You nailed it my dude. I think strandberg never should of done away with the custom shop. I do like the fact that regardless of price point you’re getting the same quality hardware on all models. The new gig bags aren’t as good as the older ones either imho. The color choices are extremely limited, and for what you pay for an indo made guitar that has hit or miss QC it’s a bit of a letdown for me. After I traded my prog6 (which was the best out of the 3 bergs I owned previously) for my hydra 6 I haven’t cared to ever own a strandberg again. The quality blows them out of the water imho. If you’ve never checked out a mayones you definitely should Rob. The only thing is they are on the heavier side for headless guitars averaging 6.5-7.5 lbs depending on woods used. If I end up moving up to Philly in the next couple yrs like my wife and I are planning on, I’d love to link up with you sometime and let you try out my hydras if you haven’t by then.
Thanks for watching and commenting Mike! The same hardware on all models is HUGE, but I totally agree about the gig bag too. I just got a Classic NX in for review and the gig bag design works better for a six string model, but the 7 string is pretty tricky to get in and out of the case and I'd expect the 8 string to straight up not fit lol Thanks for the offer, I'd LOVE to check out your guitar! I haven't been able to check out a Mayones but I've heard great things...and I'd expect it too. DAMN they're expensive!
Totally agree on all points! When it comes to pickups, Ola says if you don’t like them you can easily change them out. But I’ve found that’s not necessarily the case with the Moderns they way they are designed with the 3-way switch and push/pull pots. You have to take outall the electronics to do it and have some experience doing it. My friend tried swapping in some Tosin Abasi pickups and was denied by 2 different guitar techs who refused to do the job! He finally found one who would but would cost 200 Euros on top of the price of the ~250 euro pickups! A job that would normally only be around 70-80 bucks. And the color option in the new NX series leaves a LOT to be desired. 1: black burst edges look sooo dated, like what you’d find on a Jackson from the 80’s/90’s, not on a modern guitar. 2: the trim is a classic design piece! Again, no place on a modern guitar! And the Original series only comes with both burst and trim! (Apart from the new natural series) Super disappointing
Thanks for watching Scott, you def make some great points! I'm getting some Bareknuckles put in a newer Original Poplar Burl and I'm cautiously optimistic about the way it's gonna change how the guitar sounds. I've got a new review coming on that guitar and I REALLY didn't like how the Fishman's sounded in that guitar. I'm with you on the color options of the new NX, that's really always been one of the bummers about Strandberg's, they're like the Apple of guitar design: little options or customization. Fingers crossed they make some changes in the future, thanks for watching! I've got new videos going live every Monday at 9am EST
I have been wanting to put EMG TW 81 and 89 in my Bodin Metal guitar, and I have a lot of experience swapping put Pickups in guitars.. but not sure if I should do it on my Strandberg.. Is there anyone out there who have thrown in EMGs into their Strandberg?
Have you checked out Kiesel guitars. Each one is built to order which is currently under 20weeks from when you place the order until it’s delivered. Prices are less expensive most other brands they are custom. I just placed my 5th build on Black Friday for a OM6 with a Buckeye burl top.
Thanks for watching, yep I've actually owned a Kiesel Vader VM7 for about five years and it's on a bunch of my original music (check out the song World -1 or Cauldron of Stars to see it in action). Pretty much covers all rhythm guitar work 'cause it's so freaking aggressive sounding. Couldn't agree more, Kiesel guitars are a great deal, congrats on your 5th build! I talk about Kiesel's a decent amount on the channel too, great instruments and even better that they're made right here in the good ol' USA. My complaints with Kiesel's are they don't do a multiscale tremolo model yet and that's a big reason I play Strandberg. Strandy's are also a lot more ergonomic than Kiesels IMO, and the endure neck is a game changer (I've got some wrist pain from years of playing with bad technique). I post new videos every Monday at 9am EST, hope you'll stop on back. Rock on!
Thanks for watching, I completely and utterly disagree. For starters, if you're using so much gain that you can't tell the tone of the instrument one from another....you're straight up using way too much gain. I'm also primarily a lead player and then the pickups matter even more than for rhythm playing...thus the whole point of my video.
First, I said wood doesn't matter with gain. Secondly, you're moving the goalpost by now making it a full band instead of just a guitar playing with gain. Lastly, if you can't tell the difference between a Frisell and an Invader, a Crema and Warpig or even a vintage single coil from a humbucker -- never mind the specific make but just that there's a distinct tonal difference between them -- then there isn't much point to this conversation, right?
Can't be more agree with you... You freaking nailed it in every single point. I think Strandberg it's losing market for not offering more options, someting basic like a finish or type of wood, construction, pickups, it's killing me... The Japanese line are extreme beautiful until you see the price lol... They even mixed up resin with wood, crazy and outstanding, but man, that's a luxury... I understand the possible reasons why Strandberg doesn't offer that, but c'mon... Give it a try!!! Maybe with something more conservative, like the finish and woods... Just think about a 7 string guitar neck-thru with a gold-black trem and gold frets, bk pickups HSS configuration, mahogany or black limba body with ash top and pale moon ebony fretboard... GODDAMNED!!!
Thanks for watching, great call on all points! It's so funny how hard it is to find any extra goodies to customize a Strandy. I've been trying to get some gold hardware forever and I haven't had any luck.
I'm very happy to see your first couple of points here. My dream Strandberg is an 8-string neck-thru with passive pickups (Lundgren Black Heavens or M8's please), a trem, a black richlite board, and a natural finish. However, after years of waiting for Strandberg to offer a neck-thru 8-string (and after buying and selling multiple other Boden 8's), I eventually gave up and ordered an Aristides H/08 to fill this need. I know Strandberg's not likely going to figure out an 8-string trem anytime soon, but ANY neck-thru 8-string Boden is still a day 1 purchase for me.
Thanks for watching and commenting Steve, an 8 string neck through would be amazing. If they came out with an 8 string tremolo model that would be a game changer, but you're almost def spot on. That's far away if ever. I've never played Lundgren's but I've seen some of my favorite players using them lately and it's on my list of products to try and get in for review. I've heard such great things about Aristides and Mayones but they're so damn expensive I haven't been able to try one out yet. Fingers crossed some time in the next year!
My advice would be fixed bridge Standard 6 with double hum buckers, that one is a bit cheaper, isn't chambered but still rocks full quality hardware. Any model is going to be solid though, just depends on the tonal variety you're looking for. Good luck!
for me, it's the ginormous neck joint preventing me from buying. doesn't even have to be neck through if they could move it back a couple of centimeters
Thanks for watching and commenting! The new NX neck joint is a big improvement over the older design, I've got a Prog NX 7 in for review and it's looking like I'm gonna be keeping this one. It's pretty much just like an old school Ibanez all access neck joint now and there's great upper fret access. The Neck thru strandy just was the best I've ever played...wish they did a 7 in neck thru so bad!
@@aminorerror hey man, I'm happy that the Prog NX7 is doing it for you! I grew up playing ibanez so i love those necks and heel joints. My current main guitar is a majesty 7 string which has amazing upper fret access. When i look at the NX pictures online, it looks like the neck joint already starts at the 16th fret which is a huge downgrade in playability from the majesty which i can't justify making. so it's either they improve the neck joint or they release a neck through 8 string version that doesn't cost an arm and a leg *fingers crossed*
Ah gotcha that makes sense, those Majesty guitars are cool but DAMN they're expensive! I wasn't sure how comfortable the lower horn is on those to play sitting down? I tested the Jason Richardson Cutlass and it's got a small lower horn that was really uncomfortable to play sitting down.
@@aminorerror the majesty's lower horn is even smaller, so if you play on the right leg, expect to deal with neck dive haha. i play with a food stand in the classical position anyways so it's not a problem. i imagine the strandbergs are leagues ahead in terms of comfort playing when sitting down tho
Yea that's where the Strandy's really are the best. I play mostly in classical too with a foot stand as well, the way the strandy body is routed down by the bridge makes is really comfortable to play sitting. I'd LOVE to try out a legit EBMM Petrucci though, I had one like 15 years ago but the neck went bad on it. The new ones look great and with stainless steel frets they'll last way longer than the old ones. Problem is they're just too much money IMO, I've got a new video coming out in a few weeks about that actually.
Great video. Definitely agree with you, there should be different wood combinations and different pickup options. While I didn't mind the Fishman Moderns, I did swap them out for the Lundgren M8 set on my Boden 8. I absolutely agree on the neckthrough part. I waited a year thinking that after they announced the 6 string neckthrough, they'd come out with a 7 and 8 string. I got tired of waiting and went with an Aristides H/08 instead. The gig bag, I don't like the new one. I personally bought a Basiner Brisq and like that one the most out of all of the headless gigbags that's out there, even more than the Quantum Industries bag that comes with the H series Aristides.
Damn you're the second or third person who's saying they parted with a 'berg for an Aristides! The new NX gig bag is def a disappointment...the prog 7 barely fits in the damn thing! It's super tedious to get in and out of the case, I've been using older gig bags going back and forth from lessons lol Idk Basiner but I'll def check that out, thanks for the tip and thanks for stopping back to the channel dude. Rock on!
Nice, thanks for the suggestions! Those guitars def look cool and I see lots of great players using them. Hopefully I'll be able to try one soon. Thanks again for subbing to the channel and stopping back, much appreciated!
Thanks for stopping back, that's a great call I def wish I had included that in this video. Hopefully as the company sells more here in the states they'll reinvest with more QC and infrastructure. Rock on man!
You nailed it my dude. I think strandberg never should of done away with the custom shop. I do like the fact that regardless of price point you’re getting the same quality hardware on all models. The new gig bags aren’t as good as the older ones either imho. The color choices are extremely limited, and for what you pay for an indo made guitar that has hit or miss QC it’s a bit of a letdown for me. After I traded my prog6 (which was the best out of the 3 bergs I owned previously) for my hydra 6 I haven’t cared to ever own a strandberg again. The quality blows them out of the water imho. If you’ve never checked out a mayones you definitely should Rob. The only thing is they are on the heavier side for headless guitars averaging 6.5-7.5 lbs depending on woods used. If I end up moving up to Philly in the next couple yrs like my wife and I are planning on, I’d love to link up with you sometime and let you try out my hydras if you haven’t by then.
Thanks for watching and commenting Mike! The same hardware on all models is HUGE, but I totally agree about the gig bag too. I just got a Classic NX in for review and the gig bag design works better for a six string model, but the 7 string is pretty tricky to get in and out of the case and I'd expect the 8 string to straight up not fit lol Thanks for the offer, I'd LOVE to check out your guitar! I haven't been able to check out a Mayones but I've heard great things...and I'd expect it too. DAMN they're expensive!
Totally agree on all points!
When it comes to pickups, Ola says if you don’t like them you can easily change them out. But I’ve found that’s not necessarily the case with the Moderns they way they are designed with the 3-way switch and push/pull pots. You have to take outall the electronics to do it and have some experience doing it. My friend tried swapping in some Tosin Abasi pickups and was denied by 2 different guitar techs who refused to do the job! He finally found one who would but would cost 200 Euros on top of the price of the ~250 euro pickups! A job that would normally only be around 70-80 bucks.
And the color option in the new NX series leaves a LOT to be desired. 1: black burst edges look sooo dated, like what you’d find on a Jackson from the 80’s/90’s, not on a modern guitar. 2: the trim is a classic design piece! Again, no place on a modern guitar! And the Original series only comes with both burst and trim! (Apart from the new natural series)
Super disappointing
Thanks for watching Scott, you def make some great points! I'm getting some Bareknuckles put in a newer Original Poplar Burl and I'm cautiously optimistic about the way it's gonna change how the guitar sounds. I've got a new review coming on that guitar and I REALLY didn't like how the Fishman's sounded in that guitar.
I'm with you on the color options of the new NX, that's really always been one of the bummers about Strandberg's, they're like the Apple of guitar design: little options or customization. Fingers crossed they make some changes in the future, thanks for watching! I've got new videos going live every Monday at 9am EST
I have been wanting to put EMG TW 81 and 89 in my Bodin Metal guitar, and I have a lot of experience swapping put Pickups in guitars.. but not sure if I should do it on my Strandberg.. Is there anyone out there who have thrown in EMGs into their Strandberg?
Wow I'm almost never this early, but I agree with everything you said!
Hahah thanks for watching!
Have you checked out Kiesel guitars. Each one is built to order which is currently under 20weeks from when you place the order until it’s delivered. Prices are less expensive most other brands they are custom. I just placed my 5th build on Black Friday for a OM6 with a Buckeye burl top.
Thanks for watching, yep I've actually owned a Kiesel Vader VM7 for about five years and it's on a bunch of my original music (check out the song World -1 or Cauldron of Stars to see it in action). Pretty much covers all rhythm guitar work 'cause it's so freaking aggressive sounding. Couldn't agree more, Kiesel guitars are a great deal, congrats on your 5th build! I talk about Kiesel's a decent amount on the channel too, great instruments and even better that they're made right here in the good ol' USA. My complaints with Kiesel's are they don't do a multiscale tremolo model yet and that's a big reason I play Strandberg. Strandy's are also a lot more ergonomic than Kiesels IMO, and the endure neck is a game changer (I've got some wrist pain from years of playing with bad technique). I post new videos every Monday at 9am EST, hope you'll stop on back. Rock on!
The second you throw on enough gain for metal, the tone woods and pickups stop mattering, so none of these are super big deal breakers for me
Thanks for watching, I completely and utterly disagree. For starters, if you're using so much gain that you can't tell the tone of the instrument one from another....you're straight up using way too much gain. I'm also primarily a lead player and then the pickups matter even more than for rhythm playing...thus the whole point of my video.
I get not really hearing subtle differences in wood but pickups? That's so much gain you're moving from tone to straight up noise.
@@markuyehara7880 Alright listen to 8 different bands and tell me the pick ups and tonewood just by your ear, I'll sit here and wait patiently :)
First, I said wood doesn't matter with gain. Secondly, you're moving the goalpost by now making it a full band instead of just a guitar playing with gain. Lastly, if you can't tell the difference between a Frisell and an Invader, a Crema and Warpig or even a vintage single coil from a humbucker -- never mind the specific make but just that there's a distinct tonal difference between them -- then there isn't much point to this conversation, right?
Can't be more agree with you... You freaking nailed it in every single point. I think Strandberg it's losing market for not offering more options, someting basic like a finish or type of wood, construction, pickups, it's killing me... The Japanese line are extreme beautiful until you see the price lol... They even mixed up resin with wood, crazy and outstanding, but man, that's a luxury... I understand the possible reasons why Strandberg doesn't offer that, but c'mon... Give it a try!!! Maybe with something more conservative, like the finish and woods... Just think about a 7 string guitar neck-thru with a gold-black trem and gold frets, bk pickups HSS configuration, mahogany or black limba body with ash top and pale moon ebony fretboard... GODDAMNED!!!
Thanks for watching, great call on all points! It's so funny how hard it is to find any extra goodies to customize a Strandy. I've been trying to get some gold hardware forever and I haven't had any luck.
I'm very happy to see your first couple of points here. My dream Strandberg is an 8-string neck-thru with passive pickups (Lundgren Black Heavens or M8's please), a trem, a black richlite board, and a natural finish. However, after years of waiting for Strandberg to offer a neck-thru 8-string (and after buying and selling multiple other Boden 8's), I eventually gave up and ordered an Aristides H/08 to fill this need. I know Strandberg's not likely going to figure out an 8-string trem anytime soon, but ANY neck-thru 8-string Boden is still a day 1 purchase for me.
Thanks for watching and commenting Steve, an 8 string neck through would be amazing. If they came out with an 8 string tremolo model that would be a game changer, but you're almost def spot on. That's far away if ever. I've never played Lundgren's but I've seen some of my favorite players using them lately and it's on my list of products to try and get in for review. I've heard such great things about Aristides and Mayones but they're so damn expensive I haven't been able to try one out yet. Fingers crossed some time in the next year!
I want neck through models too
I'm still looking forward to my first Strandberg. And still undecided on what model...🤔😊
My advice would be fixed bridge Standard 6 with double hum buckers, that one is a bit cheaper, isn't chambered but still rocks full quality hardware. Any model is going to be solid though, just depends on the tonal variety you're looking for. Good luck!
for me, it's the ginormous neck joint preventing me from buying. doesn't even have to be neck through if they could move it back a couple of centimeters
Thanks for watching and commenting! The new NX neck joint is a big improvement over the older design, I've got a Prog NX 7 in for review and it's looking like I'm gonna be keeping this one. It's pretty much just like an old school Ibanez all access neck joint now and there's great upper fret access. The Neck thru strandy just was the best I've ever played...wish they did a 7 in neck thru so bad!
@@aminorerror
hey man, I'm happy that the Prog NX7 is doing it for you!
I grew up playing ibanez so i love those necks and heel joints. My current main guitar is a majesty 7 string which has amazing upper fret access. When i look at the NX pictures online, it looks like the neck joint already starts at the 16th fret which is a huge downgrade in playability from the majesty which i can't justify making. so it's either they improve the neck joint or they release a neck through 8 string version that doesn't cost an arm and a leg *fingers crossed*
Ah gotcha that makes sense, those Majesty guitars are cool but DAMN they're expensive! I wasn't sure how comfortable the lower horn is on those to play sitting down? I tested the Jason Richardson Cutlass and it's got a small lower horn that was really uncomfortable to play sitting down.
@@aminorerror
the majesty's lower horn is even smaller, so if you play on the right leg, expect to deal with neck dive haha. i play with a food stand in the classical position anyways so it's not a problem. i imagine the strandbergs are leagues ahead in terms of comfort playing when sitting down tho
Yea that's where the Strandy's really are the best. I play mostly in classical too with a foot stand as well, the way the strandy body is routed down by the bridge makes is really comfortable to play sitting. I'd LOVE to try out a legit EBMM Petrucci though, I had one like 15 years ago but the neck went bad on it. The new ones look great and with stainless steel frets they'll last way longer than the old ones. Problem is they're just too much money IMO, I've got a new video coming out in a few weeks about that actually.
Great video. Definitely agree with you, there should be different wood combinations and different pickup options. While I didn't mind the Fishman Moderns, I did swap them out for the Lundgren M8 set on my Boden 8. I absolutely agree on the neckthrough part. I waited a year thinking that after they announced the 6 string neckthrough, they'd come out with a 7 and 8 string. I got tired of waiting and went with an Aristides H/08 instead. The gig bag, I don't like the new one. I personally bought a Basiner Brisq and like that one the most out of all of the headless gigbags that's out there, even more than the Quantum Industries bag that comes with the H series Aristides.
Damn you're the second or third person who's saying they parted with a 'berg for an Aristides! The new NX gig bag is def a disappointment...the prog 7 barely fits in the damn thing! It's super tedious to get in and out of the case, I've been using older gig bags going back and forth from lessons lol Idk Basiner but I'll def check that out, thanks for the tip and thanks for stopping back to the channel dude. Rock on!
I have a fusion and an OS. If you ever get a chance to play an Abasi Larada Legion, you might really like it! I do.
Nice, thanks for the suggestions! Those guitars def look cool and I see lots of great players using them. Hopefully I'll be able to try one soon. Thanks again for subbing to the channel and stopping back, much appreciated!
Nice video as always man. One thing I’d really like to see them do is open a dedicated service/repair and QC center in the USA.
Thanks for stopping back, that's a great call I def wish I had included that in this video. Hopefully as the company sells more here in the states they'll reinvest with more QC and infrastructure. Rock on man!
Very good points, Rob!
Thanks Gregory! Appreciate you watching and commenting, new videos go live every Monday at 9am EST