Fender Custom Shop vs American Professional: Sound Quality? The (original) Professional series will be tough to improve on, in my book. In conjunction, both these 2 parts have a deep impact on the final tone of the instrument. 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. But do guitar pickups make a difference in sound? All American Ultra guitars have enhanced body contours on the back of the guitar which are designed to make them more comfortable. 111 NE 1st St, Miami, FL, Miami-Dade, US, 33132 The main differences between the Fender American Performer and American Professional guitars are the neck profile and pickups. 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. SE Personally, I just LOVE the Dark Night color and can't say no to it. The pickups - while always a matter of taste - tend to sound more, shall we say, Fender like - they sound like what you would expect a Fender to sound like more than the other models. In this guide, we will discuss the different types of pickups and how they affect your sound. Even the resale value thing is a myth. Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Mocha Burst - https://tinyurl.com/y6xoozzr On the Ultra Tele youll find noiseless pickups unlike on the Pro II model. American Professional vs. American Professional II. Theyre both great, very different, and neither is really better. 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. 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. Review: Fender American Professional II Stratocaster - WIRED Fender American Ultra Tele Rosewood Fretboard Texas Tea - https://tinyurl.com/y6kv9bdr Fender American Professional Jazzmaster Review - Old-Time Music Fender American Professional II Telecaster | Reverb Ive got an American Pro I with an all Rosewood neck. Is the "II" supposed to be an upgrade? Fender American Professional II - But Im unsure about several things, namely Fenders QC and the guitars lifespan. Danish Pete's Rig | https://www.andertons.co.uk/danish-petes-rig I have too many Strats. This design also helps to prevent notes from fretting out when performing string bends, making it a very practical design. It states rolled fingerboard edges as a new feature, but I thought the Pro-Standards have had that for quite some time. 31:07 Jam Between The Captain & Danish Pete Holy ****, manI just looked and youre right. But looking forward to playing a II. Lets take an in-depth look at each model individually in the following order: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a slightly thicker deep C neck with a narrower 9.5 fingerboard radius compared to the Ultra Stratocaster with its modern C neck and 10-14 compound radius fingerboard. Guitar necks come in a variety of different joints, and each one has its own pros and cons. Shop all Fender American Pro II Jazzmasters | https://tinyurl.com/yxwtylto 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 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 bought a demo model that was practically brand new and got a great deal on it. In terms of the neck designs, the Pro II Jazzmaster has a slightly thicker deep C neck and narrower fingerboard radius compared to the Ultra Jazzmaster which has a slightly narrower modern D neck and wider fingerboard radius. Deals. The Ultras noiseless pickups do not produce any hum or suffer from feedback unlike the V-Mod II pickups on the Pro II. On the subject of fingerboards, Fenders American Ultra models come installed with Medium Jumbo frets. Ive been playing for about two years now. Have you played ss frets? 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. 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. Interested in finding out more about music gear and expanding your knowledge? 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. It can thus be said, again, that Fender heavily drew upon its American Ultra models when conceptualising the Pro II series. 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. Fender American Ultra Tele Maple Fretboard Cobra Blue - https://tinyurl.com/y3odjufd The only parts of Fenders American Ultra instruments that remain traditional are their body materials. Pro 2 vs ultra vs pro 1 | Fender Stratocaster Guitar Forum Does a guitars nut affect its tone? But fret work and fit/finish on the American Pro is very good. Differences, PRS SE vs S2 vs CE vs Core lines [Main differences], Les Paul: Solid vs Chambered vs Weight Relieved, 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Cold-rolled Steel Block, 2-Point Fender Deluxe Synchronized Tremolo, Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat Single-coil (SSS) / Ultra Noiseless Hot Strat Single-coil (HSS), Fender V-Mod II Single-coil / Fender V-Mod II Double Tap Humbucker, Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat Single-coil / Ultra Double Tap Humbucker, Coil-tapping (HSS), Neck pickup blend (SSS), Noiseless, Coil-tapping (HSS), S-1 neck pickup blend, 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), 1 x Master Volume (with S-1 switch), 2 x Tone. Check Out Their Rigs Here! It is essentially Fenders new core USA range; encompassing 100 guitar and bass models that promise enhanced versatility and playability over their predecessors. S2 It helps define string spacing, action, and is the source of many of the tuning issues cheaper instruments suffer from. Fenders American Professional II models have a contemporary twist, but the brands American Ultra guitars go one step further. Poly provides more protection from moisture and scratches, but some people argue it reduces resonance and sustain. I know there are better options out there for the same price, but I want to have another Fender Strat in the near future. 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. If you are here, it seems like I have already done that job for you. Theres also greater diversity within the American Professional II series, not only in terms of colour options, but also with Telecaster Deluxe models and more 5-string/fretless bass variants available. Some bridges also have extra functionalities. I wanted the specs that it came with. Fender's reimagined American Pro II series brings over features from the popular American Ultra line, including a truly ergonomic neck heel. In short, a guitars top has a slight, but perceivable, influence on its tone, however, they are mostly used for aesthetic purposes. 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 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. Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, David Gilmour, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, Eric Johnson. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Whether your preferred guitar has one or not, it shouldnt worry you too much. Fender American pro vs ultra | TalkBass.com Andertons Synths, Keys & Tech YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/ns172M The color options are different in each series. The American Pro series seems just in that goldilocks zone of high quality for a good price, so Im hoping that itll work out. This is measured from the nut to the bridge, and for intonation purposes, the middle point is always the 12th fret. 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. Fender sets its new standard with the American Professional II guitar Fender Launch American Professional II Series. A guitar's lifespan is mostly related to how well it is maintained and treated. These are not factory-fitted on the American Pro II guitars, but can be purchased as an aftermarket upgrade. Buy a T Shirt: https://goo.gl/TrTe78 With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to make a decision. 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. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster has Fender Deluxe Die-cast Sealed Locking tuners, Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat Single-coil (SSS) / Ultra Noiseless Hot Strat Single-coil (HSS) pickups, and Noiseless, Coil-tapping (HSS), S-1 neck pickup blend electronics.