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. Released in late 2019 as the replacement for the short-lived American Elite range, the American Ultra series encompasses what Fender describes as its most advanced production guitars to date. 298. There are 6 main PRS neck profiles: Designed for modern musicians that seek ultimate performance, precision and tone; these contemporary models go above and beyond those in previous top-of-the-range Fender series' without straying too far from their original, iconic formulas. Fender American Ultra Strat Rosewood Fretboard Arctic Pearl - https://tinyurl.com/y57233cl https://tinyurl.com/y6a22s4k The most important thing to note is that it is not just the type of pickup that determines a guitars sound, but also how and where you place the pickup on the guitar. On the humbucker-equipped HSS Strat and Tele Deluxe models, this serves as a coil-split switch instead. If you have any other questions feel free to let me know! Fender American Ultra Telecasters: These also have a push-push pot for series-parallel switching. Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Cobra Blue - https://tinyurl.com/y5wv9ver If you want to know more about this, I invite you to read the post below: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Cold-rolled Steel Block bridge. Introducing the Fender American Professional II Series, with new colours, refined hardware & re-voiced pickups, their iconic American Pro range just got a whole lot better! Fender American Professional II | Sweetwater This is a forum where guitarists, from novice to experienced, can explore the world of guitar through a variety of media and discussion. However, if you want to know all there is about guitar tops, go here: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a gloss polyurethane finish. Fender flares can be grafted on to .Outfit your Fox Body Stang with a Saleen style or 93 Cobra body kit. Here is a video comparing the tones of the American Professional II, American Pro I ( and American Ultra Jazzmaster. American Professional II | Fender Hello there, my name is Ramiro and Ive been playing guitar for almost 20 years. Im hoping that whatever I get will last me for years, so I just want to make the best decision. The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has Coil-tapping (HSS), Neck pickup blend (SSS) electronics, 1 x master volume, 2 x tone, push/push add neck blend (SSS) / 1 x master volume, 2 x tone push/push coil-split (HSS), and a 5-way blade switch. Fender American Ultra Strat Rosewood Fretboard Ultraburst - https://tinyurl.com/y2ow3bve [Complete guide], Do pickups make a difference in sound? As you probably know, the body type of a guitar is a defining factor for its character and tone. 1:25 What's New? Fender has decided to retain its popular Deep C neck shape for its American Professional II electric guitars. Its lightweight body is built from traditional Strat tonewoods (alder or ash, dependent on color) and outfitted with a flawless gloss poly finish and coordinating pickguard. This curvature is really a defining factor for how the instrument plays, and some players are very strict about it. These new Strat (opens in new tab), Tele (opens in new tab), Jazzmaster (opens in new tab) electric guitars and Precision and Jazz Basses come with some notable new features, including brand new switching options.. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster fretboard is built of maple / rosewood. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a bone nut. The blues virtuoso's 'Number One' Strat was the core of his tone . In his spare time, Elliot browses eBay for second-hand Music Man guitars, Marshalls and merch from bands you've never heard of. It was too slippery for lack of a better term. Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster. Best Stratocasters 2023 | Guitar World Thanks. 11:00 Fender Pro II Stratocaster with Gain 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. This functionality expands their tonal palettes, as it extends beyond the customary switching capabilities available on typical Strat, Tele and Jazzmaster models. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2d90c11c2fe174 [question] Is the Fender American Pro II worth the money? Shop the Fender American Ultra Series: https://tinyurl.com/2d2d5fmw Does anybody know if the necks on the American Pro I are different than the necks on the Pro II? Fender's Pro II guitar features 22 narrow-tall frets, a Deep-C neck, alongside a sculpted neck heel. I have a 2014 fender american deluxe strat which I love and adore and it cost around $1200 used. The following article will explain what guitar tops are and why they matter, as well as provide guidance for those who want to learn more about these options. 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. Welcome to r/guitar, a community devoted to the exchange of guitar related information. Click here to view all of our Labs articles! Fender American Pro II Stratocaster in Roasted Pine | https://tinyurl.com/y4978jwp The Fender American Ultra basses go a major step forward though, with their super-tweakable electronics likely to find favour with fastidious players. This is definitely one of the best Jazzmasters manufactured by Fender! All these necks are based on the C-shape and have the following PRS SE vs S2 Guitars (Including Custom, Standard, McCarty). Had I gone for a Mexican Player, I might have had a good guitar but would always have had a nagging thought in the back of my mind going "what if?". Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Telecaster models. Fender American Ultra Tele Maple Fretboard Mocha Burst - https://tinyurl.com/yyf4y8g8 Youll also find rolled fretboard edges on guitars in both series. I see the II had a different profilehavent played it yet, but I prefer thinner necks and deep c sort of scares me at face value. American Professional II Strat vs American Ultra Strat - GearAficionado Ive tried the Pro II and really like the neck profile. My friend got a Pro-II P-Bass, and it's awesome. However, the Ultras have neck heels that are more dramatically-contoured and thus offer virtually zero upper-fret restriction! The Fender American Ultra Luxe Stratocaster is built with a 10 - 14 Compound radius. Fender American Professional Jazzmaster Review - Old-Time Music The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a 25.5 scale length. 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. The function of this switching varies for the Strat, Tele and Jazzmaster so Ill discuss them later in the article when we look at each shape individually. Their Telecaster cousins come installed with completely redesigned Top Loader/String-Through bridges, which allow you to thread their strings either through their bodies or from their bridge plates. Ordered a used pro i online from guitar center. The American Pro II Strat features V-Mod II single coils, a 2-point tremolo, and a push-push tone pot that can add the neck pickup at the press of a button. [Complete wood guide]. The truth is that Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster offers an exceptional quality. Chapman Charvel Cort D'Angelico Dean Epiphone ESP E-II ESP ESP LTD EVH Fender Custom Fender Fender Squier Gibson Custom Gibson Gretsch Harley Benton Ibanez . 2023: The Year Epiphone Became Unaffordable, They Stole My Digital Recorder and SD cards. Youll also find narrow tall frets on the Pro II and medium jumbo frets on the Ultra. Read the full Fender American Professional II Stratocaster review (Image credit: Fender) 8. A host of new Fender colours were introduced for the American Ultra series. However, many players argue that differences in mass, especially at the end of the neck can have some implications in tone. The American Professional II Stratocaster is loaded with a trio of V-Mod II single-coil pickups that pump out a vintage tone with modern refinements. Main Stratocaster Guitar Discussion Forum. In terms of tone, the American Professional II guitars sound more crunchy and warmer compared to the American Ultra guitars which sound cleaner and brighter. But fret work and fit/finish on the American Pro is very good. These also have a push-push pot for series-parallel switching. The American Pro II series includes left and right-handed versions of the SS model as well as a HH right-handed version. I wanted the specs that it came with. You'll 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. As others have said, both are top notch so it really comes down to preference. 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. Here is a table showing the key differences between Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Stratocaster, Telecaster and Jazzmaster models. Fender American Professional II Telecaster | Reverb Five iconic guitar and bass shapes make up Fenders American Professional II series. Staggered Fender tuners and a vintage 3-saddle bridge are pretty much the only familiar features you'll find here. S2 They're both crazy high quality for general production run guitars in terms of fit and finish. The American Pro series seems just in that goldilocks zone of high quality for a good price, so Im hoping that itll work out. Pattern Ive got an American Pro I with an all Rosewood neck. In conjunction, both these 2 parts have a deep impact on the final tone of the instrument. Five iconic guitar and bass shapes make up Fender's American Professional II series. But do guitar pickups make a difference in sound? American Professional II Strat vs American Ultra Luxe Strat The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a 10 - 14 Compound radius. Bigger frets make a guitar easier to play, however, they hinder the overall intonation of the instrument. Want To Sound Like The Captain & Pete? Guitar necks come in a variety of different joints, and each one has its own pros and cons. Youll find medium jumbo frets on the Ultra version and narrow tall frets on the Pro II version. Find out their differences in sound, playability, build quality and value. Also, the Ultra have an active/passive toggle switch for added tonal flexibility. Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, David Gilmour, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, Eric Johnson. Lets take an in-depth look at each model individually in the following order: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a slightly thicker deep C neck with a narrower 9.5 fingerboard radius compared to the Ultra Stratocaster with its modern C neck and 10-14 compound radius fingerboard. All American Ultra guitars have enhanced body contours on the back of the guitar which are designed to make them more comfortable. Fenders American Professional II models have a contemporary twist, but the brands American Ultra guitars go one step further. I have literally never had issues with Fenders in that price range. If youre looking for a guitar with a vintage voice and modern feel, the American Professional II Stratocaster is worth your consideration., Introducing the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster: Fenders high-performance iteration of the modern Stratocaster. 13/10/20 2:00pm - 11 min read | 35 min watch. This is one of the main factors that define the tone of an instrument. If you were to abuse or neglect a Pro II like most people treat cheap guitars (store it in a damp basement, throw it in a closet out of a case under a pile of dirty laundry) it probably wouldn't hold up well either. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Maple Fretboard Texas Tea - https://tinyurl.com/y5ropcpv Also, take into consideration that the fretboard is the point of contact for your playing fingers with the guitar, so feel is also a very important factor. It helps define string spacing, action, and is the source of many of the tuning issues cheaper instruments suffer from. Ultra vs. American Pro ii - And the winner is : r/fender - reddit Ive narrowed it down to the Ultra and the Professional II. Some of the new finishes are nice, I like mercury (with rosewood) and sienna burst. GearAficionado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for websites to earn revenues by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Texas Tea - https://tinyurl.com/y4al8ffc Different scale lengths have varying influences over things such as string tension, and of course, fret gap size. You are using an out of date browser. Luckily for you, Ive compiled some general information about each different type of guitar neck shape so you can make an informed decision when choosing your next guitar: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a Fender Stratocaster headstock. 15 years of Work Gone, Don't store picks in zip bags for too long. This activates a series mode to fatten up the tone. At no extra cost to you, any purchases you make through any of these links will earn me a commission. [Complete guide], Does guitar weight affect tone? If you are here, it seems like I have already done that job for you. Buy A T-Shirt | https://tinyurl.com/vdq7rmg How do tailpieces affect a guitars tone? Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Maple Fretboard Arctic Pearl - https://tinyurl.com/y6ar99k4 On both guitars youll get additional switching which is activated by the push/ pull tone control. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Rosewood Fretboard Cobra Blue - https://tinyurl.com/y3eqvg5m For the last 70 years, Fender has largely set the tone in the guitar industry. With balanced Alder bodies bolted to bright-sounding Maple necks, this classic construction design yields the snappy and articulate tones that Fender instruments are so renowned for. Its clear that Fenders American Professional II and Ultra instruments are exceptional. 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. A guitars neck joint is what attaches the guitars neck to the body of the instrument. Both guitars have a sculpted neck heel, however it is more dramatic on the Ultra Tele. Alongside the new pickups, upgraded hardware appointments breathe new life into Fenders American Professional II guitars. The nut of a guitar is a small but very important part of the instrument. In this article I'll be comparing the SE and S2 lines and the reasons why the S2 models are significantly more expensive Hey, welcome Pro Sound HQ. The Ultra has a 21-fret, D-shape neck with compound-radius (10"-14") fingerboard. Different guitar body tonewoods and their effect on tone, Do guitar tops affect tone? Lets explore this question, so you can make an informed decision for your next purchase. Personally, I just LOVE the Dark Night color and can't say no to it. Guitars and basses from the original American Professional lineup came fitted with Fenders V-Modpickups. Then, there are wood wings glued to its side to complete the body shape. Performance & security by Cloudflare. The American brands trendsetting instruments have helped to shape contemporary music as we know it, with todays artists using theirguitarsand basses to pioneer the exciting sounds of tomorrow. In the following article I present you a list of the most common tonewoods used in guitar necks, and the influence they could have on the tone of the instrument: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a Deep C neck. 111 NE 1st St, Miami, FL, Miami-Dade, US, 33132 You can also hear an example of the Pro I as well (sunburst). In the following article, I dive deep into the most common questions players ask about tuners, and their functionality: Guitar pickups are one of the main components of any electric guitar. Bear in mind that most guitars will need a pro setup to get them in optimal playing condition and to align with the player's preferences. Sealed locking tuners and a 2-point Deluxe Synchronised Trem with pop-in arm equip todays players for classic Strat colorization with demanding modern intonation. PRS Silver Sky VS Fender Strat (direct comparison) - Guitar Chalk Go on reverb and look at the price of secondhand Baja teles vs Americans pro series. On the HSS versions it coil taps the humbucker pickup. Whether your preferred guitar has one or not, it shouldnt worry you too much. The light weight, punchy tonal qualities and stunning grain pattern of Roasted Pine makes it a more than worthy alternative though! Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Jazzmaster models. You could then perhaps argue that the Fender American Professional II guitars, which have been refined with Ultra-like tweaks, offer more bang-for-your-buck and are clearly better than their predecessors from the original American Pro range. I figure if I dont like it, I can return within the 30 or 45 day window. Id suggest going that route if you can find one. Fender American Ultra Jazzmaster vs Fender American Professional II 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. However, American Ultra bodies are heavily-contoured at the rear around their lower horn, neck and belly-cut sections. Pattern Regular 27:10 Thoughts, Case & Stock Availability TrevorG likes this. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Good mid-range prices with great quality. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Rosewood Fretboard Ultraburst - https://tinyurl.com/y4xzt6vt In this article, Ill be comparing the two series head-to-head so you can decide which is the best for you. So again, it's a matter of what you're going for. The American Professional II series includes all the same right-handed versions but also includes some left-handed versions and a humbucker Telecaster model. Privacy Policy. Based on classic designs and subtly-modernised with forward-thinking features, these contemporary guitars and basses can strike a chord with players of all disciplines and styles. Andertons Shopping Website: https://goo.gl/TPsG2Q Deep is probably a misleading description, it really a slightly fuller C - and it is quite good! The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a 9.5 radius. MA. [Guide], Does a guitars neck joint affect its tone? So, it all comes down to feel and your own personal preferences. On the subject of fingerboards, Fenders American Ultra models come installed with Medium Jumbo frets. 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. Mar 14, 2021. The body on the Pro II is made from a slab of wood, whereas on the Ultra youll find contouring on the back to make it more comfortable. JavaScript is disabled. If the condition of Fender's USA-made production-line guitars provides a useful temperature test for the fortunes of the brand as a whole, then the new American Professional II series provides compelling evidence that the people at the company who really know guitars are making their voices heard loud and clear. 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! Here is a video comparing the tones of the American Professional II (blue) and American Ultra (red/ orange) Stratocasters. Strats and teles are pretty simple guitars and $1000 will get you all you need. The Ultra model has a 6-saddle bridge whereas the Pro II has a 3-saddle bridge design. Andertons Drummers YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/9yKSS9 The shape of a guitars headstock is not really a big defining factor for its tone. However, their quality will be a defining factor in your playing experience. Fender American Pro II Telecaster in Mercury | https://tinyurl.com/yxz2e2gk Some bridges also have extra functionalities. But ultimately, these small refinements bring these instruments more up-to-scratch for contemporary musicians looking for greater tonal flexibility and added playing comfort. I'd have to sell a Strat or two first. What Telecaster necks feel most like a 2011 American Standard Stratocaster? In keeping with our comparisons of Fender's new beautiful American Professional II line, we're back to take a look at the American Pro II Strat up against its modern and advanced. The D-shape neck feels slightly thinner and flatter compared to the more rounded C-shape neck on the Pro II models. The Fender American Ultra series includes right-handed versions of the Stratocaster (SSS and HSS), Telecaster and Jazzmaster. I wonder what is new with the V-Mod "II" pickups, maybe voiced for a bit more snap? 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. Does fret number matter? Fender American Pro II Stratocaster in Dark Night | https://tinyurl.com/y4c85od6 It is a central part for the transmission of vibrations through the instrument, and also defines many important factors for playability such as string spacing and action. Deals. I'd look for guitars in the range of $500 - $800. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Stratocaster models. Core In this guide, we will discuss the different types of pickups and how they affect your sound. Fenders American Professional II Stratocaster offers multiple upgrades from its inaugural configuration. Poly provides more protection from moisture and scratches, but some people argue it reduces resonance and sustain. In terms of the neck designs, the Pro II Jazzmaster has a slightly thicker deep C neck and narrower fingerboard radius compared to the Ultra Jazzmaster which has a slightly narrower modern D neck and wider fingerboard radius. Fenders American Ultra Noiseless pickups are split into two types. What is fretboard radius and why is it important? There are also many factors that could determine what weight of guitar would be best for you. Additionally, the Ultra has locking tuners. The HSS ultras are extremely versatile, while the Am Pros are going to have the more traditional Strat sound. TDPRI, short for Telecaster Discussion Page Reissue, is the leading online community and marketplace for Telecaster guitars. Further performance upgrades include a contoured heel joint, Super-Natural satin neck finish, and upgraded electronics. This is a tiny tweak, but these simply offer an extra layer of finesse by blending beautifully into the shapes of their sculpted neck heels. The Big Review: Fender American Professional II Stratocaster - guitar