Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Dark Night $1,699.99 in stock 24 new from $1,699.99 2 used from $1,453.49 as of February 25, 2023 8:21 am Browse Fender American Professional II Stratocaster - Miami Blue with Maple Fingerboard $1,699.99 Browse Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster 2007 USA Sunburst Electric Guitar w/ Case $1,165.50 Browse And my plan is to drive to the nearest shop that carries them (2.5 hours away), test a couple out, then buy a used one online if I liked how it played. There are also many factors that could determine what weight of guitar would be best for you. Additionally, the Ultra has locking tuners. If it were a choice of upgrading from a Pro 1 to a Pro 2, I'd say it's . Shop all Fender American Pro II Jazzmasters | https://tinyurl.com/yxwtylto I have an Ultra Tele. I have an American Pro I and had an Ultra. 7:28 How Does The Strat Sound? All these necks are based on the C-shape and have the following PRS SE vs S2 Guitars (Including Custom, Standard, McCarty). There are 3 types of neck joints: bolt-on, set, and neck through. On the humbucker-equipped HSS Strat and Tele Deluxe models, this serves as a coil-split switch instead. Fender American Ultra Strat Rosewood Fretboard Arctic Pearl - https://tinyurl.com/y57233cl Fender American Ultra vs Professional II Series Guitars Fender's QC at the US factory is excellent. Pro 2 vs ultra vs pro 1 | Fender Stratocaster Guitar Forum Shop all Fender American Pro II Stratocasters | https://tinyurl.com/y68vk8bk Fender American Pro II Telecaster in Mercury | https://tinyurl.com/yxz2e2gk Fender Custom Shop SHOP BY MODEL Stratocaster Telecaster Jaguar Jazzmaster Lead Duo-Sonic Mustang Meteora Other Shop All Electric Guitars SHOP BY SERIES American Professional ll American Ultra American Ultra Luxe American Performer Player Plus Player JV Modified Vintera Noventa Made in Japan Limited Edition Artist Signature HIGHLIGHTS Buy a T Shirt: https://goo.gl/TrTe78 The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has Fender Standard Die-cast tuners, Fender V-Mod II Single-coil pickups, and Coil-tapping (HSS), Neck pickup blend (SSS) electronics. Is an American Ultra worth the extra money compared to the American Pro II? Youll find medium jumbo frets on the Ultra models and narrow tall frets on the American Pro II models with the following dimensions: There are some model-specific differences between guitars in the American Ultra and Professional II series. Modern guitar and bass players have never had more exciting creative tools at their disposal! What Telecaster necks feel most like a 2011 American Standard Stratocaster? Thanks. Main Stratocaster Guitar Discussion Forum. For example, the American Professional II Strats Push/Push knob allows you to add its neck single-coilto switch position 1 which means that you can somewhat mimic a Telecasters pickup configuration. Mar 14, 2021. Thanks. These also have a push-push pot for series-parallel switching. Privacy Policy. to switch position 1 which means that you can somewhat mimic a Telecasters pickup configuration. How are the pickups? Guitars and basses from the original American Professional lineup came fitted with Fenders V-Modpickups. The electric guitar models also feature newly-designed string trees that are engineered to prevent unwanted tuning slips. Fender American Professional II or Elite/Ultra Precision? But the pickups are an easy fix and the S1 series / parallel switching is pretty cool the Am pro II is a fantastic guitar also. PRS Neck Profiles Explained: Comparing Shapes and Sizes. I also recently needed to replace my wah pedal, and I tested the new one out with a Pro-II Strat. From guitars, pedals, amps, and synths to studio gear and production tips, I hope you find what I post here useful, and Ill try my best to keep it entertaining also. The pickups on the American Professional II Telecaster sound crunchier and fuller compared to the brighter sounding noiseless pickups on the Ultra Telecaster which do not suffer from humming and feedback. Welcome to r/guitar, a community devoted to the exchange of guitar related information. Fender sets its new standard with the American Professional II guitar The radius of the fingerboard is a measure of how curved the neck of the guitar actually is when looking at it from bridge to nut. In short, a guitars top has a slight, but perceivable, influence on its tone, however, they are mostly used for aesthetic purposes. Based on what I'm seeing, they seem to be the same aside from that. A heavier guitar will give you more sustain, but a lighter guitar will be more resonant, and easier to play and carry around. [Nitro vs Poly], Different neck tonewoods and their effect on tone, Guitar neck shapes guide [Playability and tone], Does a guitars headstock shape affect its tone? Squier Lines Explained: Which Is Best for You? Guitar necks come in a variety of shapes, so its important to know what each of those shapes offers. Here is a video comparing the tones of the American Professional II, American Pro I ( and American Ultra Jazzmaster. Make sure to subscribe to Andertons TV for more great videos like this: https://goo.gl/aAzyQM, https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MKrWk31qfIk/default.jpg. Fender American Pro II Stratocaster HSS in Sienna Sunburst | https://tinyurl.com/yyuluks6 Its probably my favorite neck on any of my guitars and I somehow had the profile wrong. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a Stratocaster body. 1:25 What's New? Fender American Pro II Stratocaster in Roasted Pine | https://tinyurl.com/y4978jwp Knowing the differences between each joint can help you decide which is best for you. I love the deep C neck carve and the pickups sound stellar. Here are some more articles you might find useful: Hey, I'm Heather. ThorpyFX Dane Overdrive/boost - https://tinyurl.com/y6eoposs What is giving Ronnie Wood his tone in this song. May 19, 2020 #3 707GK Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Jazzmaster models. The Jazz and Precision Bass models also keep their respective Slim C and 63 neck carves. Many players dont consider this as important as other features, but more experienced ones will be very picky about this. Fender American pro vs ultra | TalkBass.com An upgraded 2-point tremolo bridge and cold-rolled steel block combine to give you plenty of sustain and brightness. Pattern This thin profile offers optimal support for contemporary players, but is unlikely to appeal to traditionalists who prefer thicker, vintage-like neck carves or even the somewhat neutral Deep C profile that the American Professional II electric guitars have. It could therefore be argued that Fender decided to tweak its American Professional line based on these updates that were introduced for the American Ultra series. The change means the new V-Mod II pickups allow you to get nearly the same volume when playing the low and high E strings. Taking Fenders Noiseless design to new heights, the Ultra Noiseless pickups found in the American Ultra models promise classic yet versatile tones without any hum! The scale length of a guitar refers to the longitude of the vibrating part of the string. I don't know if the pro ii model is the exact model that is right for you. Click to reveal 8:46 Fender American Pro I Vs Pro II I started of on a really bad steel string, then bought my first electric a year ago for about $200. 2023: The Year Epiphone Became Unaffordable, They Stole My Digital Recorder and SD cards. They offer world-class tones with no compromise on playability. (3) Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe - Dark Night with Rosewood Fingerboard. The American Pro series seems just in that goldilocks zone of high quality for a good price, so Im hoping that itll work out. It is going to come down to which specs you like better. In neck trough instruments, the neck elongates and becomes the central piece of the body, where most of its hardware is mounted. Fender American Ultra Tele Rosewood Fretboard Arctic Pearl - https://tinyurl.com/yxo3fm6f I am interested in getting a used Pro I, but cant try it in person because its not local. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Rosewood Fretboard Cobra Blue - https://tinyurl.com/y3eqvg5m Id say no. Rounded at the lower end of their necks to make chords easier to play, their fingerboards flatten out in the higher register to make intricate lead lines more manageable to finger. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a 2-Point Fender Deluxe Synchronized Tremolo bridge. These pickups are therefore a little more flexible than the V-Mod II single-coils found in Fenders American Pro II guitars, and are better-suited for heavier genres with their noiseless technology. Other ergonomic updates include rolled fingerboard edges across the whole Fender American Professional II line, as well as sculpted neck heels that allow for unrestricted upper-fret access. Fall All' campaign above. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with Noiseless, Coil-tapping (HSS), S-1 neck pickup blend electronics, 1 x master volume (with s-1 switch), 2 x tone controls, and a 5-way blade switch. https://tinyurl.com/y6a22s4k Check Out Their Rigs Here! If I hadnt sold my Pro I a few years ago, I wouldnt necessarily feel the need to upgrade, but Im a bit happier with the Pro II as a total package now. This is definitely one of the best Jazzmasters manufactured by Fender! Ultimate Jazzmaster Comparison | Alamo Music Center The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is a modern take on the traditional strat with every luxury you could think of. It may not display this or other websites correctly. My favourite guitar in 25 years. That being said, I love mine. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Telecaster models. The pickups - while always a matter of taste - tend to sound more, shall we say, Fender like - they sound like what you would expect a Fender to sound like more than the other models. [Complete guide], Do guitar tuners affect tone? You must log in or register to reply here. Prosoundhq.com is also a member of other affiliate programmes. As others have said, both are top notch so it really comes down to preference. The electronics of an electric guitar are what give the instrument its name. Holy ****, manI just looked and youre right. Tailpieces are often forgotten when thinking about guitar parts, however, they have been there for centuries, and there are many different designs with alternate features. If it aint broke, dont fix it right? Been a while since I had my AmPro though. Strat Talk is the leading online community and marketplace for Stratocaster guitars. [Playability, tone, and scale], Does guitar scale length affect tone? 27:10 Thoughts, Case & Stock Availability All guitar and bass models now sport bevelled neck plates too. The American Pro II series includes left and right-handed versions of the SS model as well as a HH right-handed version. I actually preferred the neck carve and fret size on the Ultra but preferred the tones on the American Pro so that's the one I kept. Different guitar body tonewoods and their effect on tone, Do guitar tops affect tone? The kind of material used to build a guitars body is something you should really pay attention to. Here is a table outlining which models and pickup configurations are available in each series and whether they are available in left-handed or just right-handed versions. Comfortable for modern players and vintage aficionados alike, these acclaimed neck profiles have now been enhanced with a new Super Natural finish that provides a silky-smooth and friction-free feel. The words Fender, Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Overall, wed probably say that the American Professional II instruments are solid Fender thoroughbreds with a 21st Century twist, while the American Ultra models are designed primarily for players seeking top performance and versatility. Here is a brief description of these 2 guitars: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster is made in USA, has a solid alder body, a bolt-on Deep C maple neck, maple / rosewood fingerboard, and SSS / HSS pickups. It was too slippery for lack of a better term. The American Professional II Jazzmaster has an alder body whereas the American Ultra Jazzmaster gives you the option of either an alder or ash body which also has a more dramatic sculpted neck heel and body contours. I pulled the trigger. Their Ultra Noiseless Vintage models deliver authentic single-coil sounds, while the Ultra Noiseless Hot versions dish out more output catering for modern performance needs. But looking forward to playing a II. As time has gone on, a lot of frustrating issues have popped up with that guitar, mostly due to how cheap it is. I figure if I dont like it, I can return within the 30 or 45 day window. Press J to jump to the feed. 111 NE 1st St, Miami, FL, Miami-Dade, US, 33132 You must log in or register to reply here. The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. As you probably know, the body type of a guitar is a defining factor for its character and tone. Compared to some higher-end Fenders, including two Custom Shops, it stands up among the very best I've spent time with. Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Rating: 9/10 Ive narrowed it down to the Ultra and the Professional II. The push-pull thing seems interesting, although I was never a fan of the S1 switch on other models and thought it a bit gimmicky. Anything from Fender will last you a lifetime so you don't have to worry about that. Best Telecasters 2023 | Guitar World But similarly to those models, Fenders American Ultra instruments have smooth satin-finished necks that allow for fast playability. Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Texas Tea - https://tinyurl.com/y4al8ffc How do tailpieces affect a guitars tone? The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a solid body. This includes a vibrant Miami Blue, as well as stealthy Dark Night and Mercury colours that are akin to Fenders Strat Plus finishes from the 80s and 90s. Fender American Ultra Telecasters: The Ultra model has a 6-saddle bridge whereas the Pro II has a 3-saddle bridge design. Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Left-Hand 61,200 68,000 Fender American Professional II Telecaster 61,200 - 64,800 Fender American Professional II Stratocaster HSS 63,000 - 66,600 Fender American Professional II Stratocaster 61,200 - 64,800 [Complete guide], Does fingerboard material affect tone? Fender American Professional II HSS Strat and Telecaster Deluxe guitars come equipped with newly-voiced V-Mod II Double Tap humbuckers too, which perfectly complement Fenders V-Mod II single-coils. These instruments are heavily-modified to suit the needs of 21st Century players; covering lots of sonic territory and providing unmatched performance. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I do like the rolled fingerboard edges on the II, and less important, I prefer the slight vintage tint. You are using an out of date browser. However, theres no single answer to whether a lighter or heavier guitar will sound better than the other. One is not better than the other. For more information on the other topics mentioned in this guide, check out our related articles: 2022 Andertons Music Company Whether your preferred guitar has one or not, it shouldnt worry you too much. I think it will end up being the Professional II then. Phone: +1 786-755-8158, American Ultra Luxe Strat vs American Ultra Strat, American Professional II Strat vs American Ultra Luxe Strat, American Original 60s Strat vs American Ultra Luxe Strat, American Original 50s Strat vs American Ultra Luxe Strat, Fender American Professional II Stratocaster and Fender American Ultra Stratocaster side by side, Fender American Professional II Stratocaster play demo, Fender American Ultra Stratocaster play demo, A brief description of the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster, A brief description of the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster, Types of electric guitar bodies and their effect on tone. Who do you pick as one of the best guitarist of all time, Alnico5 single coil pickups in a 2019 player strat. Bolt-on necks are attached by screws at the heel of the neck and can be removed easily for repairs or customization. This is measured from the nut to the bridge, and for intonation purposes, the middle point is always the 12th fret. This is one of the main factors that define the tone of an instrument. Fender's reimagined American Pro II series brings over features from the popular American Ultra line, including a truly ergonomic neck heel. Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Cobra Blue - https://tinyurl.com/y5wv9ver I'd have to sell a Strat or two first. This requires removing the bridge from the instrument but should allow the arm to pop in and out easily. On the Ultra Tele youll find noiseless pickups unlike on the Pro II model. Agreed but I don't blame people for not liking the price. The build quality on them will be the same. Youll also find rolled fretboard edges on guitars in both series. American Professional vs. American Professional II. If youre looking for a modern, top-of-the-line Fender Strat, Tele or Jazzmaster then your best bet is to consider the American Professional II and Ultra series. Here are Amazon links to each version so you can check the current prices: Considering other Stratocasters? While the bridge is removed, locate the retainer clip from the back of the . The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a maple neck. However, because they are hidden inside the cavities into its body, they are often forgotten. They're definitely a winner with Danish Pete and The Captain! The much-adored 2-point synchronised tremolo remains on the Stratocasters, but these are now fitted withcold-rolled steel blocks that increase sustain, clarity and top-end sparkle. Here, I explore some of these considerations and what I think are the main points to take into account: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster is a tool for the working musician that embodies the original Fender spirit with a slightly modern touch. Elliot is a Senior Digital Guitar Marketer at Andertons. Im obsessed with everything gear-related and I thought it might be worth sharing it. Finally, I will give you some comments about each of these instruments. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a Modern D neck. A guitars neck joint is what attaches the guitars neck to the body of the instrument. Review: Fender American Professional II Stratocaster - WIRED Whether your guitar has a standalone one or a bridge that works like one too, you might be interested in broadening your knowledge about tailpieces here: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a bone nut. Youll find Stratocasters, Telecasters, Jazzmasters, Jazz Basses and Precision Basses, along with a few tweaked instruments that include HSS Strats, Tele Deluxes, 5-string basses and even a few fretless models. But the pickups are an easy fix and the S1 series / parallel switching is pretty cool, I think the ultra just has a D shape neck, the elites had a C to D. Id suggest going to your local shop and checking them out, lefty or otherwise youll still get to see and feel them. The II plays smooth and feels great, I remember thinking the same about the original. If you want to know more about how its measured and the effect it has on the playability of a guitar, you should look at the following article: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has 22 narrow tall nickel silver frets. The main differences between the Fender American Performer and American Professional guitars are the neck profile and pickups. We will outline how pickups work and what are the central factors that determine how they influence the tone of your instrument. Thanks for visiting. The Ultra series only includes a right-handed SS Telecaster. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Does a guitars nut affect its tone? The contoured heel is a nice touch but thats more body than neck. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. However, although less product variation might seem like a downside for the streamlined American Ultra range it could be said that it forms a more robust lineup. No, not really. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Guitarists who are searching for a high-end offset guitar . Only some minor updates have been executed. A more comparable choice is the American Original Series - that's where I have settled after stints with both CS and Am Pro guitars. This functionality expands their tonal palettes, as it extends beyond the customary switching capabilities available on typical Strat, Tele and Jazzmaster models. The (original) Professional series will be tough to improve on, in my book. Buy A T-Shirt | https://tinyurl.com/vdq7rmg On the Ultra series versions, this switch is located on the volume control and on the Pro II versions it is located on the second tone control. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with Fender Deluxe Die-cast Sealed Locking tuners. In these articles, I dive deep into how important are frets for a guitar. The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a maple neck. I now own an acoustic guitar and several electric guitars including my personal favourite, a PRS SE Custom 24. Interested in other Andertons YouTube channels? The neck is really nice, but its a little different from other Fenders. Fender American Professional II vs American Ultra Stratocaster The American Professional II Stratocaster has warmer sounding pickups with a higher output and more mid-range emphasis compared to the noiseless pickups on the Ultra Strat which sound brighter and cleaner. Want To Sound Like The Captain & Pete? Performance & security by Cloudflare. Balancing a perfect blend of traditional design & modern practicality, Fender has truly listened to its players' & collaborated with various artists in order to improve the American Pro II Series to what it is today. Ive got an American Pro I with an all Rosewood neck. I own an American Pro II deluxe Tele and its awesome. Finally, we will help you compare different models and make an informed decision about which pickup is right for you. These are not factory-fitted on the American Pro II guitars, but can be purchased as an aftermarket upgrade. 11:00 Fender Pro II Stratocaster with Gain Deep is probably a misleading description, it really a slightly fuller C - and it is quite good! The quality between USA, MIM, and Japan are all very similar. Find out their differences in sound, playability, build quality and value. The Pro 2 is probably the more traditional 'stratty' of the two, but both play really well. I think the Vintera line is the best value and then you got a steep point of diminishing returns. Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, David Gilmour, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, Eric Johnson. This activates a series mode to fatten up the tone. A host of new Fender colours were introduced for the American Ultra series. The American Professional II Electric Guitar Guide | Fender Fender American Professional Jazzmaster Review - Old-Time Music Also, the Ultra have an active/passive toggle switch for added tonal flexibility. The push/ pull pot on the Ultra overrides the pickup selector and activates both pickups in series, whilst on the Pro II it coil taps the bridge pickup. . The standard Telecasters Push/Push function enables parallel/series operation for unique sounds, while the Jazzmasters taps its bridge humbucker for a vintage-like output level. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I'm very happy with the guitar, love the neck profile and the playability of the guitar (you have to learn to set up any guitar by yourself to get the best results). In many cases, the manufacturers dont inform the same features about the instruments that you want to compare and you have to start digging all over the web to find them. Fender American Pro II Jazzmaster in 3-Tone Sunburst | https://tinyurl.com/yxz8kalr Ensuring sublime tuning stability in conjunction with their low-friction bone nuts, these ergonomic machine heads also allow for lightning-fast string changes. $1,799.99. I didn't like mine until I raised them to spec, they came installed about 3/16" from the strings, far too low. Can't say any of the new features convince me other than the pine bodied variants coming in as low as 5lbs! In this extensive blog, weve broken down the key features of Fenders new American Professional II guitars. These are bigger than the Narrow Tall frets fitted on the American Professional II guitars, with their modern size providing a more controllable feel and enhancing tone/sustain. Guitar necks come in a variety of different joints, and each one has its own pros and cons. As it turns out, these US-crafted models are fairly equal on paper. The Fender American Ultra Luxe Stratocaster is built with a 10 - 14 Compound radius. But ultimately, these small refinements bring these instruments more up-to-scratch for contemporary musicians looking for greater tonal flexibility and added playing comfort. Pickups are [] pretty awful in the Am Pro II, but that's an easy fix in either case and I wouldn't let it sway your decision. Fender American Professional II Stratocaster | Reverb I play thumb over the top so I appreciate a soft edge but theyre not miles apart. The HSS ultras are extremely versatile, while the Am Pros are going to have the more traditional Strat sound. Bigger frets make a guitar easier to play, however, they hinder the overall intonation of the instrument. Fender American Ultra Jazzmaster vs Fender American Professional II