Ibanez Q vs Strandberg Review - Q54 vs Classic - Endurneck thoughts - headless guitar comparison 

I couldn't agree more about the Endurneck. And great playing! I'm thinking Ibanez/Hoshino wanted to see how the hard tail headless sales performance went before investing effort and money into a trem. Just a guess.

Guys I have a long story I want to share that might inform or entertain regarding my personal journey to this guitar. I feel like maybe this is better suited for a blog or whatever. Anyways... Before this guitar came out, I wanted a Strandberg for all the reasons this video mentioned. Comfort, lightweight/mobile and easy to play. But I wasnt sure about the endure neck. So borrowed one from a friend. He was the one who basically exposed me to the existence of headless guitars which I for some reason had no idea existed before then. I did not like the endurneck. I tried to get used to it, but I like to mute strings with my thumb and my left wrist gets that tired burning ache after only an hour. But I loved every thing else about the guitar. So what did I do? I looked for similar guitars that had a different neck. I couldnt find one that was similar enough until I found about about Chinese guitars. I know what you are thinking and I was skeptical too, but since they are much cheaper it was less of a financial risk than it could have been. The guitar only costed $450 including shipping. Plus I scoured reviews to make sure the one I got was decent where it counts and I ended up getting an NK guitar. It looks like an exact replica of a Strandberg but without the endurneck. AND IT BEAT ALL MY EXPECTATIONS EXCEPT ONE. The body was a two piece, solid (almost as thick as a strandberg) and light. The fretboard was my biggest worry with Chinese guitars, but it was solid too. I shaved a little off one fret to get it perfect. The action is about the same as the Ibanez Q54QM which is AMAZING! I didnt even need to mess with anything to get it that low. The tuners punch way above their weight where it matters. They hold tune longer than any of my normal guitars. And they have a larger range than the Ibanez Quest headless so they are great for extreme downtuning. The screws are terrible though; they are cheap and easily strip. They could be easily replaced although I havnt needed to yet. And now for the biggest plus of the whole guitar. The neck shape was like if an Ibanez Quest neck had a baby with the endurneck. It has the asymmetry of the endurneck but completely rounded and its extremely comfortable especially closer to the body/pickups. The chinese guitar's quality was really good for a $400 guitar. The only thing that was really an issue with it was the poor quality of the pickups, but atleast all the cavities where shielded so all I need to do was replace them which I did. I think my friend hates to admit it, but this guitar punches in the $700-900 range once I changed the pickups. Oh and by the way, the NK guitar had some high-end features to like a titanium string locking piece and multiscale/fanned frets. Now just a few weeks ago, I wanted to get another headless guitar that wasnt an HH (NK that I got is an HH) and thats when I found out about these Ibanez ones. I couldnt help myself and bought the blue/white Q54QM with the slanted frets (cause I like to stare down the frets in a seated classical position and Ibanez did a good job of advertising their benefits). I have to say, this guitar surprised me in ways I did not expect. But it also gave me a greater appreciation for some of the things in the NK. First off, this guitar is surprisingly very sturdy and solid for how light it is. It is noticeably lighter than my NK while somehow feeling more like a single piece of wood even though the body is a 3 piece! The tuners are better quality (thicker metal/larger) on the Ibanez but have less range. Where the neck was the star of the show for the chinese NK guitar, the fretboard is the star of the show for the Ibanez. The slanted frets are awesome and so easy to get accustomed too. I prefer them to the fanned frets for sure. Its gorgeous too. Out of the box, the pickups in the Ibanez are better than the ones I installed on the NK. That surprised me. It has greater variation of sounds/tones (9 settings vs 6). I have only one gripe with it though. Its the cutout in the back of the body. It maybe just me but the cutout that supposed to fit with my chest area is not gradual enough. This cutout has an edge behind the bigger horn of the guitar that just digs into my chest. I have had to adjust the angle of the guitar and the way it sits in my lap to prevent this. The NK does not have this problem and very comfortable on the lap. Except for this, the Ibanez guitar is very versatile on the lap. Overall, with all things considered, the Ibanez Q54QM that I got is better than the Chinese headless and I am very happy with a lot of things in it. But at the same time, the NK kinda stands on its own. It really is a comparable guitar (once some of the hardware is adjusted/upgraded). In fact, I would recommend the Quest if you got a grand you dont mind spending for a great headless, but if you are not sure about spending that much on something you are not sure is for you, I really would recommend getting an a 2020 (or newer model) NK guitar. Actually, I would recommend getting the 7-string model instead of the 6-string that I got, because apparently, according to some, its better (it has the same tuners and headpiece though). If you are a beginner, my advice changes a little. If you know guitar is the hobby for you and you are really in it for the long haul and you are starting off with one guitar. Get the Ibanez. These guitars are just easier and more comfortable to play. If you got other guitars and you are look to just experiment and dip your toe into headless and dont feel like dropping a lot of money, then consider taking the route I took. [End of Book]

That Ibanez is the first headless I have seen, that looks like I would enjoy playing. It also looks like a good travel guitar. Cool video.

Feeling better about the Ibanez I have on pre-order. I have the Strandberg and agree with everything you said. Thanks for posting

I have a Boden standard. The endurneck its just like many other neck shapes, and features and configurations. Its not for everybody. I like it a lot, since its not my only guitar, Im cool with it around. I’m mainly a bassist and I play Ibanez. Including the headless 6 string EHB1506ms. And I absolutely love it. Again, not for everybody. Anyways I want a Q cause Im very familiar with the brand and I know how good each instrument they make are in any range. But I’m also keeping the Strandberg

As a Stratocaster player I really like how 'sighting' down the strap takes the eye straight to the 12th fret on the Ibanez.

Wish I'd seen this before I bought a strandberg. I've since sold it. Considering the Ibanez now.

Great review overall, I'm certainly biased towards Ibanez having played their guitars for years (and had some bad experiences with Strandberg, a new Standard 7 that had horrible fret scarring out of the box), but wow does that Ibanez so much better. Excellent playing too. Also your cat is adorable, I have two maine coons with those same GIANT fluffy tails.

Really good review, great information about the Strandberg neck. And nice playing.

Very nice Video! I have both an Ibanez Q52 and 2 Strandberg Guitars. The Endurneck seems to be a thing of love/hate. I actually love it, especially on my 8-String where that "forced" position is just perfect for the stuff I play. I like it on the 6string as well, but I am fine with standard necks too and would say it is not necessary - strandberg would probably sell a lot more guitars if the made a round version to chose from. And I would probably not use my strandberg to play blues - I have some nice other guitars for that. Great chops you have there as well ;)

I like them both. I actually have the Ibanez QX52, which I love, but I wish it had a tremolo bar like the Strandberg does. Looks like the cat is digging it.

Glad that you talked about the Strandberg neck. Looks like a really nice guitar. But that neck will just get in the way. You helped me make up my mind between the two and saved me a lot of money.

Thx to ur good detailed comparison, got the Q54 SFM .That stranberg “limiting” thing is the deciding factor, tysm!

You look like Garry Tonan,who's an ace in Brazilian jiu-jitsu n apparently are equal in the guitar game!!!love it!!!

Keep the Ibanez, I did! Got the qx54qm with slanted frets and really like them and the guitar is balanced really well and since it's not heavy can play for a while 😎

Hmm.. I am definitely a more technically inclined player, and after 20yrs of playing many Ibanez necks, i have to say that the Endurneck is a breath of fresh air. But my thumb placement is mainly on the top plane, not the middle. It feels better for my wrist, but maybe that’s just me.

Maybe it's because I play in the classical position, and because the newer NX models (which I own) have tweaked the design - including a smaller neck heel - I haven't had any of these issues and personally I find my Strandberg infinitely more comfortable to play for long periods than my KM-7, which has a very Ibanez-like neck profile. My wrist remains more parallel to the neck, and I don't find the edges (which I don't find 'hard' at all) to be disruptive; in fact, it makes it easier for me to anchor my thumb in an ideal spot based on where and what I'm playing.

Really good video. I have not played a Strindberg, so cannot comment on it. I tried the Ibanez Q52 and Q54 in a music shop last week and really loved them. I was only trying them out of curiosity and I ended up buying the Q52. I like the slightly chunky neck...would like it more chunky, but it is very comfortable ... Thanks.

You might have just cured me of my Strandberg GAS. I would still try one before I buy one, but you make some great points about keeping the thumb mobile.

It seems inevitable that Ibanez will have a trem version. Looking forward to another comparison video ...

Thanks a lot for this awesome review, really appreciated \m/ your point of view as a player, who wants to use these guitars a lot, was what I was looking for.

Having played the dual humbucker Ibanez I could hear the more classic strat sound coming from Strandberg in this video as compared to the Ibanez I played. Those pick ups in the Ibanez are very warm and timbery and if you’re not looking for a straight classic sound but something that can perform well in all genres the Ibanez is CLEARLY made to do that and it does it extremely well. The pick ups are very bright on the high end like a single coil but they still have all the bottom and crunch you’d look for playing rock or metal and the clarity and bell like tone for Jazz or even Christian music. My only caveat with them is that they are very high output so if you’re trying to perfectly nail the Christian tone typically you’d gravitate towards something worth a lower output but honestly, unless you’re playing for Hillsong or some big payed venue it’s probably not going to matter but some of those guys are really looking for the Holy grail and if that’s you they probably aren’t going to be your go to pickups. If you’re one of those people like me that’s kind of been looking for that perfect blend of a single coil/double I really think they nailed it here. I kind of tuned in on that years ago when I purchased a tube compressor for my rig and it really brought out that high end articulation you’d look for in a single coil and a I have tons of bottom already so adding that made me really understand this desire to have both. In my rig in particular you really don’t hear the articulation until I’m doing something that needs it but the feel is amazing ever when I’m not so I’m kind of spoiled now lol

Very good information and Thank You. You are well spoken, no BS or hype. Straight to the point. Subscribed. Best Regards and Best Wishes!

Excellent video I have been considering the Ibanez Ichi10 signature model.

Thanks for great review and absolute superb playing. I have the os6 but I somehow am inclined towards the Q's. I hope Ibanez will have a trem in their Q's later. I will then get one too.

Thank you for this review. I played a Strindberg at the NAMM show and was instantly turned off by the neck. I guess one can get used to it. My thumb tends to move around too because I have such small hands. I with the Ibanez had a tremolo though.

Thankyou for bringing the neck to attention! It seems a Strandberg is a "try before you buy" kind of guitar

To me, and this is not quite going to be just a preference thing, but I never got the whole multiscale thing. Slanted frets make some sense to me, but multiscale really doesn't. It is unnatural for the wrist to rotate the other way when all the way close to the head. I also think most necks are way too thin for my thin long fingers. I think I would play more comfortable on something that allows me to grab around the neck more. But thick necks tend to make it hard to reach the lower E properly, so it's more of a wide neck vs thick neck kind of thing. Of course, we never really see that kind of a neck.

Tried both and I bought the strandberg. Much better quality and sound IMO. The neck is great, just intended to be played in the classical position.

Great video. I used the ‘training wheels’ analogy in a guitar lesson the other day. Thanks!

Disagreed on the Endurneck. First time I tried one I fell in love and borderline never want to go back to anything more "traditional". That being said, I've always been a fan of Wizard necks so I'd actually be open to owning both should I ever have the urge to play something different.

Great review, really helped me decide on which guitar to get. I was sold on a used Strandberg that I played, but I think you get more value for the Ibanez. I'm a beginning player and want something small and light to walk around the house with to scale up my playing.

A pleasure to hear you play !

Great review. I have played the Ibanez and true; wish it did have a trem but it's a really good guitar and like you I have neck and back issues so a lighter guitar is the way to go for me. Not getting any younger and lighter is better these days. I have not tried the Strandberg Classic yet but have played the Strandberg with Endurneck and it felt pretty good. So; I'm up in the air.... Ibanez (when they include a trem), Strandberg or Kiesel.

Great review and playing! Just one question: how about string tension? Is it equal to a standard 25,5 scale strat, more or less?

Thank you, man! I am thinking about getting a q54!

Thanks for the nice comparison video and the nice cat👍

I totally recognized your (excellent) playing from another channel: "That sounds like the guy playing the blue CE24..." What are your thoughts on the thin Ibanez neck shape? Do you find the depth to be uncomfortable over time?

Proper technique is to keep your thumb in the center of the neck. So, if you don’t play with proper technique, then the Strandberg isn’t for you.

I have a strandberg and I love the neck, but I move my thumb wherever I feel the most comfortable which is higher in the higher register. I agree that putting the thumb where they want you to in some spots doesn’t really work but it doesn’t feel limiting in my opinion.

Thanks, great review. I'm very interested in these type of guitars these days and was looking for a comparison between the Ibanez Q and Strandberg. It looks like the Ibanez might win.

Great video and great playing..👌👌 Is the Ibanez one made in Japan ?

May I say, the Ibby does NOT have multi-scale fan frets, just angled. The Strandberg does have genuine multi-scale frets. I have had three Strandbergs and loved the Endurneck ergonomic design. It actually helped my wrist issue and I have had no problems since.

Thank you for this review, I had some of the thoughts on the strandberg but i had not been able to actually play it, that said I really like the hump at 45 degrees on the body, Maybe the new low price one without the endura neck will be better.

Ibanez did such a great job with the design and looks of these headless guitar. Seriously thinking about getting this black model and the QX with Blue Sphere Burst Matte finish for the sole purpose of swapping out the necks if i find that slant fret design throws me off.

Thanks for the review. Which one would you say is more resonant and which one is louder when played unplugged?

Hmmm. I have two Strandbergs and love the neck. It feels like it puts me in a good position and I notice I don't fatigue as rapidly. Different strokes I guess

My thumb bobs all over the place too … as you mentioned, there's just some things you actually can't do very well with the thumb always in the back of the neck

Thanks for the review! I've been looking at getting my first headless/7string and have been torn between the Ibanez QX527PB and a Strandberg. Definitely think I'm gonna be going with the Ibanez.

Strandberg sounded lifeless as in other videos reviews. Definitely going to go ahead with Ibanez.

Good review. I actually quite like the Strandberg neck and I find it as comfy as my Ibanez S series. The Q is like a wet dream of mine, but definitely have to try it out at a local store before buying.

What's hard to 'hear' on this is how good the tones are live. Is it a great guitar for travel OR a great guitar period (Ibanez Q). I don't travel that often so I'm trying to decide if this is worth it for me. I have more than a few Strats and HSS but like everyone it doesn't stop me from buying more. Just trying to see if I'm going to play this as often as I should to warrant purchasing it. Would you say the single coils are close to Fender or Ibanez standard HSS models?

I often use multiple fingers on the same fret. It's a tip I knicked from Shawn Lane. Seemed to work for him, 🤔 Agree on the bent wrist too. The Ibanez it is, then. 👍

Thanks for the honest review

I'm waiting for the ibanez to release a Q series with a trem and the AZ switching, so I would buy it.. I have a boden 8 string, but I would love to have a hss 6 string.. but I'm unsure about the neck on the strandberg... It's ok on my 8 string, but I'm not sure that I'll like it on a 6 string

I found a Strandberg copy with an Endurneck. I just couldn't get used to it, and really disliked the slanted frets (my fingers just don't fit in the upper frets), so I sold it on. Shame. The Strandberg Classic is a beautiful guitar. I'm looking at the Ibanez Ichi10 now. Hoping they'll bring out a tremolo model in the meantime. While I'm waiting, I have a second Strandberg copy with a normal neck and I managed to find a Classic pickguard and pickups, and it sounds great.

I was just searching for standbergs and I’m surprised you got that one for $1270.. the cheapest refurb I can currently find on their website is at $1954.. they’re just pushing the prices way too much for an Indonesian built guitar. On another note, if you had to get something else along the lines of the Suhr at around the 1k range, which one would you go for? Ibanez AZ premium models? Charvel DK24 maybe?

Thank you for the video.

the thumb positioning is so important. I truly believe whoever designed this guitar isn't really a great technical player. when i first saw it it baffled me how unscientific and medically unsafe that neck design is

How were you able to get the Q54 for 950 including tax ? That’s phenomenal cause I’ve found nothing that’s cheaper than 999.99 then you add another 150 with tax

Made very well, thx, man!

Thank you for making this video. I decided to buy Ibanez one. Thank you from Japan.

Have you seen Joshua Meader? His thumb position and virtuoso technique, I would argue proves, that classical thumb positioning is better in 99% of cases. I have been genuinely trying to replicate his technique over the past several months and have drastically improved as a player. Not saying there isn't a time and place for "lazy thumb", but as a general rule - accuracy, range, speed, tone (subjective) - is improved by committing to classical thumb positioning.

Cant wait for maple neck and floating tremolo from ibanez headless guitar

I was worried about whether I would deal with the Endurneck when I ordered my Boden Original. For me, it quickly turned into a non-issue. My thumb wraps over for bending and uses the middle flat up to about the 10th fret and then slides to the top flat for anything above that on the neck. I agree that top fret access is a bit hampered by the heel joint, though. Hopefully, they will make a neck-through with a trem that I can afford at some point. :)

ı got strandnerg iiiiithe neck type feels hard when playing barre chord or classical blues rhtym

The ibanez guitar is a better guitar birds eye maple neck and bubinga and the pickups are far superior the tuners are metal instead of plastic on the strandberg I owned the black and silver strandberg of that model liked it a lot bought the qx HH model in flat black and it blew the strandberg away the pickups on the ibanez can deliver any sound you wanted and the slanted frets are sic!. The strandberg is a good guitar but the ibanez far superior IMO watch jack Gardner video on it sic !

I feel like I have the best of both worlds. 7 string Boden NX and an AZ2204 Prestige. 7v6 / active v passive / multi scale vs not / modern traditional flamed maple neck v enduro rich lite / gotoh trem vs fixed.

Do they make it standard neck to all strandberg guitars?

Honestly all i wanted is sss quest series with azn neck profile. Plus point if it was in a Nashville tele pickup layout.

I’ve been coveting the idea of getting a Strandberg for years but tbh I didn’t like the sound of it compared to the Ibanez at all

Did you try tuning them?

Hey, great review! I have found myself recently enamoured with both these models and your points about the strandbergs neck are something I need to consider. Could you tell me whether the tone knob is effected by the use of the dynamix switch on the Ibanez? I read a review that suggested it didn't work properly when the switch is on.

I only love the sound from strandberg.

Fantastic video

Just wish the tail the of ibanez look a little different instead of those symmetrical horns

I found this review confusing because he kept saying this one and that one instead of saying the brand of the guitar that he's talking about

yeah the Ibanez Q necks are perfect. tremolo model please ibanez!!! the Q neck destroys the Wizard neck. Wizards are cramp city.

+1 for kitty!

9:04 Piano introduction to Eat That Question?

Hmm seems like the Ibanez has hotter pickups?

Thanks

Which one is your Favorite 🤩?

If I’m buying a 7 string, it’s going to be multi scale. Period

His whole neck hand thing just negated classical technique. And proper hand placement, And his this could cause hand problems that was like, really. No one has ever even suggested that in any other videos. That was a moment. I've seen guys with a lot better technique than him, play both of those guitars,and never complain about the Strandberg neck. It's not a problem neck or badly designed or anything he's trying to imply. It's one of the reasons I want one. Plus the way it sits on your lap, since I'm just an at home player.

The Standberg neck is a patentable gimmick to separate guitar playing suckers from their money. There's a reason necks have been rounded for centuries and it's not because people were too dumb to think of the idea or incapable of making flat surfaces. A rounded neck is just the more adaptive solution.

What a way to ruin an otherwise great guitar... they even released an Essential model without all the extra bs such as fanned freta etc but kept the weird neck. No thank you. I feel like they would sell a TON of guitars if not for their neck

Manny Pacquiao talking guitars 😅 Great insight thank you

how in the fuck did you stretch your pointer and middle fingers that far apart?

Nice cat

pass,,,,club hand kid when i was like 7 in the early '60s then a double date with a guy i'd jam with, his GF my future Wife. Fishermans Wharf. Sidewalk performer. Club right hand....SG and a Pignose. grim. Nice a fan in Keith but i'll pass.

I have the fan fret Ibanez Q, and haven't tried the Strandberg but the oddball neck shape kind of puts me off going to the effort of trying to find one to demo. 👍👍👍👍👍

You completely miss the point that your thumb can go ANYWHERE it wants. It can go on one of the 3 flat planes, or not.

nice cat

IF YOU LIKE AN ITTY BITTY GUITAR BUY A Q...IT'S TINY..BIG MEN SAY NO...IT'S LIKE A UKE..SOUNDS GOOD THO..HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE

I don't mean this as a negative comment but its unfair to judge the Strandberg negatively in regards to thumb positioning when your idea of what the 'proper' fretting hand position is wrong. For a start your guitar is on the wrong leg to be talking about 'proper' hand positioning. Most of the problems you talk about are caused by the fact that your guitar is in the wrong position. And on the lower frets, yes it's always a good rough guide to say that thumb should be behind middle finger. But that's only a rough guide and not a hard rule, and especially when you go higher and higher up the neck that rule only applies when your guitar is positioned correctly. The main idea behind 'proper' technique is that your hand feels as natural and comfortable as if you let it go limp. You can still play in a traditionally correct form high up the fretboard without creating an uncomfortable stretch in your thumb. If you look at people like rick graham, he still plays at high frets with a 'proper' form without his thumb wrapping around the fretboard. That's because he has the guitar in the proper position.

13:06 wow I just did this with my own hands and it freaked me out haha

연주 진짜 듣기 싫네 ㅋㅋ 간사함의 극치

that ibanez is ugly af

That's just bad technique. Not judging but if you correct your technique you'll love the neck