Fender Classic Player '60s VS Fender Classic Series '60s (help me pick my guitar)

[Brandon Roy]

Both are mexican made. The Classic Players '60s is about $100 more than the Classic Series '60s and was 'designed' by Fender custom shops Greg Fessler. It has a 12 radius fingerboard while the Classic SERIES has a 9.5 ? It also has custom shop 69 pickups and I'm not sure what the Classic Series has.

image removed image removed

My local guitar shop didn't have these so I'd like to ask opinions on people who have played them. First of all, my hands aren't very big, how big is the neck on the Classic Player '60s? I like to solo a lot, so I'm thinking the flatter fingerboard would be better. not sure how uncomfortable the neck would be for my smaller hands. all around, which one sounds/feels better?

I was thinking about getting a 62 Reissue Strat (american) or the Hot Rod 62 Strat (american) but I'm hearing problems about the 7.5 radius neck on the 62 reissue causing you to fret out above the 12th fret during solo time. AND I heard the neck on Hot Rod 62 Strat was kinda big which makes me think it would slow me down with my small hands!

I'm really craving an American strat (to hold value) with a nitro finish, 21 frets (i dont like 22 for some reason) and a neck for my liking. But if one of these Mexican mades can make me happy, I'll go for them. I don't want to go through buying a guitar, changing the neck etc. I just want a damn good sturdy/comfortable strat I can get fat cleans and fat overdriven leads without upgrading all sorts of things. The most I'm willing to spend is about $1500 - $1600. What do you think? Help me find me axe!

 

[VWAmTele]

If you search the forum for either guitar - you will find a lot of comment on them. I have a CP 60's and I love it. I would call the neck a full C, a little on the big side and it is the most comfortable Strat neck I've played. The 12 " radius made a big difference for me in playability. The CS69 pickups are what I always thought a Strat should sound like. I'd never again spend more that what I paid for this guitar on a Strat - no need to. BTW - the picture you selected is not a real CP 60's (I know some of the sites have been incorrectly using that picture) here's a real one:

image removed

 

[Lance]

Got the same one as VW pictured above. Just a great strat and every bit as good as the Custom Shop '54 I have. Don't blow the $1500...seriously. A new American model is not any better than a Mexican CP60. Put the cash into a better amp.

 

[nonvintage]

The classic players radius is 12 and the classic is 7.25. The bridges are different and the frets & pickups are different. I like the classic.

 

[Brandon Roy]

I knew the pic I posted wasn't the way the real sonic blue looks. I've seen video and it's much lighter. But wow the picture vWamtele showed looks like a solid olympic white. Lighting?

I'm also hearing mixed feelings on the neck. Some say the neck is normal or even skinny, and some say it's beefy.

 

[kinkstah]

The difference in radiuses between the CP 60's and the Classic 60's may create great differences in feel. I've heard many people refering to the "fret out" issue on 7.25, but personnaly I've never had this problem (assuming a proper set up). I actually prefer 7.25 to 12, but to each his own. IMHO, the different frets that come with these models (vintage on the Classic, and medium jumbo on the CP) are an important thing to consider.
Anyway, happy purchase!

 

[Lance]

You'll have to play it. It's definitely NOT skinny....it's not the baseball bat like my Custom Shop but it's not skinny like a regular American/Mexican models. As the the radius, I like both....but the flatter radius and real frets on the CP does make bending much easier. It's just a more fun strat to play especially for lead work.

 

[Nobster]

I knew the pic I posted wasn't the way the real sonic blue looks. I've seen video and it's much lighter. But wow the picture vWamtele showed looks like a solid olympic white. Lighting?

I'm also hearing mixed feelings on the neck. Some say the neck is normal or even skinny, and some say it's beefy.

I think the confusion is because some are referring to the width across the neck (from 1st to 6th string) and some are referring to the depth from fretboard to back of neck.

I've just bought my Sonic Blue CP 60's a few days ago. I can only compare the neck on it to my Teles and Gretsch cos I don't have any other strats. I'd say the neck is noticeably wider and flatter than for example a 9.5 radius C profile tele neck, but it's a slimmer in depth. For me it felt different at first but it fit's in the hand fine. So far I like it and have no problem swapping between the CP 60's and several other guitars of various neck dimensions. The factory setup had the action a little high - lowering it helped me a lot with the "feel".

For the colour, it's a very pale blue but not like washed out photo in the post above.

 

[Scotland]

The CP 60's is the one for me, I love mine but make sre the pickups are the "real" c.s. 69's signed by Abigail. The newer ones are "CS designed" and are totally different.

 

[VWAmTele]

I knew the pic I posted wasn't the way the real sonic blue looks. I've seen video and it's much lighter. But wow the picture vWamtele showed looks like a solid olympic white. Lighting?
...

It is Pale Sonic Blue (as opposed to Sonic Blue). It is very difficult to photograph - always looks likghter than it really is. I bought mine from Sweetwater, so I saw actual pictures beforehand - the pictures looked washed out and the PG and pickups didn't look aged. It looks very different in person. The combination of pale sonic blue and the aged mint pg and pickups is just beautiful. It looks different in different lightings.

The CP 60's is the one for me, I love mine but make sre the pickups are the "real" c.s. 69's signed by Abigail. The newer ones are "CS designed" and are totally different.

Totally different how? I understand that mid way thru 2007 Abby stopped personally winding them - but that they were the same pickup - just wound by others under her training.

 

[Scotland]

Totally different how? I understand that mid way thru 2007 Abby stopped personally winding them - but that they were the same pickup - just wound by others under her training.

They are actually made in Mexico, not in the USA CS and sound very different. They still sound good but just not as good as the original CS69's.

 

[VWAmTele]

So they use different components in Mexico? I'm just curious since I have read nothing about a change in the makeup of this pickup.

 

[Moondance360]

Give me the 60s CP Strat. I play mine more than my AmSe's.

 

[superchicken_VI]

The other guitarist in my blues band bought a CP60s last week. It plays beautifully, sounds great. I would say that the neck is about the same size as my old MIM Standard, but the fretboard radius is definitely flatter, and a lead-machine. Very easy to chord and bend, very nice modern feel. I didn't love the setup on his (too light on strings-10s ), and he tends to have the pickups too high. He much prefers it to his MIM Standard with 57/62 pickups.

 

[Mark Davis]

There are 2 different eras of CP60's.

The first ones came with real CS 69 pickups with AY's sig on them and stainless steel saddles with a steel trem block. Thats like the one Scotland owns.

The other or newer ones have CS designed 69's that are wound in Mexico and stamped steel saddles with a zinc trem block.

So if you got an early CP60's with all the good parts Id say it would be better than the newer ones with the less expensive parts.

My guess is Fender made the 1st riun of these with all the good parts decided it cost too much so they changed the specs to save $$.

 

[rasomaso]

But the new one (CP60) is still a good buy isn't it? I'm looking for that Hendrix-y sound for a good price and I can buy and import the new CP60 from Germany for approximately the same price as the cheapest MIM strat standards are over here. Do you think it's a good deal? I was also considering a Roadhouse Strat (I like SRV too, so texas specials wouldn't be bad either) but I have more sympathy for the CP60. Or do you think there is any better alternative?

 

[VWAmTele]

I would say the CP60 is more Hendrix than SRV - but I guess you can always add a Tubescreamer and get close.

I don't doubt what some of the others say about the differences between the early and later versions - I just would like to see some proof other than the lack of someones initials on the bottom of the pickups

I know the current ones sound and play pretty good and are a great deal for the $ - definitely recommended.

 

[Mark Davis]

I would say the CP60 is more Hendrix than SRV - but I guess you can always add a Tubescreamer and get close.

I don't doubt what some of the others say about the differences between the early and later versions - I just would like to see some proof other than the lack of someones initials on the bottom of the pickups

I know the current ones sound and play pretty good and are a great deal for the $ - definitely recommended.

The proof is the newest CP60's dont have the AY sig on the pickups cause they arent CS69's they have a zinc tremelo block instead of steel like the early ones and have stamped steel saddles instead of stainless steel saddles.

The neck body and tuners are the same on all of them but the older ones sound way better cause the most important parts pickups saddles and trem block are all better quality componets.

If you want more proof here are the specs of the new ones.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pickups 3 Custom ‘69 Single-Coil Strat® Pickups with Grey Bobbins
Bridge Vintage Style 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Stamped Steel Saddles

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are the specs of the old ones.

Pickups 3 Custom ‘69 Single-Coil Strat® Pickups with Grey Bobbins
Bridge New Deluxe 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Polished Solid Stainless Steel Saddles and Block

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[johnhe]

I guess different folks like different things, but I bought a CP60's strat specifically to replace my MIM Classic 60's strat, but ended up selling it again. I like a larger neck and the CP60's neck was very small in comparison to my C60's.

I also didn't like the CS69 pickups, although mine were signed by AY. I preferred the 7.25" radius neck - the 12" just didn't feel stratty to me. Lastly I prefer the older type bridge.

However, having said all that, to be honest, I'd have to say that the CP60's strat is the better buy and the better guitar. It's just that it didn't float my boat. The friend I sold mine to is happy that he has a tremendous strat with Abagails. It was as good as any MIA strat I've seen or owned.

 

[VWAmTele]

The proof is the newest CP60's dont have the AY sig on the pickups cause they arent CS69's they have a zinc tremelo block instead of steel like the early ones and have stamped steel saddles instead of stainless steel saddles.

I just spoke with Jeff Krause from Fender - he says the CP 60 pickups are still made in the Custom Shop and are the same ones packaged and sold separately. The only difference is that they are not personally wound and initialed by Abby.

I realize that the tremelo block and saddles affect the tone - but do you really feel they make that much of a difference? I'd like to try a blind test - would be interesting. Still, a great playing/sounding Strat for any $ and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone regardless of what year it was made.