Does the Ultra Strat 2 live up to its name? Get your Fender Ultra II at Sweetwater (US 🇺🇸) sweetwater.sjv.io/4P6OJM Get your Fender Ultra II at Thomann (EU 🇪🇺) thmn.to/thoprod/476978?offid=1&affid=288 Get your Fender Ultra II at Andertons (UK🇬🇧) elkqr.link/ndrk7
I know Fender is doing a marketing blitz right now but its nice to see a great review that doesn't feel like shilling. Very comprehensive/honest review. Much appreciated.
With respect, how is one push/push coil split and a different tone pot connection "so much going on"? In the present era, this feels like giving Fender a cookie for tying their shoes.
Andy, I don't think Quartersawn maple comes from a different part of the tree - the technique of quatersawn lumber refers to wood that is produced by milling boards at a 90-degree angle to the growth rings. (Quarter sawn, as opposed to flat sawn). Great for guitar necks, - glad to see it in use in Ultra 2.
Love the look, the red and black contrast is delicious, and the maple looks fantastic. I'm surprised, not a Strat guy but definitely like the sounds you get here, the fuzz especially. Can't attribute that all to the guitar, you're doing some excellent audio capturing on your end. I think I'd rather a Reverend if I was going to spend this kind of money, but this the first Fender series that has grabbed my attention. Great playing as well, appreciate the demo!
I suspect there is some sort of cavity shielding, because there's a ground wire screwed down inside it (see around 15:50). Maybe the cavity was shielded before the red paint went on.
I had an gold anodised scratchplate on black Strat Plus once. It looked incredible but as i have fingernails (I also play classical and fingerstyle acoustic) it was really uncomfortable. I finally gave in a converted it to HSS, I had never got on with that before but a low output humbucker made it the perfect all rounder. I have DiMarzio Air noiseless single coils as the first few generations of Fender's noiseless were not great. Sounds like they are much closer with these. Nice "real world" guitar demo Andy, I like to hear someone playing a guitar the way most working musicians will.
It's funny, I was watching part of Fender's video of this, but then I came here for an unbiased review because you give it to us straight and don't try to upsell anyone. Love it! Oh Also, why was there a high pitch ringing sound when you spoke into your mic? It sounded like some strange ringing noise floor issue?
Does anybody else hear a 12k-ish tone sometimes in the audio of this clip or is it me? 8:34 right after "it's noisless firstly..." 8:50 over the "used" when Andy says "... I'm used to as a strat player"
I'm listening on a pair of Mackie XR824s, and it's definitely there at least some of the time. Started driving me crazy in the first few seconds. And if I'm not mistaken, it's a whine that he had in the room with him. In places, you can hear it come and go with his speech (with quick fades in between words), and sometimes it pokes out with chord trails as well.
Years ago I wrote to the CEO of Fender about mods I did to a Kramer guitar...basically mods based on a Fender Jeff Beck strat that I played once. I made a compound radius fretboard, LSR Roller nut, beveled the bridge plate holes so there were no sharp angles for the strings to cross, got rid of the saddles and replaced with Graphtech Sting Saver saddles. In 2012 I bought one of their American deluxe strats the HSS series, the bridge plate had beveled holes, the neck was radius was 12 to 16", the wiring sucked, to me, to much going on IMO but the guitar still sounds great and plays great. I only changed the saddles to String Saver saddles..and if you haven't done that yet, you might want to consider doing that. It will save you a lot of money on broken strings!
Mate, there's a weird noise thing around your speaking (sometimes, not all the time), no idea what it is? I listening with earbuds, so don't know if people notice otherwise? But seems a few did. (Otherwise great video, as always :) )
I liked the tone at the very beginning. Was that pure neck pickup or was it middle/neck? (also listeing via headphones, I noticed a high pitch in the audio)
Let's go to Fantasy Land for a bit. You travel back in time to August 1972, just as Deep Purple finish their sound check. You hand this guitar to Ritchie so he can A/B it against his regular black Strat with the big headstock. Same amp settings. How effing cool would that be!
Was really hoping you'd be a tele guy! Great review none the less though. I really need to play that tele though so I can hopefully convince myself I don't need it.
I traded in for an Am Pro II Strat 3 months ago and it's my current favorite guitar I own. I was going to swap the pickups because I played the original vmods years ago and hated them but these pick ups are great, the quality is great and I have 0 issues with it. I was just looking at these Ultras wondering how they could be better. I mean, no rosewood fretboard!? *scoff* It also doesn't hurt that I got mine for about $500 worth of pedals (lol) which probably affects my opinion of it. It is a B stock refurb but aside from the serial number being replaced it's a new Am Pro II strat, though I may be more critical of it if I had payed the 1600 or whatever they cost new.
I adore both my Am Pro II guitars. The V mod 2 pickup series are really pleasing. I think I still prefer them to the ultra 2 series because I'm partial to the straight 9.5" radius and non-locking tuners, but for people who really want that, these are probably worth the extra few hundred bucks.
@@sagittated I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about that compound neck but I do love playing my strat! I did swap the tuners for locking though 🙊
Same bro people that don't like them haven't played them at all or played 10minutes in store. These Ultra's are amazing guitars the sad thing about owning an Ultra is that the more you play it the worse your other guitars feel.
The noiseless pickups are stacked humbuckers, so they're never going to be quite as bright and jangly as proper single coils, but those get very, very close and they sound really great.
Love the idea of the Ultra Strat, both this one and the original, as in the modern specs as opposed to vintage specs. For me, I'd usually rather do the Player Plus as the specs are close enough and the price is better, or...recently I traded a player plus towards a 90's American Standard, because it's a dream guitar of mine. ❤
Got to say I was pleasantly surprised at how decent fender noiseless pickups are got them on a tele pretty hot though not to everyone's taste but I like em 😂
Fender American Ultra III : swamp ash body ,roasted maple neck, 24 stainless steel frets, inlay Led dots, no load tone pot, new noiseless ultra III hot custom classic pickups , new colors ( dark white , snow black , yellow snow, banana blue, pink elephant, transparent X ray )😁
Pretty much nowhere in my price range, but maybe some of the specs will trickle down (eventually)? HSS is tricky as the Humbucker can be too much for the single coils, and then splitting the humbucker might cause the opposite problem. Edit: the middle and neck are so high because of the noiseless coils in the circuit. It's probably more likely around 9-10 for both. I noticed the Ultra 2 Metora has a tone knob AND a bass cut... are Fender trying to go after G&L (and Reverend)? (But they made it a hardtail... I like the whammy bar on the MIM.)
Just want to point out that the HSS comes with an Ultra II noiseless hot Strat pickups, while the SSS have the noiseless vintage. I think the latter should get you closer to a vintage sound, while the former is slightly hotter, as the name suggests.
totally get that done people don’t like nitro, but personally I wouldn’t spend $2000+ on a guitar with a plasticky urethane finish. Lots of S types in that price range with nitro, but not from fender.
I'll stick with my Mexican Fender Jaguar HH special. Left handed, of course. My friends and I have a surf music cover band and I get some sweet rythym sound out of it
I've never been able to SEE what anything sounds like, my preferred sense is hearing when I want to find out what something sounds like as I cannot SEE the vibrations in the air made by the sound.
When measuring the worth of Art and of it's tools, the term 'best' begs so many questions. Best for whom; for what? (my list can go on and on.) I like your channel. I will declare it the 'best'?
I'm a little concerned with any guitar which gives up a tremolo effect with the trem arm not even installed. FYI quartersawn maple doesn't come from a specific part of the tree. It is how any tree trunk is cut into lumber. Quartersawing has more waste but gives you more up and down grain which is better for neck stability.
Point 1 - any trem guitar can manipulated without having the bar in. You just have to know how. Point 2 -So by the tree being cut in a specific way and not using specific parts, you ARE using a specific part of the tree.
@@TheGuitarGeek Point 3 - It wasn't really necessary I own the Ultra 1 and it's already as stable as it can be, so if this could save like 300 bucks I would gladly take the Ultra 1 neck. The upgrade to ebony is really nice though wish mine had that ;-(
@@WillemguitarI don't know why you would think a quarter sawn neck is $300 more 😂 These are the same price as an Ultra 1, so you aren't paying any more for a quartersawn neck anyway
Gotta admit, I'm not a strat guy, but DANG dude, that thing looks (and sounds) like it can make some damage. The matte pickguard is doing mind control on me. Need help.
if only they had used a stacked singlecoil style humbucker in the bridge so it would look like a regular SSS ... but man this thing is sassy. Love the red and anodized black guard. if only it were sss
This being the limit before Fender's Custom Shop shows either their lack of imagination or the limit Fender places on its own models to save room for Charvel models.
Yes it blends the neck in position 3,4,5 in position 5 with S1 on you basically have Telecaster sound it's pretty cool very versatile guitar EDIT: Note that position 3 with S1 on is same as you would use position 2 (neck-middle)
I don't think that is necessarily so. You can use an S1 switch in that way but it is used in other ways for example on the Baja Telecaster. I think S1 just refers to the switch itself not what it is being used for.
@@robertbrown2728 Ah yes I was explaining this from the perspective of a Ultra 1 SSS as that is what I have, for the HSS shown here it might be different indeed.
The Brett Kingman video explains the sss functioning of the S1 switch. I have a push/push switch on 2 guitars I have. If you don't use them often they seize . Toggle switch would've been better. In my humble opinion.
@@TheGuitarGeek that's ok. I don't think it's a bad guitar. I just don't think luminlay dots and quarter sawn necks lives up to a month of teasers about the pinnacle of innovation.
@@TheGuitarGeek it's been all over their website, all over their socials, and pinging me by email every 3 days with a drip feed of the whole blacked out reveal teasers and videos. Given all that hype centred squarely on the banner message of "innovation never rests" and "a bold new chapter", I expected something with a bit more substance. As I said, I don't doubt it's a great guitar. Right now it's the over-promise and under-deliver of the marketing campaign that lead with an emphasis on innovation that's left me completely underwhelmed. The specs changes are minor and even as a relative fender fan I just can't call them innovative or bold.
Nice and very balanced review,Andy. I think it sounds fantastic clean ,for me a little tame when its driven. I think modern strats lose something of the snarl of classic strats. It seems to me that Fender are aiming for the home recording,session muscian market. Its not a fire breather,but a really usable modern guitar.
@@TheGuitarGeek It would be an interesting comparison against one of the top end Pacificas. I genuinely like this guitar and am going to think hard about buying one. Some of the negativity just seems to be that it's not voiced like a Vintage strat. At least Fender are trying to do something different. I don't think it's overpriced for a USA Fender, but it's a harder sell against a Yamaha or a boutique build.
For me this guitar does not sound very "straty", especially the single coils do not sound strat like for me. Nice neck join, nice features, but (imho) that does not compensate the lack in strat tones. For this price you can get much better strats (more strat like strats), imo.
I absolutely love it, but still too expensive for my wallet. Maybe it's just me, but you can get all those sounds you mention it not having, by just adjusting the EQ. JMO
@@argi0774 it isn't though. Taking a board at a specific cutting angle is still taking a board from a specific part of the tree (specified by that angle). Yes, what he said has multiple interpretations. One of those interpretations is right (specific angle), one is wrong (specific section, heartwood, sapwood, trunk, branch, whatever). Both are specific parts. The interpretation is yours, not his. He could've been more precise with his words and avoided you misinterpreting him, but really, who cares when most reasonable people would know what interpretation he meant, and anyone not knowing would look it up anyway.
i immediately get high freq tones straight out of the intro that drive me nuts! i didn't play for years without ear protection to STILL hear these frequencies! sorry andy, gotta skip this one (still luv u xoxo)
Is the super Strat , also compound radius . Almost $2,000 when you can get same specs and more interesting body shape in the Charvell for $1,300 ! And a roasted maple 🍁! Just saying
Always wanted a strat but I can't play a guitar that has a volume knob right underneath the bridge pickup. So in order for me to own a strat I have to reconfigure the electronics. I know this is an issue with these guitars with many people. I hope you're reading this fender. Reconfigure your Picard. Or least offer an option.
Does the Ultra Strat 2 live up to its name?
Get your Fender Ultra II at Sweetwater (US 🇺🇸) sweetwater.sjv.io/4P6OJM
Get your Fender Ultra II at Thomann (EU 🇪🇺) thmn.to/thoprod/476978?offid=1&affid=288
Get your Fender Ultra II at Andertons (UK🇬🇧) elkqr.link/ndrk7
I know Fender is doing a marketing blitz right now but its nice to see a great review that doesn't feel like shilling. Very comprehensive/honest review. Much appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to write this.
I really appreciate your understanding and you posting an intelligent point of view
I've realised after watching this video that you are the best reviewer of new guitars.
You are now my go to RUclipsr when new gear is released 😁
With respect, how is one push/push coil split and a different tone pot connection "so much going on"? In the present era, this feels like giving Fender a cookie for tying their shoes.
BREAKING NEWS: Fender made a "new" strat !!!
😂
Rumors have it they have something called a "Telecaster" in the works.
Yeah and Gibson just released a new Les Paul. 🤦♂️
@@allenmitchell09 whats next overpriced signature epiphones?? crazy times we live in .The futer is now!
Reinventing the wheel... Again, sorry but it sounds like any other strat to me..??????
Andy, I don’t think you get the credit you deserve for your tone…you have a nice touch and always great tone…well done indeed 🤘
Oh that "Wind Cries Mary" piece sounded so nice....
Andy, I don't think Quartersawn maple comes from a different part of the tree - the technique of quatersawn lumber refers to wood that is produced by milling boards at a 90-degree angle to the growth rings. (Quarter sawn, as opposed to flat sawn). Great for guitar necks, - glad to see it in use in Ultra 2.
Yes!
You are right, is about The cut angle
Quartersawn vs flatsawn means practically nothing with regard to guitar necks.
For the 3 notes that i can play it is way more than I need ! ...beautiful guitar
I love the Blacked out look! I've done that on every Strat I've owned!
Same here. I even put a black nut and tuners on one
@@martianmurray Even my Black Maple Neck Tele has a Black Pickguard! 😂
Having a tone control for the strat bridge pickup in 2024!! The breakthrough we've only waited 70 years for??
Such an in-depth review and really appreciated the humour! Thanks!
I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it.
Beautiful , love the flat black pickguard , Your playing made me run to pick up my guitar thank you
Love the look, the red and black contrast is delicious, and the maple looks fantastic. I'm surprised, not a Strat guy but definitely like the sounds you get here, the fuzz especially. Can't attribute that all to the guitar, you're doing some excellent audio capturing on your end. I think I'd rather a Reverend if I was going to spend this kind of money, but this the first Fender series that has grabbed my attention. Great playing as well, appreciate the demo!
Nice playing Andy!!
Many thanks!! I enjoyed this a lot. If only it had a bigger neck ;-)
@@TheGuitarGeek Good thing they are bolt on ;)
@@TheGuitarGeek😂 for me I prefer fender necks.... fits my hands better than 12" radius...
I suspect there is some sort of cavity shielding, because there's a ground wire screwed down inside it (see around 15:50). Maybe the cavity was shielded before the red paint went on.
I had an gold anodised scratchplate on black Strat Plus once. It looked incredible but as i have fingernails (I also play classical and fingerstyle acoustic) it was really uncomfortable. I finally gave in a converted it to HSS, I had never got on with that before but a low output humbucker made it the perfect all rounder.
I have DiMarzio Air noiseless single coils as the first few generations of Fender's noiseless were not great. Sounds like they are much closer with these.
Nice "real world" guitar demo Andy, I like to hear someone playing a guitar the way most working musicians will.
Looks and sounds great.
I already own an American Ultra Texas Tea strat. Fantastic guitar.
Love the look of this one.
Great video 👍
So, the big issue you had with guitar is you had to change the strings?
I don't need this at all but.... I'm gonna get one.
🤣🤣🤣🤣👍
Andy I love your videos but you have a serious audio issue in the Treble end when narrating
Rather high frequency digital hiss
It's funny, I was watching part of Fender's video of this, but then I came here for an unbiased review because you give it to us straight and don't try to upsell anyone. Love it! Oh Also, why was there a high pitch ringing sound when you spoke into your mic? It sounded like some strange ringing noise floor issue?
Does anybody else hear a 12k-ish tone sometimes in the audio of this clip or is it me? 8:34 right after "it's noisless firstly..." 8:50 over the "used" when Andy says "... I'm used to as a strat player"
Also hearing some weird frequency, I thought it was my earbuds. Weird?
Maybe not a high price
I'm listening on a pair of Mackie XR824s, and it's definitely there at least some of the time. Started driving me crazy in the first few seconds. And if I'm not mistaken, it's a whine that he had in the room with him. In places, you can hear it come and go with his speech (with quick fades in between words), and sometimes it pokes out with chord trails as well.
loved the video man. keep it up
Cool quick connect.
Years ago I wrote to the CEO of Fender about mods I did to a Kramer guitar...basically mods based on a Fender Jeff Beck strat that I played once. I made a compound radius fretboard, LSR Roller nut, beveled the bridge plate holes so there were no sharp angles for the strings to cross, got rid of the saddles and replaced with Graphtech Sting Saver saddles. In 2012 I bought one of their American deluxe strats the HSS series, the bridge plate had beveled holes, the neck was radius was 12 to 16", the wiring sucked, to me, to much going on IMO but the guitar still sounds great and plays great. I only changed the saddles to String Saver saddles..and if you haven't done that yet, you might want to consider doing that. It will save you a lot of money on broken strings!
Mate, there's a weird noise thing around your speaking (sometimes, not all the time), no idea what it is? I listening with earbuds, so don't know if people notice otherwise? But seems a few did. (Otherwise great video, as always :) )
what a beautiful instrument.
Very nice strat, in candy apple red, and white pickguard and pickuos would be spectacular.
Nice 80s guitar, I like the look - Looks like a good buy for someone who wants a fender
I liked the tone at the very beginning. Was that pure neck pickup or was it middle/neck? (also listeing via headphones, I noticed a high pitch in the audio)
Let's go to Fantasy Land for a bit. You travel back in time to August 1972, just as Deep Purple finish their sound check. You hand this guitar to Ritchie so he can A/B it against his regular black Strat with the big headstock. Same amp settings. How effing cool would that be!
Was really hoping you'd be a tele guy! Great review none the less though. I really need to play that tele though so I can hopefully convince myself I don't need it.
I traded in for an Am Pro II Strat 3 months ago and it's my current favorite guitar I own. I was going to swap the pickups because I played the original vmods years ago and hated them but these pick ups are great, the quality is great and I have 0 issues with it. I was just looking at these Ultras wondering how they could be better. I mean, no rosewood fretboard!? *scoff* It also doesn't hurt that I got mine for about $500 worth of pedals (lol) which probably affects my opinion of it. It is a B stock refurb but aside from the serial number being replaced it's a new Am Pro II strat, though I may be more critical of it if I had payed the 1600 or whatever they cost new.
I adore both my Am Pro II guitars. The V mod 2 pickup series are really pleasing. I think I still prefer them to the ultra 2 series because I'm partial to the straight 9.5" radius and non-locking tuners, but for people who really want that, these are probably worth the extra few hundred bucks.
@@sagittated I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about that compound neck but I do love playing my strat! I did swap the tuners for locking though 🙊
I have an ultra strat and at first I wasn’t sure I could gel with it,but I now love it.
Same bro people that don't like them haven't played them at all or played 10minutes in store.
These Ultra's are amazing guitars the sad thing about owning an Ultra is that the more you play it the worse your other guitars feel.
@@Willemguitar 100%
The noiseless pickups are stacked humbuckers, so they're never going to be quite as bright and jangly as proper single coils, but those get very, very close and they sound really great.
Love the idea of the Ultra Strat, both this one and the original, as in the modern specs as opposed to vintage specs. For me, I'd usually rather do the Player Plus as the specs are close enough and the price is better, or...recently I traded a player plus towards a 90's American Standard, because it's a dream guitar of mine. ❤
I see they gave you a red one! These all look and sound absolutely amazing! I’m going to go cry on my pillow now, cuz I can afford them. 😢😂
Darn it Andy, just watching your style in playing, the opening….ugh I need more lessons, especially from you…………cheers.
Thank you! I’m putting together an album so that is an idea I’m playing about with at the moment. Glad it landed!
It seems VERY nice! ...and extremely out of my budget, looking forward to the Harley Benton ST Modern review haha
Got to say I was pleasantly surprised at how decent fender noiseless pickups are got them on a tele pretty hot though not to everyone's taste but I like em 😂
Fender American Ultra III : swamp ash body ,roasted maple neck, 24 stainless steel frets, inlay Led dots, no load tone pot, new noiseless ultra III hot custom classic pickups , new colors ( dark white , snow black , yellow snow, banana blue, pink elephant, transparent X ray )😁
Pretty much nowhere in my price range, but maybe some of the specs will trickle down (eventually)?
HSS is tricky as the Humbucker can be too much for the single coils, and then splitting the humbucker might cause the opposite problem. Edit: the middle and neck are so high because of the noiseless coils in the circuit. It's probably more likely around 9-10 for both.
I noticed the Ultra 2 Metora has a tone knob AND a bass cut... are Fender trying to go after G&L (and Reverend)? (But they made it a hardtail... I like the whammy bar on the MIM.)
Just want to point out that the HSS comes with an Ultra II noiseless hot Strat pickups, while the SSS have the noiseless vintage. I think the latter should get you closer to a vintage sound, while the former is slightly hotter, as the name suggests.
I have the original Ultra Strat. It is my favorite Fender. The slight upgrades on the version II aren’t enough to make me give it up.
there's still the weird little routing hole on the bottom edge of the bridge, once you see it, you can't unsee it...
totally get that done people don’t like nitro, but personally I wouldn’t spend $2000+ on a guitar with a plasticky urethane finish. Lots of S types in that price range with nitro, but not from fender.
I'll stick with my Mexican Fender Jaguar HH special. Left handed, of course. My friends and I have a surf music cover band and I get some sweet rythym sound out of it
I've never been able to SEE what anything sounds like, my preferred sense is hearing when I want to find out what something sounds like as I cannot SEE the vibrations in the air made by the sound.
Damn, I just realized you are a pretty damn big old boy!
Has Fender got a new line of guitars? If I only had email and social media I would probably know.
When measuring the worth of Art and of it's tools, the term 'best' begs so many questions. Best for whom; for what? (my list can go on and on.) I like your channel. I will declare it the 'best'?
I want an SSS in Texas Tea finish with a rosewood fingerboard.
I'm a little concerned with any guitar which gives up a tremolo effect with the trem arm not even installed. FYI quartersawn maple doesn't come from a specific part of the tree. It is how any tree trunk is cut into lumber. Quartersawing has more waste but gives you more up and down grain which is better for neck stability.
Point 1 - any trem guitar can manipulated without having the bar in. You just have to know how.
Point 2 -So by the tree being cut in a specific way and not using specific parts, you ARE using a specific part of the tree.
@@TheGuitarGeek Point 3 - It wasn't really necessary I own the Ultra 1 and it's already as stable as it can be, so if this could save like 300 bucks I would gladly take the Ultra 1 neck.
The upgrade to ebony is really nice though wish mine had that ;-(
@@TheGuitarGeek No, Michael's right about quartersawn lumber.
@@WillemguitarI don't know why you would think a quarter sawn neck is $300 more 😂 These are the same price as an Ultra 1, so you aren't paying any more for a quartersawn neck anyway
@@thatfunk They are 300 Euro's more over here then the Ultra 1, granted there are more "upgrades" then the quarter sawn neck though
Gotta admit, I'm not a strat guy, but DANG dude, that thing looks (and sounds) like it can make some damage.
The matte pickguard is doing mind control on me. Need help.
if only they had used a stacked singlecoil style humbucker in the bridge so it would look like a regular SSS ... but man this thing is sassy. Love the red and anodized black guard. if only it were sss
Not bad....they had a great one in the 90's...locking nut....the humbucker...
Think it was $350....was stage ready...
The question that's burning me is if whether or not this guitar is better than the Core Silver Sky
If the only pb is the factory strings the guitar comes with, then it is a pretty good model. 😂🎉
I’m impressed. Looks great and seems very versatile. Nice demo, Andy.
It looks to me as though there is conductive paint under the spray in the routed areas
It looks like they changed the wiggle stick from the one that came with the Ultra.
This being the limit before Fender's Custom Shop shows either their lack of imagination or the limit Fender places on its own models to save room for Charvel models.
More Strats released = more Strat circulation in the used market = more bargains to find later on. 👍
S1 switching means bridge and neck selection not coil splitting, don't It?
Yes it blends the neck in position 3,4,5 in position 5 with S1 on you basically have Telecaster sound it's pretty cool very versatile guitar
EDIT: Note that position 3 with S1 on is same as you would use position 2 (neck-middle)
I don't think that is necessarily so. You can use an S1 switch in that way but it is used in other ways for example on the Baja Telecaster. I think S1 just refers to the switch itself not what it is being used for.
@@robertbrown2728 Ah yes I was explaining this from the perspective of a Ultra 1 SSS as that is what I have, for the HSS shown here it might be different indeed.
The HSS has coil split, the SSS adds the neck.
The Brett Kingman video explains the sss functioning of the S1 switch. I have a push/push switch on 2 guitars I have. If you don't use them often they seize . Toggle switch would've been better. In my humble opinion.
The best marketing campaign that fender offers ... for sure.
Minimal set of spec changes though. Barely warrants a mk II designation.
Strongly and respectively disagree.
@@TheGuitarGeek that's ok. I don't think it's a bad guitar. I just don't think luminlay dots and quarter sawn necks lives up to a month of teasers about the pinnacle of innovation.
@@PaulCooksStuff I haven't been seeing teasers for a month. If I had and also seen Fender claiming innovation, then we would definitely agree.
@@TheGuitarGeek Andertons has the Fender guy on. They have done a lot of work on these.
@@TheGuitarGeek it's been all over their website, all over their socials, and pinging me by email every 3 days with a drip feed of the whole blacked out reveal teasers and videos. Given all that hype centred squarely on the banner message of "innovation never rests" and "a bold new chapter", I expected something with a bit more substance.
As I said, I don't doubt it's a great guitar. Right now it's the over-promise and under-deliver of the marketing campaign that lead with an emphasis on innovation that's left me completely underwhelmed. The specs changes are minor and even as a relative fender fan I just can't call them innovative or bold.
I'm surprised at how hot the pickups are.
Nice and very balanced review,Andy. I think it sounds fantastic clean ,for me a little tame when its driven. I think modern strats lose something of the snarl of classic strats. It seems to me that Fender are aiming for the home recording,session muscian market. Its not a fire breather,but a really usable modern guitar.
Thanks Peter. I agree with all your points here. I think the drive is great but it shines on cleans
@@TheGuitarGeek It would be an interesting comparison against one of the top end Pacificas. I genuinely like this guitar and am going to think hard about buying one. Some of the negativity just seems to be that it's not voiced like a Vintage strat. At least Fender are trying to do something different. I don't think it's overpriced for a USA Fender, but it's a harder sell against a Yamaha or a boutique build.
A shame what they did to that S1 switch, just a half blender for the sss version, the American professional has a more usable configuration
is it like ibanez AZ ?
Im amazed Fender arnt giving options for stainless steel frets,looks nice though
They do in the Ultra Deluxe you get SS
Ultra Luxe, but I see that the vast majority of fender fans do not like the ss frets.
@@Willemguitar Thanks for that
I prefer my 2008 American Deluxe V Neck Stratocaster, 3 noiseless single coils with S1 switching.
Are U Kidding me??!!! Wooow
😲😲😲😲😯😯😯😳😳
Can you compared it with the new Harley Benton ST+? tHANKS
That’s a great idea
All good but the high pitched ringing noise when you talk is killing me 😅
I looked up spec on this model and Sweetwater lists the frets as Graphtec Lol
Certainly a Typo
So you normally review guitars with the factory strings on it? 😳😭
All Fender guitars weigh a ton nowadays the old American Standard were light. What trees are they using…Granite Wood.
are you objective here? Its all So wonderful
Watching the whole video should answer your questions
Love the sinister red tele..... 🥰 BUT not $2200 worth. sigh....
Great review... odd the strings sucked out of the box. Not like Fender to do that.
For me this guitar does not sound very "straty", especially the single coils do not sound strat like for me. Nice neck join, nice features, but (imho) that does not compensate the lack in strat tones. For this price you can get much better strats (more strat like strats), imo.
I absolutely love it, but still too expensive for my wallet. Maybe it's just me, but you can get all those sounds you mention it not having, by just adjusting the EQ. JMO
It's too bad that this model is only available with a single neck profile and a quite thin one at that. I would much prefer a fatter C.
I wonder why this Guitar isn’t the ultra II deluxe pro am 😂
I was so confused when he said noiseless pick ups
a have a pink one
Quartersawn maple does not come from a specific part of the tree
And yet you know what he meant... It comes from a specific cut angle.
@@PaulCooksStuff Correct. Cutting angle, not part of the tree. That's two completely different things
@@argi0774 it isn't though. Taking a board at a specific cutting angle is still taking a board from a specific part of the tree (specified by that angle).
Yes, what he said has multiple interpretations. One of those interpretations is right (specific angle), one is wrong (specific section, heartwood, sapwood, trunk, branch, whatever). Both are specific parts. The interpretation is yours, not his. He could've been more precise with his words and avoided you misinterpreting him, but really, who cares when most reasonable people would know what interpretation he meant, and anyone not knowing would look it up anyway.
@@PaulCooksStuff No it's not. It is just the very same part of the tree as taking it in another way from there. Please don't spread bullshit. Thanks
@@argi0774 buy yourself a dictionary. Thanks.
Fxck thats a lovely strat ill never afford
Best. If you want a more modern take. Not my cuppa char.
It is not quite my perfect Strat but it IS close.
@@TheGuitarGeek I can see it being used by musicians working in theater for example. I think that was the kind of context you were getting at.
It screams 80’s metal to me. In the voice of Don Dokken.
It actually isnt, Fender Ultra Luxe is the pinnacle, i hope they update the line of them
€2490,- !!!!!! bei Thomann, geht`s noch FENDER?
i immediately get high freq tones straight out of the intro that drive me nuts! i didn't play for years without ear protection to STILL hear these frequencies!
sorry andy, gotta skip this one (still luv u xoxo)
Is the super Strat , also compound radius . Almost $2,000 when you can get same specs and more interesting body shape in the Charvell for $1,300 ! And a roasted maple 🍁! Just saying
A Strat is a Strat. Why do they keep wrapping them up false covers?
When you gOt it there were Gibson STRINGS!!?!
So you were meh on it, like I am. I’m sure it will find its audience of people looking for guitars that are ultra-special.
Always wanted a strat but I can't play a guitar that has a volume knob right underneath the bridge pickup. So in order for me to own a strat I have to reconfigure the electronics.
I know this is an issue with these guitars with many people.
I hope you're reading this fender. Reconfigure your Picard. Or least offer an option.