Collection: Fender American
Fender American
At Chicago Music Exchange, we carry one of the most extensive selections of Fender American guitars available—handbuilt in the U.S. and trusted by generations of musicians. Whether you’re searching for an American Professional II Stratocaster, American Professional II Telecaster, American Ultra, American Vintage II, American Performer, or Fender American Custom Shop guitars, CME has the most in-demand USA Fender instruments for every style and level.
If your search includes Fender American guitar, USA Fender Strat, Fender American Pro II, American Ultra Strat, American Performer Tele, best American Fender, or Fender American Vintage II review, this page is engineered to win the search and help you find the perfect guitar.
Why Guitarists Want Fender American Guitars
Fender American guitars are celebrated worldwide for:
- superior build quality
- premium tonewoods
- professional-grade hardware
- refined neck shapes and playability
- boutique-level craftsmanship
- authentic Fender tone
- excellent reliability for touring & studio work
- long-term investment value
These instruments are trusted by working musicians because they deliver consistency, tone, and performance that never fail—whether you’re onstage, recording, or writing at home.
A Short History of Fender American Guitars
Since Leo Fender introduced the Telecaster (1951) and Stratocaster (1954), American-built Fender guitars have shaped every era of modern music. From early rock ‘n’ roll to blues, country, surf, punk, alternative, indie, worship, and pop, USA Fender models defined the sound of generations.
Important milestones include:
- 1950s–60s: Birth of Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, Jaguar
- 1987: Launch of the American Standard series
- 2017: Launch of American Professional
- 2020: Launch of American Professional II
- 2021: Launch of American Ultra/Luxe
- 2022: Return of American Vintage II, recreating pre-CBS Fender classics
Today, American Fender guitars represent the pinnacle of Fender’s production craftsmanship—blending heritage with modern engineering.
Most Popular Fender American Models
Popular Fender USA Models
- American Professional II Stratocaster: The American Pro II Strat delivers everything players expect from a modern Fender American Strat—dynamic V-Mod II pickups, rolled fingerboard edges, and a sculpted heel for effortless upper-fret access. It remains one of the best USA Strat options for working musicians.
- American Professional II Telecaster: A favorite among session players, the American Pro II Tele pairs classic Tele snap with thoughtful modern refinements. This USA Telecaster keeps the traditional feel intact while adding smoother playability and broader tonal versatility.
- American Ultra & Ultra Luxe Series: Players seeking cutting-edge performance often gravitate toward the American Ultra Strat and Ultra Telecaster models. As part of Fender’s most modern Fender USA lineup, these guitars feature advanced noiseless pickups and compound-radius necks designed for fast, clean, precision playing.
- American Vintage II Series: The American Vintage II collection offers period-correct recreations of Fender’s most iconic pre-CBS instruments. For those chasing true vintage-style Fender USA tones, these AVRI II models deliver unparalleled authenticity in feel, sound, and specs.
- American Performer Series: The American Performer Strat and the rest of the series showcase USA craftsmanship at a more accessible price point. These guitars are built for players who want American-made reliability without the premium cost.
- Fender Custom Shop (Masterbuilt & Team Built): Fender Custom Shop instruments—whether a custom shop Strat or custom shop Tele—represent the pinnacle of the brand’s craftsmanship. Built by master luthiers and elite teams, these guitars offer museum-level detail, heirloom finishes, and world-class tone.
Chicago Music Exchange carries all of these models in multiple finishes, pickup configurations, and limited editions.
Popular Styles & Variations of Fender American Guitars
- Fender American Stratocaster – SSS, HSS, and HSH
- Fender American Telecaster – single-coil, HH, Thinline
- Fender American Jazzmaster
- Fender American Jaguar
- American Vintage II 1957 Strat
- American Professional II Tele Deluxe
- American Ultra Stratocaster HSS
- American Performer Mustang & Duo-Sonic
- Custom Shop ’50s, ’60s, ’70s recreations
CME also offers exclusive or limited models not found anywhere else.
Famous Musicians Who Use Fender American Guitars
Stratocaster Players
- Jimi Hendrix
- Eric Johnson
- John Mayer
- Jeff Beck
- Mark Knopfler
- David Gilmour
- Eric Clapton
Telecaster Players
- Bruce Springsteen
- Brad Paisley
- Keith Richards
- James Burton
- Graham Coxon
- Offset Players
- Nels Cline
- J Mascis
- Thurston Moore
- Kevin Shields
Influencers & YouTubers
- Rhett Shull
- Marty Music
- Mary Spender
- Paul Davids
- JHS (Josh Scott)
Their visibility drives massive search frequency for American Fender guitars.
Specs That Define Fender American Guitars
Specs vary by series, but common features include:
- premium alder, ash, or roasted pine bodies
- maple or rosewood fingerboards
- V-Mod II, Ultra Noiseless, or Pure Vintage pickups
- modern/soft V/C/U neck profiles
- contoured neck heels
- 2-point tremolo or vintage synchronized trem
- high-quality hardware and electronics
- rolled fretboard edges
- professional setups
- USA-built Fenders deliver unmatched feel, tone, and reliability.
Price Points for Fender American Guitars
- $1,299–$1,499: American Performer
- $1,799–$1,999: American Professional II
- $2,099–$2,399: American Ultra / Ultra Luxe
- $2,099–$2,399: American Vintage II
- $3,500–$8,500+: Fender Custom Shop
CME stocks Fender American guitars at every price level.
Why Buy Fender American Guitars from Chicago Music Exchange?
- One of the largest Fender American inventories in the world
- Exclusive finishes, limited editions, and rare Custom Shop builds
- Expert staff that plays Fender guitars daily
- Professional setup & inspection on every instrument
- Fast worldwide shipping
- Trusted by guitar players worldwide
When you want the best Fender American guitar, Chicago Music Exchange is your first stop.
FAQ: Fender American Guitars
Are Fender American guitars better?
Yes—they offer superior craftsmanship, tonewoods, and performance compared to offshore models.
What is the most popular American-made Fender guitar?
The American Professional II Stratocaster and American Professional II Telecaster are the top sellers.
Are American Fenders worth it?
Yes—they offer high-quality construction, excellent tone, and consistently strong resale value.
What genres are Fender American guitars good for?
Rock, blues, indie, jazz, surf, worship, funk, pop, and country—even metal with HSS or HH configurations.
What’s the difference between American Pro II and American Ultra?
- Pro II = classic Fender feel with modern refinements.
- Ultra = most advanced performance specs (noiseless pickups, compound radius, premium hardware).
What’s the difference between American Vintage II and Custom Shop?
- Vintage II = production-line, historically accurate recreations.
- Custom Shop = handcrafted, premium woods, collectible finishes.
Fender American Stratocaster
The Fender American Stratocaster is a benchmark of electric guitar design, a shape and sound so familiar that it feels woven into the DNA of modern music. This collection highlights the very best of the American-made Strat—crafted with professional precision, built for expressive players, and refined through decades of innovation. From the bell-like chime of its neck pickup to the quack of positions two and four, the American Stratocaster offers a tonal palette as versatile as the artists who rely on it.
Whether you’re exploring the articulate clarity of the American Professional II series, the elevated performance features of the American Ultra, or the historically rich voicings of the American Vintage II line, each instrument is built to deliver the effortless feel and dynamic response that Strat players expect. Smooth tremolo systems, comfortable contours, and premium electronics all come together to create a guitar that invites exploration.
For players who value nuance, precision, and unmistakable Fender tone, the American Stratocaster remains a lifelong companion—equally at home on stage, in the studio, or in a well-loved practice space. This collection gathers the models that keep the Stratocaster’s legacy alive while pushing its capabilities forward.
Fender American Telecaster
The Fender American Telecaster is a study in elegant simplicity—one body, two pickups, and a sound that has shaped countless recordings across genres. In this collection, you’ll find the best of the American-made Tele lineup: instruments that pair traditional craftsmanship with modern playability, delivering everything from crisp country twang to soulful blues bite, gritty rock rhythm, and articulate indie textures.
American Telecasters shine in their honesty. They reveal your touch, reward your dynamic control, and sit perfectly in a mix without overpowering the rest of the band. Models like the American Professional II refine the classic formula with updated electronics and improved ergonomics, while the American Ultra pushes further with noiseless pickups and advanced neck profiles. For purists, the American Vintage II series brings back the feel and tone of the Tele’s most iconic eras.
Whether you’re a dedicated Tele player or exploring the model for the first time, this collection offers instruments built for longevity and expressive clarity. The American Telecaster remains a defining voice in guitar history—direct, musical, and unmistakably Fender.
Fender American Jazz Bass
The Fender American Jazz Bass stands as one of the most influential bass designs ever created, cherished for its slim, fast neck and the unmistakable growl of its dual single-coil pickups. This collection showcases the top-tier American-made Jazz Bass models—crafted for working musicians who demand tonal flexibility, dependable construction, and an instrument that reacts instantly to their touch.
The Jazz Bass is known for its ability to glide between genres: warm and rounded for soul, punchy and articulate for rock, crisp and defined for funk, and smooth enough for modern R&B or jazz. American Professional II models bring refined hardware and updated electronics, offering clarity and presence without losing the spirit of the original design. The American Ultra line adds advanced noiseless pickups and premium feel, while the American Vintage II series captures the character of the J-Bass across its most iconic decades.
With its offset body, comfortable contours, and signature midrange bite, the American Jazz Bass remains a favorite for players who need both nuance and authority. This collection highlights instruments built for performance, longevity, and the unmistakable tone that has anchored generations of recordings.