Fender American Professional II Telecaster RW Dark Night Electric Guitar

Quick Product Summary

The Fender American Professional II Telecaster RW Dark Night takes the unmistakable sound and simplicity of the Telecaster and adds the refinements modern working guitarists actually benefit from. An alder body, rosewood fingerboard and pair of V-Mod II Telecaster single-coil pickups provide the familiar snap, definition and direct response of a great Tele, while the Deep “C” maple neck, rolled fingerboard edges and sculpted heel make it exceptionally comfortable for extended playing.

Its striking Dark Night finish gives this American-made Telecaster a much more contemporary appearance, with the dark blue-to-black fade complemented by a black 3-ply pickguard and nickel/chrome hardware.

The traditional three-way pickup layout is expanded by a clever push-push series mode, giving you access to a thicker, higher-output sound alongside the classic bridge, neck and parallel Telecaster combinations. Add the flexible top-load/string-through bridge with compensated brass saddles and this becomes a professional Telecaster capable of covering far more ground than its straightforward appearance might suggest.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Fender
Model	American Professional II Telecaster
Finish	Dark Night
Condition	New
Body	Alder
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Pickups	2 x V-Mod II Single-Coil Telecaster
Neck	Maple, Deep “C”
Special Feature	Push-push series switching
Included	Fender Deluxe Moulded Case
Main Appeal	Classic Telecaster character with modern professional refinements
Best For	Rock, country, blues, indie, pop, funk, alternative and studio work

What’s Included?

• Fender American Professional II Telecaster RW in Dark Night

• Fender Deluxe Moulded Case

• .050" saddle-height hex wrench

• 1/8" truss-rod hex wrench

Why Choose The Fender American Professional II Telecaster?

V-Mod II Pickups Keep The Telecaster Character Intact

The two V-Mod II Telecaster single-coil pickups are individually voiced for their positions, giving the bridge pickup the attack and cutting definition players expect from a Tele while allowing the neck pickup to deliver a smoother, fuller sound without becoming indistinct.

Series Mode Adds A Genuinely Useful Fourth Sound

Pressing the push-push tone control while using both pickups activates series wiring. Instead of the normal parallel middle-position sound, the pickups work together to create a thicker, more powerful voice that is particularly useful for driven rhythm parts and lead work.

Deep “C” Neck With Rolled Fingerboard Edges

Fender's Deep “C” neck profile gradually fills out as you move towards the body, providing more support than a particularly slim neck while remaining comfortable for chords, bends and lead playing. Rolled fingerboard edges and the Super-Natural satin neck finish give it a smoother, played-in feel.

Flexible Telecaster Bridge Design

The three-saddle bridge can be used either string-through-body or top-loaded, allowing players to alter the response and tension to suit their preference. Compensated brass “bullet” saddles retain the traditional three-saddle Telecaster concept while improving intonation and playing comfort.

Easier Access Higher Up The Neck

A rounded, sculpted neck heel and bevelled neck plate reduce some of the bulk at the body joint, giving your fretting hand more room when working in the upper register.

Fender American Professional II Telecaster Compared With Popular Alternatives

Fender American Professional Classic Telecaster

The American Professional Classic Telecaster has a more vintage-inspired direction, with Coastline '63 pickups, a Modern “C” neck, medium-jumbo frets and vintage-style bridge hardware. Choose it if you want traditional styling and feel. The American Professional II is better suited to players wanting a fuller Deep “C” neck, narrow-tall frets, series switching and the flexible top-load/string-through bridge.

Fender American Vintage II 1963 Telecaster

The American Vintage II 1963 Telecaster is much more historically focused, with a 7.25" fingerboard radius, Pure Vintage '63 pickups, nitrocellulose lacquer and period-style hardware. It is the stronger choice for vintage purists, while the American Professional II offers easier modern playability and greater tonal flexibility.

Fender American Ultra II Telecaster

The American Ultra II Telecaster takes Fender's modern approach considerably further with Ultra II Noiseless pickups, a 10"-14" compound-radius fingerboard, Modern “D” neck, locking tuners, six-saddle bridge and additional body contouring. Choose the Ultra II for maximum modernisation and noise reduction; choose the American Professional II if traditional Tele single-coil response and a three-saddle bridge remain important.

Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe

The American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe uses two V-Mod II Double Tap humbuckers instead of traditional Telecaster single coils. It is better suited to players wanting thicker, higher-output humbucking sounds, while this standard American Professional II Telecaster is the stronger choice for classic Tele snap, bite and clarity.

Who Is The Fender American Professional II Telecaster For?

This model is an excellent choice for:

• Working guitarists who need a dependable professional instrument

• Players moving up from a Player or Player II Telecaster

• Telecaster fans who want traditional single-coil character with modern refinements

• Recording musicians who value clear, mix-friendly guitar tones

• Rock and indie players wanting a responsive guitar that works well with pedals

• Country and blues players looking for classic Telecaster attack and articulation

• Players who prefer a slightly fuller neck profile

• Guitarists who want an American Fender without going fully vintage-spec or ultra-modern

Looking for advice on choosing the right Fender Telecaster? Our experienced team of musicians can help you compare American Professional, American Vintage, American Ultra and Player models by phone, online or in our Birmingham showroom.

Suitable Genres And Playing Styles

The American Professional II Telecaster is particularly versatile because its fundamental sound remains clear and responsive.

The bridge pickup provides the fast attack and definition that works brilliantly for country, rock, indie, funk and cutting rhythm guitar, while the neck pickup offers a rounder response suited to blues, jazz-influenced clean playing, soul and smoother lead tones.

The normal middle position gives you both pickups in parallel for a balanced clean sound, while series mode provides additional thickness when you need more authority from the guitar without switching instruments.

It also works extremely well as a pedal platform. Its clear transient response makes overdrive, compression, delay, modulation and ambient effects easy to hear without the fundamental guitar sound disappearing underneath them.

What Does Series Mode Do On The American Professional II Telecaster?

A conventional Telecaster combines its bridge and neck pickups in parallel when the selector is in the middle position. On the American Professional II, pressing the push-push tone control switches the pickups into series, effectively feeding one pickup into the other.

The result is a fuller, louder and more mid-focused sound than the standard middle position. It gives the guitar an extra voice for rock rhythm, lead work or moments where a normal Telecaster single-coil sound feels slightly too lean, while leaving the traditional three pickup selections readily available.

Story & Context

Fender introduced the original American Professional Series in 2017, replacing the long-running American Standard range as a new generation of professional-level American Fender instruments.

The American Professional II followed as the next evolution of that concept, keeping the fundamental Telecaster formula intact while introducing practical developments for contemporary players. On the Telecaster these included V-Mod II pickups, rolled fingerboard edges, a sculpted neck heel, push-push series wiring and the redesigned dual top-load/string-through bridge.

Rather than turning the Telecaster into an entirely modern instrument, Fender retained signature elements such as the 25.5" scale, two single-coil pickups, three-way selector and three-saddle brass bridge. That combination of familiar Telecaster DNA and carefully chosen updates is central to the American Professional II's appeal.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Brand	Fender
Series	American Professional II
Model	American Professional II Telecaster
Orientation	Right-handed
Colour	Dark Night
Body Shape	Telecaster
Body Material	Alder
Body Finish	Gloss urethane
Neck Material	Maple
Neck Profile	Deep “C”
Neck Construction	4-bolt
Neck Finish	Super-Natural satin urethane on rear with gloss urethane headstock face
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius	9.5" / 241 mm
Scale Length	25.5" / 648 mm
Number Of Frets	22
Fret Size	Narrow Tall
Position Inlays	White dots
Nut Material	Bone
Nut Width	1.685" / 42.8 mm
Bridge Pickup	V-Mod II Single-Coil Tele
Neck Pickup	V-Mod II Single-Coil Tele
Pickup Configuration	SS
Controls	Master Volume, Master Tone
Pickup Selector	3-position blade
Additional Switching	Push-push tone control activates series mode
Bridge	3-saddle top-load/string-through Telecaster
Saddles	Compensated brass “Bullet” saddles
Tuning Machines	Fender Standard Cast/Sealed Staggered
Hardware Finish	Nickel/Chrome
Pickguard	3-ply black
Control Knobs	Knurled dome
Pickup Covers	Chrome neck / black bridge
Switch Tip	Black
Strap Buttons	Vintage-style
Factory Strings	Fender USA 250L Nickel Plated Steel .009-.042
Case	Fender Deluxe Moulded Case

Power Requirements

The Fender American Professional II Telecaster uses passive electronics, so there is no battery to replace and no external power supply is required.

Connect the guitar to an amplifier, pedalboard, modeller, multi-effects processor or audio interface using a standard ¼-inch instrument cable.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The Fender American Professional II Telecaster RW Dark Night gets the balance between classic and modern particularly right. It still delivers the immediate attack, clarity and personality that makes a good Telecaster so useful, but its improvements solve several practical issues without making the instrument feel over-engineered.

The V-Mod II pickups retain authentic single-coil character, while series switching gives you an additional thicker sound that genuinely extends what the guitar can do. The Deep “C” neck and rolled rosewood fingerboard edges are equally impressive, particularly for players who spend long periods performing or recording.

Best suited for: Gigging musicians, studio players and serious enthusiasts wanting a premium American-made Telecaster with traditional character and modern usability.

Customers usually upgrade from: Fender Player, Player II, Vintera and similar mid-priced Telecaster models.

Most commonly paired with: A quality valve or modelling amplifier, overdrive or boost pedal, compressor and professional instrument cable.

Our tip: Try both bridge stringing options. String-through-body retains the familiar Telecaster setup, while top-loading can produce a slightly looser playing response that some players prefer for bends and rootsier rhythm work.

Showroom feedback: The combination of the Deep “C” profile and rolled rosewood fingerboard edges gives this model a reassuringly substantial but very comfortable feel. It is particularly worth trying if thinner modern necks leave you wanting more support in the fretting hand.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

From our Birmingham showroom, our knowledgeable musician-led team can help you compare different Fender guitars and find the model that genuinely suits your playing style, amplifier setup and budget.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians

• Carefully checked new, used, pre-owned and ex-display equipment

• Competitive prices on leading music brands

• Secure UK-wide delivery

• Flexible finance options available subject to status

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• A major Birmingham music showroom

• Decades of experience with new and pre-owned guitars

• Secure online ordering

Thinking about upgrading from your current guitar? We are also happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation and your existing guitar could help reduce the cost of your next upgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fender American Professional II Telecaster good for gigging?

Yes. Its comfortable neck, sealed staggered tuners, flexible bridge, expanded electronics and included moulded case make it particularly well suited to regular professional use on stage and in the studio.

Are the V-Mod II Telecaster pickups noiseless?

No. They are traditional-style single-coil pickups rather than Fender Noiseless pickups. Some electrical hum can therefore occur depending on your environment, amplifier and gain settings. Players specifically prioritising noiseless operation should also consider the American Ultra II Telecaster.

Is the American Professional II Telecaster good for rock?

Yes. The bridge pickup provides the bite and definition associated with Telecaster rock tones, while series mode adds extra body and output when you need a thicker sound for riffs or leads.

What is the difference between top-loading and string-through-body?

String-through-body routing passes each string through the back of the guitar before it reaches the bridge saddle. Top-loading anchors the strings directly at the bridge. The American Professional II allows either approach, giving players more freedom to experiment with playing feel and response.

Is the Deep “C” neck particularly large?

It is fuller than some slim modern Fender neck profiles but is not an oversized vintage-style neck. The profile starts relatively slim near the nut and gradually gains depth as you move towards the body, creating a supportive feel for both chord and lead playing.

Is a Telecaster suitable for beginners?

A beginner can certainly play an American Professional II Telecaster, but this is a premium professional-level instrument. It makes most sense for a committed beginner who wants an instrument they will not quickly outgrow, or for an intermediate or experienced player moving into a higher-level guitar.

Does the American Professional II work well for recording?

Yes. Telecasters are particularly useful recording instruments because their attack and definition can help guitar parts remain clear within a full arrangement. The additional series setting makes this model especially versatile when layering different guitar sounds.

Should I choose the rosewood or maple fingerboard version?

Both retain the core character of the American Professional II Telecaster, so the decision is primarily about feel and appearance. This rosewood version gives the Dark Night finish a particularly sophisticated contrast and offers the smooth feel many players associate with an unfinished fingerboard surface.

Fair Deal Music Expert Recommendation

If you want an American Telecaster that preserves the instrument's simplicity and unmistakable single-coil character while making meaningful improvements for everyday professional use, the Fender American Professional II Telecaster RW Dark Night is an outstanding option.

The Deep “C” neck, rolled rosewood fingerboard edges and sculpted heel make it comfortable to play, while series switching and the dual top-load/string-through bridge give you useful flexibility without complicating the familiar Telecaster control layout.

For help comparing the American Professional II against the American Professional Classic, American Vintage II, American Ultra II or Telecaster Deluxe, contact the Fair Deal Music team online, by phone or visit our Birmingham showroom.

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