Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster Electric Guitar, Avalanche, Open-box

This item is a display item and may show minor signs of use. It comes with Fender's warranty and will be setup before dispatch by our tech. Feel free to call up and ask about the instrument: 0121 643 1685

Quick Product Summary

The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster in Avalanche takes the familiar Stratocaster platform into premium modern-performance territory, combining classic Fender versatility with advanced electronics, refined ergonomics and a fast, contemporary neck.

This Avalanche model pairs a select alder body with a quartersawn maple Modern “D” neck and quartersawn maple fingerboard. A 10"–14" compound radius, Ultra rolled fingerboard edges, medium-jumbo frets and Luminlay side dots give it a distinctly performance-focused feel, while the sculpted neck heel makes upper-fret access noticeably easier.

Three Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat pickups provide the clarity and dynamic response associated with a traditional SSS Stratocaster while dramatically reducing unwanted single-coil hum. Add S-1 switching, locking tuners and Fender's upgraded two-point American Ultra tremolo and you have a Strat designed for players who want familiar Fender character with considerably more modern capability.

Offered here as an Open Box example in Avalanche, it represents an appealing opportunity for players looking at Fender's flagship modern production Stratocaster range.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Fender
Series	American Ultra II
Model	Stratocaster
Finish	Avalanche
Condition	Open Box
Body	Select Alder
Neck	Quartersawn Maple, Modern “D”
Fingerboard	Quartersawn Maple
Radius	10"–14" Compound
Pickups	3 x Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat
Main Appeal	Premium modern Strat playability with low-noise SSS tones
Best For	Professional playing, recording, touring, blues, rock, pop, funk and session work

Open Box Condition Report

Condition: Open Box

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

No specific cosmetic marks, faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing, so none have been assumed or invented.

Please refer closely to the product photography for the cosmetic presentation of this individual guitar.

What's Included?

• Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster

• Avalanche finish

• Deluxe Molded Case is the standard factory-supplied case for this model

No other individual Open Box accessories have been confirmed for this listing.

Condition Notes

No specific cosmetic defects, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this individual Open Box guitar.

Please use the photographs to assess the precise cosmetic condition of the instrument being offered.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

Before leaving Fair Deal Music, this American Ultra II Stratocaster 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

• Tremolo and saddle operation

• Pickup output

• Five-way selector operation

• S-1 switching

• Volume and tone controls

• Output socket

• General setup and playability

For a premium instrument such as the American Ultra II, these checks are particularly important because features including the compound-radius neck, locking tuners, advanced switching and two-point tremolo all contribute directly to the playing experience.

Service / Setup Work

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

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

Why Choose The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster?

Modern Stratocaster Playability

The quartersawn maple neck combines Fender's Modern “D” profile with Ultra rolled fingerboard edges and an Ultra Satin finish. It is designed to feel smooth and fast without losing the familiar substance expected from a Fender neck.

10"–14" Compound Radius Fingerboard

The fingerboard is rounder towards the nut for comfortable chord work and gradually becomes flatter higher up the neck. This gives bends and faster lead playing more room in the upper register without making the lower positions feel excessively flat.

Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat Pickups

Traditional Strat-style single coils are loved for their clarity and responsiveness but can introduce mains hum. The Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat pickups are designed to retain recognisable Strat character while significantly reducing that unwanted noise.

Expanded S-1 Switching

The S-1 switch adds the neck pickup into switch positions where it would not normally be available. That provides additional pickup combinations beyond the standard five-way Stratocaster layout without cluttering the guitar with additional visible switches.

High-Performance Tremolo System

The 2-point American Ultra synchronized tremolo uses polished stainless steel block saddles, a cold-rolled steel block and pop-in tremolo arm. Combined with locking tuners, it creates a much more performance-focused tremolo setup than a basic vintage-style Strat bridge.

Sculpted Upper-Fret Access

Fender's sculpted neck heel reduces the bulk where the neck meets the body, making higher frets easier to reach. This is particularly useful for lead players who regularly work at the top end of the fingerboard.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

American Ultra II Stratocaster vs American Professional II Stratocaster

The American Professional II Stratocaster is a strong choice for musicians who want a premium USA Fender with a slightly more traditional overall approach. The Ultra II moves further into modern-performance territory with its compound-radius fingerboard, noiseless pickups, advanced switching, locking tuners and more extensively sculpted ergonomics. Choose the Professional II for premium all-round Fender familiarity; choose the Ultra II when advanced playability and electronics are priorities.

American Ultra II Stratocaster vs American Vintage II Stratocaster

The American Vintage II range is aimed at players who value period-inspired Fender specifications and a more traditional playing experience. The Ultra II sits at almost the opposite end of the spectrum, prioritising compound-radius playability, noiseless electronics and modern hardware. The better choice depends on whether authenticity to Fender's past or modern performance matters more to you.

American Ultra II Stratocaster vs Player II Stratocaster

The Player II Stratocaster offers the fundamental Strat experience at a considerably more accessible level. The Ultra II adds premium USA construction, quartersawn maple, a compound-radius fingerboard, noiseless pickups, expanded switching, locking tuners and upgraded tremolo hardware. The Player II is an excellent working guitar; the Ultra II is aimed at players specifically looking for a more sophisticated flagship specification.

American Ultra II Stratocaster vs American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS

The standard Ultra II uses three Strat-style pickups and is ideal if classic SSS versatility is central to what you want from the instrument. The HSS version adds a bridge humbucker for players who need more output and weight for heavier drive sounds. Choose this SSS model when traditional Strat-style pickup character remains the priority.

Who Is The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster For?

The American Ultra II Stratocaster is particularly well suited to:

• Professional guitarists

• Touring musicians

• Session players

• Studio guitarists

• Experienced Fender players upgrading to a premium model

• Lead guitarists who value upper-fret access

• Players who use the tremolo extensively

• Musicians who want Strat tones with less unwanted hum

• Guitarists who prefer compound-radius fingerboards

• Players who appreciate locking tuners

• Blues, rock, funk, pop and fusion players

• Musicians who need one versatile premium electric guitar for multiple styles

It is particularly compelling for someone who loves what a Stratocaster does but wants fewer of the compromises traditionally associated with vintage-style hardware and electronics.

Playing Styles & Applications

The American Ultra II Stratocaster is an exceptionally versatile choice for blues, rock, funk, pop, soul, indie, fusion, contemporary worship, session work and professional recording.

Its SSS pickup arrangement retains the familiar Stratocaster palette: focused bridge sounds, distinctive in-between positions and a smooth neck pickup. The S-1 system then expands those options, while the noiseless pickup design makes the guitar particularly useful around higher-gain rigs, pedalboards and recording equipment where electrical noise can become more noticeable.

What Does A 10"–14" Compound Radius Actually Do?

A conventional fingerboard maintains the same curvature from the first fret to the highest fret. A compound-radius fingerboard gradually changes shape as you travel along the neck.

On the American Ultra II, the fingerboard begins at 10 inches near the nut and progressively flattens to 14 inches towards the upper frets. The result is comfortable chord work in lower positions together with a flatter surface for bends, vibrato and faster lead playing higher up the neck.

It is a particularly useful feature for players who move regularly between rhythm and lead duties.

Compatibility And Practical Pairing Advice

Amplifiers

The Ultra II Stratocaster works well with almost any quality guitar amplifier. Clean valve amplifiers highlight its clarity and dynamic response, while British-style amps suit crunch and classic rock sounds particularly well.

Modern modelling amplifiers and digital rigs are also an excellent match because the noiseless pickups help keep more complex signal chains clean.

Effects Pedals

The American Ultra II is an excellent pedal platform and works particularly well with:

• Compressor

• Boost

• Overdrive

• Distortion

• Fuzz

• Chorus

• Phaser

• Delay

• Reverb

• Wah

The noiseless pickups are particularly useful when stacking gain pedals or using complex live pedalboards.

Recording

For studio work, the combination of low-noise pickups and multiple pickup combinations makes the Ultra II particularly versatile. It can cover bright rhythmic parts, smoother neck-pickup leads and layered clean textures without requiring several different guitars.

String Gauges

The factory specification uses .009-.042 Fender nickel-plated steel strings. Heavier gauges can be fitted, although a setup may be required to maintain the desired neck relief, tremolo balance and intonation.

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

Story & Context

Fender launched the American Ultra II Series in October 2024, developing the concept established by the previous American Ultra range.

Rather than turning the Stratocaster into an entirely different instrument, the Ultra II focuses on modernising the areas that matter most to demanding contemporary players. These include neck ergonomics, upper-fret access, pickup noise, switching flexibility, tuning hardware and tremolo performance.

Its place within the Fender range is therefore very different from historically focused models such as the American Vintage II. The Ultra II is designed around what a Stratocaster can become when modern performance takes priority over strict period specification.

The Avalanche version reinforces that contemporary identity with its clean finish, silver anodized aluminium pickguard and quartersawn maple fingerboard.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Brand	Fender
Series	American Ultra II
Model	Stratocaster
Orientation	Right-Handed
Colour	Avalanche
Body Material	Select Alder
Body Shape	Stratocaster
Body Style	Solid Body
Body Finish	Gloss Urethane
Body Contours	Ultra Contours
Neck Material	Quartersawn Maple
Neck Shape	Modern “D”
Neck Finish	Ultra Satin Urethane
Neck Construction	4-Bolt
Fingerboard Material	Quartersawn Maple
Fingerboard Radius	10"–14" Compound Radius
Scale Length	25.5" / 648 mm
Number Of Frets	22
Fret Size	Medium Jumbo
Position Inlays	Black 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 Strat
Middle Pickup	Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat
Neck Pickup	Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat
Pickup Configuration	SSS
Controls	Master Volume with S-1 Switch, Tone 1 Neck/Middle, Tone 2 Bridge
Pickup Selector	5-Position Blade
Special Electronics	S-1 Switch Adds Neck Pickup Into Positions 1 And 2
Bridge	2-Point American Ultra Synchronized Tremolo
Bridge Saddles	Polished Stainless Steel Block Saddles
Tremolo Block	Cold-Rolled Steel
Tremolo Arm	Pop-In
Tuning Machines	Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking, Short Post
Hardware Finish	Nickel / Chrome
Pickguard	1-Ply Silver Anodized Aluminium
Pickup Covers	Parchment
Control Knobs	Parchment Soft-Touch
Switch Tip	Parchment
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 individual Open Box accessory package have not been supplied and have therefore not been guessed or added to this listing.

Power Requirements

The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster uses passive guitar electronics and does not require a battery for normal operation.

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

Fair Deal Music Verdict 🎵

★★★★★ 5/5

The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster is one of the strongest choices in Fender's range for players who want recognisable Stratocaster character without being tied to vintage specifications.

Its standout strength is how well the upgrades work together. The compound-radius neck, rolled edges and sculpted heel improve playability; the locking tuners and upgraded tremolo support demanding performance; and the Ultra II Noiseless pickups make a genuine difference for musicians working with gain, pedals or studio equipment.

Best suited for: Professional and experienced players wanting a premium modern Stratocaster for stage, studio and everyday playing.

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

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

Our tip: Explore the S-1 switch with the five-way selector rather than treating it as a single alternative sound. Its real benefit is the additional combinations it adds to an already versatile Stratocaster layout.

Showroom feedback: The neck is where the Ultra II immediately separates itself from more traditional Stratocasters. The rolled edges, satin finish and compound radius make it especially appealing to players who want a fast, refined feel without moving away from a recognisable Fender neck.

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

Buying a premium Fender and want to compare the Ultra II with another Stratocaster before making your decision? Speak to our team by phone, online or in-store for 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 Noiseless pickups active?

No. The Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat pickups do not require a battery for normal operation. They are designed to provide Strat-style clarity while reducing the hum commonly associated with traditional single-coil pickups.

What does the S-1 switch add to the Stratocaster?

The S-1 switch allows the neck pickup to be added in selector positions 1 and 2. This creates additional combinations beyond those available from a conventional five-way Stratocaster circuit.

Is the American Ultra II suitable for high-gain playing?

Yes. Although this SSS model retains a more traditional Strat-style pickup format, the noiseless design makes it particularly useful with overdrive and distortion because unwanted pickup hum is greatly reduced. Players primarily seeking maximum bridge output may also want to compare it with the Ultra II HSS.

Is a compound-radius fingerboard good for bending strings?

Yes. The radius becomes progressively flatter towards the higher frets, which provides more room for wide bends and lead work while retaining a comfortable curve nearer the nut.

What are Luminlay side dots?

Luminlay markers are designed to remain highly visible in low-light environments. They are especially useful on dark stages where conventional side markers can become difficult to see.

Why use a quartersawn maple neck?

Quartersawn maple is valued for its strength and stability. On a premium performance-focused guitar, it also contributes to the precise, high-quality construction expected from the American Ultra II range.

Are locking tuners worth having on a Stratocaster?

They make string changes faster and reduce the amount of string that needs to be wrapped around each tuning post. Combined with a correctly set-up tremolo and nut, they form part of a stable modern hardware system.

Is the Ultra II better than the American Professional II?

Neither is automatically better for every player. The American Professional II is a strong premium all-round Fender, while the American Ultra II is more specifically aimed at players who value modern neck geometry, low-noise pickups, locking hardware, additional switching and advanced ergonomics.