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Don't shoot the messenger, guys. I'm just here to tell you that Fender announced a new line of American Ultra Luxe Vintage Strats and Teles, and if you have a spare arm or a leg, you might be able to get your hands (hand?) on one.
The essence of this new range is vintage appointments and specs—mixed in with some modern ones—to emanate a classic vibe while providing modern playability and functionality. They're all variations on '50s and '60s Strats and Teles, with a unique set of appointments like Heirloom lacquer finish, Pure Vintage pickups, and stainless steel frets.
“With the American Ultra Luxe Vintage series, we’ve redefined the balance between heritage and innovation,” says Max Gutnik, Fender’s Chief Product Officer. “This collection honors our iconic legacy while pushing the boundaries of modern craftsmanship…We're proud to offer players an elevated experience that respects tradition and sets a new standard for performance.”
"Sorta Vintage Looking, but With All Modern Features"
The line, which was just announced a couple hours ago, has already drawn some fire on social media. Some argue that it's kind of like Fender just optimized for the most expensive list of features they could throw together. Others are critiquing the use of the word "vintage" to describe guitars that feature almost entirely modern appointments.
And, I mean, I get it.
Like, these are obviously awesome guitars. But it kind of sums up our current "k-shaped" economic and cultural moment that brands would start offering up the most premium products possible for those who can afford it, while Squiers and Epiphones are climbing into the $1000+ range as well, pricing a lot of prospective players out of the guitar market entirely. Cynical, sure—yet also unnervingly practical.
On the other hand, guitar companies are facing a unique challenge in that the demand for vintage instruments is higher than ever, and efforts to offer up new spins on classic products often result in a cycle that risks seeming repetitive. So brands might need to scramble for new concepts, culminating in ever more random feature-mashups like the American Ultra Luxe Vintage line.
But, I'm rambling. Let's take a look at some of these. What do you guys think?
A Look at the Fender American Ultra Luxe Vintage Series
‘50s Stratocaster
Available in ash or alder, the '50s Strat sports a quartersawn maple neck, Pure Vintage ’57 pickups, precision tremolo, locking tuners, and rolled edges for comfort. From the Luminlay® side dots to the Graph Tech TUSQ® nut, these features pretty well sum up the line's mission statement of modern performance dressed in classic aesthetics. [$2,849.99]
‘60s Stratocaster
Crafted from alder with Fender's Heirloom finish, the '60s Strat is a nod to vintage design, but with modern bits and bobs throughout. Pure Vintage ’61 pickups keep your tone authentic yet responsive. [2,849.99]
‘60s Strat HSS
The HSS '60s Strat boasts pure vintage Strat flavor at the neck position, plus a Haymaker humbucker's grit at the bridge. [2,899.99]
‘50s Telecaster
The '50s Tele features a (confusingly, to some) contoured Ash body with Pure Vintage ’51 pickups and top-tier hardware (though also notably not vintage) like a 6-saddle bridge and locking tuners, this Tele offers polished performance with old-school charm. [2,999.99]
‘60s Custom Telecaster
With an alder body, custom ’63 pickups, and all the premium touches—the '60s Custom Tele comes in 3-color Sunburst or Lake Placid Blue. The Heirloom finish really does look cool, I must say! [$2,999.99]
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