Fender Am Ultra II Meteora EB UBST

Fender Am Ultra II Meteora EB UBST review

The Fender Am Ultra II Meteora EB UBST has a shape that tends to prompt an immediate reaction. Its offset outline looks unusual beside Fender's more familiar designs, and the Ultraburst finish pushes the modern-meets-retro character further. I like the combination. It stands apart without feeling like a novelty, and the finish gives the body a more familiar visual anchor.

There is a clear point of view here, both in the styling and in the controls. The Meteora is built in the United States and has an alder body, a bolt-on maple neck, and an ebony fingerboard. A shaped hardshell case is included. At a listed price of $2,299, it sits in a premium range, so the relevant question is whether its playability and sound justify choosing a less conventional Fender.

Build and playing feel

The Modern D neck profile feels immediately comfortable in the hand. Its shape supports relaxed movement along the neck, and the instrument feels easy to play rather than requiring an adjustment period. The 648 mm (25.5-inch) scale will also feel familiar to players accustomed to standard Fender scale length.

The ebony fingerboard has white pearloid dot inlays and 22 medium jumbo frets. Its compound radius transitions from 254 mm to 356 mm (10 to 14 inches), combining a more rounded feel near the nut with a flatter surface higher up. The 42.8 mm nut is made from Graph Tech TUSQ. Together, these details give the neck a polished, purposeful feel, though individual preferences for neck shape and fingerboard radius still matter.

The hardware follows the instrument's solid-body design. A six-saddle hardtail bridge anchors the strings through the body, with polished stainless steel block saddles. There is no tremolo. Fender supplies closed deluxe locking tuners, nickel-and-chrome hardware, and.009,.046 nickel-plated steel strings. The single-ply gold-anodized aluminum pickguard adds a distinct detail against the burst finish.

Pickup response and controls

Two Haymaker humbuckers provide the main voice. They have enough output to drive an overdrive or distortion pedal, but their character is more defined and incisive than the thicker response associated with a Gibson Les Paul. The sound has less weight in the low mids and a quicker attack. That makes individual notes easier to pick out, especially when playing a dense part or pushing into gain.

The three-way switch offers a particularly inspiring split setting in position two. In that configuration, the sound brings a Stratocaster-like midrange together with some of the bright, cutting quality associated with a Telecaster. It does not turn the Meteora into either of those guitars, but it gives the instrument a distinctly different color from its full-humbucker settings.

The controls include master volume, tone, and a Bass Cut control. That bass reduction has a more practical effect than a small tonal adjustment might suggest. It can tighten the low end and help a part stand forward in a mix, which is especially useful for a lead line. Treating it as a broad shaping tool rather than a cosmetic control makes the layout easier to appreciate. The available specifications do not list a separate treble-cut control.

Who should consider it?

The Meteora's strongest argument is its combination of an unusual silhouette and a genuinely flexible voice. The neck is comfortable, the hardtail bridge keeps the setup straightforward, and the humbuckers cover strong, focused sounds without defaulting to a thick or muddy character. The split position adds a useful contrast, while the Bass Cut gives players another way to manage the instrument in a band mix.

Its looks will not suit every player, and that is part of the choice. Anyone seeking a traditional Fender outline or a tremolo system should look elsewhere. Players who want a distinctive offset guitar with a comfortable neck and humbucker power will find more to like. The Meteora has a clear personality, and its best sounds come from using the pickup switch and Bass Cut as active parts of the performance rather than leaving the controls untouched.

• Body and neck: Alder body with a bolt-on maple neck.
• Fingerboard: Ebony, compound 10-to-14-inch radius, 22 medium jumbo frets.
• Electronics: Two Haymaker humbuckers, three-way switch, master volume, tone, and Bass Cut.
• Bridge: Six-saddle hardtail with strings through the body; no tremolo.
• Included: Deluxe shaped hardshell case.