The Problem With .Strandberg* Guitars (And How To Fix It) 

The one and only problem with .Strandberg* it's that I don't have one😢

I have owned six Strandberg models at one point, and now I only have two and sold the rest. I was initially a huge fan, but with more experience and more exposure to other brands/models and comparing them, the shortcomings of Strandbergs became obvious. If I were to give my feedback to Ola, this is what I would tell him: 1) Non-multiscale is important to have because many people don't like them, no matter how mild the fan-frets are. I'm one of them. 2) The Endurneck isn't for everyone, and while I don't hate it, I don't prefer it either. I would choose any of my other guitar's "normal" neck profiles over the Endurneck. Maybe create non-Endurneck models? 3) The neck-heel joint is one of the worst aspects of the Strandberg body design. The heel starts too early and impedes comfortable upper-frets access. Even the cheap Eart W1, which is a Strandberg ripoff, knew to not copy that area and made their neck-heel much higher and with a much shallower contour, and it's far more comfortable than Strandberg in that aspect. The NX model redesign addressed it but not nearly enough, because the heel still starts too early. Ideally, on 24-fret guitars, I would want the thumb to be able to reach at least the 17th fret before hitting the heel. 18th fret or later is even better. The EBMM Majesty is a great example of how total freedom from neck-heel joint obstruction. Even my mid-priced Schecters have set neck/neck-thru and are very comfortable in the upper-frets access. Strandberg needs to at least make more neck-thru models so they're widely available. 4) I wish Strandberg models had wider range of tone options via the switching system. I love my Ibanez and Charvel models with the mini toggle switch to split/tap the coils, giving me 10 different tones. The toggle switch is so much more ergonomic than push/pull knobs because you won't accidentally turn the knob when using the feature. My favorite aspect of the Strandberg design is the light weight and the lower body carve, which allows me to sit and play with the guitar on my right thigh. I wish all guitars had that carve. So, if Strandberg came out with a model that had these features, I'd buy it in a heartbeat: -Neck-heel joint pushed further towards the body. Ideally starting at 18th fret or further -Normal non-multiscale frets -Normal neck profile -Wider range of tones via a mini toggle switch like on some Ibanez and Charvel models. Ideally 5-position blade switch and then five more tones via the toggle -Keep the lightweight -keep the lower body carve for comfortable sitting position with the guitar on the right thigh

Thanks for the info and thoughts on the strandbergs . I has a new set neck boden nx with a trem on pre-order. Cheers and have great week man .🎸🎸🎸

So, I don't disagree with you, but something I've noticed is that Ola tends to be quite reserved. It seems to me that as an engineer who loves music and making, also being a business owner and a community organizer would be quite taxing. Plus, if he was hoping one if his musicians could be a brand ambassador, a lot of them, not all, but a lot like Plini and Sarah Longfield are not super engaged with their own audiences, let alone the Standberg community. All of that to say that I think Ola has been looking for a more permanent brand image coordinator to organize things like the streams and Community aspects like reddit and Instagram. I think it's a big ask and he and his staff are probably slower to make progress than we'd like. I do see them making strides tho.

Well said Jack… well said indeed❤

Great points man, I was oh so close to buying a Strandberg the other day, but I couldn’t vibe with any of the colours, if they ever release a glacier blue 6 I will buy it on the spot though!

I have the exact same two Strandbergs as you. The green 6 and the blue 7. But I put Fishmans in the 6 as well :) I love em, and mine are pretty much perfect, but qc is generally not good enough. The fret jobs differ extremely from one guitar to another which is why I never just bough the first one that I tried. One has fret height all over the place and the next has absolute dream fret job.

Waiting for a 7 string Essential model!

i completely agree, and am in a similar boat.

Can you talk about the strandberg tremolo system? Especially in the saleen NX 6 trem ? It goes both ways? How good is in terms of tuning stability?

I’d love strandberg to do an affordable line like squier, epiphone, prs’ se line. Eart do an affordable headless guitar but when you like a brand you want to support them with your purchase and not their competitor.

Well said sir. What brought me to Strandberg was how BAD my hands are. (arthritis) Infact...I think you have a similar issue that you addressed in an earlier video. I agree that they are a pricey guitar. I have a couple of Gibsons that cost triple of what I paid for my Strandberg. The Strandberg NECK profile is what got me back into the game and I recognised this the first time I got to play one for a few days. I always wanted a 7-string and, when I seen the Bodin, it was a done deal. I can only imagine the expense , the time, the "trial & error" that went into developing this neck. I can recognise the expense of these guitars just as much as somebody who buys a Gibson or a custom shop Fender. These are QUALITY instuments. If Strandberg wants to reach-out to a big section of guitar players, how about us players whose hands have "gone south". Thank you for being respectful on you channel. This is a "breath of fresh air".

Everywhere I look I see no stock. It’s like Strandberg don’t really want to serve a large customer base. It’s good to see them start to branch out into the cheaper price bracket but it’ll be months before they’re remotely available I guess….

Your comment about Strandberg showing off their artists makes sense. So far, I only really know of Plini that shows how he plays in his videos. He also does a semi-regular workshop in Uppsala which I have not yet been to (quite expensive!) but can imagine it is very high value. A good comparison is with David Maxim Micic. His podcast, engagement with his fans on discord and discussions on writing, playing, theory and so on is excellent.

The problem with Strandberg is that the price makes you think you are paying for quality, but you're actually paying for design features. Don't get me wrong; they are great guitars! I have had a few and love them.

I totally agree. you mentioned some good points i never thought about. when i saw those j artisan models , or now the listed "futur" and "meloria" models with prices from 4000-9000$ , i started thinking they are kidding... If it is a company for pro players they could do custom guitars, as they did some decades ago. But offering a guitar for a full community with this imense price is just stupid.

My problem with the Bergs are that I wish the neck was a bit slimmer and the neck joint was not so high up the fret board

I had a Boden but sold it. I just wasn’t in love with it. The other problem was it has the sharpest fret ends I’ve ever had on any guitars I’ve owned (around 60 of them). For a $2K guitar, I just found it unacceptable, especially because all of my guitars are kept in a climate controlled studio (45% humidity year round). To be fair, this is my only experience with Strandberg.

a guitar is a tool, I don't need to feel at attachment to the company that makes drills, screwdrivers, or anything else...why should it be any different for a guitar?

Thanks

Also needs a $20 floor stand and a wall hanger or bundle them.

How about the S.essential? It is their way of trying to apeal to a wider audience

Nicely done brother..🤘💪..hey stranberg I know a killer guitar player who's an even better person who would be a FANTASTIC ARTIST TO ENDORSE!!

I have a small addition to the conversation but it won't pertain to everyone. I live in an area where there are not a lot of music stores. In the immediate vicinity (say an hour's driving time radius) there are three stores. If I take that up to three hours there are about a dozen. That's not too bad but each store carries pretty much the same inventory. It's always about 75% Fender and Gibson products, 20% Ibanez, Jackson, PRS and Schecter and the remaining 5% might be a Dean or something like that. With even the "lower end" Strandberg's costing $1,700 and up I'd like to be able to play one before forking over that kind of cash. I'd love to try the Endurneck, the fanned frets, etc.. I've been playing almost 40 years and currently own 23 guitars but I've never even seen a Strandberg in person. I get that it could be a regional thing and there may be people who go into their local stores and ONLY see Strandberg, Suhr, Tom Anderson, etc. but that's not here. If they could find a way to expand their distributors I think it might also help. Just my two pennies.

I'm still waiting for an affordable, or at least semi affordable, headless guitar with a tremolo. Been waiting for Ibanez to make one but it doesn't seem to happen. When i saw Strandberg releasing an Essential line i immediately jumped to their website to check out the price on the Essential model with a tremolo, just to find out there is none. 😕 So, i'm still waiting! And IF Strandberg releases such a guitar, will it have a too cheap temolo so it can't stand some abuse? Maybe that is the problem!? Good tremolo and affordable is a bad match!? Hope some company can release something i want so i can give them my money. 😕

I keep telling myself I don't need a Strandberg, the urge to just buy one is getting hard to ignore. I am just scared I will love it so much that I will have to sell all my other guitars and replace them with Stranbergs

Let´s not forget Paul Masvidal from Cynic ohhh...and Richard Henshall from Haken.

I have LOTS to opinion to share. I own a handful of strandys and feel their biggest problem is QC. The current catalogue of guitars are honestly a BIG step back from what the brand offered throughout 2011 - 2021, back when the guitars were built in South Korea and had full maple caps and roasted maple necks and boards. Not to mention the slew of electronics issues, nuts cut with inconsistent string spacing, cheap components and the dreaded zero fret ping on the high B and E strings.....For the current asking price it's not worth the money. For the same or maybe even slightly less you can get ALOT more guitar with a brand like Kiesel, which is made to measure, American built, and no QC issues. I own guitars from both brands and the quality is night and day between the two.

Kmac brought me into strandberg since i saw it for the first time and thought as i want one. Not a big fan of plini and other modern guitar players but i own Metal NX 7, i absolutely love this guitar and want more guitars in future even its more expensive in my country than the others. Ye i wish they hire more players out of “progish” side and more like from death or core metal genres. Also so great seeing Essentials due ive tried alot of cheaper headless guitars before my NX and they just sucks.

F**k it. I’ll always smash the overtime for one of Ola’s zero compromise masterpieces, but this is a savvy move on his part.

Dude my comment disappeared 😂. Was it too long ? I Love my Strandberg guitar 🎸

Damn dude, reupload? Everything all good?

I like Trapt :)

The idea of getting one grew on me from 'ew no' to 'actually that's genius'. Wifes still in the butt ugly camp tho & not sure she'll come round to enabling me this time 😅

The finishes are boring. The only time I saw one that I liked was pink and orange and they were limited releases because they were rescue models.

Okay, the cheese thing is rediculous LMAO

Makes sense, give this man a job.

My next guitar needs to be multiscale and I don't want to spend 1,000 USD, so it won't be a Strandberg. Sucks, but honestly everyone will be okay lol

If they were $1300-1500 absolutely. But $2100? You can get a complete custom guitar for that.

Wait, you have 3 Strandbergs!?

Won't work because Tosin could play a Fender Squier and still be amazing. Don't need a Strandberg to sound good.

It sounds like you need to start your own business. You’re clearly smarter than Ola.

yo yo yo don;t talk about trapt like this. Chris brown will find you and tell you that he is so popular and you are nothing :D:D:D:D::D:D:D:D

This is stupid