“A guitar so playable that you might need to put the brakes on yourself and remember to play to the count”: Fender American Ultra II Telecaster review

Guitar World Verdict

A radical revamp of Telecaster playability reaffirms a commitment to classic Tele tones in Fender’s modernized take on the solid-body electric that started it all. Those Noiseless Vintage pickups give it a high-fidelity, EQ’d quality; the Tele as the best version of itself. It’s a workhorse for the biggest job you’ve got.

Pros

+Tip-top US-build and quality hardware.

+Good weight and unparalleled playability.

+Tones that would excite any Tele player and hum-free performance.

Cons

-Finish options a wee bit underwhelming.

-You get what you pay for but Player Plus series does modernism at a budget.

-No left-handed model.

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What is it?A penny for Jimmy Bryant’s thoughts. Oh to have a time machine to travel back and present the original master of the Fender Telecaster with this just as he was about to track 1954’s 2 Guitars Country Style.

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Ratings scorecardTestResultsScoreBuild qualityFinish options could be better but otherwise impeccable.★★★★1/2PlayabilityThe acme of contemporary Fender design does not disappoint.★★★★★SoundsA hi-fi rendering of traditional Tele tones – already versatile, that fourth voicing adds another option.★★★★1/2OverallAll glammed up but no show pony, it’s still Fender’s workhorse… But it sure is a thoroughbred★★★★1/2

Fender Player Plus Telecaster

$999/£919/€1,039
Fender does modernism at a more affordable price point and presents us with a top-quality Tele that’s fit for the serious player.

Read More: Fender Player Plus Telecaster review

Fender American Professional II Telecaster

Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster

$2,449/£2,449/€2,329
We’ll round out our alternative pics with a Tele that takes it back to the start. For those who want a top-tier vintage-inspired build without the Custom Shop price.

Read more: Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster review

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Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to publications including Guitar World, MusicRadar and Total Guitar. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.