When I first saw the Ultra Luxe name, I thought someone was getting creative describing the Ultra series. Then I realized that Ultra Luxe is an actual guitar line from Fender!
So What’s The Luxe?
Unlike the Ultra core line, the Luxe line doesn’t include bass models. In addition to Strat and Tele models, Fender swapped the Jazzmaster in the Ultra line for the 60th Anniversary Ultra Luxe Jaguar. But they didn’t stop there, and pumped up the Luxe line with two Floyd Rose-equipped models, including a Telecaster! Let’s dive in deeper to see what’s going on with this luxury line of Fenders.
Ultra and Then Some
Like the name suggests, the Ultra Luxe line shares a lot in common with the Ultra line (see our article on the American Ultra Telecaster). Fender positions this as the most advanced guitar series in the Fender line, and uses the term “high performance” to describe its mix of features. Fender took the Ultra Line, which is already a great mix of traditional and modern features, and turned it up just a little bit more to squeeze additional performance out of it. Let’s look at the key differences.
Luxe Body
The body wood for the standard Luxe is listed as Ash, in all colors. This is in contrast to the regular Ultra, which uses Alder primarily with Ash reserved for the transparent colors only. Due to the Ash wood shortage Fender is using Ash sparingly on its production instruments, so this can be considered a premium upgrade. The exception here are the Floyd-Rose equipped models, which are Alder. All Luxe models retain the same body contours as the Ultra.
Luxe Neck
Stainless Steel frets! That’s right, the Luxe comes standard with stainless, a first for Fender on a production instrument. This is the quintessential modern enhancement, and therefore it’s right at home on an Ultra Luxe guitar. The main benefit of stainless is durability, and most players don’t notice a significant difference in tone.
The Luxe also features an Augmented “D”-shaped neck, with the Ultra satin finish. Fender describes the neck shape as a “hybrid shape where the shoulders soften near the 12th fret.” The standard Ultra neck is slick enough with its nicely rolled edges, but you can see how this tweak fits into the “performance” theme of the Luxe.
The Luxe also sports a painted headstock, a cosmetic upscale touch that sets off the body colors.
Luxe Bridge
The big news is the Floyd Rose® Original Double-Locking 2-Point Tremolo option, which is not available on the regular Ultra. And, if you can believe it, they offer the Floyd Rose option on the Telecaster! I have to admit that I always think it odd to see a Tele with a locking nut, but apparently Fender has concluded that there is demand for this setup.
The non-humbucker Luxe Strat and Tele retain the same bridges as the Ultra line, with the 2-Point Deluxe Synchronized Tremolo on the Strat and the 6-Saddle American Tele® bridge on the Tele.
Luxe Electronics
Pickups are the big change for the Floyd-equipped models: American Ultra Luxe Stratocaster® Floyd Rose® HSS, and American Ultra Luxe Telecaster ® Floyd Rose® HH. Both have an Ultra Double Tap™ Humbucker in the bridge position. The Floyd-equipped Strat also substitutes the Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat® for slightly hotter Ultra Noiseless™ Hot Strat® pickups in the middle and neck positions.
For both the Strat and Tele, the bridge position is filled by an Ultra Double Tap™ Humbucker. Double Taps are Tim Shaw designed, and offer full sounding humbucker tones in addition to clear and articulate single-coil sounds. The Floyd-Rose equipped HSS Strat features hotter Ultra Noiseless™ Hot Strat® single coils in the middle and neck positions. It’s worth mentioning that you can get the Ultra Double Tap™ Humbucker on the standard Ultra series, but you won’t get the Floyd bridge and locking nut.
The Luxe also gets the S-1 switch, located in the volume knob, which adds the neck pickup to positions one and two.
Luxe Colors
This may be the only place where the Ultra Luxe is limited. The regular Luxe Strat is offered in 2-Color Sunburst and Plasma Red Burst. I have always been partial to two color bursts, and this one cops a really nice SRV-vibe with the black pickguard. The Plasma Red has an amber color in the middle with a cherry red burst around the perimeter. The Floyd Rose HSS model is offered in Mystic Black and Silverburst, a sweet light silver ringed with a black burst.
On the Tele side of things, the standard Luxe is offered in Transparent Surf Green and 2-Color Sunburst. The American Ultra Luxe Telecaster® Floyd Rose® HH is only offered in Mystic Black.
Ultra Luxe Conclusion
So we must ask: Why go Luxe?
How much the differences from the regular Ultra line matter are up to you, but there are convincing reasons to spend the extra for the Luxe line:
- An Ash-bodied Fender on a non-custom shop guitar is no small thing, so if you want the tone that Ash provides, the Luxe may be your ticket.
- The Floyd Rose option, which is not available on the regular Ultra.
- Stainless Steel frets are a significant upgrade that will most likely eliminate the need for a refret.
I admit to being a little surprised that Fender didn’t spec an ebony fretboard for the Luxe, as some Ultra models have in the past, and because ebony would fit in nicely as a performance upgrade. Rather than a missed opportunity, I’ll guess that Fender decided to keep the traditional Rosewood / Maple option as a nod to traditional specs on guitars that are already packed with modern features.
Fender took the Ultra series and tweaked it, and the result is a contemporary high quality instrument that can challenge custom shop builds. The Fender Ultra formula has always been alluring, and today’s mix is as good as ever.
Happy Playing!