Am Deluxe was always at the heel.
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Fender American Ultra II series is here
- Thread starter JenderBazzFass
- Start date
To my knowledge, the only Fenders up to this point that had headstock truss rod access was the MIM Standard. I have never seen any American model, past or present, with this feature.
FWIW, I love the truss rod wheel and wish they made that standard across ALL of their models. Practical and looks kind of cool.
FWIW, I love the truss rod wheel and wish they made that standard across ALL of their models. Practical and looks kind of cool.
As far as the Precision pickup placement, isn't the position determined by how far it is from the 12th fret (and not by the distance to the bottom edge of the fretboard)? I feel that a 20 fret vs 22 fret P-bass pickup should have a same distance to the 12th fret (even when the 22 fret version appears to have the P Bass pickup closer to the neck). I feel any change in sound has more to do with stacked/series pickups vs split/series.
That's what I was trying to communicate earlier. The neck is closer on my elite only because there are more frets. The pickup is still in the same position relative to the 12th fret.
No binding, no inlays ….sorry ! 
I'am so happy with my lifetime keeper, Ultra Series I.....no looking back.
I'am so happy with my lifetime keeper, Ultra Series I.....no looking back.
I keep eyeing this model. It looks perfect.No binding, no inlays ….sorry !
I'am so happy with my lifetime keeper, Ultra Series I.....no looking back.
Truss adjustment on the headstock would be a non-starter for me.
In the market for a 4 string Jazz, and while I appreciate some of the new features, pickups/preamp/quartersawn neck, the lack of binding/block and truss rod change leave me wanting to get the Ultra I.
I like the Texas Tea, but much prefer the maple neck, and with the block/bindings in v1, it seems like the better option as pickups/preamps can always be upgraded.
This just looks dope:
I like the Texas Tea, but much prefer the maple neck, and with the block/bindings in v1, it seems like the better option as pickups/preamps can always be upgraded.
This just looks dope:
This + 1M. Luckily there are plenty of other brands making a 5 string PJ because they continually overlook this configuration even though it would seem a no-brainer, and they offer it plenty of 4 string variants.
I have this one and it is great. My go to #1 after going through more than a few basses over the last 6-7 years.
Even if I liked the new features enough to want one of the Ultra II, I would hold off. Reason is a few posts up in the Green Ultra with matching headstock. In a year or two they will introduce Special Editions/FSRs that have matching headstocks and maybe the blocks and binding. I love that green one and also the Umbraburst Ultra PJ.
D
For me is simple, I don't have a Fender, I never owned one. And in the last few days l searched for a new Ultra V Arctic Pearl (I tested one and I want a Fender in my collection), but everywhere is out of stock. Now I know why, the new Ultra II is coming. I will buy the Ultra II V AVL.
It's worse than that. Once again the 4 and 5 string are offered in different colors. You can't get that sweet metallic blue in a 5, which is such a dumb-ass decision.
And once again, true to Fender fashion it's (almost) any color you want as long as it's white or 3TSB. They really need to take a page from EBMM's playbook regarding finish options on their flagship instruments.
It seems like Fender is almost always running some sort of 10% off deal, and if they aren't wait 30-60 days and they will be for the next holiday.
Fender is going to be at NAAM next year, so should be interesting to see what they come up with. I guess they don't usually attend that, so IF they were going to announce some sort of mind blowing redesign (like multiscale), I would suspect it would be there. But it's interesting that they came out with the Ultra II, their flagship product now. What's left for NAAM? Watered down versions of the Ultra for other lines? More colors?
Going by Sweetwater price points, it seems that this is their hierarchy of top to bottom value:
Vintage
Ultra
Professional
Performer
Vintera
Player Plus
Player
*Artist Signature anywhere between Performer and Ultra
I think that the Ultra II is what the next 5+ years of Fender is going to be, maybe different colors/binding/blocks along the way when they need to boost sales, and less features the further you go to the bottom.
I do wish they opened the mod shop up to different options. It's crazy how we all know they have the parts, and all they need to do is assemble them, but you still can't configure a 5 string or anything with blocks/binding or string through or black hardware or preamps/passive or anything like that.
My 2010 American Deluxe has adjustment at the heel. 2010 was the first year of the redesign with Blocks, Binding, Active/Passive with passive tone, compound radius board and asymmetrical neck. Its truss adjust was, is, at the heel.
