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MGR/Lester « Fender Strat Ultra »
Published on 10/01/02 at 15:00I had a need for a more sophisticated guitar to play in a more jazz-oriented way, and I also wanted the prossibilite for a more country-oriented sound. I mostly play an Les Paul, which have an excellent rock and heavy blues sound. The Strat Ultra with its three different pick-ups: a Blue Lace in neck, a Gold Lace in middle and a Red Lace Dually (humbucker) in bridge-position seemed to be the perfect choice for my wantings.
I like the soft and sophisticated sound of the Blue and Gold Lace pick-ups. They are more "cool" than the original Fender single coils and makes one sound almost as Walter Becker in Steely Dan (even if he uses other pick-ups). I also like the double-locking Fender Floyd Rose tremolo system - it has a perfect tuning even after hard attacks. The neck is wonderful: slim and maple with a ebony fingerboard - very fast and friendly.
I like everything with this guitar. I bought it used and the frets needed some adjustment by a luthier. The out-put jack was also replaced, but after these minor adjustments the instrument is in perfect shape. Perhaps it can be even better. I am planning to put another pick-up in the bridge position, since the Red Lace Dually is somewhat weak - it sounds good but is "sophisticated" like everything else on this guitar. Perhaps I will change to a DiMarzio Air Zone, which have more output and more distorsion and also have more harmonic overtones. It also has lower magnetic string pull, whick gives a "singing" sustain, according to the producer - it consequently seem to sound like a Lace pick-up, whick also has a lower string pull and more sustain. Then, perhaps, this guitar will have all possibilities. Right now it is almost too sophisticated?
The construction and quality of this instrument is wonderful. It has a clear and solid tone also without amplifier. It will hold for more than 50 years, but will of course need some reparations sometimes.
The Fender Strat Ultra was a very good intention to have an instrument with lots of opportunities for different sounds. Everything on the guitar is solid quality and it sounds extra-ordinary good. The owner still must remember that this a guitar for the sophisticated player. It can with the help of different overdrivers and distorsion-pedals start to sound like heavy metal, but, according to my opinion, that is not the soul of this instrument. But perhaps it´s possible to put a more aggressive pick-up in the bridge position, and have it all. One still has to remember to listen carefully so that the instrument does not lose it soul? I still give it a 5, it is a fantastic instrument.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
I like the soft and sophisticated sound of the Blue and Gold Lace pick-ups. They are more "cool" than the original Fender single coils and makes one sound almost as Walter Becker in Steely Dan (even if he uses other pick-ups). I also like the double-locking Fender Floyd Rose tremolo system - it has a perfect tuning even after hard attacks. The neck is wonderful: slim and maple with a ebony fingerboard - very fast and friendly.
I like everything with this guitar. I bought it used and the frets needed some adjustment by a luthier. The out-put jack was also replaced, but after these minor adjustments the instrument is in perfect shape. Perhaps it can be even better. I am planning to put another pick-up in the bridge position, since the Red Lace Dually is somewhat weak - it sounds good but is "sophisticated" like everything else on this guitar. Perhaps I will change to a DiMarzio Air Zone, which have more output and more distorsion and also have more harmonic overtones. It also has lower magnetic string pull, whick gives a "singing" sustain, according to the producer - it consequently seem to sound like a Lace pick-up, whick also has a lower string pull and more sustain. Then, perhaps, this guitar will have all possibilities. Right now it is almost too sophisticated?
The construction and quality of this instrument is wonderful. It has a clear and solid tone also without amplifier. It will hold for more than 50 years, but will of course need some reparations sometimes.
The Fender Strat Ultra was a very good intention to have an instrument with lots of opportunities for different sounds. Everything on the guitar is solid quality and it sounds extra-ordinary good. The owner still must remember that this a guitar for the sophisticated player. It can with the help of different overdrivers and distorsion-pedals start to sound like heavy metal, but, according to my opinion, that is not the soul of this instrument. But perhaps it´s possible to put a more aggressive pick-up in the bridge position, and have it all. One still has to remember to listen carefully so that the instrument does not lose it soul? I still give it a 5, it is a fantastic instrument.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com