Elliot is a Senior Digital Guitar Marketer at Andertons. 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. Danish Pete's Rig | https://www.andertons.co.uk/danish-petes-rig While the bridge is removed, locate the retainer clip from the back of the . They're definitely a winner with Danish Pete and The Captain! Strats, Teles, Jazzmasters, Precision Basses and Jazz Basses can be found, but there is less variation overall with only HSS Strats and 5-string Jazz Basses available outside of the standard models. Guitar weight is an important factor when it comes to finding the right guitar for you. But ultimately, these small refinements bring these instruments more up-to-scratch for contemporary musicians looking for greater tonal flexibility and added playing comfort. [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? Set necks attach to a pocket in the guitars body and stay put with glue. 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! But looking forward to playing a II. 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. Pick one up, and youll notice! 0:00 Intro Jam on the New Fender American Pro II The function of this switching varies for the Strat, Tele and Jazzmaster so Ill discuss them later in the article when we look at each shape individually. The AmPro always had a Deep C neck. I own an American Pro II deluxe Tele and its awesome. Bolt-on necks are attached by screws at the heel of the neck and can be removed easily for repairs or customization. Who do you pick as one of the best guitarist of all time, Alnico5 single coil pickups in a 2019 player strat. Youll also find narrow tall frets on the Pro II and medium jumbo frets on the Ultra. Fender American Pro II Stratocaster in Roasted Pine | https://tinyurl.com/y4978jwp There are fewer colors available in the Ultra series and these are all quite modern looking, whilst the American Pro II series has loads more colors to choose from, both modern and traditional. But do guitar pickups make a difference in sound? The main differences between the American Professional II Telecaster and American Ultra Telecaster are the pickups and neck shape. Here is Fender's modernism at its best, with the iconic body . For those who have hands-on experience with both: Is the only difference the "Super-Natural" finish on the back of the AmProII neck? I have a 2014 fender american deluxe strat which I love and adore and it cost around $1200 used. 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. 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. Fender has decided to retain its popular Deep C neck shape for its American Professional II electric guitars. This activates a series mode to fatten up the tone. Here is a video comparing the tones of the American Professional II (blue) and American Ultra (red/ orange) Stratocasters. Shop the Fender American Ultra Series: https://tinyurl.com/2d2d5fmw The Fender American Ultra basses go a major step forward though, with their super-tweakable electronics likely to find favour with fastidious players. TrevorG likes this. These pickups are therefore a little more flexible than the V-Mod II single-coils found in Fenders American Pro II guitars, and are better-suited for heavier genres with their noiseless technology. Ive got an American Pro I with an all Rosewood neck. The basses havent been left behind either when it comes to their hardware. Fender American Ultra Series - Their Most Advanced Guitars Ever? Does guitar body shape affect tone or playability? Andertons Drummers YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/9yKSS9 A guitars bridge is one of the 2 points of contact the strings have with the body and neck. They offer world-class tones with no compromise on playability. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a maple neck. [Complete guide], Does a guitars bridge affect the tone? I held one at Guitar Center. The neck is really nice, but its a little different from other Fenders. Fender American Ultra Tele Rosewood Fretboard Texas Tea - https://tinyurl.com/y6kv9bdr 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. In neck trough instruments, the neck elongates and becomes the central piece of the body, where most of its hardware is mounted. And Fenders new Panorama tremolo gives their American Professional II Jazzmasters a smoother vibrato arm action, of which can easily be popped in and out on-the-fly. 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. Their Telecaster cousins come installed with completely redesigned Top Loader/String-Through bridges, which allow you to thread their strings either through their bodies or from their bridge plates. If it were a choice of upgrading from a Pro 1 to a Pro 2, I'd say it's . Andertons Drummers YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/9yKSS9 The American Ultra series encompasses Fender's most advanced, forward-thinking instruments to date. Nitro wears off with time but has a more organic feel to the touch and is said to improve sustain and resonance. 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. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Andertons Guitar & Bass YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/kRJCpb This functionality expands their tonal palettes, as it extends beyond the customary switching capabilities available on typical Strat, Tele and Jazzmaster models. Andertons Guitar & Bass YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/kRJCpb Lightweight tuners are also installed on these basses, which prevent neck-dive and thus make the instruments more balanced in standing positions. Tonewoods have different densities, hardness, and acoustic qualities. A fan of '90s rock, vintage Formula 1 and offensive comedy he often feels like he was born in the wrong decade. The kind of material used to build a guitars body is something you should really pay attention to. to switch position 1 which means that you can somewhat mimic a Telecasters pickup configuration. Fender American Ultra Telecasters: The Bajas and Classic Player series held their value much better. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with Fender Deluxe Die-cast Sealed Locking tuners. It may not display this or other websites correctly. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The words Fender, Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. If not, Ill definitely look into older american standards. The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is built with a bolt-on neck. These are not factory-fitted on the American Pro II guitars, but can be purchased as an aftermarket upgrade. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Telecaster models. The majority of your money is going towards labor costs. 17:53 How Does It Sound? Even if you only use P split coil Pickup in passive mode exclusively the Playability along with build quality, fit and finish, comfort from new contours and P tone from Ultra Noiseless pickup is worth the xtra $ Click to expand. 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. 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. This curvature is really a defining factor for how the instrument plays, and some players are very strict about it. I was thinking about getting a Professional. Nitro is a type of varnish that is thinner and less durable, while poly is thicker, way more durable, and cheaper. Fender American Ultra Strat HSS Maple Fretboard Ultraburst - https://tinyurl.com/y4frspd5 All American Ultra guitars have enhanced body contours on the back of the guitar which are designed to make them more comfortable. [Complete guide], Do pickups make a difference in sound? No, not really. This can be a difficult question with many different answers. In conjunction, both these 2 parts have a deep impact on the final tone of the instrument. Deals. Could these be the best guitars Fender has ever made? 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. Further performance upgrades include a contoured heel joint, Super-Natural satin neck finish, and upgraded electronics. . IMO the hard finish sounds.well.harder. How do tailpieces affect a guitars tone? 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. 23:46 Let's Get Some Tones! 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. Here is a table showing the key differences between Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Stratocaster, Telecaster and Jazzmaster models. That being said, I love mine. Id suggest going that route if you can find one. An upgraded 2-point tremolo bridge and cold-rolled steel block combine to give you plenty of sustain and brightness. Also, the Ultra have an active/passive toggle switch for added tonal flexibility. 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. They are just different flavors of a Strat. Good mid-range prices with great quality. You are using an out of date browser. This material has essentially replaced the Ash body option previously available in the American Pro series, which has now become more difficult to source. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the Fender American Professional II and American Ultra Stratocaster models. On the HSS versions it coil taps the humbucker pickup. 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! This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The contoured heel is a nice touch but thats more body than neck. A guitar's lifespan is mostly related to how well it is maintained and treated. 11:00 Fender Pro II Stratocaster with Gain Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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. Simply put theres tonnes of variety! 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. Buy A T-Shirt | https://tinyurl.com/vdq7rmg 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. PRS Neck Profiles Explained: Comparing Shapes and Sizes.