The Fender Limited Edition American Professional II Stratocaster HSS HT in Smoke takes the familiar American Professional II platform in a noticeably more aggressive and specialised direction.

A chambered ash body with satin Smoke finish is paired with a roasted maple neck and matching roasted maple fingerboard, while the electronics combine a Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 bridge humbucker with Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 single coils in the middle and neck positions. Rather than the usual Stratocaster tremolo, this limited edition uses a 6-saddle string-through-body hardtail bridge for excellent tuning stability, sustain and direct string response.

This pre-owned example is presented in Very Good Condition, showing some cosmetic wear consistent with careful previous ownership while remaining fully functional. A hardcase is included.

At A Glance

Key Detail	Information
Brand	Fender
Series	American Professional II
Model	Limited Edition Stratocaster HSS HT
Finish	Smoke
Body	Chambered Ash
Neck	Roasted Maple
Fingerboard	Roasted Maple
Pickup Configuration	HSS
Bridge	String-Through Hardtail
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good Condition
Included	Hardcase
Main Appeal	Hardtail USA Strat with powerful Seymour Duncan HSS electronics
Best For	Rock, hard rock, alternative, metal, blues and professional live use

Condition Overview

Very Good Condition

This Fender Limited Edition American Professional II Stratocaster HSS HT is presented in Very Good Condition.

Under the Fair Deal Music grading system, Very Good Condition means the guitar shows some cosmetic wear consistent with careful previous ownership while remaining fully functional and ready for regular playing, rehearsal, studio and live use.

The satin Smoke finish naturally emphasises the texture and grain of the chambered ash body, giving this model a very different visual character from a conventional gloss-finished American Professional II.

What's Included?

✔ Fender Limited Edition American Professional II Stratocaster HSS HT
✔ Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

• Very Good overall condition
• Cosmetic signs of previous use
• Smoke finish
• Roasted maple neck and fingerboard
• Hardtail bridge
• Hardcase included

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This pre-owned Fender has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before being offered for sale.

Our checks include:

• Seymour Duncan JB bridge pickup tested
• Middle SSL-6 pickup tested
• Neck SSL-6 pickup tested
• 5-way selector checked
• Master volume tested
• Tone controls checked
• Output jack assessed
• Neck condition inspected
• Roasted maple fingerboard checked
• Frets assessed
• Tuning machines checked
• Hardtail bridge inspected
• Individual saddles checked
• General hardware assessed
• General playability checked
• Hardcase checked for general usability

Service / Setup Work

All pre-owned guitars at Fair Deal Music are checked for general setup and playability before leaving the shop.

Key areas assessed include:

• Action
• Neck relief
• Fret condition
• Intonation
• Tuning stability
• Pickup operation
• Electronics
• Bridge setup
• Hardware
• General playing feel

Minor setup movement can naturally occur during transport as wooden instruments respond to changes in temperature and humidity.

What Makes This American Professional II Stratocaster Special?

This limited edition differs significantly from the standard American Professional II Stratocaster. The most obvious change is the hardtail bridge, eliminating the conventional Strat tremolo system in favour of a string-through fixed bridge. This provides a direct feel, straightforward setup and strong tuning stability that will particularly appeal to players who rarely use a tremolo.

The pickup configuration is equally distinctive. Rather than Fender's normal V-Mod II electronics, this guitar uses a Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 humbucker with SSL-6 Custom Flat Strat single coils. Combined with the chambered ash body, roasted maple neck and satin Smoke finish, it creates one of the more performance-focused and unusual American Professional II Stratocaster specifications.

Key Features & Benefits

Chambered Ash Body

The body is made from chambered ash, reducing weight while retaining the distinctive grain and response associated with ash-bodied Fender guitars.

The chambering also makes this limited edition substantially different from a conventional solid alder American Professional II Stratocaster.

Satin Smoke Finish

The Smoke finish works with the ash grain rather than hiding it, creating a textured, understated appearance complemented by black hardware and controls.

Its satin treatment also gives the guitar a noticeably different tactile character from Fender's more conventional gloss-finished instruments.

Roasted Maple Neck

The neck is constructed from roasted maple, a heat-treated material chosen for its stability and distinctive darker appearance.

A satin urethane finish keeps the back of the neck smooth and comfortable for faster position changes.

Roasted Maple Fingerboard

Rather than rosewood or conventional maple, the fingerboard also uses roasted maple, with black dot position markers providing strong visual contrast.

Modern “C” Neck Profile

This limited edition uses Fender's Modern “C” profile rather than the Deep “C” commonly associated with the standard American Professional II range.

The result is a familiar contemporary Fender neck feel suited to both rhythm and lead work.

9.5" Radius

The 9.5" fingerboard radius provides a practical balance between traditional Fender curvature and modern bending comfort.

22 Medium-Jumbo Frets

The guitar has 22 medium-jumbo frets, offering more substantial fretwire than the narrow-tall specification used on many standard American Professional II models.

Seymour Duncan HSS Pickup System

Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 Bridge Humbucker

The bridge position uses the legendary Seymour Duncan JB TB-4.

Known for strong output, pronounced upper-midrange presence and excellent articulation, the JB is particularly effective for:

• Rock
• Hard rock
• Alternative
• Higher-gain lead work
• Heavy rhythm guitar
• Driven blues
• Pedal-based rigs

The TB-4 version is designed with string spacing appropriate for Fender-style bridges.

Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 Middle Pickup

The middle position uses a Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 RWRP single coil.

Its hotter voicing gives it greater output and body than a typical lower-output vintage Strat pickup, making the transition between the single coils and bridge humbucker particularly effective.

Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 Neck Pickup

The neck SSL-6 retains Stratocaster clarity and articulation while offering a fuller and stronger response than many vintage-output designs.

It works particularly well for blues, clean lead lines and driven neck-pickup sounds.

Hardtail Stratocaster Bridge

One of the defining features of this model is its 6-saddle string-through-body hardtail bridge with block saddles.

Removing the tremolo system provides several practical advantages:

• Excellent tuning stability
• Straightforward string changes
• Individual intonation adjustment
• Direct string-to-body coupling
• No tremolo spring setup
• No floating bridge movement during bends
• Simple alternate-tuning setup

For players who love the Stratocaster shape but never use a tremolo arm, the HT format makes considerable sense.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Limited Edition HSS HT vs Standard American Professional II Stratocaster HSS

The regular American Professional II HSS uses Fender V-Mod II electronics and a 2-point tremolo. This limited edition moves towards a more aggressive setup with Seymour Duncan pickups, a hardtail bridge, chambered ash body and roasted maple neck.

HSS HT vs Traditional SSS Stratocaster

A traditional SSS Strat offers three single-coil voices and the familiar bright bridge sound. The JB humbucker in this model provides considerably more output and midrange weight, making heavier gain sounds much easier to achieve.

Hardtail vs Tremolo Stratocaster

A tremolo-equipped Strat provides pitch modulation and classic Fender vibrato effects. A hardtail sacrifices that functionality in favour of mechanical simplicity, increased tuning consistency and a firmer string response.

Who Is It For?

Rock guitarists – The JB bridge humbucker provides substantially more output than a traditional Strat bridge single coil.

Hard rock players – Excellent tuning stability and a fixed bridge make it particularly practical for heavier rhythm and lead work.

Alternative musicians – The unusual combination of Strat single coils and powerful bridge humbucker covers a broad range of textures.

Players who dislike tremolo systems – The hardtail bridge eliminates springs, floating setup and tremolo movement completely.

Studio guitarists – The HSS layout provides useful tonal contrast between powerful humbucker sounds and clearer single-coil voices.

Professional performers – USA construction, stable bridge design and versatile electronics make it particularly suitable for regular stage use.

Suitable Genres & Applications

Particularly well suited to:

• Rock
• Hard rock
• Alternative
• Indie
• Metal
• Progressive rock
• Blues rock
• Blues
• Pop
• Punk
• Modern country
• Studio recording
• Professional live performance
• Drop tunings
• Pedal-based rigs
• Lead guitar
• Heavy rhythm guitar

Why Choose An HSS Hardtail Stratocaster?

An HSS Stratocaster gives the player two distinctly different pickup families in one familiar instrument.

The neck and middle single coils provide the clarity, articulation and attack normally associated with a Strat, while the bridge humbucker introduces additional output, compression and midrange for heavier sounds.

The hardtail bridge complements this arrangement especially well for players who prioritise tuning stability and direct response over vibrato effects.

That makes this limited edition a particularly effective crossover between the classic Fender format and the requirements of contemporary rock-oriented players.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Solid Body Electric Guitar
Brand	Fender
Series	American Professional II
Model	Limited Edition Stratocaster HSS HT
Finish	Smoke
Country of Manufacture	USA
Body Shape	Stratocaster
Body Material	Chambered Ash
Body Finish	Satin Urethane
Neck Material	Roasted Maple
Neck Construction	4-Bolt
Neck Profile	Modern “C”
Neck Finish	Satin Urethane
Fingerboard Material	Roasted Maple
Fingerboard Radius	9.5" / 241mm
Position Inlays	Black Dot
Number of Frets	22
Fret Size	Medium Jumbo
Scale Length	25.5" / 648mm
Nut Material	Bone
Nut Width	1.685" / 42.8mm
Pickup Configuration	HSS
Neck Pickup	Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6
Middle Pickup	Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 RWRP
Bridge Pickup	Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 Humbucker
Electronics	Passive
Controls	Master Volume, Tone 1, Tone 2
Switching	5-Way Blade
Bridge	6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail
Saddles	Block Saddles
Pickguard	3-Ply Black
Control Knobs	Knurled Dome
Hardware Finish	Black
Included	Hardcase
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good Condition

Limited Edition Specification Note

This model should not be confused with the regular production American Professional II Stratocaster HSS.

Key differences include:

• Chambered ash body
• Smoke satin finish
• Roasted maple neck
• Roasted maple fingerboard
• Modern “C” neck profile
• 22 medium-jumbo frets
• Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 bridge humbucker
• Seymour Duncan SSL-6 neck and middle pickups
• String-through hardtail bridge
• Black hardware

These features form a substantially different guitar from the standard American Professional II HSS specification.

Power Requirements

No battery or external power supply is required.

The Seymour Duncan pickups and guitar electronics are completely passive.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The Fender Limited Edition American Professional II Stratocaster HSS HT in Smoke is one of the more interesting modern variations on the American Stratocaster formula.

Its chambered ash body, roasted maple neck and fingerboard, hardtail bridge and Seymour Duncan HSS pickup configuration give it a much more aggressive and performance-focused character than a conventional American Professional II.

The JB bridge humbucker provides the power needed for heavier music, while the two SSL-6 single coils retain enough Fender character to keep the guitar versatile.

Presented in Very Good Condition and supplied with a hardcase, this is an excellent option for anyone who wants premium USA Fender construction but prefers a fixed bridge and hotter electronics.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Limited-edition guitars can offer specifications that are unavailable in the standard production range and may become difficult to replace once production finishes.

Every pre-owned guitar at Fair Deal Music is individually assessed so its condition and included items are represented clearly.

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.

Fair Deal Music is Birmingham's largest independent music store, combining a major showroom with nationwide ecommerce and decades of experience buying, selling and part-exchanging new, used and pre-owned musical equipment.

When you buy from us, you benefit from:

• Family-run independent retailer established in 1987
• Birmingham's largest independent music store
• 6,000+ Trustpilot reviews
• Expert musician-led advice
• Extensive experience with Fender and premium pre-owned guitars
• Pre-owned instruments individually assessed
• Clear condition grading
• Competitive prices on leading music brands
• Secure ordering
• Fast UK delivery
• Large Birmingham showroom
• Friendly support before and after purchase

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Your existing guitar could help towards the cost of this Fender.

Fair Deal Music buys and part-exchanges guitars, basses, amplifiers, effects, keyboards and a wide range of other musical equipment.

Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation and find out what your current gear could be worth towards this Limited Edition American Professional II Stratocaster HSS HT.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a standard American Professional II Stratocaster?

No. This is a Limited Edition HSS HT model with several important specification changes including chambered ash construction, roasted maple, Seymour Duncan pickups and a hardtail bridge.

What does HSS mean?

HSS refers to the pickup configuration: one humbucker and two single-coil pickups.

What does HT mean?

HT means Hardtail, indicating that the guitar uses a fixed bridge rather than a Stratocaster tremolo.

What is the body made from?

It uses a chambered ash body.

Why is the body chambered?

Chambering removes selected internal material, helping reduce overall weight while changing the resonance of the body.

What is the finish?

The guitar is finished in Smoke with a satin treatment that highlights the texture and grain of the ash body.

Is the neck roasted maple?

Yes. Both the neck and fingerboard are roasted maple.

What neck profile does it use?

It uses Fender's Modern “C” profile.

Is that the same as the normal American Professional II Deep “C”?

No. This limited edition specifically uses the Modern “C” rather than the regular Deep “C” specification.

What is the fingerboard radius?

It uses a 9.5" radius.

How many frets does it have?

It has 22 medium-jumbo frets.

What bridge pickup does it use?

The bridge pickup is a Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 humbucker.

What pickups are fitted in the neck and middle positions?

Both are Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 single coils, with an RWRP version in the middle position.

Is the JB suitable for high-gain playing?

Yes. The JB is particularly well known for rock and higher-gain sounds thanks to its strong output, midrange presence and articulation.

Can it still produce traditional Strat-style sounds?

Yes. The neck and middle SSL-6 pickups retain single-coil clarity and allow access to recognisably Strat-style clean and driven tones.

Does it have a tremolo?

No. This model uses a fixed string-through-body hardtail bridge.

What are the advantages of a hardtail Strat?

A hardtail offers excellent tuning stability, a straightforward setup and no movement from a tremolo system when bending strings or changing tunings.

Does it require a battery?

No. The electronics are completely passive.

Does it come with a hardcase?

Yes. A hardcase is included.

What condition is it in?

It is presented in Very Good Condition, meaning it shows some cosmetic wear consistent with careful previous ownership while remaining fully functional.

Can I request a video demo?

Yes. Our Request a Video Demo service is ideal if you would like to see the Smoke finish and chambered ash grain more closely or hear the difference between the JB humbucker and SSL-6 single coils.

Can I part-exchange another guitar against it?

Yes. Fair Deal Music considers trade-ins and part exchanges across a wide range of guitars and other musical equipment. Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation.