Fender American Ultra Telecaster (Who's playing one?)

[Rick53]

I have a debate between Fender Ultra Telecaster and an American original 50's : Both save me $500 off New price . Can't get both .

I am mainly interested How the Ultra neck is ? And if it's a perfect Sessions Telecaster like I hear on The U Tube Videos .

The American original 50's is definitely more of the look one wants . However I am mainly the lead player so want an actual lead players guitar .

Please don't suggest playing one . If I could I surely would .

 

[Jose Miguel]

I have one ultra and I´m in love with it. One of the mos comfortable guitars I´ve ever played. It´s a perfect session instrument. Not vintage sound but surely Telecaster sound.

 

[IrishBread69]

I have an ultra. Can't recommend it highly enough.

Neck is fantastic in my opinion. Super comfortable, best neck I've ever had.

I really like the pickups, seemingly not to everyone's tastes but I think they sound great. Modern with a vintage kick.

 

[Hudman_1]

I’m playing ‘60’s Vintera with Ultra pickups and electronics.

 

[unixfish]

I was strongly considering an Ultra. Two things made me go a different direction:

• I could not find a finish I really loved.
• I played an Elite in the past, with a similar neck. The compound radius fretboard was not my thing.

The finish I can look past. The compound radius was nice, but if you are playing barre chords up the neck, it was a bit too flat for my preference. As a lead player, as you put it, this would probably be right up your alley.

I went with the American Professional II line, since it was a straight 9.5" radius. The Ultra is a 10" - 14" compound radius.

If you like a flatter board for soloing and rounder board for chording, or you just like a compound radius fretboard, then the Ultra may be perfect for you.

The AO 50s has a large U neck; the Ultra is more of a D shape with just a bit of shape but not large.

 

[teletail]

I

The American original 50's is definitely more of the look one wants . However I am mainly the lead player so want an actual lead players guitar .

I'm pretty sure a fair amount of lead guitar has been played on American Original 50's Telecasters.

 

[unixfish]

The Texas Tea color is really kind of interesting - it changes color from blackish to brown flake to a green hue in different lights. If you like that kind of thing, it is a great color.

 

[Jakedog]

I haven’t tried the Ultras yet, but I had an Elite (previous iteration), and currently own an American Elite Strat. These are in my opinion, some of the best production guitars Fender has ever made.

The necks are positively dreamy. They just feel amazing. The compound doesn’t bother me for chording or rhythm playing up the neck, and makes soloing a blast. They’re very fast necks. The modern C to D shape is friendly for most any style. I also consider the modern features to be huge improvements over vintage style guitars. The easy truss rod access and adjustment, locking tuners, modern fully intonatable bridges, the new ultra noiseless pickups and electronics, and the updated neck joint, all add up to a brilliant piece of engineering.

My only complaint about them is the poly finish. I don’t believe it makes a tonal difference, but I do prefer the feel of nitro. Especially when I start sweating. If they made an ultra with a nitro finish it might be the perfect Tele.

I prefer the looks of the vintage style models for sure.

But the modern look doesn’t bother me at all, and the features and playability of the top-shelf modern models just make a vastly more functional guitar, for me.

Whatever you decide to get, check it as soon as you get it and make sure the frets are all level. Fender seems to be real hit and miss with this lately. I have a friend’s American Ultra Jazz bass on my bench right now with four high frets. My American Elite Strat had a couple as well. These aren’t nearly as bad as the MIM stuff I see, but somebody over in California doesn’t seem to be paying attention.

 

[JDB2]

I bought a mint condition 2019 Texas Tea Ultra Tele about a year ago. It is an amazing instrument by all measures. However I'm planning to put it up for sale soon. Why? I'm a hobby player, not a serious musician by any stretch, and the indescribable "mojo" element is necessary to keep me interested and drive my creativity. For all its greatness as a musical tool, I'm not getting much mojo from my Ultra Tele. It just feels too polished somehow. Probably perfect for a working session musician or accomplished lead guitarist, but not for me.

Would like to keep it - still may - but I don't really play it and I have too many guitars.

Also as great as the Ultra Noiseless Pickups are, being completely truthful I find them slightly lacking, particularly for distorted tones. They are missing some harmonic complexity of good single coils yet don't have the output to push like humbuckers.

My favorite tone is the series setting on the S1 switch, by the way. It is very thick yet articulate, kind of like a good humbucker. The above pickup issues more or less go away in that mode.

 

[tele_pathic]

I have a 2021 Tele Ultra in Texas Tea. WOW! What a guitar. The noiseless pups sound great. The "4-way" switch is easy to operate and easy to know which "mode" you're in, series or parallel. The neck is smooth and ultra playable. I've had an Elite Tele and Elite Strat in the past, and while I love the compound radius, and I really dug the compound neck shape (C to D on the back neck profile) I really like the neck on the Ultra even more. Mine clocks in right at 7 lbs so it is super-light also. Like you OP, I watched all the videos. I do like the looks of the AO 50's Tele, I can't argue with the playability of the Ultra. Is it the ultimate session weapon? I don't know. But the Ultra has a lot of sounds, from traditional vintage Tele to modern RATM Tom Morello Tele. I highly recommend the Ultra Tele.

 

[Mr Swisher]

I love everything about it... apart from the noiseless pups. For my taste they are just a bit bland and lack depth.

 

[IrishBread69]

I love everything about it... apart from the noiseless pups. For my taste they are just a bit bland and lack depth.

View attachment 915663

That colour though...

 

[TelePlank]

I sent my American Ultra Tele back and exchanged for an American Professional II Tele plus bought a used AO '60s Tele. Playing the Ultra was hurting my wrist. It had a very thin neck compared to the one I played in a store. Much happier now. Wanted it to work out, but I guess it wasn't meant to be.

 

[JDB2]

That colour though...

I think the Texas Tea color is designed to look great under stage lighting. In my house it looks like plain gloss black. It still looks very elegant, but the gold sparkle is kind of superfluous because you can’t see it very well.

 

[SGD74]

I’m playing ‘60’s Vintera with Ultra pickups and electronics.

Cool! So I’m not the only person who did that with ultra pickups and electronics on a vintera. Mine has a player neck

 

[JDB2]

Hudman_1 and SGD74, what do you think of the Ultra Noiseless pickup tone as compared to the original Vintera pickups?

 

[Lowspeid]

I've played the Ultra several times in stores. I don't get along with the neck profile (too thin), and the compound radius fret board throws me off. I have an AO 60's Telecaster that made me sell all my other electric guitars (american standard tele, american deluxe tele, and CIJ Jazzmaster). The neck feels perfect for me, and the 9.5" radius is what I like. I know the '50s AO Tele has a thicker neck than the '60s, but it's not too significant. If you like a "modern" guitar, the Ultra is amazing. If you want a more Vintage feel/sound the AO series can't be beat, imo.

 

[SGD74]

I

Hudman_1 and SGD74, what do you think of the Ultra Noiseless pickup tone as compared to the original Vintera pickups?

I’m a fan of the most recent noiseless pickups. I’ve got a Nashville deluxe which came with vintage noiseless and ultra noiseless in this one. I’ve also got a player plus strat which comes with noiseless. I find all three excellent, but the ultra noiseless are one of my favourite tele pickups. Purists will always be against them, but they have nailed it now. I love the tone clean and dirty. They wouldn’t put bad pickups in an ultra which is aimed at being the pinnacle of a modern day fender.

 

[IrishBread69]

Cool! So I’m not the only person who did that with ultra pickups and electronics on a vintera. Mine has a player neck

Need more photos of this. Looks ace.

I have been considering a road worn maple neck for mine.

 

[vox Phantom]

I have one with a Swamp Ash body and I have it setup with low
action. The neck for me plays awesome and that makes it fun for
me to play. I play it thru a Louis Electric