Fender's American Professional lineup is the workhorse of the Fender world: US-built guitars and basses meant to go from rehearsal to stage to session without a second thought. The new generation keeps the feel players already know and changes what's under the hood. Here's what's new, what carries forward, and how each model shakes out. Want to skip ahead? Shop the full American Professional lineup.

What's New in This Generation

The headline is V-Mod III pickups on every model. Fender voices them to be more articulate than before while keeping each model's signature character: Tele twang, Strat chime, offset sparkle, Jazz Bass punch and P Bass growl.

Under the knobs, ClassicGear Precision pots give the volume and tone controls a smooth, consistent sweep with a musical taper. The Strats get new ClassicGear Radial bent-steel saddles with recessed screws that stay clear of your picking hand, and the Jazzmaster and Jaguar get the new ClassicGear J-Bridge for steadier intonation and tuning.

Two models are new to the lineup. The Jaguar returns to the American Pro family, and the HotShot Telecaster brings a Strat middle pickup and 5-way switching to the Tele.

American Professional Telecaster

New V-Mod III Tele pickups bring the twang, snap and snarl with more articulation than ever. The top-load/string-through bridge with compensated brass saddles stays: run the strings through the body for snap and sustain, or top-load them for lower tension and a looser, springier attack. Set it string by string if you want. ClassicGear Precision pots handle volume and tone.

American Professional HotShot Telecaster

The HotShot adds a V-Mod III Stratocaster single-coil in the middle position with 5-way switching. You get the Tele bridge bite and neck warmth, glassy Strat-style middle tones, and the in-between positions, all on one guitar. If you know the American Pro Classic HotShot, this takes the same three-pickup idea to the modern American Pro platform with the Deep "C" neck and V-Mod III pickups.

American Professional Stratocaster

V-Mod III Strat single-coils keep the bell-like chime and warmth with more articulation. The 2-point tremolo with a cold-rolled steel block delivers sustain, clarity and top-end sparkle, and the new ClassicGear Radial bent-steel saddles make intonation and action adjustments quick, with recessed screws that won't dig into your palm. ClassicGear Precision pots round it out.

American Professional Stratocaster HSS

Same platform with a V-Mod III humbucker in the bridge. It gives you full, punchy humbucker tones, and a push of a button splits it to single-coil sounds.

American Professional Basses

The Jazz Bass pairs a fast Slim "C" neck with V-Mod III Jazz Bass single-coils voiced for punch and clarity. The Precision Bass runs a Medium "C" neck and a V-Mod III split-coil with the punch and growl a P Bass is known for. Both get rolled fingerboard edges, the satin neck finish, the sculpted heel and ClassicGear Precision pots.

Both are also offered as five-strings: the Jazz Bass V and Precision Bass V.

American Professional Jazzmaster

V-Mod III Jazzmaster pickups bring the sparkle and chime. Tap the bridge pickup for a lower-output vintage voice, or leave it full for a thicker, throatier sound. Flip the rhythm switch and both pickups run in series for more output and girth, with their own roller volume and tone. The Panorama tremolo with pop-in arm covers everything from classic Jazzmaster warble to deep, Strat-style dives, and the new ClassicGear J-Bridge keeps each note locked in.

American Professional Jaguar

The Jaguar is back in the American Pro lineup. Its 24" short scale means less string tension, easy bends and a warm, full-bodied voice of its own. V-Mod III Jaguar pickups deliver the sparkle and chime Jags are known for, the Panorama tremolo with pop-in arm gives you the full range of vibrato, and the ClassicGear J-Bridge holds intonation and tuning steady.

American Pro or American Pro Classic?

Fender now has two sides to the American Professional family. American Pro Classic leans vintage: Coastline pickups, a Modern "C" neck and vintage-style bridges and trems. The new American Professional is the modern-spec side: V-Mod III pickups, the Deep "C" neck with rolled edges, and the ClassicGear hardware above. The fastest way to pick is to play them side by side.