Fender ULTRA Best American Strat?
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Fender American Ultra Stratocaster FULL DEMO
John and Zach uncase, talk specs, and play the high performance Fender American Ultra Stratocaster in Cobra Blue.
VIDEO CHAPTERS:
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On the Bench Specs
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@shakeyoulikehaiti Жыл бұрын
I went to my local guitar center just to play an ultra strat. Within seconds of holding the guitar, I knew I was buying one. Nothing else compared to the way it feels in my hands. They only had the blue in stock, so I ended up ordering one online in Texas tea. The gold plating and beautiful dark swampy brown color is just gorgeous. Now I get to play the waiting game until it arrives in the mail. So here I am killing time by watching videos that make me want it more lmao. Great video by the way. I appreciate it.
@PlayandTradeGuitars Жыл бұрын
lol thanks for watching, great choice!
@rob1996ization Жыл бұрын
How are you liking it?
@shakeyoulikehaiti Жыл бұрын
@@rob1996ization I’m absolutely in love with it man. Even if I’m not going to play it, sometimes I just open the case to look at it lol. I have plenty of things more valuable than it, but it quickly became my most prized possession. As far as how I enjoy the playability, it is second to none in my book. I’m sure one day I’ll find something else that plays as good or better, but for the time being, I couldn’t imagine a better guitar.
@niteboatermusic 11 ай бұрын
just bought mine from local GC, great price with case in cobalt blue. Knew it would be mine within 10mins of visit. They had the Umbra burst as well, it also looked gorgeous. The neck, electronics, and overall feel makes this a serious piece of engineering, and the sounds I have in store for it will even the tide. Working on brand new album, pigments of my imagination must rain down... Heaven is a place on earth when you've got a Strat Ultra and creative options!
@adamperkins4305 Жыл бұрын
I own a Fender Ultra in Mocha Burst. I shopped around different strats for a while. It’s a really really nice guitar. Very well made. I like the push switch. Pickups are better than you are expecting and the case is super heavy duty.
@ericduarte3364 6 ай бұрын
Does your guitar keep going out of tune sharp?
@avonzodiac Жыл бұрын
Went to Guitar Center to play and compare the Ultra and the Ampro II. I played the Ultra for about ten minutes or so, had the sales person hand me the Ampro II and handed it back to him after about a minute. I was really surprised how much better the Ultra was. I have a JM AmPro II and love the crap out of it so I was prepared to feel the same for the Strat, which I may have had I not played the Ultra first. Now it's all I dream about. I don't own a Strat and that is going to be my first! Now I just need to wait for that 48 month interest free financing deal...
@lindyloulie80 11 ай бұрын
Just picked up the Cobalt Blue one today. It’s all about the neck. OOOOHH that neck!! Have never played such a great neck. Of course the entire guitar and the Noiseless pups are fabulous. This one is a definite keeper.
@tonyhills2112 Жыл бұрын
I’ve had the HSS rosewood neck version for a couple years now & really love it. No neck pocket hairline cracks yet! Thanks for the great review!
@ransombaggins9301 Жыл бұрын
Cobra blue. A gorgeous color and especially with that pick guard.
@michaeljames6216 Жыл бұрын
Haven't tried one yet, but having rolled edges on the neck is great. Wish all models came that way from Fender.
@metalmover Жыл бұрын
I own 4 ultras… Texas tea telecaster Trifade strat with maple neck Cobra blue strat with HSS And the Texas tea Jazz bass. Being a fender guy for years…I really like these guitars. They are easy to get around and the neck radius makes all the difference between my other strats and telecasters. Especially the 7.25r reissues I have (I love ‘em, but they are tiring to play) I love the “S” switching options as well….it all adds to the line for sure. The tele is my goto these days. I own a great collection of guitars….I’m a big fan.
@ryan_raus Жыл бұрын
Wish I could afford that many. Hopefully in the future!
@SeabeeBuckeye Жыл бұрын
Cobra Blue. I 💙 mine. Has much more to offer than my MIM Player, which is an incredible guitar. Noiseless pups, locking tuners, bone nut, HSC, etc. Better quality components equates to higher cost. Again to each their own. Just don't degrade a top tier guitar if you can't afford it. Nice demo 👊💙
@BP-or2iu 11 ай бұрын
It’s not even very expensive if you’re an adult with a job. 2k is fine.
@polocisneros Жыл бұрын
I lost my sidekick (1979 black strat) in an auto accident, about 15 years ago. I was heading back home from a late night gig & fell asleep at the wheel! 😢 To this day I still have not came across "The one" to replace her. Although this Ultra Strat has me thinking hard about it🤔, reminds me of her sooo much! 😔
@btecww Жыл бұрын
Good review. I have the elite Stratocaster I think the noiseless pickups on the Ultra are tuned better than the Elites. However add a little compressor to the elite noiseless and you can color the tone close enough.
@rodolfoperez744 Жыл бұрын
Man thank you so much I’m totally gona get me one ultra soon wow great video great work showing all the parts and man you play so good and showed each pick up . I hope you get more followers
@azizaziz7007 Жыл бұрын
i have one in texas gold and I love it so much that I thought about getting one in HSS with rosewood neck. My first strat and it delivered. I ended up buying vintage II 61. Love them both and they are very different guitar
@cjjames6553 Жыл бұрын
Ultra series truly are amazing !
@niteboatermusic 11 ай бұрын
nice video, agreed with you on superb tones and finish of this work of art guitar. I literally just bought this and loving it! Didnt even need much setup, playing it thru an Eventide, what could be better?
@DrJeebles Жыл бұрын
Fender seems to be going option crazy. I don't have my usual headphones on, and I may not be able to tell from KZfaq anyway, but those noiseless pickups sound pretty good to me.
@catdaddy57 Жыл бұрын
NGD today for me with this exact guitar...Its superb...really digging it....
@PlayandTradeGuitars Жыл бұрын
Nice enjoy!! Great one for sure, thanks for watching
@toddmoore2324 Жыл бұрын
Some of the more modern appointments don't really appeal to me but the sound is undeniably Fender through and through.
@cgb1394 3 ай бұрын
I just ordered one with a roasted maple neck and surf green body. I played one in the store and I agree with what everybody says about it just feeling...right. I liked the spongy sounding pickups and they gave me an albert king sound at times which I love. the S1 switch really sounds good. Can't imagine anything that can be improved with this guitar.
@tomzeto 11 ай бұрын
thank you for taking it apart to verify if humbucker pickups can be put in there!
@derekphillips9846 3 ай бұрын
Just got one. Cobalt Blue. It is lovely. Plays so nice.
@nohero178 7 ай бұрын
Such a lovely guitar. I played a rosewood burst model at GC and it was painful to leave it at the store.
@johngregory7329 Жыл бұрын
Hello John & Zach. Those pick ups sound great. I will bet she plays great also. That's a very nice guitar period. Money wise I think it is worth it. A solid Ten. I hope you & your families have a Rocking Christmas. & a Healthy New Year. Signed John (Zepbass) Gregory from Munster Indiana.
@donnieboesch3502 Жыл бұрын
I have the cobalt blue ultra strat. Looks good, plays good & sounds good. It's a beast.
@cuggyboysmith81 5 ай бұрын
I bought my dad one of these and a Fender amp for his 70th birthday during lockdown. He loves it but doesn't dare play it lol. He just jams on his old guitars. Lovely bit of kit tho! Great vid too!
@bustanorms2028 Жыл бұрын
I have the texas tea hss utra,only thing i dont like is the noiseless pick up,planning to change it to custom 54 pup,
@judaspriestly88 10 ай бұрын
I'm 1010% convinced those neck pocket cracks you talk about are from the leverage force applied to the body through the neck/screws when propping a bolt-on necked guitar up like that (2:28). I've never understood why this is necessary. whenever I work on my guitars, I have the headstock lying off the edge of the table and support the neck under the 1st fret just enough to keep it from bobbingup and down, but not enough to prop up the body off the table, and in 23 years of playing/setting up guitars I've never had a neck pocket crack on me.
@mikaelflodstrom6370 Жыл бұрын
Very clean sound from that
@martyf663 Жыл бұрын
I bought one with Rosewood fretboard.....awesome guitar...
@lofijunky Жыл бұрын
i’ve got the ultra jazzmaster and it plays beautifully
@DrGreenaway Жыл бұрын
Great review. One correction: That one is called Cobra blue, not cobalt blue. It’s the same color as the Ford Cobra Mustang automobile.
@jacobmcvay123 Жыл бұрын
Sold my 2012 Fender Am Deluxe. Only guitar I regret selling. Almost tempted to guy buy it back for $400 more than I sold it for lol. It’s that solid.
@DominiqueMotte Жыл бұрын
Hello, I have a Stratocaster American Ultra cobra blue and a Gibson Les Paul standard 60s . Both are very good instruments. Two different worlds. The American Ultra is fantastic for Blues and Rock. But the price in France is very high. I tried an American Ultra Telecaster a very good instrument too.
@vicenteb531 4 ай бұрын
in which situation would you prefer using a Strat and a Les Paul and why? cheers man
@ushbag 11 ай бұрын
Cobra Blue! Strike Hard! Strike First! No Mercy!
@minnesotajack1 Жыл бұрын
Could you put this neck on a different guitar or does the contour screw it up?
@revolead Жыл бұрын
I bought an Ultra in the Cobra Blue in 2020, and it's outstanding. The satin polyurethane D neck with the compound radius fretboard is my all-time favorite profile. The pickups are killer. The thing never goes out of tune, even on 1.5-step bends. I know Leo Fender went to Music Man and G&L to perfect his design, but to me, the Ultra series is the perfection of his 1954 vision. I can't say I'd spend extra for the Luxe. They released it a year after I got my Ultra, and other than stainless steel frets and some other feature so meaningless I forgot what it is, it's the same guitar for $400 more. Not worth it, especially because stainless steel frets on a SSS Strat can sound quickly send your tone into ice pick territory.
@andybown68 Жыл бұрын
For me, the Ultra Luxe was worth it for the stainless steel frets alone. I also preferred the neck carve and the ash body. YMMV.
@revolead Жыл бұрын
@@andybown68 I stand corrected about the neck carve. It's a subtle description on the Fender website. I thought it was the same. Did you play the augmented D side by side with the modern D? I'm not sure if I'd notice the difference, but I'm curious what you thought. I personally avoid ash guitars unless I know how heavy they are. Is yours beastly or did Fender pick lightweight ash?
@andybown68 Жыл бұрын
@@revolead The Ultra Luxe just felt a bit fuller in the hand. Not better or worse than the Ultra, but it suited me better. My Ultra Luxe is slightly heavier than my Player strat, but it’s not a boat anchor.
@revolead Жыл бұрын
@@andybown68 I have a Warmoth body custom Soloist with a swamp ash body and maple cap, and it's pretty heavy, but not as much as my Heritage H-150. So I can imagine. And it's not like my Ultra is light. It's just over 8 lbs, so I doubt ash would be a deal breaker. Either way, Fender only offered the Ultra when I bought it, and my guitar sounds great. It'd have been nice to have the Luxe option to compare, but I don't think I'd find it $400 better. Totally fine that you do.
@andybown68 Жыл бұрын
@@revolead Agreed, I don’t think one is better than the other. They are both great guitars.
@502tony1 4 ай бұрын
I have one and I really like it!
@williamwinn948 Жыл бұрын
Bought mine for $1800 when the 1st came out, glad i did
@MrWillicat1 11 ай бұрын
It’s Cobra Blue, color modeled after the Shelby Cobra
@robertriedinger9695 Жыл бұрын
I just ordered that exact one last night. Can't wait for it to come in.
@PlayandTradeGuitars Жыл бұрын
Congrats and enjoy! Great choice.
@tigertiger8496 9 ай бұрын
super présentation! merci
@tacdoc8736 Жыл бұрын
I have one and dig it, especially the body contours and the neck. It has incredibly stable tuning for a Strat and is very comfortable to play. The Ultra noiseless pickups are easily the best noiseless i've played... but ultimately I still wound up swapping them out for some custom wound pickups. I've just never been a fan of modern Fender pickups, including the custom shop options. I play it more than any Fender strat i've owned, but I still find myself picking up my '21 core model Silver Sky more often. The pickups are something special but it just feels like a more refined guitar from almost any objective measurement when i'm playing it. They're Both really good guitars. I just find myself playing distinctly different things on them because of how different they feel and respond to my playing.
@revolead Жыл бұрын
What pickups did you end up getting? I'm really happy with the Ultra pickups, but I have an MIM Fender Classic Player 60s that I'm on the fence about the Custom Shop 69s. I go back and forth about liking them. Curious what you'd recommend. Other than a Silver Sky. Lol!
@crsstephen72 Жыл бұрын
Great overview
@tommybrown4191 5 ай бұрын
I had one of these, rosewood fretboard and ultra burst finish. I adored the neck but just couldn't get on with the pickups. I ended up selling it but probably should have kept it and changed the pickups. It sounded too sterile and lifeless to me. I tried really hard to love the guitar but it just wasn't meant to be but I'd buy the neck and stick it on a different strat body with different pups.
@justinwest4088 Жыл бұрын
Just got mine today.😊
@pmkrak 8 ай бұрын
I have a Texas Tea. I went to a guitar shop to buy a Suhr. Saw the Ultra and compared it with a bunch of Suhrs. It at least compared equally to the Suhrs on everything except price (it was almost $1,000 less expensive). The feel of the neck was significantly more comfortable and, this is subjective, I felt it was just a better looking guitar. The neck on the Ultra is incredible! It is, hands down, the best neck I've ever played on! Went to buy a Suhr, came home with a Fender Ultra Stratocaster and never regretted it!
@MrEvanBacon 10 ай бұрын
I have the ultra sunburst. best guitar I have ever bought.
@aminahmed2220 Жыл бұрын
What a great video have a great weekend
@josemarinroizdiaz4317 Жыл бұрын
Las pastillas de la American deluxe suenan bien!
@skipwiley2497 Жыл бұрын
Just bought one of these. I thought my tone knob was messed up but turns out it’s a no load pot. Go figure
@BookClubDisaster Ай бұрын
How does cobra blue compare with chrome blue? A color that I think is continued.
@AngelMartinez-qs3cf 8 ай бұрын
I need a strat but I torn. Which would handle better overdrive. I am looking for a strat that handle overdrive well., i.e., AC/DC, Beatles Classic Right, where I can plug into a Fender Twin Reverb, and a Marshall Plexi? Does the maple neck handle guitar "better"? Great video like always
@pmkrak 8 ай бұрын
This guitar could easily cover that. Especially the HSS model, if you need that humbucker in the bridge. As far as maple vs rosewood, pick whatever you like best. I prefer maple only because it was first and the original neck. That was all you could get on Fenders in the 50's. I'm a traditionalist.
@Frank-se1il Жыл бұрын
I went to guitar center simply to kill sometime. I am better off now (money wise) so I decided to start playing the most expensive guitars they had on stock. I went through a couple of Gibsons thinking (these are trash for the price) and the moment I touched the Stratocaster Ultra I knew it was the best guitar I have ever lay hands on. Anyways, I bought the guitar and had it seating in its case for 8 months (I usually play my takamine guitar). Well my foolish ass decides to place it in Facebook market place because I figured I was never going to play it again. I decided to hook it up to an amp and play it one last time. Bro, I took that ad immediately. Now I am playing it daily. This guitar made me feel the shit I felt when I was 15 years old and first started playing guitar.
@jwalkrr Жыл бұрын
love that finish. good sound!
@kevinmjones3868 8 ай бұрын
I have the Moca ultra Strat as well sweet
@trl6913 Жыл бұрын
Very cool! I want the "quiet" single coils. EC uses 'em in his neck and bridge with his "active" in the middle.... should be good for me. Heavy at 8+ lbs.... BUMMER...I only have a 1/4 of a right leg stump left with severe nerve damage(Terminal Illness Aortic Dissection twice a failed Femeral Artery Graft... had to let my leg go or get gangrene.... of course I don't care for a Les Paul.... nice neck and joint .... (I hate tremlos...EC blocks his...) Great tonality..yep the "silent" single coils hint at "The Woman's Sound"...NICE.... ALWAYS wanted a real Fender too... I LIKE IT!!!!
@revolead Жыл бұрын
As an Ultra Strat owner, if you play sitting down, as I do, you don't even notice the 8 lbs. The sculpted heel and super easy playing neck make it feel lighter than it is. The don't even notice it's weight unless I pick it up immediately after grabbing my 6 lbs. 11 oz. Ibanez.
@sboy1955 9 ай бұрын
Impressive… now I’m between this and the Luxe?
@cleftturnip7774 Жыл бұрын
Hi. Which Strat would you recommend if you don't want the push pull stuff?
@PlayandTradeGuitars Жыл бұрын
There's many to choose from, but if you want more of a vintage/classic characteristic without modern switching you can check out the Vintera series: www.zzounds.com/a--3979398/item--FEN0149912?siid=261967 Do you have a price range or preference on where it's made? Thanks for watching.
@Anddrew914 Жыл бұрын
What I really want is an ultra with a nitro finish.
@lofijunky Жыл бұрын
same here. hopefully we’ll get something similar in the future
@Yumemaru. Жыл бұрын
I want an ultra with a solid turquoise body, and a white pick guard and knobs.
@BeantownToBigD 9 ай бұрын
Me too but don't hold your breath. I think a Suhr antique classic is the closest option.
@johngee4306 4 ай бұрын
This is the best strat ever.
@trevorhardy3544 5 ай бұрын
I have this exact one. Love it.
@steveb9325 8 ай бұрын
How does she compare to the American Pro II 1699.00?
@PlayandTradeGuitars 8 ай бұрын
Check out our demo on the Am Pro II: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ptCPp7WWp5PQioE.html Thanks for watching!
@BigPrincelittlePrince Жыл бұрын
Great video!! How do you join the giveaway?
@PlayandTradeGuitars Жыл бұрын
Thanks! The Gleam giveaway entry link is in our description. Make sure you subscribe and enter on Gleam, the winner will be selected randomly by Gleam when we hit 50,000 subscribers
@BigPrincelittlePrince Жыл бұрын
@@PlayandTradeGuitars thank you!!
@BFHPET Жыл бұрын
is the bridge singlecoil worth having instead of hss?
@waywardsoul4918 Жыл бұрын
It just depends on your preference. I bought one with HSS thinking it would be more versatile. Turns out I didn't like the sound as i prefer single coils. The humbucker sounded dull, but thats my opinion. Btw the hss changes the way the S switch operates; that's something to consider also.
@BFHPET Жыл бұрын
@@waywardsoul4918 how it change explain
@randomonlineactivity 11 ай бұрын
Noiseless single coils just don't sound like they should IMO
@SO-bp2uc 9 ай бұрын
You’re not wrong. I like how they sound better, but I tend to be a neck pickup guy and I like a warmer tone. I do think you can dial them in fairly close to traditional single coils though.
@silveryfoxx4791 Жыл бұрын
I want one but can’t afford it right now. One day….
@abc345ful 2 ай бұрын
I own a Texas tea , but that blue ❤️
@doctoribanez Жыл бұрын
I don't really understand all the price differences. They all are pretty much the same to me.
@craigthomson3621 Жыл бұрын
I wonder if Fender have ever considered a short run of guitars using the Ultra Specs but with different pickups. If they treated non Masterbuilt customers to an Ultra with Josefina Campos pickups, plus a Freeway 10 position switch, that would be really something.
@martyshwaartz971 Жыл бұрын
Throw on ss frets and they might actually be able to compete with Ibanez again
@marions.120 Жыл бұрын
It’ll only cost $1500 more!✌️🤪🎸🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶 I love the compound radius.
@revolead Жыл бұрын
@@martyshwaartz971 they have that in the Ultra Luxe. See discussion above.
@DrGreenaway Жыл бұрын
A few different colors would be nice. Sweetwater has an exclusive black one, and Chicago Music Exchange had a quicksilver one.
@DrGreenaway Жыл бұрын
Great review. One correction: That one is called Cobra blue, not cobalt blue. It’s the same color as the Ford Cobra Mustang automobile.
@TravisHyllMusic Жыл бұрын
I find it amazing that even paying over $2000 for the instrument, with an incredible professional setup, in these videos you still hear an audible rattle/fretbuzz. It is apparently inevitable with Fenders. A compound radius fretboard can be found on Jacksons (owned by Fender) for under $300, yet here it’s an elite feature. Fender should be able to offer that on an import model for $600 or so, maybe market as a “modern player.” My two cents 😊
@nnnkkk4321 Жыл бұрын
Go home kid
@wedrivebynight 10 ай бұрын
What are you even talking about
@trevorgwelch7412 Жыл бұрын
I really wonder what the actual production cost is of an ultra Fender Strat ? I'm sure there is a huge mark up . 🎸✨🎼🎼🎼 ( Aliexpress sell Chinese made Strats for $140 !!!! )
@aaronhanks3791 Жыл бұрын
Cobalt blue? You sure you didn't mean Cobra blue?
@PlayandTradeGuitars Жыл бұрын
I definitely meant Cobra Blue, thanks for watching!
@Dreamdancer11 4 ай бұрын
We have now guitars that have roasted maple necks,stainless steel frets,bone nuts,locking tuners,spokewheel truss rods that go under 200 dollars and this thing costs 2000 plus?Better get that 200 bargain throw top of the notch electronics and call it a day...in fact....why not get two and do the same...it would still be better and cheaper..llol..
@ltgray2780 Жыл бұрын
Try a Shijie. Better specs for a lot less.
@rickrosenberg1729 Жыл бұрын
Gleam
@robertmaxwell2596 15 күн бұрын
This is the first guitar I bought for myself and I have zero interest in buying another guitar.
@Thirdgen83 Жыл бұрын
The pickups are CRAP, the S1 switching is LAME, and it doesn't have stainless steel frets. The contoured heel is nice though.
@bustanorms2028 Жыл бұрын
I have one,only thing i dont like is the single noiseless pick up,better change to passive vintage pick up like texas special or seymour
@Thirdgen83 Жыл бұрын
@@bustanorms2028 Dimarzio Area 67 pickups (and Area 61 at bridge position) are the way to go. Better than the Fender noiseless pickups.
@bustanorms2028 Жыл бұрын
@@Thirdgen83 ok thanks
@jefflemieux8890 Жыл бұрын
May want to get the color name right…… not Cobalt…. Cobra!
@PlayandTradeGuitars Жыл бұрын
Correct, I was testing you. Thanks for watching
@rchydrozz751 Жыл бұрын
Ultras are now, to what Fender's of the past use to be. Even some Ultra's are questionable. So what have they really done here.
@beeps123 Жыл бұрын
Cost cutting. Divert ur mind away from the reality. Like that awful neck pocket. That’s the most crucial joint and they shave off mass quoting accessibility. Ana this guy here misses it out. The kids will rave that it’s all new and shinny. Similar to the three bolt.
@Gottaloveguitars427 Жыл бұрын
I would stick with Mexican or Japanese made fenders for value. These are overpriced and overrated IMO. Especially for active musicians, why would you pay so much for a wall ornament. Another Great Wall hanger from fender!
@SeabeeBuckeye Жыл бұрын
I disagree with your wall hanger remark. I play mine. Every day. I guess if tiu could afford one them you're probably gonna hang it on the wall. To each their own however. Happy hanging! 👊🎸
@allenmanna2151 Ай бұрын
i can't see spending that kinda money on a guitar.. just for the fender name.. it's just not worth it to me...
@phillipb9328 11 ай бұрын
No , its not worth it.
@simonsmith2642 6 ай бұрын
Flat radius does not mean its fast, a thin neck does not make it fast. Using those buzz words is very misleading. Just watch Wolfgang rip on a 335, watch Paul Gilbert rip on a baseball bat. Its simply just not true.
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