Help: Fender American Professional 2 Tele; anyone owns one?

[GuitarIV]

So I've been eyeing Telecasters ever since I got my cheap Harley Benton Standard Series one and I went to my local music store yesterday to try some out. I'm thinking about buying one of the American Pro 2s.

Now I tried 2 of them, one in Sienna Sunburst and the Roasted Pine Natural finished one. The Pine left me a bit unimpressed, not a bad guitar but not very inspiring to play. The Sienna on the other hand spoke to me.

My question now is: do you guys have any experience with the Pro 2s? I never spent that kind of cash on a new guitar (1800 Euros) and whilst it is a genuine USA Fender I just wanna make sure that it pays off in the long run. I love the toploading option, the neck profile feels good, the thing sounds sweet and it's exactly the right weight, nice and light but still heavy enough so that it doesn't feel like a toy.

I know I could hunt for some used guitars and get away cheaper, however I applied for the job as Duty Manager at my hotel and if I get it this would be my reward to myself.

My girfriend watched me play both and she said that she could see how I was much more passionate with the Sienna Sunburst one in my hands. She told me to go for it, however I'm still a bit unsure. Help please!

 

[PelliX]

I'll skip the obvious about 'great guitars' and 'no two guitars are equal', etc. One thing you might to check out before pulling the trigger is the toploading vs through-body - it could be my mind playing tricks on my, but I would say that somehow the sustain/tone is 'nicer' with the strings through the body. Obviously, every guitar is unique, but I'd still try a few of those in comparison.

All that said, a good high quality US Tele is fine instrument and has excellent re-sale value if you at some point wish to part with it.

 

[RLW59]

Pro 2 can be strung through-body or top-load. Brilliant idea that's actually better than either, since it gives you the added option of having some of your strings through-body and others top-loaded.

Jimmy Page's Dragon Tele was a top-loader. Many Tele enthusiasts feel that top-loaders aren't "real" Tele's, but there's a sizable top-loader cult that absolutely love them.

String-through gives a crazy steep break-angle over the saddles. That gives the characteristic snappy, punchy, twangy attack when you pick. And gives the strings a tighter, stiffer feel when you bend.

Top-load is more like Gibson break-angle. It gives a softer, airier pick attack, and a slinkier feel to bending.

So some people might find that the wound strings through-body and the plain strings top-load is a perfect combination.

The Pro 2 series are excellent. I think they're the best "modernized classics" Fender's ever done.

 

[El Gringo]

My vote would be with the strings thru body for the added sustain and tone is where it's at . Best Wishes !

 

[Vinsanitizer]

So I've been eyeing Telecasters ever since I got my cheap Harley Benton Standard Series one and I went to my local music store yesterday to try some out. I'm thinking about buying one of the American Pro 2s.

Now I tried 2 of them, one in Sienna Sunburst and the Roasted Pine Natural finished one. The Pine left me a bit unimpressed, not a bad guitar but not very inspiring to play. The Sienna on the other hand spoke to me.

My question now is: do you guys have any experience with the Pro 2s? I never spent that kind of cash on a new guitar (1800 Euros) and whilst it is a genuine USA Fender I just wanna make sure that it pays off in the long run. I love the toploading option, the neck profile feels good, the thing sounds sweet and it's exactly the right weight, nice and light but still heavy enough so that it doesn't feel like a toy.

I know I could hunt for some used guitars and get away cheaper, however I applied for the job as Duty Manager at my hotel and if I get it this would be my reward to myself.

My girfriend watched me play both and she said that she could see how I was much more passionate with the Sienna Sunburst one in my hands. She told me to go for it, however I'm still a bit unsure. Help please!

First of all, what's this "top-loading option" of which ye speak?

I've purchased two USA Pro II Fenders, what specifically do you want to know?

.

 

[RLW59]

First of all, what's this "top-loading option" of which ye speak?

I've purchased two USA Pro II Fenders, what specifically do you want to know?

.

The rear lip of the bridge has 6 holes in it, so instead of running the strings up through the 6 holes in the body, you can run them through the holes in the bridge.

For a couple of years late'50s/early '60s (I forget exactly when) Fender stopped drilling the string-through body holes in Teles and switched to a top-loading bridge. Purists didn't like that so after a few years they switched back to strings through the body.

But some people do prefer top-loading.

 

[Vinsanitizer]

The rear lip of the bridge has 6 holes in it, so instead of running the strings up through the 6 holes in the body, you can run them through the holes in the bridge.

For a couple of years late'50s/early '60s (I forget exactly when) Fender stopped drilling the string-through body holes in Teles and switched to a top-loading bridge. Purists didn't like that so after a few years they switched back to strings through the body.

But some people do prefer top-loading.

Ah, got it Yes, I knew about that, I just didn't know it was called "top-loading". Makes totalitarianistical sense.
Totallay.

.

 

[Trumpet Rider]

Buy it. You deserve it.

 

[Adieu]

I wouldn't pay that much for a pine guitar

As to the alder one... idk. There are quite a few companies that seem to out-Fender Fender USA.

 

[GuitarIV]

First of all, what's this "top-loading option" of which ye speak?

I've purchased two USA Pro II Fenders, what specifically do you want to know?

.

Basically if they are worth it. If I pay that much cash I wanna have a stable, good sounding and well playing instrument that'll stand the test of time. My first impressions were good, unfortunately I usually draw a final conclusion after already owning a guitar for a few months

I wouldn't pay that much for a pine guitar

As to the alder one... idk. There are quite a few companies that seem to out-Fender Fender USA.

Any reason why? Apart from the fact that there are tons of companies that give you better bang for buck... I know that for sure. I never played a pine guitar before but neither the natural finished one nor the Sienna Sunburst sounded bad.


This is not urgent btw. They promoted me to shift leader for now, I'll be taking over more and more duties in the next few months and then I'll be duty manager

 

[Adieu]

Pine? IDK, seems squishy fragile and cheap AF

 

[GuitarIV]

Ok scratch that, I found a music store in my country that has the 75th Anniversary Commemorative Tele in stock and they allow me to pay in installments. And that one is Ash instead of Pine as well

I'll keep you posted and let you know when she's here

 

[pelican]

I was gonna get one of these pro 2's, but I ended up getting the jimmy page mirror tele. The pickups are killer for rock music