Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) today announced the next evolution of American Professional, its flagship series of electric guitars and basses. Built around some of the most recognizable shapes in music – including the Stratocaster®, Stratocaster® HSS, Telecaster®, Hotshot™ Telecaster®, Jazzmaster®, Jaguar®, Precision Bass®, Precision Bass® V, Jazz Bass® and Jazz Bass® V – the refreshed series brings new player-focused design and performance upgrades to instruments that continue to shape how music is played and performed today.
Fender was built on original ideas – instruments designed from scratch that changed what music could sound like. Eight decades later, that commitment to original design, innovation and craftsmanship continues to shape how Fender builds, with American Professional representing the latest expression of that philosophy.
These are not interchangeable instruments. For generations, Fender’s most iconic designs have carried distinct identities – shaped by their sound, feel and the artists who make them their own. From Strat players to Tele devotees, each has its own personality and fiercely loyal following across generations and creative communities.
The refreshed American Professional series honors that identity while continuing to evolve for the way musicians play today. Every update is rooted in the people who build the instruments, the experimentation behind their development and the player insight that helps Fender determine what to preserve, what to refine and what to rethink.
“You don’t evolve an instrument like the Strat or Tele by changing things just to make them new,” said Justin Norvell, Fender Chief Product Officer, Guitars and Basses. “We balance modern, useful improvements with the familiarity of what has made them iconic. In the same spirit as Leo Fender, we create tools for musicians by listening to what they need. We start with the players—how they’re playing today, what they’re asking for and where there’s an opportunity to make the experience better. We put that insight in the hands of the designers, engineers and builders who know these instruments inside and out. American Professional is the result of that process: continuing to invest in original design, experimentation and craftsmanship while being thoughtful about what makes these instruments iconic in the first place.”
Handcrafted in Corona, California, the refreshed American Professional series lineup includes the Stratocaster®, Stratocaster® HSS, Telecaster®, Hotshot™ Telecaster®, Jazzmaster®, Jaguar®, Precision Bass®, Precision Bass® V, Jazz Bass® and Jazz Bass® V and introduces updates across the range designed to refine how these guitars and basses feel in the hand, respond under the fingers and hold up night after night, while preserving the character and identity that define each instrument.
Highlights of the new American Professional series include:
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New V-Mod III pickups: Custom-voiced for balanced output, string to string note clarity, and a unique touch sensitivity. New V-Mod III single-coils in the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar and Jazzmaster, a redesigned V-Mod III Humbucking bridge pickup in the Stratocaster HSS for more push out of the bridge position, new Jazz Bass V-Mod III pickups and a new V-Mod III split-coil in the Precision Bass.
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Redesigned bridges: Built for improved resonance and sustain, enhanced comfort, and solid stability. ClassicGear Radial bent steel saddles sit comfortably under the palm on the Stratocaster, the Telecaster runs a top-load or string-through bridge with ClassicGear™ compensated brass bullet saddles, the Jaguar and Jazzmaster pair a ClassicGear™ J-Bridge™ with a Panorama® tremolo for the full range of expressive vibrato, and both basses get a redesigned HiMass™ Modern Bridge for added resonance and sustain.
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Advanced electronics: ClassicGear™ Precision™ Potentiometers offer improved taper and ideal tension while Push-Push tone controls on every guitar put extra voices one click away.
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Necks that feel played in: A Deep “C” on the guitars, a Medium “C” on the Precision Bass and a Slim “C” on the Jazz Bass, every one with rolled edges that let the fretting hand move freely across the fingerboard.
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Left-handed models coming Spring 2027: Fender will expand the American Professional Series with left-handed versions of the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Precision Bass and Jazz Bass.
“There are incredibly talented designers, engineers and builders behind every one of these instruments,” said Edward “Bud” Cole, CEO of Fender. “They listen to players, test ideas and work through the details to make meaningful improvements for players. The American Professional series reflects that combination of player insight, experimentation and craftsmanship as we continue to push ourselves to make great instruments even better.”
The One. For All.
American Professional serves as a centerpiece of The One. For All., Fender’s broader campaign celebrating the artists, music and communities that continue to shape what Fender’s iconic instruments become. Featuring Dinosaur Jr., Mike Kinsella of American Football, They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Lindsey Jordan of Snail Mail, Steve Gunn, Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog, and Thurston Moore Group, the campaign brings together artists across generations and genres whose distinct sounds and creative approaches reflect the many possibilities within Fender’s most recognizable designs.
Last month, Fender and Dinosaur Jr. brought that idea to life with The One. For New York., a series of intimate performances across New York City celebrating the artists, neighborhoods and communities that continue to shape music today. Go behind the scenes and watch the full film of The One. For New York. on Wednesday October 14th exclusively on Fender.com.
“New York was the first place we came where we had any fans or acceptance. We just kind of gravitated towards New York,” said J Mascis. “Starting a band I decided I wanted a Fender…I went to buy a Strat but they had a Jaguar for $200 and Jazzmaster for $300. The neck felt better on the Jazzmaster, it was worn in like a baseball bat so I just went for the Jazzmaster.”
The One. For New York. is the first of several city-focused chapters of The One. For All., with The One. For London., The One. For Tokyo., The One. For Shanghai., and The One. For Sydney. planned for later this year and 2027. Each will celebrate the artists, venues and communities that make a city’s music culture its own — and the people who continue to shape what comes next.
