cobbler
Fractal Fanatic
I have had some neck/arm/wrist issues over the past couple years that have severely limited my playing time. I have small hands and have always had to contort a bit to get my wrist and fingers in position to barre chords etc. To keep everything in context, I play sitting down.
I have always had some interest off and on with the Strandberg guitars due to their light weight and ergonomics but never had the opportunity to hold one other than the 30 seconds I had Tosins' in my hands back in 2013. Now with my neck and wrist issues flaring up I decided to revisit that interest. Enter the Strandberg Boden Neck Thru series and a couple posters here on the forum with recent purchases (@Sleestak , @WW Audio ) and the fire was lit.
I decided I wanted the Neck Thru 6 Fusion model with the Suhr HSH config. Strandberg recently changed from a primarily custom shop to a production line manufactured in Indonesia so I had concerns about the QC of the newer guitars. Both @Sleestak and @WW Audio assured me that their instruments were made well. The Fusion Neck Thru is only offered with two color options. Orange or Teal. I preferred the Teal but was told they would not be available anywhere until July. Several Orange ones were available on Sweetwater so I pulled the trigger so to speak. I was awaiting pics to be displayed of the two Sweetwater had in stock so I could choose when I got an email from Strandberg saying they had a couple Teal versions become available with one caveat. They were refurbs.
So I called Strandberg and while they wouldn't define the exact fix made they assured me that it was cosmetic and all in house. In other words, it wasn't an instrument returned from a previous owner. Since Strandberg has a liberal return policy i choose to take the gamble since they reduced the price $450. I got it yesterday!
I love this guitar!!! It's actually lighter than my Parker. Never figured I'd see that day. The Enduraneck with the fanned frets just fits my hands right. Barring chords is just easier with less contorting.The workmanship on the guitar is very nice. The fretwork is clean. Everything feels solid. It will take me a bit to get used to tuning at the bridge but that's no big deal. I looked over the guitar and could not find where there was any kind of cosmetic repair. I finally found it under the lights. I'll take that $450 smudge anytime.
Anyway, it's obviously all honeymoon at the moment but i really like the way this guitar feels and plays. It just hugs the body and is so light. A cloud in the hands. Parker players will understand. Plays like butter out of the box prior to any setup. It's also so much more convenient sitting in a chair at a desk without the headstock hitting everything as I turn around to adjust knobs etc.
If I have one complaint I guess it would be that for such an expensive guitar, the flame maple top could be a little cleaner. Oh, and they should give you the stand free with the guitar purchase since they are a pain to store. I'll be making one this weekend...
... AND IT SOUNDS GREAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AXE-FX III
Edit: Sorry for the long rant
The blemish. Worth $450 to me since I don't resell anything and I will have it dinged up far worse than that in a matter of days.
I have always had some interest off and on with the Strandberg guitars due to their light weight and ergonomics but never had the opportunity to hold one other than the 30 seconds I had Tosins' in my hands back in 2013. Now with my neck and wrist issues flaring up I decided to revisit that interest. Enter the Strandberg Boden Neck Thru series and a couple posters here on the forum with recent purchases (@Sleestak , @WW Audio ) and the fire was lit.
I decided I wanted the Neck Thru 6 Fusion model with the Suhr HSH config. Strandberg recently changed from a primarily custom shop to a production line manufactured in Indonesia so I had concerns about the QC of the newer guitars. Both @Sleestak and @WW Audio assured me that their instruments were made well. The Fusion Neck Thru is only offered with two color options. Orange or Teal. I preferred the Teal but was told they would not be available anywhere until July. Several Orange ones were available on Sweetwater so I pulled the trigger so to speak. I was awaiting pics to be displayed of the two Sweetwater had in stock so I could choose when I got an email from Strandberg saying they had a couple Teal versions become available with one caveat. They were refurbs.
So I called Strandberg and while they wouldn't define the exact fix made they assured me that it was cosmetic and all in house. In other words, it wasn't an instrument returned from a previous owner. Since Strandberg has a liberal return policy i choose to take the gamble since they reduced the price $450. I got it yesterday!
I love this guitar!!! It's actually lighter than my Parker. Never figured I'd see that day. The Enduraneck with the fanned frets just fits my hands right. Barring chords is just easier with less contorting.The workmanship on the guitar is very nice. The fretwork is clean. Everything feels solid. It will take me a bit to get used to tuning at the bridge but that's no big deal. I looked over the guitar and could not find where there was any kind of cosmetic repair. I finally found it under the lights. I'll take that $450 smudge anytime.
Anyway, it's obviously all honeymoon at the moment but i really like the way this guitar feels and plays. It just hugs the body and is so light. A cloud in the hands. Parker players will understand. Plays like butter out of the box prior to any setup. It's also so much more convenient sitting in a chair at a desk without the headstock hitting everything as I turn around to adjust knobs etc.
If I have one complaint I guess it would be that for such an expensive guitar, the flame maple top could be a little cleaner. Oh, and they should give you the stand free with the guitar purchase since they are a pain to store. I'll be making one this weekend...
... AND IT SOUNDS GREAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AXE-FX III
Edit: Sorry for the long rant
The blemish. Worth $450 to me since I don't resell anything and I will have it dinged up far worse than that in a matter of days.
Last edited: