I've been watching Sweetwater and can't help but notice that 98% of these are heavy. I also notice in the videos that they tend to avoid that B string. Yeah. I did too when I had an Ultra 5J.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Fender American Ultra II series is here
- Thread starter JenderBazzFass
- Start date
I just bought a new Fender American Ultra II P-Bass 4 string from Sweetwater (8lbs, 13oz), and I have a question about new Ultra II Basses redesigned preamp feature of having a "Global active/passive tone control".
* THE 1ST TONE CONTROL (works in Active mode only) and is located as the smaller concentric knob stacked on top of the active bass control knob.
* THE 2ND TONE CONTROL is GLOBAL (works in both active and passive modes, S-1 up or down), and is located underneath the concentric active midrange control knob.
QUESTION - What is the reasoning behind having 2 seperate tone controls, which both work in active mode (S-1 up), and why/how would a player use 2 tone controls at the same time in active mode?
Below is info on Fender website regarding new redesigned Ultra II Bass features.
Thank you all for your time and feedback
.
ULTRA II ACTIVE BASS PREAMP WITH S-1™ SWITCHING
Redesigned for unprecedented control, the 18 volt preamp features S-1™ switching for active/passive operation so you can change modes on the fly – plus a global passive tone control to easily shape your active and passive sounds for authentically deep vintage timbres. The precise and powerful 3-band active EQ offers shimmering musical highs, satisfyingly punchy lows and a switchable midrange frequency to seriously sculpt your sound.
The midrange frequency switch lets players choose the mid-frequency they want to boost – 325 hertz or 750 hertz. “That’s kind of the sweet spot for the mid-range frequencies that helps you dial in the tone and cut through in the mix,” Abbassi says.
Another important feature is the S-1™ switch. “None of the basses in Ultra I had an S-1™ switch; they had a small toggle switch that allowed you to go between active and passive,” explains Abbassi. This is different. Ultra II uses the S-1™ switch to switch between active and passive, which is faster and easier to use on the gig and cleans up the look of the bass. And since most players who buy Ultra play active most of the time, we made the up position of the S-1 active and the down position passive."
Finally, we added a passive tone control that works in both active and passive mode. “We had a lot of bass players saying ‘I love to use my passive tone control in active mode as well as passive mode’ so we made sure that was there. We also reconfigured the location of some of the controls so it was easier to access the most-used tones.”
Invalid Link Removed
* THE 1ST TONE CONTROL (works in Active mode only) and is located as the smaller concentric knob stacked on top of the active bass control knob.
* THE 2ND TONE CONTROL is GLOBAL (works in both active and passive modes, S-1 up or down), and is located underneath the concentric active midrange control knob.
QUESTION - What is the reasoning behind having 2 seperate tone controls, which both work in active mode (S-1 up), and why/how would a player use 2 tone controls at the same time in active mode?
Below is info on Fender website regarding new redesigned Ultra II Bass features.
Thank you all for your time and feedback
.ULTRA II ACTIVE BASS PREAMP WITH S-1™ SWITCHING
Redesigned for unprecedented control, the 18 volt preamp features S-1™ switching for active/passive operation so you can change modes on the fly – plus a global passive tone control to easily shape your active and passive sounds for authentically deep vintage timbres. The precise and powerful 3-band active EQ offers shimmering musical highs, satisfyingly punchy lows and a switchable midrange frequency to seriously sculpt your sound.
The midrange frequency switch lets players choose the mid-frequency they want to boost – 325 hertz or 750 hertz. “That’s kind of the sweet spot for the mid-range frequencies that helps you dial in the tone and cut through in the mix,” Abbassi says.
Another important feature is the S-1™ switch. “None of the basses in Ultra I had an S-1™ switch; they had a small toggle switch that allowed you to go between active and passive,” explains Abbassi. This is different. Ultra II uses the S-1™ switch to switch between active and passive, which is faster and easier to use on the gig and cleans up the look of the bass. And since most players who buy Ultra play active most of the time, we made the up position of the S-1 active and the down position passive."
Finally, we added a passive tone control that works in both active and passive mode. “We had a lot of bass players saying ‘I love to use my passive tone control in active mode as well as passive mode’ so we made sure that was there. We also reconfigured the location of some of the controls so it was easier to access the most-used tones.”
Invalid Link Removed
Last edited:
I think the 1ST Tone Control you mention is actually the treble pot for the active EQ. It can have a similar sensation to a tone pot since it rolls off (or boosts) the high end.I just bought a new Fender American Ultra II P-Bass 4 string from Sweetwater (8lbs, 13oz), and I have a question about new Ultra II Basses redesigned preamp feature of having a "Global active/passive tone control".
* THE 1ST TONE CONTROL (works in Active mode only) and is located as the smaller concentric knob stacked on top of the active bass control knob.
* THE 2ND TONE CONTROL is GLOBAL (works in both active and passive modes, S-1 up or down), and is located underneath the concentric active midrange control knob.
QUESTION - What is the reasoning behind having 2 seperate tone controls, which both work in active mode (S-1 up), and why/how would a player use 2 tone controls at the same time in active mode?
Below is info on Fender website regarding new redesigned Ultra II Bass features.
Thank you all for your time and feedback
ULTRA II ACTIVE BASS PREAMP WITH S-1™ SWITCHING
Redesigned for unprecedented control, the 18 volt preamp features S-1™ switching for active/passive operation so you can change modes on the fly – plus a global passive tone control to easily shape your active and passive sounds for authentically deep vintage timbres. The precise and powerful 3-band active EQ offers shimmering musical highs, satisfyingly punchy lows and a switchable midrange frequency to seriously sculpt your sound.
The midrange frequency switch lets players choose the mid-frequency they want to boost – 325 hertz or 750 hertz. “That’s kind of the sweet spot for the mid-range frequencies that helps you dial in the tone and cut through in the mix,” Abbassi says.
Another important feature is the S-1™ switch. “None of the basses in Ultra I had an S-1™ switch; they had a small toggle switch that allowed you to go between active and passive,” explains Abbassi. This is different. Ultra II uses the S-1™ switch to switch between active and passive, which is faster and easier to use on the gig and cleans up the look of the bass. And since most players who buy Ultra play active most of the time, we made the up position of the S-1 active and the down position passive."
Finally, we added a passive tone control that works in both active and passive mode. “We had a lot of bass players saying ‘I love to use my passive tone control in active mode as well as passive mode’ so we made sure that was there. We also reconfigured the location of some of the controls so it was easier to access the most-used tones.”
Invalid Link Removed
Where it gets fun is if you boost the treble but use the passive tone to cut some of the highs. Kind of counter intuitive to boost the highs just to cut them, but you get a subtler treble boost that doesn't poke out so much.
Actually I stand corrected. I just measured the distance between the P bass pickup and 12th fret on my American Standard Precision Bass and compared it to an American Ultra Precision P bass pickup position, and the pickup is actually in a different position. On the Am Standard P-Bass, the distance between the E and A pickup is 10.5 inches from the 12th Fret, where as the American Ultra is closer to 10 inches from the 12th fret. This means that while close, a Fender PJ (not a P with a J added later, but a production PJ from Fender) P bass pickup will not sound the same as a standard position P Bass pickup. It will be close, but the Ultra one will have a more bass-y rounder sound and the standard ones will have more midrange grind. Who would of thought? Also, why do it this way?
D
I had the chance to try the Ultra II Precision bass yesterday.
The neck is amazing. It was properly set up with a very low action, which is very rare. We usually get to try Fenders with a very high action. Every note on it was easy to reach and easy to play. A real pleasure.
I usually dislike the feel of aluminium pickguard. This black one is different. It is so smooth it almost feel like plastic. Some would miss the rough mate feeling, but I prefer it smooth, although I am not sure I like the color.
The paint job is fantastic, it is one of those bass that looks much better in real life than in picture.
However, it does not sound amazing. I tried it through a Fender combo, and it was a bit sterile. No buzz or radio interferences so far, which is good, but a very hi fi sound, not what I expect from a Pbass. My Ultra JB’s neck pickup almost sound closer to a Pbass than the Ultra II Precision bass.
Also, while I like very much the idea of having a global tone knob that can be used both in active and passive mode, it needs a different capacitor .There must be a .22 pF in it because it leaves the highs too bright for me, even all the way down.
The J pickup does sound like a Jazz Bass bridge pickup. Nothing unusual here (although I am not a fan of PJ basses).
To sum up : very good feeling, incredibly comfortable, very low, but very hi fi sounding. Great if you want a hi fi, articulate PJ bass (which is not my case). Also, too expensive for an active bass (almost $3000 in Europe). For that price, you can get a better bass.
I could be wrong, but I think that :
-if you want a modern sounding hi fi Fender, you want to buy an Ultra.
-if you want a vintage sounding Fender, you want to pick an American Vintage.
-But if you’re in between, you want to take an American Pro.
That looks like the current lineup to me.
The neck is amazing. It was properly set up with a very low action, which is very rare. We usually get to try Fenders with a very high action. Every note on it was easy to reach and easy to play. A real pleasure.
I usually dislike the feel of aluminium pickguard. This black one is different. It is so smooth it almost feel like plastic. Some would miss the rough mate feeling, but I prefer it smooth, although I am not sure I like the color.
The paint job is fantastic, it is one of those bass that looks much better in real life than in picture.
However, it does not sound amazing. I tried it through a Fender combo, and it was a bit sterile. No buzz or radio interferences so far, which is good, but a very hi fi sound, not what I expect from a Pbass. My Ultra JB’s neck pickup almost sound closer to a Pbass than the Ultra II Precision bass.
Also, while I like very much the idea of having a global tone knob that can be used both in active and passive mode, it needs a different capacitor .There must be a .22 pF in it because it leaves the highs too bright for me, even all the way down.
The J pickup does sound like a Jazz Bass bridge pickup. Nothing unusual here (although I am not a fan of PJ basses).
To sum up : very good feeling, incredibly comfortable, very low, but very hi fi sounding. Great if you want a hi fi, articulate PJ bass (which is not my case). Also, too expensive for an active bass (almost $3000 in Europe). For that price, you can get a better bass.
I could be wrong, but I think that :
-if you want a modern sounding hi fi Fender, you want to buy an Ultra.
-if you want a vintage sounding Fender, you want to pick an American Vintage.
-But if you’re in between, you want to take an American Pro.
That looks like the current lineup to me.
The Ultra II P-Bass pickup is technically a half inch closer to the 12th fret than an American Standard/Pro. (Trust me, I measured both out of curiosity) It will have a slightly bassy-er rounder sound... But we're talking a very slight difference. EQ can split the difference, and the Ultra has onboard EQ, so it really doesn't make that much of a difference.
Made enough of a difference to bug me when playing, but makes absolutely no difference when I hear other people play them. My main objection is philosophical as there is absolutely no reason they couldn't put it in the correct position.
I totally agree about the position thing. Why can't they put it in the normal position and put the j pickup in the 60s position. BTW, I am converting my American Standard P into a Double P. I plan to put the bridge P pickup in reverse config but have the EA split in the 60s position. This way, I can still get the classic P Bass sound, and then also get a different type of bridge pickup sound than a J.
1) Just an opinion - I think they might be wise to the comb filtering of certain frequencies that occurs when you put a J bass pickup in the 60's position right next to a split-coil P pickup in its usual position, i.e. the sound on the D and G string tends to be very 'nasal' when running the bass with both pickups on because of the close proximity of the D&G portion of the split-coil and the J (and why reverse PJs sound much more balanced on the D and G when running both pickups). Moving the split-coil P pickup a little further toward the neck might be an attempt to circumvent this to a small extent.
2) Another opinion - a P pickup next to the bridge with a single coil in the usual spot sounds great. Listen to Doug Stegmeyer with Billy Joel. Doug played a late 60's Telecaster bass with a P split coil in the bridge on all those classic Billy Joel hits. Doug's tone was uniformly excellent, both live and in the studio.
Last edited:
What I like:
- 21 frets with a carved heel
- Something not a P or J (Meteora)!
What I wish they would do:
- Wheel truss rod adjustment.
Unlike others, I'm not going to gripe about an unpainted headstock-- I always thought a color-matched headstock looked weird on a classic style of bass that isn't Rickenbacker.
And for those griping about the price-- you've seen what Stingray Specials sell for nowadays, right?
- 21 frets with a carved heel
- Something not a P or J (Meteora)!
What I wish they would do:
- Wheel truss rod adjustment.
Unlike others, I'm not going to gripe about an unpainted headstock-- I always thought a color-matched headstock looked weird on a classic style of bass that isn't Rickenbacker.
And for those griping about the price-- you've seen what Stingray Specials sell for nowadays, right?
This is the same reason I'm hesitant to get a P with a PJ setup as I play behind the split coil, I feel the bridge pickup would get in my way.
Agreed with all of it. Painted headstocks feel over the top. I bought a special for what I paid for two US Fenders. I’m way more of a fan of the Fenders value.
View from distance.... no different the look between Ultra II P and Squier Affy PJ to most people.
Why FMIC doesn't give their Ultra II a shinny flake finish ?? Something possible make the bass has expensive look like what EB did !
I remember reading that to measure it correctly do it from the 12th fret to the center line of the pickup.
