Brand New CME Exclusive: Fender Player II Lavender Haze!

Born in 1954 and forever tied to the sound of modern music, the Stratocaster has always been the guitar for players chasing possibility. Our CME Exclusive Lavender Haze finish wraps that spirit in a dreamy, mid-century glow—a lavender-smoke shimmer pulled from retro appliances, lilac gardens, and summer nights on Lake Shore Drive. This Player II Stratocaster comes alive with CME “Full Dip” pickups, reimagining the classic Vintera II blueprint with sweeter highs, fuller mids, and an extra 5% of Chicago heat. Paired with Alnico 2 magnets, the “Full Dip” pickups are joined by a custom Blender Mod circuit that pushes the Strat’s versatility even further. The second tone knob blends the neck pickup into the bridge position, unlocking wiry, Tele-style textures in switch positions 1 and 2 that simply aren’t possible with standard wiring.

Player II Lavender Haze Series

The CME Exclusive Player II series debuts a brand new could-have-been-but-never-was colorway that's unabashedly inspired by mid-century appliances, classic cars, and well... golden-era electric guitars. Make way for Lavender Haze—a smokey amethyst hue with notes of sandy Lake Michigan beaches and fragrant Chicago lilac gardens. It's a color equally at home on your kitchen counter as it would be cruising down Lake Shore Drive, and more appropriately slung around your neck on stage at The Empty Bottle. 

At the heart of these instruments are Chicago Music Exchange’s all-new proprietary Fender "Full Dip" pickups. Taking their name from the time- honored way of ordering an Italian beef sandwich in the City of Big Shoulders, these pickups are sonically inspired by decades of experience listening to our customers' needs, dissecting vintage instruments, and working alongside the experts at Fender Custom Shop. “Full Dip” pickups begin with Fender's Vintera II recipe, but add two essential ingredients. First, Alnico 2 magnets tame harsh frequencies, smoothing out the EQ and allowing the notes to bloom. Second—because an Italian beef isn't complete without the giardiniera—we overwound the coils by 5% to add the necessary heat and grit to cut through any mix. To expand these palettes further, each model is equipped with a special circuit modification to unlock tonal options otherwise not available with standard wiring. Experience Player II Series instruments that could only come from a collaboration between Fender and Chicago Music Exchange.

Highlights

• Modern “C”-Shaped Neck w/ Rolled Fingerboard Edges
• 22 Medium-Jumbo Frets
• ClassicGear Tuning Machines
• Aged Plastic Parts
• 9.5”-Radius Neck with Player II Neck Tint

Few designs are as pure or enduring as the Telecaster—Leo Fender’s first electric guitar, still prized for its simplicity, punch, and workhorse reliability. Our CME Exclusive Lavender Haze finish reimagines that classic form with a color that could have existed in the ’50s but somehow never did: a soft, smoky violet steeped in Chicago nostalgia and mid-century charm. Equipped with our proprietary “Full Dip” pickups, this Player II Tele brings a new warmth and grit to the model’s signature snap. Alnico 2 magnets smooth out the highs, while overwound coils add just enough bite to make the Telecaster’s natural twang feel more expressive than ever. Enhanced with an additional selector switch Position 4 which runs both pickups in Series, the Lavender Haze Tele is both timeless and newly inspired—a workhorse wrapped in a dream.  

Player II Lavender Haze Series

The CME Exclusive Player II series debuts a brand new could-have-been-but-never-was colorway that's unabashedly inspired by mid-century appliances, classic cars, and well... golden-era electric guitars. Make way for Lavender Haze—a smokey amethyst hue with notes of sandy Lake Michigan beaches and fragrant Chicago lilac gardens. It's a color equally at home on your kitchen counter as it would be cruising down Lake Shore Drive, and more appropriately slung around your neck on stage at The Empty Bottle. 

At the heart of these instruments are Chicago Music Exchange’s all-new proprietary Fender "Full Dip" pickups. Taking their name from the time- honored way of ordering an Italian beef sandwich in the City of Big Shoulders, these pickups are sonically inspired by decades of experience listening to our customers' needs, dissecting vintage instruments, and working alongside the experts at Fender Custom Shop. “Full Dip” pickups begin with Fender's Vintera II recipe, but add two essential ingredients. First, Alnico 2 magnets tame harsh frequencies, smoothing out the EQ and allowing the notes to bloom. Second—because an Italian beef isn't complete without the giardiniera—we overwound the coils by 5% to add the necessary heat and grit to cut through any mix. To expand these palettes further, each model is equipped with a special circuit modification to unlock tonal options otherwise not available with standard wiring. Experience Player II Series instruments that could only come from a collaboration between Fender and Chicago Music Exchange.

Highlights

• Modern “C”-Shaped Neck w/ Rolled Fingerboard Edges
• 22 Medium-Jumbo Frets
• ClassicGear Tuning Machines
• Aged Plastic Parts
• 9.5”-Radius Neck with Player II Neck Tint

The Jazzmaster has always been Fender’s offset icon—laid-back, stylish, and built for players who like to color outside the lines. In our CME Exclusive Lavender Haze finish, that spirit becomes even more evocative: a dreamy, smoky violet with the soul of vintage Chicago and the pulse of a midnight set at The Empty Bottle. Our “Full Dip” pickups transform the Jazzmaster’s naturally wide sonic canvas into something richer and more articulate. The Alnico 2 magnets round off the edges, the 5% overwind adds presence and push, and a custom 4-way switching mod opens up an entirely new voice. In the added fourth position, both pickups run in series—effectively forming one massive, high-output humbucker for thick, commanding tones you won’t find on a stock Jazzmaster.

Player II Lavender Haze Series

The CME Exclusive Player II series debuts a brand new could-have-been-but-never-was colorway that's unabashedly inspired by mid-century appliances, classic cars, and well... golden-era electric guitars. Make way for Lavender Haze—a smokey amethyst hue with notes of sandy Lake Michigan beaches and fragrant Chicago lilac gardens. It's a color equally at home on your kitchen counter as it would be cruising down Lake Shore Drive, and more appropriately slung around your neck on stage at The Empty Bottle. 

At the heart of these instruments are Chicago Music Exchange’s all-new proprietary Fender "Full Dip" pickups. Taking their name from the time- honored way of ordering an Italian beef sandwich in the City of Big Shoulders, these pickups are sonically inspired by decades of experience listening to our customers' needs, dissecting vintage instruments, and working alongside the experts at Fender Custom Shop. “Full Dip” pickups begin with Fender's Vintera II recipe, but add two essential ingredients. First, Alnico 2 magnets tame harsh frequencies, smoothing out the EQ and allowing the notes to bloom. Second—because an Italian beef isn't complete without the giardiniera—we overwound the coils by 5% to add the necessary heat and grit to cut through any mix. To expand these palettes further, each model is equipped with a special circuit modification to unlock tonal options otherwise not available with standard wiring. Experience Player II Series instruments that could only come from a collaboration between Fender and Chicago Music Exchange.

Highlights

• Modern “C”-Shaped Neck w/ Rolled Fingerboard Edges
• 22 Medium-Jumbo Frets
• ClassicGear Tuning Machines
• Aged Plastic Parts
• 9.5”-Radius Neck with Player II Neck Tint

The Jazz Bass has always been Fender’s more refined low-end machine—sleeker lines, a narrower nut, and an unmistakable mid-century silhouette that feels as modern today as it did in 1960. In our CME Exclusive Lavender Haze finish, that sophistication gets a new sheen: a soft-smoldering amethyst that looks equally at home under club lights as it does drifting across Lake Michigan at dusk. Under the hood, our Chicago-developed “Full Dip” pickups give the Jazz Bass a new voice—rounder, warmer, and just dirty enough to cut through the mix thanks to the thoughtful hybrid combination of AlNiCo 2 and AlNiCo 5 magnets and a gentle overwind. Paired with a special circuit mod, this Player II Jazz Bass becomes a bass for every room and every band, unmistakably rooted in Fender heritage but undeniably Chicago Music Exchange. Enhanced with Concentric Stack Knobs, the Lavender Jazz Bass features maximum control with minimal real estate taken up on the bass.

Player II Lavender Haze Series

The CME Exclusive Player II series debuts a brand new could-have-been-but-never-was colorway that's unabashedly inspired by mid-century appliances, classic cars, and well... golden-era electric guitars. Make way for Lavender Haze—a smokey amethyst hue with notes of sandy Lake Michigan beaches and fragrant Chicago lilac gardens. It's a color equally at home on your kitchen counter as it would be cruising down Lake Shore Drive, and more appropriately slung around your neck on stage at The Empty Bottle. 

At the heart of these instruments are Chicago Music Exchange’s all-new proprietary Fender "Full Dip" pickups. Taking their name from the time- honored way of ordering an Italian beef sandwich in the City of Big Shoulders, these pickups are sonically inspired by decades of experience listening to our customers' needs, dissecting vintage instruments, and working alongside the experts at Fender Custom Shop. “Full Dip” pickups begin with Fender's Vintera II recipe, but add two essential ingredients. First, Alnico 2 magnets tame harsh frequencies, smoothing out the EQ and allowing the notes to bloom. Second—because an Italian beef isn't complete without the giardiniera—we overwound the coils by 5% to add the necessary heat and grit to cut through any mix. To expand these palettes further, each model is equipped with a special circuit modification to unlock tonal options otherwise not available with standard wiring. Experience Player II Series instruments that could only come from a collaboration between Fender and Chicago Music Exchange.

Highlights

• Modern “C”-Shaped Neck w/ Rolled Fingerboard Edges
• 20 Medium-Jumbo Frets
• Standard Open-gear Tuning Machines
• Aged Plastic Parts
• 9.5”-Radius Neck with Player II Neck Tint

Check out the all-new CME Exclusive Lavender Haze Divine Noise cables —finished in the same smoky amethyst hue and built with boutique-grade components for pristine signal and stage-ready reliability. Think vintage sensibility with modern intent: quiet, rugged, and unmistakably Chicago, whether they’re coiled at your feet or plugged in under the lights at The Empty Bottle.

Every cable that Divine Noise makes is cut, soldered, and assembled by hand in Portland, Oregon. They use only the highest quality products to ensure that you get the most out of your equipment. Everything from the thick, heavy-duty PVC jacket on their proprietary cables, to the highest quality silver solder to secure components is done to create a reliable, great sounding, high caliber product that you can trust. Thus they give you cables made for the tortures of touring with the assurance of performance.

Features:

• 20 AWG stranded center conductor, a spiral shield of bare copper providing 95% coverage. Semi-conductive PVC covering reduces Tribo-Electric Noise and provides clean, low-noise performances, without microphonics.
• Low capacitance (30 pF/FT) provide a rich warm tone, not bright, harsh or brittle- the result of overly low capacitance- and not too dull or muddy- caused by too high of a capacitance.
• The oxygen free copper used in our cables delivers the purest sound quality while remaining flexible and noise free
• Thick (.280”), heavy-duty PVC outer jacket designed to withstand the rigors of heavy use while maintaining flexibility.
• Every cable is soldered by hand using the highest quality silver solder.
• Completely made by hand in the USA.
• Divine Noise offers a lifetime no hassle warranty on every cable.

Check out the all-new CME Exclusive Lavender Haze Divine Noise cables —finished in the same smoky amethyst hue and built with boutique-grade components for pristine signal and stage-ready reliability. Think vintage sensibility with modern intent: quiet, rugged, and unmistakably Chicago, whether they’re coiled at your feet or plugged in under the lights at The Empty Bottle.

Every cable that Divine Noise makes is cut, soldered, and assembled by hand in Portland, Oregon. They use only the highest quality products to ensure that you get the most out of your equipment. Everything from the thick, heavy-duty PVC jacket on their proprietary cables, to the highest quality silver solder to secure components is done to create a reliable, great sounding, high caliber product that you can trust. Thus they give you cables made for the tortures of touring with the assurance of performance.

Features:

• 20 AWG stranded center conductor, a spiral shield of bare copper providing 95% coverage. Semi-conductive PVC covering reduces Tribo-Electric Noise and provides clean, low-noise performances, without microphonics.
• Low capacitance (30 pF/FT) provide a rich warm tone, not bright, harsh or brittle- the result of overly low capacitance- and not too dull or muddy- caused by too high of a capacitance.
• The oxygen free copper used in our cables delivers the purest sound quality while remaining flexible and noise free
• Thick (.280”), heavy-duty PVC outer jacket designed to withstand the rigors of heavy use while maintaining flexibility.
• Every cable is soldered by hand using the highest quality silver solder.
• Completely made by hand in the USA.
• Divine Noise offers a lifetime no hassle warranty on every cable.

Two iconic names come together in a finish you’ll only find here at Chicago Music Exchange. The Fender® x Kyser® Classic Colors Quick-Change® Electric Guitar Capo in Lavender Haze is a CME Exclusive, pairing Kyser’s trusted quick-change design with a color drawn directly from Fender’s visual legacy. Each capo is crafted using Kyser’s precision ColorMatch Process™, ensuring the finish faithfully reflects classic Fender hues seen across both vintage and modern instruments.

A newly engineered 9.5" radius has been carefully tested against a wide range of electric guitar fretboards to deliver balanced tension and reliable intonation. Built for real-world playing and road-tested by Kyser’s artisan crafters alongside touring artists and techs, this capo offers dependable performance with unmistakable Fender style.