Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster – Worth It? [REVIEW]

fender american professional II jazzmaster review

If you’re wondering if Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster is a good electric guitar or not, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! I’m a huge fan and lover of Jazzmasters, so I’m really excited to take an in-depth look on that high-end model. It’s very popular among intermediate guitarists, but is it actually worth it?

The truth is that Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster offers an exceptional quality. This is definitely one of the best Jazzmasters manufactured by Fender! It’s a bit expensive, but it sounds, looks and feels incredible.

Let’s dive deeper with research to find out what exactly makes this Jazzmaster so good and so popular all around the world. Firstly, we’ll have a look at the detailed specifications of that model. Additionally, we’ll investigate if it has any potential disadvantages. Of course, there will be a few sound demos included as well!

Overview – Specs & Pricing

Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster
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Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster is a high quality electric guitar designed for the most demanding guitarists out there. In fact, this is one of the most popular high-end offset guitars made by this brand.

What makes it so special? Well, the guitar features an offset alder body, a comfortable Deep C-shaped maple neck and an easy-playing rosewood fretboard, which guarantees an enjoyable and comfortable playin experience. For those who prefer maple fingerboards, that version is also available.

The manufacturer equipped this model with a pair of V-Mod II single-coil Jazzmaster pickups which offer a lot versatility when it comes to tone. They sound clear and bright, so you can be sure that the sound of that axe will easily cut through the mix.

The guitar is available in a few different color versions: 3-Color Sunburst, Mercury, Dark Night, Mystic Surf Green and Miami Blue. Surely, anyone will be able to find a model that suits their own preferences!

When it comes to pricing, just like any other American-made Fender guitar, it’s not that cheap. Although it’s expensive, it’s worth that amount of money. In the end, this is one of the best Jazzmasters made by Fender, so it’s totally understandable that it costs a fair amount of money!

Here’s the sound demo – feel free to check it out below.

Who Is It For?

Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster is suitable for all level players. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter whether you’re an advanced musician or not – you will definitely notice the high quality of that American-made offset axe.

However, since it’s a pretty expensive guitar from the top shelf, it’s mainly used by intermediate and professional musicians.

Just like any other Jazzmaster made by Fender, this is a really versatile instrument. Two single-coil pickups offer a lot of versatility when it comes to tone, so this axe can be efficiently used in pretty much all of the music genres. It is a particularly good choice for rock, alternative rock, indie and grunge.

It is also worth mentioning that the American Professional II Jazzmaster is also an excellent choice for live performances and studio sessions.

This guitar really stands out in the mix, so it’s a perfect instrument for any guitarist who makes a living from playing music.

Overall, I’m positive that the vast majority of guitar players will really enjoy playing on that unique offset guitar. This is definitely one of the best Jazzmasters that are currently made by Fender!

Here’s an another sound demo.

Pros & Cons

Just like any other electric guitar available on the market, Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster has its own advantages and disadvantages. Don’t worry though – it’s pretty clear that it has far more pros than cons!

Pros

  • Great Tone
  • Comfortable Deep C Neck
  • Classic Aesthetic
  • Beautiful Finish
  • Various Color Versions Available
  • Perfect Setup
  • Case Included

Cons

  • High Price

As you can see, this Jazzmaster exceeds all the expectations. It sounds, looks and feels absolutely amazing. On top of that, it’s available in a few different color versions, so anyone should be able to find the one that fits their needs. It also comes with the perfect setup and it comes with an included case.

The only disadvantage of Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster is the high price. This is the biggest obstacle that may stop you from getting it. Especially considering the fact that Fender has a lot of cheaper Jazzmasters in their offer! However, none of them offers the same level of quality as this Jazzmaster.

Overall, the advantages of that model outweigh its disadvantages. If you have the budget for it you, you won’t regret it. But if you can’t afford it, perhaps getting a different offset guitar by Fender will be a better choice for you in the end.

About V-Mod II Jazzmaster Pickups

As you’re already aware, this Jazzmaster model is equipped with high quality V-Mod II Jazzmaster pickups. Before you continue reading, I highly recommend checking out a quick video overview of these pickups.

If you checked out the video above, you have to admit that both of the sound really good! The bridge pickup has a coil tap – you can play with the high-output mode after pushing the tone knob.

Undoubtedly, this pair of pickups makes a massive difference when it comes to the sound of that offset guitar. I’m positive that it’s one of the most important factors that makes this guitar so successful and so popular all around the world.

American Pro II vs American Pro vs American Ultra

Guitarists who are searching for a high-end offset guitar usually have to decide between choosing one of these three models: American Professional II Jazzmaster, American Professional Jazzmaster of American Ultra Jazzmaster.

As you’re already aware, the Professional II Jazzmaster is one of the most expensive Jazzmasters made by Fender. But is it actually better than other American-made Fenders at that price level?

The truth is that it’s really difficult to clearly determine which one of these American-made Jazzmasters is the best. They sound really similar and they all offer a fantastic quality. Your decision should be based on your own subjective choice.

In my opinion, the Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster offers the best value for the money. If I had to choose one guitar out of these models, it would be that particular model.

Here’s a really good video that compares all of these three Jazzmasters – feel free to check it out if you want to see and hear the differences between them!

Left Handed Version

fender american professional ii jazzmaster left handed review

If you’re a left-handed guitarist, you’re probably aware that there are far less left-handed guitars available on the market. But don’t worry – Fender thought about you too! There’s also an another version of that guitar designed specifically for the lefties.

Just like the right-handed Jazzmaster, it exceeds all the expectations and it’s made with an attention to detail. You can be sure that this guitar won’t disappoint you!

I have to admit that I really appreciate the fact that Fender created the left handed version of that Jazzmaster. And I’m sure that you’ll appreciate it too!

Cheaper Alternatives

If you don’t like the sound of Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster or you simply can’t afford it right now, that’s not a big deal! There’s still quite a lot of other excellent offset guitars made by Fender and Squier. Of course, it all depends on what kind of music you want to play and how much are you willing to spend.

Here’s a few more recommendations based on my own experience.

other jazzmasters

Firstly, I highly encourage you to check out the Fender American Performer Jazzmaster. This is an another excellent offset Fender which is made in the United States. In my opinion, it’s on a really similar level. Considering the fact that it’s way cheaper than the American Professional II Jazzmaster, it seems like a real bargain!

Alternatively, you can check out the Mexican-made Fender Player Jazzmaster. This is an another amazing guitar, although it’s generally considered as a bit worse than any of the American-made Jazzmasters. However, it doesn’t mean that it’s bad! It’s a very solid instrument that can be used by any guitarist out there.

Additionally, there’s also the Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster. This is a really special guitar which is a bit more powerful than any other Jazzmaster manufactured by Squier and Fender. Instead of single-coils, it’s equipped with a pair of great sounding humbuckers. As a result, it will be perfect choice for anyone who’s into rock and metal!

Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH
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However, if you’re searching for the best Fender Jazzmaster that you can potentially find on the market, you should definitely stick to the American Professional II model. It’s just really hard to find something better!

About The American Professional II Series

Fender announced the American Professional II Series in 2020, so it’s still a fairly new series of electric guitars. Right after the announcement, it was pretty clear that this series of guitars will be a global hit.

All models from the American Professional II Series exceed all the expectations. They’re all made in the USA, they offer an amazing tone and they’re available in a few completely new colors that haven’t been used by Fender on guitars before.

No matter whether you prefer playing on a Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, Jazz bass or Precision Bass, you can be sure that any guitars from this series will quickly become one of your absolute favorites.

Here’s a great promotional video of the AM Pro II Series – feel free to check it out, it’s fantastic!

FAQ

Where is Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster made?

Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster is manufactured in Corona, California.

Does the American Professional II Jazzmaster come with a hardshell case?

Yes! The guitar comes with an included hardshell case which offers a really good level of protection against any damage.

What strings does this guitar have?

The American Professional II Jazzmaster is equipped with a set of Fender strings (250L NPS .009″ – .042″).

Where can I find out more about Fender guitars?

If you want to learn more about Fender guitars, make sure to visit the official website of Fender.

Summary

As you can see, Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster is a truly amazing electric guitar. There’s not much to complain about – it’s a killer axe designed for high performance. Although it’s not a cheap model, it’s definitely worth it. That’s for sure!

What do you think of that Jazzmaster? Would you add it to your own gear collection or do you think that it’s overpriced? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts about it!

Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful. If you enjoyed this article and you’re searching for more gear recommendations, you may also like:

Dave
Dave

Hey! I'm Dave and I'm the founder of Best Guitars Now. Thanks for checking out my blog - hopefully you found what you were looking for!

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