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. I started playing an electric guitar when I was given a Squier Strat for my birthday around 15 years ago. Here is Fender's modernism at its best, with the iconic body . [Complete guide]. It can thus be said, again, that Fender heavily drew upon its American Ultra models when conceptualising the Pro II series. Elliot is a Senior Digital Guitar Marketer at Andertons. No, not really. The versatility of the new American Professional II Fender Jazz Bass (or J Bass) comes to life thanks to twin V-Mod II single-coil Jazz Bass pickups and its HiMass vintage bridge for increased sustain. In this article I go deep into that topic and answer the most pressing questions: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a bolt-on neck. Guitar necks come in a variety of shapes, so its important to know what each of those shapes offers. 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.. If you manage to get an open box or display model for cheaper than a new guitar, you'll see barely any downside when you try to sell it. Squier Lines Explained: Which Is Best for You? 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. 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?". Fall All' campaign above. Fender American Professional II guitars use V-Mod II pickups whereas American Ultra guitars have Ultra Vintage Noiseless pickups. Fender American Ultra Strat Rosewood Fretboard Arctic Pearl - https://tinyurl.com/y57233cl Guitars in both series have a push/ pull tone pot which activates the additional switching that you wont find on many other Fender models. 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. Andertons Drummers YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/9yKSS9 Fender American Pro II Jazzmaster in 3-Tone Sunburst | https://tinyurl.com/yxz8kalr Id suggest going that route if you can find one. Shop the Fender American Ultra Series: https://tinyurl.com/2d2d5fmw Been a while since I had my AmPro though. This material has essentially replaced the Ash body option previously available in the American Pro series, which has now become more difficult to source. If you want to know the specifics of each of these joints, check out this article: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster fretboard is made of maple / rosewood. 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. After a lot of back and forth, I moved from a Squire to an American Professional, skipping the Mexican Player models. 15 years of Work Gone, Don't store picks in zip bags for too long. 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. I am interested in getting a used Pro I, but cant try it in person because its not local. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. . 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. JavaScript is disabled. It states rolled fingerboard edges as a new feature, but I thought the Pro-Standards have had that for quite some time. Even if you only use P split coil Pickup in passive mode exclusively the Playability along with build quality, fit and finish, comfort from new contours and P tone from Ultra Noiseless pickup is worth the xtra $ Click to expand. The main differences between the American Professional II Telecaster and American Ultra Telecaster are the pickups and neck shape. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a bolt-on neck. The American Ultra models have locking tuners unlike the American Professional II models. 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 Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. 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. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Andertons Drummers YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/9yKSS9 However, the Ultras have neck heels that are more dramatically-contoured and thus offer virtually zero upper-fret restriction! Check out my complete guide to the different Stratocaster models to make sure you get the best option. This solidbody electric guitars first major upgrade lies in the pickup selection. The American Pro series seems just in that goldilocks zone of high quality for a good price, so Im hoping that itll work out. Making them apt for use with overdrive and high-gain amp settings, these noise-free pickups eliminate a common issue that has afflicted old-school Fender single-coils for years. 8:46 Fender American Pro I Vs Pro II Guitarists who are searching for a high-end offset guitar . However, because they are hidden inside the cavities into its body, they are often forgotten. 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. In neck trough instruments, the neck elongates and becomes the central piece of the body, where most of its hardware is mounted. PRS Neck Profiles Explained: Comparing Shapes and Sizes. Fender's QC at the US factory is excellent. For more information on the other topics mentioned in this guide, check out our related articles: 2022 Andertons Music Company 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. The HSS ultras are extremely versatile, while the Am Pros are going to have the more traditional Strat sound. Some bridges also have extra functionalities. The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a 9.5 radius. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a 10 - 14 Compound radius. Lets explore this question, so you can make an informed decision for your next purchase. Simply put - there's tonnes of variety! You are using an out of date browser. Both versions uses the rhythm/ lead switch slightly differently to most other Jazzmasters by using it to activate the pickups either in series or parallel mode. Here is a video comparing the tones of the American Professional II (blue) and American Ultra (red/ orange) Stratocasters. ThorpyFX Dane Overdrive/boost - https://tinyurl.com/y6eoposs 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. 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. Im obsessed with everything gear-related and I thought it might be worth sharing it. The type of wood that a guitar neck is made of will have a significant impact on the tone of your guitar. Bigger frets make a guitar easier to play, however, they hinder the overall intonation of the instrument. This is measured from the nut to the bridge, and for intonation purposes, the middle point is always the 12th fret. The AmPro always had a Deep C neck. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is a modern take on the traditional strat with every luxury you could think of. 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. Is the "II" supposed to be an upgrade? The only parts of Fenders American Ultra instruments that remain traditional are their body materials. The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a maple neck. Click to reveal Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Maple Fretboard Texas Tea - https://tinyurl.com/y5ropcpv 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. The shape of a guitars body has serious implications on its playability, but not so much on its tone. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a bone nut. The main differences between the Fender American Performer and American Professional guitars are the neck profile and pickups. Here is a video comparing the tones of the American Professional II (Butterscotch Blonde) and American Ultra Telecaster (white). Additionally, the Ultra only has 21 frets whereas the Pro II has 22 frets which are spaced more closely together. The Ultra model has a 6-saddle bridge whereas the Pro II has a 3-saddle bridge design. There are 3 types of neck joints: bolt-on, set, and neck through. 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. The light weight, punchy tonal qualities and stunning grain pattern of Roasted Pine makes it a more than worthy alternative though! Even better, the neck has rolled edges for premium playability and comfort. This curvature is really a defining factor for how the instrument plays, and some players are very strict about it. 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. I'd look for guitars in the range of $500 - $800. 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. It has a Deep C neck and tall narrow frets, which definitely has a different feel than the Modern C with medium jumbos youll find on other fenders. #Andertons #Fender #AmericanProII, https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_0nq4xgWJ3U/default.jpg. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. However, there are less total colour options available compared to the American Professional II series which has an eclectic mix of both traditional and modern finishes. One is not better than the other. What is giving Ronnie Wood his tone in this song. 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. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a 2-Point Fender Deluxe Synchronized Tremolo bridge. If it aint broke, dont fix it right? Finally, I will give you some comments about each of these instruments. These also have a push-push pot for series-parallel switching. 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. I will then talk about their main specs one by one, and link you to some other interesting articles I have written about these specific features. TDPRI, short for Telecaster Discussion Page Reissue, is the leading online community and marketplace for Telecaster guitars. Most of the CS Relics have VERY THIN nitro finishes while the AM Pro has a much thicker (compared to CS) poly finish. I'd say not really. Episode Guide Strats and teles are pretty simple guitars and $1000 will get you all you need. A number of stellar hardware appointments really make Fenders American Ultra instruments something to behold. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Maple Fretboard Ultraburst - https://tinyurl.com/y4frspd5 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. On the humbucker-equipped HSS Strat and Tele Deluxe models, this serves as a coil-split switch instead. Sporting flexible electronics and forward-thinking hardware appointments, as well as a few ergonomic construction tweaks, these innovative instruments are aimed at the most of modern of musicians yearning for ultimate precision and uncompromising tone. What Telecaster necks feel most like a 2011 American Standard Stratocaster? Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2d90c11c2fe174 Also, there are different fret materials to consider. 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. 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. Shop all Fender American Pro II Jazzmasters | https://tinyurl.com/yxwtylto Each package comes ready to be painted to get the perfect match for your Fox Body . Id say no. But ultimately, these small refinements bring these instruments more up-to-scratch for contemporary musicians looking for greater tonal flexibility and added playing comfort. Other differences include the neck binding and locking tuners on the Ultra Jazzmaster which are not seen on the American Pro II version. A guitar's lifespan is mostly related to how well it is maintained and treated. [Complete guide], Does guitar weight affect tone? Main difference on the Ultra is the C to D neck carve and the noiseless pickups. In this extensive blog, weve broken down the key features of Fenders new 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. What is fretboard radius and why is it important? Thanks! [Guide], Does a guitars neck joint affect its tone? The material of a guitars fingerboards is as important as the one of the rest of the neck. Your IP: The Stratocaster wears the American Ultra's contemporary stylings well. 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. If you can go to a shop and play a few that would be a good idea, bc neck/fret preferences are pretty subjective. Fender's flagship USA-made guitar & bass lineup has just received a major makeover! 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. 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. Guitar tuners dont have a direct effect on how a guitar sounds. The Ultra has a 21-fret, D-shape neck with compound-radius (10"-14") fingerboard. 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. Watch this video for Lee & Petes thoughts on the new Fender Ultra guitars, plus an actual tone shoot out between the old Elite models & the new Ultra versions! Fender American Pro II Stratocaster in Miami Blue | https://tinyurl.com/y4w9svgg I have too many Strats. Fender has had the rolled fingerboard edges on this level guitar since the American Series came out in 2000. They offer world-class tones with no compromise on playability. Fender's reimagined American Pro II series brings over features from the popular American Ultra line, including a truly ergonomic neck heel. However, many players argue that differences in mass, especially at the end of the neck can have some implications in tone. Finding the particular specs of 2 guitars online is quite some work. The Pro 2 is probably the more traditional 'stratty' of the two, but both play really well. Although these updates arent anything to write home about, they exemplify how Fender tastefully improves upon its formulas over time without doing anything too drastic. 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. (3) Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe - Dark Night with Rosewood Fingerboard. 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.