The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a 9.5 radius. 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. American Ultra guitars and basses are unique in the Fender catalogue for their non-typical Modern D-shaped necks. 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. 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. 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. Then, there are wood wings glued to its side to complete the body shape. Overall, wed probably say that the American Professional II instruments are solid Fender thoroughbreds with a 21st Century twist, while the American Ultra models are designed primarily for players seeking top performance and versatility. I recently bought a 2017 AmPro HH RW Strat and was quite blown away by the playability and feel of the neck. Strat Talk is the leading online community and marketplace for Stratocaster guitars. Episode Guide 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). After I sold my last MIM Strat, I find myself without a Fender guitar for the first time since I started playing. The Pro 2 is probably the more traditional 'stratty' of the two, but both play really well. On both guitars youll get additional switching which is activated by the push/ pull tone control. Do fret size and material affect tone and playability? Pattern Regular If you have guitar related questions, use the "Search" field FIRST, Then ask the community. SE The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a Stratocaster body. 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. Five iconic guitar and bass shapes make up Fender's American Professional II series. If not, Ill definitely look into older american standards. The Ultra series only includes a right-handed SS Telecaster. 12:30 Fender HSS Stratocaster Tones The frets on a guitar have a deep impact on its playability. However, because they are hidden inside the cavities into its body, they are often forgotten. A host of new Fender colours were introduced for the American Ultra series. Or $300/month for 6 months. Fender's flagship USA-made guitar & bass lineup has just received a major makeover! It may not display this or other websites correctly. With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to make a decision. Many players dont consider this as important as other features, but more experienced ones will be very picky about this. The PRS range consists of 4 different lines: Id suggest going that route if you can find one. In short, a guitars top has a slight, but perceivable, influence on its tone, however, they are mostly used for aesthetic purposes. Who do you pick as one of the best guitarist of all time, Alnico5 single coil pickups in a 2019 player strat. 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. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Rosewood Fretboard Ultraburst - https://tinyurl.com/y4xzt6vt The D-shape neck feels slightly thinner and flatter compared to the more rounded C-shape neck on the Pro II models. For more information on the other topics mentioned in this guide, check out our related articles: 2022 Andertons Music Company Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Stratocaster models. The majority of guitars and basses from the American Professional II series adhere to the timeless Fender tonewood combination. Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Dark Night $1,699.99 in stock 24 new from $1,699.99 2 used from $1,453.49 as of February 25, 2023 8:21 am Browse Fender American Professional II Stratocaster - Miami Blue with Maple Fingerboard $1,699.99 Browse Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster 2007 USA Sunburst Electric Guitar w/ Case $1,165.50 Browse The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a 10 - 14 Compound radius. These are bigger than the Narrow Tall frets fitted on the American Professional II guitars, with their modern size providing a more controllable feel and enhancing tone/sustain. 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. Fenders American Professional II Stratocaster offers multiple upgrades from its inaugural configuration. A number of stellar hardware appointments really make Fenders American Ultra instruments something to behold. 1:25 What's New? Main difference on the Ultra is the C to D neck carve and the noiseless pickups. 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. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is a modern take on the traditional strat with every luxury you could think of. Guitar necks come in a variety of different joints, and each one has its own pros and cons. There are also many factors that could determine what weight of guitar would be best for you. Make sure you like them before doing this. Its fundamental that your instrument has good quality machine heads to keep it in tune. Simply put - there's tonnes of variety! Fender American Pro II Telecaster in Miami Blue | https://tinyurl.com/y5xcmm47 Fender American Pro II Telecaster in Mercury | https://tinyurl.com/yxz2e2gk Andertons Synths, Keys & Tech YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/ns172M Fenders NEW & Improved American Professional II Series - What's The Difference? We will outline how pickups work and what are the central factors that determine how they influence the tone of your instrument. From guitars, pedals, amps, and synths to studio gear and production tips, I hope you find what I post here useful, and Ill try my best to keep it entertaining also. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a 25.5 scale length. Youll also find rolled fretboard edges on guitars in both series. However, the Ultras have neck heels that are more dramatically-contoured and thus offer virtually zero upper-fret restriction! Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. If you are here, it seems like I have already done that job for you. For the most part, Fenders American Professional II guitars maintain almost everything that made the original American Pro models so great. On the humbucker-equipped HSS Strat and Tele Deluxe models, this serves as a coil-split switch instead. Here we compare the Fender American Ultra Jazzmaster and the Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster. I know there are better options out there for the same price, but I want to have another Fender Strat in the near future. Shop the Fender American Ultra Series: https://tinyurl.com/2d2d5fmw 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! 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. But is one of these flagship Fender series clearly better than the other? Fender has also introduced some tasteful new colour options that are exclusive to these guitars and basses. The electronics of an electric guitar are what give the instrument its name. In many cases, the manufacturers dont inform the same features about the instruments that you want to compare and you have to start digging all over the web to find them. They're definitely a winner with Danish Pete and The Captain! 8:46 Fender American Pro I Vs Pro II Both guitars have a 2-point tremolo bridge with a pop-in tremolo arm and also include extra switching. In this article, Ill be comparing the two series head-to-head so you can decide which is the best for you. 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. Read the full Fender American Professional II Stratocaster review (Image credit: Fender) 8. [Guide], Does a guitars neck joint affect its tone? I'd have to sell a Strat or two first. Ive been playing for about two years now. If it aint broke, dont fix it right? The shape of a guitar neck has a significant impact on the tone and playability. American Pro II vs American Pro vs American Ultra. Prosoundhq.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk. Fender American Pro II Stratocaster in Dark Night | https://tinyurl.com/y4c85od6 The II plays smooth and feels great, I remember thinking the same about the original. 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. The light weight, punchy tonal qualities and stunning grain pattern of Roasted Pine makes it a more than worthy alternative though! I dont notice much difference between the supernatural and the original AmPro finish. 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. I was thinking about getting a Professional. 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 actually preferred the neck carve and fret size on the Ultra but preferred the tones on the American Pro so that's the one I kept. 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. Check out my complete guide to the different Stratocaster models to make sure you get the best option. 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. However, American Ultra bodies are heavily-contoured at the rear around their lower horn, neck and belly-cut sections. There is a truss rod, of course, with 22 frets with dot inlays inset. The Ultras noiseless pickups do not produce any hum or suffer from feedback unlike the V-Mod II pickups on the Pro II. Wide Fat Balancing a perfect blend of traditional design & modern practicality, Fender has truly listened to its players' & collaborated with various artists in order to improve the American Pro II Series to what it is today. As a huge fan of the Fender Jazzmaster, Cooper needed to get his hands on all of these to do a proper comparison-- with upgrades from the predecessor American Professional line including a beveled heel carve, V-Mod II pickups, the return of the "rhythm circuit" controls, and new finishing options, these guitars are up to the excellent standard Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster. Is an American Ultra worth the extra money compared to the American Pro II? So does the original AmPro not have the rolled edges? The Bajas and Classic Player series held their value much better. 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. 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.