Featuring Rock Band IDLES, The Player II Modified Delivers Top-Tier Upgrades— Locking Tuners And Noiseless Pickups—To Fender’s Best-Selling Series
HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (April 15, 2025) — Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) today announces the launch of the Player II Modified — a bold expansion of its Player II series. Featuring select electric guitar and bass models enhanced with performance-driven upgrades, Player II Modified offers modern players refined tone, performance, and style straight out of the box. As an extension of the best-selling guitar series in Fender’s nearly 80-year history, Player II Modified builds on this legacy with expanded tonal versatility, elevated playability, and modern enhancements that meet the needs of a new generation of players.
Built to Be Reimagined
Since inception, Fender guitars and basses have been crafted with an inherent adaptability—designed to shape and be shaped by the artists who redefine music with them. Throughout the decades, musicians from every genre have transformed Fender instruments to suit their unique sound, making them a true canvas for creativity. The ethos of Fender is, in many ways, a history of modification—where each artist's personal touch, whether through altering pickups, adjusting necks, or reworking finishes, has shaped not just the instruments but the songs they are written with.
Performance-Driven Upgrades Straight From the Factory
"From the early days of players hot-rodding their Strat® and Tele® guitars to today’s musicians pushing sonic boundaries, Fender has always embraced the art of reinvention," said Justin Norvell, EVP of Product, Fender. "Leo Fender intentionally designed our instruments with modularity in mind—allowing them to evolve alongside the player and enabling more personalization than any other brand. Player II Modified carries that spirit forward, offering modern upgrades like our new Player II Modified noiseless pickups and locking tuners for rock-solid stability. It’s about delivering the most in-demand mods straight from the factory while continuing to push the envelope of innovation and support artists in shaping the future of music."
Player II Modified takes the best of the best from Player II Series and builds on it with new and improved performance-driven modifications, offering a refined playing experience straight out of the box.
Key features include:
- New Player II Modified pickups: Genuine Fender tone from the Player II Modified Humbucker and Player II Noiseless™
- Upgraded hardware and electronics: From treble bleeds to brass block saddles, the most popular modifications for each model come standard.
- Rock-solid tuning stability: Locking tuners and tapered shaft tuners offer next-level reliability.
This spirit of reinvention is deeply embedded in Fender’s legacy, championed by trailblazing artists like Jimi Hendrix, who flipped his Stratocaster® upside down to redefine rock guitar, Kurt Cobain, who customized his Jaguar® for raw, grunge-driven power, and Thurston Moore, whose Jazzmaster® modifications fueled Sonic Youth’s experimental edge. Today, musicians continue this tradition—Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters with his Signature Telecaster® Deluxe outfitted with noiseless P-90-style pickups, Julien Baker with her custom-modded American Vintage Thinline, and Brent Mason with his highly versatile ‘67 Telecaster®. Even bassists like Flea have reshaped their sound through modifications, such as the active circuitry in his Jazz Bass®.
In the Hands of IDLES
As part of the Player II Modified launch campaign, Fender has teamed up with IDLES, — a British band known for their explosive live performances and boundary-pushing take on rock—who are featured prominently in the campaign video. Their involvement in the campaign underscores how the Player II Modified series empowers modern players' need for flexibility, tonal range and sonic exploration, whether on stage or in the studio. “Every guitar that I’ve ever had, I’ve modified almost immediately,” said Mark Bowen, IDLES guitarist. “Modifications can definitely make a guitar more approachable,” added Lee Kiernan, IDLES guitarist. “Because everything is to your taste, and what it is you want it to do.”
Watch IDLES perform “Gift Horse” and see what they have to say about these souped up guitars and basses:
Fender Mod Shop: A Global Tune-Up Experience
Like the world of automotive design, where customization and performance upgrades are part of the culture, Fender instruments have long been embraced as a canvas for creative expression. From paint colors inspired by classic cars to modding hardware and swapping pickups, musicians across decades and genres have made each instrument their own. Modification isn’t just part of the Fender story—it’s at the heart of it, fueling a legacy of innovation, individuality, and sonic evolution. Starting this April, Fender will bring the Mod Shop experience to players in key markets across London and Melbourne. In each city, Fender will transform a local auto shop into an immersive guitar garage —inviting musicians to get their instruments “tuned up” by a team of Fender mechanics. By night, the space will shift gears into a live venue, where English Teacher (UK) and Hot Machine (AUS) will take the stage with the new Player II Modified series, showcasing the upgraded guitars in action.
IDLES
“IDLES is the kind of band that pushes boundaries every time they plug in," said Evan Jones, CMO Fender. "Their energy, on-stage presence, experimentation, and refusal to stay in one lane resonates with all of us here at Fender. The Player II Modified series is built for artists like them—musicians who want to evolve their sound, are looking to push boundaries, and make something uniquely their own. We're also excited to bring that spirit of modification & innovation of the Player II Modified Series to life with our upcoming Fender Mod Shop events in London and Melbourne in the coming months. With the Player II Modified series at its core, we're not just showcasing new gear; we're building on our commitment to continually give players & musicians at all levels the ability to find, adjust and perfect their sound.”
For technical specs, additional information on new Fender products, and to find a retail partner near you, visit www.fender.com. Join the conversation on social media by following @Fender.
