First Look: Fender Vintera II Series—'50s Jazzmaster, '60s Stratocaster & '70s Jaguar
PG straps in and takes a spin with three brand new entries from the ace but accessibly priced, Mexico-built Vintera II series.
Fender Vintera II '50s Jazzmaster
The Vintera II ‘50s Jazzmaster features an alder body and a maple neck with rosewood fingerboard for classic Fender tone that’s full of punch and clarity. The late-‘50s “C”-shape neck lends a comfortably familiar grip that feels just right in your hand, while the 7.25” radius fingerboard with vintage-tall frets provide vintage comfort with ample room for big bends and expressive vibrato. Under the hood, you’ll find a pair of vintage-style ‘50s single-coil pickups that deliver all the sweet and sparkling, warm and woody tone that made Fender famous. The vintage-style floating tremolo lets you dive and wail with abandon, while vintage-style tuning machines provide classic looks with a finer gear ratio and enhanced tuning stability to complete the package.
Specs
- Alder Body
- Vintage-Style ‘50s Single-Coil Jazzmaster Pickups
- Maple, Late ‘50s “C”-Shape Neck
- Rosewood, 7.25” radius fingerboard
- 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Adjustable bridge with “Floating” Tremolo Tailpiece • Deluxe Gig Bag included
Fender Vintera II '60s Stratocaster
The Vintera II ‘60s Stratocaster features an alder body and a maple neck with rosewood fingerboard for classic Fender tone that’s full of punch and clarity. The slim “C” shape neck is based on a classic ‘60s profile for an intuitive and inviting feel, while the 7.25” radius fingerboard with vintage-tall frets provides vintage comfort with ample room for big bends and expressive vibrato. Under the hood, you’ll find a trio of vintage-style ‘60s pickups that deliver all the sweet and sparkling, warm and woody tone that made Fender famous. The vintage-style synchronized tremolo lets you dive and wail with abandon, while vintage-style tuning machines provide classic looks with a finer gear ratio and enhanced tuning stability to complete the package.
Specs
- Alder Body
- Vintage-Style Mid ‘60s Single Coil Strat Pickups
- ‘60s “C”-Shape Neck
- Maple, 7.25” radius fingerboard
- Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
- Fender Vintage-Style tuners
- Deluxe Gig Bag included
Fender Vintera II '70s Jaguar
The Vintera II ‘70s Jaguar features an alder body and a maple neck for classic Fender tone that’s full of punch and clarity. The late-‘70s “C”-shape neck lends a comfortably familiar grip that feels just right in your hand, while the 7.25” radius fingerboard with vintage-tall frets provide vintage comfort with ample room for big bends and expressive vibrato. Black blocks and binding add a premium feel and look with distinctive ‘70s style. Under the hood, you’ll find a pair of vintage-style early-’70s single-coil pickups that deliver all the sweet and sparkling, warm and woody tone that made Fender famous. The vintage-style floating tremolo lets you dive and wail with abandon, while vintage-style tuning machines provide classic looks with a finer gear ratio and enhanced tuning stability to complete the package.
Specs
- Alder Body
- Vintage-Style Early-‘70s Single-Coil Jaguar® Pickups
- Maple, Late ‘70s “C”-Shape Neck
- Maple, 7.25” radius fingerboard
- 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Adjustable bridge with “Floating” Tremolo Tailpiece • Fender® Vintage “F” Stamped tuners
- Deluxe Gig Bag included
PRS NF 53 (left) & Myles Kennedy Signature (right) guitars
The Maryland outfit throw their hat into the T-style ring.
Myles Kennedy Signature
Introducing Myles Kennedy’s first signature model. Known for his work in Alter Bridge, Slash and the Conspirators, and his own solo recordings, Kennedy is an accomplished guitarist who brings blues and jazz style to rock guitar playing. This new signature model mirrors Kennedy’s rock sensibilities with a nod to historic designs. While the aesthetic may have players hearing chicken pickin’ in their heads – and this guitar can certainly reach twang territory – it is made to play like a rock machine.
“This guitar captures the spirit of my favorite older instruments. With that said, since we developed this guitar, most of my vintage instruments rarely see the light of day,” said Kennedy.
The PRS Myles Kennedy signature guitar features a swamp ash body, a 22-fret, 25.5” scale length maple neck with maple fretboard, and two PRS Narrowfield MK pickups. The PRS Narrowfield MK pickups were carefully voiced to capture the courage of humbuckers and the spank of single coils. PRS Narrowfields provided the perfect starting point for this design, with their ability to deliver thick single-coil sounds without the hum. These pickups are paired with a 5-way blade switch and a push/pull tone control that acts as a preset tone roll- off, bringing down the higher frequencies on the treble pickup so you can dig in to the fullest.
“I watched Myles throughout his career alternate between humbucking and single coil sounds without giving anything up on either side. These pickups took us months to dial in, and I think they capture that balance that Myles mastered beautifully,” said Paul Reed Smith.
Other features include a PRS plate-style steel bridge, vintage-style locking tuners, bone nut, and Kennedy’s “Geometric Owl” logo from his “Ides of March” solo release, representing wisdom and adaptability.
“I feel like we managed to touch on the elusive quality that makes you want to play with this guitar. It beckons you to take it off the wall or out of the case and make music.”
– Myles Kennedy
Myles Kennedy Signature Specifications
- Body Construction: Solidbody
- Body Wood: Swamp Ash
- Top Carve: Flat Top
- Number of Frets: 22
- Scale Length: 25.5”
- Neck Wood: Maple
- Neck Construction: Scarfed
- Truss Rod: PRS Double-Acting
- Neck Shape: Myles Kennedy
- Neck Depth at 1⁄2 Fret: 57/64” [22.62 mm]
- Neck Depth at 12 1⁄2 Fret: 31/32” [24.58 mm]
- Width of Fretboard at the Nut: 1 41/64” [41.67mm]
- Width of Fretboard at the Body: 2 15/64” [56.75 mm]
- Fretboard Wood: Maple
- Fretboard Radius: 10”
- Fretboard Inlay: Birds
- Headstock Logo: Signature, Decal
- Neck-Body Assembly Type: Bolt-On
- Bridge: PRS Plate Style, Steel
- Tuners: Vintage Style, Locking
- Hardware Type: Nickel
- Nut: Bone
- Truss Rod Cover: Myles Kennedy “Geometric Owl” Logo
- Treble Pickup: Narrowfield MK
- Bass Pickup: Narrowfield MK
- Controls: Volume and Push/Pull Tone Control with 5-Way Blade Pickup Switch
- P1 (Switch Down): Treble Humbucker
- P2: Treble Humbucker & Bass Coil Split
- P3: Treble & Bass Humbuckers
- P4: Treble & Bass Coil Split
- P5 (Switch Up): Bass Humbucker
The Myles Kennedy Signature Model | PRS Guitars
NF 53
The PRS NF 53 is a powerful guitar that combines classic tones with modern design. Inspired by one of Paul Reed Smith’s vintage guitars from 1953, the PRS NF 53 combines
a swamp ash body and 22-fret, 25.5” scale length bolt-on maple neck with maple fretboard with a special set of PRS Narrowfield pickups. The PRS Narrowfield DD (Deep Dish) pickups are made with taller bobbins to fit more winds and extra metal pieces in between the magnets for a more focused, powerful tone.
“I am so pleased with the feedback from the artists who have played this guitar – everyone is telling us that we have something special here,” said Paul Reed Smith. “If you are a fan of this style and tone, the NF 53 will take you where you want to go. To me to have this kind of beautiful high end without the hum is game changing.”
Paired with a volume and tone control and 3-way blade pickup switch, the NF 53 allows players to easily dial in their sound. The steel plate-style bridge, PRS vintage style tuners, and nickel hardware all work together to provide precise and reliable tuning stability while promoting sustain and powerful tone.
The PRS NF 53 is available in four stunning finishes: White Doghair, Black Doghair, Blue Matteo, and McCarty Tobacco Sunburst. Whether you are a seasoned player or just starting out, the PRS NF 53 is an addictive guitar you won’t want to put down.
NF 53 Specifications
- Body Construction: Solidbody
- Body Wood: Swamp Ash
- Top Carve: Flat Top
- Number of Frets: 22
- Scale Length: 25.5”
- Neck Wood: Maple
- Neck Construction: Scarfed
- Truss Rod: PRS Double-Acting
- Neck Shape: Pattern 53
- Neck Depth at 1⁄2 Fret: 7/8” [22.22 mm]
- Neck Depth at 12 1⁄2 Fret: 31/32” [24.58 mm]
- Width of Fretboard at the Nut: 1 41/64” [41.67 mm]
- Width of Fretboard at the Body: 2 7/32” [56.337 mm]
- Fretboard Wood: Maple
- Fretboard Radius: 10”
- Fretboard Inlay: Birds
- Headstock Logo: Signature
- Neck-Body Assembly Type: Bolt-On
- Bridge: PRS Plate Style, Steel
- Tuners: PRS Vintage Style
- Hardware Type: Nickel
- Nut: Bone
- Truss Rod Cover: NF 53
- Treble Pickup: Narrowfield DD
- Bass Pickup: Narrowfield DD
- Controls: Volume and Tone Controlswith 3-Way Blade Pickup Switch
Street Price: $2,899
The NF 53 | Demo | PRS Guitars
“I am so pleased with the feedback from the artists who have played this guitar – everyone is telling us that we have something special here. If you are a fa...The Godin Session T-Pro starts with the versatility of the Session HT, and adds boutique-quality features.
This guitar offers an H-S-S pickup configuration made up of Seymour Duncan SSL-2s single coils at the neck and middle positions, plus a Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Special Humbucker at the bridge. The SSL-2s use flat pole pieces for superior string balance and a full, rich bottom end. The Saturday Night Special features Alnico 4 magnets for a tone that is beefy and full, and can be converted to a single coil via a push-pull, for an S-S-S configuration. The middle SSL-2 is pole-reverse mounted, delivering the typical sound of a single-coil pickup with no background noise. With these outstanding pickups, combined with the 5-way switch, the Godin Session T-Pro serves up tonal possibilities for any style of music. Godin’s Tru-Loc Trem and 18:1 locking tuners ensure tuning stability and playing comfort.
The Godin Session T-Pro features a Hard Rock Maple neck and is available with Rosewood or Maple fretboards. A custom high-gloss finish allows the wood to breathe, enhancing the guitar's natural acoustics. Made in Canada, the Godin Session T-Pro will find a home with guitarists looking for a professional-quality instrument that is incredibly versatile.
A Limited Edition Session T-Pro LTD Kanyon Burst MN is also available until the end of 2023, with each signed by Simon Godin himself!
Specs:
- Body: Canadian Laurentian Basswood
- Neck: Hard Rock Maple
- Fingerboard: Maple or Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius: 12" (304.8 mm)
- Scale Length: 25.5" (647.7 mm)
- Nut Width 1.65" (41.91 mm)
- Frets: 22
- Machine Heads: 18:1 - Locking
- Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan SSL-2
- Middle Pickup: Seymour Duncan SSL-2 RWRP
- Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Special
- Bridge: Godin Tru-Loc Tremolo
- Controls: 1x Volume, 1x Push-Pull Tone, 5-way Switch
- Color: Ozark Cream, Arctik Blue, Kanyon Burst (Limited)
- High Gloss
- Gig Bag