FENDER PLAYER PLUS METEORA HH

19
JUNE 2022 GUITARIST
FENDER PLAYER PLUS METEORA HH
UNDER THE HOOD
Does the Meteora’s modernist outline refl ect
what’s going on inside? Let’s take a look…
T
here’s a very simple circuit under the large
scratchplate that uses a pair of CTS 500k
audio taper pots (both measured slightly
under their nominal value) for the twin tone
controls; both tone caps are 0.1 microfarads
(104k code). The easy-to-identify S-1 volume pot
has no value indicator (we’re presuming 500k)
and there’s no treble bleed circuit, either. “We
tried it both ways and liked the roll-off without
the treble bleed,” Fender tells us. “Some pickups
– and players – like the natural roll-off better.”
And why go for a master volume and twin tone
setup, rather than individual pickup volumes and
a master tone? “We tested both configurations.
We went with this layout because it keeps control
of the volume close to your hand – like a Strat.”
One intriguing aspect is that after removing
the scratchplate we notice the body is routed for
a middle single coil. Yup, there’s a Meteora HSH
on the cards… or maybe an HSS! And the rout cut
under the three-way toggle switch will easily fit a
five-way lever switch. It also seems, then, that it’s
ready for us modders, but rather like that Am Pro
Shawbucker Delxue with its large scratchplate
and loads of screws, removing and refixing the
11-screw ’plate here takes a while. Unlike that
Deluxe, the pickups are mounted in their own
rings, not on the scratchplate.
As to the Fireballs, “we tried every humbucking
pickup we could find, including the Double Tap
sets in American Pro II, the American Ultra Luxe
Double Tap sets, even some one-offs from limited
editions – and probably a couple of Shawbuckers
at some point – all to get a sense of which ones
resonated with the body and necks,” Fender tells
us. “We ended up with this new set we really
love that serves sparkling clean players, big gain
players and in between as well. There are some
similarities to Shawbuckers, but there are key
differences… the Fireball humbucking pickups
are potted and have no gasket, plus we added
turns in a unique way that opens up the top-end,
which worked really well with the Meteora.”
Neither pickup has any ID on its baseplate,
though we have the four visible solder terminals
to which the four-conductor wire is hooked up.
Both pickups have similar DCRs: 7.48kohms
(bridge) and 7.43k (neck). “By design, the bridge
pickup has more turns and output than the neck
pickup. The bridge pickup with the added turns
has a slightly different response that works well
with the neck pickup – the middle switch position
liked the subtle difference as well.”
Under those covers, the coils are wound with
42 AWG wire and both use Alnico II magnets.
The coils in each “feature all screw bobbins, and
all the screws are facing upward”, says Fender,
unlike the original ‘Wide Range’ design.
The body is routed for
a middle single coil,
indicating a future
Meteora model
There’s no ID on the Fireball humbuckers.
Note the two height-adjustment screws
on the bass side that can be used to
precisely tilt the pickups
The simple circuit here employs
twin tone controls and that
large S-1 switched volume pot
GIT485.rev_fender.indd 19GIT485.rev_fender.indd 19 12/04/2022 10:0912/04/2022 10:09