Guitarists: Why does Fender keep putting out the same crap. They should innovate and put out something modern. Also guitarists: I don’t like any of these changes. Why would you mess with a classic?
fender's original ULTRA was the guitar of the future, twenty-five years ago. if you find one, omg buy it. it's still the guitar of the future. everything else is "modern-vintage". or buy charvel... fender owns them, too.
Those comments are made by two types of people and they both tend to be idiots. The real gripe is that these features exist for decades on other brands. On top of that they seem to be half assed. The neck joint contour is still not comfortable. Have a look at Ibanez or Music man. The slope and transition is almost that of a set neck. I dont see how the minor differences justify the price increas over an American Elite..
I actually loved the Meteora, come on the new Tele with that Texas Tea looks sweet as heck. Personally from new guitars I would go Luthier made or Novo or such.
@@ChristopherStandardTime Yes, I have one, purchased new in '96 I had it refretted with SS and played it quite a bit. Great guitar. Not sure what Fender's been thinking in the meantime.
I’m underwhelmed with the changes - I don’t like the noiseless pickups no matter what they do to them. And at that price point - roasted maple neck and stainless steel frets should be at least an option.
Fender have no choice every year they take the same guitars that are not broken and repair them.They make good guitars ...the trouble is they are incompetent at doing repair work so every year they try again to see if they can fix it.
I thought I was alone, everywhere I keep on seeing people that are so amazed at the Ultra... personally I think they should get more out of their comfort zone and leave the stats, teles, j basses, and p basses untouched because they are basically already perfect
Joseph Montgomery I agree. I think because they hyped this up and it was kind of meh when we finally got the reveal. I love my American Special though! I just did a triple shootout with that, a Players and a Deluxe. The Players is very good too!
Could just be me- but those noiseless single coils sounded awesome- very vintage voiced, getting all the Strat quack you should be- I'm not sure I'd change them out- that really surprised me how great the neck pickup sounded!
Amazing playing! As always. You definitely put that Strat through the paces and made it sound incredible. But I do not like thin neck guitars. That would bug me. Guess I'm not really a "licky licks" sorta player. Oh well.
5 лет назад+2
Dig the guitar color and as always, your exceptional guitar playing! Good post!!
Nice to see a premium instrument given a workout straight out of the box by somebody who knows what he's doing. Nonetheless, I find it hard to enthuse about these guitars. The changes are features that have been offered by others for years, and frankly the Noiseless pickups still don't really sound like Strat pickups to me: there's a sterility to them that I can't get around. I think it's something of a giveaway that R.J. immediately thinks about swapping out the pickups. I guess Suhr can breathe easy for a while.
I enjoy seeing videos on guitars, old or new... But I will say this, I've seen some pros only play one or two favorites, they own a bunch mind you but it's those one or two that they only play, they get to to know them and as time passes they feel that bond them instrument and player... I feel the same way about not owning too many and get real personal with my no#1and #2... they more you stick with them the less you worry on buying more guitars... My five guitars will last me a life time, and I REALLY only play two of them... So it's nice to see other folks get guitars, but personally I'm set for life and more! :-) You play a mean guitar bro! Excellent licks, very tasty!
I really love this video. Watched many times again and again... and this helped me made up my mind to buy this one. (My first American Fender Strat.) Now I have the same model of my own but I am still watching this.😅
Hows your Novo compare, or is it a different beast altogether? I just placed order for Novo serus J. I did have a Fender Elite and didnt like the Ash body tone and quality. Got the Suhr classic pro hss which has been great but looking fwd to my Novo...thanks to u an Rhett...lol.
The new noiseless pickups sound really nice, but I'm also not sure about the thin neck profile and flat radius. Glad they have moved the truss rod back to where it should be though. Any chance of doing a review of the Ultra Telecaster? Thanks for the review!
How about the string tension? Was the string tension very light and easy to play? I tried playing an Elite Series Stratocaster once and the tension was too much for my fingertips, it hurt after around 5 minutes of playing.
Surprised it played well right out of the box. I bought a Jeff Beck model that had QC stickers (3) on it. 2 dead pups & It needed a neck setup. Strings way too high. I contacted Fender and got little help, sent it back. Should’ve bought that one.
My mod shop came in that case too, i then bought a guitar off someone a month after and it came with that exact case too 😂 I guess thats the standard case they give out now
Sweet! Was interested in this line! Hey can I pick your brain on a fender speaker swap. I want to upgrade a 10" speaker in my solid state amp but not lose that "Fender" clean sparkle. Any recommendations?
It's a Strat, i like Strat's. It ain't complicated, you plug it in and get busy. Like any new guitar you have a get acquainted period where you make nice with each other. Personally though i would just plug it in and make the loud noise i like and carry on. Still waiting for delivery of my Classic Vibe 50's Strat in Fiesta Red from Sweetwater :)
I’m Not sure why a lot of you guys are harping on about this guitar in a negative way, I just got one of these in Plasma Red Burst and its freekin awesome. The new features are all on point and the pickups sound great. The Humbucker is great and the build quality is up there with the boutique builders. I have 2 Suhr guitars and know what a good guitar should feel and play like and these new Ultras fit the bill. I have been a bit anti Fender since Suhr guitars came to the table and made great guitars but Fender have got this right even if they did copy some of Johns ideas. Saying that, there are a few innovations that Johns guitars don’t have, and he might just borrow those ideas, lol
Yes, they're all up there in the $2k+ range. I've played several. Maybe Fender finally is making good noiseless pickups on their fifth try. Still, no SS frets at this price point is a no-go for me. Maybe Fender finally got this kind of guitar almost right, after a long time. Would you choose this over a Suhr or Anderson as your main guitar? (In my mind is that I took a 2010 deluxe for $900 and swapped pickups and refretted with ss to get it how I like, still costing less than this, and more so if I started from scratch.)
@@SRHMusic012 I have a Suhr standard pro and a modern. My modern is better but I like the feel of my ultra over my standard so yes, I would pick this over some Suhr's. Stainless frets is not really a deal breaker. Both great guitars but different markets. Do what I did and have both and be happy.
Tell me about it. Absolutely disgusting there is not ONE ultra for us. As you say, also Viteras or Performers. fender are disgraceful. Blatant leftism.
Did you just smell it at 1:37 ? LOL, I do the same. Don't know why but I always smell new guitars. I dig the tone, it's still vintage but gutsy modern.
interesting - is the only thing that differntiates this HSS strat from the thousands of other HSS strat clones ( Suhr, et al) the fact that it says Fender on the headstock? Great playing as always RJ!
If you wait just a bit the LENARD F-4G will come out. It looks Fenderish but the neck length and shape came right off of a Les Paul. No whammy but a hardtail bridge. You get the Tele PU for the bridge and the neck and middle are Strat. The best of both guitars and if you are into the Gibson camp it feels like home.
I have owned a MIM Strat since 2008 and I love it. I have a Les Paul, a ES-335 and a Baja Tele as well but everyone should have a Strat. Still the most comfortable and versatile guitar I have ever played.
hey there, you still have this Ultra! I wouldn’t have touch a thing! I got one! Yeah it was out of the average “next-level” Strat you know! However I knew Is like a super GT 5.0 OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP! I mean, is already a Beast! hope u didn’t tweak it! 👋
I have two stratocaster one fender the other one SX all my guitars are made left handed cause I'm a lefty I have seven guitars yes stratocasters are great and fun to play to l also have SX 335 black with gold hardware and pearl inlays and I have agile cool cat guitar it's a jazz guitar big body
i had the same feelin today when i received the package in the mail....Sweeeeeet...... but that was only some nice smelly usb charging cables from amazon...
Guitarists: Why does Fender keep putting out the same crap. They should innovate and put out something modern.
Also guitarists: I don’t like any of these changes. Why would you mess with a classic?
fender's original ULTRA was the guitar of the future, twenty-five years ago. if you find one, omg buy it. it's still the guitar of the future. everything else is "modern-vintage".
or buy charvel... fender owns them, too.
What crap are you talking about??................Maybe to make the classic even better??
Those comments are made by two types of people and they both tend to be idiots. The real gripe is that these features exist for decades on other brands. On top of that they seem to be half assed. The neck joint contour is still not comfortable. Have a look at Ibanez or Music man. The slope and transition is almost that of a set neck. I dont see how the minor differences justify the price increas over an American Elite..
I actually loved the Meteora, come on the new Tele with that Texas Tea looks sweet as heck. Personally from new guitars I would go Luthier made or Novo or such.
@@ChristopherStandardTime Yes, I have one, purchased new in '96 I had it refretted with SS and played it quite a bit. Great guitar. Not sure what Fender's been thinking in the meantime.
Fender definitely chose the right guy to demo this guitar
No kidding👍
RJ doesn’t seem too thrilled with it. Damn good playing as always
Love the throwback photo, we need more of those! One love RJ, you are a true friend to the community.
I checked my mailbox today, but I just got a package full of bills :(
Well that sucks!!!!
no guitars in mine either...there was a pile of dogshit next to it though
This is easily the best sounding demo of the new Ultra Strat
Great bluesy licks through that monster Suhr half stack, hard to go wrong!
Ultimate first check: clean, crunch, drive, all 5 positions, all pot positions, all tremolo bends, just perfect! Fender never did that!!!
Dude, definitely there´s no need of popping those pickups off , the tone of this thing is killer , I´m impressed with the Humbuckers tone
I’m underwhelmed with the changes - I don’t like the noiseless pickups no matter what they do to them. And at that price point - roasted maple neck and stainless steel frets should be at least an option.
GearGasms I'm inclined to agree with you. I like the standard USA Strat from the 90s the best. These new ones are almost 2 grand.
Fender have no choice every year they take the same guitars that are not broken and repair them.They make good guitars ...the trouble is they are incompetent at doing repair work so every year they try again to see if they can fix it.
I thought I was alone, everywhere I keep on seeing people that are so amazed at the Ultra... personally I think they should get more out of their comfort zone and leave the stats, teles, j basses, and p basses untouched because they are basically already perfect
Joseph Montgomery I agree. I think because they hyped this up and it was kind of meh when we finally got the reveal. I love my American Special though! I just did a triple shootout with that, a Players and a Deluxe. The Players is very good too!
GearGasms Yep, leave the hum on.
I'm a huge fan of the D neck and those noiseless pups.
Could just be me- but those noiseless single coils sounded awesome- very vintage voiced, getting all the Strat quack you should be- I'm not sure I'd change them out- that really surprised me how great the neck pickup sounded!
Man! I think you could make a 2x4 with strings sound good! Your style and tone are sooo sweet!
I found you thru you're Eastwood videos. I really like your playing style. Keep up the good work. Like strats but way out of my pay grade for now
Really nice guitar there. Great sound right out of the box. I like it.
The faster Cobra Blue model too... Nice!
Excellent video RJ. Love your channel!
I dig it! Thanks for sharing a NGD! Did you know Fender was hooking you up with a new guitar?
You went thru every option on that guitar faster than anyone I've ever seen :)
Is it Rontealio?
LOL, did you just smell that guitar. My man, I love the way the smell to!!! Looks and sounds good!!! Would you describe it as a Chavel type feel?
Moving between the humbucker and single coils had a nice balance... the pickups seem to be paired well. Awesome playing as always RJ!
Pretty cool demo! Nice score to boot
Cool demo and honest review, how refreshing thank RJ
Amazing playing! As always. You definitely put that Strat through the paces and made it sound incredible. But I do not like thin neck guitars. That would bug me. Guess I'm not really a "licky licks" sorta player. Oh well.
Dig the guitar color and as always, your exceptional guitar playing! Good post!!
RJ, man we'd love to see you do a video on the new fender tone master solid state amp. ASAP!
It's coming!
I wasn't stoked about the humbucker, but you made it sound incredible anyway. : P
The single coils are unusually chimey. The HB is quite good. I was impressed with it rightaway.
I hadn't seen this video before but that is the exact guitar I bought last week! Great guitar in my opinion.
Nice to see a premium instrument given a workout straight out of the box by somebody who knows what he's doing. Nonetheless, I find it hard to enthuse about these guitars. The changes are features that have been offered by others for years, and frankly the Noiseless pickups still don't really sound like Strat pickups to me: there's a sterility to them that I can't get around. I think it's something of a giveaway that R.J. immediately thinks about swapping out the pickups. I guess Suhr can breathe easy for a while.
I enjoy seeing videos on guitars, old or new...
But I will say this, I've seen some pros only play one or two favorites, they own a bunch mind you but it's those one or two that they only play, they get to to know them and as time passes they feel that bond them instrument and player...
I feel the same way about not owning too many and get real personal with my no#1and #2... they more you stick with them the less you worry on buying more guitars...
My five guitars will last me a life time, and I REALLY only play two of them...
So it's nice to see other folks get guitars, but personally I'm set for life and more! :-)
You play a mean guitar bro! Excellent licks, very tasty!
A video comparing all of your strat type guitars would be cool.
I really love this video. Watched many times again and again... and this helped me made up my mind to buy this one. (My first American Fender Strat.) Now I have the same model of my own but I am still watching this.😅
Is it Cobra Blue?
@@GRIP823 Yes
Would be awesome if it came with an additional vintage style pop in arm. I prefer the old trem bar look.
Hows your Novo compare, or is it a different beast altogether? I just placed order for Novo serus J. I did have a Fender Elite and didnt like the Ash body tone and quality. Got the Suhr classic pro hss which has been great but looking fwd to my Novo...thanks to u an Rhett...lol.
Your first Fender, I have two from that era I did change the bridge and lose the Locking nut but I love those necks
I love how a lot of us love to smell new things.
*3:56** DEEZ NUTS*
😂😭
Hot dang RJ!! Mabuhay ka!! 🇵🇭
The new noiseless pickups sound really nice, but I'm also not sure about the thin neck profile and flat radius. Glad they have moved the truss rod back to where it should be though. Any chance of doing a review of the Ultra Telecaster? Thanks for the review!
a guitar like that is all you ever need
but you need a Tele too
How about the string tension? Was the string tension very light and easy to play? I tried playing an Elite Series Stratocaster once and the tension was too much for my fingertips, it hurt after around 5 minutes of playing.
Appreciate your analysis. I personally like the thinner neck. Kinda getting sick of the “baseball” sized Fender necks of late.
Surprised it played well right out of the box. I bought a Jeff Beck model that had QC stickers (3) on it. 2 dead pups & It needed a neck setup. Strings way too high. I contacted Fender and got little help, sent it back. Should’ve bought that one.
My mod shop came in that case too, i then bought a guitar off someone a month after and it came with that exact case too 😂 I guess thats the standard case they give out now
we need a video of your guitar collection
Beautiful sounds!! Greetings from Argentina.
Really nice Strat RJ, congrats! I like everything but the thin neck I have to hold one and make sure.
Steve Luther the neck looks pretty thin but it's still nice. I don't like the hss, prefer sss.
Does the neck/headstock have a vintage tint?
How do the Ultras compare to the older Elites? I’ve been eyeing a humbucker equipped strat ever since I bought mine a few years back..
Sweet! Was interested in this line! Hey can I pick your brain on a fender speaker swap. I want to upgrade a 10" speaker in my solid state amp but not lose that "Fender" clean sparkle. Any recommendations?
It's a Strat, i like Strat's. It ain't complicated, you plug it in and get busy. Like any new guitar you have a get acquainted period where you make nice with each other. Personally though i would just plug it in and make the loud noise i like and carry on. Still waiting for delivery of my Classic Vibe 50's Strat in Fiesta Red from Sweetwater :)
sounds beautiful,like my roadhouse...great job fender
I’m Not sure why a lot of you guys are harping on about this guitar in a negative way, I just got one of these in Plasma Red Burst and its freekin awesome. The new features are all on point and the pickups sound great. The Humbucker is great and the build quality is up there with the boutique builders. I have 2 Suhr guitars and know what a good guitar should feel and play like and these new Ultras fit the bill. I have been a bit anti Fender since Suhr guitars came to the table and made great guitars but Fender have got this right even if they did copy some of Johns ideas. Saying that, there are a few innovations that Johns guitars don’t have, and he might just borrow those ideas, lol
The pricing seems high, no?
@@SRHMusic012 look at the price of a Suhr and then get back to me.
Yes, they're all up there in the $2k+ range. I've played several. Maybe Fender finally is making good noiseless pickups on their fifth try. Still, no SS frets at this price point is a no-go for me. Maybe Fender finally got this kind of guitar almost right, after a long time. Would you choose this over a Suhr or Anderson as your main guitar? (In my mind is that I took a 2010 deluxe for $900 and swapped pickups and refretted with ss to get it how I like, still costing less than this, and more so if I started from scratch.)
@@SRHMusic012 I have a Suhr standard pro and a modern. My modern is better but I like the feel of my ultra over my standard so yes, I would pick this over some Suhr's. Stainless frets is not really a deal breaker. Both great guitars but different markets. Do what I did and have both and be happy.
Wouldn’t mind an Ultra HSS mailed to me awesome guitar and review
Sounds awesome!
Need some left- handed options in the Ultra range (and also Vintera and Performer).
Tell me about it. Absolutely disgusting there is not ONE ultra for us. As you say, also Viteras or Performers. fender are disgraceful. Blatant leftism.
They need to make a 24 fret like that 👍😊🤔🎸
Did you just smell it at 1:37 ? LOL, I do the same. Don't know why but I always smell new guitars. I dig the tone, it's still vintage but gutsy modern.
Better yet he kept it vs editing it out lol
Amazing playing. Sounds great!!
sounds great dude!!!!!
And I want one! Very cool man!
Holy shit! Your very first Fender Strat is the same color as my first Fender Strat! :)
It's a great first color.
That's a great sounding axe!
RJ so cool man I totally get the new guitar smell nothing like it.
HELL YES Bro'. a very sweet guitar. Great chops too. I've got 6 strats and I still want more. hahaha. rock on.
interesting - is the only thing that differntiates this HSS strat from the thousands of other HSS strat clones ( Suhr, et al) the fact that it says Fender on the headstock? Great playing as always RJ!
RJ, you sound incredible.
Super Pumped to get my telecaster
60 years playing and I've never had a Strat. I really should get one!
I'm 52 and have been thinking the same thing for about a month now. Lol. I will if you do!
If you wait just a bit the LENARD F-4G will come out. It looks Fenderish but the neck length and shape came right off of a Les Paul. No whammy but a hardtail bridge. You get the Tele PU for the bridge and the neck and middle are Strat. The best of both guitars and if you are into the Gibson camp it feels like home.
I have owned a MIM Strat since 2008 and I love it.
I have a Les Paul, a ES-335 and a Baja Tele as well but everyone should have a Strat.
Still the most comfortable and versatile guitar I have ever played.
Awe man!!! Definitely jealous!!!
RJ have you done a vid on the line 6 helix yet?
Now I want one!
Damn man, awesome playing!
Beautiful guitar!
You're a beast RJ
Definitely the color I'd go for!
Still got the old tagger on it.
I try to quote Nigel Tufnel as often as I can.
Boy oh boy. Lucky you. Ang ganda ng tunog kabayan
Looks good on ya, RJ!
What is the trem block made off this time? Brass, rolled steel?
Looks like rolled steel
very cool video man !
Sweet playing!
Cobra Blue is SICK! Write some badass riffs for us Trankillio yo yo yo!
Dunno what I prefer more, the playing or the strat
I kinda like that brushed metal I guess its tea black brown tele, idk seen Ola Englund make it chug..
RJ can make something as mundane as a new Ultra Strat sound kick ass.
Sounds good bro!
Galing na si ArJay.
hey there, you still have this Ultra!
I wouldn’t have touch a thing!
I got one! Yeah it was out of the average “next-level” Strat you know!
However I knew Is like a super GT 5.0 OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP!
I mean, is already a Beast!
hope u didn’t tweak it! 👋
I have two stratocaster one fender the other one SX all my guitars are made left handed cause I'm a lefty I have seven guitars yes stratocasters are great and fun to play to l also have SX 335 black with gold hardware and pearl inlays and I have agile cool cat guitar it's a jazz guitar big body
That's a sick color
Me, I like a thin neck and I don't have an hss Strat yet so this might be the one? IDK maybe.
If you got $2,000 laying around; then sure.
Ahhhhhhh, that new guitar smell.
Nice guitar man.
Check the S1 switch.
Thought you're going to get the Tele...
i had the same feelin today when i received the package in the mail....Sweeeeeet...... but that was only some nice smelly usb charging cables from amazon...
Mat S lol
Haha.
You are so lucky! Fender gave you that guitar for free! That's because you play so well R.J!
Mate you sound great