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Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
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Playability
70
Sound
79
Build
75
Value
65
Score
75
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Playability
70
Sound
79
Build
70
Value
68
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Fender American Ultra Stratocaster vs American Professional II Stratocaster

Reasons to Get
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster over American Professional II Stratocaster

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
10" to 14" vs 9.5"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Ultra Modern D vs Deep C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.8'' (20.3mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.92'' (23.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands

Reasons to Get
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster over American Ultra Stratocaster

Release Year
2020 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Deep C vs Ultra Modern D
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.8'' (20.3mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.92'' (23.4mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Avg. Weight
7.875lbs (3.6kgs) vs 8.225lbs (3.7kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
68 vs 65
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster vs American Professional II Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat vs Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat vs Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat vs Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat
Different Neck Pickup

Shared Features
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster vs American Professional II Stratocaster

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Pickups
SSS
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster wins when it comes to build quality. On the other hand, the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is the better choice.

The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster meets only 6. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2019 American Ultra series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" to 14" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 2-Point Deluxe Synchronized Tremolo with Pop-In Arm bridge
  • Ultra Modern D Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking tuners
  • Weight between 7.75lbs (3.5kgs) and 8.7lbs (3.9kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2020 American Professional II series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles, Pop-In Tremolo Arm and Cold-Rolled Steel Block bridge
  • Deep C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Fender® Standard Cast/Sealed Staggered tuners
  • Weight between 7.35lbs (3.3kgs) and 8.4lbs (3.8kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are SSS. SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

Pickups Quality

Both come with some of the top pickups on the market. You can't go wrong with either of them. You'll probably never need a pickup upgrade.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's and use them on any guitar:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: S-1 Switch.

An S-1 switch can do a lot of different pickup combinations. It can split them, connect them in series, parallel, add more pickups to each position, and more. Check out the diagram to know how it affects this model.

They both share the following switching options:

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster and Fender American Professional II Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster and Fender American Professional II Stratocaster's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 82
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 79
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 70
Versatility 82
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 79

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster compares to the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Bone nuts. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Fender American Ultra Stratocaster.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • S-1 Switch Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
  • Made in United States
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • S-1 Switch Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
Quality of materials 51
Features 80
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 75
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
Quality of materials 61
Features 60
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 70

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42.8mm (1.685'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster and Fender American Professional II Stratocaster's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's neck profile
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster has a D type of neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Fretboard Compound Radius
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's Compound Fretboard Radius
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster favors large hands more than the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Frets Size
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's Frets Size
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Frets Size
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster's Frets Size

The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster vs American Professional II Stratocaster
General Fender American Ultra Stratocaster American Professional II Stratocaster
Brand: Fender Fender
Year: 2019 2020
Configuration: SSS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: American Ultra American Professional II
Colors: White, Sunburst, Black, Blue, Brown Burst White, Sunburst, Black, Blue, Green, Brown, Gray Burst
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: 2-Point Deluxe Synchronized Tremolo with Pop-In Arm 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles, Pop-In Tremolo Arm and Cold-Rolled Steel Block
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking Fender® Standard Cast/Sealed Staggered
Fretboard: Maple Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Pearloid Dots Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Ultra Modern D Deep C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.8'' (20.3mm) - 12th Fret: 0.92'' (23.4mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" to 14" 9.5"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 42.8mm (1.685'') 42.8mm (1.685'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: S-1 Switch S-1 Switch
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 2