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New Fender Player 2 Modified Series

#41
I think the new Player Modified Range basses are based on the Player Plus but now have tapered shafts on the tuners and they’ve gone back to having 9.5” radius finger boards (which have also been changed back to being in Rosewood in lieu of Pau Ferro). Not sure what Fender mean about an “improved EQ” which they refer to on their web site?

Different style lettering on the headstock too.

Disappointingly only available in Right Handed now (thanks a lot Fender) as are all their other basses now apart from the Professional Range.
 
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#43
Well I guess you can say that I am a fan of the Player II Modified Jazz and Precision Basses.
Fender Active Basses.jpg

The Silver Smoke on the left is the Player Plus Active P Bass and the two on the right are both Player II Modifieds. The two P basses sound similarish although it is a little hard to tell since the Modified is newer meaning the strings are newer as well. But they are both in the same ballpark. I can picture them sounding more similar after playing the Modified more in the next month or so.

The Passive tone control is nice although I have no intention of playing these basses Passive, that is not why I purchase Active basses. And as has been said before, switching to Active I don't hear a big change in tone or volume until I begin to make changes. The Active Preamp is really not obtrusive. It still sounds and feels like a Passive bass although with the ability to fine tune your sound. Again I really like it. I'm thinkin another Modified Active Jazz in Dusk might be in the future as I normally take two basses to my shows.
 
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#44
Reviving an old thread here... as Im in need of some information with power to the preamp of the Player II Modified. Ive searched everywhere and from what Ive seen is that the preamp is 18V? Ive seen reviews that says it but Fender specifications doesnt really state it? I know its a 2 battery setup but that doesn't necessarily mean its 18V going to the preamp (it can be wired parallel as a dual 9 volt setup). Does anyone have any pics of the battery compartment or even better, whats under the pick guard (I know its a lot to ask).

Reason why I ask is that I have all the electronics from the 2025 Player II Modified and I want to install it in my American Deluxe. I want the passive and tone control that the deluxe dont have and the Player II Modified ticks all the boxes for me. Is it really sending 18V to the preamp cause from just looking at my wiring harness it tends to point that this is a dual 9V setup. So Im questioning if this is a true 18V preamp or just another Fender hype. Maybe Fender is converting the 2-9V to 18V at the preamp but I doubt that since its just easier to wire it in series as 18V. I posted in the pickup/electronics section but maybe I'll have better responses here. Any help is appreciated and TIA!

Here is my project:
 

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#46
Redridge said:
Reviving an old thread here... as Im in need of some information with power to the preamp of the Player II Modified. Ive searched everywhere and from what Ive seen is that the preamp is 18V? Ive seen reviews that says it but Fender specifications doesnt really state it? I know its a 2 battery setup but that doesn't necessarily mean its 18V going to the preamp (it can be wired parallel as a dual 9 volt setup). Does anyone have any pics of the battery compartment or even better, whats under the pick guard (I know its a lot to ask).

Reason why I ask is that I have all the electronics from the 2025 Player II Modified and I want to install it in my American Deluxe. I want the passive and tone control that the deluxe dont have and the Player II Modified ticks all the boxes for me. Is it really sending 18V to the preamp cause from just looking at my wiring harness it tends to point that this is a dual 9V setup. So Im questioning if this is a true 18V preamp or just another Fender hype. Maybe Fender is converting the 2-9V to 18V at the preamp but I doubt that since its just easier to wire it in series as 18V. I posted in the pickup/electronics section but maybe I'll have better responses here. Any help is appreciated and TIA!

Here is my project:
Click to expand...
I’m sorry I can’t answer your question but I notice the PMii basses have 18V stickers on their neck plates, fwiw. Not sure if that’s a hype thing or some compliance thing (which if it is the latter would seem to make it more credible, or one would hope!)
 
#47
Yahboy said:
Oh, Player Plus replacement ....... but the Yellow PJ look cool ! Well match with yellowish maple neck. And no longer with sexy silver decal on headstock anymore,

View attachment 7203639

Edit.
9.5 radius fretboard for Pj bass ? But the noiseless bridge J pup has no raise A /D magnet design , this will cause A/D string sound weaker than E/G. The Player plus seem know how where she has 12 ' radius fretboard.

Even my Charvel Pro Mod PJ has 12-16' compound radius fretboard, i still need raise both A/D magnet pole slightly ( Dimarzio Model J ) for best string to string output balance.
Click to expand...

Yes, I liked the Player Plus largely because of the 12" radius fretboards, for both playability and balance, so I was disappointed to see the new models were back to 9.5". Without raised poles for the center strings, I've found balance problems even with some 12" and 14" radius boards, but of course it's better than with 9.5", and balance seems to be affected by several variables. (For example, my Sandberg's string-to-string balance varies across rigs.)

Fender does know how to do it right. The other day, I came across a mint condition 2014 MIM Deluxe Active Okuome Jazz V in GC, and it was surprisingly excellent. Gorgeous, light weight, excellent build quality, nice neck . . . AND raised poles under the D, A, and E strings to account for the radius. The string-to-string balance was great, and the tone was solid. Decent price too. If I needed a backup J5, I would have bought it.
 
#49
Wicked G said:
Finally a video that shows how the Dusk color shifts. At around the 7:45 mark Anthony begins to move the body around and you can see the purple coming through nicely. You can see it throughout the video, but more so at around the 7:45 mark. I am really liking this bass a lot.

Click to expand...

Looks cooler than I thought! I’ll need to keep an eye out for something with that finish in person.
 
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#50
Redridge said:
Reviving an old thread here... as Im in need of some information with power to the preamp of the Player II Modified. Ive searched everywhere and from what Ive seen is that the preamp is 18V? Ive seen reviews that says it but Fender specifications doesnt really state it? I know its a 2 battery setup but that doesn't necessarily mean its 18V going to the preamp (it can be wired parallel as a dual 9 volt setup). Does anyone have any pics of the battery compartment or even better, whats under the pick guard (I know its a lot to ask).

Reason why I ask is that I have all the electronics from the 2025 Player II Modified and I want to install it in my American Deluxe. I want the passive and tone control that the deluxe dont have and the Player II Modified ticks all the boxes for me. Is it really sending 18V to the preamp cause from just looking at my wiring harness it tends to point that this is a dual 9V setup. So Im questioning if this is a true 18V preamp or just another Fender hype. Maybe Fender is converting the 2-9V to 18V at the preamp but I doubt that since its just easier to wire it in series as 18V. I posted in the pickup/electronics section but maybe I'll have better responses here. Any help is appreciated and TIA!

Here is my project:
Click to expand...
I was wondering the same thing a couple of days ago, as I’d noticed the two battery compartments. The “Fender bass manual” that’s available as a download (iirc on the same page) mentions that if there are two battery compartments in your active bass, it is 18v, if one, then 9v.
 
#52
MtManiac said:
I was wondering the same thing a couple of days ago, as I’d noticed the two battery compartments. The “Fender bass manual” that’s available as a download (iirc on the same page) mentions that if there are two battery compartments in your active bass, it is 18v, if one, then 9v.
Click to expand...
Yes, it is 18V... I figured out how the wiring works. When you plug the 1/4" cable in, a switch closes and connects the 2 batteries together to create the 18V in one of the wiring harness. If anyone needs the more information just let me know.
 
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#53
It seems like hardly any stores are stocking these (PJ version at least) and I was looking to play one. My backup plan is to go play the normal P-bass to make sure the wider neck isn't a deal breaker since I'm coming from a Player II Jazz Bass.

Can anyone comment on how these are coming from a Jazz bass? I don't find myself doing a ton of bridge PUP only playing, the neck pickup seems to lack a bit of that P-bass thump, and I think I may like a sound with more mids that doesn't lose a bit of bass to achieve it. So this PJ is looking like the swiss army knife bass solution for me, especially with the active electronics for getting my Stingray on.

I'm interested in tone for deep house music (Naked Music stuff by Miguel Migs) / funk (Jamiroquai) / rock (Chili Peppers, STP, Pink Floyd) / downtempo (Thievery Corporation, AIR) in that order of preference. Been listing to a lot of Robert DeLeo (STP) lines lately and it's def swaying me into the PJ direction lol.
 
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#59
Brandon Shea said:
I will say the Dusk finish is very cool in person, although there’s significant variance from instrument to instrument. If you like purple, try to find one that looks lighter than the others. I have my eye on a Telecaster right now…
Click to expand...
The Olympic Pearl PJ on Sweetwater right now is 9.7 pounds, so they are looking to be on the heavier side, unfortunately the tempting open box model is approaching 10 pounds 😟
 
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#60
Tested a Precision of the series and I really liked it. The Dusk finish with its purple / black color change really should look awesome on a stage with the lights.
The eq is very efficient but with 18 volts this is what I was expecting. I could restist to buy it today but I think I need to try it again.
 
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