Fender American Pro Strat in Sunburst, with maple neck. Fender American Pro II Stratocaster in Miami Blue | https://tinyurl.com/y4w9svgg Check out my guide to the different Fender neck profiles to learn more. Fender American Professional II Series Telecaster Deluxe (Image credit: Fender) Originally introduced in 1973, this twisted Tele packed two Seth Lover-designed "Wide Range" humbucking pickups and a Gibson-style setup of dual volume and tone controls and a three-way toggle. Andertons Synths, Keys & Tech YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/ns172M I created this website to share everything I've learnt over the past 15 years of playing guitar. It states rolled fingerboard edges as a new feature, but I thought the Pro-Standards have had that for quite some time. The color options are different in each series. These kits feature new rear bumpers, spoilers, side skirts, valances, grilles, grille emblems, and fender extensions to transform the look of your Mustang. Nitro is a type of varnish that is thinner and less durable, while poly is thicker, way more durable, and cheaper. A guitar's lifespan is mostly related to how well it is maintained and treated. I looked into the ultra, and I just cant justify the cost vs what you get. That being said, the Ultras are some of the most playable guitars I've ever played (although the Am Pro IIs play great as well). Even the resale value thing is a myth. The Fender American Ultra Luxe Stratocaster is built with a 10 - 14 Compound radius. Fender American Ultra Strat Rosewood Fretboard Ultraburst - https://tinyurl.com/y2ow3bve A high end fender is totally worth the cost. The words Fender, Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Privacy Policy. Read the full Fender American Professional II Stratocaster review (Image credit: Fender) 8. This solidbody electric guitars first major upgrade lies in the pickup selection. All guitar and bass models now sport bevelled neck plates too. TeTe MICOponkichi http . 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. It's a bit expensive, but it sounds, looks and feels incredible. Who do you pick as one of the best guitarist of all time, Alnico5 single coil pickups in a 2019 player strat. 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 . The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with 22 medium jumbo nickel silver frets. Andertons Shopping Website: https://goo.gl/TPsG2Q Id say no. My favourite guitar in 25 years. The main differences between the American Professional II Telecaster and American Ultra Telecaster are the pickups and neck shape. Here is a table showing the key differences between Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Stratocaster, Telecaster and Jazzmaster models. Thanks! Find out their differences in sound, playability, build quality and value. [Complete guide], Do pickups make a difference in sound? The only time I can suggest one would be if you value being made in USA. A host of new Fender colours were introduced for the American Ultra series. 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. If you like old-school Fenders these guitars really arent for you! I have an Ultra Tele. Deals. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Cobra Blue - https://tinyurl.com/y5wv9ver [Complete guide], Do guitar tuners affect tone? It is essentially Fenders new core USA range; encompassing 100 guitar and bass models that promise enhanced versatility and playability over their predecessors. Finding the particular specs of 2 guitars online is quite some work. In these articles, I dive deep into how important are frets for a guitar. Here we compare the Fender American Ultra Jazzmaster and the Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster. 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. This curvature is really a defining factor for how the instrument plays, and some players are very strict about it. If you have guitar related questions, use the "Search" field FIRST, Then ask the community. [Complete guide], Types of guitar pickups and their effect on tone [Guide], Do guitar electronics affect tone? Brand new Push/Push electronics enable special pickup combinations on Fender American Professional II electric guitars. The same core Fender models that form the American Professional II lineup are also what prop up 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. link to PRS Neck Profiles Explained: Comparing Shapes and Sizes, link to PRS SE vs S2 Guitars (Including Custom, Standard, McCarty), guide to the different Fender neck profiles, Fender American Professional II Stratocaster, complete guide to the different Stratocaster models, Fender American Professional II Telecaster, Fender American Professional II vs Original 50s and 60s Series, Fender American Professional II vs American Performer Series, American Professional II vs American Ultra Series Overview, Pro II (narrow tall frets):0.090 x 0.055, Ultra (medium jumbo frets): 0.106 x 0.036. 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. But fret work and fit/finish on the American Pro is very good. The neck was super smooth. If you are here, it seems like I have already done that job for you. 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 most noteworthy of these are Fender-designed Deluxe locking tuners fitted as standard on the electric guitar models. An additional plus-point, so to speak, of Fenders American Ultra guitars and basses are their 10 14 compound radius fingerboards. Finally, we will help you compare different models and make an informed decision about which pickup is right for you. It helps define string spacing, action, and is the source of many of the tuning issues cheaper instruments suffer from. Welcome to r/guitar, a community devoted to the exchange of guitar related information. Pretty neat! Maintaining everything that made the original Fender American Pro Series great, the eye-catching guitars of the American Professional II range boast upgrades that bring them more up-to-scratch for contemporary musicians. Lets explore this question, so you can make an informed decision for your next purchase. 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. The lightweight, contoured body delivers a nicely balanced tonal foundation with a highly-resonant quality. 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. Fender American Ultra Tele Rosewood Fretboard Arctic Pearl - https://tinyurl.com/yxo3fm6f You are using an out of date browser. 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. Ensuring sublime tuning stability in conjunction with their low-friction bone nuts, these ergonomic machine heads also allow for lightning-fast string changes. I have an American Pro and love the modern C neck. The American Ultras have a slight edge when it comes to their pickups and hardware appointments, but that is reflected in their pricing. Good mid-range prices with great quality. A fan of '90s rock, vintage Formula 1 and offensive comedy he often feels like he was born in the wrong decade. IMO the hard finish sounds.well.harder. I think the Vintera line is the best value and then you got a steep point of diminishing returns. The Ultra series only includes a right-handed SS Telecaster. Guitar necks come in a variety of shapes, so its important to know what each of those shapes offers. Im obsessed with everything gear-related and I thought it might be worth sharing it. The other big thing is resale value - American Fenders go for higher prices in the used market. 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. Compared to some higher-end Fenders, including two Custom Shops, it stands up among the very best I've spent time with. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2d90c11c2fe174 Fenders American Ultra Noiseless pickups are split into two types. 15 years of Work Gone, Don't store picks in zip bags for too long. 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. 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. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Maple Fretboard Texas Tea - https://tinyurl.com/y5ropcpv 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. The electric guitar models also feature newly-designed string trees that are engineered to prevent unwanted tuning slips. 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. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a bolt-on neck. 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. 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. Ive been playing for about two years now. 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. The majority of guitars and basses from the American Professional II series adhere to the timeless Fender tonewood combination. I really like the Ultras compound radius, C to D neck carve and recessed heel I dislike the truss Rod dial on front and the pickups. Fall All' campaign above. Guitar players know that there are many variables in determining the sound of a guitar. I compared it and a Japanese made one that was 30% less and equally enjoyed the feel, only marginally preferred the sound of the Pro. I held one at Guitar Center. Click to reveal 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. Wound differently to their older counterparts, Fender describes its V-Mod IIs as some of the best sounding pickups it has ever made promising extra note definition and more mid-range punch. I'm not sure the pro ii or the ultra bring much more to the table than the older american deluxe series. Its probably my favorite neck on any of my guitars and I somehow had the profile wrong. Could these be the best guitars Fender has ever made? I figure if I dont like it, I can return within the 30 or 45 day window. Now, I just don't know. Good question, there are only a couple differences that I can see - the top-loader option for the bridge and the sculpted heel, and a roasted pine option that seems interesting. However, weve also compared these fresh-to-the-market models with Fenders highest-spec production guitars from the American Ultra series to help you to distinguish which instruments are best-suited for your playing needs! Shop the Fender American Ultra Series: https://tinyurl.com/2d2d5fmw Knowing the differences between each joint can help you decide which is best for you. 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. They're both crazy high quality for general production run guitars in terms of fit and finish. Fender American Ultra Tele Maple Fretboard Cobra Blue - https://tinyurl.com/y3odjufd It was REALLY HARD to leave the store without that Strat. Fender American Ultra Series - Their Most Advanced Guitars Ever? 298. The neck is really nice, but its a little different from other Fenders. I am interested in getting a used Pro I, but cant try it in person because its not local. The whole instrument has been thought out and designed in painstaking detail, all the way down to the embossed Fender headstock logo and extra comfortable trem arm.. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Does guitar body shape affect tone or playability? I have too many Strats. If not, Ill definitely look into older american standards. Whether your preferred guitar has one or not, it shouldnt worry you too much. In this blog, we've pitted Fender's brand new American Professional II series guitars against their top-of-the-line counterparts from the American Ultra range! The AmPro always had a Deep C neck. With Alder used for the solid-finish guitars and Ash employed for the natural/transparent colour models; these tonewoods hearken back to the classic Fender formula from the 50s with bolt-on Maple necks keeping their signature construction intact. The blues virtuoso's 'Number One' Strat was the core of his tone . Additionally, youll find narrow tall frets on the Pro II version and medium jumbo frets on the Ultra. The best place to start if you're new is right below in our "Rules" section. With both the American Ultra Precision Bass and Jazz Bass models boasting HiMass bridges, these specially-designed components guarantee piano-like sustain and huge, bellowing lows. Hello there, my name is Ramiro and Ive been playing guitar for almost 20 years. 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. 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! You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. S2 Alongside the new pickups, upgraded hardware appointments breathe new life into Fenders American Professional II guitars. 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. Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Rating: 9/10 The Fender American Elite Strat has got more tonal possibilities, compared to the American Special and Pro. In neck trough instruments, the neck elongates and becomes the central piece of the body, where most of its hardware is mounted. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Andertons Synths, Keys & Tech YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/ns172M Ive narrowed it down to the Ultra and the Professional II. Make sure you like them before doing this. 111 NE 1st St, Miami, FL, Miami-Dade, US, 33132 The words Fender, Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Additionally, the Ultra only has 21 frets whereas the Pro II has 22 frets which are spaced more closely together. The American Ultra series encompasses Fender's most advanced, forward-thinking instruments to date. Fender American Ultra Tele Maple Fretboard Mocha Burst - https://tinyurl.com/yyf4y8g8 The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a 10 14 Compound radius. Guitars in both series feature a sculpted neck heel to aid upper fret access however, on the Ultra it is more dramatic to give the player even easier access to the upper register. I'd say not really. The light weight, punchy tonal qualities and stunning grain pattern of Roasted Pine makes it a more than worthy alternative though! Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Also, there are different fret materials to consider. It can thus be said, again, that Fender heavily drew upon its American Ultra models when conceptualising the Pro II series. The majority of your money is going towards labor costs. Ordered a used pro i online from guitar center. The Stratocaster wears the American Ultra's contemporary stylings well. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Maple Fretboard Arctic Pearl - https://tinyurl.com/y6ar99k4 On the HSS versions it coil taps the humbucker pickup. You must log in or register to reply here. The nut of a guitar is a small but very important part of the instrument. 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. The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a 25.5 scale length. I started of on a really bad steel string, then bought my first electric a year ago for about $200. Guitars in the Fender American Ultra series have a slimmer modern D neck with a flatter fingerboard radius compared to guitars in the American Professional II series which have a deep C neck. If you want to know the main things about this topic, I recommend you follow this link: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster weighs 7 8 lbs, and the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster weighs 8 lbs. Shop all Fender American Pro II Stratocasters | https://tinyurl.com/y68vk8bk On both guitars youll get additional switching which is activated by the push/ pull tone control. Also, the Ultra have an active/passive toggle switch for added tonal flexibility. Deep is probably a misleading description, it really a slightly fuller C - and it is quite good! Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.