Fender American Ultra Stratocaster - Arctic Pearl - Rosewood
The latest edition of the top end American Fenders. These guitars are pretty spectacular. New pickups sound great and the neck finish is downright buttery feeling. You should come in and play them! American Ultra is Fender's most advanced series of guitars and basses for discerning players who demand the ultimate in precision, performance and tone. The American Ultra Telecaster features a unique “Modern D” neck profile with Ultra rolled fingerboard edges for hours of playing comfort, and the tapered neck heel allows easy access to the highest register. A speedy 10”-14” compound-radius fingerboard with 22 medium-jumbo frets means effortless and accurate soloing, while the Ultra Noiseless Vintage pickups and advanced wiring options provide endless tonal possibilities – without hum. The sculpted rear body contours are as beautiful as they are functional. This versatile, state-of-the-art instrument will inspire you to push your playing to new heights. Other features include sealed locking tuning machines, chrome hardware and bone nut. Includes premium molded hard shell case.
The latest edition of the top end American Fenders. These guitars are pretty spectacular. New pickups sound great and the neck finish is downright buttery feeling. You should come in and play them! American Ultra is Fender's most advanced series of guitars and basses for discerning players who demand the ultimate in precision, performance and tone. The American Ultra Telecaster features a unique “Modern D” neck profile with Ultra rolled fingerboard edges for hours of playing comfort, and the tapered neck heel allows easy access to the highest register. A speedy 10”-14” compound-radius fingerboard with 22 medium-jumbo frets means effortless and accurate soloing, while the Ultra Noiseless Vintage pickups and advanced wiring options provide endless tonal possibilities – without hum. The sculpted rear body contours are as beautiful as they are functional. This versatile, state-of-the-art instrument will inspire you to push your playing to new heights. Other features include sealed locking tuning machines, chrome hardware and bone nut. Includes premium molded hard shell case.
The latest edition of the top end American Fenders. These guitars are pretty spectacular. New pickups sound great and the neck finish is downright buttery feeling. You should come in and play them! American Ultra is Fender's most advanced series of guitars and basses for discerning players who demand the ultimate in precision, performance and tone. The American Ultra Telecaster features a unique “Modern D” neck profile with Ultra rolled fingerboard edges for hours of playing comfort, and the tapered neck heel allows easy access to the highest register. A speedy 10”-14” compound-radius fingerboard with 22 medium-jumbo frets means effortless and accurate soloing, while the Ultra Noiseless Vintage pickups and advanced wiring options provide endless tonal possibilities – without hum. The sculpted rear body contours are as beautiful as they are functional. This versatile, state-of-the-art instrument will inspire you to push your playing to new heights. Other features include sealed locking tuning machines, chrome hardware and bone nut. Includes premium molded hard shell case.
The latest edition of the top end American Fenders. These guitars are pretty spectacular. New pickups sound great and the neck finish is downright buttery feeling. You should come in and play them! American Ultra is Fender's most advanced series of guitars and basses for discerning players who demand the ultimate in precision, performance and tone. The American Ultra Telecaster features a unique “Modern D” neck profile with Ultra rolled fingerboard edges for hours of playing comfort, and the tapered neck heel allows easy access to the highest register. A speedy 10”-14” compound-radius fingerboard with 22 medium-jumbo frets means effortless and accurate soloing, while the Ultra Noiseless Vintage pickups and advanced wiring options provide endless tonal possibilities – without hum. The sculpted rear body contours are as beautiful as they are functional. This versatile, state-of-the-art instrument will inspire you to push your playing to new heights. Other features include sealed locking tuning machines, chrome hardware and bone nut. Includes premium molded hard shell case.
in 6 offers
The lowest price for Fender American Ultra Stratocaster - Arctic Pearl - Rosewood right now is $2,500.00 at Replay Guitars, compared across 6 retailers.
The all-time low was $1,784.22 on 10 Feb 2026 — today's price is 40% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 9 June 2026.
Last updated at 09/06/2026 10:41:05
2019 Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Arctic Pearl
Free delivery
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster with Rosewood Fretboard Arctic Pearl
Delivery $393.44
Fender - American Ultra Stratocaster Left-Hand, Rosewood Fingerboard, Arctic Pearl
Free delivery
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster- RW - Arctic Pearl
Free delivery between 15–23 June
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Left Hand Electric Guitar - Arctic Pearl
Delivery $20
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Guitar ARCTIC WHITE
originally posted on adorama.com
This is my 5th new Fender guitar I've purchased from Adorama. The previous 4 were great instruments and this one is no exception. The fit and finish on the Ultra Luxe does seem to stand a notch above my American Pro II I just got. Every new fender has been absolutely stunning in person compared to the stock photos including this 2tsb strat. The playability is perfect - I typically like 7.25" or 9.5" radius vintage vibe strats but I took a chance on this "modern" strat. I'm so glad I did because even though it strays a bit from the original recipe it still feels like a strat. I will admit that I'm not a fan of noiseless pickups and I already knew I would be replacing those before the guitar even arrived so I can't really comment too much on those - just something ... MoreThis is my 5th new Fender guitar I've purchased from Adorama. The previous 4 were great instruments and this one is no exception. The fit and finish on the Ultra Luxe does seem to stand a notch above my American Pro II I just got. Every new fender has been absolutely stunning in person compared to the stock photos including this 2tsb strat. The playability is perfect - I typically like 7.25" or 9.5" radius vintage vibe strats but I took a chance on this "modern" strat. I'm so glad I did because even though it strays a bit from the original recipe it still feels like a strat. I will admit that I'm not a fan of noiseless pickups and I already knew I would be replacing those before the guitar even arrived so I can't really comment too much on those - just something about classic single coils that all noiseless pickups are lacking in the top end. If I played in a live setting more or had 60 cycle hum issues then these would be more welcomed because honestly in a mix you're not going to tell a difference and these get you 95% of the way there however for me playing in my bedroom true singles are for me. Aside from that (which I can't hold against the guitar) this thing is fantastic! I went over this guitar with a magnifying glass for an hour when I opened it and honestly everything was perfect and the attention to detail was so immaculate I would have thought this came from the custom shop! I would have preferred a rosewood board but for the price I couldn't pass up on this maple one that was on sale! Oh and one other thing - the sunburst ultra luxe's are ash, NOT alder. Not sure why Adorama has these listed as alder especially when most see ash as a superior body wood.
originally posted on guitarcenter.com
I've been playing guitar for nearly 50 years. I am not a professional musician by any stretch, but have become a fairly proficient guitarist over the years. I've always wanted a Stratocaster because the tone is so unmistakable whenever I hear one played. I obviously can't afford $30K (or more) for a vintage model and some of the more recent Strats just aren't up to the standard I was expecting. When this model came out, I really liked what I saw and heard from people demo-ing it on YouTube. It wasn't in stores either, but based on reviews and the demos I took the plunge. I got the Plasma Red Burst model, which arrived just 3 weeks ago. I'm playing it through a Fender Cyber Twin amp, with no effect pedals yet. What a complete joy of a guitar to play! I play acoustic ... MoreI've been playing guitar for nearly 50 years. I am not a professional musician by any stretch, but have become a fairly proficient guitarist over the years. I've always wanted a Stratocaster because the tone is so unmistakable whenever I hear one played. I obviously can't afford $30K (or more) for a vintage model and some of the more recent Strats just aren't up to the standard I was expecting. When this model came out, I really liked what I saw and heard from people demo-ing it on YouTube. It wasn't in stores either, but based on reviews and the demos I took the plunge. I got the Plasma Red Burst model, which arrived just 3 weeks ago. I'm playing it through a Fender Cyber Twin amp, with no effect pedals yet. What a complete joy of a guitar to play! I play acoustic almost exclusively, so it definitely took me a while to get used to the lighter touch required for the Strat. I've been playing mostly blues, but will eventually branch out in hopes of playing it at church instead of my Taylor CE 614 acoustic. The way the fretboard is designed is really very interesting! The maple neck is super smooth and the jumbo frets make everything seem so much more accessible. As an acoustic player, I rarely get to the upper register, but with the Strat, I can't believe how much time I'm spending up there,lol! I'm hearing all those great high lead notes David Gilmour plays on the Wish You Were Here album and even Mark Knopfler's stuff. The 3 noiseless pickups are amazing and the way they're wired allows for many, many sweet tone combos. I use both plectrum and fingers for playing lead, but especially love playing with my fingers on this Strat. The only flaw I found was that one of the tone knobs is a little "sticky" at the 0 setting. The whammy bar is really fun and is something I don't have much experience with, so am having a blast experimenting with it. The Fender Ultra Luxe definitely surpassed my expectations in every way. It arrived very nicely set up too.
originally posted on guitarcenter.com
First things first, the manager and the guys at Guitar Center in Pensacola were very helpful. About 3 weeks ago I bought the Plus Top Stratocaster and I loved the guitar but wanted to upgrade to the Ultra so I started shopping around for one and found one at a different music store down the street for a significantly lower price than what was advertised at the local Guitar Center. So I figured I would have to return my guitar to the store. When I got there I asked about the price match guarantee that Guitar Center provides and I brought it up to them that I found the Cobra Blue Ultra guitar at a lower price at another store and after a few minutes and the manager doing some research he pretty much told me " if you're are going to buy this guitar, I would rather you ... MoreFirst things first, the manager and the guys at Guitar Center in Pensacola were very helpful. About 3 weeks ago I bought the Plus Top Stratocaster and I loved the guitar but wanted to upgrade to the Ultra so I started shopping around for one and found one at a different music store down the street for a significantly lower price than what was advertised at the local Guitar Center. So I figured I would have to return my guitar to the store. When I got there I asked about the price match guarantee that Guitar Center provides and I brought it up to them that I found the Cobra Blue Ultra guitar at a lower price at another store and after a few minutes and the manager doing some research he pretty much told me " if you're are going to buy this guitar, I would rather you buy it from us " I was very surprised. In my mind I thinking that he was going to come up with some sort of excuse to not match the price. That is what customer service is all about!!!! Middle finger to other stores! From here on out I am a lifelong customer of Guitar Center. Oh and this guitar is the best of the best!! It's like being handed the keys to a brand new Corvette ( or a Ford Cobra, whichever you prefer). So, hands down the best guitar and the best customer service you could ask for!! I'm already looking forward to getting an Ultra Tele this year!
| Dimensions | 6.3x18.7x44.4 IN |
| Body Finish | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Control Knobs | Aged White Soft Touch Knobs |
| Hardware Finish | Nickel/Chrome |
| Neck Finish | Satin Urethane with Gloss Urethane Headstock Face |
2019 Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Arctic Pearl
Free delivery
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster with Rosewood Fretboard Arctic Pearl
Delivery $393.44
Fender - American Ultra Stratocaster Left-Hand, Rosewood Fingerboard, Arctic Pearl
Free delivery
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster- RW - Arctic Pearl
Free delivery between 15–23 June
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Left Hand Electric Guitar - Arctic Pearl
Delivery $20
This is my 5th new Fender guitar I've purchased from Adorama. The previous 4 were great instruments and this one is no exception. The fit and finish on the Ultra Luxe does seem to stand a notch above my American Pro II I just got. Every new fender has been absolutely stunning in person compared to the stock photos including this 2tsb strat. The playability is perfect - I typically like 7.25" or 9.5" radius vintage vibe strats but I took a chance on this "modern" strat. I'm so glad I did because even though it strays a bit from the original recipe it still feels like a strat. I will admit that I'm not a fan of noiseless pickups and I already knew I would be replacing those before the guitar even arrived so I can't really comment too much on those - just something ... MoreThis is my 5th new Fender guitar I've purchased from Adorama. The previous 4 were great instruments and this one is no exception. The fit and finish on the Ultra Luxe does seem to stand a notch above my American Pro II I just got. Every new fender has been absolutely stunning in person compared to the stock photos including this 2tsb strat. The playability is perfect - I typically like 7.25" or 9.5" radius vintage vibe strats but I took a chance on this "modern" strat. I'm so glad I did because even though it strays a bit from the original recipe it still feels like a strat. I will admit that I'm not a fan of noiseless pickups and I already knew I would be replacing those before the guitar even arrived so I can't really comment too much on those - just something about classic single coils that all noiseless pickups are lacking in the top end. If I played in a live setting more or had 60 cycle hum issues then these would be more welcomed because honestly in a mix you're not going to tell a difference and these get you 95% of the way there however for me playing in my bedroom true singles are for me. Aside from that (which I can't hold against the guitar) this thing is fantastic! I went over this guitar with a magnifying glass for an hour when I opened it and honestly everything was perfect and the attention to detail was so immaculate I would have thought this came from the custom shop! I would have preferred a rosewood board but for the price I couldn't pass up on this maple one that was on sale! Oh and one other thing - the sunburst ultra luxe's are ash, NOT alder. Not sure why Adorama has these listed as alder especially when most see ash as a superior body wood.
I've been playing guitar for nearly 50 years. I am not a professional musician by any stretch, but have become a fairly proficient guitarist over the years. I've always wanted a Stratocaster because the tone is so unmistakable whenever I hear one played. I obviously can't afford $30K (or more) for a vintage model and some of the more recent Strats just aren't up to the standard I was expecting. When this model came out, I really liked what I saw and heard from people demo-ing it on YouTube. It wasn't in stores either, but based on reviews and the demos I took the plunge. I got the Plasma Red Burst model, which arrived just 3 weeks ago. I'm playing it through a Fender Cyber Twin amp, with no effect pedals yet. What a complete joy of a guitar to play! I play acoustic ... MoreI've been playing guitar for nearly 50 years. I am not a professional musician by any stretch, but have become a fairly proficient guitarist over the years. I've always wanted a Stratocaster because the tone is so unmistakable whenever I hear one played. I obviously can't afford $30K (or more) for a vintage model and some of the more recent Strats just aren't up to the standard I was expecting. When this model came out, I really liked what I saw and heard from people demo-ing it on YouTube. It wasn't in stores either, but based on reviews and the demos I took the plunge. I got the Plasma Red Burst model, which arrived just 3 weeks ago. I'm playing it through a Fender Cyber Twin amp, with no effect pedals yet. What a complete joy of a guitar to play! I play acoustic almost exclusively, so it definitely took me a while to get used to the lighter touch required for the Strat. I've been playing mostly blues, but will eventually branch out in hopes of playing it at church instead of my Taylor CE 614 acoustic. The way the fretboard is designed is really very interesting! The maple neck is super smooth and the jumbo frets make everything seem so much more accessible. As an acoustic player, I rarely get to the upper register, but with the Strat, I can't believe how much time I'm spending up there,lol! I'm hearing all those great high lead notes David Gilmour plays on the Wish You Were Here album and even Mark Knopfler's stuff. The 3 noiseless pickups are amazing and the way they're wired allows for many, many sweet tone combos. I use both plectrum and fingers for playing lead, but especially love playing with my fingers on this Strat. The only flaw I found was that one of the tone knobs is a little "sticky" at the 0 setting. The whammy bar is really fun and is something I don't have much experience with, so am having a blast experimenting with it. The Fender Ultra Luxe definitely surpassed my expectations in every way. It arrived very nicely set up too.
First things first, the manager and the guys at Guitar Center in Pensacola were very helpful. About 3 weeks ago I bought the Plus Top Stratocaster and I loved the guitar but wanted to upgrade to the Ultra so I started shopping around for one and found one at a different music store down the street for a significantly lower price than what was advertised at the local Guitar Center. So I figured I would have to return my guitar to the store. When I got there I asked about the price match guarantee that Guitar Center provides and I brought it up to them that I found the Cobra Blue Ultra guitar at a lower price at another store and after a few minutes and the manager doing some research he pretty much told me " if you're are going to buy this guitar, I would rather you ... MoreFirst things first, the manager and the guys at Guitar Center in Pensacola were very helpful. About 3 weeks ago I bought the Plus Top Stratocaster and I loved the guitar but wanted to upgrade to the Ultra so I started shopping around for one and found one at a different music store down the street for a significantly lower price than what was advertised at the local Guitar Center. So I figured I would have to return my guitar to the store. When I got there I asked about the price match guarantee that Guitar Center provides and I brought it up to them that I found the Cobra Blue Ultra guitar at a lower price at another store and after a few minutes and the manager doing some research he pretty much told me " if you're are going to buy this guitar, I would rather you buy it from us " I was very surprised. In my mind I thinking that he was going to come up with some sort of excuse to not match the price. That is what customer service is all about!!!! Middle finger to other stores! From here on out I am a lifelong customer of Guitar Center. Oh and this guitar is the best of the best!! It's like being handed the keys to a brand new Corvette ( or a Ford Cobra, whichever you prefer). So, hands down the best guitar and the best customer service you could ask for!! I'm already looking forward to getting an Ultra Tele this year!
This guitar is a nice upgrade to the Ultra line. The finish on mine is excellent and the body is very resonant. There was some sort of overspray around the 19th fret of polyurethane I believe. But it is something you really have to look for and doesn't affect the playability. The neck is different - I've had compound radius guitars before, and I like 10-14. But the compound neck shape is definitely different. It fills your hand more in the lower frets, and gets pretty thin by the 12th. I do thinks it's assymetrical as well - where the neck on the wound string side is fatter than the neck at the treble side. But it's not distracting and you get accustomed to it quickly (or at least I did). It plays like a modern guitar--like a super strat--but it looks and sounds ... MoreThis guitar is a nice upgrade to the Ultra line. The finish on mine is excellent and the body is very resonant. There was some sort of overspray around the 19th fret of polyurethane I believe. But it is something you really have to look for and doesn't affect the playability. The neck is different - I've had compound radius guitars before, and I like 10-14. But the compound neck shape is definitely different. It fills your hand more in the lower frets, and gets pretty thin by the 12th. I do thinks it's assymetrical as well - where the neck on the wound string side is fatter than the neck at the treble side. But it's not distracting and you get accustomed to it quickly (or at least I did). It plays like a modern guitar--like a super strat--but it looks and sounds like a classic strat. Only it has significantly less hum thanks to the noiseless picksups. Pros: Easy to play Sounds good (I really like the noiseless pickups) Stainless steel frets Light and comfortable (highly contoured) Cons: Limited finish options Mine was a little sloppy on the neck finish, which is why I'm at 4 stars Maybe the cost increase from an ultra to the ultra luxe is higher than it's worth? I guess that's up to you to decide.
An excellent guitar regarding craftsmanship, aesthetics, playability, setup and tone. Usually, I must tinker with the action, intonation, pick-up height and maybe change the strings and file on a fret or two before I'm happy but this was excellent right out of the box. The Fender vibrato is too coarse for me (I don't do nose dives); I'll install a Floyd Rose for a more subtle, sensitive touch. The potentiometers ooze quality and, as promised, the pickups generate that "strat" sound without the noise. The tapped humbucker is a delight; the switch feels solid and provides positive feedback of its on/off status. I immediately noticed the slick finish on the neck; my hand glided up and down with seemingly no friction at all. The neck morphs from a D shape at the body to ... MoreAn excellent guitar regarding craftsmanship, aesthetics, playability, setup and tone. Usually, I must tinker with the action, intonation, pick-up height and maybe change the strings and file on a fret or two before I'm happy but this was excellent right out of the box. The Fender vibrato is too coarse for me (I don't do nose dives); I'll install a Floyd Rose for a more subtle, sensitive touch. The potentiometers ooze quality and, as promised, the pickups generate that "strat" sound without the noise. The tapped humbucker is a delight; the switch feels solid and provides positive feedback of its on/off status. I immediately noticed the slick finish on the neck; my hand glided up and down with seemingly no friction at all. The neck morphs from a D shape at the body to a C shape at the head which initially puzzled me; however, after playing it for a while I am impressed with the comfort and playability of the neck design. The contours of the body are well thought out making the guitar easy and comfortable to play. The case is tough with a plush interior and the kit includes quick release strap locks if you want to use them, a really nice neck adjustment tool and a couple of hex wrenches. When I started playing guitar, I wouldn't have noticed or appreciated all of the design nuances packed into this guitar but, as a seasoned player, I think Fender has really stepped up their game with this one ...
This is my third Fender. I previously owned an "standard" Ultra that I traded towards another guitar, and I also currently own a Lincoln Brewster model strat. While those guitars are very good, the Ultra Luxe is next level. The craftsmanship, feel and sound of this guitar truly deserves the "Luxe" name.Before ordering, my biggest concerns were how the stainless steel frets would affect the tone and how the new neck shape would feel. But I have ordered from Musicians Friend off and on since the late 90's and have always had excellent service, so I figured I could return the guitar it I didn't like it.Both concerns were put to rest within moments after plugging in. The tone is definitely that unmistakable Fender strat sound and I had no trouble dialing a nice funk ... MoreThis is my third Fender. I previously owned an "standard" Ultra that I traded towards another guitar, and I also currently own a Lincoln Brewster model strat. While those guitars are very good, the Ultra Luxe is next level. The craftsmanship, feel and sound of this guitar truly deserves the "Luxe" name.Before ordering, my biggest concerns were how the stainless steel frets would affect the tone and how the new neck shape would feel. But I have ordered from Musicians Friend off and on since the late 90's and have always had excellent service, so I figured I could return the guitar it I didn't like it.Both concerns were put to rest within moments after plugging in. The tone is definitely that unmistakable Fender strat sound and I had no trouble dialing a nice funk and a very serviceable SRV tone. You can also get a pretty good variety of other tones thanks to the switching.I was kind of expecting a thin neck shape based on reviews/descriptions that I read, but it is pleasantly thick without being too chunky. I can't stand thin Ibanez style necks and thankfully the neck on the Luxe is not like that. It fits the hand nicely. Not a chunky as the Lincoln Brewster model (which I also really like) but feels a little thicker than the neck on the standard Ultra.I believe it has the same bridge found on the standard Ultra model which is the push-in style. So no thread to wear out over time.Overall, I am so happy that I bought this and it has already become my new #1 guitar.
Sound:The vintage tone noiseless pickups are perfect for what I wanna play on this guitar. All my other are humbuckers, high gain passive and active humbuckers at that, so the vintage tone single coils give me that sound I simply cannot get from my other guitars. Granted, my other guitars have split coil options, but there is a noticeable difference between a split humbucker and a noiseless single coil.Features:The S1 switch serves me no purpose, just turns the tone into mud.Ease of Use:It's not rocket science, but I'm used to 3way pickup selectors, and an all or almost nothing attitude when it comes to my other guitars volume controls, and never touch the tone controls, so for me personally there is a learning curve when it comes to all the tonal ... MoreSound:The vintage tone noiseless pickups are perfect for what I wanna play on this guitar. All my other are humbuckers, high gain passive and active humbuckers at that, so the vintage tone single coils give me that sound I simply cannot get from my other guitars. Granted, my other guitars have split coil options, but there is a noticeable difference between a split humbucker and a noiseless single coil.Features:The S1 switch serves me no purpose, just turns the tone into mud.Ease of Use:It's not rocket science, but I'm used to 3way pickup selectors, and an all or almost nothing attitude when it comes to my other guitars volume controls, and never touch the tone controls, so for me personally there is a learning curve when it comes to all the tonal possibilities that come with a typical Strat setup.If I could change one thing on the guitar, it would be using 6100 jumbo frets, but generally speaking the guitar is a breeze to play, after a day or so... It's very stiff out of the box.The tremolo has a very nice feel to it, and the pop in arm should be standard on all trems at this point.Quality:The guitar is very well made. This is a professional guitar!Value:This is where my issue is... I just can't see how this guitar is worth $400 more than the Professional series. With everything being made on CNC machines, that little contour on the cutaway and the compound radius fingerboard seem like an unjustified mark up, the only thing on this guitar that should be a logical price mark up are the locking tuners and the pickups, neither of which equate to $400 in parts... But I liked the finishes more, and didn't feel like swapping out tuners and bridge saddles.Manufacturer Support:Never had to deal with Fender customer service.Overall:This guitar is a purists nightmare, but it's a dream to me. Compound radius fingerboard and satin neck finish are up my alley.
firstly, it looks a million quid (imo). the recessed heel is amazing and makes more difference than i would have thought. the neck s really fast to play and tapers well, and after dropping the string action a little, (was quite high from factory) feels really good.Sound- Position 1 - love the humbucker, havent found a great use for the coil tap / split / whatever yet. feels a little thin to me especially overdriven but each to their ownPosition 2 and 3 pretty much as youd expect.Position 4 sound amazing. clean, woody and springy i think? strat sound youd expect with a little something that makes it stand out, not sure what.Position 5 - little bit thin for my liking to be honest. not quite what i expected, trying to play warmer stuff even after rolling off ... Morefirstly, it looks a million quid (imo). the recessed heel is amazing and makes more difference than i would have thought. the neck s really fast to play and tapers well, and after dropping the string action a little, (was quite high from factory) feels really good.Sound- Position 1 - love the humbucker, havent found a great use for the coil tap / split / whatever yet. feels a little thin to me especially overdriven but each to their ownPosition 2 and 3 pretty much as youd expect.Position 4 sound amazing. clean, woody and springy i think? strat sound youd expect with a little something that makes it stand out, not sure what.Position 5 - little bit thin for my liking to be honest. not quite what i expected, trying to play warmer stuff even after rolling off the tone didnt really get the sound im after but still experimenting - still early days.also found it a bit muddy overdriven somehow. gear dependent i guess but just my experience .Trem - Its really tough to push in first time, i emailed Andertons for help to make sure i wasn't going to break anything putting a lot of pressure on it. - they were really helpful and after id nearly had a heart attack putting a huge amount of weight on it, it popped in and has loosened up a bit now.The thing i don't really like about the trem is that the intonation goes totally out on double stop bends. say you do like a double stop enharmonic bend on 1 and 2, (bend string 2 to same pitch as fretted note on 1) the top string drops pitch significantly. and if youve got a bass note ringing, its super noticeable. open E on 6th string when bending 1 and 2 can drop almost a semitone. not idea.considering getting a tremsetter or something similar to remedy but never had one before so doing a little research first.the trems not a deal breaker and i dont tend to use trem much anyway, but i kinda expected on a top end strat it'd be a little more refined.anyhowOverall Killer guitar.looks Great, Sounds Great - will maybe consider changing the neck pickup later on but will spend more time learning the instrument first (as i maybe just haven't found the sound i want with it yet)downside - the trem - might consider a tremsetter, or just blocking the trem altogether not sure yet.
Overall:Just arrived today, and this guitar is even more beautiful in person. The action was like butter right out the case and the sound is amazing in just an hour of playing. Can't wait to explore it more when I get to the advanced features and settings. As a long-time Les Paul player, this is the most I've ever spent on a Stratocaster, and I am hooked. I have spent a LOT with zZounds over the past few years, and I'm grateful for the Play as You Pay program that made this purchase possible right now. My interactions with their gear experts are better than any dealer out there. If your ever wanted one of the BEST Fender has to offer, the Ultra Luxe is a GREAT option in their top of the line models. I look forward to playing this one for many years. Once again, ... MoreOverall:Just arrived today, and this guitar is even more beautiful in person. The action was like butter right out the case and the sound is amazing in just an hour of playing. Can't wait to explore it more when I get to the advanced features and settings. As a long-time Les Paul player, this is the most I've ever spent on a Stratocaster, and I am hooked. I have spent a LOT with zZounds over the past few years, and I'm grateful for the Play as You Pay program that made this purchase possible right now. My interactions with their gear experts are better than any dealer out there. If your ever wanted one of the BEST Fender has to offer, the Ultra Luxe is a GREAT option in their top of the line models. I look forward to playing this one for many years. Once again, thank you zZounds for making it all possible.
Wanted to own a Fender in sunburst finish with a rosewood neck for quite some time. Finally I pulled the trigger and boy, I am glad I did ! Adam Szmurlo helped me pick one with a very dark and uniform rosewood fingerboard (the way I like it - many thanks Adam !!!) and it is an awesome guitar indeed. The neck profile is unbelievable, very, very comfortable to play. Not too thin, not too thick - just perfect. The rosewood quality is excellent and the Ultra Satin finish on the back of the neck is slick and not getting sticky. They weight is right and finish is flawless. The reason I took half a star from its rating is the pickups. They reduce the noise level indeed, and if you only listen to them, they are OK. But ... I have another Fender with **true** single coils ... MoreWanted to own a Fender in sunburst finish with a rosewood neck for quite some time. Finally I pulled the trigger and boy, I am glad I did ! Adam Szmurlo helped me pick one with a very dark and uniform rosewood fingerboard (the way I like it - many thanks Adam !!!) and it is an awesome guitar indeed. The neck profile is unbelievable, very, very comfortable to play. Not too thin, not too thick - just perfect. The rosewood quality is excellent and the Ultra Satin finish on the back of the neck is slick and not getting sticky. They weight is right and finish is flawless. The reason I took half a star from its rating is the pickups. They reduce the noise level indeed, and if you only listen to them, they are OK. But ... I have another Fender with **true** single coils pickups (Fender CS '69) and once I compared the sound between the two, the Ultra Noiseless Vintage pickups left me wanting. To my ears they sounded sort of "muted" in comparison, and lacked the spark, the openness, the subtlety that true single coils have. After playing the CS'69s, these noiseless felt ... rather generic. The S-1 switch didn't add tones that made me feel compelled to keep them. So I ended up swapping them with true single coils and won't go back.
| Dimensions | 6.3x18.7x44.4 IN |
| Body Finish | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Control Knobs | Aged White Soft Touch Knobs |
| Hardware Finish | Nickel/Chrome |
| Neck Finish | Satin Urethane with Gloss Urethane Headstock Face |
