Fender Player Plus Stratocaster (2022), Pau Ferro Fingerboard, Aged Candy Apple Red (Pre-Owned)

The Fender Player Plus Stratocaster takes one of the most recognisable electric guitar designs in history and introduces a collection of practical, modern refinements. Made in Mexico in 2022, this example features a distinctive Aged Candy Apple Red metallic finish, which has a rich copper-red appearance, complemented by a dark tortoiseshell pickguard, cream pickup covers and a pau ferro fingerboard. The overall effect is classic Fender styling with a slightly more contemporary personality.

At the heart of the instrument are three Player Plus Noiseless Strat pickups, designed to retain the clarity, sparkle and dynamic response of traditional Stratocaster single-coils while greatly reducing unwanted hum. The familiar five-way selector provides the usual range of pickup combinations, while a push-pull switch on the second tone control adds the neck pickup to the bridge and bridge/middle settings. This provides two additional combinations, including the particularly useful bridge-and-neck pairing. From clean funk rhythms and blues to punchy rock tones, the Player Plus offers considerable musical flexibility.

Playability is another particular strength of this model. The satin-finished Modern C maple neck has comfortably rolled fingerboard edges, while the flatter 12-inch fingerboard radius and 22 medium jumbo frets make string bending and lead playing especially accommodating. The two-point tremolo offers smooth pitch modulation, with locking tuners helping maintain tuning stability and simplifying string changes. Combining familiar Stratocaster sounds with contemporary specifications, this is a versatile instrument for players who appreciate traditional design without feeling obliged to preserve every historical inconvenience.