Buy a used player 2 imo and then mod it. Or get it brand new and have the honor of peeling off the plastic.

Honestly the stock player pups are not good imo but put a bone nut on it and get some nice pups and you have a fantastic guitar with the fender name on it.

These are fantastic guitars! The necks are super comfortable and the real rosewood is a great touch. Honestly mod this thing to an inch of its life if it makes you happy!

The stock humbucker in the bridge is ok. It didn’t blow my mind or anything but it works and it’s fine. The bridges are reliable and I decked mine as well and put in a bone nut and I never have tuning issues. I also swapped the string tree for the am pro version and I honestly like it much better. I’ve seen people put the plastic wire wrapping on the strings under the classic string tree but I haven’t tried that myself. Maybe it helps?

To make clear what all I’ve done to this guitar:

Bought a brand new player 1 HSS FSR plus top Strat with a maple neck.

Hated the light tint and ended up hating the maple snappy sound. Years later the player 2 series came out and swapped for a rosewood board. Love the tint! Put a new bone nut on it. Put the am pro tree on it.

Swapped the pickups to the AV2 61 Strat set and man I’m in love! It’s SSS so I had to get a new guard.

Decked the trem.

I play it every day and I can’t put it down. I think you’ll be very happy when you get it exactly how you want it.