Fender Am Ultra II Strat HSS EB TXT

Fender Am Ultra II Strat HSS EB TXT review

The Fender Am Ultra II Strat HSS EB TXT is a U.S.-made electric guitar with an alder body, maple neck, ebony fingerboard, and an HSS pickup layout. It has a listed price of 2259, and has been available since October 2024. Fender includes a molded hard case. The guitar's specification sheet suggests a modern Strat-style setup, while owner feedback points to a more mixed experience with its appearance, pickups, and vibrato arm.

The finish is Texas Tea, described in the feedback as appearing nearly black in dim light and metallic brown in daylight. That shift may appeal to players who want a finish that changes with the room, but the reviewer disliked the brighter, browner appearance. The single-layer, silver-anodized aluminum pickguard earned a more favorable response. Finish preference is personal, though buyers should look at the guitar under different lighting before deciding. The feedback also notes disappointment with the available Ultra II colors, but that is a matter of taste rather than a specification issue.

Neck and fingerboard feel

The maple bolt-on neck has a Modern D profile and an ebony fingerboard with white dot inlays. Its compound radius runs from 10 to 14 inches, giving the fingerboard a tighter curve near the nut and a flatter feel toward the upper frets. Fender lists 22 medium-jumbo frets, a 25.5-inch scale, and a 1.685-inch nut width. A Graph Tech TUSQ nut completes the setup.

The owner's strongest praise is for the neck, which they describe as very good and a clear improvement over a Player II Modified model. That is a direct personal comparison, not a universal measure of playability, but it identifies the neck as the guitar's most convincing feature in the field report. Players who prioritize a comfortable, contemporary neck have concrete specifications to assess here, particularly the Modern D shape and changing fingerboard radius.

HSS pickup configuration

The pickup set pairs a Haymaker humbucker at the bridge with two Ultra II Noiseless Hot Strat pickups in the middle and neck positions. Controls include a master volume with an S-1 switch, two tone controls, and a five-way selector. The listing does not detail every switching combination, so buyers should check Fender's documentation if a particular wiring option is essential to their setup.

The owner was not impressed by the pickup response, saying the single-coil positions did not sound like traditional single coils. They also found the bridge humbucker unclear and considered its split sound only acceptable. Those comments reflect one player's taste and rig, but they matter because pickup character is central to choosing an HSS guitar. Players seeking a familiar, open single-coil sound or a particularly defined bridge humbucker may want to try this model before buying. The feedback suggests that replacing the pickups could be part of this owner's plan, which would add cost and make the stock electronics less compelling for them.

Tremolo, hardware, and included case

The guitar uses a two-point American Ultra synchronized tremolo with a cold-rolled steel block and polished stainless-steel block string saddles. It has nickel-and-chrome hardware, sealed deluxe tuning machines, and Fender USA 250L nickel-plated steel strings in.009 to.042 gauge. The owner reported that the vibrato arm would not stay in place. That is a practical concern on a guitar at this price, especially for players who use the arm regularly. The available feedback does not establish whether the issue was specific to this instrument or its setup, so check arm fit and operation on the individual guitar.

A molded hard case is included, while the listing also confirms U.S. Manufacture. The body is alder, with no separate top listed. The item number is 595876, and the sales unit is one guitar. These details round out a specification sheet that is otherwise focused on a familiar Strat-style body and a more contemporary neck and tremolo arrangement.

Verdict

The Fender Am Ultra II Strat HSS EB TXT has a strong neck specification and received clear praise for neck feel from its owner. Its Texas Tea finish and silver pickguard will divide opinions, while the HSS electronics drew notably negative comments about both the single-coil character and bridge humbucker. The reported loose-fitting vibrato arm is another point to inspect in person. At a listed price of 2259, this is a guitar worth trying before purchase, especially if stock pickup tone or reliable arm fit is high on your checklist. Its neck may be the main draw, but the finish and electronics should suit your preferences before you commit.