PLAY TO WIN

Fender's acclaimed Player Series is celebrating its fifth anniversary and to mark the occasion it's receiving some brand-new colours. Allen Abbassi shares the history behind the best-selling range

-  David Mead, Jamie Dickson

Back in 2018 Fender introduced the Player Series aimed very squarely at guitarists and bass players taking their first steps into the environs of a major brand. Familiar designs that had been seen in the hands of renowned artists for decades were now available to young players who wanted the classic sounds of their forebears with pro-level spec, including C-profile necks, modern 22-fret fingerboards, upgraded bridges and classic F-stamped neckplates. Another undoubted attraction was that the Player Series sat well below the £1k price tag and, most importantly, had that name on the headstock.

During the ensuing five years, the Player Series has gone on to be Fender’s best-selling line, proving popular with a new generation of musicians whom the company continues to nurture and support to this day. The appeal was strong across all genres, too, with newer bands like Turnstile, Beach Bunny and Soccer Mommy leading the charge with their own brand of pop and rock.