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Fender Player Plus Meteora HH
Yamaha PAC1611MS
VS
Playability
70
Sound
78
Build
67
Value
72
Score
72
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Playability
72
Sound
72
Build
69
Value
66
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Player Plus Meteora HH vs Yamaha PAC1611MS

Reasons to Get
Fender Player Plus Meteora HH over Yamaha PAC1611MS

Release Year
2022 vs 2014
From a more recent year
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.839'' (21.3mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.906'' (23mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) vs 1.594'' (40.5mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
72 vs 66
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Yamaha PAC1611MS over Fender Player Plus Meteora HH

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs Mexico
Built with higher quality standards
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.839'' (21.3mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.906'' (23mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.594'' (40.5mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Fender Player Plus Meteora HH vs Yamaha PAC1611MS

Bridge Pickup
Fender Fireball Humbucking vs Seymour Duncan STHR-1b
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Fireball Humbucking vs Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Player Plus Meteora HH vs Yamaha PAC1611MS

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Player Plus Meteora HH is probably the better product overall with its final score of 72 compared to the Yamaha PAC1611MS's 71 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Player Plus Meteora HH wins when it comes to sound, value for the money. On the other hand, the Yamaha PAC1611MS has the upper hand when it comes to playability, build quality.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Player Plus Meteora HH.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Yamaha PAC1611MS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH Overview

  • From Fender's 2022 Player Plus series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Fireball Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Fireball Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Brushed Steel Block Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking (all short posts) tuners
  • Weight between 8.25lbs (3.7kgs) and 8.7lbs (3.9kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Yamaha PAC1611MS Overview

  • From Yamaha's 2014 Signature series
  • Mike Stern Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 7.25" Fretboard Radius
  • Light Ash body
  • Maple neck
  • One-Piece Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan STHR-1b (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Hardtail bridge
  • PAC1611MS Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh SD91-05M-L tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the Fender Player Plus Meteora HH

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Woods Used in the Yamaha PAC1611MS

Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Winner: Yamaha PAC1611MS.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Yamaha PAC1611MS's online:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Fender Player Plus Meteora HH comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

They both share the following switching options:

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH and Yamaha PAC1611MS pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Player Plus Meteora HH and Yamaha PAC1611MS's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Fender Player Plus Meteora HH.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 76
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 78
Yamaha PAC1611MS
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Player Plus Meteora HH compares to the Yamaha PAC1611MS.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Player Plus Meteora HH is built in Mexico while the Yamaha PAC1611MS is made in Japan.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Winner: Yamaha PAC1611MS

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Fender Player Plus Meteora HH has a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

On the other hand, the Yamaha PAC1611MS comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The Fender Player Plus Meteora HH's brige is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

On the other hand, the Yamaha PAC1611MS's is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

The Fender Player Plus Meteora HH has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Fender Player Plus Meteora HH.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Player Plus Meteora HH
  • Locking Tuners
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha PAC1611MS
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH
Quality of materials 56
Features 70
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 67
Yamaha PAC1611MS
Quality of materials 66
Features 50
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 69

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH Nut Width
Fender Player Plus Meteora HH Nut Width
Yamaha PAC1611MS Nut Width
Yamaha PAC1611MS Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Player Plus Meteora HH has the wider nut with 42.8mm (1.685'') vs 40.5mm (1.594''). This is a 2.3mm (0.091'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Player Plus Meteora HH, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH and Yamaha PAC1611MS's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH Neck Profile
Fender Player Plus Meteora HH's neck profile
Yamaha PAC1611MS Neck Profile
Yamaha PAC1611MS's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Fender Player Plus Meteora HH and the Yamaha PAC1611MS have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH Fingerboard Radius
Fender Player Plus Meteora HH's Fingerboard radius
Yamaha PAC1611MS Fingerboard Radius
Yamaha PAC1611MS's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Yamaha PAC1611MS's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Player Plus Meteora HH's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Fender Player Plus Meteora HH.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Yamaha PAC1611MS favors large hands more than the Fender Player Plus Meteora HH.

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Yamaha PAC1611MS:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH and Yamaha PAC1611MS Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Yamaha PAC1611MS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH vs Yamaha PAC1611MS
General Fender Player Plus Meteora HH Yamaha PAC1611MS
Brand: Fender Yamaha
Year: 2022 2014
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico Japan
Series: Player Plus Signature
Colors: Sunburst, Blue, Green, Gray Burst Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Light Ash
Bridge: 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Brushed Steel Block Saddles 6-Saddle Hardtail
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking (all short posts) Gotoh SD91-05M-L
Fretboard: Maple One-Piece Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Dot Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Modern C PAC1611MS
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.839'' (21.3mm) - 12th Fret: 0.906'' (23mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 7.25"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Bone
Nut Width: 42.8mm (1.685'') 40.5mm (1.594'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Fireball Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan STHR-1b (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fender Fireball Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 1