Here is a video comparing the tones of the American Professional II (blue) and American Ultra (red/ orange) Stratocasters. 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. However, selected Fender American Professional II guitars and basses (with natural finishes) boast Roasted Pine bodies instead. The build quality on them will be the same. 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. Youll find medium jumbo frets on the Ultra version and narrow tall frets on the Pro II version. 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. 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. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Rosewood Fretboard Cobra Blue - https://tinyurl.com/y3eqvg5m The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a maple neck. The lightweight, contoured body delivers a nicely balanced tonal foundation with a highly-resonant quality. The D-shape neck feels slightly thinner and flatter compared to the more rounded C-shape neck on the Pro II models. 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. Here is Fender's modernism at its best, with the iconic body . I am interested in getting a used Pro I, but cant try it in person because its not local. Guitar weight is an important factor when it comes to finding the right guitar for you. 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. American Ultra guitars and basses are unique in the Fender catalogue for their non-typical Modern D-shaped necks. There are many factors that contribute to the sound of a guitar, and whether it has a top is an important one. 298. 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. I started of on a really bad steel string, then bought my first electric a year ago for about $200. If it aint broke, dont fix it right? I looked into the ultra, and I just cant justify the cost vs what you get. 0:00 Intro Jam on the New Fender American Pro II I do like the rolled fingerboard edges on the II, and less important, I prefer the slight vintage tint. 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 made in USA has a solid alder body, a bolt-on Modern D maple neck, maple / rosewood fingerboard, and SSS / HSS pickups. Youll also find narrow tall frets on the Pro II and medium jumbo frets on the Ultra. At no extra cost to you, any purchases you make through any of these links will earn me a commission. Danish Pete's Rig | https://www.andertons.co.uk/danish-petes-rig It helps define string spacing, action, and is the source of many of the tuning issues cheaper instruments suffer from. Shop the Fender American Ultra Series: https://tinyurl.com/2d2d5fmw This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. [Complete guide], Does guitar weight affect tone? 17:53 How Does It Sound? Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Texas Tea - https://tinyurl.com/y4al8ffc [Complete guide with examples], Does a guitars finish affect its tone? It is going to come down to which specs you like better. Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Ultraburst - https://tinyurl.com/yyouf2rz The Pro has a 20-fret, C-shape neck with a 9.5" radius fingerboard. Thanks. Rolled fingerboard edges and tapered neck heels are also standard features across the American Ultra range. Poly provides more protection from moisture and scratches, but some people argue it reduces resonance and sustain. On the subject of fingerboards, Fenders American Ultra models come installed with Medium Jumbo frets. The quality between USA, MIM, and Japan are all very similar. 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. Guitar necks come in a variety of different joints, and each one has its own pros and cons. Buy a T Shirt: https://goo.gl/TrTe78 to switch position 1 which means that you can somewhat mimic a Telecasters pickup configuration. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. You've watched the videos & seen the store, now join the Andertons Family with our exclusive, official merchandise! 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. It's a bit expensive, but it sounds, looks and feels incredible. 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. 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 words Fender, Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Staggered Fender tuners and a vintage 3-saddle bridge are pretty much the only familiar features you'll find here. For more information on the other topics mentioned in this guide, check out our related articles: 2022 Andertons Music Company 13/10/20 2:00pm - 11 min read | 35 min watch. All American Ultra guitars have enhanced body contours on the back of the guitar which are designed to make them more comfortable. 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. $1,799.99. 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 Fender American Ultra Stratocaster fretboard is built of maple / rosewood. I think it will end up being the Professional II then. Fender's flagship USA-made guitar & bass lineup has just received a major makeover! 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. 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. But ultimately, these small refinements bring these instruments more up-to-scratch for contemporary musicians looking for greater tonal flexibility and added playing comfort. American Ultra guitars boast Fenders ingenious S-1 switching circuitry. The American Ultra Jazzmaster sounds clearer and cleaner due to its noiseless pickups compared to the American Professional II Jazzmaster which sounds warmer and crunchier. But fret work and fit/finish on the American Pro is very good. 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 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. Id say no. Bolt-on necks are attached by screws at the heel of the neck and can be removed easily for repairs or customization. Fender's QC at the US factory is excellent. The truth is that Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster offers an exceptional quality. If you are here, it seems like I have already done that job for you. That being said, I love mine. Fender Launch American Professional II Series. Andertons Guitar & Bass YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/kRJCpb Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Telecaster models. Read the full Fender American Professional II Stratocaster review (Image credit: Fender) 8. Fender flares can be grafted on to .Outfit your Fox Body Stang with a Saleen style or 93 Cobra body kit. 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. I created this website to share everything I've learnt over the past 15 years of playing guitar. I have literally never had issues with Fenders in that price range. 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. Different scale lengths have varying influences over things such as string tension, and of course, fret gap size. They also have slightly different properties that some players argue can influence the tone of your guitar. I started playing an electric guitar when I was given a Squier Strat for my birthday around 15 years ago. 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. 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. As it turns out, these US-crafted models are fairly equal on paper. Ensuring sublime tuning stability in conjunction with their low-friction bone nuts, these ergonomic machine heads also allow for lightning-fast string changes. 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. 22:14 Fender American Pro II Jazzmaster The neck was super smooth. There is a truss rod, of course, with 22 frets with dot inlays inset. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Guitar players know that there are many variables in determining the sound of a guitar. 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 frets on a guitar have a deep impact on its playability. I don't know if the pro ii model is the exact model that is right for you. 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. Set necks attach to a pocket in the guitars body and stay put with glue. The PRS range consists of 4 different lines: No, not really. 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. I didn't like mine until I raised them to spec, they came installed about 3/16" from the strings, far too low. Episode Guide Its fundamental that your instrument has good quality machine heads to keep it in tune. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a solid alder body. Lightweight tuners are also installed on these basses, which prevent neck-dive and thus make the instruments more balanced in standing positions. Fender American Pro II Telecaster in Miami Blue | https://tinyurl.com/y5xcmm47 Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Mocha Burst - https://tinyurl.com/y6xoozzr MA. 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. All these necks are based on the C-shape and have the following PRS SE vs S2 Guitars (Including Custom, Standard, McCarty). 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. I held one at Guitar Center. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I think the Vintera line is the best value and then you got a steep point of diminishing returns. 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. Its probably my favorite neck on any of my guitars and I somehow had the profile wrong. Fender American Pro Strat in Sunburst, with maple neck. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a Stratocaster body. TDPRI, short for Telecaster Discussion Page Reissue, is the leading online community and marketplace for Telecaster guitars. I recently bought a 2017 AmPro HH RW Strat and was quite blown away by the playability and feel of the neck. Welcome to r/guitar, a community devoted to the exchange of guitar related information. This material has essentially replaced the Ash body option previously available in the American Pro series, which has now become more difficult to source. There are fewer colors available in the Ultra series and these are all quite modern looking, whilst the American Pro II series has loads more colors to choose from, both modern and traditional. Nitro is a type of varnish that is thinner and less durable, while poly is thicker, way more durable, and cheaper. Elliot is a Senior Digital Guitar Marketer at Andertons. This solidbody electric guitars first major upgrade lies in the pickup selection. 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. 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 . Im obsessed with everything gear-related and I thought it might be worth sharing it. They are just different flavors of a Strat. The Fender American Performer Stratocaster guitars replace the American Special and include a selection of all-new appointments such as Yosemite single-coil pickups, a push-pull pot to activate the neck/bridge pickup, Greasebucket tone circuitry and new Classicgear tuning machines for smoother tuning action. Simply put - there's tonnes of variety! You must log in or register to reply here. Wide Fat The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a 10 - 14 Compound radius. Make sure to subscribe to Andertons TV for more great videos like this: https://goo.gl/aAzyQM The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is painted with a gloss polyurethane finish. The Stratocaster wears the American Ultra's contemporary stylings well. But do guitar pickups make a difference in sound? The American Pro series seems just in that goldilocks zone of high quality for a good price, so Im hoping that itll work out. There are 3 types of neck joints: bolt-on, set, and neck through. This gives them a sleeker and more elegant feel when compared with their American Pro II cousins. Fender has also introduced some tasteful new colour options that are exclusive to these guitars and basses. 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. This is a forum where guitarists, from novice to experienced, can explore the world of guitar through a variety of media and discussion. The Ultra series only includes a right-handed SS Telecaster. 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. 8:46 Fender American Pro I Vs Pro II The only time I can suggest one would be if you value being made in USA. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is a modern take on the traditional strat with every luxury you could think of. The shape of a guitar neck has a significant impact on the tone and playability. 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. The Hardware The original Jazzmaster experienced some problems with its bridge and the tremolo arm. On the humbucker-equipped HSS Strat and Tele Deluxe models, this serves as a coil-split switch instead. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a solid body. 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. A guitars bridge is one of the 2 points of contact the strings have with the body and neck. The light weight, punchy tonal qualities and stunning grain pattern of Roasted Pine makes it a more than worthy alternative though! 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. The Fender American Ultra basses go a major step forward though, with their super-tweakable electronics likely to find favour with fastidious players. There are many kinds and materials of nuts out there, and if you want to know how they can impact your instrument of choice, you should go to this article: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has Fender Standard Die-cast tuners. Privacy Policy. Thanks for visiting. On the humbucker-equipped HSS Strat and Tele Deluxe models, this serves as a coil-split switch instead. The main differences between the American Professional II Telecaster and American Ultra Telecaster are the pickups and neck shape. Your IP: The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with 22 medium jumbo nickel silver frets. 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. Or $300/month for 6 months. These kits feature new rear bumpers, spoilers, side skirts, valances, grilles, grille emblems, and fender extensions to transform the look of your Mustang.