NGD * New Guitar Day * 1990 Fender Stratocaster Ultra Burst!

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

I have been seeking and after investigating within this Fender Forum the
Stratocaster Plus, Plus Deluxe & Ultra guitars and the Telecaster Plus and the
Telecaster Plus Deluxe guitars, I purchased the below linked Fender Strat Ultra.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280890192783?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

PLEASE HELP ME TO IDENTIFY and VERIFY WHAT I HAVE PURCHSED.
I DO DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THIS ULTRA IS AS DESCRIBED,
AND IS AN ORIGINAL 1990 FIRST YEAR FENDER ULTRA. THANK YOU.

I believe it is a 1990 Fender Stratocaster Ultra (I am guessing)
I believe it's a first year Ultra. SN#N001485 ~ "N" =1990s, "0" = 1990 ~ Right?

It does have the Ebony fretboard, not rosewood.
Provides 22 Frets.
The body is "Antique Burst" as my guess.
Original Fender Hard Shell Case.

Reading Xhefri's website, some of the following is open for discussion of advice:
It has the word "Ultra" on the neck plate = is this right for a 1990 first year Ultra?
What kind of tremolo is installed, certainly not a Floyd Rose, right?
Does it have the Wilkerson roller nut or the LSR roller nut?
Locking tuners = which manufacturer ~ Schaller?

Am I missing anythng? Anybody notice anything unusual? Thanks.

With the Stratocaster Ultra's four Lace Sensor pickups, the mini toggle switch and
the extremely unique five switch wiring, makes this Ultra a fantastic tone monster.
Thanks for your help. Toppscore

Robinstrat · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2012 3:15 pm

You paid over 1k straight ? Why ?
Congrats by the way, I love ebony fretboards (I have one on my white Gibson V).

Cheers,
Robin

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

Robinstrat wrote:

You paid over 1k straight ? Why ?
Congrats by the way, I love ebony fretboards (I have one on my white Gibson V).
Cheers, Robin

Hi, Robin. what do you mean "over 1k straight"?

John C · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2012 4:49 pm

Toppscore - it looks like you did get a 1990 Strat Ultra - you are correct in reading the serial number as "N" for "nineties" and "0" makes it "1990". It's in okay but not great shape and is definitely has the correct chrome-plated Wilkinson nut (Strat Plus and Strat Plus Deluxes have the satin-finished nut).

I can't tell if the bridge is completely original - on the early (1990 to mid-1993) Ultras it should have the "Fender Deluxe Trem" with chromed saddles (instead of the anodized saddles used on the American Standard, Strat Plus, and Strat Plus Deluxe) with a snap-in trem arm. From the photo I can't tell if these saddles are just a but corroded or if they have been replaced.

Tuners look like the Fender/Schallers from the photo.

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

John C wrote:

Toppscore - it looks like you did get a 1990 Strat Ultra - you are correct in reading the serial number as "N" for "nineties" and "0" makes it "1990". It's in okay but not great shape and is definitely has the correct chrome-plated Wilkinson nut (Strat Plus and Strat Plus Deluxes have the satin-finished nut). I can't tell if the bridge is completely original - on the early (1990 to mid-1993) Ultras it should have the "Fender Deluxe Trem" with chromed saddles (instead of the anodized saddles used on the American Standard, Strat Plus, and Strat Plus Deluxe) with a snap-in trem arm. From the photo I can't tell if these saddles are just a but corroded or if they have been replaced. Tuners look like the Fender/Schallers from the photo.

Thanks, John. So far so good? I can post pictures later.
What is "in OK but not great shape" mean for you?

Seller claims some small body nicks:
"This is a player's guitar and it has a few nicks (very small)"

So, if the guitar arrives with minor "player's wear",
is there anything else to be aware of from those few photos?

Thanks again. Toppscore

minzapint · **Joined:** Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:28 pm **Posts:** 54

I hope I'm not raining on our parade but I saw one of those in GC about 6 months ago @ $350... played pretty nicely but it wasn't what I wanted.....salesman kept saying it was a bargain at that price.

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

minzapint wrote:

I hope I'm not raining on our parade but I saw one of those in GC about 6 months ago @ $350... played pretty nicely but it wasn't what I wanted. salesman kept saying it was a bargain at that price.

Thanks. These are really hard to find and easy to fake to the unsuspecting
eye. There is only one on ebay, and I suspect it is not correct.
For three-fifty, you could add sell it for $1350 easy on EBay.

There are maybe twenty five(+) Fender Plus guitars, Fender Plus Deluxe guitars,
and only one Fender Ultra guitar for sale on ebay.
Most all of the nearly thirty guitars are from $1000-$3000.

There are many Fender Guitars that have the LSR or Wilkerson roller nuts,
locking tuners, Lace Sensor pickups, toggle switch, dual Lace bridge pickups,
and special bridges that are not Plus, Plus Deluxe or Ultra guitars.
There are some backside neck plate & serial numbers; proper order of the
Red/Blue/Gold/White Lace installed pickups to be considered as well.

Hope this helps.
Please PM me the name of your local Guitar Center. Thank you. Toppscore

Robinstrat · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2012 1:58 am

Toppscore wrote:

Hi, Robin. what do you mean "over 1k straight"?

There´s was just one bid - 1100 bucks (over 1k straight).
You really wanted to have that guitar, right?

Cheers,
Robin

John C · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2012 12:32 pm

Toppscore wrote:

John C wrote:

Toppscore - it looks like you did get a 1990 Strat Ultra - you are correct in reading the serial number as "N" for "nineties" and "0" makes it "1990". It's in okay but not great shape and is definitely has the correct chrome-plated Wilkinson nut (Strat Plus and Strat Plus Deluxes have the satin-finished nut). I can't tell if the bridge is completely original - on the early (1990 to mid-1993) Ultras it should have the "Fender Deluxe Trem" with chromed saddles (instead of the anodized saddles used on the American Standard, Strat Plus, and Strat Plus Deluxe) with a snap-in trem arm. From the photo I can't tell if these saddles are just a but corroded or if they have been replaced. Tuners look like the Fender/Schallers from the photo.

Thanks, John. So far so good? I can post pictures later.
What is "in OK but not great shape" mean for you?

Seller claims some small body nicks:
"This is a player's guitar and it has a few nicks (very small)"

So, if the guitar arrives with minor "player's wear",
is there anything else to be aware of from those few photos?

Thanks again. Toppscore

I was mostly referring to the corrosion on the bridge - again, that could be just the photo; you won't know until you get it. It could be somewhat difficult to rehab the bridge if it's really grungy. On the plus side they used the same bridge on American Deluxe Strats so you should be able to get proper chromed replacement saddles if needed.

I had no idea that these had gone up in price so much; it seems like they were only hitting $1K if they were in mint shape only a short while ago. However, I'll admit I haven't priced one in a while.

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

Robinstrat wrote:

Toppscore wrote:

Hi, Robin. what do you mean "over 1k straight"?

There´s was just one bid - 1100 bucks (over 1k straight).
You really wanted to have that guitar, right? Cheers, Robin

No. We worked out a deal behind the scenes, then he
posted the result at a Buy-It-Now which I purchased.
Yes I wanted it. I did a lot of research. Toppscore

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

John C wrote:

Toppscore wrote:

John C wrote:

Toppscore - it looks like you did get a 1990 Strat Ultra - you are correct in reading the serial number as "N" for "nineties" and "0" makes it "1990". It's in okay but not great shape and is definitely has the correct chrome-plated Wilkinson nut (Strat Plus and Strat Plus Deluxes have the satin-finished nut). I can't tell if the bridge is completely original - on the early (1990 to mid-1993) Ultras it should have the "Fender Deluxe Trem" with chromed saddles (instead of the anodized saddles used on the American Standard, Strat Plus, and Strat Plus Deluxe) with a snap-in trem arm. From the photo I can't tell if these saddles are just a but corroded or if they have been replaced. Tuners look like the Fender/Schallers from the photo.

Thanks, John. So far so good? I can post pictures later.
What is "in OK but not great shape" mean for you?
Seller claims some small body nicks: "This is a player's guitar and it has a few nicks (very small)"
So, if the guitar arrives with minor "player's wear", is there anything else
to be aware of from those few photos? Thanks again. Toppscore

I was mostly referring to the corrosion on the bridge - again, that could be just the photo; you won't know until you get it. It could be somewhat difficult to rehab the bridge if it's really grungy. On the plus side they used the same bridge on American Deluxe Strats so you should be able to get proper chromed replacement saddles if needed. I had no idea that these had gone up in price so much; it seems like they were only hitting $1K if they were in mint shape only a short while ago. However, I'll admit I haven't priced one in a while.

OK. Good to know. I will get photos of the bridge area next week.
The Ultras are just not available. The only one left on EBay has issues and is $100 more,
with a wrong nut and no "Ultra" on the neck plate. I believe it is a fake Ultra.

Most all Fender Plus Deluxes are well over $1000 to $3000.
Most all Telecaster Plus/Plus Deluxe guitars are well over $1000-$2500.
In fact, the Ultra I purchased was one of the least expensive of all the
Ultras, Plus Deluxes and similar towards the Plus guitars.

The fact that the Fender Strat Ultra is the most "high-end American Made MIA" guitar
next to the custom shop Strat guitars during 1989-1999, makes it a real value.
Try to find any TRUE MIA American Stratocaster from the 1989-1991 without custom
add-on mods or Squire, etc. for under $1000. The good ones are not available.
There are just were not many MIA Standard Strats or Telecasters made from 1981
till 1995. That was the CBS to Employees to off-shore manufacturing to redesign
to finally getting it together during the late 1990s.

This is very interesting. Toppscore

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