CLICK TO BUY - Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster Ebony: www.zzounds.com/a--3979398/item--FEN0119141?siid=359907 SUBSCRIBE TO WIN - GIBSON LES PAUL GIVEAWAY: 1) SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications 2) Enter on GLEAM: gleam.io/competitions/pvVrO-gibson-les-paul-giveaway Browse ALL GEAR: USA: www.zzounds.com/a--3979398 EUROPE: www.thomann.de/intl/index.html?offid=1&affid=2603
All of the Strats I've owned have had Rosewood Fingerboards. My Gibsons had Ebony. I LOVE ebony wood for fingerboards. I am glad to see that Fender is offering this now on this Strat.
I just played this at Guitarcenter today. Its a good sounding axe for sure. Just before it came out, I had picked up an Ultra series 1. So far I am happy but would possibly consider getting the ultra II.
If you had a set of favourite pickups then replacing the noiseless pups in the Ultra II with your favourite set would give you a great guitar. The second hand value of the Ultra II noiseless pickups would more than fund the alterations with a luthier.
So, I own the 2023 Ultra Strat and first thing I did was put the Seymour Duncan 5 2’s and it became a “10” for me. To address the Ultra Telecaster, yeah I bought the 2022 Ultra Telecaster and the first week I had the Custom Shop 1950 Joe Bonamassa, Seymour Duncan signed set #177 installed by Berkshire Guitars. This guitar was new but purchased November 2024. Now that guitar is a “10”, as far as I’m concerned. These are both Ultra 1 series not Ultra 2. I prefer the Rosewood fretboard over the Ebony. All I can say is the Ultra Series is great, but as an individual, put a set of pickups that achieves the tone you are seeking. It makes the guitar a little more pricey but it’s worth every penny. Anyway, that’s my opinion which really doesn’t carry much weight. Oh, ultra strat is Sunburst and Tele is cobra blue, if that matters. 😅
@ it was a floor model and I asked the guy for a discount. Apparently they don’t do discounts on floor models but he still gave me 20% off. Paid like $1,856 out the door or something. Should be priced there any way. As is it’s too expensive.
Great looking and sounding guitar. That blue finish with the black pickguard is a great combo. One of the things I have always like about Fender Strats is the neck, I love satin finishes.
I have the original Ultra in blue/white/maple and it's the only strat I own anymore. The neck is simply fantastic and I've found the noiseless to be quite usable for most strat tones (clean / low-gain). That being said mine has the previous version of the pickups I believe and I definitely like them better than the old N3s but I don't have any person experience with the ones in the Ultra 2.
Im not a strat fan at all simply because I continue to lower my volume as I'm playing.. This Ultra 2 sounds awesome. NO NOISELESS PUPS...THEY SUCK I dig the neck on that thing tho. Great review guys Hey Zach! Great job filming "the Parrot" lol
Seems like the best solution is to buy the U-II for the superior neck, and replace the noiseless pickups with something truly single coil, like Lollar Dirty Blondes. And shield the cavities if that hasn't been done already.
Check out the Free-way 10 way switch if you want a drop-in replacement for the 5 way switch that gives you the usual 5 positions plus: neck/bridge in parallel, neck/middle/bridge in parallel, neck/bridge in series, neck/middle in series, and middle/bridge in series. I am not affiliated with them, but I like their products.
Man, those pickups. Still don't love the noiseless. I had one of the earlier iterations of the S1 and noiseless pickups and it felt like a revelation when I swapped them out. Pretty decent high gain sound though. Love the extra contouring.
I wonder how close the lower end strats would be to the flagship if the all had the same carved body? Kind of insulting that you cant get that body and have a shot to upgrade yourself to Ultra 2 or whatever, without buying an Ultra 2. Ten minutes extra time on the CnC router and a grand + more....
I agree with you, this 5th gen of noiseless pick ups are not pleasing to my ears. The 4th gen is better than these. I was considering a pickup swap, but that would add $300+ and the time to replace it and be stuck with a set of pickups nobody will want. Pass.
There is hardly any difference between these new ugly Ultras II and the last generation Ultras. The pickguard on my Cobra Blue Ultra Strat is white which looks great. The fretboard is maple, which also works great. It is beautiful and plays well. The new Ultras, IMHO, look terrible and give nothing extra. Ebony is being used as a fretboard because quality rosewood is hard to find and many necks were rejected by buyers. Although I do like it on my Les Pauls. Anyway, I don't even like the "playability" of the Ultras. ...going to sell mine to finance another Vintage II; much better guitars for me anyway. Ultra II... what a scam.
CLICK TO BUY - Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster Ebony:
www.zzounds.com/a--3979398/item--FEN0119141?siid=359907
SUBSCRIBE TO WIN - GIBSON LES PAUL GIVEAWAY:
1) SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications
2) Enter on GLEAM: gleam.io/competitions/pvVrO-gibson-les-paul-giveaway
Browse ALL GEAR:
USA: www.zzounds.com/a--3979398
EUROPE: www.thomann.de/intl/index.html?offid=1&affid=2603
This promotion not available in my country 😢
All of the Strats I've owned have had Rosewood Fingerboards. My Gibsons had Ebony. I LOVE ebony wood for fingerboards. I am glad to see that Fender is offering this now on this Strat.
Just bought one tonight! That blue is insane in person!
I just played this at Guitarcenter today. Its a good sounding axe for sure. Just before it came out, I had picked up an Ultra series 1. So far I am happy but would possibly consider getting the ultra II.
If you had a set of favourite pickups then replacing the noiseless pups in the Ultra II with your favourite set would give you a great guitar. The second hand value of the Ultra II noiseless pickups would more than fund the alterations with a luthier.
Man I Love that Blue ! Noiseless has a Place.. Those Didn't sound that Bad.. That is the First Strat to get My Attention in a Long Time !
The S-1 switching sounds MUCH better on this one. I like it.
So, I own the 2023 Ultra Strat and first thing I did was put the Seymour Duncan 5 2’s and it became a “10” for me. To address the Ultra Telecaster, yeah I bought the 2022 Ultra Telecaster and the first week I had the Custom Shop 1950 Joe Bonamassa, Seymour Duncan signed set #177 installed by Berkshire Guitars. This guitar was new but purchased November 2024. Now that guitar is a “10”, as far as I’m concerned. These are both Ultra 1 series not Ultra 2. I prefer the Rosewood fretboard over the Ebony. All I can say is the Ultra Series is great, but as an individual, put a set of pickups that achieves the tone you are seeking. It makes the guitar a little more pricey but it’s worth every penny. Anyway, that’s my opinion which really doesn’t carry much weight. Oh, ultra strat is Sunburst and Tele is cobra blue, if that matters. 😅
Got one of these 20% off at GC. Feels like a high performance sports car in a guitar. Ready to go when you are.
How did you get a new Ultra II for 20% off?
@ it was a floor model and I asked the guy for a discount. Apparently they don’t do discounts on floor models but he still gave me 20% off. Paid like $1,856 out the door or something. Should be priced there any way. As is it’s too expensive.
Great looking and sounding guitar. That blue finish with the black pickguard is a great combo. One of the things I have always like about Fender Strats is the neck, I love satin finishes.
I don't need it.. I gotta have it🍷😎👌
I have the original Ultra in blue/white/maple and it's the only strat I own anymore. The neck is simply fantastic and I've found the noiseless to be quite usable for most strat tones (clean / low-gain). That being said mine has the previous version of the pickups I believe and I definitely like them better than the old N3s but I don't have any person experience with the ones in the Ultra 2.
Beautiful guitar. Thanks for the review.
Im not a strat fan at all simply because I continue to lower my volume as I'm playing..
This Ultra 2 sounds awesome. NO NOISELESS PUPS...THEY SUCK
I dig the neck on that thing tho. Great review guys
Hey Zach! Great job filming "the Parrot" lol
Can you guys do a review of the ultra jazzmaster please? I would love to see that demoed. Thanks for the amazing videos guys!
@PlayandTradeGuitars
So, you like the Ultra better than the Ultra II? Seems that way from watching your reviews of both. Let us know, please.
I do.
Seems like the best solution is to buy the U-II for the superior neck, and replace the noiseless pickups with something truly single coil, like Lollar Dirty Blondes. And shield the cavities if that hasn't been done already.
Check out the Free-way 10 way switch if you want a drop-in replacement for the 5 way switch that gives you the usual 5 positions plus: neck/bridge in parallel, neck/middle/bridge in parallel, neck/bridge in series, neck/middle in series, and middle/bridge in series. I am not affiliated with them, but I like their products.
Man, those pickups. Still don't love the noiseless. I had one of the earlier iterations of the S1 and noiseless pickups and it felt like a revelation when I swapped them out. Pretty decent high gain sound though. Love the extra contouring.
seems like you enjoyed the sound of the Ultra 1 much more. Still remember that video :)
I wonder how close the lower end strats would be to the flagship if the all had the same carved body? Kind of insulting that you cant get that body and have a shot to upgrade yourself to Ultra 2 or whatever, without buying an Ultra 2. Ten minutes extra time on the CnC router and a grand + more....
Out of curiosity, are your volume and tone knobs on the guitar dimed when you run through all of the sound options?
Yes they are, thanks for watching
Noiseless pickups are great platforms for pedal players
I love that guitar but I need classic strat pickups or at least on the middle and neck to get the Stevie Ray tone.
Mine makes so much noise its microphonic with very little distortion.
So cool 👌
Anyone compare these noiseless pickups to the 1990s Strat Plus era Lace Sensors?
You have cool reviews! Noiselessness sacrifices the high tones, unluckily. I like everything about this guitar but this.
I agree with you, this 5th gen of noiseless pick ups are not pleasing to my ears. The 4th gen is better than these. I was considering a pickup swap, but that would add $300+ and the time to replace it and be stuck with a set of pickups nobody will want. Pass.
I agree, athough these are the sixth generation pickups. The previous Ultra series had the Gen V pickups.
@@andybown68 Thanks. you are right
They would not be the first to price themselves out of a market.
He’s got original mucous guys should check out. It’s pretty good songwriting and the singers awesome.
Noiseless pickups are like these Zero softdrinks.. zero suger, no taste 😊
New Noiseless pickups sound atrocious.
There is hardly any difference between these new ugly Ultras II and the last generation Ultras. The pickguard on my Cobra Blue Ultra Strat is white which looks great. The fretboard is maple, which also works great. It is beautiful and plays well. The new Ultras, IMHO, look terrible and give nothing extra. Ebony is being used as a fretboard because quality rosewood is hard to find and many necks were rejected by buyers. Although I do like it on my Les Pauls. Anyway, I don't even like the "playability" of the Ultras. ...going to sell mine to finance another Vintage II; much better guitars for me anyway. Ultra II... what a scam.
Hey man, it's not a "scam" when nobody is forcing you to buy it. 😂
I’m glad your opinion doesn’t matter to fender