Why Fender Swapped the American Original for the American Vintage II, and Which to Buy Used

If you're shopping used USA vintage-style Fenders, you'll see two names next to each other in the listings: American Original and American Vintage II. Both are made in Corona, both have nitro finishes and vintage-tall frets, and on the hanger they look almost the same. Here's the short version. The American Original was Fender's "vintage, but easier to play" line, and the American Vintage II went back to period-accurate specs. The change you'll feel first is the fingerboard radius: 9.5" on the American Original, 7.25" on most American Vintage II models.

Neither one is the "better" guitar. They were built for different players, and once you know which one you are, picking between them used is easy.

How Fender got from one to the other

Fender's USA reissue line has changed course a few times. The American Vintage series that ran up to 2017 used period specs, including a 7.25" radius on the Strats. In January 2018 Fender replaced it with the American Original series. At launch it had ten models across the '50s, '60s and '70s, priced from about $1,799 to $2,099. The pitch was vintage looks and sounds with "modern features that enhance playability." In practice that mostly meant a flatter 9.5" radius across the guitars.

The American Original lasted about four years. In October 2022 Fender announced the American Vintage II series, which went back to 7.25" on most models. It also named each guitar after a specific year instead of a decade: a 1957 Strat and a 1961 Strat instead of a "'50s" and a "'60s." Fender's own people talked about the line in terms of getting each year's details right, down to where the screw holes sit.

Diagram: the two lines side by side. The radius curve is drawn with its height exaggerated 10x, because the real difference is only a few hundredths of an inch.

The difference your hands notice: 7.25" vs. 9.5"

On paper the radius change is tiny. Across the width of a Strat board at the 12th fret, the edges of a 7.25" board drop about 17 thousandths of an inch further than a 9.5" board. Under your fingers you notice it right away.

A rounder 7.25" board feels great for chords near the nut, and plenty of players say it's the most comfortable shape they've ever held. The tradeoff shows up when you bend. Push a string across a tightly curved board and it can run into the next fret up and choke, especially high on the neck. So 7.25" guitars usually want a bit more action than a 9.5" board for the same clean bends. Vintage-tall frets on both lines help, but they don't make that go away. If you've ever had notes die halfway through a bend, we went through the causes in what fretboard radius should you get.

The setups we've done on both lines bear that out. An American Vintage II '61 Strat in Olympic White that came through here played well with low, comfortable action on its 7.25" board. That's a good setup, not luck. Still, my experience is that if you bend a full step or more above the 12th fret and want your action on the floor, the American Original's 9.5" board is the easier one to live with. If you mostly play chords, double-stops and modest bends, a well-set 7.25" board gives up very little.

Decade vs. year: the details that changed

The American Original was built around decades, so a '60s Strat mixed early- and mid-'60s features. The American Vintage II commits to one year per model. On the two core Strats, that changes a few things:

• '50s Strat vs. 1957 Strat. The American Original '50s Strat uses a "Soft V" neck and Pure Vintage '59 pickups. The American Vintage II 1957 is specced with a 1957 "V" neck and its own pickup set.
• '60s Strat vs. 1961 Strat. The American Original '60s Strat has a round-laminated rosewood board, the later "transition" headstock logo and Pure Vintage '65 pickups. The American Vintage II '61 goes back to a slab rosewood board, the earlier "spaghetti" logo and Pure Vintage '61 pickups.
• Pickups voiced by model. Fender says the American Vintage II pickups were dialed in model by model, not shared across a decade. How much of that you'd hear in a blind test is open to debate. The spec difference itself is real.

A Fender American Original '50s Stratocaster in Aztec Gold from our past inventory. It has a one-piece maple neck with a 9.5" radius.

A Fender American Vintage II '61 Stratocaster from our past inventory. You can see the rosewood board with clay-style dots, the mint guard and the aged plastics. The radius is 7.25".

Feel matters more than the spec sheet here. The American Original '60s Telecaster that came through here had a proper '60s neck: not a baseball bat, but definitely something to hold onto. Neck shapes vary a little from guitar to guitar on both lines, so if you can, play the one you're actually buying.

What I check on a used one

Both lines are well-built USA guitars, and I don't know of a model-specific weak spot on either one. The useful checks are about what owners have done to them since:

• Pickup originality. On an American Original '50s Strat we had, all three pickups had been swapped for Fender Noiseless units. Swapping isn't bad, but it changes the guitar from what the model name tells you. Ask whether the originals come with it.
• Fret work. Another American Original '50s Strat came from an owner who said they played it daily. It had already had a full fret level and crown. That's a plus on a used guitar, as long as there's enough fret height left. Check it, especially on a 7.25" board, where low frets make bends choke sooner.
• Parts swaps. The American Original '60s Tele we had came with replaced knobs and pickguard. It also had the 75th Anniversary neck plate that showed up on some guitars from that period. Small swaps like that are fine, but price the guitar as modified.
• Factory finish vs. owner "aging." Neither line was sold as a factory relic. An American Vintage II '61 in Fiesta Red that came through here had been relic'd after it left Fender. It played beautifully, but it was a Good-condition guitar on paper because of the finish removal. Nitro can check naturally over time. Wear through to the wood on these lines was done by a person.
• Touch-ups. The American Vintage II '57 we have now has some wear at the body edges and near the neck plate, and it's been sealed with ebony stain. We disclose it and grade it Very Good. Look for that kind of thing in photos and ask about it.

The 2022 Fender American Vintage II '57 Stratocaster in 2-Color Sunburst, currently in stock at Aeonic Frets.

So which one should you buy used?

My take: buy the American Original if you want vintage looks and sounds with fewer playability compromises. That's especially true if you bend hard, like low action, or are coming from a modern Fender with a 9.5" or flatter board. Buy the American Vintage II if you want the most period-correct production Fender you can get without paying Custom Shop prices, and you're happy to set it up the way a 7.25" board likes.

On value, the used asking prices we've seen on both lines are close. Condition, color and originality move the price more than which series it is. Since the American Original was discontinued, I'd expect some players to start hunting them for that 9.5" board, but I wouldn't buy one as an investment. If you're weighing an American Vintage II against Fender's modern USA line instead, we compared those in American Vintage II '57 vs. American Professional II.

Right now we have a 2022 American Vintage II '57 Stratocaster in 2-Color Sunburst. Its neck, fretboard and frets are excellent, the action is medium, the intonation is spot on and the electronics are original. You can see the rest of what's on hand in our guitars in stock. If you own one of these and are thinking of moving it on, our cash offer page is the quickest way to get a number.

FAQ

Is the American Original the same as the American Vintage series?

No. The American Original (2018–2022) replaced the earlier American Vintage series and changed the radius to 9.5". The American Vintage II (2022 on) then replaced the American Original and went back to 7.25" on most models.

Can you change a 7.25" radius guitar to 9.5"?

Only by having the fingerboard re-radiused during a refret. That's real work, and it takes away the original spec. If you know you want 9.5", buying an American Original is much simpler.

Do American Original and American Vintage II guitars sound different?

A little, mostly because of the different pickup voicings and specs from model to model. Setup, strings and the individual guitar usually matter more than which series it is.

Are American Vintage II guitars nitro?

Yes. Both lines use nitrocellulose lacquer finishes, so normal nitro care applies to both. Be careful with vinyl stands and straps, and expect some checking with age and temperature swings.