I just baggy a American standard fendsrst stratocaster yesterday I'm learning to play on it I'm glad now I got one instead of the other one I like knowing it's just like the old ones the greats played on
Oh, i love playing Stratocaster-guitars, and i love to choose guitars who are better than Fenders, especially better than Fender American Standard-Stratocaster, the so called ,,Fender USA“-Stratocaster! My first Stratocaster was an end-80ies ,,Fender American Standard Stratocaster“, and it was my worst guitar ever, and i´ve had a second Fender Strat, a mexican-Version, called ,,Fender Standard Stratocaster“ and this guitar have had a Poplar-body and sounded like soft shit. And so I learned that either Fender is cheating us because they deliver poor quality and workmanship or overpriced guitars with wet, poorly stored and less vibrating woods, and trying to compensate for this with overloaded, or fat-sounding, pickups, and that is the reason for the myths of the real, old Vintage Strats, because back then they tended to use woods that were stored and had better vibratability were used. Or, and this is certainly true, the production volume is so high that the company is no longer able to get wood of the same quality for the entire production, and then the really good, well-vibrating guitars come from the current production not to Germany. At the beginning of the 90s I got my hands on my first ESP-S-400 series Strat, now there are four, but this first one had 42 slanted annual rings (quarter sawn) and had such a great attack and cracky, bony, twangy and wiry-sound by dry-playing, and this guitar has beaten every Fender USA Custom Shop Strat by far in comparisons, let alone the production models from Fender and also a real, Vintage Fender 1963 Strat. Around 2006, based on my good experiences with ESP, I bought an "ESP Vintage Plus" Strat, with the best, densest wood, superbly crafted and with a flattened neck-body transition (SSS variant), this Vintage Plus was once again on point Overtones and sustain are a step better, they easily beat the MusicMans and Suhrs and cost 1100 euros new at the time! Then in 2014 i came across a cheap used BLADE Texas Classic and was blown away. It was good, it could easily compete with the ESPs, yes it plays in the same league as ESP and cost 350 euros used. A short time later I tried a "BLADE Texas Standard Pro" with VMC midboost, similar to the "Fender Eric Clapton Signature USA-Strat", exactly the same again, it was better than any Clapton signature guitar from Fender, had better swingable woods, a flattened neck-body transition (like the BLADE Texas Classic) and therefore much better playability than Fender! So I use a lot of good Strats at home and all of them are better than what I could buy as a Fender in Germany at completely overpriced prices! That's why I prefer to play Strats, but the main thing is that it never says Fender on it, but rather ESP-S-400-Series, ESP Vintage Plus, BLADE Texas Classic or BLADE Texas Standard Pro! Well, I can prove not only purely subjectively, but very objectively in terms of sound, that there are much better things than Fender, in some cases also much cheaper and easier to play! Why should I even buy a Fender, a guitar that is worse in terms of sound and workmanship and less playable at a completely overpriced price???? Why, can someone explain this to me????
Personally, I like the old Standard sound better. The new one bites too much for my taste. Just my humble opinion. The professional series seems clear and clean but tinny to my ear. The Standard sounds fuller.
William von Zangenberg Trust me. The Professional sounds WWAAAYYY better than in the vid. Check ANY other video on it and you'll see. This guy just probably didn't set the amp right. Either that or he didn't want to, maybe because of upset towards Fender for discontinuing the Standard series. hmmm
I guess I'll have to go to a music store and see for myself. The old standards in this video sound much better. My 57 sounds better than all of them. I bought it in '57 new when I worked for a music center and still have it.
stirange smh. So why can't he enjoy other things as well. Let him buy whatever he wants to buy. There's a reason so many guitarits have so many guitars.
Has anyone noticed that the high E string on the Pro series Jazzmaster goes off the neck when you play it on the 12th Fret? I tried the Pro Series Strat and it wasn't as bad but it was still very close the the edge. Just curious. I'd hate to think that Fender screwed this up on all their guitars. I was thinking about buying one but now am hesitant because of that.
I understand guitar manufacturers want to innovate, but I think they should keep making the American Standard. Why does the Professional series have to replace the American Standard? Just add the Professional series but keep the American Standard's going. Fender has about 50 other Stratocaster models, so, what can it hurt to keep the American Standard series??
The volume knob is turned down on the standard in the beginning of his playing, lasting all the way to 7:24. Thats why the standard sounds less alive than the professional. After that, the standard sounds better (to my taste that is)...
Dimitris Lagos agreed! That’s why I found one on Craigslist in literally perfect condition and snagged it up real quick. It is a 2013 American Standard in Olympic White. It now sits next to my 2006 Gibson Les Paul Cherry Sunburst Standard. Beautiful pair. Definitely meant to be.
Those fat 50s make all the difference. I just got myself a set of v mods, they are nice. Very nice. But the custom Shop fat 50s are just better to my ear, and I like bitie Strats
I have both guitars. The standard has more of the classic sound when you are really giving it a workout. I like me some funk sometimes I I just cant seem to get a satisfying funk sound with the professional. Same can be said for the Hendrixy sound. The v-mods have an okay sound and have a little more bite but a very different groove. The lower frequencies do have a cleaner edge. I do like it better for surf instrumental type stuff. If I had to choose one though I have to say the standard would win.I almost don't even think of the professional as a strat because some of those classic sounds just don't seem to be easily achieved with it. s The professional is very different animal. I don't use pedals much. I rely on the guitar and amp to show me what they got.
exactly. I agree with you. And this guy in the video isn't playing with the same intention and forces the notes. The fat 50 sounds much better in practice. In this video the guy seems to want to force a better image and sound for the professional and that's not true. I prefer the standard ones produced from 2012 to 2015, with FAT 50 pickups.
Can't say I have played the pro models but wow they are like double the price! Also everyone here is saying the AS is better so... Way to go fender lol.
I've tried both. and I liked the neck on the professional. but the fat 50s on the standard are much better. more strat sounding to me now is a good time to bye a standard as they have been reduced in many stores.
As the owner of an '07 Am Standard Strat, I was very surprised when the playing started and the new model had so much more output. Then I read the comments and noticed that the volume was turned down on the Am Standard at the start of the video. Once the volume is at full the differences are much more subtle. That pretty much renders the comparison useless IMO, as now I wonder what other changes (e.g. amp settings - I would swear there is more reverb on the Am Std) were made from one guitar to the other. I know all the TH-cam music store videos are trying to sell the product and so present it in the most favorable light, but c'mon...
In this video most in the comments preferred the standard where as in another I just saw everyone preferred the professional’s sound. Maybe it has something to do with the amp used or something or the playing style of the player, who knows 🤔 I still regard the professional as the standard, I don’t think of it as a different model, it’s just the new standard. They never say standard or professional on the guitars anyway unlike on Les Pauls(although I prefer to replace the truss rod cover with a blank one like they were in the 50s but just my preference). Both are great strats 👌
Got mine today.. Wonderful guitar. The neck is really a great improvement. I like the new circuit to keep the highs HIGH when lowering the volume.. For an American Made Strat this nice in comparison to what it costs for a Les Paul, this is a bargain. Very happy with mine..
The pickups of the American Professional Series Strat sounds like a humbucker pickup fitted for single coil cavity. Personally, I still prefer the American Standard's tone.
I have to admit that the "older" strat pickups sound better (as demonstrated by the player with his facial expressions). Perhaps the old pickups in the modified hardware would be the ideal.
I like the standard sound overall. The softer sound is more appealing to my preference. but surprisingly both guitars sound similar in the back and back/middle position. would be interesting to hear both guitars in different amp mods.
Both guitars sound amazing, thanks to Chris and ACM for the video. I personally liked so much how the new American Pro sound. I'm looking forward going for it.
The guy in demo was all like: "hmm what should I do? I know, I'll turn down the volume on a Am. Std. Strat so the new Professional sounds louder and of course, louder is better" As for the "professional grade instrument", your 300$ mexi strat with a good setup is as professional as it gets.
This comparison is biased as fuck... Why did you turn down the volume of the standard? And what makes the professionel for "professional musicians" but not standard? And here I was hoping for some honest review...
CS Fat 50's in Standard, V-Mod Single Coils in Pro. You are right, there is an output difference, but not THAT much. That difference can rather be noticed in compactness department on high gain, not when you play it on clean in home standards (as is the situation in the video).
The Professional has hotter pickups. They didn't "turn down the volume of the standard". The Standard's pickups just aren't sending as hot of a signal to the amp.
the "old" standard sounds just right to the ear even though he turned down his volume. They have to sell the new ones guys. thats why they did that. How else would you buy a new fender. By making the old sound bad thats how. Anywho, proffesional pups sound off to my ear. The american standard is softer and plenty of warmth. My advice, get the old one and save some money as well.
I've tried the Pro a couple of days ago and personally I don't like the frets and the pickups, the old standard coils have a less glassy tone to my taste
Then you must have picked up a really odd one. The fat 50s have a very scooped midrange. And this was an awful comparison, but you can find another one if you type in Professional vs Standard Stratocaster
I wrote "old STANDARDS coils" = American Strat® Single-Coil Pickups, Alnico V moderate output (see 2008 American Standard or earlier 2000-2007 American Series). The Fat 50's are even more "mid scooped" than the V-Mod's on the American Pro and I find them even more skinny, obviously it's a personal taste.
I have a standard. Not a decade old. The standard was last updated in 2012. Pro and standard are just range monikers. The standard is no less pro than the pro. I was going to upgrade based on the frets and go from over lacquered maple board to rosewood. The pro sounded thin compared to fat 50s equipped standard. May not exchange it now. May get a Japanese Strat with rosewood board and keep the standard.
Howard Forton try them in person but you may just prefer those fat 50's pickups. The standard has been an amazing guitar for years and there is no denying that. I think the name change simply calls it what it has been all that time. A guitar for the pro. The new models follow that trend. - Chris
Man i really enjoyed reading all these replies. Im in the market for a strat. And i needed this insight. You all have convienced me to buy what i already knew was right. Ill be buying a standard..hail hendrix!!!!!
Trent F you're mad over a name change? It's just like the Gibson Traditional and High Performance series. Not sure why they are doing away with the more traditional standard but I see no issue here.
Nick Moore Personally, I prefer the shallower "modern C" neck profile of the American Standard... I wish they hadn't discontinued that feature. (Oh, well... different strokes for different folks)
I have an American Standard (1990) and I like how everyone says it sounds better because of the pick ups. Which is funny, because I swapped them for 2 Dimarzio humbuckers and a Dimarzio chopper T in the middle... :O
American pro (narrow tall frets) American standard (jumbo medium frets) I am buying an American Standard. You can keep your narrow thin frets. I'll take the med jumbo all day long for a Strat.
Exactly. Narrow tall is the exact opposite of what I want. I want wider, lower frets. Medium jumbo is perfect. The suhr "heavy" frets look ever better.
I'm not sure I like the pop in trem bar. I had Fenders in the past with that option and over time they loosened up like crazy and even fell out during gigs.
I've owned both (had to sell the American Standard) but not back-to-back so I can't make any tone comparisons, but I will say that the neck on the American Professional feels so much better than that on the Standard. I may have just gotten a Standard with subpar neck finishing (the frets were pretty rough), but the Professional has the best neck I've ever played.
I just bought the American Pro series HSS Shawbucker. I am and have always been a big Gibson player in my short time playin the guitar but my friend who is a 45 year player told me about the PRS SE series being nice guitar's for the price so I bought a SE custom 24 and it plays like a dream, smooth as all get out. He claimed that they are like a cross between a Gibson and a Fender but I had never played a Fender before and I have a 2017 Gibson SG standard (in Pelham blue LE) That I love but it isn't as smooth as the PRS. So anyway I was looking around and saw these new Pro Series Stratocaster's and loved the idea of it having a humbucker at the bridge cause I love playing heavy blues rock so I went ahead and got the antique Olive HSS. This guitar is like a dream, it sing's like a bird and scream's like a banshee and when I run it through my Marshall DSL 40c with my Cry Baby 535Q and a blues driver it gives me tones like Trower and Clapton and the option to split the humbucker into a single coil is an added benefit. Love that it has a pop in Trem like the PRS has, no stupid spring. The guitar was 1499.00 and well worth it when a Les Paul of the same level of quality will cost you 3 times as much. Plus it came with a really nice molded case ta boot. I don't know what this guy is setting his amp like but the guitar sound's WAYYYYY better than it did on this video.
terrible comparison. in first place, they had different freatboards, but for me the biggest mistake was not to put the volume knob at the same level on both guitars!!
sebastian berroeta I actually preferred the new professional model when trying one at a store. I think it’s always best to try guitars out for yourself if you have the opinion 🤔
Glad I read these comments I was sold on the Pro but someone commented that the Pro "bites too much" and I can relate to that just like I don't like Hot single coil pickups because they're hard to control
chunky necks aren't comfortable for everyone. I think they should bring the compound radius to the professional series instead of the added neck thickness. $1,500 should buy you the best playability from fender and the pickups can be left alone, anyone can change them out if desired.
The pop in tremolo arm is a better idea but the shaft of the arm (where it goes into the bridge) is noticeably longer, so it sticks up higher. I don't care for that, gets in the way for me. But I think the Pro series is an upgrade from the American Standard. Pickups sound excellent (Tim Shaw!) and the treble bleed on the volume pot is e very good idea. I particu- larly like that aspect. American Standard still a fine instrument, no doubt. Just a matter of preference or what you're looking for in a guitar. American Standards will probably hold their value better now, though, just because of that.
Listen to the sirens. Typical San Antonio. But, yeah, I'm glad I got my 2015 American Standard. IMO, the fat 50s are head and shoulders above the V-Mods in terms of character and that classic strat sound.
I had them both, strat and teles. Couldn't get both pros on eBay fast enough. The pro teles were too modern sounding for my taste and the pro strat just didn't sound as good as my 2015 American standard.
on the new American pro Strat, there is more chime, ringing and sustain then the Standard. and..the pro model sounds almost acoustic compared to the standard! I had a 92 American Standard years ago with stock and later Texas specials and this new 2017 Pro Strat beats it in spades compared to playability and tones!
That wasn't what I was attempting to convey. What I'm saying is that it has always been a Pro instrument and now they are calling them that. - Chris McKee
The Fender American Standard Shawbucker was perfect. With Shawbucker in the bridge, fat 50s in middle and neck, and the variable 500k/250k pot. Not sure why Fender had to mess with it. The V-Mods lack tonal character. Hoping they drift back that way or I am going to have to go back to modding guitars again.
I see everywhere things about “american standard” pickups in the 2008-2016 models, but getting into actually buying a strat they all have fat 50’s, tex mex, etc… it’s clear to me that the american standard pickups sound the best, and it looks like a lot of people agree. But where do I find these pickups???
looking back on both, I've had American Standard for years going back to 04 when i finally got the money together to buy my first. then when the American Pro came out, i loved it so much that i bought it. they both represent the best of both worlds, i feel like Pao Farro gets way too much hate, but it's the best wood ive ever felt on a Fender. the only reason Fender went away from it is because of people complain it's not Rosewood, oh boo hoo, it's been proven wood has no affect on tone, only the body matters. the type of wood used for the neck is a matter of preference, the only knock i have with it is, it can get a little sticky, but so does a Gibson and they use Rosewood and Mahoghany. so it's not the wood itself is sticky, it's what Fender puts on there neck is what makes sticky. they wanna make it pleasing to the eye, i have the American Standard and even the neck on it when i first bought it, you can feel what they put on them. i felt the neck on the American Pro 2 and it's the same with that.
Get a case that you can put the guitar in without removing the arm. I don't think I've removed the arm on my American Standard in years. Travels well, safe and secure, never a problem. Also in Canada it seems like the Pros are $600 more -not worth the price hike.
The USA Standard is way better than the New USA Pro.. Better neck profile and better frets.. Also those new pickups on the Pro sound like they are from a Walmart Guitar (No Soul at all).. Also most guys want the trem arm to be loose and if not they could tighten it to stay put without the dumb little spring.. The American Standard is a much better Guitar than the American Pro hands down, No Contest!!!
Do i have to be in amarica to get a fender amarican standard. I'm from denmark and I can't find a fender amarican standard on the fender website. Is it really exclusively amarican?
the pro sounded just louder..the standard was weaker but softer tones...the treble bleed circuit in the Shaw pups should have been explained..you can turn down the pro to match the standard and not lose any high end.There are a lot of improvement on the pro Strats , mainly playability and tremolo .I've had a chance to check the pros out, and I really like them! Especially the Jags and Jazzmasters. Will be purchasing one of each to go with my collection. Fender really put out a nice line this year. Thanks!
Bought a ‘13 AmStd 3 color burst with rosewood board for 600. No case but idc bc I play and hang my strats But this my favorite strat. Coming from a guy who owns ‘19 Player Series and 21’ Vintera 50s RW. And a cheap but nice Squier SE.
You would be surprised how many professional musicians have used squier strats on million selling albums, radiohead being one of them, it's all down to pedals and amp's
let me get this straight the term arm on this new strat is a push in instead of screw in and on the Jaguar it's the opposite? I much prefer the push in arm in my 63 Jaguar.
This must be the only video I have seen where a fn' guitar store tries do DIMINISH the almighty Standard Strat just to sell what they have to sell: the pro. If it ain't broken, don't fix it. The Standard Strat is irreplaceble. It's story sepeaks for itself. Biased video.
A “professional” level guitar huh? I own an American professional and two Les Pauls, along with a Carvin super strat style guitar. Of the 4, the American “professional” is the least likely to be accused of being a professional level instrument. The LPs are fantastic and the Carvin is the best of the bunch. The strat is a very nice guitar. I like it a lot, but I have to put up with its faults to do so. It’s the most buzzy sounding guitar you ever played and I’ve had to run the saddles down so far it’s ridiculous, while using that “micro tilt” neck adjustment thingy to get the action at a usable level. It’s absolutely the wonkiest guitar I’ve ever owned by far! The only reason I bought it was I got it for $650 because the previous owner was so frustrated with it. I will say that I love these pups! Love them!
Buddy, we can clearly see you picking and strumming the Professional harder to sound louder.
I have to agree. There's no way the setups are the same.
Stratocaster Man spot on!!!
And they're clipping whatever they're recording into. :/
lol
yea- obvious..
Standard American strat is iconic and won't lose the spot !
I just baggy a American standard fendsrst stratocaster yesterday I'm learning to play on it I'm glad now I got one instead of the other one I like knowing it's just like the old ones the greats played on
Oh, i love playing Stratocaster-guitars, and i love to choose guitars who are better than Fenders, especially better than Fender American Standard-Stratocaster, the so called ,,Fender USA“-Stratocaster! My first Stratocaster was an end-80ies ,,Fender American Standard Stratocaster“, and it was my worst guitar ever, and i´ve had a second Fender Strat, a mexican-Version, called ,,Fender Standard Stratocaster“ and this guitar have had a Poplar-body and sounded like soft shit. And so I learned that either Fender is cheating us because they deliver poor quality and workmanship or overpriced guitars with wet, poorly stored and less vibrating woods, and trying to compensate for this with overloaded, or fat-sounding, pickups, and that is the reason for the myths of the real, old Vintage Strats, because back then they tended to use woods that were stored and had better vibratability were used. Or, and this is certainly true, the production volume is so high that the company is no longer able to get wood of the same quality for the entire production, and then the really good, well-vibrating guitars come from the current production not to Germany. At the beginning of the 90s I got my hands on my first ESP-S-400 series Strat, now there are four, but this first one had 42 slanted annual rings (quarter sawn) and had such a great attack and cracky, bony, twangy and wiry-sound by dry-playing, and this guitar has beaten every Fender USA Custom Shop Strat by far in comparisons, let alone the production models from Fender and also a real, Vintage Fender 1963 Strat. Around 2006, based on my good experiences with ESP, I bought an "ESP Vintage Plus" Strat, with the best, densest wood, superbly crafted and with a flattened neck-body transition (SSS variant), this Vintage Plus was once again on point Overtones and sustain are a step better, they easily beat the MusicMans and Suhrs and cost 1100 euros new at the time! Then in 2014 i came across a cheap used BLADE Texas Classic and was blown away. It was good, it could easily compete with the ESPs, yes it plays in the same league as ESP and cost 350 euros used. A short time later I tried a "BLADE Texas Standard Pro" with VMC midboost, similar to the "Fender Eric Clapton Signature USA-Strat", exactly the same again, it was better than any Clapton signature guitar from Fender, had better swingable woods, a flattened neck-body transition (like the BLADE Texas Classic) and therefore much better playability than Fender! So I use a lot of good Strats at home and all of them are better than what I could buy as a Fender in Germany at completely overpriced prices! That's why I prefer to play Strats, but the main thing is that it never says Fender on it, but rather ESP-S-400-Series, ESP Vintage Plus, BLADE Texas Classic or BLADE Texas Standard Pro! Well, I can prove not only purely subjectively, but very objectively in terms of sound, that there are much better things than Fender, in some cases also much cheaper and easier to play! Why should I even buy a Fender, a guitar that is worse in terms of sound and workmanship and less playable at a completely overpriced price???? Why, can someone explain this to me????
Personally, I like the old Standard sound better. The new one bites too much for my taste. Just my humble opinion. The professional series seems clear and clean but tinny to my ear. The Standard sounds fuller.
William von Zangenberg Trust me. The Professional sounds WWAAAYYY better than in the vid. Check ANY other video on it and you'll see. This guy just probably didn't set the amp right.
Either that or he didn't want to, maybe because of upset towards Fender for discontinuing the Standard series. hmmm
I guess I'll have to go to a music store and see for myself. The old standards in this video sound much better. My 57 sounds better than all of them. I bought it in '57 new when I worked for a music center and still have it.
stirange smh. So why can't he enjoy other things as well. Let him buy whatever he wants to buy.
There's a reason so many guitarits have so many guitars.
stirange That's alright
Has anyone noticed that the high E string on the Pro series Jazzmaster goes off the neck when you play it on the 12th Fret? I tried the Pro Series Strat and it wasn't as bad but it was still very close the the edge. Just curious. I'd hate to think that Fender screwed this up on all their guitars. I was thinking about buying one but now am hesitant because of that.
I understand guitar manufacturers want to innovate, but I think they should keep making the American Standard. Why does the Professional series have to replace the American Standard? Just add the Professional series but keep the American Standard's going. Fender has about 50 other Stratocaster models, so, what can it hurt to keep the American Standard series??
Money 😂
I have a 2012 standard strat and this video gives me no reason to change to the "professional." Upgrades, Schmuckgrades. Fat 50 pickups are sweet.
Well said good sir
The volume knob is turned down on the standard in the beginning of his playing, lasting all the way to 7:24. Thats why the standard sounds less alive than the professional. After that, the standard sounds better (to my taste that is)...
E J Very well spotted. I was trying to understand the volume difference as much as anything. With max volume on the guitar comes extra clarity.
Was just gonna say the same thing lol I have the same white standard... That thing is turned way down
Good eye... unbelievable this guy runs a store.
One fucking job. Lmao
Despite the clearly different guitar setup and biased playing, the American Standard sounds better! Too bad they were discontinued
Dimitris Lagos agreed! That’s why I found one on Craigslist in literally perfect condition and snagged it up real quick. It is a 2013 American Standard in Olympic White. It now sits next to my 2006 Gibson Les Paul Cherry Sunburst Standard. Beautiful pair. Definitely meant to be.
Those fat 50s make all the difference. I just got myself a set of v mods, they are nice. Very nice. But the custom
Shop fat 50s are just better to my ear, and I like bitie Strats
I preferred the standard over the professional, has a nicer ring, pro sounds duller
I have both guitars. The standard has more of the classic sound when you are really giving it a workout. I like me some funk sometimes I I just cant seem to get a satisfying funk sound with the professional. Same can be said for the Hendrixy sound. The v-mods have an okay sound and have a little more bite but a very different groove. The lower frequencies do have a cleaner edge. I do like it better for surf instrumental type stuff. If I had to choose one though I have to say the standard would win.I almost don't even think of the professional as a strat because some of those classic sounds just don't seem to be easily achieved with it. s The professional is very different animal. I don't use pedals much. I rely on the guitar and amp to show me what they got.
exactly. I agree with you. And this guy in the video isn't playing with the same intention and forces the notes. The fat 50 sounds much better in practice. In this video the guy seems to want to force a better image and sound for the professional and that's not true. I prefer the standard ones produced from 2012 to 2015, with FAT 50 pickups.
Well said
A Fender dealer is hardly going to say the new model is inferior to the old model.
David S corporate greed
6:35 says it all, obviously its gonna be a biased review
I think the standard sounded better then the pro. The pro sounded more like a Tele then a strat.
Daniel Hartman he makes a bad setup
i think that's because he strummed way harder in the pro
could be the added mid-range from the alnico 2 magnets.
the NEW professional sounds like my Yamaha e.g. 112..the standard sounds like a kick ass strat
🤣😂👍
Not gonna like. I fuckin love my 112
you should compare them with the same fretboard wood
Q Qi so true
And better audio recording
It really doesn't matter what kind of wood the fretboard is. It's all about the amp, pickups, and string attack.
so glad i have my standards
Can't say I have played the pro models but wow they are like double the price! Also everyone here is saying the AS is better so... Way to go fender lol.
Thanks for the video, helped me make up my mind and I went with a second hand American standard. 👍
Me too.
I've tried both. and I liked the neck on the professional. but the fat 50s on the standard are much better. more strat sounding to me now is a good time to bye a standard as they have been reduced in many stores.
As the owner of an '07 Am Standard Strat, I was very surprised when the playing started and the new model had so much more output. Then I read the comments and noticed that the volume was turned down on the Am Standard at the start of the video. Once the volume is at full the differences are much more subtle. That pretty much renders the comparison useless IMO, as now I wonder what other changes (e.g. amp settings - I would swear there is more reverb on the Am Std) were made from one guitar to the other. I know all the TH-cam music store videos are trying to sell the product and so present it in the most favorable light, but c'mon...
Yea they effed this comparison up. They also put more reverb on the standard
In this video most in the comments preferred the standard where as in another I just saw everyone preferred the professional’s sound. Maybe it has something to do with the amp used or something or the playing style of the player, who knows 🤔 I still regard the professional as the standard, I don’t think of it as a different model, it’s just the new standard. They never say standard or professional on the guitars anyway unlike on Les Pauls(although I prefer to replace the truss rod cover with a blank one like they were in the 50s but just my preference). Both are great strats 👌
Got mine today.. Wonderful guitar. The neck is really a great improvement. I like the new circuit to keep the highs HIGH when lowering the volume.. For an American Made Strat this nice in comparison to what it costs for a Les Paul, this is a bargain. Very happy with mine..
The pickups of the American Professional Series Strat sounds like a humbucker pickup fitted for single coil cavity. Personally, I still prefer the American Standard's tone.
Fender standard American is iconic guitar . This one model rocked the world. It's a great sounding guitar
It is very iconic!
I have to admit that the "older" strat pickups sound better (as demonstrated by the player with his facial expressions). Perhaps the old pickups in the modified hardware would be the ideal.
Paul Boyer That would be HIS preference. You should be deciding the sounds yourself rather than looking at someone else.
I only ever make my own decisions, there are too many sheep out there. I have 5 Strats and none of them have stock pups. . . Baaaa!
I like the standard sound overall. The softer sound is more appealing to my preference. but surprisingly both guitars sound similar in the back and back/middle position. would be interesting to hear both guitars in different amp mods.
2012 all the way! Player sounds like my esp
Both guitars sound amazing, thanks to Chris and ACM for the video. I personally liked so much how the new American Pro sound. I'm looking forward going for it.
I'm deffo keeping my 97' standard 🤘
The guy in demo was all like: "hmm what should I do? I know, I'll turn down the volume on a Am. Std. Strat so the new Professional sounds louder and of course, louder is better" As for the "professional grade instrument", your 300$ mexi strat with a good setup is as professional as it gets.
It also ends up sounding clearer that way, the Fat 50s have very good clarity as well, they just have that and a certain roundness to the sound.
it had the opposite effect. The low volume maked the standard sound sweeter …but the video was clearly not volume matched amongst other things
Am I the only one who prefers the sound of the standard? The professional sounds too thin and bright to my ears.
This comparison is biased as fuck... Why did you turn down the volume of the standard? And what makes the professionel for "professional musicians" but not standard? And here I was hoping for some honest review...
I agree! this test is for laughs...
CS Fat 50's in Standard, V-Mod Single Coils in Pro. You are right, there is an output difference, but not THAT much. That difference can rather be noticed in compactness department on high gain, not when you play it on clean in home standards (as is the situation in the video).
Kye Rushton Yup, this was not an honest comparison in my opinion.
The Professional has hotter pickups. They didn't "turn down the volume of the standard". The Standard's pickups just aren't sending as hot of a signal to the amp.
Notice the volume knob. It's turned down. Enough to make a significant difference.
the "old" standard sounds just right to the ear even though he turned down his volume. They have to sell the new ones guys. thats why they did that. How else would you buy a new fender. By making the old sound bad thats how. Anywho, proffesional pups sound off to my ear. The american standard is softer and plenty of warmth. My advice, get the old one and save some money as well.
I've tried the Pro a couple of days ago and personally I don't like the frets and the pickups, the old standard coils have a less glassy tone to my taste
Stratomaniac Doesn't glassy mean bright and trebly? The Pro Strat has less treble and more mids than the Standard.
Less treble and more mids on the pro? for sure not the one that I've tried
Then you must have picked up a really odd one.
The fat 50s have a very scooped midrange.
And this was an awful comparison, but you can find another one if you type in Professional vs Standard Stratocaster
I wrote "old STANDARDS coils" = American Strat® Single-Coil Pickups, Alnico V moderate output (see 2008 American Standard or earlier 2000-2007 American Series).
The Fat 50's are even more "mid scooped" than the V-Mod's on the American Pro and I find them even more skinny, obviously it's a personal taste.
Oh. So that's what you mean? I'll go ahead and check out the old standard then.
Standard is better sounding than Professional. Standard has distinctive strat sounds..
Basically every fender strat guitar is the same but with different pickups and slightly different neck
Better then buy seymour duncan pickups separately
yep the standard fat 50s are soooo much sweeter just my 40 years of playing opinion.
Would you say that guitars are getting worse, the later we go on? I feel that all the new stuff is just sounding worse than that of the 1950-90s
I have a standard. Not a decade old. The standard was last updated in 2012. Pro and standard are just range monikers. The standard is no less pro than the pro. I was going to upgrade based on the frets and go from over lacquered maple board to rosewood. The pro sounded thin compared to fat 50s equipped standard. May not exchange it now. May get a Japanese Strat with rosewood board and keep the standard.
Howard Forton try them in person but you may just prefer those fat 50's pickups. The standard has been an amazing guitar for years and there is no denying that. I think the name change simply calls it what it has been all that time. A guitar for the pro. The new models follow that trend. - Chris
Love the fat 50s that are in one of my Strats!
Man i really enjoyed reading all these replies. Im in the market for a strat. And i needed this insight. You all have convienced me to buy what i already knew was right. Ill be buying a standard..hail hendrix!!!!!
I got 2 standards. A tele and a strat. Modded with locking tuners and upgraded pick ups. FUCKING AMAZNG!
So the $1200 people have been paying for the American Standard doesn't get them a professional level guitar? Kinda pathetic really.
Trent F you're mad over a name change? It's just like the Gibson Traditional and High Performance series. Not sure why they are doing away with the more traditional standard but I see no issue here.
Nick Moore name change and a $200 price hike. The only reason to change the name was to try to justify the price hike. It's not justified though.
Actually, I think the name change had more to do with American Standard incidentally also being a brand of toilets.
Nick Moore Personally, I prefer the shallower "modern C" neck profile of the American Standard... I wish they hadn't discontinued that feature. (Oh, well... different strokes for different folks)
@@trentf4891 new pick ups, new neck, new bridge, new potis. I would say 200$ price raise is justified.
I have an American Standard (1990) and I like how everyone says it sounds better because of the pick ups. Which is funny, because I swapped them for 2 Dimarzio humbuckers and a Dimarzio chopper T in the middle... :O
I like the American Standard best. The tone is a little bit more subdued and I like that. It's the classic sound I love.......Sal : )
American pro (narrow tall frets) American standard (jumbo medium frets)
I am buying an American Standard. You can keep your narrow thin frets. I'll take the med jumbo all day long for a Strat.
👍👍
Exactly. Narrow tall is the exact opposite of what I want. I want wider, lower frets. Medium jumbo is perfect. The suhr "heavy" frets look ever better.
Am I the only one prefer the sound of old American standard? Even the volume in the video of American standard is much smaller
So a bone nut, pop in trem bar, and pick ups? Is it worth all that money?
I'm not sure I like the pop in trem bar. I had Fenders in the past with that option and over time they loosened up like crazy and even fell out during gigs.
No.
I've owned both (had to sell the American Standard) but not back-to-back so I can't make any tone comparisons, but I will say that the neck on the American Professional feels so much better than that on the Standard. I may have just gotten a Standard with subpar neck finishing (the frets were pretty rough), but the Professional has the best neck I've ever played.
Thanks man that video was helpful I definitely like the sound of the old standard a lot better it has that classic Stratocaster sound that I like
I prefer standard to professional
I just bought the American Pro series HSS Shawbucker. I am and have always been a big Gibson player in my short time playin the guitar but my friend who is a 45 year player told me about the PRS SE series being nice guitar's for the price so I bought a SE custom 24 and it plays like a dream, smooth as all get out. He claimed that they are like a cross between a Gibson and a Fender but I had never played a Fender before and I have a 2017 Gibson SG standard (in Pelham blue LE) That I love but it isn't as smooth as the PRS. So anyway I was looking around and saw these new Pro Series Stratocaster's and loved the idea of it having a humbucker at the bridge cause I love playing heavy blues rock so I went ahead and got the antique Olive HSS. This guitar is like a dream, it sing's like a bird and scream's like a banshee and when I run it through my Marshall DSL 40c with my Cry Baby 535Q and a blues driver it gives me tones like Trower and Clapton and the option to split the humbucker into a single coil is an added benefit. Love that it has a pop in Trem like the PRS has, no stupid spring. The guitar was 1499.00 and well worth it when a Les Paul of the same level of quality will cost you 3 times as much. Plus it came with a really nice molded case ta boot. I don't know what this guy is setting his amp like but the guitar sound's WAYYYYY better than it did on this video.
The clean sound of the Standard is so beautiful and softy!!!
terrible comparison. in first place, they had different freatboards, but for me the biggest mistake was not to put the volume knob at the same level on both guitars!!
sebastian berroeta I actually preferred the new professional model when trying one at a store. I think it’s always best to try guitars out for yourself if you have the opinion 🤔
Glad I read these comments I was sold on the Pro but someone commented that the Pro "bites too much" and I can relate to that just like I don't like Hot single coil pickups because they're hard to control
Jeez those new pickups sound like utter trash compared to the old standard pickups
Just bought this same guitar.cant wait to get it.
chunky necks aren't comfortable for everyone. I think they should bring the compound radius to the professional series instead of the added neck thickness. $1,500 should buy you the best playability from fender and the pickups can be left alone, anyone can change them out if desired.
The frets on the Professional Stratocaster don't feel uncomfortable but feel comfortable. Did the Standard feel uncomfortable?
The pop in tremolo arm is a better idea but the shaft of the arm (where it goes into the
bridge) is noticeably longer, so it sticks up higher. I don't care for that, gets in the way for
me. But I think the Pro series is an upgrade from the American Standard. Pickups sound
excellent (Tim Shaw!) and the treble bleed on the volume pot is e very good idea. I particu-
larly like that aspect. American Standard still a fine instrument, no doubt. Just a matter
of preference or what you're looking for in a guitar. American Standards will probably hold
their value better now, though, just because of that.
I was waiting for this review! Thank you!
American Standard sounds less artificial and fuller to me. I might be biased though
Listen to the sirens. Typical San Antonio. But, yeah, I'm glad I got my 2015 American Standard. IMO, the fat 50s are head and shoulders above the V-Mods in terms of character and that classic strat sound.
The Standard still sounds better.
I visited y'all last summer, and loved your store and the staff was super friendly!
What distortion pedal did you put your mic through
I was wandering the same...
HAHAHAHAHA
Like them both equally .
Would help if you played the same thing on each guitar for each pickup.
the new pickups sound to ice pick trebble like the others better
birdman bl your Sun Conure is adorbz.
Honestly, I liked the Standard better!
Still a fan of the standard. I have an anniversary standard with a channel bound neck, was thinking of upgrading but ill stick with what i have 😊
I had them both, strat and teles. Couldn't get both pros on eBay fast enough. The pro teles were too modern sounding for my taste and the pro strat just didn't sound as good as my 2015 American standard.
on the new American pro Strat, there is more chime, ringing and sustain then the Standard. and..the pro model sounds almost acoustic compared to the standard! I had a 92 American Standard years ago with stock and later Texas specials and this new 2017 Pro Strat beats it in spades compared to playability and tones!
So according to your video intro..an American Standard isn't good enough for "pros"? You're nuts.
That wasn't what I was attempting to convey. What I'm saying is that it has always been a Pro instrument and now they are calling them that. - Chris McKee
@@AlamoMusic mmm hmmm.... Sounded different on the video.
American standard all the way, but with a rosewood fretboard
I wonder how they sound different if you matched the volume. I guess Standard will have a bit more of the gain of the amp sound as a result?
Not sure why Fender bothered to rebrand the series. They've always made changes to their standard range.
The Fender American Standard Shawbucker was perfect. With Shawbucker in the bridge, fat 50s in middle and neck, and the variable 500k/250k pot. Not sure why Fender had to mess with it. The V-Mods lack tonal character. Hoping they drift back that way or I am going to have to go back to modding guitars again.
I see everywhere things about “american standard” pickups in the 2008-2016 models, but getting into actually buying a strat they all have fat 50’s, tex mex, etc… it’s clear to me that the american standard pickups sound the best, and it looks like a lot of people agree. But where do I find these pickups???
looking back on both, I've had American Standard for years going back to 04 when i finally got the money together to buy my first. then when the American Pro came out, i loved it so much that i bought it. they both represent the best of both worlds, i feel like Pao Farro gets way too much hate, but it's the best wood ive ever felt on a Fender. the only reason Fender went away from it is because of people complain it's not Rosewood, oh boo hoo, it's been proven wood has no affect on tone, only the body matters. the type of wood used for the neck is a matter of preference, the only knock i have with it is, it can get a little sticky, but so does a Gibson and they use Rosewood and Mahoghany. so it's not the wood itself is sticky, it's what Fender puts on there neck is what makes sticky. they wanna make it pleasing to the eye, i have the American Standard and even the neck on it when i first bought it, you can feel what they put on them. i felt the neck on the American Pro 2 and it's the same with that.
you forgot to mention about tone bleed,,,,American Professional has a Tone Bleed inside,,,,,if you make some more demo just kindly complete it
Get a case that you can put the guitar in without removing the arm. I don't think I've removed the arm on my American Standard in years. Travels well, safe and secure, never a problem. Also in Canada it seems like the Pros are $600 more -not worth the price hike.
Good clean demo. Can hear the guitar rather than pedals/distortion. Much prefer the sound of the mixed mag v-mod pickups. Thanks
Gotta love the "Fouth Position".
the standard sounds better to me..clean n clear
Not only the volume is turned down on the white one, but you picked much harder on the professional. Do you happen to be a fender sales rep?
Standard forever !
The USA Standard is way better than the New USA Pro.. Better neck profile and better frets.. Also those new pickups on the Pro sound like they are from a Walmart Guitar (No Soul at all).. Also most guys want the trem arm to be loose and if not they could tighten it to stay put without the dumb little spring.. The American Standard is a much better Guitar than the American Pro hands down, No Contest!!!
What's the difference in price?
Do i have to be in amarica to get a fender amarican standard. I'm from denmark and I can't find a fender amarican standard on the fender website. Is it really exclusively amarican?
very good - such a lot of interesting details - btw: I prefer the sound of the Standard
@6:23 when he actually starts playing the guitars
How can we hear the difference in the pickups when not both of the guitars are either rosewood or maple`?
I didn't know that some American Standard strats came with a lacquer fretboard. Are you sure that no one have changed that neck?
the pro sounded just louder..the standard was weaker but softer tones...the treble bleed circuit in the Shaw pups should have been explained..you can turn down the pro to match the standard and not lose any high end.There are a lot of improvement on the pro Strats , mainly playability and tremolo .I've had a chance to check the pros out, and I really like them! Especially the Jags and Jazzmasters. Will be purchasing one of each to go with my collection. Fender really put out a nice line this year. Thanks!
Bought a ‘13 AmStd 3 color burst with rosewood board for 600.
No case but idc bc I play and hang my strats
But this my favorite strat.
Coming from a guy who owns ‘19 Player Series and 21’ Vintera 50s RW. And a cheap but nice Squier SE.
Someone stole my Standard strat and now I can't even replace it :(
You would be surprised how many professional musicians have used squier strats on million selling albums, radiohead being one of them, it's all down to pedals and amp's
let me get this straight the term arm on this new strat is a push in instead of screw in and on the Jaguar it's the opposite? I much prefer the push in arm in my 63 Jaguar.
Played them both...I prefer my 2015 Standard. I also prefer medium jumbo frets.
I'll continue looking for a fair comparison
This must be the only video I have seen where a fn' guitar store tries do DIMINISH the almighty Standard Strat just to sell what they have to sell: the pro.
If it ain't broken, don't fix it. The Standard Strat is irreplaceble. It's story sepeaks for itself.
Biased video.
Standard sounds much better in this video. I don’t know if he has the tone turned up too high on the professional
Standard is the best
american standard sounds so much sweeter not the pro
I could not even handle watching this guys playing
But nice he went over the differences of the two guitars
A “professional” level guitar huh?
I own an American professional and two Les Pauls, along with a Carvin super strat style guitar. Of the 4, the American “professional” is the least likely to be accused of being a professional level instrument. The LPs are fantastic and the Carvin is the best of the bunch. The strat is a very nice guitar. I like it a lot, but I have to put up with its faults to do so. It’s the most buzzy sounding guitar you ever played and I’ve had to run the saddles down so far it’s ridiculous, while using that “micro tilt” neck adjustment thingy to get the action at a usable level. It’s absolutely the wonkiest guitar I’ve ever owned by far! The only reason I bought it was I got it for $650 because the previous owner was so frustrated with it.
I will say that I love these pups! Love them!