I was at Costco today getting a tire repaired (It was covered under warranty. Thank God!). It was going to take over TWO HOURS to get my tire fixed. Praise the LORD! Do you know why? Because within walking distance of my local Costco is my local Guitar Center. After I dropped off the car, I wandered over to GC.
Whenever I visit my local GC, I spend time with my good friend, the lone left-handed guitar in the store, a Tidepool Blue Fender Player Stratocaster. OK, it’s not the lone left-handed guitar, but it is damn well close. They’ve got a Gibson LP that I have to ask the staff to climb up to the top level to unlock for me. It’s not only high up on the wall, but the price is so high for me that I get nosebleeds thinking about it. There’s also a lefty Fender Player Telecaster. It’s so heavy that I pretend it’s not there. To be honest, I breakdown and pick it up whenever I’m in the store.
I know exactly where I can find it. It doesn’t seem to move around the store very much. Probably not too many lefties around to pick it up. Or…I’m at the store so much that there isn’t much time for it to move around.
The Tidepool blue is beautiful. I think lefty Player strats only come in Black, White, Sunburst, and Tidepool Blue.
Fender Player Stratocasters
I’m not in the market for a Made-in-Mexico strat. My eye is on a new Epiphone Casino. However, for all the folks out there thinking about a new guitar, an MIM strat deserves serious consideration. The lefties only come in the classic SSS configuration, but righties are available in SSS, HSS, and HSH versions. I’ve found them really comfortable. The satin necks are great to the touch, and I enjoy the C profile. The fretboard edges could use a little rolling, but it’s nothing that you will find uncomfortable.
It might be the demo model I’m familiar with in the store, but the Player strats are lighter than I expected. I’m coming from an Epiphone Les Paul, so that might not be that much of a comparison. That said, I found the weight difference a welcome change. To learn more, read about it online.
The pickups sound great and deliver the signature Fender Stratocaster sparkle and chime. It is truly a temptation. I’ve had a Tidepool Blue sitting in my online shopping cart for quite a while.
Guitar World: Fender Player Stratocaster Review
The new Fender Player Series 2 guitars are rumored to be just around the corner. The Fender Player Strats are currently on clearance. You can find them for $679 at most of the major retailers and online.
If you’re one of the many folks who have a Player strat at home, share your thoughts with us in the comments below.