Fender Unveils New Affordable Standard Series Line of Guitars and Basses (News)
Fender unveiled their new Standard Series at the 2025 NAMM show (National Association Musician Merchants). This line of guitars and basses are aimed at musicians looking for a more affordable Fender branded guitar that falls in the price range between the Fender Player Series and the Squier by Fender Classic Vibe instruments. The Standard Series will feature classic Fender guitars and basses such as the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Precision Bass, and Jazz Bass. There will also be a variety of colours for musicians to choose from ranging from 3-Colour Sunburst to Aqua Marine Metallic.
While in concept, an affordable officially branded Fender guitar or bass sounds like a great move, early impressions of these instruments are divided. While many enjoy the affordability, the build quality and sound leave some room to be desired. According to an early review from Guitar.com, Editor Josh Gardner said “Once again being able to get a guitar with Fender on the headstock for under $600 – the power of that brand cannot be understated. But ultimately, I can’t shake the feeling that this guitar could – and perhaps should – have been better and more inspiring than this.”
Alternatively, not all reviews have been negative. With a large portion of early reviews seeing these guitars and basses not only as entry level instruments for younger musicians, but as a proper alternative to the Squier by Fender and Fender Player Series guitars and basses. According to Guitar World, writer Matt McCraken wrote: “For all those who’ve lambasted the Standard Series before playing one – you’re going to have to eat your words I’m afraid. For the money, this is a lot of guitar that’s well put together, and absolutely delivers that classic Telecaster experience. Ideal for players who are new to the brand or those looking for a good quality well below the $1,000 mark, the Standard is definitely worth your consideration.”
With a product line as divisive as this one, the only way to know if it is right for you, is to try it out for yourself. From reading various perspectives, this line is best for newer musicians looking for a Fender branded instrument or experienced musicians looking for a cheaper modding platform.