70 Years Of Innovation? Fender Ultra II Stratocaster

[@DaisyTempest]

Paul! Thank you for the shout out. So good to hear you liked the quartersawn explainer! Thanks for a great video too. ❤

[@StefanGBucher]

I don't envy any heritage guitar company. People just want to buy the same guitar again and again and get so angry at any significant changes. Sounds like Fender did a great job making some nice updates without tripping anyone's alarms. I hope they'll offer a chambered body at some point. My guitars are all around 6 lbs or lighter, and picking up a Strat is like handling a sledgehammer.

[@Fubbernutt]

If a strat is a sledgehammer then what's a les paul lol

[@judahbarracuda_]

@@FubbernuttMjölnir

[@thatfunk]

I saw that the Fender Mod Shop has chambered ash bodies now. They are a $150 upgrade though and only come in 2 colors.

[@thesickness619]

Then go warmoth o mightymite

[@derjenichederscheissebaut5922]

les paul left the chat ;-)

[@Mister.L598]

I bought this guitar, Stratocaster Ultra II and for me, it's the best guitar I've ever purchased in my life. It's extraordinary-the quality of the neck, the precision of the pickups, all while maintaining an organic tone. It's the best of both worlds between vintage and ultra-modern. Thanks you, Fender

[@Ben-ld1qi]

No stainless steel... enjoy having to replace your frets in a few years...

[@krutplaysaguitar]

I can’t decide if I love your playing or your editing/scripting the most. There must be sooo much work to make a review feel this informal and effortless.

[@franckydookie]

There's something so relaxing about your videos, I could watch you talking about anything for 10 hours straight 😁 I would say : this one for the functions, the fiesta for the look and the love, the old one for the mojo

[@mrb2436]

Paul’s approval goes a long way. I have the original ultra and absolutely love it. I don’t think I could give up that neck.

[@Tool0GT92]

For real I have an ultra tele and it’s amazing. Playing my MIM Strat feels like a baseball bat.

[@humbucker08]

I'm actually not a vintage-is-best purist type, but when you went to position 4 of the vintage Strat, it just sounded sooo much nicer. The tone sounded better, I also kind of liked the static sound while you were switching.

[@TRICK-OR-TREAT236]

ME TOO ITS SO NICE.

[@sofaripper]

not gonna lie, my heart skipped a beat every time you plugged/unplugged the jack, even though the amp somehow managed not to produce a sound of an atomic bomb landing at your mic

[@jakubborczuch7543]

Because there are cables that don't let electricity pass until they are plugged. There's like a notch/switch and when it is plugged in then electricity passes.

[@themartinvoid]

You can get cables that don’t make noise unless they’re plugged in. So unplugging won’t make a sound with those cables

[@RandomShites]

He is just dubbing 😅.

[@Gogoku49]

And also Volume Pedal

[@PaulDavids]

Noiseless jack baby

[@decokoy]

70 years and I still love the Strat ! Old or the new ones! Great invention ever made! ❤

[@myownchannel247]

Most people never mention having 22 frets instead of 21 but I definitely prefer 22. Also love the sculpted heel. 🎸

[@BeefNEggs057]

You always liked the heels

[@ARPMAN]

I love my Ultra and I love my CS! It’s like chips and chocolate. Not every day is the same and I am glad that I have the choice and can choose according to taste every time

[@McAdamstry]

Agree. I have an ultra and a standard. Two different sounds. Love them both.

[@leafbelly]

It's amazing how similar the overall design of the two guitars is, which just shows how incredible the original design was. Absolutely nothing sounds like a Strat body.

[@guitarjamforu]

Honestly the Fender Strat is THE GUITAR! It hasn't changed all that much cause it's always been perfect! Bless them for keeping it perfect!

[@areallyboredguy5825]

Leo Fender would disagree with you being that he believed in innovating and disliked people clinging to vintage only guitars. Have you heard of G&L , Leo Fender’s last company?

[@geoffreycarter3981]

Why anyone would complain about this is beyond me. Buy a Vintage spec one if you don't like innovation. They make so many different reissues I don't even know where to begin. But some people want modern finishes, more ergonomic shapes and sophisticated pickups/electronics that are reliable and dead quiet. to each their own, Fender has you covered.

[@sagittated]

Even if they don't currently sell the exact specs you want, the designs are so easy to mod. Even something as significant as "I want a wenge neck with a zebrawood fretboard, stainless steel jumbo frets, 11" radius, and block inlays," you can get a fender-licensed neck exactly to those specs and swap it in.

[@gideonk123]

@@sagittatedBut if you’ve paid so much money and still haven’t gotten what you want, then need to add more money, then is it worth worth the money and the hassle?

[@BeefNEggs057]

@@sagittated Just build your own strat if that’s what you’re going to do. It’s not hard with predrilled bodies and necks. It’ll feel more like yours.

[@thomasdequincey5811]

@geofferycarter3981 Are you a Fender salesman?

[@prajnachan333]

Around 2000, I bought a beautiful white Strat w ebony fingerboard for $400. It's really good. I like everything about it. I've been very happy with it. The Ultra is awesome. I like the control knobs. The contoured neck is really nice. The noiseless pickups are nice to have. Another video the guitar had a humbucker bridge pickup. It sounded really good. I thought that was part of it but apparently you have a choice. It could be my only Strat as well. Brilliant 👏

[@jessejordache1869]

I'm an honorary captain of team "no treble bleed" -- particularly as my #1 is a telecaster, where the volume knob is part of your tone control. Take that away and you're two steps away from a banjo. The thing with the ultra II is that except for the shaped neck and auxiliary light on the top of it, there's nothing in it that you can't kind of easily wire up yourself. The not-for-amateurs wiring job that I'm working up the courage to do is replacing the push-push pots with extra stops on the switch, getting two coaxial (I forget what the catalog name is) pots that will control tone/tone and volume/volume. You'd have the best of Fender -- the guitar, plus the best of Gibson: independent tone and volume controls for each pickup. But yeah, I mean, that has to be an extremely dope rolled neck, since just about everything else on the Ultra II just puts it in the league of modded guitars. The anodized aluminum looks nice, but (psst... you can buy those separately). [edit: I'm using headphones on my laptop, but best I could tell, the noiseless pickups retain that (warning: buzzward) shimmery quality that single coils should have. The excess jangliness... do you have the volume on 10? Because that's sort of why I don't like treble bleeds, which the ultra 2 has, and your fiesta red strat doesn't (presumably)]

[@PrestonsGarage]

I must say, even though i am not very into the Stratocaster, it is easily the most recognizable guitar with some of the greatest legacies in the world.

[@sidneiborges3041]

Love you Fenders ❤ Sentimos por no Brazil ser tão caro 🇧🇷

[@stephandelaney4097]

I wanted an Ultra 2 bc I had money to afford one finally. Went to local guitar center. Played a few new ones they had on the wall. Enjoyed em. But I also checked the used section like I always do and stumbled across a ‘21 American Ultra Strat in Ultraburst with Rosewood board with plastic still on it. It was on sale for $1k. I left with the Ultra 1 and now deciding what to use my other $1k on. Maybe a nice Fender tube amp to pair with my Ultra. She my favorite guitar.

[@Davo198]

Could always upgrade the pickups to ultra ii pick ups 🤷‍♂️

[@cheffelipebahia]

I bought an Ultra 2022, it´s great. I always had dificulty in playing strats, les pauls were my preference, but the Ultra changed my perspective. Not just because of the sound, but mainly due to the playning.

[@aluminati9918]

Frankly I love it! The old ones are great. But on the gig: no noise: yes. Big frets, yes please. Locking tuners: yeah.

[@rigorhead01]

My #1 guitar is an American Deluxe strat from 2010. It has most of these modern features and I love it! I really want to try the new Ultra II's!!

[@gordonbezanson4710]

I have a 2009 American deluxe 2 tone, natural board with the noiseless pick ups. I love this guitar plus the neck is amazing. ❤

[@oneirdaathnaram1376]

When some 40 years ago I compiled my own "Strat" I also wired the 3 pick-ups in a way that I could mix all 3 pick-ups independently (in the bridge position I had a PAF humbucker, though). Especially bridge & middle & neck in parallel sounded amazing: lush, rich, warm, with definition, sustain, power, determinedness - just overwhelming. I think they did a wonderful thing adding the two other possible combinations which the traditional Strat didn't have: bridge & neck, and bridge & middle & neck. Great versatility - not typically "Strat" however.

[@antonygdouglas3935]

I bought a Cobra Blue Ultra when they came out as my "expensive " Strat . I still think they would make a working musician"s perfect Strat and they look gorgeous . However I could not get on with the P/ups or the S switch . So I traded it in for a 2007 EJ Strat . Horses for courses as they say , always nice to have a PD video to watch ,thanks .

[@MichaelEMJAYARE]

As someone who just recently bought a MIM as my first strat, Im very interested in the Ultra strat and teles. The compound neck and rounded heel is already an upgrade. The noiseless pups seem to be more bassy and less brittle imo

[@Bryanpjc]

Don't sleep on American Professional II. I actually prefer the necks on them. Can't wait to try a new Ultra and probably add one to my mini army of Stratocasters.

[@Tool0GT92]

I have a MIM Strat and an ultra tele. The MIM Strat feels like a toy after having an ultra even though I still like it. I found a mint used ultra for $1600 it’s worth it.

[@paulschipper9428]

That is one very good guitar, which easily stands up to the vintage ones. Well done Fender. I have an American Deluxe from 2005 and after a while I changed the Noislesse pick-ups it came with - they sounded good and my humbucker-loving friends thought it was the best Strat they ever heard, but I missed the true single coil sound. I have to say that if I bought the Ultra I would not change this iteration of noiseless pick ups, they sound great! The 2 point Trem is the same as the one on my Am-Deluxe and it is vastly better than the vintage style ones, it's much more responsive and more stable too. Excellent video Paul, thank you.

[@funkysoulman3861]

I bought the 70th anniversary ultra strat and absolutely love it! The five way switch is my only complaint with it. My ultra strat is my go-to guitar over my Gibson es335. Both are pretty amazing. I don't care if you play a Squire bullet strat or an ultra strat. Either way, rock on!!!

[@jimbong4604]

You play so beautifully mate

[@jantestowy123]

the 63 sounds sooo good....

[@arnarne]

It really does!

[@artrogers3985]

I will never be able to unsee that gap in the pick guard 🎸

[@DC_MA]

I'm looking at mine right now and cant even see the gap lol, cant even slide a piece of paper in it, maybe his one just needs straightening out?

[@theshimmeringcarnelians]

thanks Paul. great tone and great playing.

[@kamalmusallam]

I think their new Ultra guitars are super well made and sound sparkling yet still thick and deep. They do have some of that Fender vintage thingy in the sound!...Thought I wouldn’t prefer it to a vintage one as that’s another personality...and i would keep both if i could. I think we guitarists - if i may admit on behalf of everyone - are simply joking to ourselves when we say “ah..yeah I think i finally found MY GUITAR!” How many times did i say it already?!! 😂 But it would be more precise to say “this guitar surely has it’s own personality that I like and that fits well what I’m doing right now”

[@raytorvalds3699]

Well said. I really appreciated the "- if I may admit on behalf of everyone -" too.

[@venom3936]

I’m glad fender is back at making great guitars…. Just got my American pro 2 tele last week and it’s wonderful all around.

[@fulgor9393]

Fantastic review, thanks !! I already have an Eric Clapton signature Strat, but rather than lugging it on the train whenever we go to our other house, I just bought a Squire to leave there, based on your comparison video, and I love it ! Thanks a lot for your work.

[@thebreakfastmenu]

This just reminds me that the best Strats Fender has made since the buy-back from CBS is the Strat Plus Deluxe.

[@pf316984]

Nice to see you again Paul. Mike - UK

[@davidcavazos2270]

Wonderful playing! I have an American Ultra (sunburst with maple fb) and it has nearly identical specs. I appreciate Fender's incremental approach to improving this iconic guitar.

[@irevisibel9237]

Love the careful but great „innovations“/changes they implemented. Preserving the iconic spirit/feel but modernizing and improving it nonetheless!

[@JamesAstolas]

Ultra sounds warmer and the red Strat has more clarity/presence to my ears.

[@adamscottv]

You make this guitar sound better than other reviewers I've heard.

[@mikkosutube]

4.00 my primary instructor at the Luthiery school in Finland, Rauno Nieminen, says that according to their tests, the neck is stronger when the grain is more parrallel to the fretboard..but he also said that a good piece of cheap wood is better than a crappy piece of so called high quality wood..each piece is unique in its structure and the the thickness of each of the rings..hence the sound of the stratovarious which used wood that was harvested after a period of very tight annual tree rings..and of course over the course of history..the good sounding stratovarious were saved whereas the not so good ones ended up in the garbage somewhere..

[@-KingOfKhaos]

9:13 the only real difference, and it’s ever so subtle, is the slight roll-off of the mids on the Ultra II making it just slightly, SLIGHTLY, more glassy / chimey… but I think we a splitting hairs if I’m being honest. They both sound incredibly tasty and embody the classic Strat sounds we all love and come for.

[@andrewg1016]

Great review, and I also get a relaxing vibe from your videos! The 'jangly' element to the tone is interesting. I recently bought a 70th Anniversary 70s Antigua. The 70s voiced pickups have a beautiful warm tone across each position, and a lot of low end in the neck position. But I did notice a very feint jangling in the tone as well, but perhaps not as distinct as the Ultra.

[@mjb0183]

That orange body guitar you have sounds amazing

[@curtishansen7270]

Looks and sounds great!! That is all! Now everybody go practice!

[@dsmedic10]

He’s right about not thinking or fighting your guitar. Most players just want to play and not have a guitar working against them. Fender (like Gibson now) makes a modern Strat for those who want modern. They make a 57 and 62 reissue I believe for those who want vintage. The best of all worlds!

[@Marshallstack23]

Love the Ultras just wish they would have added stainless frets.

[@michaelvarney.]

That is what the Luxe II will charge you for. 😂

[@ewljr]

At that price point they absolutely should have.

[@KoRyuJuJutsu]

@@Taylor.B.Martin - ​​⁠Harley Benton pickups sound like crap.

[@echandonut]

s.steel will take away fender trademark tone..

[@geetar_guy]

You could go with the Bruno mars strat. It has a compound radius with stainless frets.

[@K4ORl]

Fender and innovation went away together with Leo and lets be real for that price no stainless steel frets is crazy!

[@Larryco1]

You don't love a guitar because it's the best. You love because you've got habits on it.

[@PaulDavids]

Yep, 100%. And the history with it.

[@petticlone]

Man, your red strat- it's just the best

[@qlyde]

I just got an all original 1963 last week, best guitar I’ve ever held in my hands, maybe some bias/placebo effect, it still has original frets so I want to refret it, but the feel is just so different. Also comparing to reissues, the nut width and side to side width of the body are both skinnier on the ‘63 than the ‘61 AV II

[@crisrose521]

No guitar in your arsenal will beat the tone of the red relic . That’s the real deal . Game over 🏅

[@ladislavtomi3433]

You the best man❤lets see how about that guitar, i’ ve just orded🎉🎉🎉

[@jimamsden]

I have a '92 Strat Deluxe that has some of the same design points. It came with Fender Lace pickups, but they sounded really flat with no sparkle or spank. I replaced them years ago with SVL Daytona pickups. They sound great, and I don't really mind the noise. It also has a metal nut with roller bearings. Seems to work very well. It does seem possible to have innovative improvements over time. We should be open to experimentation.

[@BobJ-q5d]

The previous version with the Elite series had the best new feature on a Strat. The truss rod adjustment wheel on the bottom of the neck.

[@petersmulders8413]

Wow, wat een prachtige gitaar!! Die sculpt bij de hals en de xtra fret had ik graag op mijn ouwe japanner. Groet, P

[@jamoe4802]

It sounds freakin amazing to my ears.

[@paul_domici]

I have a Gibson Les Paul Studio I purchased brand new in 1985. I played a new Epiphone les paul studio that looked just like mine at GC a year ago and it blew my Gibson away!!! The new stuff is just so much better!!!

[@wraith2k82]

I got an Ultra a month ago and now this one comes out.

[@francisb1]

sculpted heel? man, this is the future!

[@raytorvalds3699]

That made me laugh pretty hard. Cheers lol

[@G-Man1115]

You need to do an interview with Daisy Tempest! See and play one of her acoustic guitars!!

[@AlexVonCrank]

It's funny. I felt the same way about all the noiseless pickups I've ever tried, but... a) these sound great and... b) the in-between settings sound, to me, like the middle position of an LP or tele. I know Paul didn't like those positions so much, but I love those sounds! That's a win for Fender in my book.

[@desert-storm-borncharlie11]

Glad to see you review this seeing as how I've seen you play so many Fenders over the years. I've had the Elite 1 Tele for about 4 years now and I do really like most of the guitar. You mentioned in the video that you thought you'd like the S-1 switch if it was durable or something to that effect. I don't know what the mean-time between failures is for potentiometers, but mine crapped out on me earlier this year. Guitar is probably 8 or 9 years old so, I guess that's a pretty average time for hardware failure.

[@crisrose521]

For me , that volume knob on a Strat will always kind of be in the way as will be the middle pup . . My pick always gets tangled up in that darn middle pup . . Though Strats are excellent guitars . Nice vid , thank you 🙏

[@Kasmost2223]

Beginning not completely but now the best quality

[@mattsta1964]

The fiesta red Strat is my favourite for sound

[@CB19655]

You are completely right, same for me and IMHO the cobra blue ones, too ❤❤

[@allankeenmusic]

Wow. I modded my Strat 35 years ago so I can switch on the neck pick up and have all three and I can also put them all out of phase - it's an ultra thin sound but quite unique. I took out the bridge pickup and put in a Seymour Duncan Hot Rails and coil tapped that too. Nice to see Fender finally catching up. Sculpted heel is a great idea but the rest is not really innovation in my book - already did it. Oh and also have locking tuners too.

[@jimwoodard64]

I'm no Paul Davids, but I've been around Strats since the '60's, and was old enough to buy my own in the '70's (the dark years for legacy guitar companies). I have a first gen Ultra, and I wouldn't go back. I actually enjoy the S1 functionality, but I understand where a purist would find it bizarre. My pickguard doesn't have that gap, so I don't have that complaint. Great guitar. Great video, Paul.

[@GSongwriter]

I put headphones on and covered the screen when you did the pickup comparison. I would say there is a little difference but it was only on a few notes where they ‘screamed’ a little more but it was very subtle. On that basis I liked your usual Strat. However I loved the knobs and as I use a thin pick it would fit perfectly in the gap. The only reason I would not buy the Ultra is I cannot afford it. Thank you for the review.

[@txarcher3967]

Great video!

[@noradillamister7505]

Old time vintage still the best. Still got the blues for u .❤

[@mattlau]

This is a tough choice. You can definitely get some 2nd hand Custom Shops for similar money and you know the CS will retain value. In fact, most likely retain its value better than the Ultra through time. But as a working man's guitar, the Ultra has all the modern features you actually would appreciate in studio and in gigs. That volume knob is a game changer. I do like compound radius necks, but I also like those chunky Fender necks. You can't go wrong with either choice though! And as always, that playing is superb, Paul!

[@CSAndrewHenry]

Great Video Paul! For my own, terribly unrefined taste, my favorite "Strat" is still the G&L S500, which is (it is said) Leo Fender's own final word on the guitar...

[@64RRussell]

Position 4 sounds great.

[@1977raider]

Nice video thanks!

[@DC_MA]

I've had the HSS Ultra Strat since 2020 in Texas Tea, I definitely think the pickguard suits it better than it does on this new sunburst one. (personal preference) if I was buying an ultra II I might choose the sinister red. Overall I've been very happy, its my only electric and does everything I want in comfort, 4 years of daily playing and hanging from a stand (rarely see the inside of its case) and not a single crackle or issue with any of the electronics. Mine definitely came with the whammy bar so I think someone just forgot it when they sent it to Paul.

[@alexanderroesch2287]

Very nice demo. In this price range, I wish that these guitars featured a nitro finish to allow for graceful aging, after the first nicks and dings occur.

[@thisisgoingtohurt147]

This Strat is prob the best new Strat we could hope for. Love that fender is doing the D shaped neck with the sculpted heel. Add on jumbo frets!! Winner. I want one.

[@BeefNEggs057]

Bot says what bot is told to say.

[@drphilriley]

I love my Ultra HSS. It's the only guitar I really need. You will end up loving the glow dots too Paul. :)

[@tedc6694]

I think it looks beautiful and sounds great

[@thepointingfinger]

If you want change from the 50s and 60s strats by Leo, get a G&L Comanche or S-500. They have more modern pickups and dual fulcrum tremolo. ☺

[@joosboer1030]

Great blend of vintage and modern. Same but more refined.

[@MartijnHover]

I have a 50th anniversary strat, so that is 20 years old by now. Sort of vintage, I guess.

[@GiacomoVaccari]

I own a 70th anniversary ultra and it’s the second nicest guitar I’ve ever played. That having been said, fender and innovation are not words I’d put together much

[@MrRa1nes]

or at all

[@rustycowbell]

You said in the past video "Upgrading my PICKUPS!" that your 2007 Fender Stratocaster American Deluxe was your first Fender Start. The American Deluxe is similar to the Ultra II features.

[@RonnyHogland]

Hi Paul! I own four strats myself and among them an Ultra as well. None CS but all of them have their own nice features that I like. But if I pick one that should be my only strat, it would be the Ultra. So I agree with you. :-) Thanks for another great video as always!

[@alanpern]

I like your red strat!

[@HDChrisSweet]

Beautiful guitar, love the sculpted heel, but I prefer the sound of your custom shop. 😊

[@tbone4186]

I like the sound of the red one more for sure.

[@johndemuria144]

Awesome review. Your tone is so perfect. What amp were you using?

[@alberu]

So elegant, as usual.

[@henrikpetersson3463]

Seems like a perfect workhorse guitar! Being an amateur I would rather spend that kind of money towards something with a bit more soul and vibe to it. But this seems like a really solid guitar. Those new noiseless pickups is certainly something I will be picking up.

[@Nayah9]

• That price tag is bonkers! Thankfully the great thing about Strats is how easy they are to mod. • To me, the best looking Strat of all time is the Fender Player Strat in pearl white with the maple neck. I got mine new for about €630. I've since replaced the 3rd knob with a push-pull knob so I can get the 2 extra pickup configurations with the 5-way switch and I also changed the bridge to a Fender Professional bridge so the whammy bar is easier to manage. Basically, I now have a Fender Professional Strat but I saved €850 just by modding it myself (which wasn't very difficult). • Now that I've heard the Fender Ultra II Strat, I may consider installing these new noiseless pickups on my Strat. I'd then basically have a much cheaper and better looking Fender Ultra Plus II (minus the compound neck and locking tuners which I don't care much for) with minimal effort.

[@-KingOfKhaos]

13:41 - Honestly I think Fender has hit the price point just right with this one. Should it be slightly less? Probably. But comparatively speaking compared to other companies top shelf models like Gibson etc, $2100 (US) really isn’t crazy and should be a big seller.

[@Incaensio]

Daisy is amazing

[@jeremysmetana8583]

F the haters. I'll say the same thing I've said on all of these Strat videos cropping up during the anniversary: You can't mistake that sound. "Iconic" is too weak of a word.

[@bread6085]

Killer guitar. Only thing I would have done if I were fender would be to add a better non locking trem like a goteh or a Floyd rail tail

[@r.honeycutt8660]

Great review loved your take on the new Fender.

[@cyease]

Innovation of releasing the same guitar over and over again.

[@stanleykubrickk]

you can't improve something already perfect

[@joybuzzer]

This isn't the circlejerk subreddit.

[@sekoncen9559]

Truly, the Apple of the guitar world

[@ArtyShat]

@@sekoncen9559 **cough** gibson **cough**

[@TheZslewis]

@@ArtyShatew.