Fender Announces American Professional II Series Basses
After replacing the American Standard Series with the American Professional Series in 2016, Fender has unveiled the next generation of instruments in the line. The American Professional II Series builds upon the range through several years of player input.
“After four years of listening, watching, and collaborating with countless professional musicians, Fender evolved this series with key new features to make its sound, feel and style better than ever,” a press release states. “Made by hand in Corona, the American Professional II series is a stage-ready lineup of electric guitars and basses that embodies the best of what artists want and need. These models feature a Deep “C” neck profile; rolled fingerboards for comfort; as well as a sculpted neck heel that offers more accessibility to the guitar’s upper register and an ergonomic playing experience. The models also feature push-push switching, new V-Mod II pickups and voicings that are sonically pleasing across all music genres, staggered tuners and polyurethane finishes.”
The series includes seven bass models in all with a Precision and a Jazz in four-string, five-string, and left-handed versions as well as a fretless version of the Jazz. The Precision Bass sports a ’63 P Bass neck profile with the rolled fingerboard. Fender says the new V-Mod II split-coil pickup is more articulate than ever with punch and growl the P Bass is known for.
The Jazz Bass is built with either an alder or roasted pine body, depending on the finish. Its maple neck has a slim “C” profile with rolled edges. Other features include a HiMass Vintage bridge a pair of V-Mod II pickups. “V-Mod II Jazz Bass pickups are voiced specifically for each position, slightly overwound for punch and presence, yet retaining vintage warmth and clarity,” the company writes.
The American Professional II Series basses will be available in early 2021 with price points ranging from $1,549 to $1,799.
Fender American Professional II Precision Bass Specs:
| Body Material: | Alder |
| Body Finish: | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Neck Material: | Maple |
| Neck Finish: | “Super-Natural” Satin Urethane Finish on Back of Neck with Gloss Urethane Headstock Face |
| Neck Shape: | “1963 C” |
| Scale Length: | 34″ (864 mm) |
| Fingerboard Material: | Maple or Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 9.5″ (241 mm) |
| Frets: | 20 |
| Fret Size: | Narrow Tall |
| Nut: | Bone |
| Nut Width: | 1.625″ (41.3 mm) |
| Position Inlays: | White or Black Dot |
| Pickup: | V-Mod II Split Single-Coil |
| Controls: | Master Volume, Master Tone |
| Bridge: | 4-Saddle HiMass Vintage (String-Through-Body or Topload) |
| Hardware Finish: | Nickel/Chrome |
| Tuning Machines: | Fender Lightweight Vintage-Style Keys with Fluted Shafts |
| Case: | Deluxe Molded Case |
Fender American Professional II Jazz Bass Specs:
| Body Material: | Alder or Roasted Pine |
| Body Finish: | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Neck Material: | Maple |
| Neck Finish: | Satin Urethane Finish on Back of Neck with Gloss Urethane Headstock Face |
| Neck Shape: | “Slim C” |
| Scale Length: | 34″ (864 mm) |
| Fingerboard Material: | Maple or Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 9.5″ (241 mm) |
| Frets: | 20 |
| Fret Size: | Narrow Tall |
| Nut: | Material Bone |
| Nut Width: | 1.5″ (38.1 mm) |
| Position Inlays: | Black Dot |
| Pickups: | V-Mod II Single-Coil Jazz Bass |
| Controls: | Volume 1. (Middle Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Tone |
| Bridge: | 4-Saddle HiMass Vintage (String-Through-Body or Topload) |
| Hardware Finish: | Nickel/Chrome |
| Tuning Machines: | Fender Lightweight Vintage-Style Keys with Fluted Shafts |
| Case: | Deluxe Molded Case |
