Fender American Professional II Stratocaster HSS - Maple/Roasted Pine
The American Professional II Stratocaster HSS draws from more than sixty years of innovation, inspiration and evolution to meet the demands of todays working player. Our popular Deep C neck now sports smooth rolled fingerboard edges, a Super-Natural satin finish and a newly sculpted neck heel for a supremely comfortable feel and easy access to the upper register. New V-Mod II Stratocaster single-coil pickups are more articulate than ever while retaining bell-like chime and warmth, while the Double Tap bridge pickup delivers punchy humbucking tones as well as calibrated single-coil sounds at the push of a button. An upgraded 2-point tremolo with a cold-rolled steel block increases sustain, clarity and high-end sparkle. The American Pro II Stratocaster HSS delivers instant familiarity and sonic versatility youll feel and hear right away, with broad ranging improvements that add up to nothing less than a new standard for professional instruments. The American Professional II Stratocaster HSS draws from more than sixty years of innovation, inspiration and evolution to meet the demands of todays working player. Our popular Deep C neck now sports smooth rolled fingerboard edges, a Super-Natural satin finish and a newly sculpted neck heel for a supremely comfortable feel and easy access to the upper register. New V-Mod II Stratocaster single-coil pickups are more articulate than ever while retaining bell-like chime and warmth, while the Double Tap bridge pickup delivers punchy humbucking tones as well as calibrated single-coil sounds at the push of a button. An upgraded 2-point tremolo with a cold-rolled steel block increases sustain, clarity and high-end sparkle. The American Pro II Stratocaster HSS delivers instant familiarity and sonic versatility youll feel and hear right away, with broad ranging improvements that add up to nothing less than a new standard for professional instruments.
The American Professional II Stratocaster HSS draws from more than sixty years of innovation, inspiration and evolution to meet the demands of todays working player. Our popular Deep C neck now sports smooth rolled fingerboard edges, a Super-Natural satin finish and a newly sculpted neck heel for a supremely comfortable feel and easy access to the upper register. New V-Mod II Stratocaster single-coil pickups are more articulate than ever while retaining bell-like chime and warmth, while the Double Tap bridge pickup delivers punchy humbucking tones as well as calibrated single-coil sounds at the push of a button. An upgraded 2-point tremolo with a cold-rolled steel block increases sustain, clarity and high-end sparkle. The American Pro II Stratocaster HSS delivers instant familiarity and sonic versatility youll feel and hear right away, with broad ranging improvements that add up to nothing less than a new standard for professional instruments. The American Professional II Stratocaster HSS draws from more than sixty years of innovation, inspiration and evolution to meet the demands of todays working player. Our popular Deep C neck now sports smooth rolled fingerboard edges, a Super-Natural satin finish and a newly sculpted neck heel for a supremely comfortable feel and easy access to the upper register. New V-Mod II Stratocaster single-coil pickups are more articulate than ever while retaining bell-like chime and warmth, while the Double Tap bridge pickup delivers punchy humbucking tones as well as calibrated single-coil sounds at the push of a button. An upgraded 2-point tremolo with a cold-rolled steel block increases sustain, clarity and high-end sparkle. The American Pro II Stratocaster HSS delivers instant familiarity and sonic versatility youll feel and hear right away, with broad ranging improvements that add up to nothing less than a new standard for professional instruments.
The American Professional II Stratocaster HSS draws from more than sixty years of innovation, inspiration and evolution to meet the demands of todays working player. Our popular Deep C neck now sports smooth rolled fingerboard edges, a Super-Natural satin finish and a newly sculpted neck heel for a supremely comfortable feel and easy access to the upper register. New V-Mod II Stratocaster single-coil pickups are more articulate than ever while retaining bell-like chime and warmth, while the Double Tap bridge pickup delivers punchy humbucking tones as well as calibrated single-coil sounds at the push of a button. An upgraded 2-point tremolo with a cold-rolled steel block increases sustain, clarity and high-end sparkle. The American Pro II Stratocaster HSS delivers instant familiarity and sonic versatility youll feel and hear right away, with broad ranging improvements that add up to nothing less than a new standard for professional instruments. The American Professional II Stratocaster HSS draws from more than sixty years of innovation, inspiration and evolution to meet the demands of todays working player. Our popular Deep C neck now sports smooth rolled fingerboard edges, a Super-Natural satin finish and a newly sculpted neck heel for a supremely comfortable feel and easy access to the upper register. New V-Mod II Stratocaster single-coil pickups are more articulate than ever while retaining bell-like chime and warmth, while the Double Tap bridge pickup delivers punchy humbucking tones as well as calibrated single-coil sounds at the push of a button. An upgraded 2-point tremolo with a cold-rolled steel block increases sustain, clarity and high-end sparkle. The American Pro II Stratocaster HSS delivers instant familiarity and sonic versatility youll feel and hear right away, with broad ranging improvements that add up to nothing less than a new standard for professional instruments.
The American Professional II Stratocaster HSS draws from more than sixty years of innovation, inspiration and evolution to meet the demands of todays working player. Our popular Deep C neck now sports smooth rolled fingerboard edges, a Super-Natural satin finish and a newly sculpted neck heel for a supremely comfortable feel and easy access to the upper register. New V-Mod II Stratocaster single-coil pickups are more articulate than ever while retaining bell-like chime and warmth, while the Double Tap bridge pickup delivers punchy humbucking tones as well as calibrated single-coil sounds at the push of a button. An upgraded 2-point tremolo with a cold-rolled steel block increases sustain, clarity and high-end sparkle. The American Pro II Stratocaster HSS delivers instant familiarity and sonic versatility youll feel and hear right away, with broad ranging improvements that add up to nothing less than a new standard for professional instruments. The American Professional II Stratocaster HSS draws from more than sixty years of innovation, inspiration and evolution to meet the demands of todays working player. Our popular Deep C neck now sports smooth rolled fingerboard edges, a Super-Natural satin finish and a newly sculpted neck heel for a supremely comfortable feel and easy access to the upper register. New V-Mod II Stratocaster single-coil pickups are more articulate than ever while retaining bell-like chime and warmth, while the Double Tap bridge pickup delivers punchy humbucking tones as well as calibrated single-coil sounds at the push of a button. An upgraded 2-point tremolo with a cold-rolled steel block increases sustain, clarity and high-end sparkle. The American Pro II Stratocaster HSS delivers instant familiarity and sonic versatility youll feel and hear right away, with broad ranging improvements that add up to nothing less than a new standard for professional instruments.
in 3 offers
The lowest price for Fender American Professional II Stratocaster HSS - Maple/Roasted Pine right now is $2,623.88 at eBay.com.au, compared across 3 retailers.
The all-time low was $2,182.69 on 29 Apr 2026 — today's price is 20% above the lowest ever. That's a little above the best price we've seen.
Prices last updated 12 June 2026.
Last updated at 12/06/2026 15:15:53
Fender American Professional Ii Stratocaster Hss Maple Roasted Pine
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Fender American Professional II Stratocaster HSS, Maple Fingerboard in Roasted Pine
Delivery between Tue – Thu $20
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster HSS Guitar | Natural
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originally posted on guitarcenter.com
I own four Fenders and two of them are Strats. I bought the Tri-Color Sunburst American Professional II in September 2021 and have had plenty of time to play and test it out, so I figured that it was about time for me to write a review on this beautifully crafted American made Stratocaster. The Rosewood fingerboard is really nice. My old 1954 Tobacco Sunburst Reissue has a maple neck and fingerboard with frets which are a bit lower in height than the more modern Pro II. Upon first playing the guitar, I was getting a lot of buzz, which meant that the action had to be adjusted. I took the guitar to my luthier for a full set up and he easily adjusted away all that annoying buzz. I highly recommend anyone buying a new guitar to set the action up the way you like it soon ... MoreI own four Fenders and two of them are Strats. I bought the Tri-Color Sunburst American Professional II in September 2021 and have had plenty of time to play and test it out, so I figured that it was about time for me to write a review on this beautifully crafted American made Stratocaster. The Rosewood fingerboard is really nice. My old 1954 Tobacco Sunburst Reissue has a maple neck and fingerboard with frets which are a bit lower in height than the more modern Pro II. Upon first playing the guitar, I was getting a lot of buzz, which meant that the action had to be adjusted. I took the guitar to my luthier for a full set up and he easily adjusted away all that annoying buzz. I highly recommend anyone buying a new guitar to set the action up the way you like it soon after purchase, because nearly all guitars will need some attention when you take it right out of the box. I normally use a second hand Fender acoustic as my go too practice guitar, but when I pick up the Pro II Strat, it practically plays itself. The sunburst finish, Rosewood neck and tortoiseshell colored pickguard give this instrument a stunning appearance. The guitar also comes with a nice, sturdy Fender hard shell case. Some may prefer to swap out the tremolo for a more modern system on the bridge, but I prefer to keep everything stock. One thing I'll mention is how well this guitar stays in tune without the need of a locking nut or tremolo system. If you're a lover of American made Fenders like I am, then I guarantee that the American Pro II Stratocaster won't be a disappointment.
originally posted on zzounds.com
Overall:So this guitar is the best sounding guitar I've ever had at first. Everyone compliments the tone. After waiting since October for the order I picked the black color so zZounds would ship it since it was in stock. Came in janurary. Guitar plays better and sounds better than my McCarty 594 and is super comfortable to play. Qith that being said though What is terrible is quality control and support for 2 reasons. 1. zZounds didn't bother to check everything was there and the whammy bar was actually the entirely wrong type. The rep on the phone admitted the person who checked it before sending probably looked over the guitar but did not check the pocket in the case. 2nd issue. This is a new guitar. 3 days ago I hear an overtly loud overtone on the g string ... MoreOverall:So this guitar is the best sounding guitar I've ever had at first. Everyone compliments the tone. After waiting since October for the order I picked the black color so zZounds would ship it since it was in stock. Came in janurary. Guitar plays better and sounds better than my McCarty 594 and is super comfortable to play. Qith that being said though What is terrible is quality control and support for 2 reasons. 1. zZounds didn't bother to check everything was there and the whammy bar was actually the entirely wrong type. The rep on the phone admitted the person who checked it before sending probably looked over the guitar but did not check the pocket in the case. 2nd issue. This is a new guitar. 3 days ago I hear an overtly loud overtone on the g string ringing over everything. I take it to a Luthier to look at and he tells me there was a filling put in the nut because whether the manufacturer or the company that sold noticed an issue in the cut of the nut they filled it and the filing came out. Needless to say in order to fix this the nut had to have work done and the g string is raised ever so slightly higher than the other strings now to stop the overtone. Although it sounds great again i need to adjust now to the string being higher and Frankly im pretty upset. I have spent well over 4 grand with zZounds in the last year alone. Long time customer. Got no support from them with the whammy bar and instead told me to speak to fender about sending one. Also this issue with the nut and a bad filling being put in is unacceptable regardless of if it was fender or zZounds who did this, im disappointed and feel wronged either way, because even if fender is suddenly losing its quality in craftsmanship zZounds should have noticed this issue instead of sending this out with clearly no inspection actually being done. May start using a different company for instruments at this post as I have found the customer service on the last couple of calls with them to be incredibly unhelpful
originally posted on guitarcenter.com
I purchased a SSS American Pro II Strat in Mercury, with GC ponying up BOTH a LARGE discount AND 48-month zero financing. I was planning on having a pro setup done, but the guitar came perfectly new and setup right out of the case. I only had to lower the action a small bit and tweak the intonation a very small bit. I am leaving with normal 'float' like Leo intended. Tuning stability is top notch; this never goes out of tune (although I am an infrequent trem user). Regardless, the tuning stability with a 'float' is impressive. I really like a LOT the new push-push neck-pickup functionality as it really goes great with the bridge pickup. The case is awesome, too. Guitar was flawless without any issues whatsoever. It was also very well packaged with GC putting the ... MoreI purchased a SSS American Pro II Strat in Mercury, with GC ponying up BOTH a LARGE discount AND 48-month zero financing. I was planning on having a pro setup done, but the guitar came perfectly new and setup right out of the case. I only had to lower the action a small bit and tweak the intonation a very small bit. I am leaving with normal 'float' like Leo intended. Tuning stability is top notch; this never goes out of tune (although I am an infrequent trem user). Regardless, the tuning stability with a 'float' is impressive. I really like a LOT the new push-push neck-pickup functionality as it really goes great with the bridge pickup. The case is awesome, too. Guitar was flawless without any issues whatsoever. It was also very well packaged with GC putting the Fender box inside another larger box with packing so VERY well packed. New Shaw pickups are great too. Nothing negative to say -- this is a lot of USA-made guitar for the money. Recommend everyone to get one!
| Body Finish | Gloss Urethane |
| Body Shape | Stratocaster |
| Bridge Pickup | V-Mod II Double Tap Humbucking |
| Configuration | HSS |
| Control Knobs | Aged White Plastic |
Fender American Professional Ii Stratocaster Hss Maple Roasted Pine
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster HSS, Maple Fingerboard in Roasted Pine
Delivery between Tue – Thu $20
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster HSS Guitar | Natural
Free delivery between Wed – Thu
I own four Fenders and two of them are Strats. I bought the Tri-Color Sunburst American Professional II in September 2021 and have had plenty of time to play and test it out, so I figured that it was about time for me to write a review on this beautifully crafted American made Stratocaster. The Rosewood fingerboard is really nice. My old 1954 Tobacco Sunburst Reissue has a maple neck and fingerboard with frets which are a bit lower in height than the more modern Pro II. Upon first playing the guitar, I was getting a lot of buzz, which meant that the action had to be adjusted. I took the guitar to my luthier for a full set up and he easily adjusted away all that annoying buzz. I highly recommend anyone buying a new guitar to set the action up the way you like it soon ... MoreI own four Fenders and two of them are Strats. I bought the Tri-Color Sunburst American Professional II in September 2021 and have had plenty of time to play and test it out, so I figured that it was about time for me to write a review on this beautifully crafted American made Stratocaster. The Rosewood fingerboard is really nice. My old 1954 Tobacco Sunburst Reissue has a maple neck and fingerboard with frets which are a bit lower in height than the more modern Pro II. Upon first playing the guitar, I was getting a lot of buzz, which meant that the action had to be adjusted. I took the guitar to my luthier for a full set up and he easily adjusted away all that annoying buzz. I highly recommend anyone buying a new guitar to set the action up the way you like it soon after purchase, because nearly all guitars will need some attention when you take it right out of the box. I normally use a second hand Fender acoustic as my go too practice guitar, but when I pick up the Pro II Strat, it practically plays itself. The sunburst finish, Rosewood neck and tortoiseshell colored pickguard give this instrument a stunning appearance. The guitar also comes with a nice, sturdy Fender hard shell case. Some may prefer to swap out the tremolo for a more modern system on the bridge, but I prefer to keep everything stock. One thing I'll mention is how well this guitar stays in tune without the need of a locking nut or tremolo system. If you're a lover of American made Fenders like I am, then I guarantee that the American Pro II Stratocaster won't be a disappointment.
Overall:So this guitar is the best sounding guitar I've ever had at first. Everyone compliments the tone. After waiting since October for the order I picked the black color so zZounds would ship it since it was in stock. Came in janurary. Guitar plays better and sounds better than my McCarty 594 and is super comfortable to play. Qith that being said though What is terrible is quality control and support for 2 reasons. 1. zZounds didn't bother to check everything was there and the whammy bar was actually the entirely wrong type. The rep on the phone admitted the person who checked it before sending probably looked over the guitar but did not check the pocket in the case. 2nd issue. This is a new guitar. 3 days ago I hear an overtly loud overtone on the g string ... MoreOverall:So this guitar is the best sounding guitar I've ever had at first. Everyone compliments the tone. After waiting since October for the order I picked the black color so zZounds would ship it since it was in stock. Came in janurary. Guitar plays better and sounds better than my McCarty 594 and is super comfortable to play. Qith that being said though What is terrible is quality control and support for 2 reasons. 1. zZounds didn't bother to check everything was there and the whammy bar was actually the entirely wrong type. The rep on the phone admitted the person who checked it before sending probably looked over the guitar but did not check the pocket in the case. 2nd issue. This is a new guitar. 3 days ago I hear an overtly loud overtone on the g string ringing over everything. I take it to a Luthier to look at and he tells me there was a filling put in the nut because whether the manufacturer or the company that sold noticed an issue in the cut of the nut they filled it and the filing came out. Needless to say in order to fix this the nut had to have work done and the g string is raised ever so slightly higher than the other strings now to stop the overtone. Although it sounds great again i need to adjust now to the string being higher and Frankly im pretty upset. I have spent well over 4 grand with zZounds in the last year alone. Long time customer. Got no support from them with the whammy bar and instead told me to speak to fender about sending one. Also this issue with the nut and a bad filling being put in is unacceptable regardless of if it was fender or zZounds who did this, im disappointed and feel wronged either way, because even if fender is suddenly losing its quality in craftsmanship zZounds should have noticed this issue instead of sending this out with clearly no inspection actually being done. May start using a different company for instruments at this post as I have found the customer service on the last couple of calls with them to be incredibly unhelpful
I purchased a SSS American Pro II Strat in Mercury, with GC ponying up BOTH a LARGE discount AND 48-month zero financing. I was planning on having a pro setup done, but the guitar came perfectly new and setup right out of the case. I only had to lower the action a small bit and tweak the intonation a very small bit. I am leaving with normal 'float' like Leo intended. Tuning stability is top notch; this never goes out of tune (although I am an infrequent trem user). Regardless, the tuning stability with a 'float' is impressive. I really like a LOT the new push-push neck-pickup functionality as it really goes great with the bridge pickup. The case is awesome, too. Guitar was flawless without any issues whatsoever. It was also very well packaged with GC putting the ... MoreI purchased a SSS American Pro II Strat in Mercury, with GC ponying up BOTH a LARGE discount AND 48-month zero financing. I was planning on having a pro setup done, but the guitar came perfectly new and setup right out of the case. I only had to lower the action a small bit and tweak the intonation a very small bit. I am leaving with normal 'float' like Leo intended. Tuning stability is top notch; this never goes out of tune (although I am an infrequent trem user). Regardless, the tuning stability with a 'float' is impressive. I really like a LOT the new push-push neck-pickup functionality as it really goes great with the bridge pickup. The case is awesome, too. Guitar was flawless without any issues whatsoever. It was also very well packaged with GC putting the Fender box inside another larger box with packing so VERY well packed. New Shaw pickups are great too. Nothing negative to say -- this is a lot of USA-made guitar for the money. Recommend everyone to get one!
I chose it mostly for that incredible, push-push Tele sounding, "Jimmy Page" jangly tone. Its similar to the Performer tone but much better for sure with a little more clarity, far more smoother neck and body than the performer. Best neck I've played. Sounds way more "Stratty" than the Ultra (The Ultra's Noiseless pickups are basically like "vertically stacked mini-humbuckers" that are more mellow and not as Stratty sounding). I ordered the gold pickguard to slap on to give the black more of a not-so-bland look too! Will be reviewing it soon on my channel, "guitarandotherthings" on youtube! Very happy, like it more than my 96 American Standard so that's saying somethi ng! I wanted the Commemorative Annv 75th but its never in stock and also doesnt have that awesome ... MoreI chose it mostly for that incredible, push-push Tele sounding, "Jimmy Page" jangly tone. Its similar to the Performer tone but much better for sure with a little more clarity, far more smoother neck and body than the performer. Best neck I've played. Sounds way more "Stratty" than the Ultra (The Ultra's Noiseless pickups are basically like "vertically stacked mini-humbuckers" that are more mellow and not as Stratty sounding). I ordered the gold pickguard to slap on to give the black more of a not-so-bland look too! Will be reviewing it soon on my channel, "guitarandotherthings" on youtube! Very happy, like it more than my 96 American Standard so that's saying somethi ng! I wanted the Commemorative Annv 75th but its never in stock and also doesnt have that awesome push-push. This has same case as Commemorative (but with grey inner lining instead of blue) and I am very impressed! Clicks nicely, huge compartment, TSA lock for if it gets flagged at airport they can use their master key to open and not damage your lock. If you already have a hardshell you could sell this one for the difference of the Performer price which makes the American Professional ii practically the same price as the Performer! The wammy is an awesome pop in, I may upgrade to locking tuners because nose-dives arent the most forgiving, but it's a cheap price for the Fender locking set, so no biggie there! I rarely use it anyway, so if you dont use the wammy the stock tuners are fine. So for the better tone, better wammy, much smoother neck and body, pay the extra to upgrade from the performer and sell the case to make up for it if thats too much of a difference. It sounds better than Ultra anyways so that's a great deal. Hope you love it!
I'm mostly a Gibson guy (Les Paul and ES335). This is my first Stratocaster. I was torn between the top-of-the-line made in Mexico Player Plus and the American Professional II. I went with the American Pro II finished in Dark Night with a maple fingerboard. I like the sharp contrast between the dark body and the light fingerboard. The instrument arrived factory sealed. Although it was not double boxed, the case and guitar were in perfect shape.My first impression was, WOW this thing plays Great. The factory setup was spot on. 12th fret action was 2.00 mm on 6th and 1.75mm on 1st string. Intonation was perfect. Although I didn't measure neck relief, it felt good and had virtually no buzzing. Both my Gibsons have gloss necks. I was concerned I wouldn't like the ... MoreI'm mostly a Gibson guy (Les Paul and ES335). This is my first Stratocaster. I was torn between the top-of-the-line made in Mexico Player Plus and the American Professional II. I went with the American Pro II finished in Dark Night with a maple fingerboard. I like the sharp contrast between the dark body and the light fingerboard. The instrument arrived factory sealed. Although it was not double boxed, the case and guitar were in perfect shape.My first impression was, WOW this thing plays Great. The factory setup was spot on. 12th fret action was 2.00 mm on 6th and 1.75mm on 1st string. Intonation was perfect. Although I didn't measure neck relief, it felt good and had virtually no buzzing. Both my Gibsons have gloss necks. I was concerned I wouldn't like the "Super-Natural" satin finish neck, but it felt comfortable and fast in my hand. Coming from humbucker based guitars, the single coil pickups do have some hum that can be eliminated by using pairs of pickups in switch positions 2 and 4. The Vmod II pickups sound great, having a classic, bright strat sound. The push-push tone knob is easy to see/use (the Player Plus uses an inferior push-pull knob). The knob adds the neck pickup to any position, however, when the neck and bridge pickup are selected, the pickups are not wired to eliminate hum. For strings, I use D'addario 10-46 on my short scale Gibsons, but I like the Fender 250L 9-42 on the long scale strat. I liked the Fender strings enough to order a few more sets of them.I compared the noiseless pickups of the Player Plus to the Vmod II pickups, and I simply liked the sound of the Vmod II pickups better. The Player Plus pickups lacked clarity, sounding slightly muffled compared to the Vmod II.The rectangular hardshell case is plastic, but looks pretty solid. The Player Plus came with a cheap gig bag.Overall, I am loving this guitar and would highly recommend it.
I have been playing strats for over 50 years, (im 63), though I usually play a vintage or vintage reissue strat.I tried the Professional I that came out before this model and the ORIG. v-mOD pickups were AWEFUL! The guitar was just OK and was quickly traded away like dozens of others over the years.The Miami Blue Pro II really caught my eye, very similar to a taos turqoise plus I owned a few years ago.WOW! I was really impressed with the guitar overall, especially the playability and sound. These pickups are the best Fender has ever made IMHO, you can get any sound modern or vintage. Combined with the stunning looks of the Miami blue, this strat is def a keeper! In the past 40 years I have only kept 20 or so "keepers" in my collection, this is now one of them. The ... MoreI have been playing strats for over 50 years, (im 63), though I usually play a vintage or vintage reissue strat.I tried the Professional I that came out before this model and the ORIG. v-mOD pickups were AWEFUL! The guitar was just OK and was quickly traded away like dozens of others over the years.The Miami Blue Pro II really caught my eye, very similar to a taos turqoise plus I owned a few years ago.WOW! I was really impressed with the guitar overall, especially the playability and sound. These pickups are the best Fender has ever made IMHO, you can get any sound modern or vintage. Combined with the stunning looks of the Miami blue, this strat is def a keeper! In the past 40 years I have only kept 20 or so "keepers" in my collection, this is now one of them. The PERFECT guitar for playing top 40/classic rock in a band,effortless playability, great sound, and stunning looks. Did I say I like this guitar? Get one.
I'm an 80s humbucker Kramer and Charvel with Floyd Rose guy but have always wanted an American professional level Strat. I've always liked the unique tone of their single coil PUs. This guitar did not disappoint in any way. Great strat tone, beautiful finish and the neck is easy and fast. The push/push tone knob gives that extra PU selection that older Strats don't offer. The satin finish on the neck has a the natural smooth feel I love on an unfinished oiled neck. It's hard to put this guitar down. The only thing that wasn't quite right was the trem was set up a tad lite. It would vibrate against the body by hitting the bottom E hard or lightly knocking on the body. Easy fix, took off the back plate and slightly tightened the trem springs. Don't let that deter you ... MoreI'm an 80s humbucker Kramer and Charvel with Floyd Rose guy but have always wanted an American professional level Strat. I've always liked the unique tone of their single coil PUs. This guitar did not disappoint in any way. Great strat tone, beautiful finish and the neck is easy and fast. The push/push tone knob gives that extra PU selection that older Strats don't offer. The satin finish on the neck has a the natural smooth feel I love on an unfinished oiled neck. It's hard to put this guitar down. The only thing that wasn't quite right was the trem was set up a tad lite. It would vibrate against the body by hitting the bottom E hard or lightly knocking on the body. Easy fix, took off the back plate and slightly tightened the trem springs. Don't let that deter you from buying thing awesome guitar.
I have a Mexican strat but wanted to try the newest American version so I got this one. There were several color options and of course maple or rosewood fretboards. I got one that looks like my Mexican strat but has a black pick guard instead of white. It definitely feels nicer, the frets are bigger and it sounds great. One of the tone knobs has a push pull switch that adds a little change in tone but almost not enough to mention, more of a gimmic. The fender case is very high quality. When I first got it, the strings were higher on one side, then I noticed that the bridge was on top of the chrome screw that is supposed to hold it down. I just loosened the strings and put it below that screw and the action was great after the change. I love buying from Adorama ... MoreI have a Mexican strat but wanted to try the newest American version so I got this one. There were several color options and of course maple or rosewood fretboards. I got one that looks like my Mexican strat but has a black pick guard instead of white. It definitely feels nicer, the frets are bigger and it sounds great. One of the tone knobs has a push pull switch that adds a little change in tone but almost not enough to mention, more of a gimmic. The fender case is very high quality. When I first got it, the strings were higher on one side, then I noticed that the bridge was on top of the chrome screw that is supposed to hold it down. I just loosened the strings and put it below that screw and the action was great after the change. I love buying from Adorama because they ship fast and I know if there is ever a problem with the product, they will refund or replace it free.
The Fender American Professional II really shines on all the clean tones, it's amazing. I can't compare the clarity of the tones with any other guitar I own, including a Fender telecaster and a Gibson les Pauls (they have other merits). The push/push button is a nice added feature, and though they sell it as a telecaster sound, it still can't beat the real deal. It does give you some more sound range nevertheless. The power behind the pickups is also very noticeable which makes it even better.Coming to playability, the maple neck feels like silk. It is so smooth and soft to play you'd just grab the guitar for the sole purpose of sliding your fingers across the fretboard. The entire instrument shows craftsmanship and sturdiness. The tremolo is also quite nice and ... MoreThe Fender American Professional II really shines on all the clean tones, it's amazing. I can't compare the clarity of the tones with any other guitar I own, including a Fender telecaster and a Gibson les Pauls (they have other merits). The push/push button is a nice added feature, and though they sell it as a telecaster sound, it still can't beat the real deal. It does give you some more sound range nevertheless. The power behind the pickups is also very noticeable which makes it even better.Coming to playability, the maple neck feels like silk. It is so smooth and soft to play you'd just grab the guitar for the sole purpose of sliding your fingers across the fretboard. The entire instrument shows craftsmanship and sturdiness. The tremolo is also quite nice and stays where you left it.As with all single coils, it is my feeling this guitar rocks in the clear or low-level distortion (crunch, overdrive, ...), but it fails to deliver on high-level distortion even when combining the pickups in the middle settings. For that you need real hum buckers.The final verdict is that this is an amazing instrument and I'm going to love every minute playing it.
I have been playing Strats for 58 years. "Yep I'm old", but still Rockin. I played out 5 nights a week for over 35yrs and still playing 2 times a month. I owned a 55 strat that was stolen in 98 and custom ordered a 98 strat to the 55 specs, other than the pups. I eventually loaded the bridge pup with a "Jb" coil tapped and played for 12 yrs and the bought the 54's from sweetwater and ended up with that sweet early days strat sound but realized I missed my JB humbucker and that's where this guitar comes in. MAN! I can't say enough about this guitar, first off it's freaking beautiful, 2nd it plays and sounds exactly as I hoped it would. No the humbucker is not a JB but Tim Shaw nailed these pups to match perfect, and I now have the growl of the humbucker back and it ... MoreI have been playing Strats for 58 years. "Yep I'm old", but still Rockin. I played out 5 nights a week for over 35yrs and still playing 2 times a month. I owned a 55 strat that was stolen in 98 and custom ordered a 98 strat to the 55 specs, other than the pups. I eventually loaded the bridge pup with a "Jb" coil tapped and played for 12 yrs and the bought the 54's from sweetwater and ended up with that sweet early days strat sound but realized I missed my JB humbucker and that's where this guitar comes in. MAN! I can't say enough about this guitar, first off it's freaking beautiful, 2nd it plays and sounds exactly as I hoped it would. No the humbucker is not a JB but Tim Shaw nailed these pups to match perfect, and I now have the growl of the humbucker back and it sounds awesome. The push push coil tap is nice but if I play a gig and need the sweet sound of SSS pups I'll use my 98. I have been so attached to my 98 strat that I was hesitant about buying another one thinking it will never come close to the 98. I am so happy I decided to do this, this guitar is a KEEPER. And of course I can't leave this review without a shout out for my sales rep, Randy Poteete, we talked about my needs and this is what I ended up with. Thank you Randy and Sweetwater!
| Body Finish | Gloss Urethane |
| Body Shape | Stratocaster |
| Bridge Pickup | V-Mod II Double Tap Humbucking |
| Configuration | HSS |
| Control Knobs | Aged White Plastic |
