Fender American Professional II Stratocaster in Mercury, Open Box Electric Guitar

Please Note: This item is Open Box. It is in "As New" condition. May show some very minor signs of use.

Quick Product Summary

The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster in Mercury is a premium USA-made Strat designed for the working guitarist who wants unmistakable Fender character combined with thoughtful modern refinements.

This Mercury version pairs an alder body with a rosewood fingerboard, giving the metallic finish a particularly sophisticated look alongside its black pickguard and aged-white pickup covers. The maple neck uses Fender's comfortable Deep “C” profile with rolled fingerboard edges, a smooth “Super-Natural” satin finish and a sculpted heel for easier access to the upper register.

Three V-Mod II Stratocaster single-coil pickups provide the familiar Strat combination of clear bridge attack, distinctive in-between tones and warm neck sounds, while a push/push switch adds the neck pickup to selector positions 1 and 2 for two additional pickup combinations.

An upgraded two-point tremolo with a cold-rolled steel block, 22 narrow-tall frets, bone nut and treble-bleed volume circuit complete a specification designed to work equally well on stage, in the studio or as a high-quality everyday instrument.

Offered here as an Open Box example, this is a strong choice for players looking to move into a professional USA Fender Stratocaster.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Fender
Series	American Professional II
Model	Stratocaster
Finish	Mercury
Condition	Open Box
Body	Alder
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Neck Profile	Deep “C”
Fingerboard Radius	9.5"
Frets	22 Narrow Tall
Pickups	3 x V-Mod II Stratocaster Single-Coils
Special Switching	Push/Push Neck Pickup Add
Bridge	2-Point Synchronized Tremolo
Main Appeal	Premium USA Strat versatility with modern professional refinements
Best For	Blues, rock, indie, pop, funk, soul, country and studio work

Open Box Condition Report

Condition: Open Box

This Fender American Professional II Stratocaster is offered as an Open Box instrument.

No specific cosmetic marks, faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this individual example, so none have been assumed or invented.

Please refer closely to the listing photographs when assessing the precise cosmetic presentation of the guitar available.

For additional reassurance on this premium Open Box Fender, you are also welcome to request a video demo from our team.

What's Included?

• Fender American Professional II Stratocaster in Mercury

• ✘ No additional individual Open Box accessories have been confirmed for this listing

Factory Package Note

Fender's standard factory package for this model includes:

• Deluxe Molded Case

• .050" saddle-height hex wrench

• 1/8" truss-rod hex wrench

As this is an individual Open Box guitar, these factory accessories have not been assumed as confirmed contents without verification that they remain with this specific instrument.

Condition Notes

No specific cosmetic defects, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this Open Box Stratocaster.

The product photographs should be used to assess the exact cosmetic presentation of the individual guitar available.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

Before leaving Fair Deal Music, this American Professional II Stratocaster will be checked by our team for correct mechanical and electronic operation.

Our assessment includes:

• Neck and fret condition

• Tuning machine operation

• Nut and string path

• Two-point tremolo and saddle operation

• Pickup output

• Five-way pickup selector

• Push/push auxiliary switching

• Volume and tone controls

• Output socket

• General setup and playability

Service / Setup Work

This Fender American Professional II Stratocaster will be checked and set up before leaving the shop.

Neck relief, action, intonation and general playability will be assessed as part of our preparation process.

As with any electric guitar, setup can move slightly during transportation as the instrument responds to changes in temperature and humidity. Allowing the guitar to acclimatise after delivery before making further adjustments is recommended.

Why Choose The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster?

Deep “C” Neck With Rolled Fingerboard Edges

Fender's Deep “C” profile starts relatively comfortable near the nut and gradually fills out towards the neck joint, providing more substance than an especially slim modern neck without becoming excessively bulky.

Rolled fingerboard edges add a smoother, more broken-in feel that becomes particularly noticeable during longer sessions.

V-Mod II Stratocaster Pickups

The three V-Mod II single-coil pickups are individually voiced for their respective positions, helping the bridge, middle and neck sounds complement one another across the five-way selector.

The result retains the clarity, warmth and familiar response expected from a Strat while giving the guitar the versatility required for professional stage and studio work.

Two Extra Pickup Combinations

A push/push switch on the second tone control adds the neck pickup to positions 1 and 2.

This means you can access bridge and neck together, plus all three pickups simultaneously — combinations that are not available from a standard five-way Stratocaster circuit.

Upgraded Two-Point Tremolo

The synchronized tremolo uses a cold-rolled steel block, bent-steel saddles and pop-in arm.

It maintains the expressive pitch control expected from a Stratocaster while providing the smooth adjustment and stability associated with Fender's modern two-point design.

Treble-Bleed Volume Circuit

The treble-bleed circuit helps retain clarity as you reduce the guitar's volume.

For players who regularly control amplifier drive from the guitar itself, this makes the volume knob a much more useful performance tool.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

American Professional II Stratocaster vs Player II Stratocaster

The Player II Stratocaster is an excellent choice for players entering Fender's core range, with a Modern “C” neck, rolled fingerboard edges and Player Series Alnico pickups.

The American Professional II steps up with USA construction, a Deep “C” neck, V-Mod II pickups, sculpted heel, narrow-tall frets, expanded switching, upgraded two-point tremolo and a premium factory case.

Choose Player II for value; choose American Professional II when professional refinements and USA construction justify the upgrade.

American Professional II Stratocaster vs American Ultra II Stratocaster

The American Ultra II Stratocaster pushes further into modern-performance territory with a compound-radius fingerboard, noiseless pickups, locking tuners and more extensively sculpted ergonomics.

The American Professional II stays closer to familiar traditional Stratocaster operation while still introducing genuinely useful modern features. Choose Ultra II for maximum contemporary performance; choose Professional II for the middle ground between tradition and modernisation.

American Professional II Stratocaster vs American Vintage II Stratocaster

The American Vintage II range deliberately recreates older Fender specifications with vintage-radius fingerboards, period hardware and historically inspired pickups.

The American Professional II is considerably more contemporary, with a 9.5-inch radius, rolled edges, narrow-tall frets, two-point tremolo and expanded electronics. Choose American Vintage II for historical feel; choose Professional II for modern everyday usability.

American Professional II Stratocaster vs American Professional II HSS

The standard American Professional II uses three single-coils and is the stronger option for players who want the full traditional Stratocaster pickup character.

The HSS version replaces the bridge single-coil with a V-Mod II Double Tap humbucker, making it better suited to musicians who need a thicker, higher-output bridge sound for heavier rock and gain.

Who Is The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster For?

This Stratocaster is particularly well suited to:

• Professional and semi-professional guitarists

• Working gigging musicians

• Studio and session players

• Experienced Stratocaster players

• Players upgrading from a Fender Player or Player II

• Blues guitarists

• Rock musicians

• Funk and soul players

• Pop guitarists

• Indie and alternative musicians

• Country players

• Guitarists who need one versatile premium instrument

• Players who prefer rosewood fingerboards

The American Professional II makes particular sense if you want a Strat that feels refined and modern without moving as far from traditional Fender territory as the American Ultra II.

Playing Styles & Applications

The American Professional II Stratocaster works across blues, rock, funk, soul, pop, indie, alternative, country, fusion and professional session work.

The bridge pickup provides focused attack for rhythm and lead playing, while positions two and four deliver the distinctive blended Strat sounds that work especially well for clean funk, pop and soul.

The neck pickup provides the warmer, smoother voice traditionally associated with expressive blues and clean lead work.

Push the auxiliary control and the additional bridge-plus-neck combination gives you another useful rhythm voice, while all three pickups together provide a different layered texture for studio work.

What Does The Push/Push Switch Add To A Stratocaster?

A conventional Stratocaster five-way selector cannot normally combine the bridge and neck pickups together.

The American Professional II solves this without adding another visible toggle switch. Pressing the push/push control on Tone 2 adds the neck pickup when the selector is in positions 1 or 2.

That creates two additional combinations:

Position 1 + Push/Push: Bridge and neck pickups together
Position 2 + Push/Push: Bridge, middle and neck pickups together

This expands the guitar's tonal range without changing the familiar Stratocaster control layout.

Compatibility And Practical Pairing Advice

Guitar Amplifiers

The American Professional II Stratocaster works extremely well through clean and edge-of-breakup amplifiers where the clarity and dynamics of the V-Mod II pickups remain easy to hear.

British-style amplifiers can push it towards classic rock, while modelling systems make full use of its wide range of pickup combinations.

Effects Pedals

Particularly useful pairings include:

• Compressor

• Boost

• Overdrive

• Fuzz

• Wah

• Chorus

• Phaser

• Tremolo

• Delay

• Reverb

The clear single-coil response makes this a particularly strong platform for larger pedalboards.

Strings

The factory specification uses Fender USA 250L nickel-plated steel .009-.042 strings.

Players who prefer a firmer response can move to .010s, although changing gauge can affect neck relief, intonation and tremolo balance, so adjustment may be beneficial.

Cases And Transport

Fender's factory specification includes a Deluxe Molded Case, providing an appropriate level of protection for a professional USA instrument.

If you regularly tour or transport your guitar between venues, a fitted hard case is particularly worthwhile.

Looking for advice on choosing between the American Professional II, American Ultra II or another Fender Stratocaster? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Story & Context

The Stratocaster has been one of Fender's defining instruments since the 1950s, but the design has continually evolved as the demands of working guitarists have changed.

The American Professional II approach is not to recreate one particular historical Stratocaster. Instead, it takes the familiar alder body, bolt-on maple neck, three-single-coil layout and synchronized tremolo and refines the areas that modern professional players interact with most.

The rolled fingerboard edges and sculpted heel address comfort. The V-Mod II pickups and auxiliary switching expand the available sounds. The cold-rolled steel tremolo block updates an important piece of hardware without changing the essential character of the bridge.

That makes the American Professional II a useful middle ground within Fender's premium USA range: recognisably traditional, but designed around contemporary working-player requirements.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Brand	Fender
Series	American Professional II
Model	Stratocaster
Model Number	0113900755
Orientation	Right-Handed
Colour	Mercury
Body Material	Alder
Body Shape	Stratocaster
Body Style	Solid Body
Body Finish	Gloss Urethane
Neck Material	Maple
Neck Shape	Deep “C”
Neck Construction	4-Bolt
Neck Finish	“Super-Natural” Satin Urethane on Back with Gloss Urethane Headstock Face
Fingerboard Material	Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius	9.5" / 241 mm
Fingerboard Edges	Rolled
Scale Length	25.5" / 648 mm
Number Of Frets	22
Fret Size	Narrow Tall
Position Inlays	White Dot
Side Dots	White
Nut Material	Bone
Nut Width	1.685" / 42.8 mm
Bridge Pickup	V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat
Middle Pickup	V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat
Neck Pickup	V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat
Pickup Configuration	SSS
Controls	Master Volume, Tone 1 Neck/Middle, Tone 2 Bridge
Auxiliary Switching	Push/Push Tone Control Adds Neck Pickup
Volume Circuit	Treble Bleed
Pickup Selector	5-Position Blade
Position 1	Bridge Pickup
Position 2	Bridge And Middle Pickups
Position 3	Middle Pickup
Position 4	Middle And Neck Pickups
Position 5	Neck Pickup
Bridge	2-Point Synchronized Tremolo
Bridge Saddles	Bent Steel
Tremolo Block	Cold-Rolled Steel
Tremolo Arm	Pop-In
Tuning Machines	Fender Standard Cast/Sealed Staggered
Hardware Finish	Nickel / Chrome
Pickguard	3-Ply Black
Pickup Covers	Aged White
Control Knobs	Aged White Plastic
Switch Tip	Aged White
Neck Plate	4-Bolt
Strap Buttons	Vintage-Style
Strings	Fender USA 250L Nickel-Plated Steel .009-.042
Factory Case Specification	Deluxe Molded Case

Specification Note

Individual instrument weight, serial number and exact retained accessory package for this Open Box example have not been supplied and have therefore not been guessed.

Power Requirements

The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster uses passive single-coil electronics and does not require a battery.

The push/push pickup switching and treble-bleed circuit operate passively.

Connect the guitar to a suitable guitar amplifier, effects system, modeller or audio interface using a standard instrument cable.

Fair Deal Music Verdict 🎵

★★★★★ 5/5

The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster remains one of the strongest choices for a player who wants a premium USA Strat without committing fully to either vintage recreation or ultra-modern specification.

The Deep “C” neck, rolled rosewood fingerboard and sculpted heel make it exceptionally comfortable, while the V-Mod II pickups keep the fundamental Strat character intact.

The push/push neck-pickup switching is also genuinely useful. It expands the instrument's range without complicating what remains a familiar, intuitive control layout.

Best suited for: Professional and experienced players wanting a versatile premium Stratocaster for stage, studio and everyday use.

Customers usually upgrade from: Fender Player, Player II, Vintera, American Performer and earlier Standard-series Stratocasters.

Most commonly paired with: Quality valve or modelling amplifiers, compressor, overdrive, boost, delay, reverb and professional pedalboards.

Our tip: Explore the push/push switch with the selector in the bridge position. The bridge-and-neck combination is one of the most useful additional sounds and provides a very different alternative to the usual Strat pickup combinations.

Showroom feedback: The rolled fingerboard edges and Super-Natural satin neck finish are immediately noticeable in the hand. It feels refined without becoming excessively modern, which is exactly why the American Professional II appeals to such a broad range of Strat players.

Why Buy Open Box From Fair Deal Music?

Open Box equipment can be an excellent way to access premium instruments while making your budget work harder.

Every Open Box instrument we sell is individually handled and checked by our team before leaving the shop, giving you the reassurance of buying from an established independent music retailer.

Detailed photography helps you assess the exact individual guitar before purchasing, and for a premium instrument such as this American Professional II Stratocaster you can also request a video demo.

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 helps customers choose guitars, basses, amplifiers, keyboards, drums, studio equipment and much more.

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, Open Box and ex-display equipment

• Competitive prices on leading music brands

• Secure UK-wide delivery

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• Secure online ordering

• A large Birmingham showroom

• Decades of experience with new and pre-owned musical instruments and equipment

Considering a premium Fender Stratocaster and want to compare the American Professional II with another model? Speak to our team by phone, online or in-store for friendly, practical musician-to-musician advice.

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, bass, keyboard, amplifier, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the American Professional II Stratocaster pickups noiseless?

No. The V-Mod II pickups are traditional-style Stratocaster single-coils rather than noiseless pickups. They are designed around classic Strat clarity and dynamics, so some single-coil hum can occur depending on the environment and equipment being used.

What does the push/push tone control do?

It adds the neck pickup when the five-way selector is in positions 1 or 2. This gives you bridge and neck together in position 1 and all three pickups together in position 2.

What is the advantage of the Deep “C” neck?

The Deep “C” provides more shoulder and substance than a particularly slim modern neck while remaining comfortable for chord work, lead playing and general-purpose use.

Is the 9.5-inch radius suitable for bending strings?

Yes. It provides a useful balance between comfortable chord playing and enough flatness for modern bends. The narrow-tall frets also help make bends and vibrato comfortable.

What does the cold-rolled steel tremolo block do?

It forms the substantial block beneath the tremolo bridge and is part of Fender's upgraded American Professional II bridge design. The system is intended to improve clarity, sustain and overall response while retaining familiar Stratocaster tremolo operation.

Can I fit heavier strings?

Yes. Many players move from the factory .009-.042 set to .010s or heavier. A significant string-gauge change can affect neck relief, action, intonation and tremolo balance, so a setup is recommended.

Is the American Professional II suitable for professional recording?

Yes. Its broad five-way pickup range, two additional switching combinations and responsive passive electronics make it particularly useful for session and studio work where several distinct guitar sounds may be required.

Should I choose the American Professional II or American Ultra II?

Choose the American Professional II if you want premium modern refinements while retaining conventional single-coil Strat character and familiar 9.5-inch neck geometry. Choose the American Ultra II if compound-radius playability, noiseless pickups, locking tuners and more advanced modern ergonomics are priorities.