FENDER AMERICAN PRO II STRATOCASTER HSS
H
ow does a company
evolve a design that they
got so right at the start?
With the Strat, Fender
treads carefully but with
its recent Ultra series, it proved
that its carefully considered
tweaks can amount to quite a lot.
But it has to be a sensitive balance,
retaining the very things that
make the Strat experience so
attractive. So where does that
leave us with Fender’s new
standard; the second iteration
of the Professional II.
There’s no doubt some of the
Ultra’s features have infl uenced
the changes here, but the Pro II
also brings its own distinct
changes; namely a new tonewood
option with roasted pine (the
roasting improves its resonance).
While the Sienna Sunburst fi nish
also uses this new sustainable
replacement for ash, here in
clear-coated natural glory.
The pine looks more 70s retro
than some of the bold new
fi nishes in the Professional II line,
and it will probably be one of the
most divisive. But in the fi rst
reveal of the new line that TG
attended, it was suggested these
pine models would be on the
lighter side of Strat weights,
and at 7.5lbs ours is certainly
on the lower side.
When it replaced the American
Standard series in 2017, the
American Professional sought
to continue its appeal to a wide
range of players but ring in some
changes; a slightly deeper take
on the Modern C-shape neck,
two-point synchronised tremolo
with push-arm and Narrow Tall
fretwire. The Pro II adds in
contoured neck heel and plate for
easier access (thought it’s not as
dramatic as the Ultra’s), but the
added electric options across the
line are the boldest upgrade.
For the HSS Strat, it’s a
Double Tap (see boxout)
humbucker that promises to
make an already versatile take on
the Strat blueprint even further.
The neck’s deeper C-shape is
certainly subtle, and this is
a really comfortable Strat-playing
experience enhanced by the rear
satin fi nish. The neck contour
does make a notable diff erence
to accessing those highest
frets more easily.
The two-point tremolo is
wonderfully responsive
acoustically, and because tuning
remains stable it becomes
addictive. But before we plug in,
there are a couple of issues to
address. The G string is buzzing on
all frets – thankfully it’s not a nut
issue and a string change
addresses it. We also choose to
raise the pickups as they seem
a little low to us. It’s a personal
preference but we really like that
Fender provide two adjustment
screws for the single-coil and
humbucker parts of the Double
Tap – for good reasons.
Some people just can’t accept
the idea of a humbucker on a Strat
but Fender have integrated it here
as only experts do – from the zebra
bobbin to blend it into the control
plate aesthetically to the Double
Tap’s tole in the broader spectrum,
it all makes sense. This isn’t
FENDER AMERICAN PRO II
STRATOCASTER HSS
The do-it-all Strat?
1
2
3
£1649
BODY Roasted pine
NECK Maple, modern
‘deep C’ profile, bolt-on
SCALE 25.5” (648mm)
FINGERBOARD Maple /
9.5” radius
FRETS 22, narrow tall
PICKUPS Fender V-Mod
II Double Tap
humbucker (bridge),
V-Mod II single coil
Strat (middle & neck)
CONTROLS Five-
position lever pickup
selector switch,
master volume (w/
treble bleed), tone 1
(neck & middle), tone 2
(bridge) w/push-push
switch coil-split
HARDWARE Nickel/
chromed-plated
2-point synchronised
vibrato with bent steel
saddles and pop-in arm
and coldrolled steel
block, Fender Standard
cast/sealed staggered
tuners
FINISH Roasted Pine,
Sienna Sunburst,
3-Color Sunburst,
Olympic White, Mystic
Surf Mercury, Miami
Blue, Dark Night
CONTACT Fender,
www.fender.com
AT A GLANCE
A REAL PRIZE WORKHORSE
FOR IT’S ASKING PRICE
1
FINISH
The roasting process
darkens the pine, but
other than that there’s
just a clear coat after the
sanding is sealed on this
natural finish.
2
BRIDGE
The two-post bridge
now boasts a chamfered
cold-rolled steel vibrato
block that, says Fender,
“increases sustain,
clarity and high-end
sparkle”.
3
DOUBLE TAP
HUMBUCKER
Fender’s patented
Double Tap was
introduced on its
Performer series and
aims to minimise the
volume loss between
humbucker and
single-coil sounds.
Photography: Olly Cur tis
REVIEW
87
FEBRUARY 2021 TOTAL GUITAR
TGR341.gear_lead.indd 87 22/12/2020 18:52