Fender Am Ultra II Strat MN AVL

Fender Am Ultra II Strat MN AVL review

The Fender Am Ultra II Strat MN AVL is an American-made Stratocaster with an alder body, a maple neck, three noiseless single-coil pickups, and a two-point synchronized tremolo. It has 22 medium jumbo frets and a 25.5-inch scale. The supplied specifications list a price of 2,222, availability from October 2024, and item number 595795. A molded Deluxe case is included.

There is a discrepancy in the supplied specification data: one section identifies the fingerboard as maple, while another lists ebony. The second section also describes black pearloid dot inlays. The color appears as both white and Avalanche in the data. Since those details do not agree, confirm the exact finish and fingerboard with the retailer before ordering. The model name includes "MN," but that alone does not resolve the conflicting fingerboard information.

Construction and playing feel

The listed body wood is alder, and the bolt-on neck is maple. Fender specifies a Modern D neck profile, a compound fingerboard radius that changes from 10 to 14 inches, and a 1.685-inch nut width. The 25.5-inch scale is a familiar Stratocaster dimension, while the changing radius is intended to provide a rounder feel near the nut and a flatter playing surface higher up the neck. That shape can suit both chord work and lead playing, though individual comfort depends on hand size and technique.

One owner report describes the workmanship as excellent, the setup as well adjusted, and playability as very good. The same player found the controls easier to grip than those on an earlier Strat and reported better tuning stability. Those are useful impressions from actual use, but they remain one player's experience rather than a measurement of every instrument. The guitar's Graph Tech TUSQ nut and locking tuners are relevant parts of the tuning setup, alongside the player's stringing and tremolo technique.

Pickups and controls

The pickup set consists of three Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat single coils in an SSS layout. The control arrangement includes a master volume with an S-1 switch, two tone controls, and a five-way pickup selector. The S-1 switch adds another switching option to the standard selector setup. The owner feedback specifically notes that engaging it provides additional tonal variations, although the supplied information does not detail the exact combinations available.

The noiseless design is intended to reduce the hum commonly associated with traditional single-coil pickups. It keeps the familiar three-pickup format while addressing a practical concern for players using higher-gain settings or recording in electrically noisy spaces. No listening test or measured noise comparison was provided, so this review cannot quantify the reduction or describe a definitive tonal difference. The reported overall sound was very good, and the extra S-1 options were a welcome part of the experience.

Tremolo and hardware

Fender lists a two-point American Ultra synchronized tremolo with a cold-rolled steel block and polished stainless steel block string saddles. The design uses two pivot points rather than the six screws found on many traditional synchronized bridges. The locking tuners and tremolo form a practical setup for players who use the arm, but tuning results still depend on setup, string installation, and how the bridge is adjusted.

The hardware has a nickel and chrome finish. The guitar comes strung with Fender USA 250L nickel-plated steel strings in.009 to.042 gauges. A single-ply silver-anodized aluminum pickguard completes the listed hardware details. These specifications describe the supplied configuration; they do not establish how the instrument will respond to different string gauges or personal setup changes.

Case and value

The package includes a Deluxe molded case, and the owner feedback describes the case as high quality. That gives the instrument a fitted transport option straight out of the box. The reported price is 2,222, and the owner considered the value acceptable. That judgment is subjective, but it fits the combination of American manufacture, locking tuners, noiseless pickups, the S-1 control, and included case described in the supplied data.

Verdict

The Fender Am Ultra II Strat MN AVL has a familiar Stratocaster foundation with modern hardware and added switching flexibility. The reported setup, playing feel, sound, and tuning stability are positive, while the specifications point to a compound-radius neck, locking tuners, and a two-point tremolo. The main detail to verify before buying is the conflicting fingerboard and color information. Once those are confirmed for the exact instrument, the listed features and owner feedback make this a considered option for players seeking an American-made Stratocaster with quiet single coils and a molded case.