Featuring upgraded specs and vintage colors, with rosewood fretboards, modern necks, and chambered body options.
Julien Baker with Fender Player II Series
Since its inception in 2018, the Player Series has shown nearly 30% consecutive year-over-year growth globally and holds rank as Fender's best-selling range of electric guitars of all time due to its accessible features that both capture the imagination of new players and satisfy the demands of more experienced guitarists alike. Available now, the Player II Series takes the best of its predecessor's features and improves them with upgraded specs like rosewood fingerboards, modern “C” necks with rolled edges, and new vintage colors from the vaults exemplifying the innovation, culture, community, and lifestyle synonymous with Fender Electrics.
All Day and All of the Night: The All New Player II Series | Fender
The 2024 campaign for the Player II Series, “The All New Player II” marks one of Fender's most significant debuts yet. It begins with a film blending four distinctive renditions of The Kinks' timeless hit, "All Day & All of the Night," set in unique environments. For the film, All Day and All of the Night: The All New Player II Series | Fender, Fender has partnered with acclaimed artists Julien Baker, singer-songwriter from Memphis, and 1/3 of boygenius, DIIV, influential indie rock band, content creator, and touring bassist (Fever 333) April Kae and alternative rock trio Wallows.
“The Player II Series represents our continued evolution in design and functionality,” said Justin Norvell, EVP of Product, FMIC. “We listened to the feedback from musicians around the world and incorporated their insights to refine and innovate our instruments. The re-introduction of rosewood fingerboards is a restoration of the ‘original Fender recipe’ and will no doubt be a fan favorite - but we didn’t want to stop there. We’ve also incorporated our rolled fingerboard edges for a broken-in feel, upgraded hardware, and have some new body options as well- which underscores our commitment to providing players and creators with the tools they need to express their unique sound and style. The Player II Series is not just an upgrade, it's a detailed re-imagining of our core silhouettes, highlighting our dedication to quality and the continuous refinement of our instruments.”
Models
Additionally, Player II offers new options for chambered ash and chambered mahogany bodies for the Player II Stratocaster and Telecaster models, which will be available in October. Designed for musicians ready to elevate their craft, the Player II Series sets a new standard for quality and performance in the mid-price range. Series includes:
- Player II Stratocaster
- Player II HSS Stratocaster
- Player II Telecaster
- Player II Jazzmaster
- Player II Jaguar
- Player II Mustang
- Player II LH Stratocaster
- Player II HH Telecaster
- Player II LH Telecaster
- Player II Precision Bass
- Player II Jazz Bass
- Player II Mustang Bass
“Music is about a multisensory experience and the P-Bass provides that. It feels great to wear, it sounds great and it looks incredible. It’s classic but always feels current. It always feels relevant and that’s not something that can be said about any product let alone a guitar.” April Kae.
“This guitar feels like a magic guitar that fell into my hands and it’s perfect. I feel like I’m constantly chasing that one guitar and this is just perfect.” Zachary Cole Smith, DIIV
“The Player II Series Stratocaster feels like a great guitar and I was impressed by how it played very easy and simple. The tones are great. I think people are going to enjoy it.” Braeden Lemasters, Wallows
For more information, please visit fender.com.
Player II Sessions ft. Wallows | Player II Series Stratocaster | Fender
boygenius
Gretsch introduces the limited-edition boygenius Broadkaster Jr., honoring the three-time Grammy winning supergroup of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus.
“I wish this had been my first guitar,” said boygenius.
With Vintage-style Gretsch Bezels and Pickguard, along with Electromatic Filter’TronTM Pickups this signature instrument provides classic design with modern flourish—all at an accessible price point. When conceptualizing this instrument, boygenius wanted to put an emphasis on accessibility. The trio go out of their way to put the fans at the center of their universe and this signature Broadkaster is no exception. This guitar is specially designed for beginners and seasoned pros alike ensuring that players of all backgrounds have the opportunity to harness boygenius’ unique sonic palette to help navigate their own musical journey. The band’s signature Broadkaster Jr. model includes Electromatic Filter’TronTM pickups, vintage-style Trapeze Tailpiece, custom boygenius Fingerboard Inlays, Nickel Head Badge with boygenius signatures, and of course, a boygenius logo on the back of the headstock.
boygenius' Gretsch Broadkaster Jr.
Features
- Electromatic Filter’Tron Pickups
- Vintage-style Gretsch trapeze tailpiece
- Custom boygenius fingerboard inlays & a nickel head badge adorned with boygenius signatures and logo.
- boygenius opted for stylistic choices such as a smaller body shape with no bigsby and full-size filtertron pickups, and making it black to fit their aesthetic.
- An accessible price point of $699.99, it is an ideal choice for aspiring artists, ensuring all fans have the opportunity to craft the signature sounds that define boygenius’s style.
Introducing the Gretsch Limited Edition boygenius Broadkaster Jr. | Gretsch Guitars
When booked for a triple-bill tour in late 2018, the three solo artists decided to record a joint 7" single to sell on the merch table. The 7” became 2018’s self-titled six-song EP. After the EP’s breakout success it became clear that Baker, Bridgers and Dacus had created something far more potent than they had anticipated. Praised for their haunting lyrics, soaring harmonies, and the seamless alchemy between each member’s unique musical sensibilities, boygenius have pioneered a singular approach to crafting emotionally driven songs which has carved them a vital space amongst the pantheon of modern-day music. On the heels of the record’s success, boygenius released the rest, which includes four new songs.
Fans worldwide can purchase the Gretsch Limited Edition boygenius Broadkaster Jr. through the band's merch store at https://boygenius.store/. To learn more and view product descriptions, click here. Product photos and images of the Gretsch Limited Edition boygenius Broadkaster Jr. can be found here.
For technical specs, additional information on new Gretsch products and to find a retail partner near you, visit www.gretschguitars.com.
On Black Midi's Cavalcade, Geordie Greep’s fretwork is an example of the 6-string as a capable component as much as a solo instrument, never completely stealing the show.
Popular music and mainstream tastes may be more fractured than ever, but the guitar continues to thrive.
As we soft launch into the new year, I’m not waiting for the requisite guitar obituary in the news. It’s not going to happen again anytime soon. Why? Because as far as the mainstream media is concerned, our beloved instrument is not only dead, it's irrelevant to the point of not even being an afterthought. When the New York Times published their most recent albums of the year list, there was barely a guitar-based recording to be found. Still, there is not only hope, but also cause for jubilation.
The crush of Covid has been good to the guitar industry. As I’ve written before, manufacturers and retailers have reported brisk 6-string sales. And like other builders, I have sold everything I can make. So, beyond the hoarding factor, that means there’s a new crop of players bubbling up, which should make its way onto the recording and performance scene before too long. But that doesn’t necessarily mean there are hordes of rock clones blasting AC/DC- and Zeppelin-style riffs in suburban garages.
The guitar—acoustic or electric—is again a true ensemble instrument, and it’s easy to find evidence amongst the scores of releases from 2021.
What I’m seeing outside of blues, bro-country, and Americana circles is the guitar used in an orchestral way. The guitar—acoustic or electric—is again a true ensemble instrument, and it’s easy to find evidence amongst the scores of releases from 2021.
In African music, the guitar continues to be a driving force as a rhythm and single-note-phrase component in the tradition of Ali Farka Touré. The current incarnation, in electric form, is illustrated in Mdou Moctar’s “Afrique Victime,” where piercing Stratocaster figures punctuate and urge the music along. The title song’s upbeat crackle of single-coil spank dances in a joyful way that belies the dark message of the lyrics. It’s a sound that’s made its way into more than a few genres, including reggae and hip-hop.
Mdou Moctar - "Afrique Victime" (Edit) (Official Music Video)
An album finding its way into the year’s best-of lists is Sour by Olivia Rodrigo. This Disney-star-turned-teenage-misanthrope has earned a lot of attention. Her single “Brutal” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart with distorted guitar riffs and an angsty storyline. Unlike most pop offerings, the song’s intro begins with a full-on distorted power-chord riff reminiscent of Elvis Costello’s “Pump It Up.” The resulting combination of sweet and sarcastic has given the song a sort of anti-Taylor Swift status. The official video is like a mesmerizing Sukeban version of “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” where the cheerleaders are the band. I loved it but view at your own peril.
Olivia Rodrigo - brutal (Official Video)
Fans of angular riffs and funky rhythms might like to check out Black Midi’s second studio album, Cavalcade. They’ve been compared to off-center bands like Primus, but they’re capable of weaving dreamscapes as ethereal as Mazzy Star. Despite their math-rock leanings, the band is capable of genre-bending compositions that prominently feature textural guitars in an almost jazz-like manner. Geordie Greep’s flexible fretwork is an example of the 6-string used as a capable component as much as a solo instrument, never completely stealing the show.
black midi - Full Performance (Live on KEXP at Home)
In a more familiar format, singer/guitarist Tamara Lindeman fronts the Canadian folk band the Weather Station, whose long-established instrumentation of guitars, bass, and drums carries on the traditional guitar role as a rhythm and solo voice. There’s no mistaking that the spotlight is solidly on Lindeman, who handles the rhythm guitar duties on a vintage-style Kay hollowbody, yet there’s plenty of interplay with (ex-Constantines) guitarist Will Kidman. The band’s 2021 album, Ignorance, has made a lot of best-of lists with its airy, folk-based sound. It’s clear this format isn’t going away anytime soon.
The Weather Station - Robber (Official Video)
Another artist whose use of guitar illustrates the instrument as an important puzzle piece is Julien Baker, whose Little Oblivions was released last year. Most often seen with a black-guard Telecaster, Baker handles both electric and acoustic guitar duties on this self-produced album. Although I wouldn’t describe her as a shredder, the guitar plays an important role (alongside keyboards) in her music. Once again, I think that this is precisely the kind of format that is keeping the guitar relevant as an ingredient of popular music.
Julien Baker - "Hardline" (Official Music Video)
Continuing in a dystopian theme, Illuminati Hotties’ “Threatening Each Other Re: Capitalism,” from the album Let Me Do One More, floats like a winsome butterfly and stings like a bulldozer. Supported with plodding chords and a dirge-like tempo, singer/songwriter/producer/engineer Sarah Tudzin lays out her vision of the American dream run amok with a catchy melody line and dark humor. Raised on Green Day and other pop-punk, it’s clear that Tudzin sees the guitar and bass as essential to her music.
illuminati hotties - Threatening Each Other Re: Capitalism (Lyric Video)
Despite having been disappointed by the lack of guitar bands populating the year’s best-of lists, I’ve found some interesting and vibrant new music that uses the guitar as a sonic chameleon—which is one of the things I like best about its capabilities. I always remind myself that music is really all about the song, not the guitarist. If you’re not convinced, there’s always Americana, because even the worst country songs still have amazing guitar playing.