Fender American Professional Stratocaster MN Dark Night Electric guitar

Fender American Professional Stratocaster MN Dark Night — Pro-Grade USA Strat with Modern Refinements

The Fender American Professional Stratocaster MN Dark Night is the maple-fingerboard variant of Fender's flagship American-made Stratocaster line, designed for working musicians who want classic Strat feel with contemporary refinements. This solidbody electric guitar pairs a lightweight, contoured alder body with a satin-finished maple neck and maple fingerboard, finished in the deep, moody Dark Night polyurethane coating. The American Professional Stratocaster MN Dark Night is the right choice for players who want vintage single-coil tone with modern playability, expanded switching, and stage-ready reliability straight from the box.

V-Mod III Pickups, Push-Push Tone, and Deep "C" Neck

The trio of new V-Mod III single-coil pickups is more articulate than ever while retaining the bell-like chime and warmth that defined classic Strats. A push-push tone control adds the neck pickup for extra pickup combinations beyond the five-way selector. The Deep "C" neck profile with smooth rolled fingerboard edges, finished in Fender's "Super-Natural" satin, is paired with 22 narrow-tall frets for easy bending.

Alder Body and Polyurethane Finish — Lightweight, Resonant, Stage-Ready

The contoured alder body provides a balanced, highly-resonant tonal foundation while keeping the guitar comfortable for long sets. The polyurethane finish in Dark Night gives the instrument a deep, sophisticated look that holds up against the wear of heavy playing and frequent travel.

• Body Material: Alder — balanced tonal weight with classic Strat resonance
• Finish: Polyurethane — durable, road-tested coating in Dark Night
• Pickup Configuration: SSS (three V-Mod III single-coils) — vintage chime with modern clarity

Deep "C" Maple Neck with Narrow Tall Frets — Built for Speed and Comfort

The maple neck features a Deep "C" profile that fills the hand without inhibiting technique, finished in Fender's "Super-Natural" satin for a fast, inviting feel. The maple fingerboard and Narrow Tall fret wire give players precise control over bends and vibrato, while the contoured neck heel improves access to the upper register.

• Neck Material: Maple with "Super-Natural" satin finish
• Fingerboard Material: Maple
• Fingerboard Radius: 241 mm (9.5") — comfortable for both chord work and lead playing
• Frets: 22 Narrow Tall — easy bending and precise vibrato

2-Point Tremolo, Cold-Rolled Steel Block, and Expanded Tone Control

The upgraded 2-point tremolo bridge with a cold-rolled steel tone block adds sustain and brightness while giving players expressive whammy-bar control. The push-push tone control adds the neck pickup, expanding the guitar's tonal palette beyond the traditional five Strat sounds.

• Bridge: 2-point tremolo with cold-rolled steel block — expressive playing with added sustain
• Pickups: V-Mod III single-coil (neck/middle/bridge) — vintage Strat voice with modern articulation
• Special Control: Push-push tone control — adds the neck pickup
• Orientation: Right-handed

Working Guitarists Who Want Vintage Strat Feel with Modern Refinements

This model is built for gigging musicians, session players, and serious hobbyists who want a USA-made Stratocaster that feels broken-in from day one. Players who split time between clean country tones, glassy chord work, and articulate lead playing will appreciate how the V-Mod III pickups respond to volume-rolloff and pickup selection. The included Deluxe Molded hardshell case makes it easy to take the instrument on tour or to the studio without worry. Whether the repertoire covers blues, country, rock, jazz, or fusion, this guitar offers the tonal range and playing comfort to handle a wide variety of material.

The American Professional Series — A New Standard for Working Players

The American Professional Stratocaster draws from more than seventy years of Fender innovation, inspiration and evolution to meet the demands of today's working player. ClassicGear Precision potentiometers deliver smooth, consistent control, while ClassicGear Radial bent-steel saddles with recessed screws make intonation and action adjustments effortless.