It was REALLY HARD to leave the store without that Strat. Here is a table showing the key differences between Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Stratocaster, Telecaster and Jazzmaster models. What is giving Ronnie Wood his tone in this song. Even the resale value thing is a myth. These kits feature new rear bumpers, spoilers, side skirts, valances, grilles, grille emblems, and fender extensions to transform the look of your Mustang. The neck is really nice, but its a little different from other Fenders. 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 If you have any other questions feel free to let me know! Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Rating: 9/10 The body on the Pro II is made from a slab of wood, whereas on the Ultra youll find contouring on the back to make it more comfortable. Fender has also introduced some tasteful new colour options that are exclusive to these guitars and basses. I have an Ultra Tele. The II plays smooth and feels great, I remember thinking the same about the original. This design also helps to prevent notes from fretting out when performing string bends, making it a very practical design. Click here to view all of our Labs articles! You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. 16:28 Fender American Pro II Telecaster 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. All American Ultra guitars have enhanced body contours on the back of the guitar which are designed to make them more comfortable. Have you played ss frets? 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. Fenders American Professional II Stratocaster offers multiple upgrades from its inaugural configuration. 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. This can be a difficult question with many different answers. Andertons Shopping Website: https://goo.gl/TPsG2Q #3. 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. This is definitely one of the best Jazzmasters manufactured by Fender! 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! Performance & security by Cloudflare. It offers several upgrades over traditional designs, including Fenders latest Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat pickups, a 1014 compound radius fingerboard on an effortless Modern D neck, and S-1 switching to roll in fat neck tones on pickup positions 1 and 2. 7:28 How Does The Strat Sound? Fender American Pro II VS Ultra - YouTube 0:00 / 15:49 Fender American Pro II VS Ultra astringsuk 11K subscribers Subscribe 753 71K views 2 years ago We see how well the Pro II stacks up. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with 22 medium jumbo nickel silver frets. I have a 2014 fender american deluxe strat which I love and adore and it cost around $1200 used. However, theres no single answer to whether a lighter or heavier guitar will sound better than the other. I will then talk about their main specs one by one, and link you to some other interesting articles I have written about these specific features. Now, I just don't know. Good question, there are only a couple differences that I can see - the top-loader option for the bridge and the sculpted heel, and a roasted pine option that seems interesting. For example, the American Professional II Strats Push/Push knob allows you to add its neck single-coilto switch position 1 which means that you can somewhat mimic a Telecasters pickup configuration. 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. 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 only time I can suggest one would be if you value being made in USA. Fender has decided to retain its popular Deep C neck shape for its American Professional II electric guitars. A host of new Fender colours were introduced for the American Ultra series. Many players dont consider this as important as other features, but more experienced ones will be very picky about this. The light weight, punchy tonal qualities and stunning grain pattern of Roasted Pine makes it a more than worthy alternative though! Deals. I'm not sure the pro ii or the ultra bring much more to the table than the older american deluxe series. The Pro II Tele features two V-Mod II single-coil Tele pickups and a newly designed bridge that marries the classic brass saddle tone with modern comfort and individual string intonation. However, the Ultras have neck heels that are more dramatically-contoured and thus offer virtually zero upper-fret restriction! Fender American Pro II Telecaster in Mercury | https://tinyurl.com/yxz2e2gk Welcome to r/guitar, a community devoted to the exchange of guitar related information. Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, David Gilmour, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, Eric Johnson. After a lot of back and forth, I moved from a Squire to an American Professional, skipping the Mexican Player models. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a Modern D neck. Good mid-range prices with great quality. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a 2-Point Fender Deluxe Synchronized Tremolo bridge. 11:00 Fender Pro II Stratocaster with Gain However, although less product variation might seem like a downside for the streamlined American Ultra range it could be said that it forms a more robust lineup. I started of on a really bad steel string, then bought my first electric a year ago for about $200. The PRS range consists of 4 different lines: Here is a video comparing the tones of the American Professional II (blue) and American Ultra (red/ orange) Stratocasters. I also recently needed to replace my wah pedal, and I tested the new one out with a Pro-II Strat. 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! On the humbucker-equipped HSS Strat and Tele Deluxe models, this serves as a coil-split switch instead. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Rosewood Fretboard Cobra Blue - https://tinyurl.com/y3eqvg5m Fall All' campaign above. As time has gone on, a lot of frustrating issues have popped up with that guitar, mostly due to how cheap it is. 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. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with Fender Deluxe Die-cast Sealed Locking tuners. The words Fender, Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a bolt-on neck. The scale length of a guitar refers to the longitude of the vibrating part of the string. American Pro II vs American Pro vs American Ultra. Fender American Professional II guitars use V-Mod II pickups whereas American Ultra guitars have Ultra Vintage Noiseless pickups. My friend got a Pro-II P-Bass, and it's awesome. May 19, 2020 #3 707GK Some of the new finishes are nice, I like mercury (with rosewood) and sienna burst. 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. Finally, I will give you some comments about each of these instruments. $1,799.99. Fender American Ultra Tele Maple Fretboard Mocha Burst - https://tinyurl.com/yyf4y8g8 The Captains Rig | https://www.andertons.co.uk/captain-andertons-rig I love the deep C neck carve and the pickups sound stellar. Fender has had the rolled fingerboard edges on this level guitar since the American Series came out in 2000. 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. However, many players argue that differences in mass, especially at the end of the neck can have some implications in tone. Go on reverb and look at the price of secondhand Baja teles vs Americans pro series. American Ultra guitars boast Fenders ingenious S-1 switching circuitry. 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.. For the last 70 years, Fender has largely set the tone in the guitar industry. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Rounded at the lower end of their necks to make chords easier to play, their fingerboards flatten out in the higher register to make intricate lead lines more manageable to finger. Fender American Ultra Series - Their Most Advanced Guitars Ever? 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. Thanks. Check out my guide to the different Fender neck profiles to learn more. If it aint broke, dont fix it right? Other differences include the neck binding and locking tuners on the Ultra Jazzmaster which are not seen on the American Pro II version. In this extensive blog, weve broken down the key features of Fenders new American Professional II guitars. 13/10/20 2:00pm - 11 min read | 35 min watch. It was too slippery for lack of a better term. A guitar's lifespan is mostly related to how well it is maintained and treated. Is an American Ultra worth the extra money compared to the American Pro II? I think the Vintera line is the best value and then you got a steep point of diminishing returns. 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. The American Ultra has a flatter fingerboard and also has a compound radius meaning that its more rounded at the nut to help with chords and flatter towards the upper frets to aid with bending. After I sold my last MIM Strat, I find myself without a Fender guitar for the first time since I started playing. As you probably know, the body type of a guitar is a defining factor for its character and tone. The kind of material used to build a guitars body is something you should really pay attention to. Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Cobra Blue - https://tinyurl.com/y5wv9ver Its probably my favorite neck on any of my guitars and I somehow had the profile wrong. MA. Fender American Ultra Strat Maple Fretboard Texas Tea - https://tinyurl.com/y4al8ffc The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster fretboard is built of maple / rosewood. Even better, the neck has rolled edges for premium playability and comfort. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Different scale lengths have varying influences over things such as string tension, and of course, fret gap size. Additionally, youll find narrow tall frets on the Pro II version and medium jumbo frets on the Ultra. I have a Pro 2 and an Ultra, and had a Pro 1 as well. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. 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. 17:53 How Does It Sound? The D-shape neck feels slightly thinner and flatter compared to the more rounded C-shape neck on the Pro II models. Wound differently to their older counterparts, Fender describes its V-Mod IIs as some of the best sounding pickups it has ever made promising extra note definition and more mid-range punch. In conjunction, both these 2 parts have a deep impact on the final tone of the instrument. Set necks attach to a pocket in the guitars body and stay put with glue. Youll also find rolled fretboard edges on guitars in both series. But do guitar pickups make a difference in sound? This is measured from the nut to the bridge, and for intonation purposes, the middle point is always the 12th fret. 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. 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). Bolt-on necks are attached by screws at the heel of the neck and can be removed easily for repairs or customization. The Pro has a 20-fret, C-shape neck with a 9.5" radius fingerboard. Find out their differences in sound, playability, build quality and value. Guitarists who are searching for a high-end offset guitar . 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. The Pro 2 is probably the more traditional 'stratty' of the two, but both play really well. In this article, Ill be comparing the two series head-to-head so you can decide which is the best for you. This material has essentially replaced the Ash body option previously available in the American Pro series, which has now become more difficult to source. 15 years of Work Gone, Don't store picks in zip bags for too long. Andertons Synths, Keys & Tech YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/ns172M Even if youre a traditionally bent player, dont be dismayed: the American Ultra Stratocaster is a Strat through and through. This curvature is really a defining factor for how the instrument plays, and some players are very strict about it. Check Out Their Rigs Here! Solidbody Electric Guitar, with Alder Body, Maple Neck, Rosewood Fretboard, 2 Single-coil Pickups, and Tremolo - 3-color Sunburst. A more comparable choice is the American Original Series - that's where I have settled after stints with both CS and Am Pro guitars.