Fender American Ultra II Telecaster Maple Fingerboard Electric Guitar Sinister Red
Fender's Ultra II Telecaster is a radical playability upgrade with a 10"-14" compound radius and Ultra Noiseless Vintage pickups. Guitar World called it "a guitar so playable that you might need to put the brakes on yourself," awarding it 4.5/5 for modernizing the Tele without losing its soul.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Guitar World 4.5/5 review praised the radical playability improvements and "high-fidelity, EQ'd quality" of the Noiseless pickups
- +Compound 10"-14" radius fingerboard offers vintage feel at the nut and modern shred capability up high
- +Ultra Noiseless Vintage Telecaster pickups eliminate hum while delivering authentic Tele tone
- +S-1 switch runs both pickups in series for a fat humbucker-like tone not available on standard Teles
- +Luminlay glow-in-the-dark side dots, locking tuners, and ultra-rolled fingerboard edges add modern player comforts
Cons
- −Zero community reviews means no real-world user validation at the $2,300 price point
- −Noiseless pickups polarize players—some find them sterile compared to traditional single coils
- −At $2,299 you're in the same territory as Suhr Classic T and other boutique Tele alternatives
- −S-1 switch functionality requires remembering series mode is engaged—can be confusing mid-set
The Verdict
Fender took the Telecaster and asked “what if we made it play like a modern guitar?” and the answer is this. The 90 EJ Score is critic-only since there are no community reviews, but Guitar World’s assessment is dead-on: the playability is ridiculously good. That compound radius makes barre chords and lead work equally comfortable. The Noiseless pickups will divide the room—they’re not vintage-accurate, but they’re articulate and silent. If you’re a working player tired of hum and want a Tele that feels like it was built in 2026, this is your axe. Traditional Tele purists should look elsewhere.
