I agree with you. Never convinced by the 4th generation of Noiseless, but here the 5th one pleases me, I found the great Strat tone again. S1 switch ? I have no use of it. Nice demo !
@@jimrhondaorozco309 there are other videos of new Ultra Strat with rosewood on fretboard, and it really sings with more highs/less mids, more vintage.
I recently bought an American Ultra Strat HSS in ultraburst with a maple neck. I own about 20 high end fender guitars...this is my favorite in looks and play
Elites are fantastic strats and I am sure the Ultras are too but as a shop owner myself let's have some honesty... No dealer is going to say the Elite is as good even though if they are. Customers deserve alot better !!! I gig an Elite and Custom Shops. From experience the Elites are a great buy.
I really have liked the Elites but I think the new neck heel and pickups are a huge improvement. With in-stock Elites being discounted they are a huge value! - Chris
@@suloporto27 yeah?!? how s your baby? mine had to go back to the fender factory to repair in 2days after I received,,,😭 cant wait for having it back. I like the way of the name: Elite than ultra. lol
RX-93 akhrouk mine I bought at guitar center, with no issues at all. I just love this guitar, my is the HSS in olympic white with a beautiful dark neck
@@suloporto27 thats good stuff!! I was unlucky,,,, hope it ll be fixed well. mine is the same HSS!! but maple board & champagne colour. hope your baby keeps well condition!!.
ya know i thought the same thing with that color then i saw it in person and it isnt just white it has little red speckles on it and honestly the guitar didnt call out to me like one i bought did but seemed like a legit guitar no doubt
The 'in series' mode the elite has is great, giving humbucker like sounds, and with the ultra it simply adds the neck p-up in parallel. I have the elite from 2016 and its 'played-in' and my favorite guitar apart from a Suhr I recently bought which I have to admit is on another level.
I have both, a 2019 Professional and Elite. My Elite is beautiful with an Ebony board which has no streaking in it. I like the tone of the Professional better. What I would like from Fender is my 2019 Professional exactly as is but add a contoured heel joint and a 12" radius with that Deep C carve. That would be PERFECT!
Honestly, I play acoustic guitars but this year discovered a love for electrics. So I have a few and Ive done a crazy amount of listening and researching. I really like the look of the Ultra but the sound of the Elite is amazing. It’s a pity that Fender is not going to make both available because I’m sure there are enough ears, tastes and buyers to accomodate both. Thanks for a great review! I may just rush off to find an Elite before they have all gone!
Right now the Elite can be bought at a great price while they last and is a quality instrument, as for the pups they can always be changed, but a good amp and some tweaking can solve any tone issues if any! I personally would not spend the 2 thousand plus on the ultra because it's just not a daylight and dark difference for the price.
I like the heel sculpting and the Gen 5 pickups in the Ultra, and I like the Ebony fretboard and Truss Rod Wheel adjustment in the Elite. I understand those who say the Elite S1 switching is complex, but it does give you more tonal options than the Ultra. The different neck shapes are a matter of personal choice. I have a lefty Elite with Ebony board, and I changed the pickups for a set of lefty Abigail Ybarras. I also have a stock lefty Ultra as my “noiseless single coil” guitar. One day I may take the Ultra to my luthier and hand him the Elite S1 wiring diagrams and say replicate that in the Ultra. Another option would be to replace the S1 with a Freeway 5B5-01 ten position blade switch.
Nice review and performance!! It is hard to say which is better because of comparison of rosewood on maple neck and only maple. I usually prefer rosewood fingerboard tone. In this case Elite.
Overall I thought the Ultra sounded more "professional" and I really love fender's new colors! Finally!!! That being said, The Elite had some cool sounds. Not a fan of that ebony fretboard. Maple or Rosewood I say!
Thanks for the review. I played both today and liked the Ultra a little better. The pups were hotter and it just felt better to me. There was someone else that was also playing both and he preferred the Elite. Go figure. It just depends on your preference and your budget. I bought the Plasma red HSS with a maple neck.
I had an Ultra, took it back and got a mint used Elite (In Olympic Pearl). Neck is better, frets are better, more sounds you can get out of it. Better colors (Cobra Blue is the best of the lot and looks amazing with the Cream PG and PUs) too, the Ultras have obnoxious colors. I don't see where Fender is giving you $200 more guitar over the Elite which is odd since the Elita has more features. Pickguards won't be an issue IMO as they made that guard enough years. Honestly the only think I like on the Ultras is the tint. They both play smooth. I will say every single Ultra I played h ad really bad fret bulge. Whether that's the temp or the new/old rolled neck who knows. Lots of them has lacquer on the frets too. Not sure if quality control is just bad right now. Now here's the part to read: MOST OF THE EARLY ULTRAS HAVE GEN 4 PICKUPS. I'd wager the one they're playing has them. Watch trogs video on his Texas Tea strat and Fender's response. They pretty much admitted they made Ultras with Gen 4 until they ran out or something. So all those first ones probably isn't gen 5. If you do pull the trigger on an Ultra have your guitar tech/luthier pull the pick guard off and check the pickups. those launch strats are rip offs IMO.
@@ShamanicSavant I mean I owned both. The fret spout may have been the winter. The one thing I prefer the elite on is the the pick configuration of what the S1 switch does. It's really kinda boring on the Ultras. Also they shaved a lot of wood off to make the back scalloped, not a fan of less wood on any strats but again it's knitpicky stuff. The main reason I took my ultra back and got the elite is the pickups switching gave so much more versatility. Other than that they're both great guitars. Asymmetrical necks are love hate I definitely like it but I loved the neck on the ultra too.
A superb video! Both guitars sound great, but I think I´d prefer to have the Ultra Strat. The only thing I don`t like about either is the shape of the tremolo bar. I prefer the classic style bar shape with the plastic end cap.
Ultra - More strat-like and vintage sounding, traditional looking! Elite - too muffled especially when you activate the S1 switch! ULTRA SERIES WINS !!!
The fretboard on that white elite is badass. No mistaking it for another if it’s yours. You could spot that thing from across the room. I have a candy apple red Gretsch, hollow body with a similar stripe in the Rosewood. It’s super cool.
I quite liked the original Fender Elite Stratocaster with the built in EQ, I got to borrow one for a few weeks and found some excellent tones with it, of course you can do the same with an EQ peddle, having the controls on the guitar though was a good thing!
The thing is, everything Fender makes is such good quality that with all these high end models, nothing is better, only different. My personal preference, sound wise, would be the elite, because I love the darker sound it has - but I love the look of the ultra. Shame I'll never afford either now that gigs are banned due to Covid-19 🙃
Again the ultra is just a little bit brighter more toppy but is that necessarily a better sound ....or should you just eq an elite differently? My opinion the ultra has more the authenticity
Thanks for the comparison video. I like where they're going with the ultra, but ..... it's not enough to make me get my wallet out. I really wish they would offer stainless frets on the higher-end models like everyone else.
@@AlamoMusic sure, it's their call to offer what they want. I predict they will offer SS frets in a few years and make a big deal about it. Kinda like how they were a laggard on the pop-in tremolo bar, and now that's a major feature. Who knows. I like SS frets. They sound good and I'm not buying another electric without them.
@@BenBreard I totally agree with you on several counts Ben...if you're saying the Ultra is the most "modern" Strat...where Fender has never gone before...why not go right at their competition like Suhr, Keisel, etc...and use SS frets, go back to the spoke wheel truss Adjustment, put the neck tilt adjustment back, and offer all colors with all three neck options, like maple fretboard with the Cobra Blue in HSS, not just in SSS??? I liked how it felt a lot when I played it...they're definitely not worried about offending the traditionalist with the, dare I say...Silver Sky-like neck heel and horn carve, or with the more 'shredder" flat D shaped neck and satin finish...so why not go all the way? Perhaps in a few years...like you said!
Hello, Congratulations on the tests. I would have to choose between a new STATOCASTER VINTERA 50 MAPLE NECK and a STATOCASTER AMERICAN ELITE MAPLE NECK ex demo (with guarantees) at the same price. Music genre: CLAPTON - GILMOUR - KNOFLER. I'll proceed to the tests anyway. Which would you choose? Thanks. I always follow you
Yep. Sounds more vintage. Absolutely right. Plus with new line Ultra, the price of Elites may come down... I wonder if whatever they did to eliminate the buzz also took away some of the vintage sound.
Hi Chris, Excellent Demo, Love the new Colour.👍👍👍. I really do like a nice Rolled Neck, I have an Elite Maple Neck, Slightly Rolled, she's Beautiful, do like the Tint on the Ultra! Take care mate. Melbourne, Australia.
Bro I also suggest the Mojotone 58 quite coils. I have the American Elite magnificent 7 (2 tone bust maple top, rosewood neck) and my brother has the American Ultraluxe. I gigged the hell out of the Elite guitar and ate through the frets in about 6 years. I recently got it refretted with Jescar SS 57110 and compound radiused it to 12-16 inch with the mojotone 58 quite coils. I can truly say it feels way better than the Ultraluxe. The elite imho is the best playing guitar in the world right now (the C to D shape is almost like the neck on Guthrie Govan's Charvel) even though the websitr doesn't mention it remember that the elite's neck and Charvel necks are almost identical with the Truss rod adjustment at the bottom), And the feel for me is way better than my Custom Suhr as well 😂. I guess when I got my Luthier to work on my guitar he really polished the work done from the factory.
Hi, i just bought an ultra this past weekend, its my first strat...so Im a newbie 😀 Can anyone tell me why the pickup magnets are different heights? Eg, some are raised up and some are flat to the plastic?? Does it make any difference to not being level heights?
Hey man! Love your store! I used to come visit when I would come in from Tyler. My beautiful mother in law , Eva, had Old World German Restaurant and Delicatessen next door! While she and her daughter would catch up, I'd come visit y'all. Happy Holidays!🎄 ( Like the new Fender, it may pry me away from my old Ibanez.)
The middle and neck pickup with the S-1 activated on the elites sounds way too muffled. Interestingly, the bridge and middle pickup with the S-1 activated on the Ultra sounded pretty limp. It's like they have opposite areas of weakness. Great demo guys, thanks.
Ok there's a clear difference in the high end between the 2. The Ultra sounds alot more trebly. My first thought is....are the tone settings for each guitar the exact same?....because it sounds like the tone control an the strat has been turned way down low. I've listened to a few demo videos on Elite strats and they sound nothing like this (I own a Tele elite myself). Also the volume on the Ultra is way higher.
Get the elite with the S1 switch, and the shawbucker at the bridge with the pass out switch that cuts the electronics and gives the option to cut straight to the shawbucker for an extra boost, this beats the ultra mods in my opinion.
Had an ultra in texas tea which was absolutely stunning in person... But I can't seem to like the D-necks and that color comes with the anodized pick guard which makes the guitar microphonic. No point in a well over 2k guitar that can't be played loud or with gain/distoration.
The elite blew my mind. Really good strat. If you are after the elite go for elite. Now don’t get me wrong, the ultra is a really good Stratocaster but it doesn’t compare to the beast.
@@o.w.dobbins6927 Is that right? That would suit me - favourite neck by miles is MIM / USA Wolfgangs - same factory I think but otherwise very different
Agreed. The n4's to me in my Elite always sounded a bit..'restrained' and dark comparing them to non-noiseless options and now the n5's. I just never fell in love with the pickups. Great, great guitar those Elites, but they're their own thing when talking Strats for sure.
You mentioned the thinner heel on the ultra over the elite. That may feel better but there’s less wood to hold the neck, which makes the ultra easier to break where the heel meets the body. And possibly less sustain.
My 1994 Strat Deluxe plus knocks them both out out of the ball park..These guitars sound tinny..I love Fender and always will...I support new models and all...Just saying..These are Ok...Just my opinion...
I have an elite and in my head compared to my Mex strat is a completly different instrument. My Ultra is on its way.......I did customise my Mex with a David Gilmoure upgrade. It sounds great, but still not as good as my elite. I didnt like the S1 switching on the elite and prefer the ultra. I only have small hands so the ultra curves will help me get those upper frets a little easier.
Played one the other day and could not get into the flat radius fretboard at all. Just felt strange. Obviously personal preference. Pickups on this ultra sound better than previous noiseless though as others said.
Your HSS is far more versatile than any Ultra. It has more tonal variations, passing lane switch, truss rod adjustment wheel, and I, too, prefer its neck over Ultra's. Elites will probably have a better resale value over time, too. Ultras are just meh guitars, Fender definitely oversold them with misleading ads.
the best is the Sambora model= ) Clapton model Beck model and the AZ2204 :) ) so mix all of them to have the best strat ever :) with Knopfler- SRV -Healey too :)
*Alamo* music center? Do you guys happen to be based in San Antonio? Or is it just the name? Never mind, didn’t watch the whole video. I live in San Antonio :D
I bought a lefty Elite a few months ago. I like it quite a lot but would seriously consider an Ultra -- IF they made it for Folks Like Me, but --- nope. Disappointed in Fender. Curiously, they make not one but two "vintage" style high-end lefty Strats, but I don't want noisy s/c pickups and the (yuck) vintage wang bar -- I want the modern bits. Great comparison though!
![เป็นไปได้ไหม - WanMai [Performance Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Eh5hItD4Mr0/mqdefault.jpg)
The Ultra sounds more lively and has more of that Fender sound that I love.
I agree with you. Never convinced by the 4th generation of Noiseless, but here the 5th one pleases me, I found the great Strat tone again. S1 switch ? I have no use of it. Nice demo !
It'a a maple fret board!!! Need to do this video again with 2 guitars with the same fret board!!
@@jimrhondaorozco309 there are other videos of new Ultra Strat with rosewood on fretboard, and it really sings with more highs/less mids, more vintage.
Probably because it's louder in this video.
I Agree 100%. New Noiseless Sound Better = " More Stratty "
I have both Ultra and Elites, both guitars can deliver, you can't go wrong with either of them 😀
I recently bought an American Ultra Strat HSS in ultraburst with a maple neck. I own about 20 high end fender guitars...this is my favorite in looks and play
i got mine today same specs :)
Elites are fantastic strats and I am sure the Ultras are too but as a shop owner myself let's have some honesty... No dealer is going to say the Elite is as good even though if they are. Customers deserve alot better !!! I gig an Elite and Custom Shops. From experience the Elites are a great buy.
I really have liked the Elites but I think the new neck heel and pickups are a huge improvement. With in-stock Elites being discounted they are a huge value! - Chris
me stick to my Elite. because simply i bought it a month ago. XD
RX-93 akhrouk hahhah I bought one too last month
@@suloporto27 yeah?!? how s your baby? mine had to go back to the fender factory to repair in 2days after I received,,,😭 cant wait for having it back. I like the way of the name: Elite than ultra. lol
RX-93 akhrouk mine I bought at guitar center, with no issues at all. I just love this guitar, my is the HSS in olympic white with a beautiful dark neck
@@suloporto27 thats good stuff!! I was unlucky,,,, hope it ll be fixed well. mine is the same HSS!! but maple board & champagne colour. hope your baby keeps well condition!!.
@@RX93akhrouk what was the problem with it?
Personally I would go for the elite
The Ultra sounds more like what I would expect a Strat to sound like.
i think its because of the maple neck
@@ramibasmahjian1663 Gotta love a maple neck.
I'm digging the Mocha Burst Strat.... thanks for the great reviews.. you never disappoint
Personally the Elite Has a weird Low End to every setting ! Ultra Sounds Beautiful
The ultra is the best,also the feel of the neck.I have the ultra Cobra Blue 👌
That white strat is gorgeous, I want it.
ya know i thought the same thing with that color then i saw it in person and it isnt just white it has little red speckles on it and honestly the guitar didnt call out to me like one i bought did but seemed like a legit guitar no doubt
It's a pearl white, a metallic paint job. Not quite as nice as a flat Olympic white in my opinion but it does look nice.
I prefer the mocha ultra.
The 'in series' mode the elite has is great, giving humbucker like sounds, and with the ultra it simply adds the neck p-up in parallel. I have the elite from 2016 and its 'played-in' and my favorite guitar apart from a Suhr I recently bought which I have to admit is on another level.
I have an Elite, and I'm basically falling in love with it now lol. I find it grows on you. It's so easy to play.
I have both, a 2019 Professional and Elite. My Elite is beautiful with an Ebony board which has no streaking in it. I like the tone of the Professional better. What I would like from Fender is my 2019 Professional exactly as is but add a contoured heel joint and a 12" radius with that Deep C carve. That would be PERFECT!
Honestly, I play acoustic guitars but this year discovered a love for electrics. So I have a few and Ive done a crazy amount of listening and researching. I really like the look of the Ultra but the sound of the Elite is amazing. It’s a pity that Fender is not going to make both available because I’m sure there are enough ears, tastes and buyers to accomodate both. Thanks for a great review! I may just rush off to find an Elite before they have all gone!
I do go for elite which I purchased last year
Right now the Elite can be bought at a great price while they last and is a quality instrument, as for the pups they can always be changed, but a good amp and some tweaking can solve any tone issues if any! I personally would not spend the 2 thousand plus on the ultra because it's just not a daylight and dark difference for the price.
I like the heel sculpting and the Gen 5 pickups in the Ultra, and I like the Ebony fretboard and Truss Rod Wheel adjustment in the Elite. I understand those who say the Elite S1 switching is complex, but it does give you more tonal options than the Ultra. The different neck shapes are a matter of personal choice. I have a lefty Elite with Ebony board, and I changed the pickups for a set of lefty Abigail Ybarras. I also have a stock lefty Ultra as my “noiseless single coil” guitar. One day I may take the Ultra to my luthier and hand him the Elite S1 wiring diagrams and say replicate that in the Ultra. Another option would be to replace the S1 with a Freeway 5B5-01 ten position blade switch.
You are always the best in reviewing!!!
I'm going with the ultra in cobra blue.
Can't wait to wrap my hands around it!
Nice review and performance!! It is hard to say which is better because of comparison of rosewood on maple neck and only maple. I usually prefer rosewood fingerboard tone. In this case Elite.
It's not rosewood on maple, it's ebony on maple on Elite.
@@sv1201 Exactly. Sorry. I think it is rare case Fender adopts Ebony. Normally Ebony is stiffer than Rosewood as you know.
Overall I thought the Ultra sounded more "professional" and I really love fender's new colors! Finally!!! That being said, The Elite had some cool sounds. Not a fan of that ebony fretboard. Maple or Rosewood I say!
Thanks for the review. I played both today and liked the Ultra a little better. The pups were hotter and it just felt better to me. There was someone else that was also playing both and he preferred the Elite. Go figure. It just depends on your preference and your budget. I bought the Plasma red HSS with a maple neck.
Congrats. Enjoy for a long time!
I need to get the Ultra pickups for my Elite. A lot more clarity.
I’m also thinking of it
I had an Ultra, took it back and got a mint used Elite (In Olympic Pearl). Neck is better, frets are better, more sounds you can get out of it. Better colors (Cobra Blue is the best of the lot and looks amazing with the Cream PG and PUs) too, the Ultras have obnoxious colors. I don't see where Fender is giving you $200 more guitar over the Elite which is odd since the Elita has more features. Pickguards won't be an issue IMO as they made that guard enough years. Honestly the only think I like on the Ultras is the tint. They both play smooth. I will say every single Ultra I played h ad really bad fret bulge. Whether that's the temp or the new/old rolled neck who knows. Lots of them has lacquer on the frets too. Not sure if quality control is just bad right now.
Now here's the part to read: MOST OF THE EARLY ULTRAS HAVE GEN 4 PICKUPS. I'd wager the one they're playing has them. Watch trogs video on his Texas Tea strat and Fender's response. They pretty much admitted they made Ultras with Gen 4 until they ran out or something. So all those first ones probably isn't gen 5.
If you do pull the trigger on an Ultra have your guitar tech/luthier pull the pick guard off and check the pickups. those launch strats are rip offs IMO.
@@ShamanicSavant I mean I owned both. The fret spout may have been the winter. The one thing I prefer the elite on is the the pick configuration of what the S1 switch does. It's really kinda boring on the Ultras. Also they shaved a lot of wood off to make the back scalloped, not a fan of less wood on any strats but again it's knitpicky stuff. The main reason I took my ultra back and got the elite is the pickups switching gave so much more versatility. Other than that they're both great guitars. Asymmetrical necks are love hate I definitely like it but I loved the neck on the ultra too.
th-cam.com/video/qFXw1Sc6Skc/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=TheTrogly%27sGuitarShow
th-cam.com/video/qFXw1Sc6Skc/w-d-xo.html
A superb video! Both guitars sound great, but I think I´d prefer to have the Ultra Strat. The only thing I don`t like about either is the shape of the tremolo bar. I prefer the classic style bar shape with the plastic end cap.
I'm a bass player, just stopping by to steal riffs and jam with you. The Ultra sounds beautiful by itself but both cut thorough my bass, nicely.
Ultra - More strat-like and vintage sounding, traditional looking!
Elite - too muffled especially when you activate the S1 switch!
ULTRA SERIES WINS !!!
I got the Ultra HSS version super versatile plus I love the look of the one zebra humbucker on it.
The fretboard on that white elite is badass. No mistaking it for another if it’s yours. You could spot that thing from across the room. I have a candy apple red Gretsch, hollow body with a similar stripe in the Rosewood. It’s super cool.
What they have tried to do is compete with the Levinson Blade RH4 and owning the both my first choice is still my 1999 RH4.
I too have the RH4 but wish it had a maple fingerboard. Not sure if the Ultra with this would be any better.
I quite liked the original Fender Elite Stratocaster with the built in EQ, I got to borrow one for a few weeks and found some excellent tones with it, of course you can do the same with an EQ peddle, having the controls on the guitar though was a good thing!
The thing is, everything Fender makes is such good quality that with all these high end models, nothing is better, only different. My personal preference, sound wise, would be the elite, because I love the darker sound it has - but I love the look of the ultra. Shame I'll never afford either now that gigs are banned due to Covid-19 🙃
Chris! Your shirt has astigmatism
This was actually comparison between rosewood and maple fingerboards.
Elite has ebony fret board
Again the ultra is just a little bit brighter more toppy but is that necessarily a better sound ....or should you just eq an elite differently? My opinion the ultra has more the authenticity
Thanks for the comparison video. I like where they're going with the ultra, but ..... it's not enough to make me get my wallet out. I really wish they would offer stainless frets on the higher-end models like everyone else.
The reason for the frets not changing is because of the tone change that takes place when moving to stainless steel. Direct from Fender - Chris
@@AlamoMusic sure, it's their call to offer what they want. I predict they will offer SS frets in a few years and make a big deal about it. Kinda like how they were a laggard on the pop-in tremolo bar, and now that's a major feature. Who knows. I like SS frets. They sound good and I'm not buying another electric without them.
@@BenBreard I totally agree with you on several counts Ben...if you're saying the Ultra is the most "modern" Strat...where Fender has never gone before...why not go right at their competition like Suhr, Keisel, etc...and use SS frets, go back to the spoke wheel truss Adjustment, put the neck tilt adjustment back, and offer all colors with all three neck options, like maple fretboard with the Cobra Blue in HSS, not just in SSS??? I liked how it felt a lot when I played it...they're definitely not worried about offending the traditionalist with the, dare I say...Silver Sky-like neck heel and horn carve, or with the more 'shredder" flat D shaped neck and satin finish...so why not go all the way? Perhaps in a few years...like you said!
The Fender Ultra Lux has Stainless Steel frets.
I like the bass of the ultra, but the treble of the Elite more
The Elite is less flashy.
Hello,
Congratulations on the tests.
I would have to choose between a new STATOCASTER VINTERA 50 MAPLE NECK and a STATOCASTER AMERICAN ELITE MAPLE NECK ex demo (with guarantees) at the same price.
Music genre: CLAPTON - GILMOUR - KNOFLER.
I'll proceed to the tests anyway.
Which would you choose?
Thanks.
I always follow you
Both are Awesome. Great Playen 😁. And love the detailed descriptions we ALWAY'S GET from Alamo Music. ❤🇺🇸😁
To my surprise I prefer the less bright sound of the Elite Strat.
Yep. Sounds more vintage. Absolutely right. Plus with new line Ultra, the price of Elites may come down... I wonder if whatever they did to eliminate the buzz also took away some of the vintage sound.
How do I get a humbucker pickup sound or the bridge + neck P.U to sound together on an elite strat ?
Hi...should have used similar necks ....rosewood on both or maple...?
Elite has ebony, Ultra doesn't come with ebony at all.
Hi Chris, Excellent Demo, Love the new Colour.👍👍👍.
I really do like a nice Rolled Neck, I have an Elite Maple Neck, Slightly Rolled, she's Beautiful, do like the Tint on the Ultra!
Take care mate.
Melbourne, Australia.
The Elite has my vote...there was a little too much treble in the Ultra...might be the Maple fretboard.
Agreed, if only we had the bass of the Ultra and treble of the elite
He ebony fingerboard on the Elite is brighter than the maple on the Ultra.
I just played an ultra maple vs rosewood back to back, and the rosewood was definitely warmer. Matter of taste, I chose the rosewood on this one
What amp they use in this video?
I have the elite and I LOVE IT! I have yet to try the Ultra but the new body design and lighter weight looks cool. But, I cant give up my elite.
I bought elite HSS just a year ago but now that ultra sounds really much like a good strat. I’m planning to change pups.
Go for it!
Bro I also suggest the Mojotone 58 quite coils. I have the American Elite magnificent 7 (2 tone bust maple top, rosewood neck) and my brother has the American Ultraluxe.
I gigged the hell out of the Elite guitar and ate through the frets in about 6 years. I recently got it refretted with Jescar SS 57110 and compound radiused it to 12-16 inch with the mojotone 58 quite coils. I can truly say it feels way better than the Ultraluxe.
The elite imho is the best playing guitar in the world right now (the C to D shape is almost like the neck on Guthrie Govan's Charvel) even though the websitr doesn't mention it remember that the elite's neck and Charvel necks are almost identical with the Truss rod adjustment at the bottom),
And the feel for me is way better than my Custom Suhr as well 😂. I guess when I got my Luthier to work on my guitar he really polished the work done from the factory.
Hi, i just bought an ultra this past weekend, its my first strat...so Im a newbie 😀
Can anyone tell me why the pickup magnets are different heights? Eg, some are raised up and some are flat to the plastic?? Does it make any difference to not being level heights?
Ultra body with improved neck heel and deeper body contours combined with the Elite's neck accessible trusrod. That will be my next guitar
The body and the top horn look bigger on the the elite... is it ?
Hey man! Love your store! I used to come visit when I would come in from Tyler. My beautiful mother in law , Eva, had Old World German Restaurant and Delicatessen next door! While she and her daughter would catch up, I'd come visit y'all.
Happy Holidays!🎄
( Like the new Fender, it may pry me away from my old Ibanez.)
JUST BOUGHT ONE IN THE NEW I.M. ABOUTTA BURST FINISH AND I MUST SAY IT HAS A NICE FULL SOUND TO IT.
I’d like to see a video like this on elite vs ultra telecaster.
The middle and neck pickup with the S-1 activated on the elites sounds way too muffled. Interestingly, the bridge and middle pickup with the S-1 activated on the Ultra sounded pretty limp. It's like they have opposite areas of weakness. Great demo guys, thanks.
Ok there's a clear difference in the high end between the 2. The Ultra sounds alot more trebly. My first thought is....are the tone settings for each guitar the exact same?....because it sounds like the tone control an the strat has been turned way down low. I've listened to a few demo videos on Elite strats and they sound nothing like this (I own a Tele elite myself). Also the volume on the Ultra is way higher.
I can’t find info on metal threaded inserts in the neck heel. Do they have a pitch angle Allen screw on the neck?
Nope, not no more.
Both guitars should have been tested with the same fingerboard. Rosewood and or ebony make tones different than a maple fingerboard.
Get the elite with the S1 switch, and the shawbucker at the bridge with the pass out switch that cuts the electronics and gives the option to cut straight to the shawbucker for an extra boost, this beats the ultra mods in my opinion.
that texas tea is sooo cool looking. has like a 70s vibe combined with modern
The ultra is nice af
I like the tone of the Elite better.
So does this meant the new one got gilmour wiring inside??
Had an ultra in texas tea which was absolutely stunning in person... But I can't seem to like the D-necks and that color comes with the anodized pick guard which makes the guitar microphonic. No point in a well over 2k guitar that can't be played loud or with gain/distoration.
The elite blew my mind. Really good strat. If you are after the elite go for elite. Now don’t get me wrong, the ultra is a really good Stratocaster but it doesn’t compare to the beast.
Ultra is definitely better sounding to me. Just need to test to know if it plays like a butter.
Fastest Strat neck ever and thin, kind of like my EVH Wolfgang.
@@o.w.dobbins6927 Is that right? That would suit me - favourite neck by miles is MIM / USA Wolfgangs - same factory I think but otherwise very different
@@simonbailey2754 Definitely the best strat neck ever, especially that compound radius....fast!! You won't be
disappointed!!
Butter
I have a elite strat I absolutely love it now I'm just gonna upgrade those pickups
The new pickups are awesome! - Chris
@@AlamoMusic Sans the covers!
Agreed. The n4's to me in my Elite always sounded a bit..'restrained' and dark comparing them to non-noiseless options and now the n5's. I just never fell in love with the pickups. Great, great guitar those Elites, but they're their own thing when talking Strats for sure.
Hmmm. Bright and articulate, v/s elegantly silky. Tough decision.
Almost two different missions! Possibly need one of each...
You mentioned the thinner heel on the ultra over the elite. That may feel better but there’s less wood to hold the neck, which makes the ultra easier to break where the heel meets the body. And possibly less sustain.
My 1994 Strat Deluxe plus knocks them both out out of the ball park..These guitars sound tinny..I love Fender and always will...I support new models and all...Just saying..These are Ok...Just my opinion...
The ultra is so much more vibrant and agressive
I have an elite and in my head compared to my Mex strat is a completly different instrument. My Ultra is on its way.......I did customise my Mex with a David Gilmoure upgrade. It sounds great, but still not as good as my elite. I didnt like the S1 switching on the elite and prefer the ultra. I only have small hands so the ultra curves will help me get those upper frets a little easier.
Played one the other day and could not get into the flat radius fretboard at all. Just felt strange. Obviously personal preference. Pickups on this ultra sound better than previous noiseless though as others said.
Unless you're an LP guy used to a flatter radius... then it's kind of nice :)
Can’t I do this to my 40 year anniversary Strat? Like they’ve done with the altra. Or get a fender parts Stratocaster kit and do the mods my self.
Huh?? Either way you'll have to do it yourself dude.
For left-handed players no contest as there was a lefty Elite Strat but no lefty options in the Ultra range. A step backwards Fender.
Update June 2021 - lefty Ultra SSS Strats are available.
I have exactly the same colour Olympic Pearl Elite as in the video but mine is HSS. I tested the ultra as well, but liked more the neck of the elite.
Your HSS is far more versatile than any Ultra. It has more tonal variations, passing lane switch, truss rod adjustment wheel, and I, too, prefer its neck over Ultra's. Elites will probably have a better resale value over time, too. Ultras are just meh guitars, Fender definitely oversold them with misleading ads.
the best is the Sambora model= )
Clapton model
Beck model
and the AZ2204 :) )
so mix all of them to have the best strat ever :) with Knopfler- SRV -Healey too :)
I got 90% of this on my 91 strat plus.
*Alamo* music center? Do you guys happen to be based in San Antonio? Or is it just the name?
Never mind, didn’t watch the whole video. I live in San Antonio :D
They remove my comments on how good looking and fit Cooper is. He is a rocking dude..im not gay for him but he is cool
Big bucks right here.
The Ultra sounds so much better, it's not even fair. Also, I really like the new neck joint and contours, as well as the all modern D neck profile.
i still like the N3's n S 1 switch and the deluxe better
I know it has to be an oversight but you're comparing 2 guitars with different fret boards? Love the information but a do over I think!!
I just got that Mocha yesterday. Amazing. Me? Not so much.
Ultra crushes, man.
I had elite before,sold it and bought ultra,now I regret,coz elite sound better
is elite strat body size quite bigger?
Chris McGee & Cooper Greenberg!
back to the time when John Krasinski had long hair and played the guitar
I bought a lefty Elite a few months ago. I like it quite a lot but would seriously consider an Ultra -- IF they made it for Folks Like Me, but --- nope. Disappointed in Fender. Curiously, they make not one but two "vintage" style high-end lefty Strats, but I don't want noisy s/c pickups and the (yuck) vintage wang bar -- I want the modern bits. Great comparison though!
Lefty Ultras are now available.
I tried ‘em all at my local guitar shop, ended up buying a player series stratocaster with a mustang gtx 100 amp instead.
The Elite sounds more pleasing in my headphones.
Why's that I'm in the market and doing my research. Not trying to hurt my ears while using headphones . Any advice is appreciate it
Ultra 😍🤩
The ultra sound more clean. Elite sounds muddy with the s1 switch on.
Unless you go for the Ultra Luxe, the Elite series is actually a whole load better quality made guitar.
Elite every time.
Elite the best way to go for me
beautiful
ebony is what id want...and stainless steal frets
try the hss 's