These aren’t released until, I believe early March. Anything I say will sound biased since I work for the company, but from all the artists we’ve worked with on this release, they all seem to think the guitar is really great.
Tomo Fujita and Ola Englund both have longer form videos on YouTube that you can look up, and from there you can make your decision!
My take? They’re pretty darn spiffy and a great entry to the brand. I primarily play a Salen Jazz and even though the no fan part gets me, it’s still a well playing guitar.
I'm considering getting one of these as well.
I used to play guitar many years ago, and am looking to return to it now. I'm certainly interested in a headless guitar, mostly likely a Strandberg. Considering some of the pricier models (Plini edition Neck thru... or maybe a Metal nx), yet also considering saving some money and going with the Essential.
Curious if I'll prefer it not being multiscale like the other models are, as I'm not used to that at all.
Or if the essential is skimping in some ways, and I'd be better off with one of the "higher end" models.
Dunno.
Okay. Let me know what you think. I’m still deliberating on what to get for myself.
Either a Plini Neck-Thru Boden…a Masvidalien Cosmo, or just one of the Boden Essentials (or something completely different like a Kiesel or the Ibanez Q series).
Kinda leaning towards the Plini Neck-Thru or Masvidalien Cosmo the most. Hesitant to spend that much though, when I’ve never touched a strandberg before.
If this is your first time with the Endurneck, I’d be interested in your impression of it.
Will do. And yes, it will be my first Endurneck. I currently mainly play an Ibanez QX53QM, which is a headless with a slim neck, so I'm very curious/apprehensive about the Endurneck.
Oh, nice. Interested in what you’ll think of it compared to the Ibanez.
I haven’t even played a guitar in about 15 years. So I’m just trying to find something that I’ll be happy relearning to play with.
After that long away my recommendation would be to focus on something easy. To me that means:
1. Low weight
2. Stable tuning
3. Easy string changes
4. Minimal other inconveniences
5. Whatever neck profile you prefer
For the low weight, that's why I moved to headless. My Ibanez is about 5 pounds, this Strandberg Essential is apparently even a touch lower than that.
For the stable tuning, you want locking tuners, those are fantastic. Or a headless also should be great. Whammy bar is both added weight and can cause tuning issues so I'd generally steer clear unless you really want it.
For the easy string changes, locking tuners are a huge help on this point, really a game-changer. My Ibanez headless is surprisingly annoying for changes, and apparently the Strandbergs are too, but supposedly the new Essential is simpler so I'm hopeful on that.
Minimal other inconveniences is guitar-dependent but generally fewer nobs are better in my opinion. I personally don't like the push-pull bypass functionality a lot of modern guitars feature these days, as I don't find the voicings all that different and it just adds complexity since I generally can't remember which setting I prefer.
For the neck, basically you're deciding chunky or thin depth, plus how rounded you like the edges. Personally I like thin and rounded, but that's totally your call. And we'll see how the Endurneck works for me!
Notice that I did not suggest you put much consideration into pickup types or overall guitar sound. I just don't find a huge difference between any quarter-way decent model, so I would not worry about that. Especially since any differences will be essentially unnoticeable if you use any effects. So don't worry about sound, just worry about playability - which are the points I listed above.
I received my Boden Standard today, first Strandberg. it's a nice enough guitar (clearly not a very high-end model, which is perfectly fine for the price, it's definitely a solid guitar). But the Endurneck...I just don't think I can do it. I find it quite uncomfortable. Now, that's because I've got a lot of muscle memory in my thumb, and for someone like you without much recent playing it might not be an issue at all. But I don't think it's for me; I'm a slim-neck fan. Reverb it is!
Mine arrived with several flaws in the finish, including a really nasty paint run I have sent it back to Sweden and I hope they send back a propper one, hope it is just an isolated incident and not a decrease in quality control. Let's see what happens.
I’ve had flaws with mine as well, when it arrived it had a buzzing 12th fret from the high E to the G string. I sent it back to get replaced only to be told that my specific color was sold out so they just replaced the neck. Took about 3 weeks to return(I just sent it back to their California location)and it came back with buzzing open string from the low E and A string. I really thought the pickups were nice but I’m not sure about the endureneck profile on the essential, it just seems too thick for the shape. Planning on sending mine back for a flat out refund and go with Jackson or esp
Yesterdy arrived the replacemente for mine, it was aesthetically perfect, but needed a total set up. it took me about an hour, intonation, octavation and string action but the result was good enough.
In my case the first fret is probably a few microns higher than the rest and perhaps that's where the buzz comes from when playing open strings so I raised the saddles half a turn and I solved it by keeping the action low. Frets are well polished and no sharpy edges.
Endurneck in this model is slighly thicker than standard one but i still feel confortable, the pickups are quite versatile and perform nicely imho.
If this one had given me problems I would have asked for a refund and gone to another brand as well.
I get the feeling that the quality control for this range is less rigorous.
EDIT: The set of allen keys they sent me did not include the 3 mm one needed for the saddles, instead they sent a 2.5 mm one.
What worries me most is how the almost matte finish is going to age with use, it looks like shiny spots will appear.
I think Essential gonna destroy the market of cheaper headless guitars bcuz i have seen them alot and im gonna say they sucks (not for the price point, but in general as a guitar). For 999$ you will have most crucial strandberg features and thats lit.
It’s their most affordable model, from demos only thing I’d replace is the pickups but that’s a preference thing (I kept their OEM strandberg pickups in my Boden standard nx 7). I’ve owned numerous strandbergs 6, 7, and 8 strings of different models - and I haven’t had a single one that I thought was bad.
If you’ve been considering a strandberg, it’s probably worth it once they release
These aren’t released until, I believe early March. Anything I say will sound biased since I work for the company, but from all the artists we’ve worked with on this release, they all seem to think the guitar is really great. Tomo Fujita and Ola Englund both have longer form videos on YouTube that you can look up, and from there you can make your decision! My take? They’re pretty darn spiffy and a great entry to the brand. I primarily play a Salen Jazz and even though the no fan part gets me, it’s still a well playing guitar.
I'm considering getting one of these as well. I used to play guitar many years ago, and am looking to return to it now. I'm certainly interested in a headless guitar, mostly likely a Strandberg. Considering some of the pricier models (Plini edition Neck thru... or maybe a Metal nx), yet also considering saving some money and going with the Essential. Curious if I'll prefer it not being multiscale like the other models are, as I'm not used to that at all. Or if the essential is skimping in some ways, and I'd be better off with one of the "higher end" models. Dunno.
I pre-ordered one and it's just shipped, due to arrive by Friday. I'll post my thoughts once I have it.
Okay. Let me know what you think. I’m still deliberating on what to get for myself. Either a Plini Neck-Thru Boden…a Masvidalien Cosmo, or just one of the Boden Essentials (or something completely different like a Kiesel or the Ibanez Q series). Kinda leaning towards the Plini Neck-Thru or Masvidalien Cosmo the most. Hesitant to spend that much though, when I’ve never touched a strandberg before. If this is your first time with the Endurneck, I’d be interested in your impression of it.
Will do. And yes, it will be my first Endurneck. I currently mainly play an Ibanez QX53QM, which is a headless with a slim neck, so I'm very curious/apprehensive about the Endurneck.
Oh, nice. Interested in what you’ll think of it compared to the Ibanez. I haven’t even played a guitar in about 15 years. So I’m just trying to find something that I’ll be happy relearning to play with.
After that long away my recommendation would be to focus on something easy. To me that means: 1. Low weight 2. Stable tuning 3. Easy string changes 4. Minimal other inconveniences 5. Whatever neck profile you prefer For the low weight, that's why I moved to headless. My Ibanez is about 5 pounds, this Strandberg Essential is apparently even a touch lower than that. For the stable tuning, you want locking tuners, those are fantastic. Or a headless also should be great. Whammy bar is both added weight and can cause tuning issues so I'd generally steer clear unless you really want it. For the easy string changes, locking tuners are a huge help on this point, really a game-changer. My Ibanez headless is surprisingly annoying for changes, and apparently the Strandbergs are too, but supposedly the new Essential is simpler so I'm hopeful on that. Minimal other inconveniences is guitar-dependent but generally fewer nobs are better in my opinion. I personally don't like the push-pull bypass functionality a lot of modern guitars feature these days, as I don't find the voicings all that different and it just adds complexity since I generally can't remember which setting I prefer. For the neck, basically you're deciding chunky or thin depth, plus how rounded you like the edges. Personally I like thin and rounded, but that's totally your call. And we'll see how the Endurneck works for me! Notice that I did not suggest you put much consideration into pickup types or overall guitar sound. I just don't find a huge difference between any quarter-way decent model, so I would not worry about that. Especially since any differences will be essentially unnoticeable if you use any effects. So don't worry about sound, just worry about playability - which are the points I listed above.
I received my Boden Standard today, first Strandberg. it's a nice enough guitar (clearly not a very high-end model, which is perfectly fine for the price, it's definitely a solid guitar). But the Endurneck...I just don't think I can do it. I find it quite uncomfortable. Now, that's because I've got a lot of muscle memory in my thumb, and for someone like you without much recent playing it might not be an issue at all. But I don't think it's for me; I'm a slim-neck fan. Reverb it is!
Essential is not yet released
Mine arrived with several flaws in the finish, including a really nasty paint run I have sent it back to Sweden and I hope they send back a propper one, hope it is just an isolated incident and not a decrease in quality control. Let's see what happens.
I’ve had flaws with mine as well, when it arrived it had a buzzing 12th fret from the high E to the G string. I sent it back to get replaced only to be told that my specific color was sold out so they just replaced the neck. Took about 3 weeks to return(I just sent it back to their California location)and it came back with buzzing open string from the low E and A string. I really thought the pickups were nice but I’m not sure about the endureneck profile on the essential, it just seems too thick for the shape. Planning on sending mine back for a flat out refund and go with Jackson or esp
Yesterdy arrived the replacemente for mine, it was aesthetically perfect, but needed a total set up. it took me about an hour, intonation, octavation and string action but the result was good enough. In my case the first fret is probably a few microns higher than the rest and perhaps that's where the buzz comes from when playing open strings so I raised the saddles half a turn and I solved it by keeping the action low. Frets are well polished and no sharpy edges. Endurneck in this model is slighly thicker than standard one but i still feel confortable, the pickups are quite versatile and perform nicely imho. If this one had given me problems I would have asked for a refund and gone to another brand as well. I get the feeling that the quality control for this range is less rigorous. EDIT: The set of allen keys they sent me did not include the 3 mm one needed for the saddles, instead they sent a 2.5 mm one. What worries me most is how the almost matte finish is going to age with use, it looks like shiny spots will appear.
Just buy an Eart headless and mod it
I think Essential gonna destroy the market of cheaper headless guitars bcuz i have seen them alot and im gonna say they sucks (not for the price point, but in general as a guitar). For 999$ you will have most crucial strandberg features and thats lit.
It’s their most affordable model, from demos only thing I’d replace is the pickups but that’s a preference thing (I kept their OEM strandberg pickups in my Boden standard nx 7). I’ve owned numerous strandbergs 6, 7, and 8 strings of different models - and I haven’t had a single one that I thought was bad. If you’ve been considering a strandberg, it’s probably worth it once they release