Fender American Ultra Luxe Stratocaster with Maple Fretboard 2021 - 2-Color Sunburst

SHIPPING NOTICE: I'm away from 9/5 – 9/13. Orders placed after 9/4 will ship on 9/13 as soon as I'm back. Your guitar will be packed with the same care as always — I'll still be answering messages while I'm out. Thanks for understanding!

This is about as close to a new 2021 guitar as I realistically expect to find. I got it from a music shop that simply needed to move it, and it still has the protective plastic on the pickguard and rear plate. The body, neck and back are all exceptionally clean, and the frets barely look like they have been played.

The 2-Color Sunburst is a great match for this version of the Ultra Luxe because the ash grain is visible all the way through the center of the body. The black pickguard gives it a little more edge than a traditional sunburst Strat, and the matching black headstock face is probably my favorite visual detail. There is also some subtle figuring running through the maple neck that becomes much easier to see when the light hits it from the side.

The neck is where the Ultra Luxe really starts to separate itself from a regular American Strat. The Modern D profile has a little more shoulder to it without feeling thick, and the 10"-14" compound-radius maple board gets progressively flatter as you move up the neck. Pair that with the stainless-steel frets and rolled edges and it feels noticeably more refined than a traditional Strat. The frets on this one are essentially untouched.

I also just went through and balanced the two-point tremolo. The current setup passed inspection, intonation is spot on, and the action is comfortable in the medium range. There is still room to lower it if you prefer an especially low setup, but I like where it sits now because everything feels clean and stable without chasing the strings down to the frets.

The Ultra Noiseless Vintage pickups are probably my favorite part of the electronics. They still have the glassy top end and clarity I want from a Strat, but without the background hum that normally comes with three traditional single coils. The S-1 switch also adds the neck pickup into the bridge positions, giving you combinations you cannot get from a normal five-way Strat. Everything electronically tested perfectly.

What stood out to me:

• Extremely clean, nearly new condition
• Protective plastic is still on the pickguard and rear plate
• 2-Color Sunburst over an ash body
• Matching black painted headstock face
• Subtle figuring through the maple neck
• Modern D neck profile
• 10"-14" compound-radius maple fingerboard
• Stainless-steel frets are essentially like new
• Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat pickups sound excellent
• S-1 switching adds additional pickup combinations
• Electronics tested perfectly
• Two-point tremolo has been balanced
• Comfortable current action with room to go lower if desired
• Spot-on intonation
• Locking tuners
• Excellent fretboard condition
• 8.82 pounds on my scale
• Original Fender molded hardshell case
• Complete original case candy, documentation and Certificate of Authenticity

This is one of those Strats that still looks familiar but feels noticeably more modern once you actually start playing it. The compound radius, stainless frets, refined neck shape, noiseless electronics and two-point tremolo all make small differences individually, but together they make the Ultra Luxe feel substantially more polished than a standard production Strat.

The condition is the real bonus here. It is unusual to find a five-year-old guitar that still has its factory plastics in place, complete case candy and virtually no evidence of meaningful play. If you have been looking for an Ultra Luxe without paying new-guitar money, this is about as close to the new-guitar experience as I can offer.

Like all my guitars, this one’s been cared for and dialed in—no guesswork, no surprises, just a great instrument that’s ready to play. I personally inspect and test every guitar before it ships, making sure it’s in the exact condition I’d want to receive myself. These guitars come from me, not a shop—each one gets the kind of attention and care only a real guitar lover gives. Ships fast and insured.

⏳ Quick note
These guitars don’t usually sit. Most are purchased within 1–5 days, and I regularly hear from watchers after the listing has already sold. If this one’s on your radar, now’s the window!