Fender Player Stratocaster
KEY FEATURES: Alder body with gloss
polyester finish, 648mm [25.5"] scale
bolt-on maple neck, 241mm [9.5"]
radius maple fingerboard with gloss
urethane finish, 22 medium jumbo
frets, 3 x Player Series Alnico 5 single
coil pickups, 1 x volume, 2 x tone,
five-way pickup selector blade switch
FINISH: Tidepool [as reviewed],
Buttercream, Black and 3-Colour
Sunburst, Sonic Red, Sage Green
Metallic, Polar White CONTACT:
0845 305 1122 fender.com
at a gLance
KEY FEATURES: Offset solid ash body
and figured ash top with gloss finish,
satin finish 648mm [25.5"] scale
bolt-on maple neck and 240mm [9.4"]
radius maple fingerboard, 22 jumbo
frets, 3 x Chapman Venus Witch Zerø
single coil pickups, master volume,
master tone, five-way pickup selector
blade switch, chrome two-point vibrato
with brass block and saddles FINISH:
Coffee [as reviewed] and Lunar
CONTACT: chapmanguitars.com
at a gLance
TOTAL GUITAR DECEMBER 2018
100
Nice looking guitar. Shame I prefer a slicker, satin-finish neck...
If that’s your preference, then you’re well in here. While the
Player’s headstock face and ngerboard are coated in a gloss
urethane, the rest of the C-pro le neck has a satin urethane feel.
It’s your classic ‘best of both worlds’ scenario. The neck has
vintage spec good looks but your hand won’t get stuck when your
palm gets clammy...
Are these classic-sounding Fender single coils?
They are slightly higher gain than say 50s and 60s Strat pups but,
This thing looks too good to be true for less than 500 quid...
The ML-1 Traditional de nitely punches above its price tag in the
looks department. Allowing the ash top to shine through, and
exposing its edges for a natural body binding e ect, gives the guitar
a boutique vibe.
Has it got the usual fire-breathing Chapman pickups?
Nope. Despite the ridiculous name, you have to admire Chapman’s
restraint here. These direct-mounted Venus Witch Zerø things are
proper vintage-voiced single coils. A smart move. There’s no point
yeah, those iconic ‘glassy’ clean tones, and Jimi Hendrix
Little Wing
in-between sounds, are all present and correct with the Player.
Fender has also tweaked this model to o er a dedicated bridge
tone control.
What’s the deal with the vibrato?
Unlike vintage six-screw Stratocaster models, the Player’s vibrato
has two pivot points, Floyd Rose style. Used on its US-made guitars
for years, this arrangement gives the vibrato an ultra-smooth feel.
While you don’t get locking bits and bobs here, the Player’s tuning
stability is excellent.
speccing an ash body if you’re going to muzzle its natural voice with
a set of overwound pickups.
How’s the playability?
It’s damn good. Big frets and lightly-rolled ngerboard edges make
the neck incredibly easy to navigate. Given the brand’s metal
heritage we expected this Chapman to come with a super- at
ngerboard radius. Instead, it’s almost identical in feel to the
Fender. The bottom line with this Chapman? The ML-1 Traditional
looks like a modern rock guitar but it has bags of old-school feel
and charm...
FENDER PLAYER
STRATOCASTER
The original. Still the best?
CHAPMAN ML-1
TRADITIONAL
Metalheads go old-school...
TH
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AS
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T
A
T
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£559
£429
TGR313.gear_test.indd 100 11/8/18 5:17 PM