NGD: American Professional II Telecaster

[guitarndrms]

Been eyeing one for a while. Was looking for used but decided to purchase it brand new as I’ve never been able to do before. I felt like I looked it over with an eagle eye in the store only to get home and see the dreaded crack in the neck pocket. Will contact the store Monday, for the money that’s going to bug me. I absolutely love the guitar though! It blows everything else I have out of the water and I look for it to get even better once I tweak the setup to my preference.

 

[Fluddman]

Black is a classic beauty!

Enjoy!

 

[yettoblaster]

Beauty!
Those kinda cracks don’t mean anything.
Grind ‘em for money, but keep it.

 

[guitarndrms]

Beauty!
Those kinda cracks don’t mean anything.
Grind ‘em for money, but keep it.

My thoughts for sure. I hate I didn’t catch it in store, can’t imagine what they’ll think when I call about it. I like it enough to keep it but man it really bugs me.. I have a bullet tele that’s been around the block that is near perfect cosmetically..

 

[yettoblaster]

Bummer.
But pretty common. Stick ‘em!

 

[vcs700s]

I bought one three weeks ago. I put locking tuners on it and a black pickguard. I love this guitar!

 

[superjam144]

Incredible guitar.

 

[Blues Twanger]

It's entirely possible the tiny crack appeared in the case on the ride home. Jostling the body nd neck is where those tiny cracks come from. My guess is that your Bullet has a thicker, more plasticky finish and that has prevented cracking in that case.

 

[guitarndrms]

It's entirely possible the tiny crack appeared in the case on the ride home. Jostling the body nd neck is where those tiny cracks come from. My guess is that your Bullet has a thicker, more plasticky finish and that has prevented cracking in that case.

Yea could be. Reading that this is a common issue, you’d think Fender would address it somehow. Just bugs me after shelling out the kind of cash for this thing. Boy does it sing though, there is definitely something to getting what you pay for. I’ve had some great cheap guitars but this one just feels way superior.

 

[guitarndrms]

Really in love with this beaut!! Just a finish crack as expected, ugh... Threw some 10’s on and adjusted the action a little. Plays like butta!! Really liking the pickups too, enough of the twang but still smooth sounding to my ears as well.

 

[Green Tele]

Gorgeous!

If they made a black tele in this current series left handed I would have got that! Love it! it will age well, go with whatever clothes you are wearing on stage etc.

 

[Twofingerlou]

They’re really nice guitars! I bought the Olympic white right before Christmas, had a squire and a MIM Nashville tele in the past. Thought I bumped my head spending that much on a guitar for my skill level but glad I did.

I’m no guitar expert like some on here but I’m a believer you get what you pay for most of the time. I swapped out the tortoise shell pickguard for a parchment one, looks a lot better IMO.

 

[guitarndrms]

They’re really nice guitars! I bought the Olympic white right before Christmas, had a squire and a MIM Nashville tele in the past. Thought I bumped my head spending that much on a guitar for my skill level but glad I did.

I’m no guitar expert like some on here but I’m a believer you get what you pay for most of the time. I swapped out the tortoise shell pickguard for a parchment one, looks a lot better IMO.

View attachment 957013

Looks great! Really enjoying mine. There’s something about a US made instrument that inspires me. I didn’t become Brent Mason mind you, but it’s made me pick it up and practice a little more!

 

[Twofingerlou]

Looks great! Really enjoying mine. There’s something about a US made instrument that inspires me. I didn’t become Brent Mason mind you, but it’s made me pick it up and practice a little more!

No doubt!! The Bullet squire I had was eh ok. The MIM Nashville tele was pretty nice but sold it too. I got a player Strat a couple years ago and thought it was really nice as far as build quality ect. The Am Pro 2 stuff blows the rest out of the water as far as I’m concerned. Now I’m debating on selling my player strat for the Am Pro 2.

 

[Twofingerlou]

I bought one three weeks ago. I put locking tuners on it and a black pickguard. I love this guitar!

Something about a black guitar that has the look of meaning business!

 

[guitarndrms]

No doubt!! The Bullet squire I had was eh ok. The MIM Nashville tele was pretty nice but sold it too. I got a player Strat a couple years ago and thought it was really nice as far as build quality ect. The Am Pro 2 stuff blows the rest out of the water as far as I’m concerned. Now I’m debating on selling my player strat for the Am Pro 2.

I had a Nashville tele that I just never bonded with so I sold it. I have a bullet tele that I’ve modded heavily. I like the neck ok but it’s no where near this one. The closest thing I’ve had to the way this guitar feels is an American strat but I just couldn’t fall in love with the sounds. I really just like the way the telecaster sounds and looks. This guitar just rings out when it’s not even plugged into the amp. The only thing I’m not completely sold on is the push push pot to get the neck and bridge in series. I’m not sure how to use it yet but will figure it out or either just rewire it to have a standard tone control.

 

[Twofingerlou]

I had a Nashville tele that I just never bonded with so I sold it. I have a bullet tele that I’ve modded heavily. I like the neck ok but it’s no where near this one. The closest thing I’ve had to the way this guitar feels is an American strat but I just couldn’t fall in love with the sounds. I really just like the way the telecaster sounds and looks. This guitar just rings out when it’s not even plugged into the amp. The only thing I’m not completely sold on is the push push pot to get the neck and bridge in series. I’m not sure how to use it yet but will figure it out or either just rewire it to have a standard tone control.

The push push tone knob only seems to work in the middle position from my experimenting. I think their claim is it’s more of a “humbucker” sound. Plugged into my Blues Jr it seems to fatten it up a tad, maybe it’s my ear but not so much when I’m plugged into my Marshall DSL 5 watt. I don’t think it’s a selling point and I can take it or leave it. Not sure you’d gain anything by going to original three way controls or not.

 

[guitarndrms]

The push push tone knob only seems to work in the middle position from my experimenting. I think their claim is it’s more of a “humbucker” sound. Plugged into my Blues Jr it seems to fatten it up a tad, maybe it’s my ear but not so much when I’m plugged into my Marshall DSL 5 watt. I don’t think it’s a selling point and I can take it or leave it. Not sure you’d gain anything by going to original three way controls or not.

You’re correct on the effect. It did seem to fatten the tone up some. The switch may be fine in the long term but I’m just thinking it’s one more thing to fail potentially. I’ll probably just leave as is though.

 

[Somnospeed]

I predict you will end up enjoying that beefed up middle setting. Under certain circumstances, it can do a better job than the neck or bridge alone can. Any push-pull on any guitar I've owned never did anything for me, but the "Power UP" button on the Pro II Tele is an outstanding option to have at your finger tips. Now push/pulls on humbuckers?? Nope. Not for me.

 

[Lawdawg]

You’re correct on the effect. It did seem to fatten the tone up some. The switch may be fine in the long term but I’m just thinking it’s one more thing to fail potentially. I’ll probably just leave as is though.

I really like having the N+B in series option on a Tele as it adds a ton of flexibility without much complication. To me the tone is vaguely in the P90/humbucker neighborhood and is great for playing crunchy rhythm and leads. Personally I prefer adding this via a 4 way pickup switch (like on the Baja) but then again I'm a longtime strat player and am used to having a 5 way switch.