For 2020, Fender’s flagship American Elite line has been superseded by a new series: American Ultra.Although American Elite instruments were only introduced to the catalogue at Winter NAMM 2016, at the launch of Fender’s Songs learning app in New York back in October, Fender CEO Andy Mooney explained that the company had streamlined its product lifecycle from seven to four years. What does this mean in practice? ...I like to use as few effects as possible and the paf with moderate gain gives me a great classic rock tone.. If you like the strat sound yet need a humbucker, go HSS. } background: url(https://guitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Fender-American-Ultra-Strat-Pickups-7@1400x1050.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; #tdi_175_36f .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 { They may have Fender’s golden era in their DNA, but these high-performance instruments have been built for contemporary players who want to make music on their own terms. They eliminate a tonne of hum and certainly as much noise as could be reasonably expected, without feeling strangled or synthetic. Both guitars have Bi-Flex truss-rods with access points behind their bone nuts – dispensing with the adjustment wheel that could be found at the end of Elite series fretboards. Leo would probably have approved – he was certainly not an individual keen on standing still. It certainly doesn’t seem to here. And before you sneer, let’s not pretend that the process of buying a guitar is anything like buying an oven or a refrigerator – an instrument you can’t stop looking at and never want to put down will likely be the wellspring for much more creativity than a stubborn, head-over-heart purchase based on specifications and price alone. The latest guitar news, reviews and features delivered to your inbox. background: url(https://guitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Fender-American-Ultra-Strat-Body-11@1400x1050.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; Unfortunately the used scene in my area hasn't looked to promising. When it comes to striking the right balance for American Ultra, Andy Mooney draws parallels with how a modern high-performance Porsche 911 retains the DNA of the designs first sketched out by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in 1959. #tdi_175_36f .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 { In a Strat, SSS absolutely. So far, so frictionless. There are plenty of D-profiles out there with flatter backs and fuller shoulders, but you soon forget about nomenclature and measurements once you start auditioning either of these guitars. } Guitar.com is the world’s leading authority and resource for all things guitar. }. Perhaps it’s because there’s no transition between finished and unfinished wood, but the Tele’s satin ’board edges have an even smoother feel than the Strat’s, and as a result the single-cut is the more addictive of the two guitars here. Does subtracting mass in this structurally important area have negative implications for tone? There’s a slight drop in punch when switching from full humbucking to single-coil mode, but it’s certainly not thin or anaemic. } Strat-Talk.com is an independent, member supported forum and is not affiliated with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS. Isn't the humming also eliminated with switch in 2 & 4 position on SSS? background: url(https://guitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Fender-American-Ultra-Strat-Pickups-6@1400x1050.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; #tdi_176_f35 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 { background: url(https://guitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Fender-American-Ultra-Strat-Knobs-10@1400x1050.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; #tdi_176_f35 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 { My budget will most likely be in the $400 - $650 range. The Ultra series features a sparkling range of new metallic finishes mixed with these heavily contoured bodies in mind, with several of the colours taking on slightly different hues depending on light conditions. The pedal is based around the searing tones of Tony Iommi. By checking the boxes you agree to receive the following from us via e-mail. Five years on from the King Of The Blues’ death in 2015, aged 89, a new movie featuring Wendell Pierce as BB is in the works. ... American Professional II Stratocaster® HSS. I just want to be well informed when I by my first electric guitar and strat. The August 2020 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now. Other body sculpting is as expected, with the Stratocaster featuring the plunging ribcage contour and forearm chamfer that Fender got so spectacularly right back in 1954. #tdi_177_f9e .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 { The December 2020 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! From teenage ‘indie’ beginnings, Johnny Marr has flourished into one of the finest guitar stylists in rock music. background: url(https://guitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Fender-American-Ultra-Tele-Headstock-17@1400x1050.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; The October 2020 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! 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Continuing our journey through the guitar styles of the legendary Three Kings, this time it’s the turn of Flying V-toting blue icon Albert. Experienced players tend to have rather visceral reactions to neck shapes but it’s important to remember that what initially feels inviting might not seem quite so comfortable an hour into a 90-minute live set… however, that’s probably a bigger discussion for another day. Flipping to the neck and middle pickups, we’re pleased to hear that ‘Hot’ doesn’t translate to over-cooked, and neither has the guitar been robbed of its dynamics. Removing our review guitars from their stackable moulded hard cases reveals that the asymmetric heel idea has been carried over from the Elite series, but now the heel tapers to approximately 13mm at its thinnest point under the neck plate. The September 2020 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! What’s less smart – if you are a leftie – is the lack of left-handed Ultra models at launch. Time to remind ourselves of just 20 of his countless great guitar moments. The Telecaster also gains a little huggability thanks to a substantial belly-cut of its own. “The idea of modifying the body shapes is not one that we take lightly,” he asserts. There really is no need to explain who Fender … Now there’s much less bulk between your fingertips and palm when executing bends at the 22nd fret on those extended fingerboards. In common with the Strat, the Telecaster boasts some additional party tricks under its hood. Also, if you leave the S-1 switch engaged and flip to position two on the five-way, you’ll find that familiar in-between tone beloved of funk players and Knopfler fans. if you are just switching from an acoustic, any strat is going to be easy to play. What is the diff in sound on HSS vs SSS? Fender has now gone through five generations of its Noiseless pickups but it regards the new Ultra Noiseless units as the best it has ever produced. In-house tone guru Tim Shaw has again bought his vast R&D experience to bear and there are two flavours on offer: the Ultra Noiseless Vintage – as sported by the Telecaster – and the Ultra Noiseless Hot, seen here in combination with a zebra-coil Ultra Double Tap humbucker on the HSS Strat. There’s also a sizeable scoop removed from behind each guitar’s treble cutaway, which further eases the ride. In our final part of our look at the stylings of the legendary Three Kings, we tackle the searing style of Freddie King. The most dangerous time of year for your wallets is here. And even after all that bending and grimacing, the strings almost always returned to pitch. Despite several vaccines on the horizon, is it still apocalypse right now for the UK live music industry?