Fender American Ultra Luxe - Reaction Thoughts & Pricing Break Down

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Fender FINALLY offers Stainless Steel Frets!!
So Fender just released some new axes for 2021. The models that stood out most to me were the Ultra Luxe models. The biggest reason is because Fender FINALLY offers a guitar with stainless steel frets.
As a fan of Stainless Steel Frets I have been wondering why Fender was missing these while so many other companies offer them. I would love to know why it took so long for them to do this so if you know the answer feel free to leave a comment to enlighten me. I am always interested to learn.
So, let’s take a look at the offering;
So what do we make of Fender’s new offering? Well, on the surface it seems like they have certainly addressed the shortcoming of not having Stainless Steel frets in their lineup. I like the neck on this guitar as well. Having spent some time with the original Ultra Series. However, for me, I am trying to justify the prices that Fender is charging for these guitars.
The Ultra Luxe Strat and Tele Retail For - 3,219.99 Canadian
The Ultra Luxe Floyd Strat and Tele Retail for - 3,359.99 Canadian
By the time you add the taxes to one of these you’re at about 3800 bucks.
That’s a lot of money for a guitar.
When you look at the differences between the Ultra and the Ultra Luxe it seems like for the most part you are just getting Stainless Steel Frets and the Floyd depending on the model.
Let’s compare the two models without the Floyd Rose;
The American Ultra Strat at L&M is 2659.99 + Taxes = 3,005.78
The American Ultra Luxe at L&M is 3219.99 + Taxes = 3638.58
So basically, you are paying 632 dollars for stainless steel frets.
I think you could use Warmoth to make you a neck that’s just a good in terms of quality with SS frets and you can have it built to your exact specs. Ok, you might not be able to get the Floyd if that’s something you would like to have but you can achieve the same kind of playability and have it to your exact specifications.
I also am not a fan of painted headstocks. I think for the money they are asking I would have made this with Roasted Maple Necks and NOT painted the headstock. Then you could have a guitar that has the traditional look with modern features that players want.
For me this feels like 2,500 dollars’ worth of guitar being sold for 3,500. I think guitar prices in general are going nuts. I remember when Suhr Classics where or Anderson Icons were under 3 grand and these days, they are at over 4 grand here in Canada. It didn’t seem to me to be that long ago.
What do you guys think? 600 bucks is a lot of money for Stainless Steel Frets.
My 2007 Highway One strat only cost me around 700 dollars for the entire guitar.
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[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

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[@LukeVidler]

Yeah we have similar prices here in Australia, I guess its a Commonwealth tax. I tried the green Tele today, its probably the best Fender I've played.

[@WadeSafechuckAndTheWNB]

A silver burst strat with maple fretboard, Floyd rose, and HSS setup sounds pretty sexy.

[@peterparker6634]

I preferred the Elites, had an ebony board too. Just think the pricing is way off on an 'Ultra Luxe.'

[@blankvrs]

So many similarities to the Ultra. Painted headstocks--yuck. And they've certainly priced a lot of us out of buying one. Best wishes to those who can afford one.

[@brandonmcvey9511]

That black luxe strat has really got me thinking about getting a fender. Seems very versatile and it will last.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

It’s a nice guitar for sure.

[@xsamitt]

I Have the black one on order.......i like my guitars to be understated ....!!!!

[@JoeSzilagy]

Hi Lucas, I'm from Canada too- Streetsville, actually. I just ordered a Fender American Ultra Stratocaster HSS 'Ultraburst' maple neck, a few days ago from L&M in Mississauga. The price has gone down to $2549.99. Oddly enough, one of Canada's other well-known music stores (who used to be known for charging less than L&M, and shall remain nameless) is charging a couple hundred more for the same series! Anyway, before I ordered it, I spoke with Nathan Jones of Fender in Scottsdale, Arizona, a pleasant guy with lots of info if you want to phone or email with questions. If you, or anyone else in Canada is wondering about how long for them to arrive in Canada (currently there might only be a half a dozen in all of Canada in the stores!), Nathan told me two to three months, as they need enough guitars ordered (and maybe other Fender product) to 'fill a container', which I assume means a tractor trailer, or part of one, to go off to somewhere for shipping to save costs. When I spoke to him, they had only fifty Fender Ultra Stratocasters which were ordered by customers in advance, waiting to be shipped! I don't know if that meant Ultra HSS or both Ultra HSS and SSS. He also mentioned something about them having to wait also because of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) requirements. Finally, the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster colour (plasma red burst) has been discontinued, which is the colour I originally wanted, even though it is still displayed on the Fender site. Anyway, my Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is something to look forward to over the next three, otherwise, boring months!

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Congratulations on the new Axe Joe! Thanks for sharing your experience. That’s some great news for sure. The waiting will be the hardest part ;). Let us know your thoughts once you get it. Cheers!

[@JoeSzilagy]

@@LucasCrossleyGuitar Thanks Lucas! Even though it's a long wait, it's something to look forward to! I once read an interview with Jeff Beck, whom you may know likes to build (or rebuild) hot rods when he's away from his guitars, that once he's finished building one, and turns on the ignition, all of a sudden he feels sort of down, as there's nothing further to do!

[@JoeSzilagy]

@@LucasCrossleyGuitar Just got mine a little over a week ago, Lucas! Luckily, I had been checking all the Long & McQuade stores across Canada (as well as many others), and I just happened to catch a 'just in!' sort of thing on their site, for their Blood store in Toronto. It was the only one, and just happened to be the same as the one I had ordered, which was an Ultraburst HSS, with rosewood neck. Originally, I had ordered a maple fretboard, but changed it. So, I ordered it (from the store) the day after, and cancelled the one I would have had to wait months for. I believe it may have been the only Ultra to have arrived in all of Canada in the past couple of months- I've been checking almost daily!- and perhaps even since the beginning of this year! So, I feel very fortunate! And it is a wonderful guitar!

[@JaffaKan]

If Fender could pay Mick Mars to play the Fender Ultra Luxe Strat, that could be nice. Just saying.

[@brent3086]

Just pre ordered the 2 tone sunburst. Do you know if the strats are ash or alder? Fenders site says ash but everywhere else i read about it they say its alder.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Congrats dude! Sick guitar! From my understanding I think it’s Ash. I would be inclined to take the word of the manufacturer. They will have egg on their face if the description online is wrong. Enjoy your new axe!!!

[@bwjtsa]

Ive got a 2017 American Pro Strat in sunburst. The descriptions are unclear alder, ash. I think it depends on finish. With the sunburst to me it looks more like alder. Either way its an amazing guitar! lol.

[@Strelo]

As I understand, Ultra is alder and Ultra luxe is ash. That's what it says on the website, anyway.

[@ShiroIIgarashii]

We dont have any information about the disponibility ? The Black Stratocaster oh my lord.. looks insane

[@basdebruin7383]

Roasted maple is (according to sientific reports) les durable than normal maple. Tempered maple should be more durable than normal maple but is also pretty expensive. This could be the reason they ve chosen normal maple.

[@IsakuItou]

Maybe it’s more stable in weather change?

[@EshockT]

Totally agree, how could they not use a roasted maple neck on this?

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

I think they did it so they can have a new model next year. You heard it here first ;). Cheers !

[@Yumemaru.]

Fender guitars worth more than a few hundred bucks should all have SS frets tbh.

[@simonsmith2642]

Ship it to a parcel service and pick it up at the boarder. Drive down and buy it, we let you in no problem. I think you can haul back 800$ per person duty free right?

[@daveprosser941]

If they had put Graphtech Ratio tuners on the Luxe I would be happy with the L&M price... Fender are locking are fine, but the Ratios are in a league by themselves.

[@daveprosser941]

I agree the Luxe versions are overpriced, especially in Canada. But, not as much as it first appears. working with stainless fret wire is a huge pain, takes twice the install time, so added cost. Also Luxe Strats are ash, more expensive than the alder body regular Ultra. Finally, for what it's worth, nut on Ultra is bone, nut on Luxe is Graphtech tusq...

[@Strelo]

I'm not in a position to buy one so I'm not bothering to go try one out and such, but just looking at the aesthetics, the strat colors are kinda underwhelming. I wish they made them in texas tea and mocha burst like the normal ultras.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

I like the new colors and the old ones but personally I feel these are over priced. Especially where I live.

[@Strelo]

@@LucasCrossleyGuitar Yeah, they're also quite expensive in Europe. Fender name along with Made in America up the price by like 1000. I guess that people looking for a good price to quality ratio will just buy a MIM anyway, and those who are willing to pay more than that will buy this anyway. I find it weird, though, that half the people on forums say that it's the best strat they've ever played, and the other half say that they've never played a worse guitar. It's all subjective, of course, but people seem to be pretty polarized.

[@humro5960]

Im just dont want to get so excited....remember, its Fender. Any thing can happens.

[@algorithm007ify]

Ultra Luxe also has ASH..not alder. Ash is usually more expensive.

[@xsamitt]

It's alder on the two floyed versions!

[@soofitnsexy]

played the Ultra last month here in nyc ...as a lifelong strat lover it was terrible thin neck..thinner sound no big fat strat chimey quack NADA! hopefully this has better pickups and beefier neck....I really wanted to love it but it was crap compared to lets say a suhr or Tom anderson etc...obviously what fender is goin after!

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

I was kinda underwhelmed too. Especially for the price. But that’s thing. What works for one person may not work for the other. Cheers.

[@soofitnsexy]

@@LucasCrossleyGuitar all the regular standard strats I played were better to my ears...But Ive been around the block lol new strats ala marketing agenda rarely have THE BUSINESS

[@ThomasBN4G]

Roasted maple? It's a Fender Stratocaster.

[@georgedesjardins6080]

Have one on order, blame our lacklustre government on the loss of US made exemptions as well as many other benefits of the free trade agreement. Pulled the pin for a few reasons, it is a Deluxe in every sense , Ash body, SS frets, Rosewood fingerboard, noiseless with viable switching options but above all my lust guitar and probably my last. The Mrs asked how many guitars and amps I have? In turn I asked How many kids do we have? Five she relied, how many grandchildren? Six was her response. Well we have a guitar and amp for each now, but I am preparing for another grandchild:)

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

That’s awesome George. Good for you! Two reasons to celebrate. A new grandchild and a new guitar! Congratulations! Cheers.

[@georgedesjardins6080]

@@LucasCrossleyGuitar love my highway one also, the way the red nitro has worn is amazing. Added the custom shop 69s for some classic quack through a 66 super R and just crazy through the super 6 or Twin. As you can tell, I’m a fender guy.

[@mailvilla]

05/13/2021: I heard from another youtube demo that stainless strings wear out strings very fast. Is that true? PS: Yes, they are way overpriced!!!

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Hi Mailvilla, I've owned 3 QUALITY necks with stainless steel frets. 1 Warmoth, 1 Keisel, and 1 Fender. I used to use Elixir strings exclusively. Specifically their Poly Web strings. I did that because they lasted me months not weeks. Even on necks with Stainless Steel Frets. That aside, even if they DID wear your strings out faster, what's cheaper to replace or repair? Certainly a set of strings is pretty inexpensive compared to a fret job. Just my two cents based on my experience. Hope that helps. Cheers.

[@mailvilla]

@@LucasCrossleyGuitar: Thank you for replying. It does make sense what you said.

[@georgedesjardins6080]

Still waiting, bought and paid for almost a year ago, California Covid discipline must have shut down the factory, kinda wish the would move to Texas.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Dude that sucks! Sorry to hear it. I wanted an Ibanez Az Prestige. They said the waiting list was 1 year! I found the exact model and color I wanted it had been returned to a guitar shop in BC. Not a scratch. I mean it was pristine. I saved a grand too! Amazing guitar. You might consider looking for one of those instead? Hands down the best guitar I’ve ever owned. I have barely touched any of my other guitars since buying this. I hope you get your new guitar soon! Cheers!

[@whitebeardguitar]

Not the same pups, the Luxe has Hot not vintage.

[@ChrisRWoods-px9hy]

No. Canadians are going to abandon Fender and Gibson rediculous prices. I dont care what anyone says. You can buy a fairly decent chinese, or Indonesia guitar made at the same factories the big brands are made, throw a few hundred in uprages and have a beast of a guitar.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Some are good. Some are not. The quality control is hit or miss but in general off shore brands are better than they used to be. Thanks for watching!

[@terrymcconnell7861]

You look like Marty Schwartz if he turned into a wizard 😂

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Lol. Gandalf the Guitar Nerd lol!

[@phenixreturns]

reaction is the new way to have subscribers ! but not for me : sorry :)

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

No worries. Not usually my thing either but I thought I’d try it. The big news was that Fender finally has stainless steel frets. I thought that was worth discussing. I didn’t bother with any of the other announcements from Namm. Cheers.