Strandberg Salen Classic - Let's Put It Up Against A Fender Telecaster.
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- If you have been watching this channel for some time you'll know what a fan I am of the Fender Telecaster.
I've always been curious about headless guitars and especially Strandberg guitars. So I asked Strandberg to lend me their Telecaster-type guitar so I could compare it against a real Fender Telecaster.
The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.
Very pleasantly surprised. Sounded like the Tele but clearer, livelier and fuller!
Picked up a Boden and it's instantly my favorite guitar for playing live. They're incredible machines.
They sure are.
this tone is unreal, i haven t listened to tone this amazing for ages.
The sound is a matter of taste. The Tele USA sounds more Vintage, The Salen Classic ads a contemporary sparkle to it.
Finally a decent video showcasing this particular Strandberg. Thanks for the video. I just ordered this exact guitar and feel much better about my decision watching this. Can’t wait to get it now! 😬
Watch Tory Slushers demos and songs on one of these. She sure sold me Last summer, I got a Candy red one with Roasted maple neck USED so I saved a couple hundred. Her profile UA-cam channel is easy to find.
I own one. The Endure neck takes no time to get used to. The weight is awesome for a gig. No aching back at the end of the night. The tone is not as rich, but I use a Helix and just have an EQ block in my presets, which easily dialed in the tone I was looking for.
It stays in tune very well because, like a Floyd Rose, both ends are locked down.
My only complaint is that the tuners take more force to turn than I would like.
Mine turn pretty reasonable, they give you the allen key that will fit in the back of the tuning keys in case you need to do large tuning changes.
I've had a Standberg Boden for 7 years now. You soon get used to the Endurneck design and it is really comfortable to play. It is also a great travel guitar due to its size. Personally I thought the Salen sounded brighter and more articulate than the Tele in this test. Fantastic playing, as always 👍🎸
Cheers David.
That might be due to the all maple neck vs maple with Rosewood or Pao faro fingerboard. At least Eric Johnson feels that is what they do. I call him the StratoCaster MASTER.
really? i thought the tele was brighter and snappier while the strandberg was softer
edit: brighter isnt the right term, hotter maybe?
sounds very nice with excellent features but I have to say that the Telecaster on the back pickup and mid settings was perfect here.
The pickups on the Tele have a little more quack in the bridge and middle positions. In the neck position, the pickup has a more, of what I like to call, "tubular" sound. The Strandberg seems to have a more "tall" or resonant sound. Both sound great!
Impeccable tone and the playing is just top notch! Suhr pickups 💯
Found the video I was looking for!!! Thank you Studio Rats!
Awesome playing as always. Getting that Strandberg this week. Cant wait :).
The Salen sounded wonderful on chord work due to superb string separation, the tele had the edge on the lead sounds though but not by much, and that is a particularly good tele (as I’m sure you know!)
Nice job on this.
Cheers Keith.
Very good demo. Just received a Boden Prog NX 6 a couple days ago. I love it. As odd as it may sound I was really close to getting the Sälen Classic. Every clip I hear they sound so resonant and true to the Tele sound. Those Suhr’s seem to really bring them alive. The Prog has Suhr’s also that are not super hot pickups and have two positions that are split outside coils and split inside coils. This gives some of the Tele type spank, but not exactly like the real setup. I didn’t realize there is no upper bout bevel. That one thing Strandberg improved upon on the NX models. Thanks for the honest demo. 👍
Sounds amazing! I have a Boden 7 with the chambered body and fishmans. All of these are great.
Thing about Strandbergs are, that once you get familiar with them, it’s hard to look back. I have two of them (7 and 8 string) and I cannot be botherd with these 1950 desings (Fender & Gibson) anymore. Neck feels so much better, guitars are more resonant and multiscale is just so much better sounding than the traditional one. Fishman Fluence pickups are also cool, since they add tiny bit of compression to your sound. 👍
thanks for doing a demo where you actually play it like a Tele, which is difficult to find. i used to have this exact model and am missing it alot. was looking for a clean demo because that’s mostly what i do.
The tele has the mojo, it's got some depth, character and a bit of softness to it. In comparison the .strandberg* comes off clean and present, almost digital. I would imagine it to be perfect for a lush delay/reverb situation while not becoming overbearing. Thanks for a great example of how the guitar sounds played legato without a girls hairband tied around the top! I want one.
I think you could easily fix the issue by swapping out the stock pickups for some fender pickups.
@@pmcate2 IMO both tones have their place.
Careful TORY is a monster player.
@@ksharpe10she is GOAT, even on a squire.
No question. My next guitar will Strandberg. But still have to decide which model...
Great playing and tones!
Cheers Tory
She is the master of this Model. Has great demos and songs done on Strandberg. Ola outta give her a pick on a Signature model.
I have the special edition Svarten by Strandberg and LOVE it. I'm growing to appreciate more and more the ergonomics including the weight, and now I'm looking for one more Tele-esque. I WISH I could find the Candy Apple Red Deluxe, but they are tough to find. Maybe one day.
Sounds really promising 😃😎👍
The Tele does sound sweeter in some applications.
Agree with the inclusion of a arm bevel😉
The future looks and sounds bright 😎👍
Cool 😎👍❤🖖
Strandys are so incredibly versatile! I got my Boden Metal NX6 18 months ago. It´s obviously great for metal but its split-coil sounds are easily the best cleans I´ve ever gotten out of any guitar I´ve owned. I rarely touch my other guitars nowadays since I can get any sound I want out of my Boden. If you need to sell some of your other guitars to be able to afford one, just do it. You won´t be sorry, I can guarantee it
Thanks for this - I'm getting very interested in Strandberg. This one is lovely and I believe there's one with a trem bar as well (?) also this one seems quite Teleish but with maybe a bit more open / harmonics happening, that slightly 'acoustic' option. Must try one at my local in HK!
Listen to Tory Slusher play both. It doesn’t matter what you play. It’s in your fingers, and your brain. A pickup is a pickup is a pickup. In a mix, nobody can tell any difference. Go watch Tory Slusher. The best guitar player in the world.
I liked the sound better than the Tele -- fuller and livelier. I didn't expect that.
Great informative video as usual. I had the same guitar, however I sold it due to the limitation of the saddle height adjustment system. Had every single screw milled to improve the height with no avail. Had also the neck Pleked due to poor fret leveling. It was impossible to set the string action to my liking. I have to say that in the sound department it was great and also the sustain was very pleasant.
How low is your preffered string action tho?
I thought the Strandberg had greater clarity than the Fender, possibly the pickups contributed to that. I would be interesting to hear the side-by-side with the same pickups.
I have a Strandberg Boden (their least expensive model) and it plays amazing and took very little time to adjust to. I did change the pickups to a Tom Anderson HF1/HF2 set, which are a little more "vintage" than the original pickups. (And very reasonably priced.)
Holy crap, this sounded surprisingly great. I have not really cared for the tones of any if the headless or multi scale guitars that I have heard yet. That could partially be a function of the demos typically involving higher output pickups and doing modern metal stuff. But this guitar really does have a depth, body, and resonance that seems counterintuitive to what y8u woukd expect from a headless guitar with such a small body. Definitely going to look further into these now.
great video, something i've been wondering about as well
the strandberg is definitely a lot glassier sounding, the resonance was surprising for me as well, i'd probably pull back on the tone pot on the strandberg, even maybe the volume to get a bit more rounded off highs on there, would get a bit closer to the tele,
i'd be curious what pots are used in the strandberg, might just be a case of 500k vs 250k, the strandberg did sound great in any case
it's a bit weird that given the super ergonomic design concept, that the forearm contour wasn't implemented here, that would put me off as well, i think it's the same for all the other Salen models
i've always been a bit put off by the pricing, but you're getting something rather unique for the cost (neck carve/ergonomics etc)
I own a red one, it will, The pots are the smoothest I ever had on a guitar. Someone should Doctor a photo of Roy Buchanan and put a Strandberg in his hands. LOL. or even Danny Gatton.
6:01 You could go have a bite, come back and uahhhHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH still be hearin that mind you.
The problem of Strandberg is quality: an American Tele hands down
The main problem is always the price. Sure headless are often more expensive but $3000 is unreasonably expensive
Have you ever play one? I got 3 strandbergs and all fantastic. On par with my MIA and MIJ Fenders.
I’ve never been comfortable with asymmetric/awkward necks… but I’d have to try one of these to be able to judge… Thanks for the test run. Cheers Paul
It really is quite comfortable to play, The 20 degree radius fretboard really is a Shredders paradise. That took me more time to get used to. I favor the old skinny frets, vintage radius's. But these strandbergs sound so good.
Been playing Stranberg for about 6 years now when I pick up a new guitar if is not a Stranberg it's just kind of meh for me now. Love the Endurneck!
I'm quite tempted by this - I do have arthritic problems in my hand from time and wonder if this would help
It helped me rehab. my left hand, did lots of Spider fretboard exercises on it. Now I can play a regular guitar better again.
I love my .strandberg* also love the tele. But will never change my Boden
Awesome demo Paul. Can you do a shootout between your standard tele versus the new Ibanez AZS? or maybe together with that Strandberg if you still have one. That would be fun to watch. Thanks
Salen every time.
I really love your videos and your playing...you are one of the few demo guys out there that knows that chords are 90 percent of playing. I just noticed something about your lighting however. When I was watching this video I noticed that it was impossible to see where the pickup selector switch was on either guitar. The shadow from your hand precluded seeing anything. It would be nice to be able to see an important detail like that. Maybe you can address that in the future :). Rock on.
Cheers Todd, I’ll look into that.
Thank you so much for the video! I’ve been looking hard at Strandberg guitars, really interested. I’ve never have had a chance to play a Salen though I’ve played a Boden. One question if I may, do you think that there would be any way to install benders on a Salen? I have a Fender Tele with B and G benders, so that’s kind of what I’m used to in a Tele style guitar.
Seriously great review!
What little difference there is is probably because of the pickups. Suhr vs Fender. With the same pickups in both I doubt there would be much of an audible difference at all.
What's the model of the fender tele?
are those single coils on the Strangberg noiseless ?
there is going to be a difference because of the rosewood board. Should compare it to a tele with a maple board.
Great sound and playing what is the hardware behind it?
Late to the party but...... Did you notice anything, good or bad, regarding the super flat fretboard radius? I think they're 20", if I'm not mistaken.
Not really, it felt good but I do prefer a rounder board.
Please do one with their Classic 6 strat style HSS guitar!
Would have been really interesting to have the same pickups in both guitars!
Or no
@@JL-bu8bz Good point. After all, everyone knows that pickups don’t really impact the sound of an electric guitar. 🙄
Great tones. Were you using Fractal here? Sorry if you mentioned that in the video.
I think it was the Kemper. (Sounded like a Kemper, chyme and compressed)
I was using the Axe Fx
@@notalkguitarampplug-insrev784 oof 😂
So far for the Kemper having *that* unmistakeable sound that one can pick out with eyes closed 😂
what do they sound like with the same pickups??
Great video ,what is the song played at 4:11
Tho I believe HD guitars are ideal for weight however, it lacks the sound and appeal for guitarist to keep playing music for the tone..
I feel every time guitars with headstock sounds more full and artistic. HD feels like lifeless tho it is ideal for comforts and maybe ergonomic.
Realy nice sound but I definitely prefer the tele still
Playing through some digital emulator? Makes all guitars more similar.
Also, the boden is NOT a 25.5 scale, therefore will not twang like a tele..
That would be nice to tell us in description what amp/fx you’re using on each video. Thanks
For me fender Sounds much better
Both the Salen and the Tele sound amazing in their own ways. The Tele has a little more sweetness (probably the rosewood fretboard in action there), while the Salen is a tad snappier.
The Salen has a certain futuristic quality to it in the looks department, while retaining a silhouette that screams Telecaster. The light weight and ergonomics probably makes it very comfortable to play for longer stretches of time. I'm thinking it's gonna be a dream for a touring musician that's gonna be on stage all night.
The rosewood? Dude, really?
@@AbeldeBetancourt Tuning pegs?
What model is your telecaster? It sounds freaking good!!
Cheers Dexter, it’s a custom shop 59 Esquire.
Could it be the just the tone wood difference
Its kinda like... if Ferrari had a go at building a land rover
24 fret tele please!
I love the basic idea behind Strandberg and I would love to play one. But I tried one for a couple of days and the neck shape is just not my cup of tea. I tried to address the guitar rationally, knowing that the shape has been designed with ergonomics in mind. But I just didn't get warm with the instrument.
I can see from here the fretboard is too flat...
You get used to very fast, that was my fear when i got the boden 7 and around a week i got used to the neck even my thumb position was automatic
That's cos you built like a stack of hay
The number one issue for me is not the endur-neck but the multiscale...It's EXACTLY on the high frets I want a 25.5 inch scale, it gets way to crowded and "tiny" up at the highest frets with a shorter scale, like 25 or 24.75. If they would only make a straight 25.5 inch scale neck I would seriously consider a Strandberg.
All of the 7 strings are 25.5 - 26.25, so you could always go 7 string and you'd get what you're asking for :)
I own one, the frets are just angled not different between high side to low side. It does take a bit of getting used to, you got 3 different things going on, Angled frets, 20 degree radius fingerboard, and the Enduo neck back profile. But you can play it comfortably all DAY. And this is coming from a guy who likes 7.25 degree boards and skinnier frets, even on a les paul i like skinnier frets. Gibsons are 12 degree radius usually. And newer Fenders are usually 9.5/10 degree radius.
@@ksharpe10
The scale length is shorter on the high E compared to the low E. Hence the term "fanned" frets, and I strongly dislike short scales when soloing high up the neck
1:10 the guitar is outta tune. Needs a string tuning or is it faulty unit?
Is this the NX version or the regular one?
was this an indonesian built model?
Fender sound fenderish and strandberg sound strandbergish ! Both sound beautiful thanks for the review God bless
Right on!
Do u like the strandberg enough to consider owning one? 😊
...a Tele WISHES it could hold up against a Strandberg....
The Tele sound like the Salen played really far away from the mic and turned up
The real Tele put it to shame badly 😅
what model was that tele exactly?? thanks
But how thick is the neck tho?
I have heard a lot of horror stories on the forums about guys getting strandbergs in poor form due to being built in Indonesia. Import strandbergs are not in the same ballpark as originals or USA builds or even the Japan builds. Too bad. They look cool and sound good.
Pretty much BS. My own experience differs as does those of the majority of owners I'm in touch with.
@@gimmenames9039yeah I totally agree. I have a Boden 6&8, both I even bought from their site as refurbished deals. Both play and sound awesome. I had to closely inspect them to find a little scratch or dent as to why they were sold as refurbished and it was a small blemish on the back of one and the side of the other that only I would even see or know about when playing. Now I’m really wanting a Salen for more blues/country stuff since my others handle the heavy stuff. A lot of companies are basically using the same Indonesian factories for their more budget/midrange guitar lines. I have an Ibanez Jem Jr. and PRS Mark Holcomb SE’s 6&7 all made in Indonesia…they’ve been making good guitars there for years.
Can't get over the no headstock.
Tone aside the ergonomics of the Strandberg is beyond reach.
Cool guitar but the Tele has a smooth charm where the Strandberg has a much sharper edge, which is fine, but no sense in going with the Tele thing if all your gonna keep is the visual cues. It's a nice advancement in electric guitar technology, but not much of an advancement on a Tele if you ask me. The Tele is already a perfect design, everything else is just a different guitar.
Not a common sight on pro stages.
I think they’re quite popular in the metal world.
Not yet but Shredders type players LOVE them, 20 degree radius fingerboard, I own one, and I am an old vintage kinda specs. guy. It helped me rehab. my left hand.
Get a Tele, a strat, and a les Paul. Strandbergs look stupid
It might be a good guitar, but the design...come on...
Its hideous lol
I’ve always loved it actually.
Beatiful guital
Seen worse. I can't help but feel it in my lap whenever I see it.
Boomer