Fender American Professional II Telecaster (After the Hype!)

[@intheblues]

This is my review after the initial hype. I still think this is one of the nicest production models Fender has ever made. What do you think? Timestamps and links are below. 0:00 - Unboxing (and disclaimer) 0:37 - Jam Track 2:15 - Guitar Overview 3:27 - Clean Tones 4:56 - Blues Tones (volume control) 6:43 - Push/Push Pot 8:02 - Higher Gain Tones & Delay 8:47 - Fender Pro II Tele Review ►Sweetwater - imp.i114863.net/Vy2mmA ►Thomann - bit.ly/3xfVdzT ►Sky Music - alnk.to/5PZQ4YS (affiliate links)

[@boobooau]

After almost a year with the same model I agree with you. I am not a pro but I had several top end guitars and this one end up being a keeper.

[@hkguitar1984]

Thank You for the review. Did you weigh this instrument, I couldn't find a weight in the video?

[@markwhite1039]

I think the professional II series telecaster and stratocaster are two of the best bang for the buck guitars fender has produced in a long time! As always great revue!

[@Whos-That-Guy]

I have the pro2 P bass.. Just as tasty... They are kicking goals with the pro2 range...

[@landonbailey]

I'd prefer a 4way switch over the Push/Push button, but it's not a deal breaker. The neck, the pickups, the whole package is sweet!

[@voiceofexperience]

Hey Lando!

[@spacejockey4746]

Nobody cares.

[@nicolas.grisanti]

My first Tele is an American Pro 2 in Dark Night finish...i don't why it take me so long to try a Tele, for me is the best type of guitar. I play rock/alternative and man this guitar sounds incredible, the V-Mod 2 pickups sound amazing with gain and clean. Fender really made this guitars with care, the neck feels amazing, and is built like a tank.

[@BrentOwens]

I have one of these and it has usurped all my other guitars. I can't stop playing it! Great review Shane!

[@stephenkennedy7347]

Love everything about the Pro II's and in the case of the telecaster the compensated 3 brass saddles that look traditional till you see them up close. Keeps the vibe but with better intonation!

[@ZephyrSoton]

Ace Tele. I bought one a few months back. Best guitar I own. Outstanding tones from those pick ups and the neck is an absolute joy!

[@msnewpers]

You are a gift to us lefties Shane, and I really appreciate it. The Lefty American Pro II Strats and Teles I've come across seem almost perfect aside from the weight. I think you have to find one in roasted pine or they are about a pound heavier than they should be. For any lefties out there I can HIGHLY recommend the American Pro II Jazzmaster. If you are already a Jazzmaster fan I think it's nearly perfect, but if you are thinking of trying out a Jazzmaster this one is a phenomenally versatile guitar and a genuinely inspiring instrument. The Jazzmaster does not come in roasted pine, unfortunately, because weight (an issue with all Jazzmasters) is the only thing that I think could be improved.

[@MarsK84]

Interesting, I sold my American pro 2 JM and got this exact Telecaster

[@zd351]

I picked up a Am Pro II Tele at KCs a while back. Was a natural finish one with the pine body. Super light. Felt fantastic. I was tempted.

[@steventhomas231]

Wow. That is the guitar ive dreamed of owning if i had the funds. Love the look of it. Gorgeous.

[@jimm8594]

The pro am 2 series gives you the most bang for your buck, hands down.

[@troyspencer712]

beautiful guitar and playing. Especially enjoyed its driven tones when the Royal Flush was engaged.

[@mikehickey6256]

Have to agree about the best production model Fender has ever made. Life long strat guy, had to buy the pro 2 tele. Just too good!

[@shanewalton8888]

I was going to passively listen to this video in the background while I caught up on some work, but that jam track pulled me right in.

[@MikedeVeltaMusic]

I own this model, the tone pot was faulty and had it replaced. Could not believe it wasn’t a CTS, it really was very poorly made. The tech told me they don’t put made in USA on the headstock anymore as they outsource more parts to other countries. Thought I was buying all American, actually I’d hazard a guess that none of the electronics apart from the pickup are made there. Got a CTS push push in now and feels much better.

[@matthinge789]

What were the symptoms? I've got a brand new Mexican Nashville Tele and it just sounds bland on all pickups. It also crackles when I turn the tone pot.

[@MikedeVeltaMusic]

@@matthinge789 the tone was fine, it just used to stick and not release after a push. Replace it with CTS.

[@leedee4968]

I remember reading back in the early '80s where most" made in America "was actually not🥴

[@Mamo878]

Shane sure knows how to play a Tele to the max! Great job dude.

[@jamalabdul2009]

I owned a Standard Telecaster years ago and although it was a playable guitar, I never bonded with it. These new Teles offer many of the modern specs that would appeal to a wide variety of players, however me being the stubborn person I am, I prefer more vintage specs. One of these days I’ll get around to owning a Telecaster….. unless I buy another Strat!!😂😂😆😆😆 Great video Shane!!🎸🎸🎸😎😎😎😎

[@adriancooper8192]

I'm with you on Telecasters being my favourite guitar and that one does sound wonderful. Your opening jam track was superb. You've knocked it out of the park again Shane.

[@petertiffany8096]

My American Professional II strat is really nice - mine is one of the roasted pine models and is really light. I will add one of the roasted pine tele's eventually.

[@hutchfromba]

Thank you "SKY Music" and Shane for this awesome, honest review. Blues On....💙 PS. I love the Blues Deluxe Reissue. Still a great amp, well worth the money.

[@jeffbriggs4268]

Great review of a beautiful looking and sounding guitar!

[@SeabeeBuckeye]

Love mine in Dark Night.

[@johnadams2014]

I bought one of these in the roasted pine which is llghter. Probably my best guitar and I own more than 10. Most versatile of all

[@DMSProduktions]

Shane! RE the thumb down removal: You didn't get what I meant on the live stream the other night when I said, ' It's a good way to build resilience!' (in people!) It was meant as SARCASM! (Good being saracastic ie NOT good! ) Hope that clears THAT intent up dude! Cheers!

[@DMSProduktions]

That's a GREAT Tele! Neck pick up is BRIGHT! Many are too dark! Series pick up wiring mod is 1 of the BEST mods you can do to a 2 pick up Tele! Rockin' it Shane! \m/

[@stevemiller1203]

Always enjoy your videos Shane, it shows that you work hard and care about what you're doing. Hope to see you get to 200K subscribers in '22.

[@lostreb]

I own 3 American Professional II Strats (2 SSS and 1 HSS) and couldn't be happier with them. Well, if I could I'd like another HSS made the way "I" want it (basically like it is but with an S1 like the SSS's have, but I can't even find that option in Custom Shop. Oh, I'm sure Fender Custom Shop could "Probably" make one, but I'm also sure I can't afford it by the time I spec it out the way I would love to have it. So is life...), but until then, I'm just fine with the 3 I have!! I can afford them and they are fantastic. (Just an observation based on your videos...It seems to me you have a fondness for Tele / Tele style guitars. I owned one Tele in the past...Long enough to know I'm a Start Player. ) Great Video!!! Please keep them coming!!

[@44scoots]

$$ throw some of that this way $$

[@lostreb]

@@44scoots No extra $$$$. Those three Strats are courtesy of American Musical Supply and Sweetwater with their payment plans, and Fender's promotions.

[@44scoots]

@@lostreb 😳

[@chopper4484]

Man I just watched this on my big screen TV the quality of your video production is bloody amazing Shane!

[@omahajack2049]

Shane....I really like your demo's, mainly becuz I too am lefty! As you know, this is the first model to offer a Rosewood neck in the Tele.....before, lefties had to go thru Custom Shop. I enjoy your playing and comments. Have followed you since you did Jerry's!

[@MarsK84]

I got excited thinking this is the exact same guitar I bought from Sky Music almost 2 years ago but then realised the pickguard has a different pattern from mine.

[@pinkiewerewolf]

Looks just like my new Pro II, except mine is a righty. Build Quality is awesome. 👍

[@telecaster75]

I'm in love with telly, i will buy one as soon as possible!

[@leoh1885]

Im looking at getting one of these, but I need to try the J Mascis tele first, the pick ups on these sound AMAZING in the vids I've seen.

[@DennisJPolson]

I really like that Tele, Shane! I enjoyed the demo and as always, your playing is outstanding. 😎👍

[@sniggity]

I’m not digging that fuzzy sound at high volumes. The clean is beautiful though.

[@scottreynolds6317]

Great vid Shane! Now that I have a tele I can’t put it down!!!!! My strat is getting pretty lonely!!!

[@coolmyair]

That's it. That's the sound I've been looking for.

[@spider5001]

Sounds great🙂 The thumbs down doesn’t work so they can mask how many people dislike videos of certain politicians. I’ve been looking for an attenuater that is not expensive and doesn’t have a billion extra features on it. Do you think you can do a review of the bugera? Thanks for the video🙂👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@JimmyRadloff]

I love Telecasters too. That guitar would look sweet with a mint pickguard on it. I'm not a fan of the tortoise shell look.

[@stillbreathing9146]

Always great reviews, thank you.

[@stu-j]

I think for the price they are an amazing guitar and in surf green with the maple neck they are beautiful also! What are the frets like? I hate the tiny frets on my American standard and I'm on my second set already!

[@jmo1366]

Ive had one since they came out.. They feel and play amazing, but I go back and forth about the pickups tho, over time.. Something about the Vmods that I dont bond with.. sometimes I like em, and alot of times I dont. Neck pickup sounds great, but is really bright, and the bridge pup always seems muffled, and super mid heavy. Thinking about just putting some 52 pickups in it, and calling it a day.

[@vyvynylification]

So what did you end up doing? I'm curious

[@jmo1366]

@Arno Db I left the Vmod2 in the neck, and put a 52 reissue bridge pickup in.. It definitely sounds much better..

[@JC-11111]

Huh? Thumbs down doesn't work? Who told you that? They've been saying from the beginning that the only difference is that we, the viewers, can't see the total number of dislikes now. Only the creators can. It still works fine. It registers every single dislike clicked and YOU, the creator of the content, can see this number in your info about your vids. That's not even close to "it doesn't work anymore. If it didn't work anymore, they'd have removed it completely. Or fixed it so it did work lol. Come on, Shane. Don't say irresponsible stuff like that.

[@DMSProduktions]

So WHY do they still HAVE the thumb down on comments, but that does NOT work at all any more! Hasn't for 5 years or so! I CAN'T see any down votes on any comments on my vids!

[@xoxb2]

Yes, that one is redundant.

[@DMSProduktions]

@@xoxb2 Then WHY have it?

[@wfm210]

Great playing Shane enjoyed the review thats a nice looking Tele. How does it feel compared to your 50's original?

[@wfm210]

Great playing Shane enjoyed the review thats a nice looking Tele.

[@craigthomson3621]

So - American Original 50’s Tele, or American Professional II Tele, or Both?

[@vyvynylification]

The answer will be both. They are plenty different. But it's not necessary. The ao50 will look better tho

[@glenkepic3208]

Great ! Demo was great. A sorta cosmetically similar (more csb) S type, HSS, $75.00 almost 10 years ago, $75.00 new. I love the sb/ts guard/blk parts look. Anniversary SQ Fat Tele, yes SB. I should play it more.

[@JD-vx8gr]

A few months ago I bought one of these with a Maple neck. I thought the push feature was lame. Not my idea of Beef... Sold it.

[@Malediction99]

My one problem with these is that I can't understand how a guitar that costs that much doesn't have locking tuners. Surely they don't add THAT much to the cost.

[@omahajack2049]

Dont need locking tuners generally on a non trem guitar

[@Malediction99]

@@omahajack2049 Locking tuners make string changing quicker and easier. They also put them on the Elite and now Ultra Telecasters.

[@44scoots]

@@Malediction99 how much time are you saving?

[@Malediction99]

@@44scoots At a gig when you have the crowd going and don't want to lose momentum, it's enough that it's worth it. Also, given that every other brand, even Fender owned brands like Charvel do it, it's not a ridiculous request.

[@44scoots]

@@Malediction99 whatever, but on a Fender it takes longer to find a new string than to put it on. 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@Deadhansome]

Man! That sounded amazing!

[@handoromper7987]

This could be playing any guitar when effects peddle are used. That said looking at buying one tomorrow.

[@ChienandKun]

Playing great as always. I think the highs are a little too high on these. Try comparing to the new Mexi deluxes, for some reason, their pickups sounds way better than these to me.

[@vyvynylification]

I noticed the same thing. They are incredibly harsh BUT can go incredibly muffled too. What I'm saying is the tone knob can have a much bigger influence than on my other teles.

[@Bobuk666]

Lovely looking and more importantly lovely sounding Tele ! (Confirmed Tele man now myself !)

[@fiddlix]

Great review as always.

[@jeffroq]

Another great vid Shane. I also love Teles. Unfortunately I had bad experience trying to own a Pro 2. After 2 dodgy Jazzmasters and a dodgy Strat I gave up. But then blew over double the budget on a 60s custom shop relic. I'm a sucker for the Tele !!

[@cagataykarakas]

Well, I never thought that push push could sound that good in a tele. Thanks for the review mate.

[@JC-11111]

Buttons don't sound anything. It's the pickup that makes the sounds and it'll sound that way whether you use a push-push switch, a push-pull switch, a normal 3/4/5/10 blade switch, or any other switch, no matter the design & construction. The switch has ZERO to do with it. All it does is make the switch. It has zero connection to how a pickup sounds and affects it in no way. It's only switching thr pickups from parallel to series mode. That can be done with any switch and it won't change how the Tele sounds. It'll still have the pickups in series no matter which type of switch is used. And they'll still sound the same since the switch is just a switch and doesn't color the signal in any way whatsoever.

[@Jordan.levesque]

I just got one of these in shell pink, wife doesn’t like the colour though and she’s got me thinking… I’m debating returning it and getting either the sunburst, butterscotch or roasted pine. Thoughts anyone? It’s a great sounding and playing guitar though, wish I got one sooner!

[@rumy6871]

Could not get along with the tall thin frets. Sold mine.

[@johnheiser2604]

Whooooaaa. Lovely. Thanks mate.

[@edwinwise6751]

Recently aquired pro 2 and a player series . … preferred tone of mim over us … but build quality of mim is lacking… fretwork , noisy electronics , pro 2 is better build and a great guitar and a case is included. Probably no more than 10% difference in overall quality

[@44scoots]

Hi Shane great video! Question: tone wise, how does this Pro 2 with rosewood fretboard compare to the butterscotch Pro 2 maple neck you tested a few months earlier? Does the maple fretboard make it brighter? Thx!!!

[@44scoots]

@@vyvynylification thx SHANE. 🙄

[@intheblues]

The wood doesn't make any difference. It's more about the pickups and pickup height these days. @@44scoots

[@timwhite5562]

I have the classic G&G hardshell case that came with my E. Johnson Strat, if given a choice I would have taken one of these. The other cases are nice, but God damn! The guitar itself is feather light, lil under 7½ pounds and if swear the case is more than twice that. It's like carrying a 70s Les Paul custom with the butcher block bodies.

[@mattmanley7118]

Beautiful tele

[@dex7368]

I can't wait to get mine I still can't decide on the colour I want tho

[@tbee65]

Have that exact guitar. Love it.

[@flyguyty33]

New subscriber here! Question: want to buy a tele with hum cancelling middle position. Do they exist from factory? Which ones if so? Ps: I know I could use magnets to rwrp along with switching wires around but looking for a ready made beauty..

[@anthonyward8587]

OH NO Shane, your gonna have to buy that ripper now. ;)

[@leedee4968]

Great I can tell you like that guitar and I do also now

[@mikeroadblock]

Sounds killlllllller!

[@voiceofexperience]

This one, to my ears, actually sounds better than the butterscotch one you reviewed previously, especially the OD tones. (That may be the amp tho). I'd actually like it better tho if it didn't have the push/push gimmick. Completely unnecessary & inauthentic imho.

[@jureksroka245]

what amplifier is the test on?

[@Musicology1975]

That sounds Sweet.🥃🎸👍

[@justnik8727]

Not really that different in sound to a player series?

[@sgblues4238]

Please do the Ultra next!

[@craigthomson3621]

No lefty Ultra Teles, but there is a very nice Ultra Strat that Shane has access too.

[@guitarandotherthings6090]

I had one of these and it had no twang or spank to it. So I got an American Original 60s tele instead and it has plenty of both! The neck on the APii also killed my hand with cramps, but the AO neck was so comfy and fit like a glove.

[@adamk6299]

The fretboard radius of 9.5 is supposed to be easier to bend notes than the AO’s 7.25 radius I’m assuming. Have you had any trouble bending? Some say it’s an undeniable factor others say it’s just fine. I think the AO’s sound better as well but some people swear the 7.25 is a pain in the ass

[@guitarandotherthings6090]

@Adam K AO neck was so comfy I would order just the neck to put on any Tele. Its got a subtle chunk to it despite its size and is buttery smooth! The new American Vintage ii Tele neck, though also 7.25, is MUCH slimmer with no chunk, kinda Ibanez feeling. A little too thin for me.

[@paulcaskey]

Nice. I only wish it had more comfort cuts.

[@Creaulx]

Would be nice if that was an option. I bought a Tele Deluxe after I got my Pro II and love the contour cut.

[@650thunderbird]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@LewWelchThePoet]

👍🏿🤘

[@NicholasANappiNick]

Please clean sounds let’s hear the guitar😟😟😟

[@intheblues]

I did, check the timestamps.

[@timwhite5562]

I hit the dislike just to see what happened, says "it'll be shared with creator on Facebook." I hit the like after

[@RevGerryRM]

Awesome sounding guitars. That one is ugly as 💩

[@jeffbriggs4268]

Great review of a beautiful looking and sounding guitar!

[@jeffbriggs4268]

Great review of a beautiful looking and sounding guitar!