Fender Am Ultra II Strat EB UBST

Fender Am Ultra II Strat EB UBST review

The Fender Am Ultra II Strat EB UBST is an American-made Stratocaster with an alder body, maple neck, ebony fingerboard, and three Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat single-coil pickups. It has a listed price of 2111 and has been available since October 2024. The specification sheet points to a modern take on familiar Strat features, while owner feedback highlights an important point for buyers: reported fretwork quality is not consistent.

This model comes in Ultraburst, with a single-ply gold-anodized aluminum pickguard and nickel-and-chrome hardware. A molded Deluxe case is included. The body has no top, and the 648 mm scale is the standard 25.5-inch length. Its maple bolt-on neck has a Modern D profile, and the ebony fingerboard carries white, 7 mm pearloid dot inlays.

Neck and hardware

The compound fingerboard radius transitions from 10 to 14 inches, or 254 to 356 mm. That design gives the fingerboard a more curved feel near the nut and a flatter playing surface higher up the neck. The nut is 42.8 mm wide and made from Graph Tech TUSQ. Fender fits 22 medium-jumbo frets.

One owner who had played the guitar for more than a month described its neck as thin and comfortable for smaller hands. They also liked the compound radius for their playing style, though they found the guitar somewhat heavier than preferred. That is useful personal feedback, not a measurement of the instrument's weight, which is not listed in the supplied specifications.

The bridge is a two-point American Ultra synchronized tremolo with a cold-rolled steel block and polished stainless-steel block string saddles. Closed Deluxe locking tuners complete the hardware setup. The guitar ships with Fender USA 250L nickel-plated steel strings, gauged.009 to.042.

Pickups and controls

The three Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat pickups are designed to deliver a single-coil-style sound while reducing unwanted noise. Controls include one master volume with an S-1 switch, two tone controls, and a five-way pickup selector.

Owner comments are particularly positive about the noise performance. One reviewer called the pickups completely quiet and praised the guitar's clean tones and ability to handle funk parts. They also reported good results for lead playing with added distortion and delay or reverb. Another owner said the pickups sounded close to traditional single coils. These accounts suggest that the set aims to retain a familiar Strat character while addressing hum, though descriptions of tone remain subjective.

Fretwork concerns

The clearest caution in the available feedback concerns fret ends and fret height. One buyer reported that the fret edges protruded noticeably along the sides and that a few frets sat high. They said the setup required unusually high string action to avoid buzzing and dead notes, measuring more than 2.25 mm at the sixth string in their case. That buyer returned the instrument and considered professional fretwork necessary.

A French-language review raised a similar concern, describing protruding fret edges and saying a luthier's work would be required. The reviewer associated the issue with a 2024 production batch, but the comments provided do not establish that this is a confirmed batch-wide defect. Another owner reported receiving a flawless example with no engineering or quality-control issues. The difference between these experiences makes a hands-on inspection and careful setup check worthwhile, particularly at this price.

Verdict

The Am Ultra II Strat EB UBST has an appealing specification for players seeking a classic single-coil-style sound, reduced pickup noise, a locking-tuner setup, and a compound-radius ebony fingerboard. Reported playing impressions praise its neck comfort and versatility across clean, funk, and driven lead sounds. The included molded case adds practical value.

Fretwork is the deciding caveat. Some owners describe excellent construction, while others report protruding fret ends and uneven frets serious enough to return the guitar. Those accounts do not prove every example has the problem, but they make inspection essential. Check the fret edges, confirm that the frets are level, and test the guitar at the string action you expect to use before accepting it. Buyers who receive a well-finished example may find a strong, versatile Stratocaster; anyone facing the reported fret issues should factor in a return or professional setup.