Fender has many guitar & bass series; which can be confusing for the customer. In this post, I will make a clear ascending ranking of alleged quality levels of their instruments.
Alleged is emphasized, because each and every guitar is unique. A supposedly low-ranking guitar might turn out to be great, while a supposedly high-ranking guitar might turn out to be mediocre. Plus, you might prefer a supposedly lower-ranking guitar to a supposedly higher-ranking guitar due to subjective reasons (I like passive basses better, for instance).
So, always buy with a trusted expert to do the essential checks if you aren’t experienced to tell gems from lemons; to ensure that the price surplus really corresponds to a quality surplus.
If you are wondering about how expensive your guitar should be; check this article.
Ranks
Level 10: Squier
- 11: Affinity
- 12: Standard
- 13: Classic Vibe (formerly Vintage Modified)
- 14: Contemporary
Level 20: Mexican
- 21: Player (formerly Standard)
- 22: Vintera (+ discontinued Aeordyne)
- 23: Player Plus (formerly Deluxe Active)
- 24: Road Worn
- 25: Artist
Level 30: Japan
Fender Japan’s alleged quality level is right between Mexican and USA models.
Level 40: USA
- 41: Performer (formerly American Special, Highway One)
- 42: Pro II (formerly American Standard, Pro)
- 43: Ultra Luxe (formerly Ultra, Elite, Deluxe)
- 44: Vintage II (formerly Original, Vintage)
- 45: American Artist
Level 50: Custom Shop
- 51: Team Built
- 52: Master Built
Evaluation
Dr. Kerem Koseoglu 
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