Upper Tier Limited Ultra Edition American Fender Models 2021
Todd Simpson
Jul 30 2021, 03:56 AM
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On the other end of the spectrum, far away from the budget guitars, Fender has released a new batch of very posh, limited edition American build guitars. These have gold anodized pickguards, fender noiseless pickups, and other new bits.
The only catch is that it looks like these are only going to be available at Anderton’s music stores in the U.K., and the Chicago Music Exchange in the States.

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FENDER LIMITED EDITION AMERICAN ULTRA STRATOCASTER
The offering comprises two strats and one tele. Both models have the gold pickguards, ebony fretboards and ultra electronics. The Strat model is available with plum metallic or quicksilver paint. The maple neck is fitted with medium jumbo frets on a standard 22.5 scale. The neck has a modern D profile decked outfitted with pearloid dot inlays. Like the tele, the neck has a 10-14” compound radius and a Bi-Flex truss rod. It also has a “synchronized” two point fender tremolo and locking tuners for tuning stability, and a more tapered heel than you find on a standard strat. The pickups are the Ultra Noiseless fender variety single coils in traditional SSS config. The electronics feature Fender’s S-1 switching system that allows various pickup combination in both series and parallel. This luxury comes at a price of $2,100 each.

FENDER LIMITED EDITION AMERICAN ULTRA TELECASTER

Sharing many of the same features is the TELE from this same line. Here again is the gold pickguard, ebony fretboard, etc. Just like the strat it has a 25.5 scale maple neck fitted with 22 medium jumbo frets and the same D profile with 10-14” compound radius and Bi-Flex truss rod. It comes with tele versions of the Ultra Noiseless pickups and a 3 way switch. In addition it features the same S-1 switching system as the strat. Just like the strat, it can be yours for $2,100.

The previous series (The Elite series) went a bit modern and these seem to be going just a bit back towards classic while keeping some modern bits and upgrades. These colors are bespoke to this series so it will set you apart in that sense as these all feature special paint. The contoured hell dips toward modern and many will find it a welcome change. Locking tuners are a nice upgrade and should help with tuning stability despite the trem being non-locking. Of course, these do break away a bit with the sculpted heel and somewhat wild colors. Hopefully these are not too far afield for fans. The limited run should make them appeal to some buyers, in addition the extra features might appeal as well. This price point is not extreme by any means but puts these out of range of most starters obviously.

As the Anderton’s boys say in the video, “It sounds like a strat”. Which is the bottom line in some sense. The noiseless pickups should help gigging musicians fight the hum that comes with working in certain venues, hopefully. These do look like great axes. I do hope to try one at some point.

*Here they are at Anderton's
https://www.andertons.co.uk/brands/fender/f...;pageSize:&


*Here are the folks from Andertons talking about these new Europe only guitars.


*Here they are in the states at the Chicago Music Exchange


*Check out this SRV lesson from Bogdan!

https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/srvhad...stratbluessolo/

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This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Aug 3 2021, 03:00 AM
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Steve Gilfield
Jul 30 2021, 12:43 PM
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I think we talked about this before, when Fender decides to put modern features (compound radius, easy-access neck, etc) to its models the price skyrockets laugh.gif

For other companies these features are basic and their prices are almost more than 50% less!

But not gonna lie, these models look stunning.

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klasaine
Jul 30 2021, 01:31 PM
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"American Ultra-Luxe".
These are even higher end with more modern type features ... https://www.fender.com/en-IT/electric-serie...can-ultra-luxe/
*No interest here in any of these new highend Fenders. I don't like any noiseless single coils, and I've tried handfulls.

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Steve Gilfield
Jul 30 2021, 01:41 PM
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"Augmented “D”-shaped neck with Ultra satin finish¨

How different is the Ultra Satin finish from the regular satin finish? laugh.gif

They are putting the word 'Ultra' in front of every feature to justify the high price.


QUOTE (klasaine @ Jul 30 2021, 03:31 PM) *
"American Ultra-Luxe".
These are even higher end with more modern type features ... https://www.fender.com/en-IT/electric-serie...can-ultra-luxe/
*No interest here in any of these new highend Fenders. I don't like any noiseless single coils, and I've tried handfulls.

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klasaine
Jul 30 2021, 02:35 PM
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QUOTE (Steve Gilfield @ Jul 30 2021, 05:41 AM) *
"Augmented “D”-shaped neck with Ultra satin finish¨

How different is the Ultra Satin finish from the regular satin finish? laugh.gif

They are putting the word 'Ultra' in front of every feature to justify the high price.


Yep.
When you've been making essentially the same handful of axes since the 50s, you gotta figure out a way to sell those same guitars over and over again

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Phil66
Jul 30 2021, 05:15 PM
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QUOTE (klasaine @ Jul 30 2021, 01:31 PM) *
"American Ultra-Luxe".
These are even higher end with more modern type features ... https://www.fender.com/en-IT/electric-serie...can-ultra-luxe/
*No interest here in any of these new highend Fenders. I don't like any noiseless single coils, and I've tried handfulls.


Correct me if I'm wrong, I've never played noiseless single coils but aren't they some kind of stacked humbucker?

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klasaine
Jul 30 2021, 05:39 PM
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QUOTE (Phil66 @ Jul 30 2021, 09:15 AM) *
Correct me if I'm wrong, I've never played noiseless single coils but aren't they some kind of stacked humbucker?


Some are designed that way and others use a side by side design. There is also the 'dummy' coil technique. In my experience, none of them sound like classic Strat or Tele pickups. The better designs can sound pretty good for what they are but, as noted, not really like a good strat or tele. Something in the highend just isn't right.
*I do have one Telecaster with noiseless pkups but I really only use it when the power is so dirty that the hum is as loud as my base 'sound'. There's a few bars here where the wiring is that bad ... not that I've played any of them in the last 16 months.

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This post has been edited by klasaine: Jul 30 2021, 05:45 PM
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jstcrsn
Jul 30 2021, 06:46 PM
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QUOTE (klasaine @ Jul 30 2021, 05:39 PM) *
Some are designed that way and others use a side by side design. There is also the 'dummy' coil technique. In my experience, none of them sound like classic Strat or Tele pickups. The better designs can sound pretty good for what they are but, as noted, not really like a good strat or tele. Something in the highend just isn't right.
*I do have one Telecaster with noiseless pkups but I really only use it when the power is so dirty that the hum is as loud as my base 'sound'. There's a few bars here where the wiring is that bad ... not that I've played any of them in the last 16 months.

I can't help but wonder if 500k pots have been tried to bring the high end in

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AK Rich
Jul 30 2021, 07:09 PM
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These new models look really nice but probably stray too far from what a traditional strat is supposed to be for my taste. When I got my 1st USA strat, I thought that I would want some noiseless pups in it but after trying a few other guitars with a few different noiseless versions of pup, I decided against swapping them out as none of them really sounded right to me. I had considered a YJM strat too and tried one of those because I really wanted a scalloped neck after trying another guitar but the stacked humbuckers were a complete turnoff for me.

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klasaine
Jul 30 2021, 07:42 PM
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QUOTE (jstcrsn @ Jul 30 2021, 10:46 AM) *
I can't help but wonder if 500k pots have been tried to bring the high end in

They have, or at least I've experimented with 500k pots. All I can say is that they accentuate the wrong high frequencies. I also personally think that the inherent 'noise' in single coil pkups is part of the sound. I know that many will think that that's absurd but that's my story snd I'm sticking to it.

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Todd Simpson
Jul 30 2021, 08:32 PM
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I noticed that and it does seem a pinch silly imho. "Hey call it ultra and charge more money!"

QUOTE (Steve Gilfield @ Jul 30 2021, 08:41 AM) *
"Augmented “D”-shaped neck with Ultra satin finish¨

How different is the Ultra Satin finish from the regular satin finish? laugh.gif

They are putting the word 'Ultra' in front of every feature to justify the high price.



Good point. They gotta come up with something to make the same guitars seem exclusive and drive some sales. Pricey models are where the profit lives after all.

QUOTE (klasaine @ Jul 30 2021, 09:35 AM) *
Yep.
When you've been making essentially the same handful of axes since the 50s, you gotta figure out a way to sell those same guitars over and over again



I heard several folks say exactly this during researching this post. The top end evidently gets cut off a bit with noiseless pickups and changes the entire character of the sound to the point that many strat fans just don't like. So instead of being an upgrade, it strikes many as a downgrade of tone.

QUOTE (klasaine @ Jul 30 2021, 02:42 PM) *
They have, or at least I've experimented with 500k pots. All I can say is that they accentuate the wrong high frequencies. I also personally think that the inherent 'noise' in single coil pkups is part of the sound. I know that many will think that that's absurd but that's my story snd I'm sticking to it.

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klasaine
Jul 30 2021, 08:42 PM
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Strat pickups are a weird beast. Yes, they are "bright" but if you scope them, you'll see that they have more pure low end than humbuckers.

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Timmez
Jul 31 2021, 10:52 AM
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I have noise less pick ups in my fender elite strat.
I have to say that its an expensive guitar but he is very allround. I have a humbucker on the bridge.
I really like the noise less pick up because i like the sound and don't have that hard hum.
I have to say om not an expert on the fender sound but for me its good.
I don't like the hum of some guitars if you play a gig because the signal with the hum also go to the sound man and hé don't likes it smile.gif
Thats why i have a lot of guitars to suit all my needs haha 😂

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Todd Simpson
Aug 2 2021, 01:36 AM
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It does seem to be a very practical idea, getting rid of the hum and noise, especially for gigging/recording. it seems there is a bit of a split among Fender fans on this issue. Some saying it's long overdue for a good set of noiseless and others saying it gets in the way of the "tone".


QUOTE (tflava @ Jul 31 2021, 05:52 AM) *
I have noise less pick ups in my fender elite strat.
I have to say that its an expensive guitar but he is very allround. I have a humbucker on the bridge.
I really like the noise less pick up because i like the sound and don't have that hard hum.
I have to say om not an expert on the fender sound but for me its good.
I don't like the hum of some guitars if you play a gig because the signal with the hum also go to the sound man and hé don't likes it smile.gif
Thats why i have a lot of guitars to suit all my needs haha 😂

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