• 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 Series - ???

#41
Is this the fender ultra griping thread?

Mind if I join in. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm sure they're good basses fundamentally, but if I were interested in a "production model priced just below the custom shop" model brand new, I honestly would be frustrated too. At that level of price I'd expect a plethora of finish options, also -asymmetrical neck. I could care less about a truss rod in a graphite reinforced neck made of well-seasoned woods that I haven't had to adjust after four years in my American deluxe Jazz V. But I'd love to see a neck more tailored in such a fashion as to be a bit more comfortable as opposed to the usual C or D shape. More finish options would be cool I guess. I didn't have any problems with the preamp designs, but the old noiseless pickups were kinda gutless. Might be good that they changed those in either case.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DrMole, skaine and DanGroove
#42
makanudo said:
How long were the Elite out for? I feel like this is a dirty play on people who bought one of the Elites and now have a discontinued model like 1 or 2 years later.
Click to expand...
oldrocker said:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...a-jazz-bass-cobra-blue-with-maple-fingerboard
Click to expand...

lol. Guess it’s everywhere BUT the Fender site. That Texas Tea isn’t on there either.
In the end it doesn’t matter. Fender lost my business when I put my Elite Jazz in the shop to have the preamp replaced in June and at the end of September they still had not shipped out the part. I ended up putting a john East in it and let Fender know they have lost the business of a 24 year customer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gerrywarwick and oldrocker
#47
Just thinking they should offer the P in a P configuration not a P/J; because that’s not a P.
And as was mentioned before for that price there are many great builders that could build you want you want for that price.
 
#49
In my opinion for the marketting benefits, they are trying (forcing) themselves to invent features that are not essential. Ultra Fender, Mega Fender, Fender with Strawberry flavor, Fender that can be transform in to a robot, whats next. Come on..

Instead if they keep the things that most people love and make improvements only if they are mandotary (with better price segments and better QC of course) they can multiply their sales. Normally quality is always over quantity, now its just opposite with Fender.

For the second time in my life i bought a brand new Fender (which i put to sale) and it was a big fail, lesson taken. Never again.

If i can have the opportunity in the future, i can only buy a used Roadworn, Highyway one or AVRI in a good condition, which are really rare in my country.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pbassmanca
#51
XPlus-Tiga-Sun-Big.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lobstermen23, keithbroussard, gerrywarwick and 6 others
#52
I liked the Elites and I liked a lot of the versions of their Deluxe basses. It looks they've also added rosewood back and changed the radius and heel shape as the big changes, but renaming them seems silly (considering the first Deluxes were VERY different from when they discontinued those names 17 years later.) I do HATE the colors, especially since the Elite color options were pretty awesome. Fender has been making a pretty playable instrument for a while (yes, there are a lot of exceptions), but I wish they'd make something that wasn't good in spite of itself. I'm not going to discover they are best playing and sounding basses if I don't want to pick them up!
 
#53
I find it interesting that people are complaining about the truss wheel being removed. Yes, technically speaking the truss rod adjustment wheel is no longer on the bass but you can still adjust the truss rod at the heel with a standard hex key (provided by Fender with purchase of the bass but also easily obtainable in most hardware stores). I have an EBMM Sterling and an American Pro Jazz, and I actually much prefer the truss adjustment of the Jazz bass.

Anyways, it does look like a nice instrument that competes with others in the same price range. I won't buy one, as I have no need. Still looks nice, though.
 
#55
707GK said:
I find it interesting that people are complaining about the truss wheel being removed. Yes, technically speaking the truss rod adjustment wheel is no longer on the bass but you can still adjust the truss rod at the heel with a standard hex key (provided by Fender with purchase of the bass but also easily obtainable in most hardware stores). I have an EBMM Sterling and an American Pro Jazz, and I actually much prefer the truss adjustment of the Jazz bass.

Anyways, it does look like a nice instrument that competes with others in the same price range. I won't buy one, as I have no need. Still looks nice, though.
Click to expand...

I am fond of the truss wheel. I had an early 2000 AM Standard Jazz with the heel adjustment. As designed the wrench actually had to enter at about a 30 angle to the rod to engage the nut, which necessitated a ball end hex wrench, which would then slip more than it grabbed when trying to adjust (especially the cheap factory provided one). I had to remove the neck to adjust the truss rod in spite of it being "accessible".
 
  • Like
Reactions: lizardking837, SirMjac28, bassrique and 1 other person
#56
DanGroove said:
lol. Guess it’s everywhere BUT the Fender site. That Texas Tea isn’t on there either.
In the end it doesn’t matter. Fender lost my business when I put my Elite Jazz in the shop to have the preamp replaced in June and at the end of September they still had not shipped out the part. I ended up putting a john East in it and let Fender know they have lost the business of a 24 year customer.
Click to expand...

I dont know why (marketing perhaps, cheap component, expensive price, big money), they use cheap and incapable electronics for that price on Deluxe/Elite basses. I used to have an American Deluxe and had to change the inorganic sounding noiseless pickups and i also put John East retro deluxe which was a huge improvement. The name of the brand sells the product not the quality, also inconsistency of the products also a big deal breaker.
 
#59
phillipkregg said:
After seeing the color options, I’ll be keeping my Elite in this killer finish:

nc_oc=AQl6r5AntsqSAms3KRky_VDlwZR64adHv6srBb0tp6-DvTzfOSIS-_O8juMieozQAws&_nc_ht=scontent-msp1-1.jpg



One of Fender's strengths is their ability to make good metallic finishes.

It's a shame they didn't introduce any with this new series.
Click to expand...

I like that one. I wish I could trade out my natural finish Elite jazz V for that one or the limited edition Seafoam Green one Guitar Center has with painted to match headstock.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowdownthump and lizardking837
#60
These don't seem like much, if any upgrade over the Elites, and I'm not very interested in the basses. They're excellent, but not my thing.

If, however, the new Ultra Noiseless Strat pickups sound like the real deal, I could be interested in an Ultra HSS. I love the feel of the Elite Strat, but not the pickups, and I sometimes wonder why Fender didn't just stay with Lace Sensors for their premium line. Real single coils, with (almost) no hum, and great tone. What was the problem? I haven't heard a Fender "noiseless" Strat pickup that sounds nearly as good as my Lace Hot Golds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MattZilla

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back