Review: Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster
Fender makes improvements to its top-of-the-line electric guitars.
By Preshan John
17 October 2024
Touted as Fender’s most advanced series of electric guitars and basses, American Ultra is the model to aspire to if you want Fender tone and feel at its finest. With American Ultra II, the top line is even further improved. Fender sent AudioTechnology a second generation American Ultra II Stratocaster for an early look.
American Ultra II instruments are, of course, built in Fender’s factory in Corona, California. Alder is the unsurprising choice of wood for the body. There are plenty of hardware perks on the American Ultra II worth mentioning. Locking tuners are a godsend, especially if you’re heavy-handed with the trem bar. The tone and volume knobs are soft-touch coated. Saddles are the comfortable block-style variants on a two-point tremolo bridge with a pop-in arm. And the Volume knob is loaded with the S-1 switch for a couple more pickup configurations.
In person, the metallic yellow ‘Solar Flare’ finish with a black pickguard is stunning yet understated. Five other finishes are available with the Ultraburst or Texas Tea being my picks.
MAXIMUM TONE, MINIMUM NOISE
Purists may bemoan the Noiseless pickups but for most gigging or session guitarists, the eradication of single-coil hum is nothing but a positive. I certainly enjoy raising my gate thresholds thanks to the minimal noise. Tonally, the many voices of the Stratocaster are all on tap thanks to the Vintage Strat pickups. The neck pickup glistens and chimes while the bridge offers all the sizzling, searing bite you could want. Positions 2 and 4 possess that characteristic balance of warmth and attack – to my ears, with less mids than my American Standard – to truly accentuate the signature Strat ‘quack’. The tone pots are easy to operate with a pinky finger and do a great job taming any harsh high end while preserving clarity. Winding the bridge tone knob all the way down turned an overdrive into a pseudo-fuzz that was fun to play around with. The American Ultra II excels in providing jangle and sizzle in bucketloads and will satisfy any Strat lover for that reason, but if you’re looking for beefier, thicker tones, the HSS version will probably suit you better with the humbucker on the bridge.
The S-1 switching system brings an extra layer of tonal versatility. By pressing the button in the middle of the Volume pot, you can add the neck pickup into positions 1 and 2 for more unique sounds – position 2 took me into a twangy Telecaster realm that loves some chicken picking. On the HSS model the S-1 switch splits the humbucker into a single coil pickup. All this adds up to create a fairly wide array of tonal possibility which is valuable both in the studio and on stage.
PERFORMANCE-READY
The American Ultra II isn’t just about tone – it’s built for performance. The contoured body, with its deeper cuts and reshaped neck heel, allows for much easier access to the upper frets. The Ultra II also features a 10- to 14-inch compound-radius quartersawn maple fingerboard (ebony is an option too), which is flatter up high for bend-heavy lead work.
NEED TO KNOW
Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster
Electric Guitar
The neck is supremely easy to navigate. The Modern D-shape profile is a tad more of a handful than the C-shape neck on my American Standard and thins out towards the neck heel for maximum comfort when playing lead in higher registers. Scale length is 25.5-inches with 22 frets and a bi-flex truss rod. My thumb appreciated the rolled fret edges. The satin urethane finish on the neck keeps it smooth and comfy even a couple of hours into a hot and sweaty gig.
Fender ships the American Ultra II with light gauge strings (9-42s) which, as a matter of personal preference, I would soon swap out with a heavier option for an overall more rounded tone, especially on chunkier rhythm chords. However the choice of lighter strings makes the Strat an absolute weapon for soaring leads – which, as we know, is a Strat’s happy place.
The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster offers a compelling package for serious musicians who value versatility, playability, and thoughtful craftsmanship. However, this level of innovation and premium build quality comes with a hefty price tag, which may put it out of reach for many enthusiasts or casual players. While the American Ultra II is undoubtedly worth the investment for guitarists who rely on their instruments day in and day out, hobbyists may find more affordable options elsewhere without sacrificing too much in terms of playability or tone.
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