fender american professional ii vs ultra

A number of stellar hardware appointments really make Fenders American Ultra instruments something to behold. Youll also find narrow tall frets on the Pro II and medium jumbo frets on the Ultra. [Playability, tone, and scale], Does guitar scale length affect tone? With a new collection of colours, re-voiced pickups & upgraded features. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a bolt-on neck. The material of a guitars fingerboards is as important as the one of the rest of the neck. https://tinyurl.com/y6a22s4k The kind of material used to build a guitars body is something you should really pay attention to. [Complete guide]. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a solid body. 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. 1:25 What's New? $1,799.99. The American Professional II range has replaced Fenders entire American Pro lineup, of which took over from the venerable American Standard series in 2017. 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. These are not factory-fitted on the American Pro II guitars, but can be purchased as an aftermarket upgrade. We will outline how pickups work and what are the central factors that determine how they influence the tone of your instrument. 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. This is one of the main factors that define the tone of an instrument. Youll also find rolled fretboard edges on guitars in both series. 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. Fender's flagship USA-made guitar & bass lineup has just received a major makeover! [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? The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a 9.5 radius. 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. On the humbucker-equipped HSS Strat and Tele Deluxe models, this serves as a coil-split switch instead. The American Ultras have a slight edge when it comes to their pickups and hardware appointments, but that is reflected in their pricing. The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a 9.5 radius. 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. 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. #3. Andertons Shopping Website: https://goo.gl/TPsG2Q Fender American Pro II Stratocaster in Roasted Pine | https://tinyurl.com/y4978jwp These instruments are heavily-modified to suit the needs of 21st Century players; covering lots of sonic territory and providing unmatched performance. 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! Able to deliver iconic Fender tone but with a wider frequency range and a slightly more modern character; V-Mods found favour with players for their versatility over traditional vintage-voiced pickups. Hence, if you are using a lot of distortion then the Ultra will probably be more suitable. The Hardware The original Jazzmaster experienced some problems with its bridge and the tremolo arm. The American brands trendsetting instruments have helped to shape contemporary music as we know it, with todays artists using theirguitarsand basses to pioneer the exciting sounds of tomorrow. SE Fender American Pro II Stratocaster in Dark Night | https://tinyurl.com/y4c85od6 So again, it's a matter of what you're going for. Modern guitar and bass players have never had more exciting creative tools at their disposal! TrevorG likes this. Could these be the best guitars Fender has ever made? Even the resale value thing is a myth. A guitar's lifespan is mostly related to how well it is maintained and treated. I have an Ultra Tele. 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. I was thinking about getting a Professional. Tailpieces are often forgotten when thinking about guitar parts, however, they have been there for centuries, and there are many different designs with alternate features. But is one of these flagship Fender series clearly better than the other? I read all the reviews and hype and bought a Suhr sight unseen and found that I couldn't stand the way it played with the ss (the guitar was fantastic in every way other than that btw). Luckily for you, Ive compiled some general information about each different type of guitar neck shape so you can make an informed decision when choosing your next guitar: The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a Fender Stratocaster headstock. Buy a T Shirt: https://goo.gl/TrTe78 link to PRS Neck Profiles Explained: Comparing Shapes and Sizes, link to PRS SE vs S2 Guitars (Including Custom, Standard, McCarty), guide to the different Fender neck profiles, Fender American Professional II Stratocaster, complete guide to the different Stratocaster models, Fender American Professional II Telecaster, Fender American Professional II vs Original 50s and 60s Series, Fender American Professional II vs American Performer Series, American Professional II vs American Ultra Series Overview, Pro II (narrow tall frets):0.090 x 0.055, Ultra (medium jumbo frets): 0.106 x 0.036. 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. TeTe MICOponkichi http . 162.246.248.71 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. But looking forward to playing a II. But the pickups are an easy fix and the S1 series / parallel switching is pretty cool the Am pro II is a fantastic guitar also. 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. I think the Vintera line is the best value and then you got a steep point of diminishing returns. 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. 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. JavaScript is disabled. Guitar tuners dont have a direct effect on how a guitar sounds. The scale length of a guitar refers to the longitude of the vibrating part of the string. All guitar and bass models now sport bevelled neck plates too. 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. MA. Its clear that Fenders American Professional II and Ultra instruments are exceptional. Sporting flexible electronics and forward-thinking hardware appointments, as well as a few ergonomic construction tweaks, these innovative instruments are aimed at the most of modern of musicians yearning for ultimate precision and uncompromising tone. However, American Ultra bodies are heavily-contoured at the rear around their lower horn, neck and belly-cut sections. Mar 14, 2021. The Pro has a 20-fret, C-shape neck with a 9.5" radius fingerboard. If you want to know how these specifics materials impact the tone of these guitars, you should take a look here: Guitarists are often curious about how guitar tops affect tone. Many players dont consider this as important as other features, but more experienced ones will be very picky about this. The same core Fender models that form the American Professional II lineup are also what prop up the American Ultra series. But fret work and fit/finish on the American Pro is very good. 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. You are using an out of date browser. Having yet to play one the marketing reads like they are just doing even more rolling on the fingerboard edges - much like what they started doing on the American Ultras last year. Simply put theres tonnes of variety! I recently bought a 2017 AmPro HH RW Strat and was quite blown away by the playability and feel of the neck. Lightweight tuners are also installed on these basses, which prevent neck-dive and thus make the instruments more balanced in standing positions. 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. S2 Andertons Synths, Keys & Tech YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/ns172M Does a guitars nut affect its tone? On the humbucker-equipped HSS Strat and Tele Deluxe models, this serves as a coil-split switch instead. Fenders NEW & Improved American Professional II Series - What's The Difference? Solidbody Electric Guitar, with Alder Body, Maple Neck, Rosewood Fretboard, 2 Single-coil Pickups, and Tremolo - 3-color Sunburst. Different scale lengths have varying influences over things such as string tension, and of course, fret gap size. For those who have hands-on experience with both: Is the only difference the "Super-Natural" finish on the back of the AmProII neck? Guitars in the Fender American Ultra series have a slimmer modern D neck with a flatter fingerboard radius compared to guitars in the American Professional II series which have a deep C neck. Fender's reimagined American Pro II series brings over features from the popular American Ultra line, including a truly ergonomic neck heel. What is giving Ronnie Wood his tone in this song. After a lot of back and forth, I moved from a Squire to an American Professional, skipping the Mexican Player models. Fender American Pro II Jazzmaster in 3-Tone Sunburst | https://tinyurl.com/yxz8kalr This is a tiny tweak, but these simply offer an extra layer of finesse by blending beautifully into the shapes of their sculpted neck heels. Thanks! Or $300/month for 6 months. What is fretboard radius and why is it important? Make sure to subscribe to Andertons TV for more great videos like this: https://goo.gl/aAzyQM, https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MKrWk31qfIk/default.jpg. The shape of a guitars headstock is not really a big defining factor for its tone. All these necks are based on the C-shape and have the following PRS SE vs S2 Guitars (Including Custom, Standard, McCarty). The Ultra model has a 6-saddle bridge whereas the Pro II has a 3-saddle bridge design. 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. It is a central part for the transmission of vibrations through the instrument, and also defines many important factors for playability such as string spacing and action. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Rosewood Fretboard Ultraburst - https://tinyurl.com/y4xzt6vt But ultimately, these small refinements bring these instruments more up-to-scratch for contemporary musicians looking for greater tonal flexibility and added playing comfort. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It states rolled fingerboard edges as a new feature, but I thought the Pro-Standards have had that for quite some time. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a 10 14 Compound radius. The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a 25.5 scale length. Andertons Guitar & Bass YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/kRJCpb On both guitars youll get additional switching which is activated by the push/ pull tone control. 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 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. 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. With Alder used for the solid-finish guitars and Ash employed for the natural/transparent colour models; these tonewoods hearken back to the classic Fender formula from the 50s with bolt-on Maple necks keeping their signature construction intact. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Do fret size and material affect tone and playability? A guitars bridge is one of the 2 points of contact the strings have with the body and neck. Check Out Their Rigs Here! Fender's Pro II guitar features 22 narrow-tall frets, a Deep-C neck, alongside a sculpted neck heel. The II plays smooth and feels great, I remember thinking the same about the original. 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. Fender Launch American Professional II Series. In these articles, I dive deep into how important are frets for a guitar. Been a while since I had my AmPro though. 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. Fender American Professional II HSS Strat and Telecaster Deluxe guitars come equipped with newly-voiced V-Mod II Double Tap humbuckers too, which perfectly complement Fenders V-Mod II single-coils. They have very different necks, both in terms of radius, profile and frets. It is the traditional Bolt-on fitting with a scale length of 25.5 inches and has the usual Fender satin finish giving it a smooth feel. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. It's a bit expensive, but it sounds, looks and feels incredible. PRS Neck Profiles Explained: Comparing Shapes and Sizes. 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. In keeping with our comparisons of Fender's new beautiful American Professional II line, we're back to take a look at the American Pro II Strat up against its modern and advanced. Both guitars have a 2-point tremolo bridge with a pop-in tremolo arm and also include extra switching. I wanted the specs that it came with. Ive been playing for about two years now. Interested in other Andertons YouTube channels? 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. Watch this video for Lee & Petes thoughts on the new Fender Ultra guitars, plus an actual tone shoot out between the old Elite models & the new Ultra versions! 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. 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. Youll find medium jumbo frets on the Ultra version and narrow tall frets on the Pro II version. [Complete guide], Does guitar weight affect tone? But which is the best? Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Maple Fretboard Texas Tea - https://tinyurl.com/y5ropcpv This functionality expands their tonal palettes, as it extends beyond the customary switching capabilities available on typical Strat, Tele and Jazzmaster models. Ive narrowed it down to the Ultra and the Professional II. Pattern Regular One is not better than the other. 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. The new flagship American Professional II series arrives alongside Fender's 'The One. 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. The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has a solid body. [Complete guide with examples], Does a guitars finish affect its tone? Fender American Pro II Stratocaster in Miami Blue | https://tinyurl.com/y4w9svgg Guitar necks come in a variety of shapes, so its important to know what each of those shapes offers. The best off the line guitar they make. Buy A T-Shirt | https://tinyurl.com/vdq7rmg The light weight, punchy tonal qualities and stunning grain pattern of Roasted Pine makes it a more than worthy alternative though! Danish Pete's Rig | https://www.andertons.co.uk/danish-petes-rig 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.