SE Asia.
Yep a Squier with a fender name.
@@kerrywilliams8100have you played one?
Feels like they are going back to the standard series specs from the 90s - poplar bodies, ceramic pickups, 21-frets, etc. I had one of those for many years and, although I think the MIM guitars have improved over the years, the standards from the 90s were pretty decent guitars. In particular, I thought the ceramic pickups sounded really great with gain.
But those were Squiers not Fenders if i remember right ? im not paying half a grand for an Indonesian guitar when i can get an Affinity Strat for £180 from Thomann thats exactly the same
@@chrisayres5050 90s Fender did used poplar, even the american one.
@@chrisayres5050 No - they were Fenders. The specs changed over time. I'm not an expert on the history of MIM Fenders, but I was a teenager in the 90s. For some part of the 90s, the MIM standard strats/teles had poplar bodies, ceramic pickups, and 21 frets - just like these new standards. The old standards did have rosewood board options, however.
@@masatanida9119 I would just buy a used Mexican Strat as no way I'm paying over 500 for an Indonesian guitar unless it had PRS on the headstock lol
@ Why? Indonesia has been making high quality guitars for years now. I've owned a few, including an Indonesian-made Yamaha Revstar. I think Ibanez's premium line all made in Indonesia. I'm sure there are a lot more great examples... There was a time when people would have balked at spending over $1000 for a Mexican made guitar or a Korean made guitar.
to me the real question is how much of a step up from the Squier Affinity is the Fender Standard? Specs wise it seems the Fender Standard is below the Squier Classic Vibe (since the classic vibe has vintage tuners and Alnico pickups). So makes me wonder if there is any difference between the Standard and an Affinity for less than 1/2 the price?
The Fender standard series is just a panic move to compete with other brands in that price range. Better guitars like Sire, Vintage, or the 2025 Ibanez AZ! Get a Squier Classic Vibe or save up a bit and get the Player II
That's exactly the strategy of fender: release this shit series for people to go either CV or player ii in order to increase sales. They end up winning, anyway
On one hand, this new Standard Series is a continuation of the old MIM Standard but now made in Indonesia and (in the case of the Strat) has a modern 2-point vibrato. On the other hand, because they are made in Indonesia, a lot of people feel that they are nothing more than glorified Squier guitars with a Fender badge.
Glorified? Yes perhaps only because the Fender logo, but I would choose a Squier CV over one of these Fender Standards myself, probably a nicer guitar at a cheaper price, both made in Indo…
It seems like many people have the wrong idea about Squire and The Standard. Actually they are made in different factories in Indonesia.
The blue burst player 2 and surf green and few other colors have pretty much been on sale for $599 the last 3 years. Brand new. Every time I considered selling mine to get a Tele, I can't because its Always on sale. I would look for one of those. They might have finally sold out, but Musicians Friend would always have them on sale when I wanted to post mine. It's usually 2 or 3 colors they made a lot of.
The Mexican made guitars are realy good
Yes.... My mim is my main guitar... It's plays like butter and sounds great
I have a player strat that HAD alnico 5's... to be honest I was not a fan. I preferred to warmer tones of the ceramic pickups in my squier. HOWEVER, they both have Lace pickups now, soooooo.... if it weren't for the 21 fret board on the cheaper one, it would be the standard all day every day for me. Those block saddles are a huge step up from the bent steal saddles in my opinion too. So much more comfortable when playing, especially when muting.
I love my Custom Shop alnico on my USA strat and also the ceramics on my 90's MIM its different tones but man those MIM pickups sure do sing on leads with a bit of drive behind them
I also have a Player Strat and actually dislike the pickups. Ceramic pickups on my JET strat and Yamaha Pacifica sound much more pleasant and enjoyable.
The Standard has a less defined sound with a fatter, higher volume and more "umph." It feels a bit more aggressive, and when you throw in some distortion, it sounds a bit dirtier and louder. On the other hand, the Player 2 feels more “straty” (for lack of a better word)-more jangly, nasal, and quieter in volume, but it’s more articulate. It demands more precision when playing, as the cleaner tone makes it easier to hear the individual notes and phrases. With distortion, it stays cleaner, and the notes are more defined.
Considering the Player 2 has a rosewood neck and the Standard has a maple neck, the clarity comes through more with the Player 2, thanks in part to its Alnico pickups compared to the ceramic pickups of the Standard.
In simple terms, Alnico pickups tend to produce a clearer, more defined sound than ceramic pickups. Alnico magnets have a smoother response and more natural warmth, giving the notes better articulation and clarity. Ceramic pickups, on the other hand, are usually more powerful and have a higher output, but they can sound a bit harsher and less nuanced, especially when played clean or with distortion.
Bab, bab,.....bab, bab, Chika, chika, chika. That's what these Strat's sounded like.😂😂
Unless you play clean I mean no reverb no delay clean, the sound is irrelevant. By the time you have reverb, delay, distortion, Fuzz you could be playing anything from a $100 to $100,000 guitar.
It's the feel the playability and the look that count.
Just lower the player II price to $650 and solve all your problems. Don't waste money on the materials to make the "Standard" series. Just lower the price of the MIM player ii. CV already does the standard quality better, for a better price.
Funnily enough, you can definitely get a brand new player ii for under $700.
Have a few reverb dealer offers already.
The CV Squiers are actually better quality than the Standard
How is that even possible now that tariffs go up?
In some positions standard sounds better to me. More bass, not so piercing.
The specs say the nut width is 42.86 mm, so it has wider strings than a regular Stratocaster?
What everyone wants to know is: what’s under the pickguard? Dime size pots? PCB switch? And is it a full size sustain block?
Full-sized pots, mechanical switch on a strat (but PCB on tele), full size sustain block.
Difference: Standard is a Squier Affinity with Fender on the headstock instead
I ordered a black HSS Standard Strat cause I’m putting Fishmans in it anyways
Nice pickups. Curious why pay the $$$ for an Indo Fender when a good MIM used guitar is less?
FENDER by squier, the substandard series.
Are they even full thickness body's?
yea they thicc
yes
Ceramics and alnicos is the difference in sound.
Well the way I see it we've all been complaining about the prices and Fender figured out how to make it affordable for everyone, and I do know that they have Fender quality control reps overseeing operations
... or get a used MIM Standard series. Must admit I'm liking the two point trem on and block saddles on the new Standard but really this is more or less the same guitar for the same money but moved to indonesia
I think it is funny that if they made the standard exactly how it is in Mexico people would be completely fine with it. But because it is made in the Squier factory they think it should say Squier on the Headstock. People, this is just to fill in that 600-dollar spot that Fender could no longer fill in Mexico. Pretty simple concept. It costs more than the Squire CV series because it is using better quality materials like the big block trem, full size alpha pots better gauge wiring and cutting cost on the magnets and wood. It is still being made to Fender's standards. You don't like it, then buy a MIM or Squier CV as they are still available. And if you have 1200 bucks or more to spend, get the USA models and feel really good about yourself.
If Fender made the standard like how it was made in Mexico it would cannibalize their MIM Player Series sales. For exactly this reason Fender lowered the specs of the Classic Vibe series a few years ago, the guitars were too good.
Honestly, it just seems like a rebadged Squier it uses the same body and fingerboard material as Squiers but it’s $170 more than the beloved classic vibe series. I say forget the standard series and just buy a fucking Squier. It honestly doesn’t bother me that it’s made in the same factory as the squiers for the price increase, it should have an alder and use Rosewood instead of Indian laurel. See it being worth it, but as is, it just doesn’t look like it’s worth the money especially seeing as how you can get a Schecter PT special if you’re looking for a telecaster that does have an alder body, the pick ups are probably better, it’s made in South Korea (if you know you know), and if it’s like every other Schechter I’ve played/owned the Fret ends will put even the player ii to shame. All that for just $100 more than the new standard series. In short, forget the new standard series it’s pointless either go with the player ii, the Squier classic vibe, or if you’re looking for a telecaster, the Schecter PT special that I mentioned.
The player 2 seems quieter, but much clearer and cleaner, less noisey and harsh
Ceramic vs Alnico. I'd rather have a Classic Vibe Squier than have "Fender" on the headstock.
The glorified Squier sounds muddy clean.
If their going to be made in Indonesia from now on for the standard series why bother buying a fender unless you have to have the word Fender on your head stock.
There are other well made non Mexican And American Brands out there for half the price and if wanting can be upgraded if one is inclined to do so.
I suspect Fender is looking strictly at the dollar and profits and not looking at the quality and reputation but merely relying on the history of the Fender reputation to make profit, sadly an excuse to in future to put up the prices of there MIM and MIA made stock.
Sadly I find it all very disappointing.
Not to mention Sire and Harley Benton. Fender meant something when it was USA and MIM but at this point I do not see a reason to buy new at $599 for something I can get at half the price
I've been begging Fender to bring back the American Standard lineup for years, and what I got was this?
Two words: Used Player
Thank you so much for not using your DAW to enhance the tone quality of those guitars to make thwm sound so amazing 😂😂 most influencers simply lie thru their teeth just to get more money and free things from these companies!
The new ones seem okay, but let's be honest, it's really just a marketing change from calling them Squiers more than anything else, then charging a bit more money because they have a Fender logo on the end of them. Frankly I'm surprised it's taken them this long to actually do it, because it makes economic sense. Although having said that, it has created something of a dilemma for Fender in that we know there are plenty of good Strat copies made in Indonesia which are well under that price point (Jet JS models and Fazley Outlaw series to name just two). These are often under 200 quid, but Fender could not be seen to be sticking a Fender logo on a guitar which was coming in at less 300 quid and still charging four times that for one built in the US with the same logo on it. However...
For a very long time, although it was the marketing notion that it was a Fender if it was made in the US and it was a Squier if made elsewhere, there have been several occasions in the company's past where this was not the case at all, so if anyone thnks this is some drastic new shift by Fender to be putting that logo on things made in Asia, they're a bit behind on their history...
Outsourced Fenders were made in Japan well over forty years ago, and these did have a Fender logo on them, nor was it true that all (or even any) Fenders were US-built for two other short periods in Fender's history. These occasions being twice in the 1980s; once when Fender temporarily closed the Fullerton plant to address CBS QC issues, and a second time when there was a management buy out from CBS which did not include the Fullerton factory, leaving the company without a US production facility until it built one at Corona. In both these instances, all Fenders were made abroad, simply because there was no operational US factory at all.
In addition to this, there were also the Sunn Mustang 'Stratocasters' made during theis period for the European market, which were made for Fender in India at the same factory which made those excellent Encore Strat copies, which were often better made than contemporary US-built Fender Strats, as admitted by Fender itself when it temporarily shut down Fullerton to address QC problems. I have one of those Indian-made Sunn Mustangs, and so I can tell you from personal experience that they are indeed great guitars which are now starting to become quite sought after, although they weigh a ton because they have a mahogany body and the bridge width is ever so slightly narrower than a standard strat, which makes modding them a challenge. Avoid the later ones not made in India with the horrible headstock shape however because they are generally awful.
We also need to remember that Fender also switched their marketing ethos from 'Squiers are the outsourced ones and Fenders are the domestic one' again when they started producing guitars in Mexico with the Fender logo on them. So an outsourced Fender, is not a new thing by any means. It's happened numerous times and in most cases when it did occur in the past, they were actually better guitars than Fender was making at the time. I know this is true, because I have a Chinese Squier Affinity which is far better than my US-built Strat and they are both from the early to mid 2000s.
Back with that Standard however, ceramic pick ups are okay if the bobbin wiring amount and gauge is well matched to the strength of the ceramic magnet and not compromised by cack potentiometers, transistors, wiring, switches, jacks and crappy shielding, as is the case in any budget guitar which cuts costs in these ways. They do sound different to alnico ones though (not necessarily in a bad way, depending on your preference) and you have to drop ceramics away from the strings a bit to avoid affecting the string vibration owing to the strength of ceramic magnets, so if you like your pick ups close to the strings, ceramics are probably not for you.
With regard to the neck and body materials, poplar is a slightly less dense wood than alder, so alder is a bit more resistant to shrinkage and slightly harder to cut and shape, which in addition to cost might be why it was chosen, although they are both hardwoods and do have a fairly similar amount of resonance. You will probably find a lot of hardwood furniture made from poplar and alder, notably kitchen unit doors and such. Some people claim that Poplar produces a bit more upper midrange frequency resonance, but I'm not convinced of that and even if it were true, some EQing could change that that either way, for either wood anyway. Poplar is actually a pretty decent wood for fretboards and it takes dye well, so it can be made to look like other dark woods pretty easily, thus I'm surprised they didn't go for that on the fretboards as well. Laurel is okay though, so this is no big deal although personally, I prefer a maple fretboard anyway and there is currently no production limit on using maple as there is with rosewood, so I'm inclined to think the maple neck versions might be the ones to have, being that they are less of a break with tradition.
I love his voice. He needs to be interviewed and in Hollywood movies
There are a lot of better copies in that price range Sire for example. The only trick fender has is its history with guitar legends.. same as gibson. Take that away and they dissapear in the market.
Standard is darker and less clear in the tones. The player is brighter and more crisp.
do not buy these new standard series, people.
Any reason why not?
@@kerrywilliams8100it’s literally a Squier Affinity without the Squier name.
@@kerrywilliams8100 it's quite literally an overpriced squier affinity with a fender decal on it. fender should be ashamed of themselves
@@kerrywilliams8100 Its an Affinity with better tuners and a larger trem block thats it
@@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy Its not nub
Better Squire Classic Vibe, the Standard are a Squire Affinity with Fender on the Headstock🤣
The difference is that one is a squier
Poplar on standard model?
No, thank you.
I just got a fender vintera 2 strat in mint condition from Nashville for $630. It literally doesn’t make sense to buy this.
For what it's worth, I preferred the sound of the Standard. Call me a heathen.
I never liked the sound of the Player Series Strat pickups. Based on this video looks like the sound of Player II strat pickups isn't any better.
STANDAR❤
The big difference is the standard is squire with about £60 of upgrades and a fender logo on the headstock .an utter shit show from fender .i tried one of these at the weekend they're total crap. a sire s7 is a around the same price and is in a totally different league from this piece of junk
Complete waste of time. Just put fender on a squire headstock
To be honest this new Standard isn’t worth the junk it’s made from. Fender just flooding the market with rebadged guitar shapes made in sweatshops in Asia.
If you honestly think the biggest difference between the two is the place of manufacturing you definitely work in the wrong business 😂
It's wild that people think the Standard series is garbage.
It's for people who want a Fender without paying 800-1000 for a Mexican model. People upgrade electronics and hardware anyways so why does it matter?
Fender elitists make me laugh.
You can get a mint used player series for $400-$500 where I live, it's a much better deal and many have a gig bag or case, some even have a pro set-up. I know, because nobody would buy mine. 😢
The Acoustasonic standard get rosewood...the electric standards get laurel.
Is it me or does the standard series sound better ?
I prefer the player by a lot. The standard sounds very dark
The ceramic pickups are hotter, guy is playing only clean, which tricks you that the less loud one sounds worse after the louder one (that's why we have loudness war in music mastering). I hear what I generally always disliked about ceramic single coil pickups: boomy bass strings, harsh and snappy treble strings, mushy (not a lot of detail or string separation) when playing chords. Proper alnico pickups are more balanced tonally. (credit where it's due, ceramics can work well when playing funky stuff)
Pretty good ceramics vs pretty good alnico Vs. The ceramics have higher output and stay a little bit cleaner but also are a little bit muddy and have rolled off highs. The alnicos have better clarity and dynamics but are borderline too bright/thin in this demo - realistically you aren't using the same amp settings for both these guitars but it's good to show the differences. I'll take lower output pickups with better clarity every time, you can always add gain and EQ to taste.
Different people have different preference, but to me that ceramics sounds like someone threw a blanket over the amp.
Sounds like the pickups in the old Japanese and Mexican guitars. A bit p90-ish. Doesn’t sound like affinity pickups like people are saying
For the money. I'd take the standard and spend the £150 leftover on a pre-wired tex mex loaded pickguard or throw another £30 on top and buy a loaded American pickguard 👌
The player II sounds better. No idea why Fender decided to use ceramic pickups on the new Standard Series.
It’s probably just an Affinity strat with a Fender decal
They want squire there own company but owned bye them they want the lower market for fender there trying to compete with prs. I no fender players hate this but the silver sky se and core took the market. I own fender prs gibby and ephiphone im not a head stock looker if it plays good sounds good it good
Fender has used poplar for decades, on Mexican and American guitars.
Do not buy these used market mims are the way!
Agreed!!
I have a mint blue burst player 2 strat, they have been on sale for $599 for years and I can guarantee nobody will give me more than 450, I would probably have to go to $399 to sell in less than a month, and then deal with 20 rude lowballers who don't show up even if I bend over.
Fender by Squier be ready to see the Classic Vibes disappear imo fender is going to get out of the Squier business and just make shit fenders for 600 bucks and let Harley Benton and co who already make better budget instruments Duke it out
Funny you are downplaying all disadvantages of this guitar...... "honestly"😉
I heard a difference, the Player sounded richer to my ears.
poplar body ? no thanks
Standar not bad
Here we go 100 vs videos my god you content creators are a joke
Fender is going down that slippery slope that Gibson did ! Dangerous and damaging to a iconic brand