Fender American Ultra Luxe Vintage Series: The Full Story
Have you seen these new Fender American Ultra Luxe Vintage guitars yet?
If not, then pull up a pew, because I’m going to be checking them out right here. I’ll tell you what they are, what they are not, and why they might just be the perfect Fender for you!
Contents
What is Different About the Ultra Luxe Range?
Which Ultra Luxe Vintage Models are Available?
Who is the Fender Ultra Luxe Vintage Range For?
Fender Ultra & Ultra Luxe
Now, is that Ultra-Luxe term familiar to you? If you are a Fender aficionado, then I’m sure it will be. It goes like this…
Fender released the Ultra range as a contemporary take on their American-made Professional range. These Ultras were souped up for performance and had slightly more special finishes to match the modern tweaks.
The Ultra Luxe range followed that. It’s a deeper dive into modernity, with things like Floyd Rose tremolos and what have you. These were slightly more niche, for the Fender player who wanted a boutique vibe, but not necessarily a retro/traditional one.
Now we have the Ultra Luxe Vintage series. What’s going on here? Let me explain…
Fender Ultra Luxe Vintage
In an effort to offer every possible permutation of Strat, Tele P-Bass etc to musicians, Fender are expanding, deepening and doubling down. This new set of guitars and basses is the perfect example.
If you like the idea of a traditional looking Fender with performance features (I’ll get to those in a sec) so you opt for an Ultra. The Ultras end up looking slightly too modern for you - you love classic Fender finishes, for one thing - so you are the perfect candidate for the Ultra Luxe Vintage. These instruments have more of the ‘vintage’ side of things mixed into the recipe, with traditional Seafoam Green, Dakota Red and so on showing up on various models.
So, what’s different?
What is Different About the Ultra Luxe Range?
As mentioned, the Fender Ultra Luxe Series is designed for the player who seeks contemporary specs and functions, but who still want their Fenders to look largely like those from the golden era. I’ll go through the models in a moment, but here are some features that are relative to the entire series…
- Heirloom lacquer finish: nitrocellulose, like the good old days.
- Quartersawn neck: timber is cut at an angle to form a stronger piece of neck wood.
- Modern D neck profile: comfortably contemporary.
- 10-14” compound radius fingerboard: the fretboard flattens out the higher up it goes.
- Medium jumbo frets made with stainless steel: virtually won’t wear out ever!
- Luminlay side dots: position markers on the side of the neck that glow in the dark.
- Graphtech TUSQ nut: super popular aftermarket nut mod.
- Tapered neck heel: better access to upper frets.
- Locking tuners: quicker string changes, smoother and more precise tuning.
- S1 switch: each model has extra pickup selection choices available via the S1 push-push.
Pure Vintage Fender pickups: genuinely great sounding pickups, in the traditional way i.e. not noiseless units.
On top of that, certain models have other specs, such as the Strats having a more modern 2-point tremolo over an older 6-point design. This makes the unit feel smoother in use, and is a little better at staying in tune. They also have stainless steel saddles (better contact, won’t wear out as quickly) and a steel inner block for strength and better signal transference.
These are all excellent features for the modern guitarist, and most of them are ‘invisible’ in the sense that they don’t interfere with the classic looks of these iconic Fenders.
Which Ultra Luxe Vintage Models are Available?
The Fender Ultra Luxe Vintage Series contains a good selection of souped-up vintage classics. Here’s the rundown…
- Ultra Luxe Vintage 50s Telecaster
- Ultra Luxe VIntage 60s Telecaster Custom
- Ultra Luxe Vintage 50s Stratocaster
- Ultra Luxe Vintage 60s Stratocaster
- Ultra Luxe Vintage 60s Stratocaster HSS
Each model has its own era-specific choice of finishes. For example, the 60s Strat can be had in Dakota Red, and the 60s Tele Custom has an option for Lake Placid Blue. Every guitar is finished in what Fender are calling ‘heirloom’ lacquer. This is worth shouting about, because not only is the finish nitrocellulose, but it’s aged and cracked nitro, like a light relic job! It’s subtle and gorgeous, and makes a real difference to the look and tactility of the range.
Who is the Fender Ultra Luxe Vintage Range For?
So, who are Fender aiming this new series at? I’d say that the primary target here are players who are shopping in the Suhr and Tyler market. They are priced below Fender Custom Shop, and above the likes of Charvel, but all players in these wheelhouses will be interested.
Naturally, players who are in the market for an American Fender will be adding the Ultra Luxe Vintage series to their shopping list. Whilst those looking for a retro Fender experience may be better served with the American Vintage II range, I’d still say to check these guitars out. The nitro lacquer is an important part of the overall vibe and aesthetic, and you might just find yourself preferring some of the range’s player-friendly upgrades.
These are handsome looking guitars with a great feel, and excellent sounds. Fender have struck that fine balance between vintage and modern that often proves difficult to land on for many brands. With one of these, you’ll be able to tackle any style of music, with an American-made guitar that keeps up, makes you sound and look great. What’s not to love?
Click to View the Fender Ultra Luxe Vintage Series
