Review: Fender Player II Modified Telecaster SH 

Since arriving on the scene in 2018, the Fender Player Series has been one of Fender’s most successful product families in recent years. Combining impressive specs, classic looks and sophisticated electronics and paired with a relatively affordable price-tag, the Player Series is a no-brainer for budding musicians and touring artists looking for a guitar to suit any gig.

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With the brand new Player II Modified Telecaster SH, Fender take this affordable gig-ready ethos and elevate it to a new level altogether. This is a seriously impressive instrument that packs incredible sonic versatility and smooth playability into a sleek, single-cut package.

While the no-frills nature of the original design has typically resulted in the Tele being considered as Fender’s least snazzy electric, this couldn’t be any further from the truth in the case of the Player II Modified Telecaster SH. This is evident straight out of the case, with rolled fretboard edges and an ultra-sleek modern C neck profile and 9.5” radius fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets really letting you glide up and down the furthest reaches of the neck. 

The Fender Player II Modified Telecaster SH ships with either a one-piece maple or slab rosewood fretboard and comes in a range of finishes. Our review unit boasted a classic three-tone sunburst finish with a rosewood fretboard, which felt truly delightful under the fingers and offered a dash more sonic nuance than the pau ferro fretboards of the original Player range. 

These bespoke appointments continue to reveal themselves when you inspect the Modified Telecaster SH’s hardware. A modernised Telecaster bridge allows for superior tuning stability and easy restringing, while the six-block brass saddles help add a touch of extra sustain to any single note flourishes. This is only further improved by Fender’s short post locking tuners and a bone-like TUSQ nut, making it super easy to shred away without any fear of falling out of tune.

Telecaster

Upgraded electronics and new and improved pickups are part of the allure of this fresh Fender Player II range, and it’s here where the Modified Telecaster SH really steps into a league of its own. It’s loaded with a chunky Player II modified humbucker in the neck position and a classic noiseless Telecaster single-coil in the bridge position, effectively recreating the iconic pickup configuration favoured by Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards. 

However, unlike Chief Keith’s famous Micawber Telecaster, the Modified Telecaster SH makes clever use of a push-pull tone knob to split the coils of the neck humbucker and let you tap into traditional single-coil tones. This is a very nifty addition to the guitar that unlocks a whole gamut of tonal possibilities – from quacky funk and twangy country leads through to roaring rock rhythms and beyond, this beast has got it all. 

The litmus test for any great guitar is how it plays unplugged, and the Modified Telecaster SH certainly gets a pass mark here. It’s resonant and rings true, with no clunky frets or design flaws on the neck and body. Plugged into an amplifier, this guitar absolutely sings, with the noiseless pickups ensuring there’s no screeching feedback or unfriendly sounds even when your amp’s cranked up to 11. 

Telecasters are best known for their crystalline clean tones, and while playing through a Fender Princeton tube amp, this guitar really came to life. The character of the bridge pickup lends itself perfectly to fingerpicking and pedal steel-inspired bends, while the middle position is a choice pick for any guitarist dabbling in funk, neo-soul or RnB styles.

The neck humbucker, on the other hand, is articulate and packs plenty of output, letting you go to town with your picking hand to control the dynamics of your tone. In humbucker mode, it sounds thick and juicy without being pressed, and simply screams when you do engage a drive or distortion pedal. 

Searing alternative rock and blues leads come naturally when paired with an overdrive and wah-wah, and with a bit of amp tweaking, you can even encroach on filthy nu-metal territory – if you should please. Conversely, press the tone knob, roll back the gain, and you’ll be treated to a warm single-coil neck tone that invokes the more genteel moments of Jonny Greenwood’s lead work with Radiohead. Is there anything this guitar can’t do?!?

Whether you’re taking your first ever trip to Tele town or you’re a seasoned pro chasing an axe that can keep up with the demands of all your different gigs, it’d be difficult to overlook the sheer value of the Fender Player II Modified Telecaster SH. This guitar looks and feels great, plays even better and sounds incredible for its price-point, and with all the bells and whistles it packs, there’s a fair chance you might never need another guitar in your rack after this one. 

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