Fender American Pro II vs. American Ultra Stratocaster | Alamo Music Center
Вставка
- Опубліковано 25 жов 2020
- 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 older brother, the American Ultra. Though Fender has updated its flagship line, the American Pro II, with some more modern features, there are still a few key differences from the Ultras; namely, pickups, neck shapes, tuning machines, and finishes; however, the addition of some new pickup switching options, updated hardware, and heel contouring takes these two lines closer than ever before. Do you like one more than the other? Let us know!
Playing begins at 9:10
Shop Fender Guitars - www.alamomusic.com/brands/Fen...
Shop Guitars - www.alamomusic.com/guitars/
Guitar Buyers Guide → bit.ly/2kssXsR
Interested in a different guitar? Talk to an expert here → bit.ly/findmyguitar
__________________________________________________________________
UA-cam: Pianos and Keyboards - bit.ly/YTpianos
UA-cam: Pro Audio - bit.ly/YTproaudio
♪ Contact us: www.alamomusic.com/contact
♩ Call toll-free: (844)251-1922
♬ Connect:
Twitter → / alamomusic
Instagram → / alamoguitarco
Facebook → / alamoguitar
#fenderamericanprofessionalii #fenderamericanproii #americanpro2
Last year (February 2021), I bought the American Professional II Stratocaster with the roasted pine body and maple fingerboard for my son's 18th birthday. It was his dream guitar since he saw it on Fender's page. His guitar skills skyrocketed as he just can't put the guitar down. He plays and practices several hours a day. So I guess it was a really good investment. ❤️
I really do think there's something to that phenomena. A truly great guitar that's predictable, stays in tune and has great intonation up and down the fretboard really will cause a lot of musicians to practice a lot more. I bought a Schecter Blackjack a while back and while it's far from the most expensive guitar in the world (around $1300), it's a magnificent guitar. I wouldn't say it's as nice as a $2800 les paul standard, but it's around 95% as nice, does a couple of things better than the les paul, and is just a joy to play. As a consequence, I've practiced far, far more due to that guitar. And btw, you're a damn good dad for investing in your son's musical journey. Kudos, sir.
I played the American professional 2 series and I played the American ultra before I bought either of them and I went with the pro series 2 HHS because it is a much more versatile guitar I don't care what they say in the video he is a wonderful guitar player but I don't see how they can't hear that the pro 2 series is better.
@@exposingthetruth3427 I agree with you. I thought the pro 2 sounded better than the ultra. I have been thinking about buying the ultra, but now I don't know.
Just bought the ultra for my son for his 16th birthday.. I realy bought it for my self for when he is at school .. I hope he never moves out ...hee hee
sweet
Heck of a gift! Let us know what he gets for his 17th! :p
…dad?
Very cool! I still have my Dean from my 16th birthday - which was in 1982!
Wow, lucky 16 year old!!
9:10 Ultra Pos 5 10:55 Pro ii
9:34 Ultra Pos 4 11:22 Pro ii
9:53 Ultra Pos 3 11:42 Pro ii
10:04 Ultra Pos 2 12:02 Pro ii
10:08 Ultra Pos 2 S1 engaged 12:12 pro ii
10:22 Ultra Pos 1 S1 engaged 12:20 pro ii
10:37 Ultra Pos 1 12:31 pro ii
you are welcome.
Thank you for these amazing and useful videos. You are really really good at this job. Congrutilations to great team.
Dude with the hair, sorry don't know your name but that was the best demo I've seen to showcase the Fender Strat sound that I've been looking for. I was about to purchase the ultra but the pro 2 sounds better to me. Thank you so much :)
The other dude needs the stop interrupting
Your videos are always great and tell me exactly what I’m trying to learn!
One pro 2 in miami blue with rosewood neck coming up! Thanks guys!🎸🎶
Love my black ap2.
Neck is like a Cadillac and I love the pups.
Getting locking tuners is an easy adjustment.
Have tech set it up and check the bone nut for any needed fine adjustments.
My buddy and I played the Miami Blue 2 weeks ago when it first arrived at our local GC. It sounds great and plays very well with no scratchy frets on each side. 👍🎸
Hi guys, nice video! last week I did the same comparison in the guitar shop. I love both guitars. I chose the ultra because of the noiseless pickups and the locking tuners. I also really liked the compound radius neck! Pricedifference was only €100, so the choise wasn’t that hard.
I own the PRO2 in Olympic White and I *LOVE* it!! I've been playing it non stop. Crybaby, DS1, RC5, TS9, and the Walrus Slo bring me to another world.
Roger that, brother!
Thank you for making this video. You did a great job.
I have many strats (American original, Malmsteen sign, US Std), and the Ultra is my latest add. It rises up the bar for sure, amazing guitar
Do you know Gianni Vecchio
I chose Miami Blue with rosewood AP2. Went SSS almost went HSS. What a guitar!! Liked the Ultra, but loved the color on AP2. Best deal is a Performer or Player with new PUP's if you don't care about American. Going even further a classic vibe Squier is the best bang for buck at half Fender price. I just had to have the Miami Blue and absolutely love it!! Buy whatever floats your boat and love to play. No bad choices!
Nice! Yeah I couldn't afford a GT3 so I went with the Miami Blue strat as well. ;) Love it
Performer is corona USA made I had one
I just bought my 3rd ultra. First was a strat, then the tele, now the Texas tea jazz bass (and I’m not a bassist)
Nice bro.. I got the elite Stratocaster in sky burst ... maple fret .. and I going to this new ultra series.. in hss configuration
I'd consider buying an ultra strat but I'm a lefty🗿
@@Yumemaru. so? There’s lefty models
@@daitosf5537 the lefty models weren't out when I made that comment.
@@Yumemaru. go get ur lefty bro
better be texas tea tho 😵💫
Man, I just pulled the trigger on the Plasma Red Ultra strat from Alamo (via Reverb), and I can't *wait* to lay hands on it! It ticks all my boxes - ash body, coll transparent burst, rosewood fretboard, and all the modern features. And that neck - I was able to play one (not the color I wanted) up in Reno, but there aren't any like that plasma burst anywhere in driving distance to me. So, it's my first purchase from Alamo, and I'm so excited to get it! Thanks for all of your great videos, Chris and Cooper!
How do you like it?
not the same fingerboard = useless demo
@@daveowens Well, it's an amazing Strat. I have a 1990 Strat Plus that I've always considered my holy grail strat, but the Am. Ultra in plasma burst, with a gorgeous ash body, rosewood fretboard - man, it's really something else. The rolled edges are incredible, and it sounds fantastic. I'm used to noiseless pickups (my '90 Plus has the gold Lace sensors), so while purists might cringe, I think the new noiseless sound great. There is nothing to dislike about my Ultra. It's another 'lifetime' guitar for me...
Great video- either (or both guitars) would look great next to my American Deluxe strat!
Great video and playing. I have a recent bug on the strat again, i find myself gravitating back n forth with this relationship. I purchased that beautiful cherry burst American deluxe strat a few years ago, honestly after 6 months of shows I did not like the ash body tonality. For my ears it was too thin, very bright. I prefer the Alder body tones on the older strats, the resonance is amazing. I ended up selling the Deluxe and a Suhr guitar purchasing a custom Novo Serus j guitar. Unbelievable guitar but that's another topic. My main reason for the ramble, lol, is I hear the strats are going to Pine, which is what my Novo is, I am curious what your take is on that, besides environment an all that jazz.
That was the best intro I've seen, ever.
Chris is great by himself, but together with Cooper the videos are a bit extra special. They're an excellent duo!
Nice playing! The pro 2 is a fantastic guitar. Got a miami blue one with rosewood fingerboard and I love it. Does anyone know what song is played at 10:59? Great song to demo a Strat!
Been considering an AM2 with the solid rosewood neck. Love the feel of that neck...
Wow first person to watch this video, great review, thanks guys
Hiya from Northern Cyprus
Keep the reviews coming x
I love the color of the ultra 👀
Had my AMPro2 4 weeks now. Put Fender locking tuners on and now the Dark Night is complete… good enough 😊
Def ! I may get locking tuners as well
Pro 2 for me.
Lol
American Pro 2 pick ups for me but the locking tuners and that thin Ultra neck heel is nice!!
that v-mod ii pickups are fantastic!!!
That intro had me laughing so hard😂
Loved it.
Noise less pick ups really take out some of the magic
I agree, the noiseless pickups sound great, but sound like they are processed through a studio mixer, whereas the noisy single coils sound more authentic and perhaps more 3 dimentional?
Couldn’t agree more
True.. that Strat Nuance.. Only one reason for me of getting a Strat.. is that sounding like a classic Strat... otherwise, there is no other reason.. even the Ultra is more expensive.. it doesn't have that classic Strat clean tone that we go for (well maybe it does.. like 85-90%).
@@PinoyMukbangPro agree,i have the texas tea,plan swapping to custom 54 pup
Yup same, all my hero’s did not use noiseless pickups
The neck pickups don't persuade me either way; but the bridge position sounds so much better to me on the Ultra than it does on the AmPro II. I was expecting the "noiseless" pickups on the Ultra to leave me cold; but what happened instead was that the bridge pickup on the AmPro II seemed to me to have not just the stereotypical Strat quack, but to actually be really shrill. I just wish the finishes available for the AmPro II were available for the Ultra; because the Dark Night finish for the AmPro II is for me the best finish I've ever seen Fender do.
i agree but also sometimes the maple board vs rosewood can affect sound a bit in my experience
Played the ultra in a pawn shop and loved it but still 17 hundred used. After listening to your video with headphones I'm right, the ultra any day.
I think I need both of them.
Anyone got the specs of the Gen 5 noiseless pups? Output and magnets used?
i just bought the American pro 2 in roasted pine and love it
Same ! Love love this guitar 🎸
How do you guys keep reading my mind? I am wondering which one to get ♥
Also, I love your sense of humour 😂
The push-push knob in Pro II puts the neck pickup in series or parallel with other 2?
it does. you can do bridge, neck and bridge, mid and neck lmao
Very short mention of neck profiles . Most important features Pickups i.e sounds available and playability /comfort or wanting to fight a little with the neck . So many reviews gloss over the neck profile . If I pick up a guitar and I hate the neck I put it down .
I love the ultra specs and I love the player plus specs the problem is I just don't like sender noises pickups they take away a lot of the punch
Hmmm....
I think the pickups on the American Professional 2 sound warmer than the Ultra.
I agree, I looked at demos from the Preformer, Pro2, and Ultra. Yet always went back to the pro2.
the PRO 2 is really good on tones, just great
American Pro II for me. After 37 years of playing I consider it to be the best guitar I've ever owned. Keeper for life.
Can you please do another video where are both guitars have a maple neck and alder body?!
In my opinion, I wish that all demos such as this will one day soon compare the same features as far as comparing guitars. Same fretboard and body.🤔
i'm sold on the American Pro II. It's enough. But, i do like them both. Thanks
More magic in the sound of the American Professional II to my ears, but when I played them both in store I have to say the Ultra neck was the clear winner for feel and playability. Maybe I can find some store that will let me take two of them and swap the necks, lol.
I got the American pro ll dark night…for 60 bucks I swapped out the tuners for the fender locking tuners
I just purchased the Texas tea ultra strat in San Antonio at your location !!! Thank you all
Lesson 1: How to promote a Stratocaster video:
"This is the intro to the part of the video that we want you to get excited about so you watch the rest of the video."
(Shows Les Paul)
For Fender strat, which one is more iconic, HSS pickup or SSS pickup? And what kind of wood most signature for strat? Thanks.
1. SSS is known for classic set-up/standard for strat
2. Alder on body & maple neck for sure
Thoughts on time frame of the next update to the Ultra?
Ha ha and what will the difference be a blob of paint then you will be told by music establishments how much of a game changer it is and why you should upgrade
I was not prepared for that ending.
Pine (without a fat discount)... this should put the "tonewood" issue to rest. We don't even burn pine in the woodstove. Sounds really nice though! Miami Blue... I saw a retired guy at Luby's wearing a shirt that color. BTW, "Telecaster" is always the answer.
They both look and sound great. The American Ultra sounds better to me. Thanks for the gas 😂
Me too
I will be getting the pro ll Telecaster next week. It will be my second Telecaster but my first Fender. Never cared to much for Stratocaster. But to each there own.
Which amp is that - the Princeton Reverb?
I have both guitars, I love them both.
lol
I need a strat but I torn. Which would handle better overdrive. I am looking for a strat that handle overdrive well., i.e., AC/DC, Beatles Classic Right, where I can plug into a Fender Twin Reverb, and a Marshall Plexi?
Sounds like you are headed for a Strat HS condig as this would be a better fit for the ac/dc overdrive stuff as Malcom uses SG Gibson with dual humbuckers
For those on a budget save money and get a MIM strat. I had a Clapton that now sells for 2500 and sold it and bought a MIM strat. I spent a couple hours fine tuning it and like it more than the Clapton. That being said, if you have the money buy whatever feels good when you play it. I have the money to buy any guitar I desire, my two favorites are a MIM tele I swapped pickups to American Vintage 52's and put in a 5 way switch and the MIM strat that is the same as I bought it. I also believe the more time you put into a guitar and make it yours (kinda like a song you make your own) the pride and ownership feels better than a decked out best hardware from the box 3000 plus guitar.
I never played a strat but im leaning more towards the HSS pro 2 , since i dont see huge differences to justify they price increase
I have the Ultra. I can't imagine a better guitar.
Just ordered a 3TS American Ultra. Hope I made the right choice.
I prefer the sound of the Pro ll pickups over the Ultra’s noiseless.
Same !
The center pick up looks damaged on a "new" guitar? Quality control check before shipping to customer?? i love the finish and the pick guard
Most likely what you're seeing are the protective plastics that are still on the pick ups?
I just want that dk24 style cut in the back with that elite style truss adjuster at the neck fat headstock don’t really care what pickups they’d be winners either way
The v-mod ii are speaking to me!
The pro sounds less compressed and much better than the ultra, I was surprised !
That’s because noiseless single coils suck. Takes the life right out of them.
Ultra feels better, Pro sounds better. So get an Ultra and put new pickups in.
Exactly what I was thinking
It's actually Porsche Miami Blue. Thought that pretty cool!
Porsche does the Macan in Miami blue also up until 2022
I like am pro II. The pickups is really sing in my ears specially neck pickups. I had try Noiseless 2 times before, it is OK, no complain about it. But there is something that I can not explain when play with V mod II pickups in am pro II.
Love the Ultra. (maybe cause I have one????) No bias here. :)
Hows the neck feel?
I had both and every american pro II (3 teles and 1 strat) I had was a dream. Didn't like the ultra as much mainly because of the neck... Firstly the fretboard was rosewood which isn't bad by any means but I prefer the feel of maple. I had both the tele and strat, in texas tea. The tele wasn't my thing due to rosewood and the strat was alot nicer with it's maple neck. But reason two is the neck profile... That deep C neck is literally the best thing i've ever had in my hands where as the D neck on the ultras just... Isn't nice feeling to me. I'm even considering getting an ultra and buying a maple pro II neck for it.
Can you Review Fender American Ultra HSS Stratocaster Plasma Red Burst ?
Stopped the video. Now I'm going to play my guitar! Good advice;)
No, now you're commenting on UA-cam Videos...
What about the locking tuning pegs, or lack thereof? $1,499++
I have the Ultra HSS, and even the Hot Noiseless pickups don’t hold a candle to my custom strat with Texas Specials. I also prefer the C vs the compound D. It’s crazy that my ultra spends most of its time in the case. Either way... don’t see myself selling it.
same here, i felt even my Player Strat HSS sounds better... i like everything about my Ultra HSS, specially the Texas Tea finish is just amazing, but the pickups... especially this what they call it "Double Tap" Humbucker, it's just way too warm and compressed for a bridge humbucker, i really want to love this guitar and am still trying hard...
@@owen4255 saaaaaame. Ultra is gorgeous, super playable, but the pickups are just… soft. Weak. My American Texas Fat Strat from ‘99 crushes it on all positions (it IS noisier tho). The Ultras are just too polite. Prolly selling mine.
@@thesmr Or u know u can easily swap in prewired pickguards like with Fat ‘50s pickups or Texas Specials. Best of both worlds, you get the premium neck/body and no dull/dead noiseless pickups.
@@joshL28 Yeah... I could. But I just don't vibe with this guitar as a whole. My TX Fat Strat just works with me better, even though it lacks all the refinements of the Ultra. Live and learn.
I just got a new American Pro II HSS with rosewood in midnight blue (i think its called) this guitar is sick. I did change the pickgaurd to a anodized aluminum black to replace the black plastic. I put ebony knobs on it and a switch tip that matches the guitars finish. But this is the most impressive overall Fender ive had my hands on and ive been playing for decades. Ive always stuck to G&L for my Tele or Strat style guitars. Over the years ive owned a LOT of Fender guitars and i never kept them that long as It seemed to be having to give up too much to use their guitars. If that makes any sense. Like for all the things i liked, their were more things i didnt like. G&L guitars ive never had this issue with, love those guitars ! But Fender solved with the electronics one of my biggest complains which is the tone pot never is hooked up to the bridge pickup. On my G&Ls they have whats called a PTB system. So the tone pots are actually Treble and Bass. This allows you to really dial in that tone. The new pickups in this guitar are among the best ive heard. Having the tap on it is also cool, along with the 5 way. The neck on mine is perfect, the way they rolled the edges, the frets, the feel overall A+. Not one issue with the finish and this is one cool finish i tell ya, in different lights it changes to different colors on stage. Kinda like a Gibson Flip Top (I think they were called, if you guys remember those). Im blown away. This is the first Fender i have owned that i feel is up to snuff with my G&Ls. Def try one out, i think this is the change(s) Fender needed to address on their newer guitars. This has everything i like about a Strat with very very little i do not like. Also the heel access is perfect. This guitar gets an A+ from me. Nice case as well.
Oh. I wouldnt get the Ultra because im just not a fan of those pickups. So in the end id be spending a lot more to replace those etc. Never been a fan of any of their noiseless pickups and the demos ive heard prove that i will take the V-Mod pickups over them any day. :-) These V-Mod pickups are insane. Finally i have a Fender with balls it feels like when i need it and then jangle and Knopfler ish when needed. Best of both worlds.
You mention the traditional Strat versatility, as well as the S1 switch to add the neck pickup into the rear positions to give you that many more tonal choices. Seems like the HSS would be one notch more versatile. So, how about a AmPro II / Ultra HSS-vs-SSS comparison? Demo the coil split humbucker sound compared to the single-coil bridge in the SSS version, what happens to the output balance with the other pickups, straight humbucker bridge tone vs the single-coil. Comparing AmPro II vs Ultra would let you show off the differences in the V-Mod II and the Noiseless Gen 4. (Or I see on Fender's website they have a "Noiseless Hot" and "Noiseless Vintage" now... so many things to compare, Cooper will never get to go home.)
We plan to do that comparison when an HSS finally arrives.
I'll look forward to it!
I recently bought an American Professional II Stratocaster and loved it in every way except one; sadly, the one problem was a fatal flaw, so I returned the guitar: whenever using the tremolo arm, even moderately, the guitar would return out of tune. Even after the strings were well broke in.
I bought a performer strat with the same issue, I returned it for another one exact same colour etc and it’s been fine :)
For anyone else reading this, buy some nut lube! Check if your nut has a sharp feel to it and tell the shop you got it from. They’ll fix it in a couple minutes and you’re good to go 90% of the time!
Almost always a set up issue..
Ultra sounds very well. I’m just a bit sad because besides different guitar models, the comparison has involved rosewood against maple!
So the Miami blue pro doesn’t have noise canceling pickups ?
Correct! V-mod II pickups that aren't noiseless. They're great!
Excellent Video! Where did you get that Stranger Things - I like the one you have on, with the Alamo Music Center Logo and the Stranger Things words on the side. I see that I order the shirt from but it's differenet.
I don't see $900 difference between the two. I bought the Pro II with rosewood fingerboard and love it, after a few mods and extensive set up to my liking. I hate those noiseless pickups on the ultra or mexican strats. The V Mods are hot. So hot I had to lower the middle and neck almost flush to the body with the treble side a little higher. save $900 and get a decent amp!
I just got the ultra from ebay im waiting so patiently to get my hands on it
I like the sound of the American Pro 2 more
this is good channel ! creetings from finland i just wonder can you do demo about fender made in japan guitars (jv reissue stratocaster) actyally i got jv reissue strat a sixties model a great great guitar a thick soft v neck and little bit different than usa or mexican models but anyway thanks for these introduction
great intro-!!! ^^
Anyone with ideas for nice sweetspot pickup height for the pro II?
What amp is that
No choice for lefties as there are no left-handed Ultras (there used to be a left-handed Elite). It would be cool if Fender added Stainless Steel frets and a Ebony fretboard option (while retaining Maple and Rosewood) to the Ultra. That would allow them to add locking tuners as standard to the Professional II while keeping enough spec difference to justify the higher price of the Ultra. I wonder if Fender will offer the Generation 5 noiseless pickups as a stand-alone purchase to allow those with earlier generations of noiseless pickups to upgrade? I wonder what enhancements Fender will make to their Performer and Player lines when they upgrade those?
I'm a lefty as well and I'm pretty sure Fender sells those pickups on their website.
Update - lefty Ultras are now available, thanks Fender.
GET BOTH....
i own the ultra Absolutely killed guitar
I own the pro 2 HSS and I think it is a more versatile guitar than the ultra and not to mention I think that it sounds better mine is the American version also. Even in this video I think the pro 2 series sounds better
as a Les Paul owner the idea of an HSS Strat excites me.. I know it’s not traditional but I’d take versatility over tradition.
Currently own a pro II strat HSS. I have some expensive acoustics and a pro II tele as well. Nothing came close to my pro II strat when it comes to 'out-of-the-box-greatness'. It's just flawless in any way and feels like home from the first chord I played. However, am considering getting rid of the tele and strat to get 1 ultra luxe tele or strat because i'd like to keep my amount of guitars minimal. As for the tradition thing: The ability to split the humbucker to get a single coil sounds works good enough
Those are great guitars, however, I have a Fender American Professional Stratocaster Sienna Sunburst; I think I'll keep it :)
I need an ultra with Vmod pickups. Love the modern flair, but I just don't love the noiseless pickups. They miss some of the glass sound to me.
I know they said don’t judge the guitars for the neck but the glassy sound can be attributed to the maple neck as well. Honestly, if you’re really looking, go try them out yourself. They’re both amazing guitars! I personally have an ultra and love it but love the sound from this Pro 2 as well.
It surprises me that the pro II with maple neck sounds warmer than the ultra with rosewood, that's an unffair comparation, and even so the pro II sounds more Straty. I compare the pro II with the ultra, both with rosewood neck, and I bought the pro II it's sound more like a real Strat to my ears.
Local shop has them both on sale difference in price is just $100. Considering
Nice video guys!! Just wondering if the narrow tall frets make a difference. I’m used to medium jumbo on my Pacifica and I’m not sure if there’s too big a gap.
The Ultra has medium jumbos :)
@@ShamanicSavant That might be the wiser option then😎 Thanks!
I hate the tall then 61 0 5 frets. It's like running my fingers across a cheese grater
@@artgillespie162 I tried both, the pro II and the Ultra. I found the latter much more confortable. So I ended up buying a New HSS Ultra in texas tea colour. Thanks for the advice!
I think I will be getting an ultra. To me it is more playable.
sounds to me the ultra has a more tamed output especially in the lower frequencies. The pro ii is more "boomey" and has heavier lower frequencies. If I were to choose one as a professional I would probably go ultra and then change the pickups according to where I find myself using it. Good value on the ultra considering all the features and I really enjoyed the neck and rolled edges.
I lived in a very old building where single coils had massive hum. The Pro II had almost no hum at all. For some reason, it's almost noiseless.
I am curious if you would both choose the Ultra first (if you didn't have anything else already) for the Telecaster as well. What say ye?
I mean the ultra telecasters are bound and have the body contours I’ll be adding one to my collection within the next year for sure!
He literally said that he'd go for the pro II because he already has a jazzmaster ultra but then followed up by saying, if he didn't have that one yet: he'd go strat ultra. And so did the other guy.