Ep. 10 | Why I chose the Fender American Ultra II Strat + Plek Setup

In this episode of Sofa Guitar Sessions, I’m diving deep into my new Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster. After spending some time with it, I’m sharing my honest thoughts on the playability, the unique electronics, and whether the Sweetwater Plek Pro service actually makes a difference for a high-end instrument like this. We’ll go from the technical specs of the neck and pickups to some real-world "in-progress" playing—including some RHCP, Jimi Hendrix riffs, and my current pentatonic scale practice. This isn't a polished studio demo; it’s a look at how this guitar feels in the hands of someone still on the learning journey. Key highlights in this video: The Ultra II Neck: Is it the smoothest Fender neck yet? S-1 Switching: Explaining the volume/tone button and what it does to your positions The Plek Experience: What Sweetwater asks you during setup and how it feels out of the box (non-sponsored/non-affiliate link) https://www.sweetwater.com/shop/guita... Real Playing: Testing the pickups with classic riffs and a final jam session 0:00 Intro 0:26 1) Why the Fender Strat? 1:15 2) Single Coil Explanation: Positions, Tone, and the S-1 Button 2:14 3) Feel, Shape, and Neck Construction 2:40 4) What is a Plek? Setup specs and string choice 5:25 5) Body Shape, Smoothness, and Color/Aesthetics 10:11 6) Let’s Play: Testing each pickup with a Jimi riff 11:42 7) Practice Jam & Solos (The "Not Perfect" Section) 12:49 8) Still Learning: Under the Bridge - RHCP 14:34 9) Scale Practice: Working on the Pentatonics 15:10 10) Final Jam: Smashing Pumpkins, Jimi, and more 16:50 Final Shot: The Fender in its case Gear Used in this Video: 😉👇🎸🔥 Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster https://amzn.to/3QmOzpb Strings Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky https://amzn.to/4cHo6Kd Katana 100 gen3 Amp https://amzn.to/4cJcKp8 Fender Hendrix Voodoo Child Cable https://amzn.to/4tWPHy4 🎙️ Tascam Portacapture X8: https://amzn.to/4e7F0Ep 🔌 Anker USB C to USB C 6ft: https://amzn.to/4tVdI8G 🎤 RØDE VideoMic GO II: https://amzn.to/4cFcjw3 (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel—thank you!) #fenderultraii #stratocaster #guitarreviews #rhcp #jimihendrix #nirvana #guitarpickups #sweetwater