Fender American Ultra II series is here

[JenderBazzFass]

Invalid Link Removed

There's an updated Ultra Precision and Jazz Bass, along with a new Ultra Meteora Bass.

From what I can see, the differences vs the Ultra are
-Truss rod adjustment moved back to the headstock
-Necks are now quarter sawn
-Fender HiMass bridge remains, but can now be either top load or string-through body
-Preamp changes (below)

It appears now that active/passive mode is controlled via the S-1 switch integrated into the master volume knob, and the switch on the control plate now controls a midrange frequency range selection.

The website also describes the passive tone control as now being global; on the Ultra I the traditional tone knob affected the passive mode only, now it's described as working in both active and passive modes.

(More colors available)

 

[Parzival]

What I like:
- Luminlay side dots
- Adjustable mid freq
- updated pickups (maybe good/maybe not)
- string through body
- ebony fretboard available with some colors
- Active/passive tone knob

What I don't like:
- Colors are not much different from before, nothing really exciting
- Those knobs, ughhh, I don't like silver knobs on silver jazz plate
- Plain old dot markers on neck. No blocks and binding.
- Still no matching headstock options, or even black (like on the Ultra Umbraburst PJ from last few years)
- Just has a plain look to it. Nothing on the outside that really clearly differentiates from other regular Fender models.


Some good things. If they had the ebony fretboard and blocks/binding, I could replace the knobs and would go with the blue one. Curious to hear how the pickups and preamp sound.

 

[JenderBazzFass]

The anodized pick guards differentiate the Ultra versions from the regular Fenders, as well as having the extra knobs I would say. And the colors/finishes are unique.

It is interesting that whereas the Ultra 1 had several Jazz Bass colors available in maple necks, only the red Jazz is available with maple now. In the precision the sunburst and the white are maple, black and blue are ebony. All the combinations look great though.

I have one like my avatar, the pearl color with maple neck and block inlays, and the blocks are a cool black pearloid which I greatly prefer to plain dots, but the Ultra II necks only have dots now.

 

[Wander Guzman]

No blocks inlays no binding, no matching headstock options, no buy. honestly I was on hold to see what they were about to do with the new ultras but nothing exciting from the look of it Id rather buy the Ultra I or keep looking a MIJ one.

 

[marh415]

Loving that Avalanche with the silver anodized pickguard. I'm looking to get an active bass again and these look great.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Quartersawn necks are a nice upgrade. I do not like trussed adjustment at the peghead. I think at the bottom of the neck is much better. I can live without blocks and binding. I hope my local Fender dealer gets one so I can try it out.

 

[jonartimus]

I like the Sinister red with black guard and maple board. The button switching is interesting, too, wonder if that will catch on with other manufacturers.

 

[atquinn]

Looks like the Precision pickup is still in the wrong place. No thanks.

 

[joel the bass player]

Nah, man. Nah.

 

[BaltBass5]

Yaaaawn.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Invalid Link Removed

There's an updated Ultra Precision and Jazz Bass, along with a new Ultra Meteora Bass.

From what I can see, the differences vs the Ultra are
-Truss rod adjustment moved back to the headstock
-Necks are now quarter sawn
-Fender HiMass bridge remains, but can now be either top load or string-through body
-Preamp changes (below)

It appears now that active/passive mode is controlled via the S-1 switch integrated into the master volume knob, and the switch on the control plate now controls a midrange frequency range selection.

The website also describes the passive tone control as now being global; on the Ultra I the traditional tone knob affected the passive mode only, now it's described as working in both active and passive modes.

(More colors available)

Nice revamp, but my experience with the bridge tail piece from earlier editions of the Ultra series remain. In particular the design of the saddle which binds on the string causing a somewhat muffled tone out of the B and E string. This is especially noticeable with round wound strings. It’s a terrible design.

 

[Yahboy]

Truss rod adjustment on headstock.....hmmmm. look low cost.

 

[DrBnz]

Let me hold a red one for a week and then lets talk. But basically... all the things I don't like about Ultras is still there. I also envision the ebony to add weight and possibly neck dive to an already heavy bass. The lack of blocks n binding is a step backwards to me. I don't feel any GAS symptoms at all for this one.

 

[Z-Bass]

This is one of those "I don't know how react" moments. I would think that the Ultra series evolution would be a forward progress of improvement and higher end specifications. It seems they just moved things around, added some, dropped some but aren't really making a statement with these. I guess the neck being quartersawn is a feature. I see they went back to the skunk stripe and headstock truss adjustment, which actually look closer to the Player series. I don't dislike the pre-amp features. I actually do like the silver knobs but understand that I may be in the minority on that one. Regarding the colors, agree with other in that it's not very exciting although I really do like the Sinister Red with all maple neck and fretboard but that's the only one that stands out to me. I'll reserve my final thoughts until I actually play one of these but for now it seems they just shook up a jar of options and picked a few.

 

[JenderBazzFass]

The neck being quartersawn is an upgrade, and the switch to choose the range where you’re boosting or cutting the mids seems like one also.

The lack of binding or blocks on the jazz seems like a downgrade. Those things don’t look right on a P so nothing wrong there.

The new colors and finishes look great.

I don’t care for painted headstocks and most people must not either since they are only ever a rare or custom option. Personally they are a big turn off to me.

 

[Michael Rosen]

Meh... I feel... whelmed?

 

[DamirDart]

I had an Arctic Pearl Ultra V J and the four string Arctic Pearl P. Sold both. For P I went the vintage route with custom shop since a P should sound like a P. The active bells and whistles were too much. The Ultra J V was too heavy for me. She was around 4.5kg and felt uncomfortable, even though she sounded fantastic. Maybe I’m in for the next try with Ultra J II in Sinister red, but only if the weight is sub 4.3kg. Does anyone have the information on the weight of Ultra J V II? Thanks and cheers from Germany

 

[facetsquared]

Seems a bit odd that certain colours are available on both the P and J, but some are not - if you want red, it’s a J and white is only an option with the P.

Fender really has less than a clue sometimes.

 

[Lammchop93]

Not an exciting release at all for me.

 

[GrooveTheory]

That is one hefty price tag (round $3,200 Canadian plus tax) for something that could be accomplished with a used Squire (ok, fine… an American standard), and a decent preamp or eq pedal. I’m sure they’re very nice though.