Introduction to Fender Fullerton Ukulele Series
Fender has been at the forefront of guitar innovation for over 70 years, creating iconic models like the Telecaster and Stratocaster that have shaped the sound of modern music. While best known for their guitars, Fender decided to apply their expertise to the world of ukuleles by launching the Fullerton series. This new line of ukes aimed to bring Fender’s signature guitar aesthetics and electronics into the compact ukulele format.
The Fullerton series made its debut in 2020 as Fender’s first-ever line of ukuleles. It marked a bold entry into the uke market, featuring revamped versions of Fender’s most beloved guitar models. The series includes two models – the Fullerton Telecaster Uke and the Fullerton Stratocaster Uke. These electric concert ukes allowed players to enjoy the look, sound, and features of Fender’s iconic guitar designs in an accessible and portable ukulele package.
The Fullerton Telecaster Uke replicates the solid body shape, single coil pickup, and control layout of the legendary Telecaster guitar. The Fullerton Stratocaster Uke is modeled after the famous Strat guitar with its double cutaway body, trio of pickups, and sleek styling. Both models aim to blend the best of Fender – great tone and smooth playability – into an inspiring ukulele for pros and beginners alike. The Fullerton series brings the Fender legacy to ukulele players seeking the brand’s distinctive style and sound.
Fender Fullerton Telecaster Ukulele Review
The Fender Fullerton Telecaster ukulele stays true to the iconic design of the original Telecaster guitar, featuring the same double cutaway ash body and black pickguard. The 25.6” scale length concert uke has a maple neck and fretboard, with 20 frets and pearloid dot inlays.
The Fullerton Tele uke has a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides, providing balanced tone with crisp highs and tight lows. The build quality is excellent, with smooth frets, quality tuners, and a bone nut and saddle.
The Telecaster uke has a bright, punchy tone perfect for cutting through the mix. The spruce top emphasizes articulation and note separation. There’s also good sustain thanks to the all-wood construction. It has the distinctive twang of a Tele, just in a soprano ukulele voice.
The most unique feature of the Fullerton Telecaster uke is the included single coil pickup. Combined with its 3-way pickup switch, volume and tone knobs, you can dial in anything from sparkling cleans to gritty overdrive. It’s very easy to amplify for live playing or recording.
Fender Fullerton Stratocaster Ukulele Review
The Fender Fullerton Stratocaster ukulele brings the iconic double-cutaway body shape and sleek curves of the legendary Stratocaster guitar into a concert-sized uke. It sports a solid alder body with a gloss polyurethane finish, available in classic Strat colors like Surf Green, Fiesta Red, and Black. The Strat Fullerton uke has a maple neck with a 25.6” scale length and a rosewood fretboard with 20 frets.
The choice of tonewoods and quality hardware make the Stratocaster uke a great sounding instrument. The solid alder body produces a balanced, warm tone with nice overtones and sustain. The maple neck adds brightness and clarity. The rosewood fretboard brings out the midrange for smooth, mellow tones. The chrome hardware and sealed tuners help the Strat uke stay in tune well.
The Stratocaster uke’s voice has the bell-like chime of a classic concert ukulele, with added warmth and richness from the solid wood body. It has excellent note separation even when strumming quickly. The tone is clear and focused, great for picking out melodies or solo lines. The warmth rounds off any harsh overtones.
What really makes the Strat uke unique are the three single coil pickups and 5-way pickup switch, allowing for a range of tones from glassy and sparkling to fatter and warmer. The pickups make it easy to amplify the uke for more volume and effects. The iconic synchronized tremolo bridge also lets you add shimmering vibrato to chords and lead lines.
Playability and Comfort
The Fullerton ukuleles feature slim, fast-playing C-shaped neck profiles that make navigating up and down the fretboards effortless. The necks have a satin finish that feels smooth and allows your hand to glide easily during chord changes and leads.
The string action on both models is set low and buzz-free right out of the box, optimized for speedy playing. You can rip quick riffs and licks without any resistance. The action is adjustable too in case you want it set higher or lower to suit your style.
Both the Tele and Strat Fullerton ukes feel comfortable whether you’re sitting or standing with a strap. The contoured body shapes fit nicely against your torso in a seated position. The strap buttons are securely installed as well for balanced standing play. The lightweight builds make them easy to handle on stage without neck dive or any weighing you down.
The slim necks and low string action translate to excellent playability all-around. These ukes are built for fast, nimble playing in any scenario. You’ll find them very comfortable and inspiring to pick up and practice on for extended periods.
Amplifying the Fullerton Ukuleles
The Fender Fullerton ukuleles come equipped with high-quality pickups and electronics that make amplifying them a breeze.
Pickups and Electronics
The Telecaster model features a single-coil pickup in the bridge position, controlled by a volume knob and tone knob. This allows for versatile control over the amplified tone.
The Stratocaster uke has a more advanced pickup configuration with three single-coil pickups and a 5-way switch for selecting bridge, middle, or neck pickups alone or in combination. This unlocks a wide range of tones when plugged in.
Both models use a 1/4" output jack for connecting to an amplifier or PA system. The pickups and electronics are easy to use but also give experienced players the controls they need.
Recommended Amps and Effects
For amplifying the Fullerton ukes, small guitar combo amps or acoustic amps are a great match. Low wattage tube amps can add warmth and character. Reverb and delay effects complement the bright, crisp tones nicely. Modulation effects like chorus or tremolo can also sound great with the Stratocaster model.
Sample Settings and Tones
With the Telecaster uke, setting the volume around 9 o’clock and tone at noon provides a balanced amplified tone. For more bite, turn the volume up and tone down. Scooping the mids brings out the jangly top end.
The Stratocaster’s 5-way switch lets you go from glassy neck pickup tones to punchy bridge sounds. The 2 and 4 positions offer chimy in-between tones. Effects like reverb and delay help fill out the sound for a pro-level amplified performance.
Who Are the Fullerton Ukuleles For?
The Fender Fullerton ukuleles are versatile instruments that can appeal to both beginner and experienced players alike. Their classic styling and familiar feel make them a great entry point for those just starting out on the ukulele, while more advanced musicians will appreciate the upgraded appointments and electronics that allow for more dynamic playing.
Good for Beginners or Experienced Players?
The Fullerton models strike a nice balance that makes them suitable for uke players of all skill levels. Beginners will benefit from their playability right out of the box. The low string action and slim neck profiles create a very comfortable playing feel that facilitates learning. More experienced players will enjoy exploring the tonal options provided by the unique pickup configurations. The accessible controls also make it easy to shape your sound.
Best Musical Styles or Genres
The classic Fender looks and electric capabilities of the Fullerton ukes make them a great fit for rock, blues, funk, or pop playing. Their bright, crisp tone works well for strumming rhythms or playing melodic riffs. The models can also handle mellower acoustic styles thanks to their warm, resonant voices when unplugged. From indie folk to jazz standards, they excel at clean tones across genres.
Value for Money
Given their quality components and versatile electronics, the Fullerton ukes provide great value. Their price compares favorably to other concert-scale electric models from top brands. When you consider the premium features like customized Fender pickups, road-worthy gig bags, and lifetime warranties, they deliver substantial value for the investment. For uke players seeking amplification options, they are a smart buy.
Comparison to Other Models
The Fender Fullerton ukuleles stand out from many other ukulele brands in the market for their bold, electric guitar-inspired designs. They offer a unique take on the concert ukulele format that will appeal to guitarists looking to expand their repertoire.
Compared to other major ukulele brands like Kala, Lanikai, and Cordoba, the Fullerton models are more specialized. While those brands focus on building excellent all-around ukes, the Fullertons zero in on capturing classic Fender electric tones and playability.
The unique pickup systems and electronics make them better suited for effects and amplification than most stock ukuleles. The Fullertons can hang with an electric guitar band on stage or in the studio.
As far as value, the Fullertons are a good upgrade choice or "forever uke" for intermediate to advanced players. While beginners may want to start with a more affordable model from Kala or Lanikai, experienced players will appreciate the premium tonewoods, hardware, and electronics.
Other concert ukes around this price point, like the Cordoba 20TM, offer an acoustic focus with traditional wood combinations. The Fullertons justify their price with bold looks and electric flexibility other brands lack.
For uke players wanting to branch out into electric sounds, the Fullerton series has few alternatives. Brands like Vorson electric ukuleles come close but lack the pedigree and build quality of the Fender models.
Overall, the Fullerton ukes carve out a unique niche, offering a gateway into Fender’s iconic electric styles in a compact concert ukulele package. They are best suited for intermediate to advanced uke players looking for stage-ready electrics.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Iconic Fender style and aesthetics in a ukulele package
- Quality components and hardware for the price point
- Great amplified tones thanks to the pickups and electronics
- Versatile sound that works for various genres and playing styles
- Smooth playability and comfortable feel
- Fun, unique instruments for Fender fans
Cons
- Higher cost than comparable ukes from other brands
- Not ideal for complete beginners – better suited to experienced players
- Limited color and finish options currently available
- Electronics may require some tweaking to find your perfect tone
- Less tonal nuance when unplugged compared to acoustic ukes
- Not as portable as some concert ukuleles due to the shape
The pros highlight the iconic styling, quality components, versatility, playability and uniqueness of the Fullerton series ukes. The cons mention the higher cost, lack of beginner-friendliness, limited finishes, and less acoustic richness compared to other ukuleles. But overall the Pros seem to outweigh the Cons for what these models aim to deliver.
Final Recommendation
The Fender Fullerton ukuleles deliver classic Fender style and sound in a fun, portable package. They offer great playability and amplified versatility in an iconic instrument.
Who would I recommend them for?
- Fender guitar fans who want a travel-friendly option
- Experienced ukulele players looking to add some electric tones
- Guitarists interested in exploring the ukulele
- Anyone wanting a high-quality, professional ukulele
Are they worth buying?
Absolutely. The Fullerton models offer fantastic build quality and appointments for the price. Between the iconic styling and great playability, they are a joy to pick up and strum. The included electronics also make them extremely versatile.
Where to buy
The Fullerton Telecaster and Stratocaster ukes can be purchased directly from Fender’s website. They are also stocked by most major music gear retailers like Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, Sweetwater, and more. I recommend trying them out in person if possible before buying.
Overall, the Fullerton series delivers a fun and unique way to experience classic Fender style in an accessible ukulele package. For players wanting to add some electric flavor to their uke sound, they are absolutely worth checking out.
Conclusion
The Fender Fullerton ukulele series brings the iconic style and sound of Fender’s legendary guitars into the world of ukes. Both the Telecaster and Stratocaster models offer a unique take on the concert uke, with premium features like solid woods, customized pickups, and easy playability.
Overall, the Fullerton ukes provide an exceptional experience for players who want to explore new tones and take their music to the next level. Their quality construction and electronics give you the tools to craft your sound exactly how you imagine it. Whether unplugged or amplified, these ukes deliver the smooth playability, richness, and versatility that Fender is known for.
For ukulele enthusiasts searching for their next instrument, the Fullerton series is definitely worth serious consideration. The distinct style, full sound, and flexibility of the Telecaster and Stratocaster models let you shape your music in exciting new ways. Take the leap and get your hands on one of these iconic ukes today! You won’t be disappointed by the inspiring experience of playing a Fender Fullerton ukulele.