I went in the store looking for a black Mex telecaster to modify. While I was waiting for the guitar.being set up to play, I asked if the guy if they had a professional 2 telecaster. He said yes and brought me the Miami Blue one....as I first seen the guitar, I loved the color and as soon as I held it.... I knew that this was my guitar and told him to forget the Mex telecaster ‼️👍

Dylan, thanks for your practical, straightforward approach to all your videos. It's very much appreciated.

Excellent review and an accurate comparison between the two styles. I also appreciate how your sound samples are just the right length of time-just enough to let people hear what they sound like and no endless noodling.

Got my Pro II awhile back and absolutely love it! It has become my #1. The Vintage II Teles are really cool, but the Pro II is a better fit for me. The neck is amazing! The only thing I may end up changing the tuners. I really prefer vintage style tuners. To your point about the setup, mine also arrived with factory 2mm action which was a bit high for me. Just had it lowered to where I like it (and then had to level a couple of frets unfortunately) and is good to go now.

I’ve had my AmProII for about a year and still love picking it up. I really like the Deep C neck carve. Only thing that would improve it to me is a bit narrower nut width. I prefer 42mm and even 1 5/8” over the 1 11/16”. I don’t have small hands but I am a thumb wrapper. The split A5/A2 mag bridge pickup sounds great to me. It isn’t the most traditional sounding tele pickup but I’ve found it to be super versatile and it lets you dial in anything from twang to rock on your amp. Neck pickup is probably the most lackluster thing about the guitar to me, but I always feel that way about tele neck pickups (other than the twisted tele).

Agree on the push pull knob looking and feeling a bit wonky. If I had my choice I'd have gone without it. But turns out that extra tone I can get from the Tele is super practical when playing live. Now I wouldn't have a Tele without that extra feature. It would be nicer if it were part of a four way switch rather than the knob though.

Hi Dylan, I just watched all of your soldering skillshare course. Learned a lot. I'm buying the equipment you recommended. Do I need to be worried about ventilation and fumes when using the 60/40 solder? If so, what's your approach for getting adequate ventilation?

Got the Vintage II 63, exactly similar as yours. It is so good. Those pickups sound amazing! Probably a good idea to check out the Vintera II series also if you're not completely fixed on getting an American made guitar.

@14:26…I love that bridge cut-away…I think it feels way more comfortable than the original one with the larger lip…I’d go with the modern tele👍

I've been reading things about telecasters for a couple months now, watch videos, etc. I really appreciate this video because 99% of the stuff out there seems to be "should I buy a Classic Vibe?" kind of entry level discussion. Thanks!

Great video. It tells me exactly what I need to know. Your pros are my cons and vice versa. The modern is definitely the one for me.

Great video. I'm still undecided, they both are excellent.

Very, very helpful. THANK YOU!

Thank you for the excellent review and comparisons. A couple of comments. The Pro model has a ashtray that is shorter in height. I found this to be a big plus as it does not dig into your hand like the vintage ones. I learned from Paul Reed Smith in his interviews that brass saddles help to improve sustain over other materials. The Pro version has the brass saddles. The pickups on the Pro appear to be a little fuller sounding over the vintage Tele which i prefer. It still has the Tele sound just with a little more meat on the bone. I have the Pro I Tele and I also found the back of the neck excellent to move around on. You made an excellent point about the different radius its not that much different however its a little harder to setup.

Excellent video, really well done. I’m really considering buying the American Vintage 1963 Tele in surf green to pair with my American Original 1960s Strat in shell pink. I love these playful, pastel-like colours on Fenders. I’ve had my AO Strat for a year and it’s by far the most comfortable neck I’ve ever played in the last 20 years. Is the neck on the Tele on the chunkier side? That’s why I love my Strat.

Great video, Dylan! I’ve A/Bd both at one of my local shops: a surf green AVII like yours and a shell pink with rosewood fb APII. Loved both of them! It’ll probably come down to price, there’s a C$800 difference.

Have the vintage ii ‘63 coming like yours from sweetwater im having it Plek’d and setup by sweetwater can’t wait to get it

I own an roasted pine (lightweighted) AmPro2 and I'm very happy with it. Great sound and feel. Goes very well in the mix. The only thing concerns the tuners. Do you have any idea why they didn't use lockingtuners, as is had to be 'modern'?

I have the Roasted Pine Pro 2 model, and it's fun and easy to play. Sounds great too. It's the roasted pine version so it's lightweight & woody looking. The tinted neck is a nice touch to.. I have a buunch of guitars; if I had to keep just one, it would probably be this one. (or maybe the 594)

That was a great review I appreciate it you're doing a good job and you just keep getting better I've noticed keep up the good work Tim Colorado Springs colorado.

Great overview, thanks for this! Seeing Rosewood boards warms my heart BUT I do wish Fender would give each string it's own bridge rather than 2 sharing the bridge . . . not life or death but why not?

AmProII all day. Love the neck profile and adjustment at the headstock.

I’ve played about 10 AV2’s. Every single one has been the best production model Fender’s I’ve ever played. The new pickups are next level and the instruments have this snappy liveliness that I’ve only previously got with vintage or Custom Shop models. My only complaint, I wish they would make the 51 Telecaster with an opaque Nocaster yellow finish. I desperately want a Blackguard Telecaster but I don’t like that wavy woodgraiin.

I love the gimmick of the ashtray included with the AVII. Hell yeah, I would put it on for photos!

Walked away with a vintage 2 51 Telecaster this evening. Holy smokes is this a fantastic instrument. I’m mostly a LP guy but I’ve been craving an American tele. The pickups and the neck are the best parts. My biggest gripe is the sticky nitro finish on the back of the neck. I’m considering taking it down a bit with some sandpaper or have my tech do it.

Guys, another thing to keep in mind is that the '63 American Vintage II Tele shown here really is "the guitar that killed folk" as played by Mike Bloomfield when he was in Bob Dylan's band at the Newport Folk Festival. Bloomfield's most famous Tele was 1963 spec just like this one!

So lovin' your new Tele! I just picked up a Fender CS 68 RI Paisley Tele for my b-day on the 12th, and yes a nice USA made Tele is indeed something special. I love mine and it's a keeper!

Both of them are beautiful guitars and sound great,too. Personally, I lean towards the V2 because of the tuners and the nitro finish. I’d prefer the modern case and I like the cut down sides on the bridge, at least a small amount on the treble side. The top loading feature is a nice option as well, hmmm. It’s a close call but the V2 still wins out.

Excellent review, thank you. I’ve been looking at the Jimmy page mirror, but now I’m looking at these two.

Really good review angle. I’d only wish the American Performer was in there also. I think it really out performs its price. It also has the Kluson tuners and the traditional neck joint and non cutaway back along with the non cutaway bridge plate. Paint jobs are a lot like the Pro II. Modern truss rod but Jumbo frets.

I like the Vintage II tele (I have one myself). I'm fine with the 7.25" fretboard radius, and haven't had any issues with bends. I like the sound personally. My first fender was in the 60s, so I feel right at home. Nice comparison Dylan.

I’ve picked up both in the shop. I think the Am Pro II is a great guitar, but when I held the Vintage II it awakened a deep yearning.

I really enjoyed your honest and thorough review, Dylan. I know I'm late to the party but well done, Sir. I'll be back for more. 👍🏼

Love your show. I got the v2 51 and had sweetwater pleck and setup. It wonderful. Next year I’ll get the v2 61 Strat. A pain to set neck relief on the vintage ones. I guess I’ll leave that to pro.

So I’ve had an ultra Tele for 3 or so years, neck is little thin, you get used to it, but I’m not a vintage fan as far as playing, they look great, but I prefer 6 block saddles, and flat bridge plate, what I just ended up doing 3 years later is I ordered an American Pro II neck with Rosewood fretboard. Can’t wait till it shows up, I went this route because I dig the Bi-Flex truss rod and the deep c profile, can’t get that with the ultras,

I just bought an AmPro II Tele a couple of weeks ago and I love it! I also own an American Ultra Strat. So I guess I'm the more "modern" player. I think Fender is doing a great job these days of satisfying the tastes of a wide variety of players.

I would get the vintage just so I could use the pickup cover as an ashtray, and occasionally play the guitar. Good comparison, there is basically this same vintage tele at my local used guitar store, I am sorely tempted.

I’m going to get one those in exactly those colours ..so this video is very usefull

Having owned the pro ii in that exact finish, its a great guitar. It feels absolutely amazing to play with the rolled fretboard edges, contours etc. bending especially was fun. However, I would personally swap the pickups. They felt a bit thin to me (however that might be an issue for me because I never switched string gauges from 9 to 10). American vintage however, I think is a great guitar, but id probably find a used LSL or fender custom shop for the price instead.

I've had a couple of Tele's including some really nice ones - my 2016 AM Pro has something about it, fabulous unplugged sound - a guitar you can really play

excellent review!!

i found a couple Fender Strats i like at the Sweetwater Link 🔗 you provided on your Video here on your KZfaq channel - Thank You 👨‍🎤✨⚡🎸 the Performer Series was surprising also the GT 11 Custom Shop Sweetwater Exclusive are very nice , but for myself i prefer only the NOS tho' , since the rest are relic finished version , just not my thing .

Hello, thanks for the vid. Could you do the same with Stratocasters ? Cheers and all the best

Definitely the pro 2 for me. Love the neck and pick ups.

Just bought the butterscotch AVii....great guitar but I hate the glossy neck.... but everything else is great....can't decide if I should get the money back....

Played the Vintage at a guitar shop about an hour ago. Wow, really liked it. Went there comparing the Pro II and Ultra. Thought I had it narrowed down, but then I picked up the Vintage. Now I am really undecided. Excellent informative video, thank you.

ordered a 51 V2 today - Im already salivating

I like the MIA 2000 ones. Stupidly sold one need to get another and 4 way switch it.

I like your style mate. Either of these guitars living at my place would make me happy. I'm going to do a bit of sniffing around at Sweetwater to see if one is within my budget. Thanks again.

Great review! I'm sold on the Pro 2.

The location of the truss rod adjustment is what sells the modern version to me. As I travel a lot, having to unscrew the neck when you need to make neck adjustments bugs me. If it wasn't for this I'd probably go for the vintage, mind you I bet I'd be changing out the bridge set up after a while so I'll be ending up with a modern vintage for more than the price of the vintage. That's guitar buying for ya.

Nice review, but I have a question. What are your thoughts on telecasters with Maple fretboards instead of Rosewood? Do you think Maple has a more 'brighter" sound? I have a Fender Modern Player Telecaster MIM with a Maple Fretboard and it sounds killer. I have never played a Telecaster with a Rosewood Fretboard.

Yo me compré la tele american pro ll en surf green a mitad de su precio una maravilla Dylan rock's👌🎸

Cool guitars! I own an Ultra and AmPro ii, and was considering the Vintage ii. I'll have to try one out and see if the difference is enough to make it worth buying.

I had to move my one of the post on my tune-o-matic back and eighth of an inch cuz I couldn't get my low e string to intonation set right 9:06 lol

Has anyone compared the alder body to the red mahogany version of the 63? Also, what’s up with the bridge pickup route sticking out of the side of the bridge plate?

Weird how the LEDs of your studio light show individually on the Am Pro headstock

I know you are in business to sell your own product. However, id like to know if you have any experience with iron gear pickups? Headquartered in England. I still think there made in the east. They are pretty affordable and I have 3 sete and I really like them. Im a gigging musician and have multiple years experience. I respect your opinion and im really looking for a couple of pairs of mini humbuckers and ❤was thinking I might get em from you.

It’s be cool to get the modern.

I bought an American Pro II Jazzmaster in the same color and love it. The only thing I don't use is the series circuit much. It's too Gibson like for me. Not a fan of the Les Paul sound overall.

Vintage is just so much more to my liking, sounds right!

The AM PRO 2 feels more comfortable, is more durable, and is easier to set up. The neck is not sticky and it sounds great with more versatile tones.

The 63 sounds a lot smoother. Got the blonde 57 strat and I am very happy about it. Fender really knocked it out of the park with the American vintage ii series. Wish I could afford one of each. Though I am thinking about modding my strat already. Give the back of the neck a light sand with 1200-1500. Also there is a lot of 60 cycle hum. Probably going to copper shield it and install twisted wires. Haven't checked out inners yet. That is just me I don't really care about the resale value as much as functionality. Tone balance wise it is better than any of my builds. But performance wise my builds have a lot more going on. Compound radius', one piece bodies, quarter sawn necks, copper shielding, twisted wires, locking tuners, tall narrow stainless frets, orange drop capacitors. But the 57 strat is a few tasteful mods away from being great.

Should compare a custom shop tele side by side to a vintage tele

I purchased both the 63 V II and a 72 V II thinline. The factory setups on both was horrific: Strings buzzing, strings choking out on frets when bending, and with the 63 the pickups weren't wired correctly. When in either the neck position, or the bridge position it sounded fantastic. In the middle position, it sounded weird and tinny. Also, when in the middle position it was about half the volume of either of the individual positions. I took them both in to my regular luthier and they corrected the issues with the 72. The 63, they got all three positions working sort of normally, but now neither of the individual positions seem to sound as good as they did before. Also, the action is awful and a few days after getting home the strings were buzzing and choking out again. I found a tech in my area that's a former Fender factory tech who I'm going to take it in to and see if he can make it right. I realize that there's that argument that you have to take a new instrument in for a setup to get it where you want it, but in my mind, for the kind of money Fender is charging, they should at least get it set up so that it's playable for most people. In that they have failed. Having said all that I'm very happy with the 72 thinline now. I love it. The 63, I'm going to see if this new tech can do a better job. Oh, I forgot. That white pick guard that comes on the 63 is God Awful! I swapped mine out for a black one. Looks much better in black. Just my opinion.

I have one American Pro 2 strat and an American Vintage 2 tele51. I have to say Vintage series are better, when you touch the guitar you'll instantly feel this is a really high quality guitar^_^

Modern for me, this time ;)

American Vintage by a mile. Ive owned both. They're both good, but the AV is definitely a step up.. The AV2s are so good it's hard to ever think about going back down..

Great video.

I would take the Vintage because it doesn't have the " skunk" stripe. My CV 50s Telecasters skunk stripe is popping out a little on the headstock end and I've heard of other people's guitar that has the skunk stripe doing the same thing and there isn't an "easy fix" for it either.

Bought my Pro2 before the Vintage 2 series came out, otherwise I almost definitely would have chosen the Vintage 2. However after a year or two I've come to appreciate the Pro2 so much, that I got myself a Pro2 Strat to go with it.

20:57 We know that!! It's not about the output. The body responds to the sound of underlying balance.

the vintage has that spikey trebly sound

Happy with my Partscaster......

Nice playing Dylan. Pro 2 over the vintage 2 because of the drawbacks.

So I know this is old(er) in terms of videos, but i had to say i would go more vintage every time. Somehow i am lucky enough to own a real 1963 Esquire (living out its life as a Telecaster (it is also surf green!) and it is an incredible guitar from July of 1963...6 years before we landed on the moon!!! A forever guitar....

AV2 with the metallic paintjob of the AP2, please

AM Pro2 for sure. :)

Nice video. I’d go with the pro 2. But really I’d go with a MIM tele.

I love the seafoam grean guitar.

Great video! Thanks for the info!

Who wants to take off the neck to adjust . I preferr the modern Allen key adjustment in the head stock, not to mention the micro tilt adjustment in the back plate. Modern is better, appart from the nitro finish, which is thinner, and let's the wood resonate better.

why does a neck with a slap top neede a skunkstripe?

Where is the truss rod adjusted from on the Vintage 2?

Please consider that the best USA-made Tele does not necessarily come from Fender? Try G&L Fullerton ASAT classic or Schecter USA PT Vintage.

I have a pro2. If I could only have one. It would be the pro2. And if I could only have one guitar. It would definitely be a tele hands down.

Great vid Am looking fir a v good Tele Was looking at pro 2 and ultra but am leaning back to Vintage or American Special due to the great tone of Texas special pickups as opposed to voiced pickups or noiseless . Your thoughts? Is the vintage Tele in your vid stick with Texas special pickups )? Thanks Ad Australia

I'll start with the AVll then later get the Pro2

I got the vintage 2 …..hard to choose , probably nitro painting made the difference

Hmmm. I could do either one. However, I prefer a blonde neck. That being said, what I want to hear is are you at a level of guitar with either one that you wouldn’t consider swapping pups? If you listen to Ask Zach, I don’t think there is a telecaster being played today that has the original pups in it.

Really dig the metallic surf green in the AP2 but would prefer the AV2 if only the truss rod adjustment wasn’t at the neck heel. But I understand that Fender wanted to go with exact specs and make it as authentic as possible because they are selling to diehard fans that want a vintage style instrument and don’t expect to fiddle with the truss rod too often.

Say what you want but I disagree about there not being much difference between the 7.25 and the 9.5...I agree, dont stress about it but if you're used to a 9.5, you're probably gonna hate the 7.25. Just be sure and try it out first or make sure your return window doesn't expire on you. You're welcome!!

Great review. I bought a American Pro 2 and it was not a good fit for me. I'm an old geezer and kind of stuck in my ways. I love the feel of guitars like those that I grew up playing. That's why I LOVE the American Vintage series, including the earlier ones. I have an AVRI '52, a 1988 AVRI '62 Strat, and a new American Vintage 2 '57 Strat. All are stellar guitars.

Vintage for me!

Why does the one on your right seem bigger????????

Why do people put humbuckers either in the neck position or Bridge? Okay so maybe you just like the shape of the Telecaster or for whatever reason someone you know had one and blah blah blah but I think the way that pick up choice of using two single coil pickups was what made the Telecaster the Telecaster I have a old Squier Telecastets that is one of the best guitars I have ever played it has a curly Maple neck no skunk stripe and 40 mm nut , actually it seems even just short I don't have the greatest tools but every time I have tried to get one that fits in this guitar I just can't do it so I resorted to buying a bone nut and filing off the Low e-end (which gave me a little bit more real estate on my high e and I also left it up a little bit higher so I could drop the saddles down a little bit lower gives me a more parallel string action. Anyway I don't play giggs so the sound itself doesn't really rate up in my list of priorities. Play ability is my first and foremost important feature of any guitar. At one point I would love to talk replacement pickups with you just to see what I could get for the least amount of money to give it maybe a little bit more of a tele kick, *No Twang* I came across a good deal on a Squier contemporary Telecaster with the with the e2 humbuckers the bridge pickup is the one with the rell's I'm sure you know the model gunmetal green or whatever you want to call it. You mentioned neck radius and I will tell you that this thing at 12 in feel so flat to me that it just irks me when I play it secondly when I got a chance to play it through some good pedals and amps at a friend's house to thing just sounds like mud no matter what setting you put it on or what you do it's just sounds like unless Paul that someone has poured cement into the pickups, for lack of a better explanation. Anyway good luck with your guitar and I would love to know how to get in touch with you to ask some questions and find out some prices. I also bought a black squire HH Stratocaster. And I kept telling myself with a stupid move the only reason you buy Stratocaster is for that wonderful single-coil ringing sound that everyone's always talkin about. And of course it has seven Maple fretboard which this one doesn't I got it with the Laurel fretboard. However the fretboard on this thing is so perfect that it doesn't sway me one way or another aside from looks. I find myself playing more and more because of one reason the hum! Yes I know stratocasters single coils hum. There's only so much you can take of it if you are practicing or just playing with a friend so a lot of times I will just pull this thing out and use either my bridge or sometimes my neck pickup and I get no harm and I got a great sound had great action out-of-the-box! Strange thing about this guitar was that instead of the box saying squire it said fender I don't know if that makes any difference at all but I'm only bringing this up was because I saw you to a video on putting to humbuckers in some guy's Stratocaster and giving your opinion why it still sounds like a Stratocaster. I'd also like to find out what something like that would cost and what you would recommend for someone who's just a player. Anyway let me know how to get in touch with you thanks for the great review and thanks for listening to me ramble

Necks are totally different. More chunky on the Vintage II

The TSA hardcase is top tier

Surf green is the only green any guitar painted green should be in my opinion… all those other green guitars with the one exception of olive drab. But all those other green guitars are fugly in my opinion. I don’t have any surf green or olive drab guitars currently but that can change. lol… nice axe man.

Pro II