Fender’s American Ultra line has been a staple in their lineup for years. The Ultra name conjures up a luxury vibe, and that’s because the Ultra line represents the best of Fender’s American production line guitars. Positioned right below the Custom Shop, the Ultra line is a way to get some of that special high end vibe without committing full tilt on a custom shop guitar and associated price tag. Let’s check out the American Ultra Fender Telecaster and see what it’s got going for it.
Overview
Fender presents the Ultra as an American made guitar that’s a mix of the traditional and modern. In their promotional video Fender states that they are “the highest level of guitars and basses to come off of the Fender production line.” Aimed at “discerning” guitar players, Fender emphasizes that it’s the enhancements to the classic Tele line that make the Ultra what it is.
Ultra Highlights
And what exactly is it? For starters, the Ultra has either an Alder or Ash body, depending on color. This is especially interesting in light of the fact that Fender has discontinued the use of Ash wood for the majority of its production guitars, reserving it for special cases. The Ultra is one of those guitars.
Here are a few of the features that stand out:
- Bound Alder or Ash body
- Modern “D” shaped neck
- Sculpted body contours
- Tapered neck heel
- Ultra Satin finish
- Compound-radius fingerboard
- Sealed locking tuners
- Bone nut
Although these are not the full specs, they give us a feel for the blend Fender is going for in the Telecaster Ultra: Take a classic formula and mix in features that discriminating players will appreciate.
Description & Specs
Alder or Ash are the traditional choices, so we start with that. Sculpted body contours and neck heel taper are modern features that are often found on higher-end guitars from makers such as Suhr, Grosh, and Tom Anderson. When locking tuners are present, they typically represent a step up in quality from standard non-locking tuners. And yet Fender decided on a bone nut, which is a very good sounding and traditional choice. And let’s not forget the Modern D neck shape, which is a departure from the Modern C found on other production models.
The Gloss Polyurethane finish is perhaps an unexpected choice, but let’s consider why. I am of the opinion that the quality of the finish is more important than the type of finish. If you think poly is a bad finish, you’ve never had a Fender-style neck that has an expertly applied thin poly finish. They are slick and wear well. No doubt that nitro is great, but I’d much rather have an excellent poly finish than a mediocre nitro finish.
The Ultra rocks a gloss body finish with what Fender calls an “Ultra Satin” neck finish that’s glossed up on the front of the headstock. I think this is a really classy touch that shows their attention to detail with the Ultra line, while maintaining the practicality of a satin finish, which many people enjoy.
Colors
Fender chose an assortment of colors that mate nicely with the Ultra vibe: Ultra Burst, Arctic Pearl, Texas Tea, Mocha Burst, Cobra Blue. The Fender american Ultra Telecaster is not available in the famous Butterscotch Blonde—an interesting choice, but it’s clear that Fender chose to go with more modern paint jobs for the Ultras.
I’m a sucker for a traditional sunburst finish, so it’s nice that Fender chose to offer the Ultra Burst in both maple and rosewood fingerboard options. The other colors are assigned a fingerboard based on what Fender thinks looks best, and I have to agree. These finishes follow the Ultra formula, blending traditional colors with a finish treatment that is updated and modern. Texas Tea is a killer finish, with a sparkly coffee color that changes in the light depending on the angle. The white binding pops, and the Texas Tea really compliments the rosewood fingerboard.
American Ultra Telecaster vs. American Professional II Telecaster
| Specification | American Ultra Telecaster | American Professional II Telecaster |
| Body Wood | Ash or Alder | Alder or Roasted Pine |
| Frets | Medium Jumbo | Narrow Tall |
| Neck Shape | Modern D | Deep C |
| Pickups | Ultra Noiseless™ Vintage Tele® | V-Mod II Single-Coil Tele® |
| Bridge | 6-Saddle American Tele® | 3-SaddleTop-Load/String-Through® |
| Treble Bleed Circuit | No | Yes |
Most colors of both models will be offered in Alder, but the Professional II swaps the Ash for Roasted Pine for the transparent colors. Given that Alder is available as the common choice, I wouldn’t sweat this spec because Pine has proven to be a valid (and vintage-correct) body wood choice. The sculpted rear contour on the lower bout of the Ultra aids in upper fret access, but I wouldn’t call this a deal-breaker. The Professional II offers a 3-Saddle bridge that may be strung through or top loaded, which is a nice feature for those who want the feel of a top-loaded Tele, but again, the bridge can be swapped with relative ease if a player prefers the six-saddle from the Ultra. Pickups on both models are high-quality and offer a modern twist on a vintage voice, but those playing with high gain may favor the Ultra’s noiseless pickups.
The biggest difference between the two models is the feature that cannot be easily changed: Frets.
While the Medium Jumbos on the Ultra will feel familiar, Narrow Tall frets divide the aisle—most people either really like them, or don’t like them at all! My sense is that this feature alone will be the biggest factor when choosing between these models. For more on the influence of frets, see Guitar Frets: Choosing the Right Ones For You.
Conclusion
The Telecaster Ultra is among Fender’s nicest production guitars. Fender has had a history with vintage-modern guitars, and they haven’t always hit the mark, but this time I feel like they’ve seasoned the recipe just right. The color choices and tasteful appointments give the Telecaster Ultra a custom shop vibe, but the American Ultra Telecaster doesn’t feel like a dialed down custom shop model; it’s got its own thing going that’s worth looking into. The Ultra is available on Amazon with fast, free shipping, so click this link to see specs and colors.
Happy Playing!