The frets on a guitar have a deep impact on its playability. You are using an out of date browser. Like the OP, I'm also torn between these two models. The truth is that Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster offers an exceptional quality. 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. 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. 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. Thanks for visiting! Wide Fat 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. The Ultra Series (opens in new tab) earlier this year seems to have . The Hardware The original Jazzmaster experienced some problems with its bridge and the tremolo arm. Many players dont consider this as important as other features, but more experienced ones will be very picky about this. The other big thing is resale value - American Fenders go for higher prices in the used market. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. These instruments are heavily-modified to suit the needs of 21st Century players; covering lots of sonic territory and providing unmatched performance. 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! 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. There are many factors that contribute to the sound of a guitar, and whether it has a top is an important one. 17:53 How Does It Sound? Finally, I will give you some comments about each of these instruments. To know everything there is about this part of the guitar, please go here: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a bridge integrated tailpiece. 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. 15 years of Work Gone, Don't store picks in zip bags for too long. 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. I dont notice much difference between the supernatural and the original AmPro finish. 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. Interested in finding out more about music gear and expanding your knowledge? Simply put theres tonnes of variety! [Complete wood guide]. I have an American Pro I and had an Ultra. The American Professional II series includes all the same right-handed versions but also includes some left-handed versions and a humbucker Telecaster model. 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. This functionality expands their tonal palettes, as it extends beyond the customary switching capabilities available on typical Strat, Tele and Jazzmaster models. American Ultra guitars and basses are unique in the Fender catalogue for their non-typical Modern D-shaped necks. I have an American Pro and love the modern C neck. Ensuring sublime tuning stability in conjunction with their low-friction bone nuts, these ergonomic machine heads also allow for lightning-fast string changes. I love the deep C neck carve and the pickups sound stellar. Read the full Fender American Professional II Stratocaster review (Image credit: Fender) 8. I started of on a really bad steel string, then bought my first electric a year ago for about $200. Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Texas Tea - https://tinyurl.com/y4al8ffc 23:46 Let's Get Some Tones! I might even be an idiot and get it refretted with stainless with the price difference between the two. At no extra cost to you, any purchases you make through any of these links will earn me a commission. The American Ultra models have locking tuners unlike the American Professional II models. Does anybody know if the necks on the American Pro I are different than the necks on the Pro II? In these articles, I dive deep into how important are frets for a guitar. The light weight, punchy tonal qualities and stunning grain pattern of Roasted Pine makes it a more than worthy alternative though! Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Telecaster models. Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Mocha Burst - https://tinyurl.com/y6xoozzr For the most part, Fenders American Professional II guitars maintain almost everything that made the original American Pro models so great. 0:00 Intro Jam on the New Fender American Pro II Fender's reimagined American Pro II series brings over features from the popular American Ultra line, including a truly ergonomic neck heel. JavaScript is disabled. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a bolt-on neck. Allowing you to access more pickup combinations for greater tonal versatility, these electronics therefore work very similarly to the Push/Push systems found in Fenders new American Professional II guitars. [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? 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! As others have said, both are top notch so it really comes down to preference. The neck heel on the Pro II is still sculpted but just not as dramatically. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Modern guitar and bass players have never had more exciting creative tools at their disposal! 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. What Telecaster necks feel most like a 2011 American Standard Stratocaster? American Original 70's Tele Custom neck finish, Cap outer foil tester build -- Peegoo Custom Special. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Maple Fretboard Ultraburst - https://tinyurl.com/y4frspd5 Pattern Regular Andertons Synths, Keys & Tech YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/ns172M Guitar players know that there are many variables in determining the sound of a guitar. Fender American Ultra Strat Rosewood Fretboard Arctic Pearl - https://tinyurl.com/y57233cl However, many players argue that differences in mass, especially at the end of the neck can have some implications in tone. One is not better than the other. 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. I do like the rolled fingerboard edges on the II, and less important, I prefer the slight vintage tint. Both series include SSS and HSS pickup configurations however only the American Professional II series includes a left-handed version of the SSS Strat. These also have a push-push pot for series-parallel switching. 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?". 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! 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. Andertons Synths, Keys & Tech YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/ns172M 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. Youll also find narrow tall frets on the Pro II and medium jumbo frets on the Ultra. The main differences between the Fender American Performer and American Professional guitars are the neck profile and pickups. 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. In conjunction, both these 2 parts have a deep impact on the final tone of the instrument. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Staggered Fender tuners and a vintage 3-saddle bridge are pretty much the only familiar features you'll find here. [Guide], Does a guitars neck joint affect its tone? It helps define string spacing, action, and is the source of many of the tuning issues cheaper instruments suffer from. 11:00 Fender Pro II Stratocaster with Gain 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. Does guitar body shape affect tone or playability? The color options are different in each series. The words Fender, Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. I created this website to share everything I've learnt over the past 15 years of playing guitar. The electric guitar models also feature newly-designed string trees that are engineered to prevent unwanted tuning slips. You've watched the videos & seen the store, now join the Andertons Family with our exclusive, official merchandise! 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. I figure if I dont like it, I can return within the 30 or 45 day window. The American Pro II series includes left and right-handed versions of the SS model as well as a HH right-handed version. After a lot of back and forth, I moved from a Squire to an American Professional, skipping the Mexican Player models. 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. 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. Strat Talk is the leading online community and marketplace for Stratocaster guitars. The American Ultras have a slight edge when it comes to their pickups and hardware appointments, but that is reflected in their pricing. 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. 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. Wide Thin The American Ultra series encompasses Fender's most advanced, forward-thinking instruments to date. Elliot is a Senior Digital Guitar Marketer at Andertons. I wanted the specs that it came with. So its time for an upgrade. The Pro has a 20-fret, C-shape neck with a 9.5" radius fingerboard. Pretty neat! Fender American Ultra Stratocasters: However, theres no single answer to whether a lighter or heavier guitar will sound better than the other. 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. 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. As time has gone on, a lot of frustrating issues have popped up with that guitar, mostly due to how cheap it is. The electronics of an electric guitar are what give the instrument its name. All American Ultra guitars have enhanced body contours on the back of the guitar which are designed to make them more comfortable. Fender has had the rolled fingerboard edges on this level guitar since the American Series came out in 2000. PRS Neck Profiles Explained: Comparing Shapes and Sizes. I have too many Strats. A heavier guitar will give you more sustain, but a lighter guitar will be more resonant, and easier to play and carry around. 111 NE 1st St, Miami, FL, Miami-Dade, US, 33132 But similarly to those models, Fenders American Ultra instruments have smooth satin-finished necks that allow for fast playability. In this article I'll be comparing the SE and S2 lines and the reasons why the S2 models are significantly more expensive Hey, welcome Pro Sound HQ. 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. Id suggest going that route if you can find one. Even if youre a traditionally bent player, dont be dismayed: the American Ultra Stratocaster is a Strat through and through. 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. Pattern Thin However, the Ultras have neck heels that are more dramatically-contoured and thus offer virtually zero upper-fret restriction! 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.. Make sure you like them before doing this. The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a 9.5 radius. Andertons Guitar & Bass YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/kRJCpb 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. American Professional II guitars have a deep C neck profile and 9.5 fretboard radius, whereas American Ultra models have a modern D neck profile with a 10-14 compound radius fretboard. If you have guitar related questions, use the "Search" field FIRST, Then ask the community. This is one of the main factors that define the tone of an instrument. These new Strat (opens in new tab), Tele (opens in new tab), Jazzmaster (opens in new tab) electric guitars and Precision and Jazz Basses come with some notable new features, including brand new switching options.. The PRS range consists of 4 different lines: [Complete guide], Does guitar weight affect tone? [Complete guide], Do pickups make a difference in sound? [Complete guide], Does a guitars bridge affect the tone? If not, Ill definitely look into older american standards. Guitarists who are searching for a high-end offset guitar . The best place to start if you're new is right below in our "Rules" section. There are 3 types of neck joints: bolt-on, set, and neck through. Also, there are different fret materials to consider. On the humbucker-equipped HSS Strat and Tele Deluxe models, this serves as a coil-split switch instead. If it aint broke, dont fix it right? It states rolled fingerboard edges as a new feature, but I thought the Pro-Standards have had that for quite some time. Danish Pete's Rig | https://www.andertons.co.uk/danish-petes-rig These 2 finishes are both types of varnish that can be used to protect and beautify a guitars wood. The Ultras noiseless pickups do not produce any hum or suffer from feedback unlike the V-Mod II pickups on the Pro II. It was too slippery for lack of a better term. The nut of a guitar is a small but very important part of the instrument. IMO the hard finish sounds.well.harder. Both guitars have a 2-point tremolo bridge with a pop-in tremolo arm and also include extra switching. Thanks. If you can go to a shop and play a few that would be a good idea, bc neck/fret preferences are pretty subjective. A guitar's lifespan is mostly related to how well it is maintained and treated. 1:25 What's New? Phone: +1 786-755-8158, American Ultra Luxe Strat vs American Ultra Strat, American Professional II Strat vs American Ultra Luxe Strat, American Original 60s Strat vs American Ultra Luxe Strat, American Original 50s Strat vs American Ultra Luxe Strat, Fender American Professional II Stratocaster and Fender American Ultra Stratocaster side by side, Fender American Professional II Stratocaster play demo, Fender American Ultra Stratocaster play demo, A brief description of the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster, A brief description of the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster, Types of electric guitar bodies and their effect on tone. So again, it's a matter of what you're going for. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster fretboard is built of maple / rosewood. The contoured heel is a nice touch but thats more body than neck. This gives them a sleeker and more elegant feel when compared with their American Pro II cousins. Prosoundhq.com is also a member of other affiliate programmes. Buy A T-Shirt | https://tinyurl.com/vdq7rmg But do guitar pickups make a difference in sound? Personally, I just LOVE the Dark Night color and can't say no to 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. But Im unsure about several things, namely Fenders QC and the guitars lifespan. This is measured from the nut to the bridge, and for intonation purposes, the middle point is always the 12th fret. Guitars in both series have a push/ pull tone pot which activates the additional switching that you wont find on many other Fender models. The push-pull thing seems interesting, although I was never a fan of the S1 switch on other models and thought it a bit gimmicky. 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.