Fender Am Ultra II Tele EB TXT

Fender Am Ultra II Tele EB TXT review

The Fender Am Ultra II Tele EB TXT brings familiar Telecaster construction together with a set of modern playing features. Its alder body, maple neck, ebony fingerboard, and pair of Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Tele single-coil pickups keep the design firmly in Tele territory. The Texas Tea finish gives this version a dark brown appearance. Fender lists it at $2,222, and the guitar has been available since October 2024.

The field reports point to a guitar that feels comfortable from the first time it is picked up. One player, after trying an earlier Ultra Tele, returned to buy the Ultra II and has played it for several months. The neck profile and sound were the main reasons for the purchase. Other owners describe the fit and finish positively, though one noted that the fret edges felt sharp and needed attention. That kind of setup issue is worth checking on the individual instrument rather than assuming every example will feel identical.

Neck and playing feel

The maple neck has a Modern D profile, with a 10-to-14-inch compound fingerboard radius. The radius is flatter toward the upper frets, a design intended to accommodate both comfortable fretting and bends across the neck. The 42.8 mm nut width, 648 mm scale, and 22 medium-jumbo frets give the guitar familiar full-scale Tele proportions. The ebony fingerboard has white, seven-millimeter pearloid dot inlays.

Owners repeatedly praise the neck's feel and access to the upper frets. One describes it as especially comfortable, while another says the guitar is easy to keep playing for long stretches. The satin finish was not a dramatic departure from that player's less expensive Fender, but the overall neck feel still rated highly. Ebony also feels different from rosewood, so players used to a rosewood fingerboard should try it in person if that distinction matters to them.

Quiet pickups and switching

The two Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Tele single-coil pickups are a central part of the guitar's appeal. A player tested an Ultra Tele through an ENGL Fireball 25 and expected substantial hum and squeal from the high-gain setup. Instead, the guitar produced fewer unwanted noises than that player's humbucker-equipped Chapman. With the Ultra II, the same player liked the combination of single-coil dynamics and a high-gain amplifier, while still hearing a recognizable Tele character in the thicker sound.

The controls consist of master volume with an S-1 switch, master tone, and a three-way pickup selector. One owner reports that the S-1 switch combines the pickups for a humbucker-like sound, but did not care for the result, describing it as less convincing than either a clear single-coil sound or a full humbucker. The ordinary three-way settings were more useful to that player. The switching gives the guitar an extra option, but its value depends on whether that combined sound suits your playing.

Hardware and construction

The alder body is paired with a bolt-on maple neck and a single-ply, silver-anodized aluminum pickguard. There is no tremolo. Instead, the guitar uses a six-saddle hardtail bridge with strings passing through the body and chrome-plated brass saddles. Closed Deluxe cast locking tuners, nickel-and-chrome hardware, and a Graph Tech TUSQ nut round out the hardware specification. The included Deluxe-shaped case is useful at this price; a separate gig bag is not included.

Players have praised the finish and general workmanship, with the Texas Tea color drawing particular attention. One owner also noted that the guitar arrived well set up, while another needed to smooth the fret edges before the guitar felt comfortable. Reports of tuning stability are positive, and one player uses heavier strings and a lower C-sharp tuning. Those are useful real-world observations, not a guarantee that every setup or string choice will work without adjustment.

Verdict

The Fender Am Ultra II Tele EB TXT makes a strong case for players who want Telecaster response without the usual single-coil noise. Its comfortable Modern D neck, compound-radius ebony fingerboard, locking tuners, and included case support its premium positioning. The high-gain reports are especially compelling: the pickups remain quiet in demanding amplifier setups while retaining a distinctive Tele sound and responsive playing feel.

At $2,222, it is a substantial purchase. The S-1 sound may not satisfy everyone, and fret-edge comfort can vary between instruments, so a hands-on check is sensible. Still, the owners who connect with its neck and pickup character describe it as a guitar they enjoy playing regularly. For a modern, hardtail Tele with quiet single coils and a Texas Tea finish, this is a well-equipped option worth trying.