Fender Launches New American Ultra Luxe Strat, Tele Models
These top-of-the-line models feature painted headstocks and, notably, stainless steel frets. There's even a Tele with a Floyd Rose.
Fender has launched its latest line of top-of-the-line models, the American Ultra Luxe series.
This line of four Strats and Teles features Augmented “D” neck profiles with ultra rolled fingerboard edges, tapered neck heels, and 10”-14” compound-radius fretboards boasting 22 frets. Notably, the guitars' frets are stainless steel, to our knowledge a first for Fender.
The guitars also feature bone nuts and advanced wiring options, and visual appointments that include matching painted headstocks, sculpted rear contours, and chrome hardware.
You can learn more about the new models – each of which also comes with a molded hardshell case – below.
American Ultra Luxe Stratocaster
This classy Strat boasts a sculpted ash body and Ultra Noiseless Vintage pickups. The S-1 Switch in the guitar's volume knob adds the neck pickup to positions one and two.
It comes in 2-Color Sunburst (with a rosewood fingerboard) and 2-Color Sunburst and Plasma Red Burst (with a maple fingerboard) finishes, and is available for $2,299.
American Ultra Luxe Stratocaster Floyd Rose HSS
Alongside the Original Floyd Rose Tremolo system that gives it its name, this Strat features an Ultra Double Tap humbucker and Ultra Noiseless Hot single-coil pickups. An S1 switch located on the volume control splits the humbucker into a hot single-coil.
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It comes in Mystic Black (with a rosewood fingerboard) and Silverburst (with a maple fingerboard) finishes, and is available for $2,399.
American Ultra Luxe Telecaster
This Tele features a sculpted ash body, rosewood fingerboard, TUSQ nut, and Ultra Noiseless Vintage pickups. The S1 switch on the guitar's master volume control activates series mode in the middle pickup position for beefier tones.
Available in Transparent Surf Green and 2-Color Sunburst finishes, it rings up at $2,299.
American Ultra Luxe Telecaster Floyd Rose HH
Yessir, the name isn't a tease – this Tele does indeed sport a Floyd Rose. In addition, the guitar features a maple fingerboard and a pair of Custom Double Tap humbucking pickups that can be split into single coils with the guitar's push/push tone knob.
Available in a Mystic Black finish, it goes for a price of $2,399.
For more info on all of Fender's new models, head on over to fender.com.
Jackson is an Associate Editor at GuitarWorld.com and GuitarPlayer.com. He’s been writing and editing stories about new gear, technique and guitar-driven music both old and new since 2014, and has also written extensively on the same topics for Guitar Player. Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder and Unrecorded. Though open to music of all kinds, his greatest love has always been indie, and everything that falls under its massive umbrella. To that end, you can find him on Twitter crowing about whatever great new guitar band you need to drop everything to hear right now.
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