Played guitar for 50+ years and never thought too much about playing a Tele. As a matter of fact, never played a Tele. Playing in the pit I had run across scores that specifically asked for a Tele. I was able to cover the parts pretty well with a 335 style with split coils. Not exactly but close. Stumble across an American Deluxe Ash early in '24. It belonged to a collector who was "thinning the herd". It came with TSA hardshell case and was in excellent. He shot me a price. My "spousal unit" said you better pull the trigger. Boy! I have never played a guitar that played so easy and so simple. It has all the bells and whistles with the exception of the angled switch. I've now played it for three shows over the past year. Pretty much cover anything with it and an acoustic electric. When they say, "you can cover it all with a Tele" that big committee of "They" are right. I love the compound radius neck, rolled edges, and the belly cut. Nicest guitar I ever had.
After 30 years I finally bought my first Telecaster, and then a G&L ASAT....I love the belly cut! Oh, I am a convert although I still dislike the headstock. The belly cut made all the difference for me for the two I got and made them comfortable.
I’ve been trying to buy a Tele for about 20 years- finally did it this week! The neck details - profile, matte finish maple and compound radius fretboard - really did it for me, but the body contour definitely helped too. I love the Avalanche finish!
Super excited about the updates. The comfort carve is actually the main reason I just ordered one from you. 👍 I am going to put some Josefina Campos hand wound twisted Tele pickups in it, then it’ll be perfect. :-)
For players who want a Tele but like Strat ergonomics. Besides that, it looks very classy in Texas Tea. If they are reasonably low weight at no more than 7.5 lbs, then I'm interested.
I own an Ultra Luxe Telecaster in 2 tone Sunburst. Fantastic guitar. The only thing missing would be the arm cut that these new Telecasters models are offering. Too bad they took away the body binding and no Stainless steel frets. Probably an Ultra Luxe model in the works that will offer them. We shall see.😊
I doubt the Ultra Luxe series is going away, they need to make a model with stainless steel frets which countless people are asking for. The Ultra Luxe series came out a while after the Ultra series
Was on the fence on Fender but now I think I'll get my first electric Fender. I want to play some Country, Classic Rock, and some Rock. I think it'll suit fine. Thanks.
Great demo and thorough presentation, guys. The one feature that worries me is that slanted switch. I’m a Tele player, but when I do play a Strat I’m always knocking that switch out of position. If I ever get one of these (haven’t played one yet), that would seem an essential modification.
People are complaining about no binding. It does look nice. You can have the functional comfort contour or non functional aesthetically pleasing binding. You cant have both.
Ok not a good review or demo imo. No mention of whether the new pups are...... a) any better sounding or different than the pups in Ultra 1. b) are they any quieter with significant gain applied. c) the guitar was only demoed clean, and edge of breakup, so no mention of any overdrive or distortion tones. Tele's are not just for country players guys :)
I will say, if there's ONE Fender guitar that I would kind of want noiseless pickups on, it would be the Jazzmaster. They seem to pick up notably more noise than the rest.
The lack of a white binding on the texas tea is down grade imo. And still no stainless frets at that price point. Love the quarter sawn neck. Better 70 years late than never lol
The Solar Flare is my favorite new finish, and the anodized pickguards are cool. Disappointed that there’s no Jazzmaster tho. I think if they fixed the bridge issue it would sell more.
Bridge problem??? The saddles are fully and independently adjustable….my Ultra 1 has some of the lowest buzz- free action I’ve seen. Certainly the best playing telecaster I’ve ever had my hands on
@@John-fc9iw the intonation is individually adjustable. For string height you can only raise or lower the whole bridge. It sounds like you’re thinking of the old Jazzmaster style saddles they put on the vintage spec JM’s. The Ultra had the Mustang style saddles.
I'm not being a dopey contrarian here, but I must say that this poorly illustrates the versatility of this instrument. The telecaster is much more than a twang machine...after the twang try some melodic warm tones, and follow that up with some sweet blues licks. You'll be glad you did.
I have an Ultra Tele and an Ultra Luxe Strat........I really don't see much of a significant change in the Ultra ii worth considering it, for that price.
Weird that Chris and Coop will happily play dreadnought acoustics but talk about how they want/need an arm carve on a tele. A trad tele may be like a plank, but it's a slim plank nonetheless with a third of the bulk of a dreadnought.
Fender should fix their QC. Bought a Meteora pots were cutting out. Push to split pickups a disaster and a gig bag that isn't good enough for a $100.00 dollar guitar. Now after spending more money had pots actually upgraded while my guy was fixing it and installing a switch for the splitting the humbuckers and buying a case it works properly.
IFender will not fix their QA if, when there are QA issues, the customer fixes it themselves and doesn't say a word to Fender. I would send back any new guitar that wasn't up to scratch.
@@pepmasters-999 You are exactly right. I should have sent it right back but didn't. They certainly know about it thought and I won't let them slide on this.
I'm disappointed that they didn't make any lefties. Teles are working musicians guitars. And this one has some great features for players who are out all the time. I'd really like one... too bad I guess.
Nice review! Great guitar... but seems like a downgrade from the ultra 1. No real noticeable improvements except the arm carve but removes the beautiful binding and rosewood neck. Binding is more expensive to include so looks like fender is cutting costs... trying to skimp on things and sell for same price.
I have Texas tea version 1, I hated the Metal pick guard swapped it out, I don’t like the new features, gnarly gnurl gnobs gnot gnecessary in my opinion 😂
I own an ultra fender which I love it and seems to me my ultra much better than these New ultra II lambo series!! The new Ultra || series... No thank you!!
Personally, this hyped Fender countdown is a let down. I know these ultras are for modern players but I would rather spend 2400 on the Fender Am vin II 51 tele. I was hoping they were going to do something more or different with the Am Pro ii strats.
I played the strat and tele at GC yesterday. The setups were horrible. Action was set so high they were borderline unplayable. Knurled volume and tone knobs on the tele feel like they could cut your fingers. Initial impression is fail.
It’s dramatically better. Ten times better? Probably not, assuming that could even be measured, but cost to improvement for any product does not increase in a linear way.
@@mrb2436I don't disagree with your overall point but the issue is that the prices do increase linearly with quality upgrades, but then from mind range to 'high end' they stop being linear and just become insultingly expensive.
It's an improved STAGE GUITAR. Top end is still rolled off due to the noiseless pickups. This is not, by any means, an improvement in the Tele sound. It's just quiet, nothing more.
Such a magnificent Tele.... I hate so much the noiseless tone...its like quite compressed...poor natural sustain...the guitar is not able to scream loud!
I bought the Jazzmaster ultra and it was an awful instrument. Bridge was not suitable for a compound radius, pick ups were not fit for purpose. Pure laziness on fenders behalf to not improve on it for the second run of this line by blaming poor sale figures which no doubt reflects the poor standard of the guitar they sold us. Another price bump also. Fender are on cloud cookoo
I am right-handed on Strats, but left-handed on Teles. This is outrageous.
😂
Great updates, but I think the lack of binding on the body is a miss
It does feel like buying a million dollar home, but it's missing soft closing cabinets.
Agreed, I loved that.
@@pdpgkeeper or buying a million dollar home with no crown molding
Eh I prefer the added arm carve. No doubt the binding looked great though.
I disagree. The guitar is sleek with soft, comfortable edges.
Played guitar for 50+ years and never thought too much about playing a Tele. As a matter of fact, never played a Tele. Playing in the pit I had run across scores that specifically asked for a Tele. I was able to cover the parts pretty well with a 335 style with split coils. Not exactly but close. Stumble across an American Deluxe Ash early in '24. It belonged to a collector who was "thinning the herd". It came with TSA hardshell case and was in excellent. He shot me a price. My "spousal unit" said you better pull the trigger. Boy! I have never played a guitar that played so easy and so simple. It has all the bells and whistles with the exception of the angled switch. I've now played it for three shows over the past year. Pretty much cover anything with it and an acoustic electric. When they say, "you can cover it all with a Tele" that big committee of "They" are right. I love the compound radius neck, rolled edges, and the belly cut. Nicest guitar I ever had.
After 30 years I finally bought my first Telecaster, and then a G&L ASAT....I love the belly cut! Oh, I am a convert although I still dislike the headstock. The belly cut made all the difference for me for the two I got and made them comfortable.
I’ve been trying to buy a Tele for about 20 years- finally did it this week! The neck details - profile, matte finish maple and compound radius fretboard - really did it for me, but the body contour definitely helped too. I love the Avalanche finish!
Elliot Easton played the hell out of some left handed teles in The Cars in the late 70s - 80s
Ha! I knew there was one.
Cooper… your playing is class
Yall do The Best guitar reviews on the internet!
Thanks for all the work
That texas tea with an ebony board is magifique.
I'm glad I got the Ultra Tele with the top binding.
True but your s1 switch doesn’t work for all positions
Double binding would be better!
Super excited about the updates. The comfort carve is actually the main reason I just ordered one from you. 👍 I am going to put some Josefina Campos hand wound twisted Tele pickups in it, then it’ll be perfect. :-)
For players who want a Tele but like Strat ergonomics. Besides that, it looks very classy in Texas Tea. If they are reasonably low weight at no more than 7.5 lbs, then I'm interested.
I traded in an Ultra for this Ultra II, very glad I did. I'll trade the binding for an arm contour 100 times out of 100.
I own an Ultra Luxe Telecaster in 2 tone Sunburst. Fantastic guitar. The only thing missing would be the arm cut that these new Telecasters models are offering. Too bad they took away the body binding and no Stainless steel frets. Probably an Ultra Luxe model in the works that will offer them. We shall see.😊
I doubt the Ultra Luxe series is going away, they need to make a model with stainless steel frets which countless people are asking for. The Ultra Luxe series came out a while after the Ultra series
Ultra III will add stainless steel frets. And two new colors.
Dude sure played that tele great groove going on 👍
Bruce Smith the football player. His playing was memorable.
Almost killed Boomer.
I WISH the arm contour was available on more models of Tele!
You guys are awesome. Love your reviews
Was on the fence on Fender but now I think I'll get my first electric Fender. I want to play some Country, Classic Rock, and some Rock. I think it'll suit fine. Thanks.
That's great! Will you show us more models and colors?
Great demo and thorough presentation, guys. The one feature that worries me is that slanted switch. I’m a Tele player, but when I do play a Strat I’m always knocking that switch out of position. If I ever get one of these (haven’t played one yet), that would seem an essential modification.
Funny thing I love my Les Pauls traditional totally but with Fender I prefer the modern take 😎 just picked up the Texas Tea Ultra 2 Tele 💪
People are complaining about no binding. It does look nice.
You can have the functional comfort contour or non functional aesthetically pleasing binding. You cant have both.
You guys should have a beard growing contest. For the next six months no beard trimming allowed. Epic !!!!
Elliot Easton is left handed and a phenomenal player
No Cobra Blue color option??
Mark Knoffler is Left handed but plays Right handed & he played a Tele at one time. That's the only Backhanded player I could think of.
Give us a Tele Deluxe, 22 SS frets, locking tuners, those lovely V-Mod 2 double tap pick ups and a roasted maple neck. Thanks!
They could have at least kept the white bindings on the texas tea Tele, it's missing a touch of class.
Exactly!
Ok not a good review or demo imo. No mention of whether the new pups are......
a) any better sounding or different than the pups in Ultra 1.
b) are they any quieter with significant gain applied.
c) the guitar was only demoed clean, and edge of breakup, so no mention of any overdrive or distortion tones.
Tele's are not just for country players guys :)
albufano is a guitar legend
I will say, if there's ONE Fender guitar that I would kind of want noiseless pickups on, it would be the Jazzmaster. They seem to pick up notably more noise than the rest.
I guess it is too hard to put binding on a guitar with a sculptured arm contour.
The lack of a white binding on the texas tea is down grade imo. And still no stainless frets at that price point. Love the quarter sawn neck. Better 70 years late than never lol
So, since Fender is not doing the Ultra Lux, does that mean that they do not offer a guitar in their line now with stainless steel frets?
The Solar Flare is my favorite new finish, and the anodized pickguards are cool. Disappointed that there’s no Jazzmaster tho. I think if they fixed the bridge issue it would sell more.
What was the bridge issue? I haven't heard that
@@meese1214 9.5 radius on the bridge with a 10-14 inch compound radius on the fretboard, so your action is gonna be inconsistent.
Bridge problem??? The saddles are fully and independently adjustable….my Ultra 1 has some of the lowest buzz- free action I’ve seen. Certainly the best playing telecaster I’ve ever had my hands on
@@John-fc9iw the intonation is individually adjustable. For string height you can only raise or lower the whole bridge. It sounds like you’re thinking of the old Jazzmaster style saddles they put on the vintage spec JM’s. The Ultra had the Mustang style saddles.
@@John-fc9iw oh you’re talking telecaster. I’m talking Jazzmaster.
I'm not being a dopey contrarian here, but I must say that this poorly illustrates the versatility of this instrument.
The telecaster is much more than a twang machine...after the twang try some melodic warm tones, and follow that up with some sweet blues licks. You'll be glad you did.
Isn’t that exactly what he just played in the demo lol
What kind of pick does Cooper use?
I have an Ultra Tele and an Ultra Luxe Strat........I really don't see much of a significant change in the Ultra ii worth considering it, for that price.
The new tele is way more comfortable with the front part of the arm carve. Being a strat guy this is the first tele I’ve felt really comfortable.
@@Rizk775 it's the same as the Ultra
It's really not. Plus, other brands are doing far more with Teles for much less. @@Rizk775
@@bmg696 it’s not. I just played them back to back. The front of the ultra two is curved now
@@Rizk775 and is that carve worth $300?
Are you all clones? 2 😂 love your videos & playing 2 ❤
Weird that Chris and Coop will happily play dreadnought acoustics but talk about how they want/need an arm carve on a tele. A trad tele may be like a plank, but it's a slim plank nonetheless with a third of the bulk of a dreadnought.
Fender should fix their QC. Bought a Meteora pots were cutting out. Push to split pickups a disaster and a gig bag that isn't good enough for a $100.00 dollar guitar. Now after spending more money had pots actually upgraded while my guy was fixing it and installing a switch for the splitting the humbuckers and buying a case it works properly.
IFender will not fix their QA if, when there are QA issues, the customer fixes it themselves and doesn't say a word to Fender. I would send back any new guitar that wasn't up to scratch.
@@pepmasters-999 You are exactly right. I should have sent it right back but didn't. They certainly know about it thought and I won't let them slide on this.
I'm disappointed that they didn't make any lefties. Teles are working musicians guitars. And this one has some great features for players who are out all the time. I'd really like one... too bad I guess.
Haha, you have evolved since last time #two
Nice review! Great guitar... but seems like a downgrade from the ultra 1. No real noticeable improvements except the arm carve but removes the beautiful binding and rosewood neck. Binding is more expensive to include so looks like fender is cutting costs... trying to skimp on things and sell for same price.
It sounds better (I - is too bright in a bad way) but the binding is a miss ....
Fender literally took their Charvel Pro Mod So Cal Style 2 HT, threw noise-less tele single coils in it and called it a day.
I have Texas tea version 1, I hated the Metal pick guard swapped it out, I don’t like the new features, gnarly gnurl gnobs gnot gnecessary in my opinion 😂
The pick guard and knobs can be easily changed.
They should have a color "tax hike".
I own an ultra fender which I love it and seems to me my ultra much better than these New ultra II lambo series!!
The new Ultra || series... No thank you!!
Personally, this hyped Fender countdown is a let down. I know these ultras are for modern players but I would rather spend 2400 on the Fender Am vin II 51 tele. I was hoping they were going to do something more or different with the Am Pro ii strats.
I played the strat and tele at GC yesterday. The setups were horrible. Action was set so high they were borderline unplayable. Knurled volume and tone knobs on the tele feel like they could cut your fingers. Initial impression is fail.
Yeah, but is this guitar, at this price, 10x better than a Squire Affinity? Fender's pricing is ridiculous.
It’s dramatically better. Ten times better? Probably not, assuming that could even be measured, but cost to improvement for any product does not increase in a linear way.
@@mrb2436I don't disagree with your overall point but the issue is that the prices do increase linearly with quality upgrades, but then from mind range to 'high end' they stop being linear and just become insultingly expensive.
So no stainless frets ? WTF ? That’s a MAJOR FAIL !
It's an improved STAGE GUITAR. Top end is still rolled off due to the noiseless pickups. This is not, by any means, an improvement in the Tele sound. It's just quiet, nothing more.
Such a magnificent Tele.... I hate so much the noiseless tone...its like quite compressed...poor natural sustain...the guitar is not able to scream loud!
The white ultra II needs an ebony fretboard and SS frets , cheap Fender.
I bought the Jazzmaster ultra and it was an awful instrument. Bridge was not suitable for a compound radius, pick ups were not fit for purpose. Pure laziness on fenders behalf to not improve on it for the second run of this line by blaming poor sale figures which no doubt reflects the poor standard of the guitar they sold us.
Another price bump also. Fender are on cloud cookoo
My god you guys talk so slow. Good video though
I would have rather heard them play than to listen to talk the whole video..