I don't think so. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with 22 medium jumbo nickel silver frets. 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. Ordered a used pro i online from guitar center. It can thus be said, again, that Fender heavily drew upon its American Ultra models when conceptualising the Pro II series. 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. A guitars neck joint is what attaches the guitars neck to the body of the instrument. So its time for an upgrade. Here is a video comparing the tones of the American Professional II (Butterscotch Blonde) and American Ultra Telecaster (white). Guitar weight is an important factor when it comes to finding the right guitar for you. 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 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. Youll also find narrow tall frets on the Pro II and medium jumbo frets on the Ultra. [Complete guide], Does fingerboard material affect tone? 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. Fender's reimagined American Pro II series brings over features from the popular American Ultra line, including a truly ergonomic neck heel. Fenders NEW & Improved American Professional II Series - What's The Difference? 27:10 Thoughts, Case & Stock Availability The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a 10 - 14 Compound radius. Guitars in both series have a push/ pull tone pot which activates the additional switching that you wont find on many other Fender models. [Playability, tone, and scale], Does guitar scale length affect tone? 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. Also, there are different fret materials to consider. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Stratocaster models. However, selected Fender American Professional II guitars and basses (with natural finishes) boast Roasted Pine bodies instead. Ive narrowed it down to the Ultra and the Professional II. Fender American Ultra Series - Their Most Advanced Guitars Ever? Ive been doing a lot of research on strats in the $1000-1500 range, and the American Pro II seems like the best choice for me. What Telecaster necks feel most like a 2011 American Standard Stratocaster? A number of stellar hardware appointments really make Fenders American Ultra instruments something to behold. 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. Pretty neat! Fender American Ultra Tele Rosewood Fretboard Ultraburst - https://tinyurl.com/y3avdhpz The shape of a guitar neck has a significant impact on the tone and playability. Different scale lengths have varying influences over things such as string tension, and of course, fret gap size. [Complete guide], Fender American Professional II Stratocaster, American Professional II Strat vs Vintera 50s Strat, Musician Jobs: 7 Reasons Why AI Is Not a Threat. I love the deep C neck carve and the pickups sound stellar. 0:00 Intro Jam on the New Fender American Pro II Pattern Thin Finally, I will give you some comments about each of these instruments. 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. Agreed but I don't blame people for not liking the price. Andertons Drummers YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/9yKSS9 1:25 What's New? My friend got a Pro-II P-Bass, and it's awesome. Andertons Guitar & Bass YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/kRJCpb The American Ultra series encompasses Fender's most advanced, forward-thinking instruments to date. https://tinyurl.com/y6a22s4k If you find that it's a struggle to remove and insert the tremolo arm, Fender suggests removing and bending the retainer clip outward slightly and re-inserting it. I read all the reviews and hype and bought a Suhr sight unseen and found that I couldn't stand the way it played with the ss (the guitar was fantastic in every way other than that btw). However, American Ultra bodies are heavily-contoured at the rear around their lower horn, neck and belly-cut sections. 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. Even better, the neck has rolled edges for premium playability and comfort. Modern guitar and bass players have never had more exciting creative tools at their disposal! The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a bone nut. How are the pickups? Theyre both great, very different, and neither is really better. Andertons Synths, Keys & Tech YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/ns172M On the humbucker-equipped HSS Strat and Tele Deluxe models, this serves as a coil-split switch instead. (3) Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe - Dark Night with Rosewood Fingerboard. Further performance upgrades include a contoured heel joint, Super-Natural satin neck finish, and upgraded electronics. And with Fenders new American Professional II series breaking cover, were sure that players from all over the world are intrigued to discover how the US guitar giant has refined its flagship instrument line. Guitarists who are searching for a high-end offset guitar . 15 years of Work Gone, Don't store picks in zip bags for too long. Alongside the new pickups, upgraded hardware appointments breathe new life into Fenders American Professional II guitars. 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. Good mid-range prices with great quality. 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. The type of wood that a guitar neck is made of will have a significant impact on the tone of your guitar. Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Ultraburst - https://tinyurl.com/yyouf2rz This design also helps to prevent notes from fretting out when performing string bends, making it a very practical design. This is one of the main factors that define the tone of an instrument. If you like old-school Fenders these guitars really arent for you! S2 It would be tough to choose between the Ultra and the Pro 2 for me, they're both excellent. I recently bought a 2017 AmPro HH RW Strat and was quite blown away by the playability and feel of the neck. [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? They have very different necks, both in terms of radius, profile and frets. Go on reverb and look at the price of secondhand Baja teles vs Americans pro series. Interested in other Andertons YouTube channels? Andertons Drummers YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/9yKSS9 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. The best place to start if you're new is right below in our "Rules" section. The American Ultra has a flatter fingerboard and also has a compound radius meaning that its more rounded at the nut to help with chords and flatter towards the upper frets to aid with bending. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is a modern take on the traditional strat with every luxury you could think of. For those who have hands-on experience with both: Is the only difference the "Super-Natural" finish on the back of the AmProII neck? The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a bridge integrated tailpiece. This is a forum where guitarists, from novice to experienced, can explore the world of guitar through a variety of media and discussion. Controls, switches, capacitors and resistances, all make for the circuitry of a guitar, and all have effects on the final tone and sounds it can offer to the player. Shop all Fender American Pro II Telecasters | https://tinyurl.com/y4o2htq2 Make sure to subscribe to Andertons TV for more great videos like this: https://goo.gl/aAzyQM 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. Most of the CS Relics have VERY THIN nitro finishes while the AM Pro has a much thicker (compared to CS) poly finish. 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. With a new collection of colours, re-voiced pickups & upgraded features. The Ultra Series (opens in new tab) earlier this year seems to have . It may not display this or other websites correctly. However, if you take good care of a guitar, storing and maintaining it properly, even a cheap one, it should last decades. For those who want a deeper dive into all the specs that make these 2 guitars different, in this article I will put them side by side so you can see their main differences. The best off the line guitar they make. The neck is really nice, but its a little different from other Fenders. 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. 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. Now, Fender has revised these with their newly-designed V-Mod II pickups. American Professional II guitars have thicker necks and higher output pickups giving them a more modern tone compared to the American Performer guitars. The American Pro series seems just in that goldilocks zone of high quality for a good price, so Im hoping that itll work out. Bigger frets make a guitar easier to play, however, they hinder the overall intonation of the instrument. 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. Today's best Fender Telecaster deals Fender American Professional II 1,619 See all prices Fender Richie Kotzen Telecaster 2,091.54 See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Best Telecasters: Product guide (Image credit: Squier) 1. 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. Fender has decided to retain its popular Deep C neck shape for its American Professional II electric guitars. Fall All' campaign above. May 19, 2020 #3 707GK Mar 14, 2021. Your IP: However, many players argue that differences in mass, especially at the end of the neck can have some implications in tone. I know there are better options out there for the same price, but I want to have another Fender Strat in the near future. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Maple Fretboard Ultraburst - https://tinyurl.com/y4frspd5 Strats, Teles, Jazzmasters, Precision Basses and Jazz Basses can be found, but there is less variation overall with only HSS Strats and 5-string Jazz Basses available outside of the standard models. The scale length of a guitar refers to the longitude of the vibrating part of the string. I have a Pro 2 and an Ultra, and had a Pro 1 as well. Fender's flagship USA-made guitar & bass lineup has just received a major makeover! I'd say not really. to switch position 1 which means that you can somewhat mimic a Telecasters pickup configuration. The Ultra Tele has a slimmer modern D shape neck and flatter compound fretboard radius compared to the Pro II Tele which has a deep C neck and narrower fretboard radius. They also have slightly different properties that some players argue can influence the tone of your guitar. Check Out Their Rigs Here! You have some benefits to an American made Fender - the two off the top of my head are the bone nut and the neck profile. There is a truss rod, of course, with 22 frets with dot inlays inset. Based on what I'm seeing, they seem to be the same aside from that. Fender American Ultra Strat Rosewood Fretboard Arctic Pearl - https://tinyurl.com/y57233cl The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a 9.5 radius. Additionally, the Ultra only has 21 frets whereas the Pro II has 22 frets which are spaced more closely together. 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 Strat Talk is the leading online community and marketplace for Stratocaster guitars. The majority of guitars and basses from the American Professional II series adhere to the timeless Fender tonewood combination. American Ultra guitars boast Fenders ingenious S-1 switching circuitry. 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. The light weight, punchy tonal qualities and stunning grain pattern of Roasted Pine makes it a more than worthy alternative though! 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. This included Cobra Blue, Mocha Burst, Ultraburst, Plasma Red Burst and the stunning Texas Tea, all of which remain exclusive to Fenders American Ultra guitars and basses. I held one at Guitar Center. In these articles, I dive deep into how important are frets for a guitar. 13/10/20 2:00pm - 11 min read | 35 min watch. IMO the hard finish sounds.well.harder. Theres also greater diversity within the American Professional II series, not only in terms of colour options, but also with Telecaster Deluxe models and more 5-string/fretless bass variants available. If you have any other questions feel free to let me know! The Ultra Strat has some notable upgrades such as the locking tuners, enhanced body contours and a more sculpted neck heel which are not seen on American Pro II Strat. Does anybody know if the necks on the American Pro I are different than the necks on the Pro II? The Stratocaster wears the American Ultra's contemporary stylings well. I wanted the specs that it came with. It helps define string spacing, action, and is the source of many of the tuning issues cheaper instruments suffer from. Like the OP, I'm also torn between these two models. The electronics of an electric guitar are what give the instrument its name. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Pickups are ok in the Ultra and 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. Here is a video comparing the tones of the American Professional II, American Pro I ( and American Ultra Jazzmaster. I do like the rolled fingerboard edges on the II, and less important, I prefer the slight vintage tint. There are many factors that contribute to the sound of a guitar, and whether it has a top is an important one. As you probably know, the body type of a guitar is a defining factor for its character and tone. 17:53 How Does It Sound? 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. The blues virtuoso's 'Number One' Strat was the core of his tone . I figure if I dont like it, I can return within the 30 or 45 day window. 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. Do fret size and material affect tone and playability? I was thinking about getting a Professional. Tonewoods have different densities, hardness, and acoustic qualities. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The nut of a guitar is a small but very important part of the instrument. The shape of a guitars headstock is not really a big defining factor for its tone. 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. Been a while since I had my AmPro though. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Strats and teles are pretty simple guitars and $1000 will get you all you need. A fan of '90s rock, vintage Formula 1 and offensive comedy he often feels like he was born in the wrong decade. Fender American Pro II Jazzmaster in 3-Tone Sunburst | https://tinyurl.com/yxz8kalr In his spare time, Elliot browses eBay for second-hand Music Man guitars, Marshalls and merch from bands you've never heard of. If you want to know more about how these kinds of bodies affect these guitars, you can check out this article: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a Stratocaster body. 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. It's a bit expensive, but it sounds, looks and feels incredible. [Complete guide], Do pickups make a difference in sound? Sporting minor yet noteworthy upgrades, these instruments perfectly merge classic Fender design with modern practicality. If you want to know how these specifics materials impact the tone of these guitars, you should take a look here: Guitarists are often curious about how guitar tops affect tone. The Pro II Tele features two V-Mod II single-coil Tele pickups and a newly designed bridge that marries the classic brass saddle tone with modern comfort and individual string intonation. An upgraded 2-point tremolo bridge and cold-rolled steel block combine to give you plenty of sustain and brightness. 111 NE 1st St, Miami, FL, Miami-Dade, US, 33132 The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a Stratocaster body. The contoured heel is a nice touch but thats more body than neck. Five iconic guitar and bass shapes make up Fender's American Professional II series. Fender Launch American Professional II Series. But looking forward to playing a II. This can be a difficult question with many different answers. A guitar's lifespan is mostly related to how well it is maintained and treated. Personally, I just LOVE the Dark Night color and can't say no to it. The Fender American Ultra Luxe Stratocaster is built with a 10 - 14 Compound radius. This activates a series mode to fatten up the tone. No, not really.