Fender’s Player II Mod Strat is almost identical to the American Ultra II — but costs less than half the price. In this video, I compare them head-to-head and explain why this might be Fender’s smartest move yet. 🎸 Thanks to Sweetwater for sponsoring this video and sending the Player II Mod for review. You can check out both guitars at the links below — it helps support the channel. 🧠 In my opinion, this guitar marks a bigger shift in the industry. As income inequality rises and younger players have less to spend, brands like Fender are leaning into value-focused gear to keep future players in the fold — and I think that’s just the beginning. 🎁 Plus — I’m giving away my favorite ribbon mic (AEA R92)! Details below. 🚨 Enter to with an AEA R92 Ribbon Mic Here ⬇️ https://kingsumo.com/g/3l5gqp1/rhett-shulls-aea-r92-mic-giveaway 🎸 Links to the gear ⬇️ Fender Player II Mod Stratocaster (affiliate link) https://sweetwater.sjv.io/4G2Wdr Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster (affiliate link) https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xLONnR Other Stuff in the Player II Mod Series (affiliate links) Telecaster https://sweetwater.sjv.io/55K7j3 HSS Stratocaster https://sweetwater.sjv.io/e1aARX Check out the Revv D25 Joey Landreth Edition (affiliate link) https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Qj06KM and also the AEA R92 Ribbon Mic (affiliate link) https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jeVO1v 0:00 Intro 1:12 Thanks to Sweetwater for sponsoring this video 2:00 Let's hear the guitars back to back 3:42 Heres the signal flow 4:56 My initial thoughts on the Player II Mod 6:51 There was a problem though 7:36 The new pickups 8:13 Let's hear the Player II Mod on its own 9:45 Lets look at the American Ultra II 11:32 Let's hear the American Ultra II on its own 12:39 What is Fender thinking? 14:25 They're hedging their bets 16:50 Wrap up