Fender American Vintage II Strat vs. American Ultra Strat | Pure Vintage vs. Ultra Modern
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ก.ค. 2024
- At the top of Fender's American line you've got two options-- pure vintage or ultra modern. Today we're comparing the new American Vintage II '61 Strat against the somewhat new-ish American Ultra. Take a listen to the difference in pickups and more, and let us know what you think!
0:00 Intro/Specs
14:10 American Vintage II Demo
16:25 American Ultra Demo
19:17 Final Thoughts
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Great comparison. Love my Ultra Cobra Blue HSS with the modern, versatile and noiseless „HiFi“ tones and the fantastic playability. But the red AV II ´61 is THE reference point of a Strat look and sound for my eyes and ears. No doubts - both ❤
Give me the vintage all day. I see the appeal of the ultra but if I want a modern guitar, I would prefer one that’s more of a modern design, like a schecter or music man. For a Strat type I want the vintage tones. Even something like the silver sky isn’t really a modern s-type to me.
The Silver Sky isn’t trying to be modern. Mayer prefers vintage Strats, hence why the Silver Sky has a 7.25” radius and the pickups are voiced to be similar to the same pickups found in ‘63/‘64, hence why they’re named “635” (i.e, 63.5).
What is a "vintage tone"?
It's hard to shred on a "vintage" 7.25 radius.
@@hanskung3278 believe it or not, there's more to guitar than really fast soloing.
@@MeatSnax Right but fast is what we strive for.
The AVRI II's are outstanding guitars. I was able to get my hands on a fiesta red one and it is top tier. Stays in tune all night and just wails. Fiesta red, 7.25" radius, and a slab board has been so difficult to get without going to the Custom Shop until now.
I love both but The sound control and also maneuver on Ultra is amazing!! Magnificent instrument
You could use either for any kind of music, the Ultra is just way more user friendly. If mine wasn't an Ultra, I wouldn't even own a strat. So comfortable to play, flawless fit and finish, and sounds amazing thru a good PB and tube amp :)
Fantastic job guys. I can't imagine a better done vid on these guitars; the entire vid was interesting and compelling. Wow, I want both! I guess the ultra line has much larger frets as well. What a guitar! But, wow, these year-specific v2 models are time-capsule historic experiences and that is so cool. I need a higher-paying job and quick!
Cooper shows every kind of sound available from each Strat. He always gives the players perspective on them to make an informed choice. As for me, Cooper made it clear if I was performing professionally, I would want one of each. Thanks' Cooper!
Your final thoughts on the differences on the neck profiles is spot on to describe what makes a vintage vs modern radius.
This is the video I've been waiting for!!!! Thank you!!
I’ve ordered the ‘61 in white. I can not wait to actually get it. It is everything that I want in a Stratocaster, classic tone & feel. Great demo guys!
hooray! just ordered mine fiesta red
Think I’m about to do the same thing!
Guys on what website ?
Ultra for me. I bought an Ultra Luxe Strat last year and it plays like a dream.
I really like them both, it definitely just comes down to what the player's looking for and as you guys stated already, just own both in that perfect world!
That 61 demo that fella played sounded fantastic. Sweet riff man
Great video guys, I've been playing a 1971 Tele forever and always thought I was only a Tele guy but I want a Strat and this really helps! I'm a Lefty and have to play before I buy which is always a pain in the butt. I'm going to find them and try. I play through 67, 69 Princeton and Deluxe Reverb. Thanks again!
Thank you for the tone demo!!! ❤
Re-listening to each position several times, it looks to me that its tone is pretty equal, so the main difference is color and how it feels in your hands.
P.S. It will be nice to compare tone step by step to clearly see a difference the next time, thank you one more time!
Nice playing! I have the Ultra in Sunburst and it is my favorite guitar. BUT I was born in 61 and love the red one too!
Nice review/ demo. Small Hendrix detail.. he died in September 1970. He had many strats ranging from early to late 60s. The last ones he had I think were built in 1968.
I'm primarily a strat player, and I like aspects of both vintage and modern.
I like Vintage-style pickups, but I like a modern neck, compound radius fretboard, and I like the better performing 2-point tremelo.
My #1 guitar is a Fender American Deluxe strat in Sunset Metallic with Lindy Fralin Blues Special single coil pickups and an Andy Timmons AT-1 humbucker in the bridge. It's the one in my thumbnail
Thanks for this video. I own 3 ultra models, and several reissues made over the years. If I could choose, I’d pick the ultras. If I could have it my way, I’d want the vintage with the ultra’s neck....or an ultra wired vintage.....it’s fun to play the reissues, but it is tiring too....they have a sound and I get it.
To Cooper: I get why you might want to go vintage II for the jazz master ....it’s kinda in a different category than a tele or strat, that you may already have a model from.
All in all it’s the neck.
Love this intelligent comparison - well done video. Great discussions in the comments too.
Yassss the review I’ve been waiting for!
Love the Ultra - especially the clean neck pup. Sounds like you can almost get a nice jazz tone on that neck pickup. Sweeeettt!! Overall the Ultra is wonderful. I have one, and the neck is to die for. Absolutely a dream to play.
Tone is subjective, and I get the vintage thing. But the Ultra perfect the playability game, the neck, the contour heel, the fretboard... All amazing
Picked up the burst 61 strat....love it!
Great review and demo playing. I'm planning to get the 61 American Vintage II in Fiesta Red soon.
“…I always remind people the 70’s Strats are what you saw Hendrix playing.” You should probably stop saying that. Hendrix died in 1970.
I have that exact Ultra and it's one of the few I would never part with, just got an HSS pro 2 and loving it as well... can't do the 7.25 or at least not willing to drop 2K to find out if I like it. Amazing demo as always though!!!
It doesn't matter if Hendrix played a 70's strat, he could be playing a 50's ukulele and it would be a transcendent experience.
Hendrix didn’t even live in the 70’s . I guess if you were to consider the decade 1970-1979, he did live nine months of the 70’s but technically that’s not how we count decades. 1971-1980 is the 70’s.
@@russellandrewbennett7849 I think you missed my point.
Dont really understand your point?
Hendrix was murdered in 70 he played a 65 strat pre CBS strats and teles sound better than anything cbs
That’s just a lame comment. He played a guitar. And transcendent is a bit much.
I just got mine in, a '61 in fiesta red just like yours there, and I'm shocked. I regret taking people at their word that 7.25" is bad. I love the way my pro2 strat feels, but this was my first vintage neck radius and I absolutely love it.
i got the ultra and really looking to get vintage so this is perfect 😊
American Vintage, by far! I currently own an American Professional strat and love the blend of modern and vintage features (bent steel saddles, aged plastic, mint pickguard and Vintage-Modern pickups). I can only imagine how much more authentic the new AV line is.
Cooper did a great demo!!! Enjoyed it.
Great job guys…. As always. 61 is my choice
I have the ultra, my best friend did the design. Good guy.
Well for $20.99 I'll take both and in every color and option.
I'm sorry but the only reason I clicked on this video is because in the thumbnail the dude on the left completely looks like a rock star version of "Stickler" from American Pie LOL. Bad ass, great review and playing guys!!
I have the Ultra Tele. I love the compound radius neck and the locking tuners. I t also has six adjustable saddles in brass.The pickups can be in series or parallel which, I believe, the reissues don't have that control option. I suspect Hendrix would have have bought the Ultra ? No? I saw him as well in '67. I think he was on something but he put on a hell of a show ! The player casters are nice too for half the money.
Both awesome. I just bought an Ultra Tele. It’s perfect.
The 61’ Strat for me. Love that tone.
Sweet demo. Just picked up the '57, great guitar.
Look forward to the Tele and JM comparison.
Would also be interesting to compare these to the Vintera equivalents.
I just bought a 57 and I am a singer songwriter, and my mind is blown
@@spirithealth7322 enjoy every moment.
Great vid lads , loved it
I love my mochaburst ultra strat, but i may just get a vintage II as well... beautiful
One more comment. I find I love the Ultra neck. I am older and creakier and the Ultra neck makes it easier to play. Not that I am remotely in his category but like Tim Pierce says, the older you get the more you appreciate guitars that are easier to play. The Ultra and my PRS are far and away the easiest of my guitars to play.
Agree. I have an Ultra Tele and just bought the 63 Vintage II Tele. Both are great. I'm buying an Ultra Strat in a month and in the spring picking up a 61 Vintage II Strat.
I love the Ultra neck.
@Guitar Grandpa Just curious, what is it about a Ultra neck that makes it easier for you to play? Larger radius? Would a Les Paul be even easier for you? I have a PRS SE and it's neck feels thinner to me than some of the other guitars I have. Not sure what the spec on it is
@@bmrbca3658 I can't answer for the original poster. But I have both an Silver Sky and the SS SR and an Ultra.
A couple things come to mind. The Ultra Fretboard gets wider towards the bridge, 10" to 14". The claim is it makes it easier to bend string up the neck, while allowing for open chords near the nut. It also has a rolled fingerboard. The 7.25 of the Silver Sky, or any vintage instruments, often have issues at the high E edge of the neck. It seems the Ultra gives you more room for your fingers. The Silver Sky SE is 9.5 IIRC. I find it easier to play than the more expensive one.
I really like the Ultra Satin finish on the neck. I also like the Modern D profile on the neck, but I couldn't tell you why.
My comments on the Ultra are about the Tele. The Ultra Strats have the same specs, but I haven't played one yet.
@@bmrbca3658 The quick answer is that it is designed to set up with slightly lower action because it is a bit thinner but does not feel that way because of the D shape instead of the C shape which gives it bigger shoulders. It is also a compound radius so it is flatter higher up which makes bending without fretting out a bit easier, again with lower action. I am 69 years old with some mild arthritis in my fingers so anything that let's me use lower pressure is helpful, thus my preference for lower action. (Though I am a bit too heavy handed in general, something I am always working on. Some people prefer thicker necks and higher action. But the Ultra neck works for me. I have an Epiphone Les Paul and while the shorter scale length makes bending a bit easier overall I prefer the Ultra and my PRS Custom 24 (pattern thin) necks, though again some people really dislike that PRS neck. As always, your mileage may vary.
@@bmrbca3658 Everything, it's just one of those necks where at first feel you're thinking... "wow, that's nice". Fender bent over backwards to make it the most comfortable, playable neck yet on a strat... and it is for my money :)
Would love to see a video like this for the jazzmaster too.
I plan i buying all 3… ‘57, ‘61 & ‘73 Strats. These V2’s are near custom shop and the only practical (I mean affordable) way to one vintage instruments. I’m a purist if you can’t tell lol!
Go get yourself a Lincoln Brewster Signature Strat. Much better noiseless pups, great vintage vibe including an Aztec Gold nitro finish.... such a fantastic mix of old and new.
Between these two, I just LOVE the playability of the Ultra and that Cobra blue is so freaking gorgeous.
I just went through this process somewhat. Walked in to my local shop looking to buy an American Pro II until the guy recommended I try the AO 1960s Strat after I told him the shell pink caught my eye. No brainer to go with the AO 1960s for the extra ~$400 CAD after taxes. The Pro II is a great guitar but sounded a lot more modern and bright. I prefer the warmer tones, thicker neck, and lack of hidden switches.
BOTH ARE AMAZING AND IMPRESSIVE...PERSONALLY I LIKE THE SOUND OF THE VINTAGE 57 ".,WITH NATURAL ASH BODY AND MAPLE FINGERBOARD...
I had zero desire for an American Vintage until I heard this demo. Wow.
I am kind of listing after that '61. I already have 2 Strats, one of them is an American Elite, great guitar. I have 7 other guitars, the Elite and the PRS baritone are the only unmodified ones (The PRS is brand new.) The Elite is the most used for playing out. It is super easy to play, that neck is fantastic. As much as I would like to have the AVII 61. I would never think of trading my Elite to help finance it. I guess that says something.
I ❤ my mexi player strat 9.5 radius, med jumbo frets, satin neck and EMG "Toto" pickup swap, graphtec nut and saddles. 7 lbs
Jesus Christ…that playing was totally mesmerising!
They both sound great
Cooper's playing brings me here...serious chops, fur sure...😎
My Ultra cobra blue is on its way. Always wanted an SSS strat. Looking forward to it. The vintage here looks like a Mark Knopfler signature series. Sad they discontinued it. The MK strat sounds really bad ass.
The fender ultra is a amazing guitar the neck on these guitars are amazing I know I love mine and they sound great and with the body cut on them they fit you like a glove
Love the 61 Slabboards..
Hope Fender makes period correct years for each year from every decade up to the 80s. Love the nitro finish on the 50s and 60s Fenders. Wish Fender would use nitro on all their guitars.
I made my choice 2 years ago with the Ultra, but would have liked to have this option. I immediately ripped out the noiseless pickups as I thought they were horrible. Playing lead through a vintage Fender amp, they sound anemic. And I have never run into a situation that “required” noiseless. So hopefully this is the best of both for me, but I don’t have to other to test! 😂
The noiseless was what drove me to get rid of the damn thing myself !
I completely agree. I'm in the market for my first Tele and I love the idea of the Ultra but it just sounds 'dead'.
From a tone perspective only, I would buy the Ultra. My reason is that I have an American Standard 2013 with Fat 50’s and I think it sounds a lot like the ‘61 Strat in this video. So, I’d keep the AS and pick up an Ultra (which I may just do!).
Cooper, you've become one of my favorite players.
What a fantastic video have a great weekend
Love u guys , waiting for my white ‘61
Great post. I own both the American Ultra and a custom shop amalgamation like you were discussing, though I will say I can get perfectly fine tones for blues out of the Ultra. One nit, Jimi Hendrix died in 1969 so we can safely assume he did not play a 73 Strat. It would be worth noting that later 60's Strats bear more resemblance to the 73 than to say it is the same guitar he played. I am easily old enough to have seen Hendrix live (and did) so I felt I should point that out.
I know for sure that Chris knows Hendrix died before 73- I think he was just referring to the CBS era strats like Hendrix played. Also very jealous that you saw Hendrix live.
@@AlamoMusic I didn't believe Chris would not know that. But, I have learned that there are a lot of youngsters (pretty much most of the audience compared to me) out there that watch your show and they might not know that. Bad habit of mine is to be a stickler for detail. Saw Hendrix twice, quite an experience (so to speak). He and Clapton (and The Beatles, of course) are why I started to play guitar. Still trying to get better at age 69. Not that I was ever that good, sadly.
Hendrix died in late 1970 I think?
@@tomaskin9970 You are right. He died in September of 1970.
September 18th, 1970
I have the HSS Strat. It just felt so right when I played it. More so than the Vintage, which is also a great instrument. Sounds classy too.
Same here, HSS Ultra and it's a keeper
@@colinrobinson9674 SSS Ultra and it's a keeper :)
ultra has compound radius beautiful neck, locking tuners, s switch plus you don’t need to remove the neck for truss road adjustment.
Go get custom shop if you want vintage specs it is more expensive but least it will come with quarter-sawn neck.
That 61 just sounds so fucking funky man. I love it. I recently bought the ultra strat in Texas tea and I love it, but I think I might have to pick me up one of them 61s just for how much stank it puts on funk man. Damn...
My head says the Ultra (for all of Chris’ great reasons) but my ears say the ‘61 (for all of Cooper’s great playing).
I want that AVIii so much. Scallop the fretboard and put HS-3s in there 😚🤌🏼. I’d upset others equally as much as I’d be happy.
My Am Pro first model is an absolutely amazing guitar, but I know I'm going to have to pickup up one of these AV II's at some point.
As a gigging musician, I’d love a combo of both. Maybe an Ultra with a nitro lacquer finish with noiseless pups and more of vintage feel. Fender need to bring back the Hot Rod models but noiseless pups instead of the 57/62 they had. I’m sure I’m gonna get flamed hardcore for this idea lol😅
Yeah the ultra is more attractive to me just because it's more comfortable and such, but if I'm dropping this kind of money, i'd like a Nitro finish because I want to keep it forever and wear out the finish as much as possible when I gig it.
I was coming in expecting to think the Vintage would sound better, but I actually think the Ultra is better all around. But of course, that's just me.
Quick tip for those who have or are considering an ultra:
Press the switch in while only on the neck pickup to beef up the tone. I have no idea how it works that way but it does
Hey Cooper, when do you need a hair cut?
Cooper: when it touches the strings..
Great demo, as always!!!
Finally the video I wanted to see.
Compare the telecaster to the modern deluxe! Great video.
I love classic instruments as much as the next guy but i also really like alot the more modern features - I have an Ultra Strat SSS and its amazing, i think because i was not chasing a specific tone or era of a certain Strat - i just wanted a nice Strat - It sounds amazing to me especially through a nice Marshall :) (I also have a Core PRS Custom 22 which is my 'LP style' guitar, and the quality of the Ultra is right up there with the PRS)
Same here, I wasn't chasing anything except a nice comfortable strat with modern hardware and features. The Gen 5 noiseless in the SSS sound great... chimey, articulate, and quiet. Sounds phenomenal thru an Orange Rocker 15, especially clean :)
I'm not a huge Strat guy, but it's a guitar I think every player should own. I'm more of a humbucker man, myself. The question for me was if I only wanted to buy one Strat, but the best Strat I possibly could with $2k which should I get? I reasoned that Hendrix, SRV, and Beck all made do with the vintage sound so who am I to argue? If it was good enough for my heroes why shouldn't it be good enough for me? Consequently, I chose the 1961 Reissue. I'd also add that the Ultra's noiseless pickups just don't have the bite and character I expect out of a Strat tone. The sound of the Ultra seems more suited for a digital processor than an overdriven tube amp---which is my rig of choice.
I’ve got to say for me it’s the Ultra Hands down. Amazing guitar.
I have a Telecaster Ultra in Arctic Pearl and have yet to find another guitar with the combination of such an incredible neck and tone. The Vintage are nice too tho
Those reissue guitars are killer and lovely but... If you don't necessarily chase that specific tone I just think the ultra is the better guitar. In nearly every way... That said, the idea of an 50s or 60s instrument being more pure or special is nice. I own an ultra strat and american original 60s tele. I always feel like swapping my ultra for an american original or avII strat but I don't even know WHY. I think forum purists are just getting to me. I own that AO60 tele because I loved it but both my pro II and ultra tele before that were alot more of ´the full package´. I think if I ever need a different a tone I'll either ADD a vintage instrument OR change my ultra pick ups. I don't think I'd ever sell my ultra unless a white blonde Mary Kaye strat shows up :')
Best guitar reviews on Internet!
Very good work :)
Excellent performance. I really liked the 61. Ultra didn't do anything for me. Too bad my color palette is limited to surf green, seafoam, LPB, OTC and Daphne.
Gotta add sonic blue to that
I have an ultra tele. Bought it in 2020 and never put it down. That guitar is easily the best playing 6 string I've ever owned. The neck, the pick- ups and the color (cobra blue) are all just phenomenal. I really desperately want that vintage II fiesta red strat though. Pretty worried I've been spoiled by the ultra neck and will be put off by the strat's more rounded neck.
I have the ultra tele too. but with the amazing rosewood fretboard. I've got AO 50's strat and that neck is really something.. a lot of wood in your hand. and I love it. And I love the tele ultra neck too. Both are inspiring in different way. I love the versatility. Except those two I have a mexi strat (2012) with modern C neck.
I wouldn't worry too much about the 7.25 radius if I were you. I think that gets way too overblown. I have a Les Paul with a 12 inch radius and a Custom Shop Tele with a 7.25 radius, and I can play them both fine. Bends work great on both.
@@stuffandthingsyoutube Thank you for the info.
I did indeed sand the neck on my new AVII. I loved it already but now the neck feels so damn good to play. Personal preference obviously!
If you've got a 61, how thick would you say the neck is? Thicker than modern C?
@@RA-yc9fb I heard about the same. Thicker than the D on the ultra for sure though.
tasty licks on both but man that Ultra really sounds like Texas blues to the heart
Should do one for Fender American Vintage II vs American Professional II
Ultra neck with vintage pickups :)
Which is easier for wrapping your thumb over the top of the neck and fretting the low E with your thumb? The V neck of the 57 or the more rounded fretboard of the 61?
Ideally, I'd take the modern neck with that nitro vintage body. Best of both worlds. May just piece together my own.
The PRS Silver Sky is a modern vintage guitar. The sound of the 63 Strat but with newer and improved features including a non ice pick back pickup, better bridge and workmanship
The Silver Sky is a great guitar no question, and PRS is super consistent. With Fender and especially I think even more so with Gibson, you have to find a good one. But to me it’s still also about personal preference as well and also about the sound you’re personally chasing. And we have have different hands and fingers too and wrists so we find a guitar that works for us. I’ve tried four Silver Skies and I liked them all, and it was one of the rare times I really liked the bridge pickup (on the silver sky it’s the same pickup in every position just like on the old pre cbs Fenders). And every time I think I want a 60s era strat but I always seem to end up preferring the 50s era pickups and I don’t know why that is, I like that they’re a bit brighter but low output. The Silver Sky is very dark and warm and not very bright at all, it’s warmer. The younger me would’ve preferred that sound, I used to prefer warm and I hated mids in amps so I’d turn up tremble and bass and mids off. Anyway, long story short my taste has changed probably due to players like Greg Koch and Jim Campilongo and stuff. And I’d say that PRS are more consistent but if you go out and search for a good Fender it’ll be every bit as good as the PRS and I prefer Fender necks, they just feel more comfortable for me. If I only played a Silver Sky for a few months that would probably change. That’s also something I’ve noticed along my journey, that my preference is often just whatever I’m used to. I played Fender Mustangs almost exclusively for a few years and I was so used to those necks that everything else felt clumsy and difficult to play. But now that I’ve mostly played on my 54 custom shop strat my 64 Mustang feels less familiar again but once I spend time on the Mustang again because I know I will, quickly the opposite will happen again. So I don’t always feel like modern features are necessarily better, most of the time they just make a guitar feel different. I do think taller frets are important but depending on the guitar sometimes it’s better that they are tall but narrow and sometimes jumbos feel great. I’ve even gone through a phase when I only liked vintage small frets because they feel super comfortable for chords and slides, and jumbos after being used to small frets feel terrible to play on at first lol but once you get used to em you can bend as much as you want and control your vibrato and be all aggressive. So Silver Sky is a fine fine guitar but it might not be everyone’s preference, I like the 50s Strats. And if money was no object I would take a real 62 or 63 strat over anything built now, but a good one because from owning a real 1964 Fender Mustang and trying a friend’s real 63 strat I really love how the real pre cbs era Fenders felt to play the most. Nothing from the custom shop or anything else quite feels the same. You can feel that it was a different company that made the original ones, there was a style of crafting, something signature about them that’s sadly lost forever. And Fender Mustangs especially get a very unfair rap, those originals were extremely good intstruments with extremely nice pickups and necks. If you want something that is close, you gotta go through a master builder or something.best production models are the Japanese ones
I'm a PRS fan and own a 594 WL, but I'd take my Ultra over the SS any day. Part of that is because the SS is just a money grab, not a better strat :)
The Ultra is a studio tool, the 61 is a wonderful player’s guitar. The 61 sounds realistic. Lovely playing many thanks
More like the other way around. Ultra is good for performance with the hum-free but not so ideal pickups, but vintage is for studio to get that vintage real strat tone but performance is sacrificed…
I feel like if u have the time to fiddle with mics noise gates eq placement of gear ... yea who wouldn't want an av2. But if u gig or record in a studio that charges per minute and u just have to deliver at a snap of someones fingers u better get the ultra like it or not.the chances of not screwing up is reduced with ultras.. u could also get a am deluxe or something that's top of the line from a few years back as well. Those are noiseless and probably cheaper. Just my humble opinion. I dont like worrying about gear or fiddling with it. Lol
@@smollande nah, in professional studios those problematic building wiring and noisy electrical currents are all but fixed. There’s no need for that experimentation with positioning, and mics. Only noisegates. What most producers want is that vintage strat tone, so having the AV2 will be a very useful professional studio equipment (note I said professional studio, and not home DIY studio). AV2 is far from a modern player’s guitar, that 7.25 radius is such a pain to bend on and those real single coils will be very unpredictable per concert venue plus that thin nitro finish will get battered from tour to tour, and that neck pocket truss rod nut will be a pain for the guitar tech. While the Ultra is called Ultra because it’s top-of-the-line playability geared towards a live player’s specifications.
@@jan_07 in some backward godforsaken towns the studios are far from ideal. But I agree that someone in your situation would find the vintage model more attractive of an option. It's just that for a tiny guitar bit in some ad jingle or a simple lead in a karaoke backing track, tones not that big of a deal . That's why there are options I guess. Something for everyone
@@smollande yup, it’s why I mentioned “professional studios”, like those big ones in Nashville, etc. kinda thing haha. I prefer the Ultra though as I’m a player and I just don’t like to “work hard” while playing. But if I’m invested heavy in music production and have a recording studio as a business, I would most likely pick AV2. But I agree, for smaller artist and smaller music projects, the tonal differences is not a deal breaker, cheers! 😄
Really enjoy the playing of the long hair guy 👍🏽
I’m partial to the vintage reissue my pops had a early 2000’s candy apple red 57 reissue with a maple neck and I absolutely loved that guitar. Yet imho I honestly thought the ultra had the better sound in this demo . I’m also extremely partial to a rolled maple neck on a on a fender guitar be it a strat or tele they have such a better feel.
Going for the '61 in White, '61 would be a birth year guitar for me and there's no way I could afford a real 1961!
The neck contour on the Ultra is VERY nice; however, the Vintage II sounds much much better. If I'm shredding up the neck I'm grabbing an SG anyway so Vintage II is the winner for me.
61 Fiesta Red is just so hot. Good lord what a beautiful instrument
A Les Paul is a beautiful instrument, these are still just slab guitars :)
So many people on the Facebook Fender page are saying that the nut on the Ultra's Truss Rods are stripping out because the Nut is to Soft.I hope that the Vintage II are not that way
I think Hendrix was mostly playing a 68’ and I think he had a 70’ aswell. And he had many earlier year moels. Those AV 2’s are cool cloth wire double line klusons and whatnot