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. 298. Standards were modern C, as are performers. Wide Fat Ultra series guitars have noiseless pickups and locking tuners unlike the Pro II series guitars. American Original 70's Tele Custom neck finish, Cap outer foil tester build -- Peegoo Custom Special. On both guitars youll get additional switching which is activated by the push/ pull tone control. Fender American Ultra Strat Rosewood Fretboard Arctic Pearl - https://tinyurl.com/y57233cl This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. I have an Ultra Tele. S2 I don't know if the pro ii model is the exact model that is right for you. 12:30 Fender HSS Stratocaster Tones to switch position 1 which means that you can somewhat mimic a Telecasters pickup configuration. On the humbucker-equipped HSS Strat and Tele Deluxe models, this serves as a coil-split switch instead. Welcome to r/guitar, a community devoted to the exchange of guitar related information. [Complete guide], Fender American Professional II Stratocaster, American Professional II Strat vs Vintera 50s Strat, Musician Jobs: 7 Reasons Why AI Is Not a Threat. A high end fender is totally worth the cost. This can be a difficult question with many different answers. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Telecaster models. Do fret size and material affect tone and playability? With balanced Alder bodies bolted to bright-sounding Maple necks, this classic construction design yields the snappy and articulate tones that Fender instruments are so renowned for. The main differences between the Fender American Performer and American Professional guitars are the neck profile and pickups. Rolled fingerboard edges and tapered neck heels are also standard features across the American Ultra range. Click on one of these links to find out more Fender American Ultra Stratocasters: If you are here, it seems like I have already done that job for you. Prosoundhq.com is also a member of other affiliate programmes. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a Modern D neck. Check out my guide to the different Fender neck profiles to learn more. I might even be an idiot and get it refretted with stainless with the price difference between the two. But fret work and fit/finish on the American Pro is very good. Been a while since I had my AmPro though. Solidbody Electric Guitar, with Alder Body, Maple Neck, Rosewood Fretboard, 2 Single-coil Pickups, and Tremolo - 3-color Sunburst. Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Ultraburst - https://tinyurl.com/yyouf2rz The American Professional II range has replaced Fenders entire American Pro lineup, of which took over from the venerable American Standard series in 2017. Ensuring sublime tuning stability in conjunction with their low-friction bone nuts, these ergonomic machine heads also allow for lightning-fast string changes. Finally, we will help you compare different models and make an informed decision about which pickup is right for you. 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. The shape of a guitar neck has a significant impact on the tone and playability. Here is Fender's modernism at its best, with the iconic body . The Ultra model has a 6-saddle bridge whereas the Pro II has a 3-saddle bridge design. A more comparable choice is the American Original Series - that's where I have settled after stints with both CS and Am Pro guitars. 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. 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. Make sure to subscribe to Andertons TV for more great videos like this: https://goo.gl/aAzyQM The basses havent been left behind either when it comes to their hardware. The II plays smooth and feels great, I remember thinking the same about the original. Deep is probably a misleading description, it really a slightly fuller C - and it is quite good! Youll find medium jumbo frets on the Ultra version and narrow tall frets on the Pro II version. The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a 9.5 radius. 2023: The Year Epiphone Became Unaffordable, They Stole My Digital Recorder and SD cards. JavaScript is disabled. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a maple neck. 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. 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. 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. With free UK delivery on all orders containing only a T-Shirt, Hoodie or Jumper & super low international shipping costs, there is no better time to be an Andertons fan than now! Want To Sound Like The Captain & Pete? 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. The American Pro II series includes left and right-handed versions of the SS model as well as a HH right-handed version. With both the American Ultra Precision Bass and Jazz Bass models boasting HiMass bridges, these specially-designed components guarantee piano-like sustain and huge, bellowing lows. Fender American Ultra Series - Their Most Advanced Guitars Ever? Pattern Regular You have some benefits to an American made Fender - the two off the top of my head are the bone nut and the neck profile. 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. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. This material has essentially replaced the Ash body option previously available in the American Pro series, which has now become more difficult to source. Sporting minor yet noteworthy upgrades, these instruments perfectly merge classic Fender design with modern practicality. This is one of the main factors that define the tone of an instrument. In his spare time, Elliot browses eBay for second-hand Music Man guitars, Marshalls and merch from bands you've never heard of. Andertons Synths, Keys & Tech YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/ns172M The electronics of an electric guitar are what give the instrument its name. I love the deep C neck carve and the pickups sound stellar. 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. 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. 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. Staggered Fender tuners and a vintage 3-saddle bridge are pretty much the only familiar features you'll find here. Finding the particular specs of 2 guitars online is quite some work. The other big thing is resale value - American Fenders go for higher prices in the used market. 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. The Stratocaster wears the American Ultra's contemporary stylings well. 17:53 How Does It Sound? 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. 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! As time has gone on, a lot of frustrating issues have popped up with that guitar, mostly due to how cheap it is. 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 color options are different in each 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. The main differences between the American Professional II Telecaster and American Ultra Telecaster are the pickups and neck shape. However, their quality will be a defining factor in your playing experience. American Ultra guitars and basses are unique in the Fender catalogue for their non-typical Modern D-shaped necks. If you have guitar related questions, use the "Search" field FIRST, Then ask the community. After that, I will show you some sound tests I found, and give you a brief history of each one of them. I now own an acoustic guitar and several electric guitars including my personal favourite, a PRS SE Custom 24. Sporting active/passive switches, these allow you to quickly change between vintage and modern voicings with a simple flick, while flexible 3-band EQ systems enable you to precisely sculpt their tones to perfection. Go on reverb and look at the price of secondhand Baja teles vs Americans pro series. With a new collection of colours, re-voiced pickups & upgraded features. Fender's Pro II guitar features 22 narrow-tall frets, a Deep-C neck, alongside a sculpted neck heel. Very well-made, great players. Or $300/month for 6 months. The most important thing to note is that it is not just the type of pickup that determines a guitars sound, but also how and where you place the pickup on the guitar. Bigger frets make a guitar easier to play, however, they hinder the overall intonation of the instrument. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a Fender Stratocaster headstock. 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. Does guitar body shape affect tone or playability? Andertons Drummers YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/9yKSS9 Additionally, the Ultra only has 21 frets whereas the Pro II has 22 frets which are spaced more closely together. TrevorG likes this. This gives them a sleeker and more elegant feel when compared with their American Pro II cousins. 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. Hello there, my name is Ramiro and Ive been playing guitar for almost 20 years. 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. Guitar players know that there are many variables in determining the sound of a guitar. These also have a push-push pot for series-parallel switching. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Jazzmaster models. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with Fender Deluxe Die-cast Sealed Locking tuners. Shop all Fender American Pro II Telecasters | https://tinyurl.com/y4o2htq2 Guitars in both series have a push/ pull tone pot which activates the additional switching that you wont find on many other Fender models. Some of the new finishes are nice, I like mercury (with rosewood) and sienna burst. Five iconic guitar and bass shapes make up Fenders American Professional II series. Fender has had the rolled fingerboard edges on this level guitar since the American Series came out in 2000. They're both crazy high quality for general production run guitars in terms of fit and finish. Andertons Synths, Keys & Tech YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/ns172M 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. I'm very happy with the guitar, love the neck profile and the playability of the guitar (you have to learn to set up any guitar by yourself to get the best results). Shop all Fender American Pro II Jazzmasters | https://tinyurl.com/yxwtylto 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. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Maple Fretboard Texas Tea - https://tinyurl.com/y5ropcpv The majority of guitars and basses from the American Professional II series adhere to the timeless Fender tonewood combination. It's a bit expensive, but it sounds, looks and feels incredible. 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. Have you played ss frets? It would be tough to choose between the Ultra and the Pro 2 for me, they're both excellent. But which is the best? Fender American Ultra Tele Rosewood Fretboard Texas Tea - https://tinyurl.com/y6kv9bdr 162.246.248.71 I'd say not really. 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. . 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 . Ive narrowed it down to the Ultra and the Professional II. I looked into the ultra, and I just cant justify the cost vs what you get. If you can go to a shop and play a few that would be a good idea, bc neck/fret preferences are pretty subjective. Knowing the differences between each joint can help you decide which is best for you. Fenders American Ultra Noiseless pickups are split into two types. 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. Here is a table outlining which models and pickup configurations are available in each series and whether they are available in left-handed or just right-handed versions. Guitarists who are searching for a high-end offset guitar . But looking forward to playing a II. This isnt a case of Fender playing it safe, but rather the brand wishing to keep the core elements of its guitars the same as they are what make a Fender a Fender! However, American Ultra bodies are heavily-contoured at the rear around their lower horn, neck and belly-cut sections. The build quality on them will be the same. 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. 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. I pulled the trigger. 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. Fender American Ultra Telecasters: However, the Ultras have neck heels that are more dramatically-contoured and thus offer virtually zero upper-fret restriction! I have an American Pro I and had an Ultra. 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. 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. I started of on a really bad steel string, then bought my first electric a year ago for about $200. I think the Vintera line is the best value and then you got a steep point of diminishing returns. Squier Lines Explained: Which Is Best for You? You can also hear an example of the Pro I as well (sunburst). Modern guitar and bass players have never had more exciting creative tools at their disposal! However, because they are hidden inside the cavities into its body, they are often forgotten. 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. Further performance upgrades include a contoured heel joint, Super-Natural satin neck finish, and upgraded electronics. Could these be the best guitars Fender has ever made? Its clear that Fenders American Professional II and Ultra instruments are exceptional. One feature all our reviewers were quick to note is the tapered low-profile neck heel, which gives you access to fret positions youd never dare into on your vintage Strat. Only some minor updates have been executed. Nitro wears off with time but has a more organic feel to the touch and is said to improve sustain and resonance. The neck was super smooth. Core The only time I can suggest one would be if you value being made in USA. What is fretboard radius and why is it important? 8:46 Fender American Pro I Vs Pro II Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Rosewood Fretboard Cobra Blue - https://tinyurl.com/y3eqvg5m For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. I own an American Pro II deluxe Tele and its awesome. Fender Launch American Professional II Series. Neither series has a left-handed version of the HSS Strat. [Complete guide], Does a guitars bridge affect the tone? Fender American Professional II vs American Ultra Stratocaster The American Professional II Stratocaster has warmer sounding pickups with a higher output and more mid-range emphasis compared to the noiseless pickups on the Ultra Strat which sound brighter and cleaner. You are using an out of date browser. The American Pro series seems just in that goldilocks zone of high quality for a good price, so Im hoping that itll work out. The same core Fender models that form the American Professional II lineup are also what prop up the American Ultra series. However, selected Fender American Professional II guitars and basses (with natural finishes) boast Roasted Pine bodies instead. Pattern Thin Even the resale value thing is a myth. The V-Mod pickups in the Fender American Professional Strat help give it a classic sound, that's more than capable of handling modern music if you need it to. The American Ultra models have locking tuners unlike the American Professional II models. A host of new Fender colours were introduced for the American Ultra series. 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. Guitars in both series feature a sculpted neck heel to aid upper fret access however, on the Ultra it is more dramatic to give the player even easier access to the upper register. Is an American Ultra worth the extra money compared to the American Pro II? Simply put theres tonnes of variety! 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. 22:14 Fender American Pro II Jazzmaster Does anybody know if the necks on the American Pro I are different than the necks on the Pro II? [Complete guide], Types of guitar pickups and their effect on tone [Guide], Do guitar electronics affect tone? If it were a choice of upgrading from a Pro 1 to a Pro 2, I'd say it's . On the SSS models it allows you to activate either the bridge and neck pickup together (without the middle) or all three pickups at the same time. Not concerned with tuners. The scale length of a guitar refers to the longitude of the vibrating part of the string. Privacy Policy. Many players dont consider this as important as other features, but more experienced ones will be very picky about this. 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. If you want to know everything about the effect of guitar body shapes, and their influence on the instrument, check out this article: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a solid alder body. I didn't like mine until I raised them to spec, they came installed about 3/16" from the strings, far too low. Thanks for visiting! It is essentially Fenders new core USA range; encompassing 100 guitar and bass models that promise enhanced versatility and playability over their predecessors. While the bridge is removed, locate the retainer clip from the back of the . [Complete guide], Does guitar weight affect tone? Then, there are wood wings glued to its side to complete the body shape. 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. An upgraded 2-point tremolo bridge and cold-rolled steel block combine to give you plenty of sustain and brightness. The quality between USA, MIM, and Japan are all very similar. Lightweight tuners are also installed on these basses, which prevent neck-dive and thus make the instruments more balanced in standing positions. Thanks for visiting. Fender American Ultra Tele Maple Fretboard Mocha Burst - https://tinyurl.com/yyf4y8g8 In terms of tone, the American Professional II guitars sound more crunchy and warmer compared to the American Ultra guitars which sound cleaner and brighter. 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.. The Pro 2 is probably the more traditional 'stratty' of the two, but both play really well. The Ultras noiseless pickups do not produce any hum or suffer from feedback unlike the V-Mod II pickups on the Pro II. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a bolt-on neck. Maintaining everything that made the original Fender American Pro Series great, the eye-catching guitars of the American Professional II range boast upgrades that bring them more up-to-scratch for contemporary musicians. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is painted with a gloss polyurethane finish. Fender American Ultra Tele Maple Fretboard Cobra Blue - https://tinyurl.com/y3odjufd The American Professional II series includes all the same right-handed versions but also includes some left-handed versions and a humbucker Telecaster model. Fender American Pro Strat in Sunburst, with maple neck. As others have said, both are top notch so it really comes down to preference. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Stratocaster models. However, if you take good care of a guitar, storing and maintaining it properly, even a cheap one, it should last decades. 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. 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. The words Fender, Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. It may not display this or other websites correctly. There are 6 main PRS neck profiles: 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. The American Ultra series encompasses Fender's most advanced, forward-thinking instruments to date. Strat Talk is the leading online community and marketplace for Stratocaster guitars. 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. The shape of a guitars body has serious implications on its playability, but not so much on its tone. Additionally, the Ultra has locking tuners. Click on one of these links to find out more In these articles, I dive deep into how important are frets for a guitar. [Playability, tone, and scale], Does guitar scale length affect tone? I have a 2014 fender american deluxe strat which I love and adore and it cost around $1200 used. If you have any other questions feel free to let me know! Fender's reimagined American Pro II series brings over features from the popular American Ultra line, including a truly ergonomic neck heel. I do like the rolled fingerboard edges on the II, and less important, I prefer the slight vintage tint. Episode Guide Make sure you like them before doing this.