A modern take on Fullerton shapes and a blend of Fender and Gibson attributes strikes a sweet middle ground.
A stylish alternative to classic Fender profiles that delivers sonic versatility. Great playability.
Split-coil sounds are a little on the thin side. Be sure to place it on the stand carefully!
$1,149
Fender Player Plus Meteora HH
fender.com
After many decades of sticking with flagship body shapes, Fender spent the last several years getting more playful via their Parallel Universe collection. The Meteora, however, is one of the more significant departures from those vintage profiles. The offset, more-angular profile was created by Fender designer Josh Hurst and first saw light of day as part of the Parallel Universe Collection in 2018. Since then, it has headed in both upscale and affordable directions within the Fender lineup—reaching the heights of master-built Custom Shop quality in the hands of Ron Thorn, and now in this much more egalitarian guise as the Player Plus Meteora HH.
Body profile and humbuckers aside, the Meteora is very much a Fender, with a bolt-on neck, 25.5" scale length, and that iconic headstock profile with spaghetti logo. Even closer examination reveals an impressive array of features that make it an extra-impressive instrument for the price, and a cool alternative to traditional Fender offerings.
Comet Club
The Mexico-built Player Plus Meteora HH comes in three finishes—cosmic jade, Belair blue, or silverburst (as seen on our review sample)—all of which help the guitar cut a dashing figure on stage.The body is made from solid alder, a go-to Fender tonewood since the late ’50s. Lightweight stocks of this timber have been getting harder to come by in bulk, and perhaps as a result the review guitar tips a little toward the heavy side at around 8.4 pounds. Then again, the Meteora’s body is bigger than, say, a Stratocaster, which adds a bit to the weight. Forearm and ribcage contours enhance playing comfort significantly, and the guitar balances surprisingly well on the lap (almost certainly one of Hurst’s design mandates). The sharply sloped lower bout, however, makes it tricky to lean against an amp safely. Keep that in mind before you turn your back on it.
The neck is fashioned from a single piece of maple and 22 medium-jumbo frets are arrayed across the 12" radius fretboard, which measures 1.685" at the synthetic-bone nut (Belair blue and cosmic jade versions feature a pau ferro fretboard). The neck is carved in Fender’s popular “Modern C” profile, which feels great in hand, and the overall ergonomics are aided by a nicely rolled fretboard edge. The single-action truss rod can be adjusted at the headstock, which is home to Fender’s deluxe sealed locking tuners and a modern roller string tree for the first and second strings—all of which means you can use the two-post synchronized tremolo with a little more peace of mind. The return-to-pitch capabilities are impressive.
Though the fresh body profile may be the initial draw for many, the electronics—and the possibilities they enable—will probably seal the deal for a lot of prospective customers. They certainly make the guitar a lot of fun to explore. The relatively new Fireball humbuckers look a lot like smaller Fender Wide Range pickups. Under the covers, though, they are pretty standard PAF-style humbuckers, with adjustable pole pieces in all six positions of each coil, though half of these are inaccessible with the cover on.
This pickup recipe makes the Meteora a world’s-your-oyster kind of performer.
And while the name implies that the Fireballs are hot, the specs are similar to medium-wind alnico humbuckers, with the neck reading around 7.24k ohms DC resistance and 4.0 henries inductance, and the bridge measuring 7.68k ohms and 4.5 henries. The pickups are wired through a 3-way toggle switch on the upper horn, with a master volume and dedicated tone controls for each pickup below. The volume knob also functions as a push-button switch to split the coils of both pickups.
Silver Stars
Tested through a Friedman Dirty Shirley Mini and 2x12, a tweed Deluxe-style 1x12 combo, and a Neural DSP Quad Cortex into the studio monitors, the Player Plus Meteora HH reveals a fairly traditional and even vintage-leaning sonic range that contrasts with its moon-shot looks. The not-too-hot humbuckers sound clear and open and generate relatively little amp breakup at modest volumes, which I’d say is a good thing, as it enables a wider range of touch sensitivity than high-gain humbuckers usually allow.
This pickup recipe makes the Meteora a world’s-your-oyster kind of performer. With a cranked amp, lead channel, or overdrive (in this case a Tsakalis Six and Wampler Tumnus Deluxe), the Meteora produces sizzling power-chord and rhythm sounds and singing lead tones with ease, with rich, articulate cleans at the ready when I backed the guitar volume down. It’s hard to gauge how much effect the maple neck and alder body have on the humbucker voicings. But expect the Meteora to sound better balanced and crisper compared with the average PAF-equipped instrument. There’s very little mud and the coil-split tones are nice and jangly—although, as with many split humbuckers, they’re a little on the thin side without a booster or compressor engaged. Still, they do the trick, and add another useful arrow to the Meteora HH’s already packed quiver.
The Verdict
Players in love with unconventional looks who enjoy a twist on traditional PAF-style sounds will find a lot to like in the Player Plus Meteora HH. The guitar packs a wide range of clean-to-mean tones, offers easy playability, and is made super versatile by tone controls and coil-splitting options that dramatically expand its tone palette. Dual humbuckers mated to a 25.5" scale is always a cool proposition, and the Meteora’s marriage of Fender and Gibson attributes is a great way to split the difference.
Fender Player Plus Meteora HH Demo | First Look
The revamped and futuristic Meteora guitars and basses are announced in partnership with artists Portugal. The Man, Japanese Breakfast, and more.
A completely new shape for a Fender guitar, the legacy of the Meteora has yet to be claimed by an artist, genre or era. Artists taking part in the launch of the Player Plus Meteora include creators that synonymously reflect a perfect storm of unexpected sonic elements, such as experimental pop band Japanese Breakfast helmed by Michelle Zauner, rapper Teezo Touchdown recognized for his larger-than-life persona and blend of pop punk and trap sounds and “Fed Up” artist Ghostemane known for merging elements of heavy metal, hip-hop and industrial music. Indie rock crooners and Fender gear fanatics Portugal. The Man will support by performing hit tracks on tour like “Feel It Still” while jamming on a Player Plus Meteora.
Player Plus Meteora HH
Fusing innovative Fender design with player-centric features and new finishes, the Player Plus Meteora delivers superb playability and unmistakable style. A set of powerful FireballTM humbucking pickups blend the perfect amount of gain with great string-to-string note clarity. An S-1TM switch activates the coil-split, delivering crystal-clear single-coil tones. The silky satin Modern “C” neck fits your hand like a glove, with smooth rolled edges for supreme comfort. The 12” radius fingerboard and 22 medium jumbo frets facilitate fluid leads and choke-free bends. Smooth and responsive, the 2-point tremolo provides classic vibrato effects, while the locking tuners provide rock-solid tuning and make string changes quick and easy. $1,149.99 USD.
Player Plus Active Meteora Bass
Fusing innovative Fender design with player-centric features and new finishes, the Player Plus Active Meteora Bass delivers superb playability and unmistakable style. Powered by a pair of Fireball Bass Humbucking pickups, the Player Plus Active Meteora Bass delivers the punch and growl that defines Fender bass tone. A 3- band active EQ provides precise tone-shaping with switchable active/passive operation for ultimate flexibility. The Player Plus Active Meteora Bass neck is sleek, fast and smooth thanks to its silky satin finish, comfortable rolled edges on a 12” inch radius fingerboard and modern “C” back-shape. A rock-solid HiMass bridge provides sustain resonance and perfect intonation. $1,199.99 USD.
Features
- Modern “C” Neck with Rolled Edges with a discerning moderate depth and softened edges.
- 12” Radius Fretboard provides a flatter playing surface that allows more aggressive bending without "choking out."
- Medium Jumbo Frets allow players to fret and bend notes easier, ideal for high speed playing.
- Modern Nut Width for intricate and precise picking patterns.
- Player Plus “Fireball” Humbucking Pickups produce powerful, thick tones with reduced hum.
- Advanced Switching Options for easy access to a wide array of tonal possibilities.
- High-performance Bridges deliver smoother, more precise tremolo action and modern feel in the Player Plus Meteora HH and provide improved sustain, stability and intonation in the Player Plus Meteora Bass.
- Locking Tuners (on Meteora HH only) give players impeccable tuning stability and make string changes seamless.
- Active Bass Preamp provides versatility of both passive and active modes and easy-to-use controls giving players a wide range of tonal possibilities.
Introducing The Player Plus Meteora Series | Fender
For additional information on new Fender products and to find a retail partner near you, visit www.fender.com.