The Weigh-Up: Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster (Gear Review)

As arguably the image people think of when you mention the word ‘guitar’, the Fender Stratocaster has cemented itself firmly in the music industry thanks to the instrument’s seven-decade legacy. Thanks to diverse, modern musicians such as H.E.R., Tash Sultana, Tom Delonge, and Bruno Mars – to name but a few –  the instrument has seen its profile comfortably stay with the times – and stay cool – as the company celebrate the iconic six-strings 70th anniversary.

The newest addition to their high-end line of guitars, the Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster is a premium instrument that features both time-tested craftsmanship, as well as modern upgrades for the contemporary, working player. With Wall of Sound lucky enough to get our mitts on one of these classy beasts, the first thing that we’re greeted with after busting through the box is the plush – yet rock-solid – TSA-approved case; we especially liked the raised, padded edges around the headstock area. A distinguished-looking instrument; WoS received the tobacco burst model, its classic finish boosted with Mother of Pearl inlays and a subtle golden pickguard.

Once plugged in, the most newsworthy aspect of this guitar is the very impressive Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat Pickups. The powerful single coils live up to their name and are dead-silent, no matter how much gain and saturation you pump through them. The Ultra II Noiseless Pickups are highly reactive to the player’s touch and subtleties, whilst also modulation and filter-based effects are more prominent and pronounced. Don’t think this guitar is relegated to just handling lawyer blues – though your pentatonic licks will sing on this – the new Strat can dish out a variety of sounds; check out our demos to hear the American Ultra II easily tackling fuzzed-out tones, pitch-shifted riffing, mellow chords; and everything in between.

Speaking of tone, there is a vast amount of sonic variety on board the American Ultra II. Of course, you’ve got the classic five-way switch to toggle through all the iconic Strat sounds – Mark Knopfler fans will find the second-position tonal nirvana – but it’s when engaging the S-1 switch that offers a whole new element. Neatly located within the volume now, meaning it’s nigh-on impossible to accidentally engage it whilst wailing away, the option to have all three pickups engaged at once, or a blend of the neck with the bridge or middle, gives the Strat a totally different audio flavor. Though we’re honestly unsure how many players were asking for this, it’s a useful upgrade and another arrow in this six-string quiver.

The steel-loaded bridge with the American Ultra two-point arm – and the locking Fender tuners – makes for one of the sturdiest tremolo systems in the Fender catalogue. While you’re probably not going to go divebomb mad on it, the axe certainly can take a fair amount of use (and abuse) whilst staying in tune. We barely had to touch the new short post tuners for the duration of the review period.

Being billed as having the most playable Fender neck ever, the combination of the semi-satin finish, ebony fretboard, and rolled edges mean the American Ultra II more than lives up to the lofty claim. The compound radius – meaning the fretboard is wider at the low end for the chord and thinner for the leads up the business end – may take a second to adjust to if you’re not used to it, but once familiar in your hands, it plays like butter. You will not want to put this excellent guitar down!

Oozing class and aura of distinction, the American Ultra II Stratocaster from Fender is a testament to the legendary guitar maker’s seven-decade story. While a hackneyed scribe could lazily state that it’s simply another Strat from Fender; the modern, gimmick-free additions to the timeless, tried and tested model make it more than just a reissue of the past. Though the price tag will admittedly put the American Ultra II out of the reach of some players, this top-of-the-line guitar is a true pass-down-through-the-generations instrument.

Reviewed by Andrew Kapper

Learn more about the Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster here

Specs:

• Select Alder Body with Ultra Contours and Sculpted Neck Heel
• Quartersawn Maple Modern “D” Profile Neck
• 10″-14″ Compound Radius Ebony or Quartersawn Maple Fingerboard with Ultra Rolled Edges
• Luminlay Side Dots
• Ultra II Noiseless™ Vintage Strat® Pickups, Advanced Electronics and S-1™ Switching
• 2-Point American Ultra Synchronized Tremolo with Polished Stainless Steel Block Saddles, Cold Rolled Steel Block and Pop-In Arm
• Short Post Locking Tuners