http://www.xhefriguitars.com/page4.htmlThe Stratocaster Ultra Series

This is a 1994 Antique Burst Stratocaster Ultra. The Ultra models were the highest end production guitars built by Fender, next to their Custom Shop models. They were manufactured between 1990 to 1999. This Ultra features highly flamed, figured Maple front and back on an Alder body. There were many types of finished, besides this Antique Burst, the most common being Black, Blue Burst, and Crimson Burst finishes all with Flamed Maple showing through. Some earlier models came in solid colors and some of the first models had a one-peice flame maple top and back (see the next Ultra below). There was also the unique Bowling Ball finish on some of the early Ultras and Plus'. For the 1st two years, they did not say "Ultra" on the neck Plate. They all came with Fender Strap Locks.

Another feature of the Ultra was the Floyd Rose Type II tremolo system as was used on some of the DX models. String changes are rather simple as you do not have to feed the strings through the tremolo on the back of the guitar, thus no holes on the back plate. It also reduced the chanced of scratching the body with the strings. What you do have to be careful about is not scratching the body with an Allen Wrench when tightening down the string ferrules. The neck is much like that on the Plus and the Plus DX models, with 22 fret skunk striped Maple neck BUT with an Ebony fret board with real abalone dot inlays. The Ultra Series were the only production Stratocasters, that I know of, with Ebony on the fret board instead of Rosewood or Maple. Most had Medium-Jumbo frets. The neck has a nice C style radius to it and like the other Plus Series, has the Biflex truss rod.

Many of the Ultra models also feature chrome plated Schaller locking tuners, compared to the more common brushed type Schallers on the Standard Plus series. Fast strings changes—pull the string through the tuner hole, tighten down the lock, cut off the excess and tune. Fast and easy. The nut is a LSR Roller Nut that reduces friction when using the tremolo. Each string rides on a set of roller bearings. Great for staying in tune when diving with the Tremolo!

The Ultra features a special wiring system using 4 Lace Sensor pickups. The pickguard comes shielded from the factory. Here are the types of pickups: NECK Pickup is a Blue Lace Sensor which has an increased output with the warmer 50's humbucking sound. It delivers a Gibson P-90 type sound. MIDDLE Pickup is a Silver Lace Sensor which delivers a fat 70's single coil sound with increased output and more midrange. Great for those out of phase sound when combined with the neck or bridge PUs. BRIDGE Pickup is a Dually Red Lace Sensor which is two Red Lace Sensors placed side by side. The Red Lace are the hottest output of the Sensor Series, and gives a fat, punchy humbucking output.

This is a 1991 Antique Burst Stratocaster Ultra. You will notice that this one has a solid, one piece, flamed, maple top and back. For the first two years, they did not say

Ultra on the neck plate. All the Ultras have chrome Plated locking tuners, Bridge Saddles, and roller nut. Fender's rule of thumb is inconsistency. Some Ultras came with the Floyd Rose II Tremolo while others, such as this one, came with the American 2-point Floating bridge. Some came with a Gold Lace pickup in the middle position instead of the Silver Lace pickup, but mostly on the earlier models. On rare occasion, some did not have the Abalone dot inlays.

One thing they all did have, and that was the 4 Lace Sensor and the Mini switch used for the two red Lace Pickups used in the bridge. Very few people know the secret to the Ultra wiring schematics, which produces a unique variation in sound. Here is how the switch works. Position #1: The bridge pickup using a 3 way mini switch. This alone gives several variations, which are really cool. Here is what the Mini Switch does to the Dually Bridge Pickup (and remember too, that these settings can be mixed with the other pickups). Up) Splits off the back pickup. because of the dictance from the bridge, running this pickup in single coil mode creates as out of phase sound, similar that cool Strat hollow sound when in poisition #2 with the 5-way switch. this PU in turn can be mixed with the middle pickup with the 5-way switch. Middle) has the bridge pickups in parallel creating a hot humbucker sound. Down) splits off the front pickup on the bridge, giving a somewhat hot Tele type bite.

Position #2: The Bridge and the Middle pickups mixed together, which can get a multitude of Strat out-of-phase tones because of the Mini Switch and the TBX tone control.

Position #3: Here is where we part from standard Strat wiring. Instead of just running the Middle pickup, this position mixes the Neck PU with the Bridge PU like on any 2 PU guitars, such as a Telecaster. Again, with the Mini Switch you can shape the color of the sound. Full, rich rhythm sounds. And both tone controls are also combined in this position too.

Position #4: Is the Neck and the Middle combined in an out-of-phase vintage Strat tone.

Position #5: Is totally vintage Strat with just the Neck PU and the middle tone control.

As on all the Plus Series, the Ultra comes with Fender’s TBX tone system. The bottom tone control is a stacked set of potentiometers that cuts either treble or bass instead of the standard style of tone that cuts treble only. T (treble) B (bass) X (Cut) thus TBX). When you turn this knob, you can feel a halfway point which is tone neutral. This tone control gives the bridge and middle pickups a unique variety of sounds.