Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS Electric Guitar, Ebony Fingerboard, Noble Blue

The Stratocaster has come in many forms over the years – but never quite like the Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS. This model, outfitted for the most dynamic playing and musicality imaginable, gets in the fast lane for players seeking a futuristic and forward-thinking instrument to match their musical visions.

This American Ultra II Strat HSS starts out easily with its iconic double-cutaway body shape. This body, formed from a pick of a select alder, is comfortable when carried and ergonomic for carrying from place to place. The specially-selected alder body is outfitted with Fender's Ultra sculpted body contours to give this Strat a truly aerodynamic and streamlined feel. Additionally, this American Ultra's finely sculpted neck heel gives even closer access to higher registers and frets for excellent playability.

This elite Fender model continues on to introduce a quartersawn maple neck into the equation wrapped in a silky, smooth Ultra Satin finish. Perfect for a seamless and comfortable touch in hand, this neck is effortlessly playable across the palm. This touch is enhanced by the maple's Modern D-shaped neck profile that fits solidly in hand while being effortlessly played from any position along its length. Totally, this neck plays with comfort and speed for the most discerning players.

Spanning this neck's length, another consideration for playability and comfort appears. This model's ebony fingerboard matches the quartersawn maple neck for an articulate playing experience. Twenty-two Medium Jumbo frets line this ebony for an familiar and easy feel across the fingertips. The playability on this board takes a step further with an American Ultra II series compound radius measurement. Spanning its length, this fingerboard measures at an – already speedy and modern – ten-inch radius and flattens further closer the body to fourteen inches. Luminlay side dots adorn the side of the ebony for a bright set of fret markers.

Onboard this Strat, Fender went ahead to load in two Ultra II Noiseless Hot Strat single-coil pickups and a Haymaker humbucking pickup. These electronics, summoning a distinctly classic Stratocaster sound with crystal clear cleans and heated snaps, play with a high-fidelity voice and without any unwanted hum. The combination of single-coil and humbucking tonality creates a colorful palette from which players can take. Fender's patented S-1 switching system lands on this model to split the Haymaker and work it into the single-coil configuration seamlessly. For fans of the iconic Stratocaster sound across time wanting a little something extra, this American Ultra II model delivers on everything that makes the name shine.

The hardware setup of this American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS is also something write home about. A Graph Tech TUSQ nut lands at the end of the ebony board and bridges the gap between the neck and headstock. Across this headstock, six Deluxe Cast/Sealed locking tuning machines appear to facilitate easy and stable string changes. The nut is met at the opposite end of the scale with a 2-Point American Ultra Synchronized tremolo bridge with polished stainless steel block saddles and a cold rolled steel block. Ensuring sturdy intonation while allowing expressive vibrato bends in playing, this bridge is a classic Strat feature optimized for modern players.

Players gunning for the latest and most advanced features from Fender need look no further than the American Ultra II series. As a group of instruments, they deliver totally on that desire for exciting and cutting-edge sound and specifications. Fans of the Fender Stratocaster can have it all with this exceptional piece.