Turnstile Help Fender Introduce New Line of American Professional Classic Guitars and Basses

Fender has officially unveiled the American Professional Classic, a new line of guitars and basses, with the help of hardcore heroes Turnstile.

Featuring some of the most recognizable Fender silhouettes and body styles, the American Professional Classic emphasizes vintage aesthetics and modern playability. The new line features Stratocaster, Jaguar, Telecaster, Precision Bass, and Mustang Bass models, each with overwound vintage-style pickups and modern performance-enhancing aspects, such as a modern “C”-shaped neck.

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“These are road-worthy, ready-for-the-stage guitars that you can grab right off the hook of a store and go right to a gig and play,” Allen Abbassi, Fender’s Director of Product Management tells Consequence. “The pickups are actually based on our American Vintage II pickups, a line of reissue guitars that are made exactly like [guitars from] the ’50s and ’60s. These pickups are borrowed from that series, but they’re slightly modified. They’re overwound, so they have a touch more warmth and output.”

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These axes offer an accessible entry point for players looking for a pro-grade, stage-ready instrument, with prices ranging from $1,500 through $1,600 — a few hundred less than the American Professional II Stratocaster, for example. As of their launch, they’re the least expensive option for players looking for American-made Fender instruments.

“We have hyper-modern guitars in the Ultra, and we have very classic guitars in the American Vintage,” Executive Vice President at Fender Products and Manufacturing Justin Norvell adds. “The American Pro is kind of the contemporary icon, and this line leans a little more classic than those, but remains a great entry point to American-made Fender.”

Fender has also touted the line’s durability for “night after night” usage, strategically tapping hardcore act Turnstile as the face of the American Professional Classic series. Not only are they an active touring band, but Turnstile are particularly physically active onstage, which requires a trustworthy instrument designed for high-energy performances.

“When you’re in a different place constantly, sometimes the most familiar thing is the guitar that you bring every single night,” says Turnstile guitarist Pat McCrory. “We look for something that sounds the same every time, sounds exactly how you want it, but also has versatility because spaces change. Sometimes you play outside, sometimes it sounds different, sometimes you play inside or there’s [noisy] lighting. Having some durability but flexibility is very important.”

Specs on select models in the American Professional Classic line are as follows:

• The American Professional Classic Stratocaster ($1,499.99): Coastline ’57 single-coil Stratocaster pickups and “C”-shaped neck with 9.5″-radius maple fingerboard and medium jumbo frets (purchase here)
• The American Professional Classic Jaguar ($1,599.99): Coastline ’65 single-coil Jaguar pickups, alder body, and “C”-shaped neck with  9.5″-radius rosewood fingerboard and medium jumbo frets (purchase here)
• The American Professional Classic Telecaster ($1,499.99): Coastline ’63 single-coil Telecaster pickups, alder body, and “C”-shaped neck with 9.5″-radius maple fingerboard and medium jumbo frets (purchase here)
• The Professional Classic Precision Bass ($1,599.99): Coastline ’60 split-coil Precision Bass pickup, alder body, and “C”-shaped neck with rosewood fingerboard and Fender “lollipop” tuners (purchase here)
• The American Professional Classic Mustang Bass ($1,599.99): Coastline ’70 Mustang Bass split-coil pickup, alder body, and “C”-shaped neck with maple fingerboard and Fender “lollipop” tuners (purchase here)

Below you can check out an introductory video featuring Turnstile and product photos. For more on the American Professional Classic, visit Fender’s website.

Turnstile x Fender, photo by Connor Peterson