Fender Player Plus Telecaster Review: vs Player

Hello, I am Yosh(@Yosh_Guitar), an ex-musical instrument store clerk in Japan. In this article, I will review the Fender Player Plus Telecaster and Player Plus Nashville Telecaster, which I recommend to those:

• Looking for a guitar ideal for home recording and SNS.
• Wanting a versatile Telecaster that can be used across a wide range of genres.
• Looking for an easy-to-play guitar as an upgrade from a beginner’s guitar.

Pros of Player Plus Telecaster

Easy-to-Play Modern Specialized Performance

Adopting a modern style that specializes in playability. The fretboard has a slightly flat 12-inch radius, and with medium jumbo-sized frets, you can press the strings with minimal effort. The fretboard side is also rounded with a modern C-shaped neck, making it comfortable to grip. The back of the body also has contours, improving its feel when held.

Locking Machine head/6-way Saddle for Stable Tuning

While traditional Telecaster bridge saddles have three, the Player Plus series adopts six saddles similar to the Strat. This enhances the accuracy of octave tuning adjustment for each string. Additionally, with a locking machine head, tuning becomes more stable. You can lock the strings without any tools, making string replacement quick and easy.

Equipped with Newly Developed Dedicated Noiseless Pickup

The Player Plus series features a newly developed noiseless pickup. The manufacturer’s site mentions, “It offers a warm and sweet Telecaster twang tone while suppressing hum noise.” Personally, it feels like a clear and manageable Telecaster sound, “within the Telecaster range.” It also pairs well with pedals and digital equipment, making it versatile across various genres.

Wider Sound Creation than Traditional Telecaster

There are two models: the Player Plus Telecaster with the usual two single-coil pickups and the Player Plus Nashville Telecaster with an added center pickup. The Player Plus Telecaster, equipped with two Player Plus Noiseless Telecaster pickups, switches the two pickups to series connection by pulling the tone pot, resulting in a louder and more powerful sound.

The Player Plus Nashville Telecaster, equipped with two Player Plus Noiseless Telecaster pickups and one Player Plus Noiseless Stratocaster pickup, features a 5-way selector similar to the Strat and a push-pull pot that can add the front pickup. This allows for Strat-like half-tones and the original Telecaster center position with all three pickups in parallel connection. Essentially, you get the sound creation of both a Telecaster and a Strat in one guitar.

Cons of Player Plus Telecaster

Pau Ferro Fretboard

Currently, Fender does not offer rosewood fretboard models, and the commonly used alternative, Pau Ferro, is adopted. According to Fender, it looks and sounds close to rosewood. However, in my opinion, the sound is harder than rosewood. In other words, there are fretboards of both maple and Pau Ferro, but there is no big difference in sound, so you can choose based on appearance.

Less Fender-like Due to Modernity

The Player Plus series has modernized both playability and sound, so those who want the classic Fender style might be disappointed. The modern style series from Fender hasn’t been a best-seller in Japan. In the Japanese market, the demand for Fender’s uniqueness is significant. Seeking comforts, such as the body back contour and the improved pitch due to the 6-saddle, can lead to a loss of that uniqueness. However, it’s loved by those who like the Fender brand while seeking versatility and convenience. And, the modern-style Fenders were made in America and were priced in the $2,000 range. Given that price, there were many competitors in the modern style guitar category from other brands. The Player Plus series, priced in the early $1,000, offers a modern style that has fewer alternatives from other brands, meeting different needs than before.

Comparison with Player Telecaster

Specification	Player Plus	Player
Market Price	Player Plus: $1,099.99 Nashville: $1,129.99	$849.99
Body	Alder	Alder
Body Finish	Gloss Polyester	Gloss Polyester
Neck	Maple	Maple
Neck Finish	Satin Urethane	Satin Urethane
Neck Shape	Modern C	Modern C
Fretboard	Maple or Pau Ferro	Maple or Pau Ferro
Fretboard Radius	12″ (305mm)	9.5″ (241 mm)
Frets	22, Medium Jumbo	22, Medium Jumbo
Nut Width	1.685″ (42.8mm)	1.650″ (42 mm)
Pegs	Locking/Deluxe Cast	Standard Cast
Scale	25.5″ (648mm)	25.5″ (648mm)
Bridge	6 Block Saddle	6 Block Saddle
Pickups	Player Plus Noiseless Telecaster	Player Alnico 5 Tele
Controls	Volume, Tone 1 (Front/Middle), Tone 2 (Rear)	Volume, Tone 1 (Front/Middle), Tone 2 (Rear)
Tone Push-Pull	Player Plus: Series Connection Nashville: Add Front Pickup	None
Country of Production	Mexico	Mexico

The Player Plus series and the cheapest Fender brand, the Player series, have a price difference of $160. Overall, the price difference is reasonable. The most significant difference felt when trying both was the playability. Especially the neck edges are rounded, and more effort has been put into aspects other than the specs, improving the playing feel. Another significant difference is the sound and its variation. The Player Stratocaster has a slightly lower output, producing the classic Fender sound. In contrast, the Player Plus has a clear, balanced sound typical of noiseless pickups. The unique wiring that provides the traditional Telecaster sound +α offers usable sound variations.

Player Telecaster is recommended for:

• Those who desire the Fender brand but are looking for something affordable.
• Those who want the classic, signature sound of Fender.

Player Plus Telecaster is recommended for:

• Those searching for a backup guitar suitable for home recording, like for single coils.
• Those who want a versatile and handy guitar but have been wary of ones that are too modern.
• Non-guitarist players, like bassists, want to have one electric guitar in their collection.