Fender Am Ultra II Strat MN SRD

Fender Am Ultra II Strat MN SRD review

The Fender Am Ultra II Strat MN SRD is an American-made Stratocaster finished in Sinister Red, with an alder body, maple neck, and maple fingerboard. It has three Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat single-coil pickups, a two-point synchronized tremolo, and 22 medium-jumbo frets. Fender lists the model as available since October 2024. A deluxe molded case is included.

The specification sheet describes a familiar Strat layout, with details aimed at players who want a modern neck and tremolo system alongside the traditional three-pickup arrangement. The feedback supplied for this review is notably positive about the sound and feel, though it also records an initial setup problem that was resolved by exchanging the guitar.

Neck, fingerboard, and setup

The bolt-on maple neck has a Modern D profile and a 648 mm (25.5-inch) scale. Its compound-radius fingerboard transitions from 254 mm (10 inches) to 356 mm (14 inches). The nut is Graph Tech TUSQ, and the black pearloid dot inlays sit against the maple fingerboard. Fender specifies a nut width of 42.8 mm (1.685 inches) and 22 medium-jumbo frets.

The owner's account makes setup quality an important part of the picture. Their first guitar arrived with unsatisfactory neck relief, and the truss rod could not be adjusted because its adjustment nut appeared to have been damaged previously. The guitar was returned. A replacement with a different serial number arrived properly set up and without reported defects. The owner also received documentation of the replacement's setup.

That experience does not establish a widespread manufacturing issue, but it is a useful reminder to check neck relief and confirm that the truss rod functions when inspecting an individual instrument. The replacement's action and overall playability earned strong praise. The owner described the string height as particularly satisfying and found the guitar comfortable to play.

Pickups and controls

Three Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat single-coil pickups provide the SSS configuration. Controls consist of a master volume with an S-1 switch, two tone controls, and a five-way pickup selector. The owner liked the noiseless pickups and reported that the bridge pickup had ample output. In their experience, it provided enough drive that they did not miss having a large humbucker in the bridge position.

That is a personal tonal assessment rather than a measured comparison, but it points to the guitar's appeal for players who want a Strat-style pickup layout without giving up a forceful bridge sound. The owner described the overall tone as matching expectations and singled out the instrument's sound as one of its strengths. The available feedback does not detail specific amplifier settings or genres, so players should judge the pickup voicing with their own rig.

Tremolo and hardware

The two-point American Ultra synchronized tremolo uses a cold-rolled steel block and polished stainless-steel block string saddles. The guitar also has sealed deluxe locking tuners, nickel and chrome hardware, and a single-ply black aluminum pickguard. Fender supplies it with.009-.042 nickel-plated steel strings.

One small point caused confusion for the owner: the tremolo arm installation was not explained in the information they received. The arm presses into the sustain block and clicks into place. It is not installed by screwing it in or fastening it with a set screw. The owner says the retailer's staff resolved the question. Buyers new to this style of arm may appreciate having that detail clarified before their first setup.

Build, finish, and value considerations

The body is alder, with no separate top listed. Sinister Red gives the guitar its distinctive appearance, while the black pickguard and black fingerboard inlays provide contrast. The supplied account describes the replacement instrument as very well finished and free of defects. That assessment applies to the owner's replacement, not necessarily to every example, especially given the condition of the first guitar they received.

The listed price is 2222, though the supplied information does not specify a currency. The included molded case adds practical protection for storage and transport. Before buying, confirm the exact price and local terms, then inspect the neck adjustment, action, tremolo arm, and finish in person if possible.

Verdict

The Fender Am Ultra II Strat MN SRD combines a maple Modern D neck, compound-radius fingerboard, locking tuners, and a two-point tremolo with a three-noiseless-pickup Strat circuit. The owner's replacement guitar delivered the setup, sound, and playability they wanted, with particular praise for its action, bridge pickup, and noiseless pickups. The first example's truss-rod issue is a reason to check the individual instrument carefully. For players seeking an American-made Strat with modern hardware and a strong bridge single-coil sound, this model has a persuasive set of features, provided the setup checks out.