Fender officially launches the American Ultra Series: Evolution or revolution?
American Ultra Series - Its official!
Fender today officially launched the American Ultra Series, replacing the existing Elite Series. The Ultra range includes a number of subtle upgrades that, seen together, take these classic models in a new direction. But will it prove popular with players?
Fender American Ultra Series
Earlier this week, details surfaced of a new series of guitars called the American Ultra Series. The leak coincided with Fender’s teaser campaign, so we had a fairly good idea of what to expect. And here they are! The new Ultra models are: Ultra Stratocaster, Ultra HSS Stratocaster, Ultra Telecaster, Ultra Jazzmaster, Ultra Precision Bass, Ultra Jazz Bass and Ultra Jazz Bass V.
So what’s new in the American Ultra series? These US-built instruments have seen a few tweaks to the classic formulas we all know and love. It’s more of an evolutionary step than a revolution. The changes include a new Modern D neck profile, new Body Contours and Ultra Noiseless Vintage and Hot pickups. The Ultra series is offered in new finishes such as Cobra Blue, Mocha Burst, Texas Tea, Arctic Pearl, Aged Natural, Plasma Red Burst and Ultraburst.
Ultra versus Elite
If you want to delve into the minutiae of the features introduced with the Ultra series, check out the diagram below. They include quite a few subtler tweaks that combine to put these guitars into a new class over and above the previous Elite Series launched back in 2016. In addition to the new neck profile and pickups, the instruments in the Ultra range have updated compound radius fingerboards with extremely rolled edges, satin-smooth necks, heavily sculpted four-bolt neck joints and treble-bleed circuits.
These enhancements should make these guitars a joy to play. As we all know, details matter when differentiating a good guitar from a great one. I think these subtle tweaks could culminate in some very impressive new instruments.
Fender Ultra Stratocaster Key Features
Double Tap Humbucker
One of the more interesting new features is bridge humbucker on the American Ultra Series Stratocaster HSS. It’s overwound so that the pickup volume matches that of the middle and neck single-coils when using the coil-splitter. Fender calls this a Double Tap Humbucker and this is the first time it’s been used on a Fender production model.
Now let’s take a look at the individual models!
American Ultra Series Stratocaster
The American Ultra Series Stratocaster has all the tweaks mentioned above, with 22 medium-jumbo frets, an S1 Custom circuit that adds the neck pickup sound to other configurations, a bone nut and sealed locking tuning machines.
Finishes include Arctic Pearl, Cobra Blue, Mocha Burst, Plasma Red Burst, Texas Tea and Ultraburst.
RRP – GBP 1859
American Ultra Stratocaster Aged Natural
American Ultra Series HSS Stratocaster
The Ultra Series HSS Stratocaster has the same configuration as above, but has a Double Tap Humbucker in the bridge position.
RRP – GBP 1859
American Ultra Stratocaster HSS Texas Tea
American Ultra Series Telecaster
The Ultra Series Telecaster has 22 medium-jumbo frets and Series/Parallel pickup switching circuit, plus a bone nut and sealed locking tuning machines.
RRP – GBP 1859
American Ultra Telecaster Cobra Blue
American Ultra Series Jazzmaster
The American Ultra Series Jazzmaster also includes 22 medium-jumbo frets and Series/Parallel switching circuit for pickups, plus a bone nut and sealed locking tuning machines.
RRP – GBP 1959
American Ultra Jazzmaster Plasma Red Burst
American Ultra Series Precision Bass
The Ultra Series Precision Bass comes with 21 medium-jumbo frets, a 3-band active preamp and a HiMass bridge with brass saddles.
RRP – GBP 1959
American Ultra Precision Bass
American Ultra Series Jazz Bass
Again, the Ultra Series Jazz Bass comes with 21 medium-jumbo frets, a 3-band active preamp and has a HiMass bridge with brass saddles.
RRP – GBP 1959
American Ultra Jazz Bass Arctic Pearl
American Ultra Series Jazz Bass V
The Ultra Series Jazz Bass V is a 5-string model with 21 medium-jumbo frets, a 3-band active preamp and a HiMass bridge with brass saddles. It costs a little extra, presumably for the extra string, but it’s still a decent price.
RRP – GBP 1999
American Ultra Jazz Bass V Ultraburst
Fender American Ultra Series vs Elite: The Verdict
Fender has made an array of changes here. If you want vintage looks but with modern playability, then these will be the Fender models for you going forward. I think the new Modern D neck profile will be a crucial factor for many players, and may prove decisive for the success of these new guitars. The rest of the tweaks like the extra rolled edges and satin-smooth necks will also have an impact on the overall playing experience.
Ultimately, I think these are a little overpriced across the board, especially as many Fender dealers are currently knocking out the 2016 Elite models for bargain prices. But if you like modern Fender guitars and basses, you’ll probably like these new ones, too.
You can check out all the official Fender demo videos for each model below.
More Information
Video
- Fender Ultra Stratocaster Key Features: Fender
- American Ultra Stratocaster Aged Natural: Fender
- American Ultra Stratocaster HSS Texas Tea: Fender
- American Ultra Telecaster Cobra Blue: Fender
- American Ultra Jazzmaster Plasma Red Burst: Fender
- American Ultra Precision Bass: Fender
- American Ultra Jazz Bass Arctic Pearl: Fender
- American Ultra Jazz Bass V Ultraburst: Fender
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2 responses to “Fender officially launches the American Ultra Series: Evolution or revolution?”
This is all very strange to me.
This summer a Fender Custom Shop guy appeared in a few Thomann videos explaining what makes the Custom Shop guitars so unique. One of the points he raised was that the body construction was different under the paint, with Squiers being glued from 3-5 or more pieces, the MIMs from 2-3, and the American bodies not using more than 2, and Custom Shop guitars from a single piece of wood.
And here we are, a $2000 Fender MIA glued from 3 pieces, as can be seen on the Aged Natural photo. What’s justifying the price point?
The nut is made from melamine resin. Being the resident Chemistry hack at Gearnews I can tell you that melamine is one of the cheapest compounds to make. It’s basically the same material that whiteboards use, and the same material high-gloss cabinet door laminates use, and the same material is used for those soft, white cleaners, which also happens to be useful as a sound absorber. China is producing melamine resin like crazy, and it’s dirt cheap. There is no good reason at all to use it as nut material other than cost, plus it’s easy on tools, i.e. less wear at the Fender factory.
The locking tuners are the same Fender has been selling for ages, basically a clone of a Schaller design, produced by Ping Well in Taiwan. Made in USA my a**. Street price difference between the locking and non-locking Fender tuners is no more than $20.
And the whole “ultra rolled” fingerboard edges actually means that after a few years of intense playing you’ll have to replace it, or replace the melamine resin nut with a new narrower spaced one if you don’t want to slip off the fingerboard.
@jef Just curious – where are seeing dealers selling Elites at bargain prices? At Thomann it looks like nothing moved.