Fender American Ultra II Telecaster, Solar Flare (Open-Box) Electric Guitar

Quick Product Summary

The Fender American Ultra II Telecaster in Solar Flare takes the unmistakable Telecaster formula and pushes it firmly into modern professional territory, combining premium USA construction with advanced electronics, refined ergonomics and a fast, contemporary neck.

This Solar Flare version pairs a select alder body with a quartersawn maple Modern “D” neck and ebony fingerboard. Its 10"–14" compound radius, Ultra rolled fingerboard edges, medium-jumbo frets and Luminlay side dots create a playing surface designed for comfortable rhythm work, wide bends and effortless upper-register playing.

A pair of Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Tele pickups retain the clarity, snap and direct response associated with a Telecaster while dramatically reducing unwanted single-coil hum. Fender's S-1 switching then adds a series-wiring option for a thicker, more powerful alternative to the traditional Tele pickup combinations.

Offered here as an Open Box example, this is a superb choice for professional gigging, studio work and players looking for traditional Telecaster identity with considerably more modern playability and versatility.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Fender
Series	American Ultra II
Model	Telecaster
Finish	Solar Flare
Condition	Open Box
Body	Select Alder
Fingerboard	Ebony
Neck Profile	Modern “D”
Fingerboard Radius	10"–14" Compound
Scale Length	25.5"
Pickups	2 x Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Tele
Special Electronics	S-1 Series Switching
Bridge	6-Saddle String-Through Hardtail
Main Appeal	Premium modern Tele playability with low-noise vintage-inspired tones
Best For	Professional gigging, recording, rock, blues, country, pop, indie and session work

Open Box Condition Report

Condition: Open Box

This Fender American Ultra II Telecaster is offered as an Open Box instrument.

The only issue supplied for this example is some visible glue residue around some of the frets.

No other specific cosmetic faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing.

For additional reassurance on this premium Open Box instrument, you are also welcome to request a video demo from our team.

What's Included?

• Fender American Ultra II Telecaster in Solar Flare

• ✘ No additional individual Open Box accessories have been confirmed for this listing

Factory Package Note

Fender's standard factory specification for this model includes a Deluxe Molded Case, .050" saddle-height wrench and 1/8" truss-rod wrench.

As this is an individual Open Box example, these items have not been listed as included above without confirmation that they remain with this specific guitar.

Condition Notes

There is glue residue visible around some of the frets,

No other condition issues have been supplied.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

Before leaving Fair Deal Music, this American Ultra II Telecaster will be checked by our team for correct mechanical and electronic operation.

Our electric guitar assessment includes:

• Neck and fret condition

• Tuning machine operation

• Nut and string path

• Bridge and saddle function

• Pickup output

• Three-position selector

• S-1 switching

• Master volume and tone controls

• Output socket

• General setup and playability

Particular attention will also be paid to the fretboard and fret area as part of the overall assessment.

Service / Setup Work

This Fender American Ultra II Telecaster will be checked and set up before leaving the shop.

The neck relief, action, intonation and general playability will be assessed as part of our preparation process.

As with any electric guitar, setup can shift slightly during transportation because of changes in temperature and humidity. Allowing the guitar to acclimatise after delivery before making further adjustments is recommended.

Why Choose The Fender American Ultra II Telecaster?

Modern “D” Quartersawn Maple Neck

The quartersawn maple neck uses Fender's Modern “D” profile, creating a slim playing feel with enough shoulder to remain substantial in the hand. The Ultra Satin finish keeps the back of the neck smooth and fast.

10"–14" Compound-Radius Ebony Fingerboard

The ebony fingerboard starts at a comfortable 10-inch radius near the nut and progressively flattens to 14 inches towards the upper frets.

This combination works particularly well for players who move regularly between chord work and lead playing, giving lower positions a natural feel while providing extra room for wide bends higher up the neck.

Ultra Rolled Fingerboard Edges

Fender's Ultra rolled edges give the neck a smoother, more played-in feel than a sharply finished fingerboard edge.

Combined with the compound radius and medium-jumbo frets, this is one of the main reasons the American Ultra II feels noticeably different from more traditional Telecaster models.

Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Tele Pickups

The two Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Tele pickups are designed to retain the snap, clarity and direct response players expect from a Telecaster while greatly reducing unwanted mains hum.

That makes the guitar particularly useful for recording, professional stages and pedalboard-heavy rigs.

S-1 Series Switching

Pressing the S-1 switch engages a series wiring mode, giving you a fuller and stronger sound than the normal parallel Telecaster pickup combination.

It adds useful extra weight for driven rhythm work and lead tones without cluttering the guitar with additional visible switches.

Six-Saddle Brass-Saddle Bridge

The string-through-body bridge uses six individually adjustable chromed brass saddles, allowing precise control over action and intonation while retaining the straightforward stability of a hardtail Telecaster.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Fender American Ultra II Telecaster vs American Professional II Telecaster

The American Professional II Telecaster keeps closer to traditional passive Telecaster simplicity while adding professional neck and hardware refinements. The Ultra II goes further with a compound-radius fingerboard, noiseless pickups, locking tuners, sculpted contours and S-1 series switching. Choose the Professional II for premium traditional simplicity; choose the Ultra II when modern performance features are a priority.

Fender American Ultra II Telecaster vs Player II Modified Telecaster

The Player II Modified Telecaster offers noiseless pickups, locking tuners and expanded electronics at a more accessible level. The American Ultra II steps up with premium USA construction, quartersawn maple, compound-radius ebony fingerboard, Ultra rolled edges, Luminlay markers and more extensively sculpted ergonomics.

Fender American Ultra II Telecaster vs American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster

The American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster represents almost the opposite Fender philosophy, focusing on vintage-radius geometry, period hardware and traditional single-coil response. Choose the American Vintage II for a historically inspired experience; choose the Ultra II for contemporary neck feel, low-noise electronics and modern hardware.

Fender American Ultra II Telecaster vs American Ultra II Stratocaster

The American Ultra II Stratocaster offers three pickups and a two-point tremolo for players who want greater pickup-selection variety and vibrato capability. The Telecaster keeps the fixed-bridge simplicity and focused two-pickup identity that many players prefer for rhythm work, tuning stability and direct attack.

Who Is The Fender American Ultra II Telecaster For?

This guitar is particularly well suited to:

• Professional and semi-professional guitarists

• Touring musicians

• Studio and session players

• Telecaster players wanting modern neck geometry

• Players who need low-noise single-coil-style sounds

• Guitarists who regularly use effects pedals

• Rock and blues musicians

• Country players

• Indie and alternative guitarists

• Pop and contemporary session players

• Lead players who value upper-fret access

• Players upgrading from a Player or American Professional Fender

If you love the essential Telecaster concept but want fewer vintage compromises, the American Ultra II is one of the strongest options in Fender's current range.

Playing Styles & Applications

The American Ultra II Telecaster is extremely versatile across rock, blues, country, indie, pop, funk, alternative, contemporary music and professional studio work.

The bridge pickup delivers the focused attack and note separation that make the Telecaster so effective for rhythm work, while the neck pickup offers a smoother alternative for cleaner passages, blues and warmer lead sounds.

The standard combined-pickup position provides familiar Tele clarity, while the S-1 series mode gives you a stronger option when you need additional thickness and output.

What Does S-1 Series Switching Add To A Telecaster?

A traditional Telecaster combines its two pickups in parallel when the selector is in the middle position. This produces the clear, balanced two-pickup sound many players know immediately.

The American Ultra II's S-1 switch adds a series option, allowing the two pickups to work together in a way that creates greater output and a fuller response.

The practical advantage is that you can move from classic Telecaster clarity to something noticeably thicker without changing guitar or engaging another pedal. For players covering several styles during a gig or recording session, that additional voice can be extremely useful.

Compatibility And Practical Pairing Advice

Guitar Amplifiers

The American Ultra II Telecaster works with almost any quality guitar amplification system.

Clean Fender-style amps highlight its clarity and dynamic response, while British-voiced amps pair particularly well with its bridge pickup for crunch and rock tones.

Modern modelling amplifiers are also an excellent match, especially where low-noise pickup performance is important.

Effects Pedals

The Ultra II Telecaster works particularly well with:

• Compressor

• Boost

• Overdrive

• Distortion

• Fuzz

• Delay

• Reverb

• Chorus

• Tremolo

• Wah

The noiseless pickups are especially useful when stacking gain pedals, where conventional single-coil hum can otherwise become increasingly noticeable.

Strings

The factory specification uses Fender USA 250L nickel-plated steel .009-.042 strings.

Heavier gauges can be fitted, although changing significantly from the factory gauge may require adjustment to neck relief, saddle height and intonation.

Cases And Protection

Fender's standard factory specification includes a Deluxe Molded Case. If the original case is not retained with an Open Box example, a correctly sized Telecaster hard case or padded gig bag is recommended for regular transport.

Looking for advice on choosing between the American Ultra II, American Professional II or another Fender Telecaster? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Story & Context

The Telecaster has always been defined by simplicity: a bolt-on neck, two pickups, fixed bridge and straightforward controls created a design that proved exceptionally difficult to improve without changing its fundamental character.

The American Ultra II Series approaches that challenge by keeping the recognisable Telecaster layout while modernising the areas that affect performance most directly.

The quartersawn maple neck, compound-radius ebony fingerboard, sculpted body contours, low-noise pickups, locking tuners and S-1 switching are all designed around the needs of contemporary professional players rather than recreating a particular vintage year.

The result is still unmistakably a Telecaster, but one designed for players who expect modern ergonomics, precise adjustment and broader tonal flexibility from a premium working instrument.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Brand	Fender
Series	American Ultra II
Model	Telecaster
Orientation	Right-Handed
Colour	Solar Flare
Body Material	Select Alder
Body Shape	Telecaster
Body Style	Solid Body
Body Finish	Gloss Urethane
Body Contours	Ultra Contours
Neck Material	Quartersawn Maple
Neck Shape	Modern “D”
Neck Construction	4-Bolt
Neck Finish	Ultra Satin Urethane
Fingerboard Material	Ebony
Fingerboard Radius	10"–14" Compound Radius
Fingerboard Edges	Ultra Rolled
Scale Length	25.5" / 648 mm
Number Of Frets	22
Fret Size	Medium Jumbo
Position Inlays	White Pearloid Dots
Side Dots	Luminlay
Nut Material	Graph Tech TUSQ
Nut Width	1.685" / 42.8 mm
Truss Rod	Bi-Flex
Bridge Pickup	Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Tele
Neck Pickup	Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Tele
Pickup Configuration	SS
Controls	Master Volume with S-1 Switch, Master Tone
Pickup Selector	3-Position Blade
Position 1	Bridge Pickup
Position 2	Bridge And Neck Pickups
Position 3	Neck Pickup
Special Electronics	S-1 Switch Activates Series Wiring
Bridge	6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail
Bridge Saddles	Chromed Brass
Bridge Mounting	3-Screw Modern
Tuning Machines	Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking, Short Posts
Hardware Finish	Nickel / Chrome
Pickguard	1-Ply Black Anodized Aluminium
Pickup Covers	Chrome Neck / Black Bridge
Control Knobs	Heavy Knurled Flat-Top
Switch Tip	Black Barrel Style
Neck Plate	4-Bolt Asymmetrical
Strap Buttons	Locking
String Guide	Ultra String Guide
Strings	Fender USA 250L Nickel-Plated Steel .009-.042
Factory Case Specification	Deluxe Molded Case

Specification Note

Individual instrument weight, serial number and exact retained Open Box accessory package have not been supplied and have therefore not been guessed.

Power Requirements

The Fender American Ultra II Telecaster uses passive guitar electronics and does not require a battery.

The S-1 switching system operates as part of the guitar's passive electronics.

Connect the guitar to a suitable amplifier, effects setup, modeller or audio interface using a standard instrument cable.

Fair Deal Music Verdict 🎵

★★★★★ 5/5

The Fender American Ultra II Telecaster is a particularly strong choice for the guitarist who loves the direct character of a Telecaster but wants premium modern playability rather than a strict vintage specification.

The compound-radius ebony fingerboard, Modern “D” quartersawn neck, Ultra rolled edges and sculpted bodymake the physical playing experience noticeably more contemporary, while the Ultra II Noiseless pickups and S-1 series option significantly expand what the familiar two-pickup Telecaster layout can do.

Best suited for: Professional and experienced players wanting a modern, highly refined Telecaster for stage and studio work.

Customers usually upgrade from: Fender Player, Player Plus, Player II, American Performer and American Professional Telecaster models.

Most commonly paired with: Quality valve or modelling amplifiers, compressor, overdrive, boost, delay and reverb.

Our tip: Use the standard three-way Telecaster sounds as your foundation, then engage the S-1 series mode when you need extra weight. It is particularly effective for moving from articulate rhythm work into a fuller lead sound.

Showroom feedback: The neck is one of the biggest reasons to choose the Ultra II. The compound radius, rolled ebony board and satin finish give it a much faster and more refined feel than a vintage-style Telecaster while still retaining unmistakable Fender character.

Why Buy Open Box From Fair Deal Music?

Open Box equipment can be an excellent way to access premium instruments while making your budget work harder.

Every Open Box instrument we sell is individually handled and checked by our team before leaving the shop, giving you the reassurance of buying from an established independent music retailer.

We clearly describe known cosmetic points and provide detailed photographs so you can make an informed buying decision before placing your order.

For a premium instrument such as the American Ultra II Telecaster, you can also contact our team for additional advice or request a video demo of the individual guitar.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

From our Birmingham showroom, our knowledgeable musician-led team helps customers choose guitars, basses, amplifiers, keyboards, drums, studio equipment and much more.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians

• Carefully checked new, used, pre-owned, Open Box and ex-display equipment

• Competitive prices on leading music brands

• Secure UK-wide delivery

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• Secure online ordering

• A large Birmingham showroom

• Decades of experience with new and pre-owned musical instruments and equipment

Considering a premium Telecaster and want to compare the Ultra II with another Fender model? Speak to our team by phone, online or in-store for friendly, practical musician-to-musician advice.

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, keyboard, amplifier, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the American Ultra II Telecaster pickups noiseless?

Yes. Fender's Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Tele pickups are designed to retain recognisable Telecaster clarity and attack while dramatically reducing the hum associated with conventional single-coil pickups.

What does the S-1 switch do?

The S-1 switch activates a series pickup combination, providing a fuller and stronger sound than the standard parallel Telecaster setting. It is particularly useful for lead work and heavier driven sounds.

Is the compound-radius fingerboard good for bending strings?

Yes. The fingerboard becomes progressively flatter as you move towards the higher frets, providing more room for wide bends while retaining a comfortable curve for chord work near the nut.

Is the ebony fingerboard suitable for rhythm guitar?

Absolutely. The compound radius is designed to work across both rhythm and lead playing. Fingerboard material itself does not restrict playing style.

Are locking tuners useful on a fixed-bridge Telecaster?

Yes. They make string changes quicker and reduce the amount of string that needs to be wound around the tuning posts. Their usefulness is not limited to guitars with tremolo systems.

Can I fit heavier strings?

Yes. Moving to .010s or another gauge is straightforward, although significant changes in string tension can affect neck relief, action and intonation, so a setup may be worthwhile afterwards.

Is the Ultra II better than the American Professional II Telecaster?

They target different preferences. The American Professional II stays closer to traditional professional Telecaster simplicity, while the Ultra II adds a compound-radius neck, noiseless pickups, locking tuners, advanced contours and S-1 switching. Choose according to the features you will actually use.

Is this guitar suitable for professional studio work?

Yes. The low-noise pickups, broad tonal range, stable hardtail bridge and modern neck geometry make the Ultra II particularly well suited to recording and session environments where reliability and tonal flexibility matter.