I was hunting for a Telecaster for a while to complete my small collection; I was hesitant between the American Pro II, a Japanese Vintage and the Elite (probably the most comfortable guitar I ever played). That Miami blue beauty stole my heart!
The Am Pro II is the successor of the original American Professional series (#captainobvious) with few updated features and enhancements: the “deep C” neck and V-Mod II single-coil pickups to mention only the most notable.
Check the Full Specs on the Fender website and the official presentation in the video:
Build quality and Features
It comes with a molded hardshell case which is very convenient for moving the guitar from one place to another without fearing too much for it to be scratched or worse. From the moment you pick it up, you feel the Fender craftmanship. It has the iconic Telecaster shape, very simple in appearance, yet few enhancements make all the difference:
The C-shaped “Deep C” maple neck fits nicely in the hands and the satin finish is amazing, you can play for hours.
The beveled neck-plate helps you reach the 22 frets easily. (visible in the first pictures at the top of the article)
I haven’t tried it, to be honest, but you can string the guitar from the bridge or the body. My guess is that stringing from the bridge will give it more of that Fender twang. I will update the review next time I change the strings.
Versatile Sound
No big surprise with the classic Telecaster 3-way switch to navigate between the bridge and neck pickups. However, the push-pull pot changes the default Tele configuration, wiring the pickups in series instead of parallel (the sound goes through one pickup and then the other, not sure in what order). It offers a surprising and unusual sound from a Telecaster which might make the purist frown but I personally appreciate the option very much.
Here’s a video review I found very well made to hear the difference between the positions (until I make my own videos! I won’t go as far as pulling my guitar apart though)
Fender American Pro II
Summary
The American Pro II brings together vintage charm and innovations. The build quality and design are what you can expect from a top-tier Fender instrument, and I love the “new” Miami blue color. The pickups innovations make the model a versatile guitar and despite staying true to its roots, it might not be for Telecaster purists. Still, regardless of your level, from hobbyist to professional, you can’t go wrong with that one. Highly recommended!