Since 1987, the American Standard has been Fender’s flagship series for some of the most popular guitars and basses on the planet. 20 years in, it makes perfect sense for a company built on innovation to keep pushing their monolithic instruments into the future. Meet the new American Pro series.
Making their formal debut at this year’s NAMM, the Pros are handbuilt in the company’s American plant by a team of veteran craftsmen. More than just pretty faces, this new class of instruments comes brimming with redesigned specs and features for some of the best-playing Fenders Ever produced.
As expected, different iterations of the Strats as well as Jazz and P Basses lead the charge as staple figures. Since these are well-covered, we’re demoing the new Telecaster and Tele Deluxe along with two exciting new faces in the series: the offset Jaguar and Jazzmaster. From what we’ve seen, you can grab any one of these babies blindfolded in a guitar shop and walk out happy as a clam.
One of the first things that jumps out on these guitars are the new V-Mod pickups. Designed by Michael Frank for the Jazzmaster/Jaguar and Tim Shaw for the Teles, the V-Mod pickups are tailored to the character of each model with a combination of alnico as opposed to one cookie cutter alloy. Long and short: the Teles are twangier, Jazzmaster is jazzier, and the Jaguar is...well, jaggier.
On the pickup switching, you get the classic three-position blade switch on the Tele and traditional Tele Deluxe switch. For the Jaguar and Jazzmaster, things get a little more interesting.
In addition to bridge/combo/neck configurations, the new models include the option to run the pickups in series for even more muscle. Plus, the on-deck phase switch lets you throw a little twang on the tone for swampier sounds.
For those after the high-end spike even in quieter environments, Fender also incorporated a new treble bleed circuit on each model. In essence, this allows you to keep that bite inherent in higher decibels even when you’re noodling in your bedroom on a five-watt.
Finally, all that tone is a moot point without a comfortable feel, and all four models play like butter. New “Deep C” profile necks give you a skinnier feel at the the top that seamlessly thickens as you go down the fretboard for lightning fast action.
Check out our in-depth demos for the Teles and offsets, then look below to get your hands on one.
Fender American Professional SeriesSee more Guitar & Bass News from Winter NAMM 2017