Fender Professional II Stratocaster hss

The do-it-all Strat?

How does a company evolve a design that they got so right at the start? With the Strat, Fender treads carefully but with its recent Ultra series, it proved that its carefully considered tweaks can amount to quite a lot. But it has to be a sensitive balance, retaining the very things that make the Strat experience so attractive. So where does that leave us with Fender’s new standard; the second iteration of the Professional II.

There’s no doubt some of the Ultra’s features have influenced the changes here, but the Pro II also brings its own distinct changes; namely a new tonewood option with roasted pine (the roasting improves its resonance). While the Sienna Sunburst finish also uses this new sustainable replacement for ash, here in clear-coated natural glory.

The pine looks more 70s retro than some of the bold new finishes in the Professional II line, and it will probably be one of the most divisive. But in the first reveal of the new line that TG attended, it was suggested these pine models would be on the lighter side of Strat weights, and at 7.5lbs ours is certainly on the lower side.

When it replaced the American Standard series in 2017, the American Professional sought to continue its appeal to a wide range of players but ring in some changes; a slightly deeper take on the Modern C-shape neck, two-point synchronised tremolo with push-arm and Narrow Tall fretwire. The Pro II adds in contoured neck heel and plate for easier access (thought it’s not as dramatic as the Ultra’s), but the added electric options across the line are the boldest upgrade.

For the HSS Strat, it’s a Double Tap (see boxout) humbucker that promises to make an already versatile take on the Strat blueprint even further. The neck’s deeper C-shape is certainly subtle, and this is a really comfortable Strat-playing experience enhanced by the rear satin finish. The neck contour does make a notable difference to accessing those highest frets more easily.

The two-point tremolo is wonderfully responsive acoustically, and because tuning remains stable it becomes

A REAL PRIZE WORKHORSE FOR IT’S ASKING PRICE

addictive. But before we plug in, there are a couple of issues to address. The G string is buzzing on all frets – thankfully it’s not a nut issue and a string change addresses it. We also choose to raise the pickups as they seem a little low to us. It’s a personal preference but we really like that Fender provide two adjustment screws for the single-coil and humbucker parts of the Double Tap – for good reasons.

Some people just can’t accept the idea of a humbucker on a Strat but Fender have integrated it here as only experts do – from the zebra bobbin to blend it into the control plate aesthetically to the Double Tap’s tole in the broader spectrum, it all makes sense. This isn’t