Fender American Ultra II: Haymaker Humbuckers and New Colors
New rumours and leaks about the highly anticipated guitar and bass models
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[15 October 15 2024] Fender introduced the American Ultra series five years ago. The series was just as elegant as their Vintera series, with slightly more modern details. And now Fender American Ultra II is here – as we saw in the recent leaks (see below).
All About Fender American Ultra II
Here’s what’s new
What’s even there to update in such a well-designed series? If anything, it’s the details. All new Ultra II models come with the latest Ultra II Noiseless single coils. They’ve been tweaked again to improve output and noiselessness.
Again, there are the vintage and hot versions for the pickups. The former sound remarkably close to the sound of the original single coils. The hot-wound Ultra II Hot pickups, on the other hand, deliver a significantly higher output level.
All the new models in the series have one thing in common: instead of a bone nut, they now feature a Graph Tech TUSQ. You won’t find any rosewood fingerboards in this release. Alongside the classic maple fingerboards, Fender is focusing on ebony here. There are also three left-handed models, but only for the Stratocasters.
What the Haymaker?
If you dig a little deeper into this big release, you’ll find some Strats with an HSS setup alongside the classic SSS models. And here, you’ll find a Haymaker humbucker as the bridge pickup.
Fender emphasizes the particularly versatile sound of these pickups in the Ultra II series. From delicate clean sounds to warm crunch and biting leads – and all without any hum. If you still want to ride the original SSS sound, you can do that with the Haymakers too.
because they can be switched to the third single-coil via the dedicated S-1 switch using coil splitting. Last but not least, the look of all the new models is once again a real feast for the eyes. In addition to the HSS models, Ultra II also offers a whole range of Teles.
Jazz and Preci: Fender American Ultra II bass models
Let’s not forget about the low end stringers! Four P-Basses and seven Jazz Basses are a part of Ultra II. All basses come with two Ultra II noiseless pickups each. In addition to four-string basses, there is also a selection of five-string Jazz basses.
Curious? Then you can find all the models here at Thomann*.
Fender Ultra II Leak: The Next Generation of the Popular Guitar & Bass?
[26 September 2024] Fender is apparently preparing to release the Ultra II series, and the latest leaks have guitar and bass fans buzzing. Although Fender has yet to officially announce the series, the leaked images give a first impression of what we can expect. Even though they are not available in high resolution, they definitely give a sneak peek!
Fender Ultra II Series Leaked: What can we Expect From These Premium Instruments?
The upcoming Fender Ultra II series is said to surpass the previous models in terms of features and performance – hence the ‘II’ version. The noiseless pickups are said to eliminate unwanted hum. There is also likely to be a repositioned active/passive switch for flexible sound control. Other features are not yet known in detail. As always, we will keep you posted.
Models seen so far include a Stratocaster with SSS and HSS configurations, a Telecaster, a Meteora with HH layout, a Meteora bass and a Deluxe Precision bass with P and J pickups. It is thought that other models such as the Jazz Bass or even 5-string versions could follow. The colour palette of the new series is also interesting, with metallic and pearl white finishes, complemented by modern hardware such as the two-point tremolo on the Stratocaster models and the 6-saddle bridge on the Telecaster models.
[update] The Fender Stratocaster SSS models that were recently listed online by some retailers have now been removed. These models include some exciting upgrades such as Luminlay Side Dots, a Graph Tech TUSQ nut and the new Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat pickups. RRP for these models is $2,199.
Fender Ultra II: Are These Guitars and Basses Worth the Hype?
The new series is expected to be more expensive than the Elite series due to the enhanced features. For musicians looking for a top-of-the-range instrument with the latest technology, it could be worth the investment. Initial reactions from the music community have been mixed, with some appreciating the modern design and advanced features, while others are sceptical about the changes. Ultimately, your personal playing style will determine whether the forthcoming series meets your individual needs.
In addition, the first Ultra II Series bodies in ‘Texas Tea’ and ‘Chartreuse Sparkle’ have already appeared on eBay, suggesting that the new models will be released soon. It remains to be seen when Fender will officially announce the Ultra II Series, but it promises to be an important addition to the range that will appeal to both professionals and amateurs alike. Sounds very nice!
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4 responses to “Fender American Ultra II: Haymaker Humbuckers and New Colors”
nice
They cost 2500Eur. 1500 is the guitar, 1000 is the Fender logo.
Get Charvel or Jackson and get a better guitar for $1000 less.
Nice rundown by John 5. I guess he didn’t know that the Godin Stadium electric guitars already featured the angled pickup selector a few years ago. They also came to market with a contour cutout on the back and 12” neck radius. These were some of the very reasons I chose the Stadium as my new T-style guitar over a Fender Tele in 2021.