Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS Texas Tea Ebony – Open Box

Quick Product Summary

The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS in Texas Tea with Ebony Fingerboard takes the familiar Stratocaster platform firmly into high-performance territory. Combining a select alder body with a quartersawn maple Modern “D” neck, 10"–14" compound-radius ebony fingerboard, Ultra rolled edges and advanced HSS electronics, it is designed for players who want classic Fender versatility with a faster, more refined modern feel.

At the bridge, Fender’s Haymaker humbucker provides the extra output and authority needed for driven rhythm and lead sounds, while two Ultra II Noiseless Hot Strat pickups retain the clarity, snap and responsiveness expected from a Strat without traditional single-coil hum. An S-1 switch adds a coil-split option for the bridge humbucker, making this an exceptionally flexible guitar for stage, studio and home use.

Finished in distinctive Texas Tea with an ebony fingerboard, silver anodised aluminium pickguard and parchment controls, this Open Box example is a particularly strong choice for players looking for one premium Stratocaster capable of covering a very wide musical range.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Fender
Model	American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS
Series	American Ultra II
Finish	Texas Tea
Fingerboard	Ebony
Condition	Open Box
Body	Select Alder
Neck	Quartersawn Maple, Modern “D”
Pickup Configuration	HSS
Main Appeal	Premium modern Stratocaster with exceptional tonal versatility
Best For	Gigging, recording, rock, pop, blues, funk, fusion and versatile session work
Included Item	Fender Deluxe Molded Case

Open Box Condition Report

Condition: Open Box

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

No specific cosmetic marks, faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this individual example. Please refer closely to the product photographs for the exact cosmetic condition of the guitar being offered.

Open Box instruments can represent an excellent opportunity to buy premium equipment while retaining the specification and performance expected from the original model.

For a closer look at this individual guitar, contact our team and ask about a video demo.

What’s Included?

✔ Fender Deluxe Molded Case
✔ Pop-in tremolo arm
✔ .050" saddle-height hex wrench
✔ 1/8" truss-rod wrench
✘ No additional accessories included

Condition Notes

The guitar is offered as an Open Box example. No individual cosmetic defects, repairs, modifications or functional faults have been supplied for this listing.

The Texas Tea finish, ebony fingerboard and silver anodised aluminium pickguard combination should be assessed using the photographs of the exact guitar being sold.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

Before leaving Fair Deal Music, this guitar will be checked by our team with attention given to the areas that matter in everyday ownership and performance.

Checks include the neck and fret condition, tuning stability, bridge operation, hardware security, pickup output, five-way selector, volume and tone controls, S-1 switching and output connection. Basic playability, action and intonation will also be assessed so the guitar is ready for its new owner.

Service / Setup Work

This guitar will be checked and set up before leaving the shop.

As with any guitar, setup can move slightly during transport because changes in temperature and humidity affect the neck, strings and overall adjustment. Players with particularly low action, alternative string gauges or specific tremolo preferences may therefore want a small final adjustment once the guitar has settled into its new environment.

Why Choose The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS?

One Guitar For An Exceptional Range Of Sounds

The HSS layout is one of the biggest reasons to choose this version of the Ultra II. The Haymaker bridge humbucker gives heavier rhythm sounds and lead tones more body and output, while the two Ultra II Noiseless Hot Strat pickups retain the cleaner, more articulate neck and middle sounds that make a Stratocaster so versatile.

A Modern Neck Without Losing The Stratocaster Feel

The quartersawn maple neck uses Fender’s Modern “D” profile with an Ultra Satin finish, heavily rolled fingerboard edges and a 10"–14" compound radius. Chords remain comfortable lower down the neck while the progressively flatter upper register is especially well suited to bending, faster lead work and lower action.

Designed With Gigging Players In Mind

Luminlay side dots improve fretboard visibility on darker stages, while short-post locking tuners make string changes faster and support dependable tuning. The sculpted neck heel and revised body contours also make high-fret access noticeably less restrictive than on a traditionally constructed Strat.

Premium Hardware Where It Matters

Fender’s two-point American Ultra synchronized tremolo uses polished stainless steel block saddles, a cold-rolled steel block and pop-in arm. Combined with the locking tuners and Graph Tech TUSQ nut, it creates a performance-focused system designed for players who use the tremolo rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Texas Tea With Ebony Fingerboard

Texas Tea is one of the signature finishes associated with Fender’s modern premium ranges. On this model it is paired with a dark ebony fingerboard, parchment plastics and a silver anodised aluminium pickguard, giving the guitar a distinctive contemporary appearance without moving too far away from classic Stratocaster styling.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS vs American Ultra II Stratocaster SSS

Choose the HSS if you want greater bridge-pickup output, thicker overdriven sounds and more convincing high-gain performance without sacrificing neck and middle Strat tones. The SSS Ultra II instead uses three Ultra II Noiseless Vintage Strat pickups and is the stronger choice for players who prioritise traditional all-single-coil Strat character.

Fender American Ultra II HSS vs American Professional II Stratocaster HSS

The American Professional II HSS has a more traditional 9.5" radius, Deep “C” neck, V-Mod II single coils and Double Tap bridge humbucker. It is an excellent professional workhorse, but the Ultra II moves further towards modern performance with its compound-radius ebony board, Ultra rolled edges, Luminlay markers, locking tuners and Ultra II Noiseless Hot pickups. Choose the Professional II for greater traditional familiarity; choose the Ultra II for the more advanced playing platform.

Fender American Ultra II HSS vs Player II Modified Stratocaster HSS

The Player II Modified HSS offers several modern features including locking tuners, Noiseless pickups, coil splitting and a two-point tremolo at a more accessible level. The American Ultra II steps up with select alder, quartersawn maple, the compound-radius ebony board, Ultra contours, sculpted heel, more advanced tremolo hardware, Luminlay side markers and Fender’s premium American Ultra II electronics. The Player II Modified is excellent value; the Ultra II is aimed at the player wanting the higher-end specification.

Who Is The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS For?

This guitar is particularly well suited to:

• Professional and regularly gigging guitarists

• Session players who need several usable sounds from one instrument

• Stratocaster players wanting a more contemporary neck and hardware package

• Rock and pop players who need a stronger bridge pickup

• Players using higher-gain amplifiers, pedals or modelling rigs

• Guitarists who value low-noise single-coil-style sounds

• Lead players who prefer a flatter upper-register fingerboard

• Musicians looking for a premium HSS electric guitar without moving away from the familiar Stratocaster format

Players specifically chasing vintage-correct Stratocaster specifications, a rounded vintage fingerboard radius or three traditional single-coil pickups may be better served by a more historically styled Fender model.

Playing Styles & Applications

Few electric-guitar formats are as adaptable as HSS, and the American Ultra II pushes that versatility further.

The neck and middle Ultra II Noiseless Hot Strat pickups make it a natural fit for clean pop, blues, funk, indie, modern country, soul and ambient playing, while the Haymaker humbucker gives rock, fusion, heavier alternative styles and lead work additional weight.

Its low-noise electronics are also particularly useful for recording, digital modelling rigs and high-gain pedalboards, where conventional single-coil hum can become considerably more noticeable.

Looking for advice on choosing between an HSS Stratocaster, traditional SSS model or another premium electric guitar? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

HSS vs SSS Stratocaster: Which Is Better For Versatile Playing?

An HSS Stratocaster replaces the traditional Strat bridge single coil with a humbucker. For players covering several styles, this can make the guitar substantially more flexible: neck and middle positions still cover characteristic Strat territory, while the humbucker provides extra thickness and output for distorted rhythm work and lead playing.

The American Ultra II HSS takes the idea further because its S-1 switching can split the Haymaker humbucker. If you regularly move between cleaner single-coil-style sounds and heavier bridge tones during the same set, an HSS layout is often the more practical choice. Players whose priority is the most traditional Strat response across all five switch positions may still prefer SSS.

Story & Context

The American Ultra II Series represents Fender’s current high-performance approach to its classic guitar and bass designs. Rather than reinventing the Stratocaster, the Ultra concept develops familiar Fender foundations with contemporary neck geometry, low-noise electronics, refined body shaping and premium performance hardware.

American Ultra II also introduced details aimed specifically at modern stage use. Luminlay side dots are fitted throughout the series to improve visibility in low-light environments, while features such as the heavily rolled fingerboard edges, Ultra Satin neck finish and compound radius are intended to give the instrument a broken-in, performance-ready feel from the outset.

The result is still unmistakably a Stratocaster, but one intended for musicians who place playability, versatility and practical performance features ahead of strict vintage specification.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Series	American Ultra II
Body Shape	Stratocaster
Body Material	Select Alder
Body Finish	Gloss Urethane
Neck Material	Quartersawn Maple
Neck Shape	Modern “D”
Neck Finish	Ultra Satin Urethane
Neck Construction	4-Bolt
Fingerboard Material	Ebony
Fingerboard Radius	10"–14" Compound Radius
Scale Length	25.5" / 648 mm
Number of Frets	22
Fret Size	Medium Jumbo
Nut	Graph Tech TUSQ
Nut Width	1.685" / 42.8 mm
Position Inlays	White Pearloid Dots
Side Markers	Luminlay
Truss Rod	Bi-Flex
Bridge Pickup	Haymaker Humbucker
Middle Pickup	Ultra II Noiseless Hot Strat
Neck Pickup	Ultra II Noiseless Hot Strat
Pickup Configuration	HSS
Controls	Master Volume with S-1 Switch, Tone 1 Neck/Middle, Tone 2 Bridge
Special Electronics	S-1 bridge humbucker coil split; treble-bleed circuit
Pickup Switching	5-Position Blade
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, All Short Posts
Pickguard	1-Ply Silver Anodised Aluminium
Control Knobs	Parchment Soft-Touch
Pickup Covers	Parchment
Hardware Finish	Nickel/Chrome
Neck Plate	4-Bolt Asymmetrical
Strap Buttons	Locking
Factory String Gauge	Fender USA 250L Nickel-Plated Steel .009–.042
Orientation	Right-Handed

Specification Note

The exact weight, production date and serial number of this individual Open Box guitar were not supplied for the listing and have therefore not been estimated.

Power Requirements

The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS uses passive electronics and does not require a battery.

Connect it to an amplifier, audio interface, effects processor or pedalboard using a standard ¼-inch instrument cable.

Why Buy Open Box From Fair Deal Music?

An Open Box guitar can be an excellent route into premium equipment, particularly when the instrument itself offers the same core specification as the standard model.

At Fair Deal Music, Open Box instruments are checked before leaving us so you know you are buying from an established music retailer rather than taking the uncertainty that can come with a private sale.

Fair Deal Music Expert Verdict 🎵

★★★★★ 5/5

The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS is one of the strongest choices in the Fender range for players who want a Stratocaster capable of moving comfortably between classic clean sounds and substantially heavier modern tones.

The combination of the Haymaker bridge humbucker, Noiseless Hot Strat pickups and genuinely performance-focused neck makes it especially compelling for the working guitarist who would rather take one highly versatile guitar than several more specialised instruments.

Best suited for: Gigging musicians, session players and experienced Strat players wanting a premium modern HSS guitar.

Customers usually upgrade from: Fender Player and Player II Modified Stratocasters, earlier American Stratocasters and professional-level guitars with more traditional specifications.

Most commonly paired with: Quality valve or modelling amplifiers, professional pedalboards, overdrive and boost pedals, delay/reverb effects and premium instrument cables.

Our tip: Spend time experimenting with the S-1 switch alongside different five-way selector positions. The split bridge option expands the useful range of the guitar beyond the conventional HSS setup.

Showroom feedback: The neck is the standout part of the Ultra II experience. The combination of rolled edges, satin finish and compound radius feels unmistakably modern while remaining familiar enough that an experienced Strat player should settle into it quickly.

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.

Our team includes knowledgeable musicians who understand the equipment we sell and can help you choose the right instrument for your playing style, setup and budget.

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

• Flexible finance options available, subject to status

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• A large Birmingham showroom where you can speak to our experienced team

• Decades of experience buying, selling and part-exchanging musical instruments

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

Is the American Ultra II HSS a good choice if I normally play traditional Stratocasters?

Yes. The 25.5" scale and familiar Stratocaster layout remain instantly recognisable, but the neck is deliberately more contemporary. The compound radius, heavily rolled edges and Modern “D” profile make it especially appealing to players who like Fender guitars but want easier upper-register playing.

Will the 10"–14" compound radius feel strange if I am used to a 9.5" Fender fingerboard?

Most players adapt quickly. The lower frets remain curved enough for comfortable chord work, while the fingerboard gradually becomes flatter higher up the neck. That flatter upper section is particularly useful for wide bends and lead playing.

What is the advantage of the ebony fingerboard?

Ebony provides a smooth, dense playing surface that suits the fast, refined character of the Ultra II neck particularly well. Combined with the rolled edges and satin-finished quartersawn maple neck, it contributes to the premium feel of this particular Texas Tea version.

Can the tremolo be set up differently?

Yes. A two-point Strat-style tremolo can be adjusted according to playing preference, including different floating characteristics or a more restrained setup. Significant changes to string gauge, tuning or tremolo behaviour should be accompanied by a suitable guitar setup.

Is this guitar suitable for lower tunings?

It can be used for lower tunings, but players moving significantly below standard tuning will normally benefit from heavier strings and an appropriate setup. Because the guitar uses a tremolo bridge, changing string tension can also alter the bridge position and intonation.

Are Noiseless pickups useful for high-gain playing?

They can be particularly helpful when using gain, compression or complex pedalboards because they reduce the traditional mains hum associated with conventional single-coil designs. That makes the neck and middle positions more practical in environments where noise can otherwise become distracting.

Is the American Ultra II HSS suitable for recording and digital modelling rigs?

Very much so. Its broad pickup selection and low-noise electronics make it well suited to audio interfaces, studio processors and modern modelling systems where clarity and background noise are easily exposed.

Would this make a good single premium guitar for live work?

That is arguably one of its strongest use cases. The HSS pickup layout can move from clean Strat textures through to thicker bridge-humbucker sounds, while locking tuners, Luminlay side markers, ergonomic body shaping and the compound-radius neck all have practical advantages for regular live playing.

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