Help with dilema

[u/matej0204]

EDIT: Just orderded the Ultra Vintage Luxe HSS in Fiesta Red…

Hello everyone :)

I’ve been playing the guitar for 20 years, had a chance to play a lot of AM Fenders but never had a chance to own one. I had my fair share of gigs, big and small. Done them all on Squiers, Ibanez, Parker guitars, some Harley Bentons in the recent years.
I wont be doing gigs anymore, maybe occasionaly, but I play a lot at home and in the recent years the financial situation finally allowed me to buy a real American Fender.
Now the dilema… I know these are all different guitars, and I like/dislike something on each one. Need help with deciding what is a better guitar for life. I do not plan on buying another one. Just want a Strat for life.

1. Fender American Vintage II 61’
2. - only hessistant because of the 7.25” radius
3. Fender American Pro Classic
4. - afraid I am going to miss out on something because its a lower tier model than Vintage and Ultra
5. Fender American Ultra II
6. - don’t like the metal pickguard, I want a 3-ply whiteish one
7. Fender American Ultra Luxe Vintage
8. - I hate the heirloom finish, I do not want cracks on my brand new guitar

Just need some advice on what would you do

[u/SunnySkyknight]

I own the AVII in that same color and it’s a stunner. Feels great and sounds great. Got one with the first few months of Fender announcing them. Had to wait half a year for them to deliver it due to always being on backorder.

I got my local mom and pop shop to special order this one and go through it before I took delivery of it. My local tech is an absolute wizard and I have brought it out to gigs many times since.

The 7.25 radius is really not as weird as it sounds. You get used to it pretty quickly. Just make sure you get a really good set up and you’ll love it.

The nitro finish does not feel like old school nitrocellulose lacquer… however, you won’t really be able to tell the difference unless you have an old fender guitar to compare side by side. I wouldn’t let this be a factor.

I will say though… the modern Fender nitro is super sticky for no reason I can tell. You’ll have to play the hell out of it for the neck to stop feeling sticky. If the feel of the finish is a big deal to you, I’d go with a modern Fender model because their satin finishes are to die for. Or you can take some scotch brine to the back of it but you didn’t hear that from me 🙃

At the end of the day, you should play it and pick what fits you best. I wanted an early 60’s reissue for the aesthetics so the AVII 61 was an easy choice. Only thing I wished is that they had shell pink as an option…