Fender Ultra Luxe 60s Custom Tele LPB

Fender Ultra Luxe 60s Custom Tele LPB: Full Technical Test

The Fender Ultra Luxe 60s Custom Tele LPB sits at the intersection of vintage character and modern technical precision. With a price tag of $3,222 and American construction, this Telecaster aims to deliver on both collector appeal and professional performance demands. Here's how the instrument stands up on the bench.

Construction and Finish

The body is crafted from alder, a classic choice that retains tonal neutrality with a pronounced midrange. The maple neck uses a bolt-on construction, maintaining tradition and enhancing serviceability for future adjustments. Its heirloom nitrocellulose lacquer finish in Lake Placid Blue offers a thin, resonant coating, ideal for players who favor tone over heavy finishing. The fit and finish are top-tier, consistent with Fender's upper-tier American models. Even under close inspection, the fretwork is smooth, the binding is clean, and the hardware installation shows precise attention to detail.

Neck, Fingerboard, and Playability

Fender chose an augmented "D" neck profile for this variant, moving away from vintage slender shapes in favor of a more substantial grip that fills the palm without becoming cumbersome. The compound fingerboard radius, expanding from 10 inches at the nut to 14 inches at the upper register, enables a low, buzz-free action in cowboy chord territory and effortless bends higher up. The rosewood fingerboard comes adorned with clay dot inlays, which give a period-correct visual cue. The onboard 22 frets are medium jumbo stainless steel, providing durability and a smooth feel under the fingers; no gritty edges or leveling issues were apparent.

The nut width measures 1.685 inches, paired with a TUSQ synthetic nut. Out of the box, the nut slots accommodate the stock.009 gauge strings comfortably, though users shifting to.010 or.011 gauge may need minor reworking of the slots for perfect action, an oversight at this price point for those who routinely use heavier gauges. Sealed deluxe die-cast locking tuners round out the headstock, ensuring solid tuning stability and quick string changes.

Electronics and Hardware

The Ultra Luxe 60s Custom Tele LPB is equipped with two Pure Vintage 63 Tele single coil pickups. These reproduce the bright, spanky attack typical of early '60s Telecasters, with no unwelcome hum or microphonics present during testing. The electronics schematic offers a master volume fitted with Fender's S-1 switch (increasing tonal options) and a master tone control, routed through a standard three-way pickup selector.

The bridge is a six-saddle American Telecaster design, featuring chrome-plated brass saddles. This setup enables precise intonation across all six strings, a modern improvement over vintage three-saddle layouts. However, as detailed in field feedback, saddle height screws may protrude slightly above the saddle surface, potentially causing discomfort to the picking hand or palm. Minor adjustments or swapping in shorter screws can resolve this, but it's a detail to be aware of, especially for players who rest the palm on the bridge during muting or lead runs.

Sound and Feel

Tonally, the instrument delivers archetypal Telecaster chime along with more midrange warmth than you might expect. The combination of alder and rosewood produces a balanced response, with treble snap that never verges on harsh. Both bridge and neck positions are distinct and usable, the bridge is crisp and assertive for high-cutting lead work, while the neck pickup offers a rounded warmth perfect for comping or jazz. Engaging the S-1 switch re-voices the pickups to deliver series wiring, adding noticeable fullness and output without resorting to active or humbucking circuitry. The electronics are noiseless and free of dead spots, and all controls move with confident resistance.

Accessories and Finish Details

This model ships with a deluxe hardshell case, secure and travel-ready, but does not include a gig bag. Nickel and chrome hardware complement the Lake Placid Blue finish, and a 3-ply mint green pickguard completes the package with a subtle vintage flair.

Final Assessment

• Build quality is consistently excellent with meticulous fretwork and high-end appointments.
• The modern neck carve and compound radius offer premium playability across a range of styles.
• Pickups excel in providing classic Tele tones with expanded options via the S-1 switch.
• Minor hardware quibbles (nut slot width, saddle screw length) can require attention for certain playing setups but are easily remedied.
• Premium pricing is matched by construction values and included case, though some buyers might expect minor setup tailoring as standard service at this level.

The Fender Ultra Luxe 60s Custom Tele LPB is a guitar for players or collectors who want vintage-correct looks and feel with discreet, player-friendly updates. Outside of minor adjustment needs for heavier strings or personal hardware tweaks, it's a refined instrument likely to satisfy both stage and studio demands.