I was just gonna comment he's great at this and could to audio books and be never able to do anything else.. I dont think hes retired now though he just got hired full time for voice overs and narration :)
I still remember Stradberg posting his earliest photos of his first prototype build and everyone at projectguitar going crazy for his creative and stylistic ergo approach. I was hooked on building myself and have 6 I've done from scratch and suggest trying it for yourself, it's not nearly as difficult as you would think it to be and that's the truth. It's crazy to watch his company start from a simple forum post into a full on company that's become a household name in the guitar world.
Till you decide on my batshit crazy ideas. Carved top. Neck through. Sg les Paul a tele and a strandberg style. But thinned out kinda like a ibanez s series. Few other little weird tweaks. Plus basically building a set neck or neck through s series style. Potentially with carbon fiber reinforcement on the back like a Parker fly. But instead of on top for the fret board I'd do carbon under the fretboard on top of the neck and obviously on the rear.
Hey, I was a regular at projectguitar as well, although never got around to building anything. I remember Ola Strandberg being not only very knowledgeable but also very helpful in giving advice around the forum. It is a great place to learn about guitar building.
@@fivewattworld If for some reason this ever becomes a reality and you need a primary source/sound demos, just let me know! I've become quite a self-proclaimed expert if I do say so myself.
Keith’s delivery and format is second to none. He at the end, well documents all resources. Keith is just a breath of fresh air in a crowded tier of the guitar echo chamber.
I have a video coming about "Playing one guitar for 60 days." I may come clean with the full, still not as minimalist as I want to be, list of gear. I often joke, "if I am a minimalist at all yet, I'm a pretty bad one." So I have to go with "maybe".
Minimalism is a journey, not a destination. Also doing a rig rundown now would give you a concrete "before" shot for any changes in your accumulation. Also; I would simply like to see the rig rundown video.
I would love the rig rundown video. As a former Parker and Steinberger owner, and now a PRS owner, and a wanna be minimalist to boot, and of course a lover of light guitars, I need to see where we are going from here🤣😂😄
Haha, he's definitely got the NPR delivery, although I think his videos go into too much specialized detail for a general audience, but that's why I like them.
Because the documentaries of PBS and the like are serious and heavy duty as far as data goes. They're very serious efforts that take a year or more to complete.
@@josephtardio1086 Maybe, but I see no signs of them reaching that limit, lol! I have no problem with this guy or anyone's dry delivery as long as the info is there which it is. They big difference is that this channel is aimed at guitarist who already know the basics and want more information/history PBS or any network has to appeal to people who basically don't work in the subject. A baseball player is not going to watch Ken Burns baseball show to learn about baseball, a Jazz musician is not going to watch the Ken Burns Jazz to learn about jazz, but guitarists watch this channel to learn more about guitar equipment.
I was most impressed by the number of years it took before Ola chose to or had to quit his day job. It’s a lesson in organic/sustainable business growth and in humility.
I have a Gibson LP Custom Shop Black Beauty, a BFG, and a few other guitars. I recently purchased a Strandberg. After a week of playing my Strandberg, all of my other guitars are in their cases. I don't have the vocabulary necessary to describe this guitar adequately. Hands down my favorite guitar. Great vid *edit I forgot, I have a few Gibsons for sale if you are interested. Hee hee
I purchased my Strandberg Boden original 6 last year, since then I sold all my other guitars.. with this I can cover every genres of music. I also find out that this guitar really inspire me to creativity, cause there's no limit in both sound and playability with it. and last but not least, I can play for hours and hours every day without hurting my back and my hands, so I think this instrument will be with me for the rest of my life!
my personal .strandberg* story has just begun with the watching of this video. I need to play one. The fanned frets and progressive scale length intrigues me. I wanna feel the neck. Dammit Keith! You are supposed to be helping me trim down my stable to just the horses I need... and you keep showing me horses I need and don't have.
@@orclonn8974 No you don't. They are supremely nice to play. Every time I see one at a local shop I'll sit there and noodle on it forever. The neck takes a little getting used to. I'll eventually pull the trigger on one but it has to be the right one .
Great episode, I went from zero knowledge, to quite entertained, and plenty informed enough to want to check one out, in only 14 minutes and forty seconds!
@@frmcf Ye of little faith Fraser. The reality is that you sometimes know people because they do good work. I'm working on a project with David, but he was a subscriber before I met him. The world is likely a better (and occasionally worse no doubt at time) than you might believe. Sometimes it is just about quality.
How can someone look so much like an accoutant and be so cool at the same time?! Love your videos, they're very well-made and with such a great taste. Thanks a lot for putting in the work! Cheers from Brazil!
This channel is one the BEST bang for your buck in this space. This channel will serve as a historical analysis of some of the most important pieces in guitar culture
Thanks David. But I'm of course building summaries of the great reference material out there in books or, in this case, websites and company histories. It's fun for me and it makes a great "part-time job". :) Thanks for watching.
I've been playing PRS guitars since 1986. But recently I started playing 8 strings which PRS doesn't offer except through Private Stock. I bought a couple of cheaper 8 string guitars but they never felt close to good compared to my PRS guitars. When Sweetwater got Strandberg I decided to buy a Boden Standard 8. I have been beyond impressed with it. I made my own pickups for it and custom wired it with push pulls and 4 way switching. Now I rarely play my 6 strings including my PRS guitars. Thanks for a great video!!
Bought a standard before Xmas and haven't played another guitar since, excellent video i had no idea that Allan Holdsworth was a Strandberg player and knowing he had an influence on its design has made my day Thanks
Another great video. These videos open my mind to different guitars acknowledging their existince and the space they accommodate amongst guitar consumers. I tend to revert back to your videos about minimalist rigs alot because I'm new to the guitar world. I'm 30 years old and trying the learn to play the guitar. I find these video to be interesting, entertaining and educational. Please keep up the good work.
What I especially appreciated of the narration of the development of the company is that it all started with creativity: one builder's decision to walk away from the beaten path. This is why I much prefer hand-built, custom-designed guitars. There are so many luthiers nowadays who come up with magnificent instruments, whereas traditional shops - Fender and Gibson - can only come up with new colour schemes and names for the garbage that they produce.
Good to have something to be proud of from Sweden these days. Your videos are one of the few I watch from start to end, thats a good mark Keith. Cheers from Sweden.
Love this! Didn’t expect something modern on your short histories. I’ve been eyeing for a Strandberg for some time now and I’m even more excited that Plini posted a prototype of his salen sig
My prior knowledge of this was "oh yeah, I might have seen one of them", to a 99% instant improvement courtesy of KW. I've been nurdling the electric banjo for over 50yrs, the RSI comment was right on the money.. . .. Thank you KW.
I love my Salen. I was originally put off by the looks. I wangled a ticket to NAMM just to check the guitars out in person, and ordered my Salen the next day. It’s just so comfortable to play,. The minute I picked one up, it just felt . . . right. The ergonomic tweaks and the light weight make a difference. And, I love the Suhr pickups on the Salen. Great video Keith.
Finally! Actual accurate and useful information about the Strandberg line. It's really hard to find this stuff. Your video put so much of it together. Now I know why a 20" radius was selected. I found and read the Swedish patent translated (many times poorly) into English about a week ago. I now know that the Bass line is only 4 years old. I would really enjoy more detailed information about every single aspect of the designs. I did find some, but I could always use much more. Also, your info about the stainless steel frets was news to me. I intend to practice jazz walking bass on the Boden Original model (I prefer the aesthetics of this model), and your note about the warmer sound was a plus. I also use LaBella Low Tension Flats and hope to use them on the Original once I feel that this bass really is for me (45 day return at Guitar Center!). The bass arrives on Tuesday. I also have hand, wrist, and elbow issues and couldn't practice more than 15 minutes or 30 on a good day. And I'm only an intermediate beginner player (at 63 years old). I have only about 8 years of practice experience since starting 25 years ago. I look forward to this bass allowing me to practice an hour a day with no injuries or issues, and hopefully not need compression fingerless gloves while practicing anymore. Thanks again Keith!
I've been playing for money for 30 years, and I don't often get Gear Acquistion Syndrome, but I am feeling it bite a bit now. Thanks for this great video, as always.
Really happy to see this one as I was sure there was an interesting story behind the exponential growth of these things. I remember seeing them start cropping up around 2012 and it seemed like essentially all the best prog people were just gravitating toward strandbergs.
My strandberg story, I saw the guitarist from a j-rock band, Raise A Suilen, use a Strandberg, and I decided to go try it at my local guitar store. I've been wanting one ever since.
Allll these guitar videos rule dude! Was just looking through a Sweetwater catalog and was reading about Strandbergs and here's a sweet video! Right on man.
I really love your videos man. It's crazy, your videos made me, a visual artist, way more interested in guitars than I've ever been and your voice over work is calming. But what's really impressive is your attention to detail, extensive research, and community involvement. It's authentic. It really shows how much you love this. Keep killing it.
Watched most of your history of videos, I'd be thrilled to see you do one on ESP guitars if you're at all interested in that brand - one of my favorites personally and your reasearch and editing on these is top notch!
Hey Keith great special on these Strandberg guitars and bass guitars I was at Sweetwater with my son and my brother when I first checked out the Strandberg line up so light and comfortable super cool neck incredibly playable and well balanced they sound great too I wish the bass I want wasn't so pricey....I might be tempted to just get a steinberger instead and still be able to eat lunches and dinner
Ola, do I have a story for you! I first became aware of your unique designed guitar, when I was turned onto “Plini”, by a friend. I was instantly in love with the aesthetics of the guitar, itself, but when I heard it played by ‘the master’ himself, I decided that as soon as I was physically able to own a Plini model .strandberg* of my own, I would. As it happens, it wasn’t long after - a week before I wound up in the hospital,my gorgeous new guitar arrived. I had barely time to tune it, verify the setup was phenomenal, and away I went for another of a series of ICU stays, another story altogether. Suffice it to say that I was chomping at the proverbial bit to play my new guitar, but this time it turned out that I wouldn’t be back home for over 7 weeks! I did ask my friend - with whom I had been gigging temporarily - to go and pick it up from my home and PLAY it! I wanted to know everything about it, and so he gratefully did as I requested. My first report of the Plini was that my friend ‘was able to play stuff he didn’t know he could pull off…’. Now I was HUNGRY. When finally I returned home, I wasted no time getting my baby back, and found out for myself just how amazing the .strandberg* design was! I’ve always had back problems, but I had actually broken my neck on this last ‘adventure’, so the lack of weight was not lost on me - pardon the pun. I’ve been a Gibson guy most of my life, but I had moved to Ibanez S Prestige models as I grew older and sorer. I began playing when I was 8, officially, but I got my first ‘real’ electric guitar when I was 9 - and I was OFF! I learned every note of every RUSH song ever written, along with the classics - Zep 1-IV, Black Sabbath, and much of the Kansas catalog by my late teens. So, lets fast forward past a whole lotta years, here - my folks passed away by 2018, and I had moved a LOT of gear into a less than large place - under 1000 square feet, and there were guitars, amps, drums, speakers, and racks virtually everywhere. The only 2 pieces that come into play in this story, are a Plini .strandberg*, and a Mackie 8” woofer Powered Monitor on a 5 foot high, triangular-based speaker stand. I’ll bet you might know where this is going, but I’ll continue. My friend Mark and I.were sharing this rather small pad - 3 tiny bedrooms and one little bathroom (urk!) with 2 Big dogs - My female Rottie Aya (100+ lbs) and a male German Shephard (65 lbs). Thank the Gods for our big, fenced in backyard, yeah? Okay, back to the story - Mark and I were, allegedly, a bit inebriated, but we both remember this Only Too clearly. The Plini was resting, like they do, on the rear top bout, leaning against the coffee table - which had a very sharp 90 degree top surface - and the Mackie monitor loomed a mere 5 feet away, fully 5 feet in the air. Well, SOMETHING happened (truthfully, this is the only part of the story neither Mark nor I know) that speaker started to fall. Right toward where the Plini rested - Like the head of a convict at the Bastille - poised to have her head Lopped right off. Okay, we’ve all experienced it - the shifting into ‘slow time’ or ‘freeze frame’ - and this was no different. From the moment it started to move, we both knew RIGHT where it was headed. Yep, you guessed it, right for the middle of the Endurneck. Now - if ever there was a more appropriate name for anything, I am not aware of its existence. The monitor hit, both Bounced away, but seemingly impossibly, they were both fine. Both in one piece. Granted, there was a little 90 degree ‘ditch’ in the Plini’s neck, but I took after that with a bit of 600 grit, then 1000, and worked my way up to 2500 wetsand paper. Sure, I can feel it when my thumb sweeps by, but it’s not enough of a wound that it distracts from my playing, at all. I’ll sap a pic when I have finished typing this, and hopefullly I can attach it some way, so you can see how little of a mark it actually left. But Mark and I will never forget it’s there, because WE were there. And we saw the Impossible MADE possible. And all thanks to you, Ola! So hat’s off - or toques off - to the man, the Legend himself, Mr. Ola Strandberg. Thank you sir! Rob Hale
I knew nothing of these guitars before this.So now my life is full.Thanks Keith. And even though I did not win a pick I still love your channel. It’s all good.
Thanks Keith! Not only are your videos top notch, but your recommendations turn out to be amazing, as well! I was on the verge of quitting guitar entirely due to health issues, but I bought a Boden Original two months ago, and it has changed my life! I can play as often as as long as I want. My Resq:D Black is arriving tomorrow! Lol. Thanks again!
This was a whole new one on me, thanks so much for a peek at amazing piece of gear that I wasn’t even familiar with. As always, loving the five wide world!
Great stuff as always, Keith. I think 100K is just a matter of time... Man, Olla's come such a long way since 2010 - for some of us older gents, that seems like just yesterday! I'd think that the success of .strandberg* is as much about good business sense as it is the instruments themselves. Looking forward to the next FWW!!! 👍👍👍
Great video Keith. Pretty much everything I enjoy is "classic" "vintage" and/or "traditional" but it was interesting watching a history video on this modern company. I really hope I get to try a .strandberg* out soon. I had no idea they had the unique patent neck and I have been wanting to try fanned frets for a while now.
I bought one a few months ago, based partially on the implicit recommendation from seeing yours in the background of the channel. I'm very sold. It's been a great guitar.
Awesome video, looking to get a strandberg for travel and I think this video just sealed the deal for me. Also, it's such englightment on the concept of staying guitar nutural, need some time to think over it..
I don't know if you have succeeded in convincing me I need less stuff. But your detailed stories do make me think hard about appreciating and making music with the things I have. Excellent content.
I'd been a fan of Plini since about 2016, and obsessed over the headless concept since - I didn't really even know about the ergonomics or quality of the guitars until several years later - I just knew I wanted one because I loved the look. Finally April 2023 (a few months ago as of writing this), I had enough money sitting around to take the leap. I've already sold about half of my existing guitars and plan on buying a Salen or something similar soon. Amazing how quickly every other guitar I've owned and loved immediately felt like crap.
Great video once again, Keith. Glad you have found what works best for you. I have no real Strandberg story... I've played a couple, but just can't get on with the neck. Plus they kinda look like toys on me! But then, I've already found my perfect guitar in the Suhr Standard Pro. All but one are under 8lbs, they are super-comfortable for a big guy like myself, and the slim C neck with stainless steel frets is a dream. The only guitars I own that I actually play (so I really should get rid of the rest!)
Transition from a conventional guitar was a non issue, my SB 7 Black Pearl is now my daily driver. The Strandberg is worthy of addition to the short list of classic guitar designs, well done Ola!
Wow, Keith, this is one of your best videos.(the pick story is still my favorite) and your narrative voice is top par. I wish my chicken pickin father could have seen your channel before he died last year. He would have loved it.
1:51: you got me so hooked, buddy. I love your story telling. You're playing on this video ? I love the guitar! Well, i'm just past the intro. I'm gonna watch this video and catch you later 😋 Edited : It is a fantastic episode.
Impressive organization of facts and dates of a very interesting instrument. This is a great story and I'm glad we have a sort of official version of it for posterity. Go Ola go.
Thanks for the video. I used to play a Honner bass in the 90s i think it was, and fondly recall how comfortable and light weight it was, before dropping out of the guitar world. And so now as i start to tip my toes back, I find it wildly mind boggling at how much interest this new company, whixh seems to have taken up where Honner left off, draws. I remember my bass had a sort of kick stand which would fold out, allowing the classical guitar positioning, and this new line seems to have incorporated that into the design. I'm not a fan of fan fretting, conceptually, although i haven't tried one in person, as the higher positions actually make barring or triads with a bass note harder. And although the widening of frets in lower strings would seem to be more ergonomic, it actually increases the distance needed to travel making them harder to reach especially with the shorter fingers, which in turn makes me suspect an inverse fan fretting might be more favourable, but i doubt this is possible. Still, it's nice to see a company taking things forward rather than the same old and dull Gibson and Fender models and copycats.
I wanted one of the black classic boden 8 strings for years. Proud to say i got one early this year. It has the meanest sounding tones for deathcore/metalcore, plus some amazing clean tones.
1:15 "Guitar Neutral" ... love that term and (as commented on previous videos) am totally down with the philosophy. Thanks, as always, for another finely-crafted and thoughtful video!
I don’t have a Strandberg story but I do have an ergonomics anecdote. I recently bought an Ibanez mikro 5 string bass which has a 28.6” scale neck. It’s so nice to be able to play larger bass lines on a guitar sized instrument
Another great production and very interesting. I did not know about this company. The last company that i really knew, in regards to headless guitars, was Steinberger. Oh, nice playing also! Good stuff!
i immediately confused Strandberg with "Steinberger" which came out in 79' & has been played by so many recognized players. i was thinking how could i get the name & date wrong for so long?...LOL thanks for clearing that up.
I bought my Strandberg Standard 6 to be a travel guitar. I considered the Steinberger Spirit, but I saw a demo video where the demonstrator took out the pickups and showed that the guitar was literally blocks of wood glued together and that, combined with my inability to get definitive information on the string spacing (necessary for swapping out the pickups) pushed me in in the Strandberg direction. I've only had the guitar for 6 days, but I'm sold on it. It's "refurbished" and I can't see any flaws in the workmanship. I looked into a Keisel headless, but, although their base prices are pretty low, their guitars ramp up in price very quickly.
I bought my first guitar 50 years ago on the 28th of this month, as a birthday present to myself. With strong roots set in the past I have never even considered a 'weird looking Strandberg', but I sure can relate the 'left hand' thing! Thanks for the great video, and I think you may have set the hook for something new here... 8) --gary
I think this is my fourth or fifth time watching this. For the last two or three years I've really wanted a Strandberg, and I finally got a Boden 8 Natural, and have fallen in love with Strandberg in the way I assume Slash loves Les Pauls.
Beautiful finishes. I've been looking at Kiesel headless models now I have an alternative maker. Thanks for this very well done and informative video, Keith.
"as any totally not obsessed person would do, I started learning everything about.." .. I have been there :)
Basically described my life ha.
That's basically me watching this video for like the 5 or 7th time
It's okay man . Same here 😅👍
"Hi, I'm Keith Williams and I'm going to talk to you about how peat moss grows"
Me: totally riveted.
I was just gonna comment he's great at this and could to audio books
and be never able to do anything else.. I dont think hes retired now though
he just got hired full time for voice overs and narration :)
Yea, I was just thinking, I have absolutely no interest in this subject, but yet here I am watching. Just couldn't resist.
RedOrb I’m still waiting for the peat moss video.
Peat moss on a budget. Is Korean peat moss inferior to Danish "bog body" peat moss? In this video..
As a leading world expert in mosses this is pretty triggering.
I still remember Stradberg posting his earliest photos of his first prototype build and everyone at projectguitar going crazy for his creative and stylistic ergo approach. I was hooked on building myself and have 6 I've done from scratch and suggest trying it for yourself, it's not nearly as difficult as you would think it to be and that's the truth. It's crazy to watch his company start from a simple forum post into a full on company that's become a household name in the guitar world.
Till you decide on my batshit crazy ideas.
Carved top. Neck through. Sg les Paul a tele and a strandberg style. But thinned out kinda like a ibanez s series. Few other little weird tweaks. Plus basically building a set neck or neck through s series style.
Potentially with carbon fiber reinforcement on the back like a Parker fly. But instead of on top for the fret board I'd do carbon under the fretboard on top of the neck and obviously on the rear.
Hey, I was a regular at projectguitar as well, although never got around to building anything. I remember Ola Strandberg being not only very knowledgeable but also very helpful in giving advice around the forum. It is a great place to learn about guitar building.
When can we expect a Short History of the Korg Miku?
Not soon...but you never know.;)
@@fivewattworld If for some reason this ever becomes a reality and you need a primary source/sound demos, just let me know! I've become quite a self-proclaimed expert if I do say so myself.
Ultimate April fools video 🤣🤣🤣
Oooh, and the EHX Farm9! (I really wish they had made that pedal.)
All miku discussions eventually devolve into tentacle porn.
Keith’s delivery and format is second to none. He at the end, well documents all resources. Keith is just a breath of fresh air in a crowded tier of the guitar echo chamber.
Thanks Allen
I totally agree. His approach has been a revelation to me.
When I read his reply I heard his voice in my head saying “Thanks Allen” lol
Please, do rig rundown and studio tour of yourself , pleaaasssseeeeee
I have a video coming about "Playing one guitar for 60 days." I may come clean with the full, still not as minimalist as I want to be, list of gear. I often joke, "if I am a minimalist at all yet, I'm a pretty bad one." So I have to go with "maybe".
And I watched your "Mario" video! Dude! That was AWESOME! I'd give that the proverbial "100 thumbs up"!
Minimalism is a journey, not a destination. Also doing a rig rundown now would give you a concrete "before" shot for any changes in your accumulation. Also; I would simply like to see the rig rundown video.
I would love the rig rundown video. As a former Parker and Steinberger owner, and now a PRS owner, and a wanna be minimalist to boot, and of course a lover of light guitars, I need to see where we are going from here🤣😂😄
@@fivewattworld thanks man i appreciate it
Honestly, I have no idea why PBS or even FUSE has not come to you with a production deal.
Haha, he's definitely got the NPR delivery, although I think his videos go into too much specialized detail for a general audience, but that's why I like them.
Because the documentaries of PBS and the like are serious and heavy duty as far as data goes. They're very serious efforts that take a year or more to complete.
@@josephtardio1086 Maybe, but I see no signs of them reaching that limit, lol! I have no problem with this guy or anyone's dry delivery as long as the info is there which it is. They big difference is that this channel is aimed at guitarist who already know the basics and want more information/history PBS or any network has to appeal to people who basically don't work in the subject. A baseball player is not going to watch Ken Burns baseball show to learn about baseball, a Jazz musician is not going to watch the Ken Burns Jazz to learn about jazz, but guitarists watch this channel to learn more about guitar equipment.
It would be the best thing on my tv..200 channels and not a damn thing to watch. I sit here on UA-cam
True that
I was most impressed by the number of years it took before Ola chose to or had to quit his day job. It’s a lesson in organic/sustainable business growth and in humility.
I have a Gibson LP Custom Shop Black Beauty, a BFG, and a few other guitars. I recently purchased a Strandberg. After a week of playing my Strandberg, all of my other guitars are in their cases. I don't have the vocabulary necessary to describe this guitar adequately. Hands down my favorite guitar. Great vid
*edit I forgot, I have a few Gibsons for sale if you are interested. Hee hee
I just dropped my Strandberg off for a proper tune up. I am literally gutted that I have to play a Gibson Les Paul for the next 3 days. True story
Ha!
@@fivewattworld love your channel. Been watching for a long time. Just subbed. Sorry for the delay. Keep making content
you are supposed to cure our GAS, not give us additional "needs"!
remain guitar "neutral"
edit: just want to say that stating to remain neutral is the equivalent of telling a depressed person to just cheer up!
Ha!!
The cure for GAS is more guitars lol
Just bought my first Strandberg guitar and its now my #1. Planning on getting a few more shortly. Thanks for the info!
I feel like strandberg is going to be a lasting staple in the industry like Fender or Gibson.
They already are among European manufacturers, specially in the Metal world 🎸
I purchased my Strandberg Boden original 6 last year, since then I sold all my other guitars.. with this I can cover every genres of music. I also find out that this guitar really inspire me to creativity, cause there's no limit in both sound and playability with it. and last but not least, I can play for hours and hours every day without hurting my back and my hands, so I think this instrument will be with me for the rest of my life!
my personal .strandberg* story has just begun with the watching of this video.
I need to play one. The fanned frets and progressive scale length intrigues me. I wanna feel the neck. Dammit Keith! You are supposed to be helping me trim down my stable to just the horses I need... and you keep showing me horses I need and don't have.
Yup! I'm already looking at how much they cost & where to get one.🤦♂️
Harley Benton makes a version. I might check one out for under $200 first.
You also need the True Temperament frets. The only downside is that you'll need a special tuner (or tuner app) which can be borthersome at times.
@@orclonn8974 No you don't.
They are supremely nice to play. Every time I see one at a local shop I'll sit there and noodle on it forever. The neck takes a little getting used to. I'll eventually pull the trigger on one but it has to be the right one .
@@jeepmanxj Your answer was ambiguous : Don’t you like the TT frets or do you believe that you don’t need a special tuner to tune TT guitars?
Great episode, I went from zero knowledge, to quite entertained, and plenty informed enough to want to check one out, in only 14 minutes and forty seconds!
Thanks David!
Exhibit A of why Keith should *not* be doing this for free!
Barber Electronics So, when’s yours arriving?
@@frmcf Ye of little faith Fraser. The reality is that you sometimes know people because they do good work. I'm working on a project with David, but he was a subscriber before I met him. The world is likely a better (and occasionally worse no doubt at time) than you might believe.
Sometimes it is just about quality.
@@lueysixty-six7300 Hi Luey, Well not quite for free as I do make a little money on the views. It's fun, but it's not just for fun if you follow me.
I finally bought a strandberg. It is unbelievable. I just bought a 2nd one.
Hey don't blame me, blame Ola, ;).
How can someone look so much like an accoutant and be so cool at the same time?!
Love your videos, they're very well-made and with such a great taste. Thanks a lot for putting in the work!
Cheers from Brazil!
Thanks Fernando but I was a college administrator before doing this. I was rubbish at accounting actually though I’m good at budgeting. :)
This channel is one the BEST bang for your buck in this space. This channel will serve as a historical analysis of some of the most important pieces in guitar culture
Thanks David. But I'm of course building summaries of the great reference material out there in books or, in this case, websites and company histories.
It's fun for me and it makes a great "part-time job". :)
Thanks for watching.
I've been playing PRS guitars since 1986. But recently I started playing 8 strings which PRS doesn't offer except through Private Stock. I bought a couple of cheaper 8 string guitars but they never felt close to good compared to my PRS guitars. When Sweetwater got Strandberg I decided to buy a Boden Standard 8. I have been beyond impressed with it. I made my own pickups for it and custom wired it with push pulls and 4 way switching. Now I rarely play my 6 strings including my PRS guitars. Thanks for a great video!!
Bought a standard before Xmas and haven't played another guitar since, excellent video i had no idea that Allan Holdsworth was a Strandberg player and knowing he had an influence on its design has made my day Thanks
I didn't know that either. Doesn't Kiesel have a signature model of his guitar?
Another great video. These videos open my mind to different guitars acknowledging their existince and the space they accommodate amongst guitar consumers. I tend to revert back to your videos about minimalist rigs alot because I'm new to the guitar world. I'm 30 years old and trying the learn to play the guitar. I find these video to be interesting, entertaining and educational. Please keep up the good work.
Thanks Demian. Means a lot.
What I especially appreciated of the narration of the development of the company is that it all started with creativity: one builder's decision to walk away from the beaten path. This is why I much prefer hand-built, custom-designed guitars. There are so many luthiers nowadays who come up with magnificent instruments, whereas traditional shops - Fender and Gibson - can only come up with new colour schemes and names for the garbage that they produce.
I watched the birth of Strandberg on the Project Guitar forums. Truly a fantastic mind behind the company.
Wow I truly appreciate the quality of the images in the video, thank you for what you do!
Good to have something to be proud of from Sweden these days. Your videos are one of the few I watch from start to end, thats a good mark Keith. Cheers from Sweden.
Thanks backspin. You should go over there to visit!
Love this! Didn’t expect something modern on your short histories. I’ve been eyeing for a Strandberg for some time now and I’m even more excited that Plini posted a prototype of his salen sig
My prior knowledge of this was "oh yeah, I might have seen one of them", to a 99% instant improvement courtesy of KW.
I've been nurdling the electric banjo for over 50yrs, the RSI comment was right on the money.. . ..
Thank you KW.
another fantastic video helping me discover more about our craft. thanks so much.
Always happy when a new video from 5 watt world shows up in my feed. awesome video again thx...
I love my Salen. I was originally put off by the looks. I wangled a ticket to NAMM just to check the guitars out in person, and ordered my Salen the next day. It’s just so comfortable to play,. The minute I picked one up, it just felt . . . right. The ergonomic tweaks and the light weight make a difference. And, I love the Suhr pickups on the Salen. Great video Keith.
Finally! Actual accurate and useful information about the Strandberg line. It's really hard to find this stuff. Your video put so much of it together. Now I know why a 20" radius was selected. I found and read the Swedish patent translated (many times poorly) into English about a week ago. I now know that the Bass line is only 4 years old. I would really enjoy more detailed information about every single aspect of the designs. I did find some, but I could always use much more. Also, your info about the stainless steel frets was news to me. I intend to practice jazz walking bass on the Boden Original model (I prefer the aesthetics of this model), and your note about the warmer sound was a plus. I also use LaBella Low Tension Flats and hope to use them on the Original once I feel that this bass really is for me (45 day return at Guitar Center!). The bass arrives on Tuesday. I also have hand, wrist, and elbow issues and couldn't practice more than 15 minutes or 30 on a good day. And I'm only an intermediate beginner player (at 63 years old). I have only about 8 years of practice experience since starting 25 years ago. I look forward to this bass allowing me to practice an hour a day with no injuries or issues, and hopefully not need compression fingerless gloves while practicing anymore. Thanks again Keith!
Great video again Keith! Very interesting guitars, innovation is good... would like to try out that neck.
Aren't you in northern PA? I am going to try to sit in at the Lost Dog periodically and you could check it out.
I've been playing for money for 30 years, and I don't often get Gear Acquistion Syndrome, but I am feeling it bite a bit now. Thanks for this great video, as always.
Really happy to see this one as I was sure there was an interesting story behind the exponential growth of these things. I remember seeing them start cropping up around 2012 and it seemed like essentially all the best prog people were just gravitating toward strandbergs.
I got my first strandberg this month and it's amazing, the ergonomics and setup is amazing
Yup I was just waiting til Plini was mentioned 😊
Great Video I definitely want a strandberg more now!!
The Strandberg video is finally out! Been anticipating this one :)
My strandberg story, I saw the guitarist from a j-rock band, Raise A Suilen, use a Strandberg, and I decided to go try it at my local guitar store. I've been wanting one ever since.
RIKO PIN
Was on the fence until i saw this video. Just bought one online and looking forward to playing it in comfort. Thanks!
This was very well done. Thanks for all the work to put this together.
Thanks again for yet another well thought out informative video. This is making me rethink all my previous opinions of headless guitars.
Allll these guitar videos rule dude! Was just looking through a Sweetwater catalog and was reading about Strandbergs and here's a sweet video! Right on man.
Thank you for bringing this company to my attention 😊
I really love your videos man. It's crazy, your videos made me, a visual artist, way more interested in guitars than I've ever been and your voice over work is calming. But what's really impressive is your attention to detail, extensive research, and community involvement. It's authentic. It really shows how much you love this. Keep killing it.
Thanks Isaiah
I am warming up to these… I plan to have a look at them, in person, soon.
I learn something from all your posts, they're entertaining as well as informàtive.i really enjoy them please keep up the great work. Thank you
Watched most of your history of videos, I'd be thrilled to see you do one on ESP guitars if you're at all interested in that brand - one of my favorites personally and your reasearch and editing on these is top notch!
Thanks. I’m not sure how much material there is on ESP but they have quite a long history.
Awesome video! I was very happy to see that Per Nilsson made it into the video. Anything with him in it make me happy
Hey Keith great special on these Strandberg guitars and bass guitars
I was at Sweetwater with my son and my brother when I first checked out the Strandberg line up so light and comfortable super cool neck incredibly playable and well balanced they sound great too I wish the bass I want wasn't so pricey....I might be tempted to just get a steinberger instead and still be able to eat lunches and dinner
Ola, do I have a story for you! I first became aware of your unique designed guitar, when I was turned onto “Plini”, by a friend. I was instantly in love with the aesthetics of the guitar, itself, but when I heard it played by ‘the master’ himself, I decided that as soon as I was physically able to own a Plini model .strandberg* of my own, I would. As it happens, it wasn’t long after - a week before I wound up in the hospital,my gorgeous new guitar arrived. I had barely time to tune it, verify the setup was phenomenal, and away I went for another of a series of ICU stays, another story altogether. Suffice it to say that I was chomping at the proverbial bit to play my new guitar, but this time it turned out that I wouldn’t be back home for over 7 weeks! I did ask my friend - with whom I had been gigging temporarily - to go and pick it up from my home and PLAY it! I wanted to know everything about it, and so he gratefully did as I requested. My first report of the Plini was that my friend ‘was able to play stuff he didn’t know he could pull off…’. Now I was HUNGRY.
When finally I returned home, I wasted no time getting my baby back, and found out for myself just how amazing the .strandberg* design was! I’ve always had back problems, but I had actually broken my neck on this last ‘adventure’, so the lack of weight was not lost on me - pardon the pun. I’ve been a Gibson guy most of my life, but I had moved to Ibanez S Prestige models as I grew older and sorer. I began playing when I was 8, officially, but I got my first ‘real’ electric guitar when I was 9 - and I was OFF! I learned every note of every RUSH song ever written, along with the classics - Zep 1-IV, Black Sabbath, and much of the Kansas catalog by my late teens. So, lets fast forward past a whole lotta years, here - my folks passed away by 2018, and I had moved a LOT of gear into a less than large place - under 1000 square feet, and there were guitars, amps, drums, speakers, and racks virtually everywhere. The only 2 pieces that come into play in this story, are a Plini .strandberg*, and a Mackie 8” woofer Powered Monitor on a 5 foot high, triangular-based speaker stand. I’ll bet you might know where this is going, but I’ll continue.
My friend Mark and I.were sharing this rather small pad - 3 tiny bedrooms and one little bathroom (urk!) with 2 Big dogs - My female Rottie Aya (100+ lbs) and a male German Shephard (65 lbs). Thank the Gods for our big, fenced in backyard, yeah? Okay, back to the story - Mark and I were, allegedly, a bit inebriated, but we both remember this Only Too clearly. The Plini was resting, like they do, on the rear top bout, leaning against the coffee table - which had a very sharp 90 degree top surface - and the Mackie monitor loomed a mere 5 feet away, fully 5 feet in the air. Well, SOMETHING happened (truthfully, this is the only part of the story neither Mark nor I know) that speaker started to fall. Right toward where the Plini rested - Like the head of a convict at the Bastille - poised to have her head Lopped right off.
Okay, we’ve all experienced it - the shifting into ‘slow time’ or ‘freeze frame’ - and this was no different. From the moment it started to move, we both knew RIGHT where it was headed. Yep, you guessed it, right for the middle of the Endurneck. Now - if ever there was a more appropriate name for anything, I am not aware of its existence. The monitor hit, both Bounced away, but seemingly impossibly, they were both fine. Both in one piece. Granted, there was a little 90 degree ‘ditch’ in the Plini’s neck, but I took after that with a bit of 600 grit, then 1000, and worked my way up to 2500 wetsand paper. Sure, I can feel it when my thumb sweeps by, but it’s not enough of a wound that it distracts from my playing, at all. I’ll sap a pic when I have finished typing this, and hopefullly I can attach it some way, so you can see how little of a mark it actually left. But Mark and I will never forget it’s there, because WE were there. And we saw the Impossible MADE possible.
And all thanks to you, Ola! So hat’s off - or toques off - to the man, the Legend himself, Mr. Ola Strandberg. Thank you sir!
Rob Hale
I knew nothing of these guitars before this.So now my life is full.Thanks Keith.
And even though I did not win a pick I still love your channel.
It’s all good.
Excellent, once again. Thanks again for these videos.
Nice video Keith. Thank u.
I'll watch any short history you will put out 👍
Well put together. I wasn't sure I was going to watch the whole thing without skipping and yet I did.
I now play a boden bass. So light, lovely clean jazz sound. It’s a keeper.
Plini introduced them to me around 2013, glad you mentioned him!
I love this channel. It's real. It's factual. It's like an alternate universe version of the internet in which the words are true.
Thanks Keith! Not only are your videos top notch, but your recommendations turn out to be amazing, as well! I was on the verge of quitting guitar entirely due to health issues, but I bought a Boden Original two months ago, and it has changed my life! I can play as often as as long as I want. My Resq:D Black is arriving tomorrow! Lol. Thanks again!
Great video, Keith!! Happy to see U & hear U play!!! Keep up the good work!!!
Hey man! Good to see you saw this!
@@fivewattworld i watch ALL your videos! Even when if i'm late to the party & don't comment
This was a whole new one on me, thanks so much for a peek at amazing piece of gear that I wasn’t even familiar with. As always, loving the five wide world!
Well done. Very well put together.
Great stuff as always, Keith. I think 100K is just a matter of time... Man, Olla's come such a long way since 2010 - for some of us older gents, that seems like just yesterday! I'd think that the success of .strandberg* is as much about good business sense as it is the instruments themselves.
Looking forward to the next FWW!!! 👍👍👍
Thanks so much ! Such a great channel. I love these " Short Histories" We are so lucky.
Great video Keith. Pretty much everything I enjoy is "classic" "vintage" and/or "traditional" but it was interesting watching a history video on this modern company. I really hope I get to try a .strandberg* out soon. I had no idea they had the unique patent neck and I have been wanting to try fanned frets for a while now.
I bought one a few months ago, based partially on the implicit recommendation from seeing yours in the background of the channel. I'm very sold. It's been a great guitar.
This video alone made me subscribe i ignorantly thought it was just dad guitar history but boy was so wrong, glad to find a new channel!
Welcome to five watt world Thomas!
Awesome video, looking to get a strandberg for travel and I think this video just sealed the deal for me. Also, it's such englightment on the concept of staying guitar nutural, need some time to think over it..
Excellent show as always. Im surprised a Cable outlet hasn't picked up your series of great educational and inspirational videos.
I love the fact that they look so radically different.
Love my Strandbergs as well - have 2. And I am afraid this will not be the end ;)
I don't know if you have succeeded in convincing me I need less stuff. But your detailed stories do make me think hard about appreciating and making music with the things I have.
Excellent content.
I'd been a fan of Plini since about 2016, and obsessed over the headless concept since - I didn't really even know about the ergonomics or quality of the guitars until several years later - I just knew I wanted one because I loved the look. Finally April 2023 (a few months ago as of writing this), I had enough money sitting around to take the leap. I've already sold about half of my existing guitars and plan on buying a Salen or something similar soon. Amazing how quickly every other guitar I've owned and loved immediately felt like crap.
Great video once again, Keith. Glad you have found what works best for you. I have no real Strandberg story... I've played a couple, but just can't get on with the neck. Plus they kinda look like toys on me! But then, I've already found my perfect guitar in the Suhr Standard Pro. All but one are under 8lbs, they are super-comfortable for a big guy like myself, and the slim C neck with stainless steel frets is a dream. The only guitars I own that I actually play (so I really should get rid of the rest!)
Keith in 1991 photo wearing denim shirt. Keith 2020 wearing denim shirt. True Minimalism!
You know, I laughed to myself when I dug up that old pic of me with my little (littlest?) brother. It has always been the off work uniform.
Another great brand not enough people talk about. Thanks for the video.
Transition from a conventional guitar was a non issue, my SB 7 Black Pearl is now my daily driver. The Strandberg is worthy of addition to the short list of classic guitar designs, well done Ola!
Wow, Keith, this is one of your best videos.(the pick story is still my favorite) and your narrative voice is top par. I wish my chicken pickin father could have seen your channel before he died last year. He would have loved it.
Playing my Standard 7 as I’m watching. This guitar’s so unreal.
All your Short History vids are the best..im already looking forward to the next one..ha,ha..thanks 5 Watt World..keep up the awesome work man..👍
1:51: you got me so hooked, buddy. I love your story telling.
You're playing on this video ? I love the guitar!
Well, i'm just past the intro. I'm gonna watch this video and catch you later 😋
Edited :
It is a fantastic episode.
Impressive organization of facts and dates of a very interesting instrument. This is a great story and I'm glad we have a sort of official version of it for posterity. Go Ola go.
Thanks for the video. I used to play a Honner bass in the 90s i think it was, and fondly recall how comfortable and light weight it was, before dropping out of the guitar world.
And so now as i start to tip my toes back, I find it wildly mind boggling at how much interest this new company, whixh seems to have taken up where Honner left off, draws.
I remember my bass had a sort of kick stand which would fold out, allowing the classical guitar positioning, and this new line seems to have incorporated that into the design.
I'm not a fan of fan fretting, conceptually, although i haven't tried one in person, as the higher positions actually make barring or triads with a bass note harder. And although the widening of frets in lower strings would seem to be more ergonomic, it actually increases the distance needed to travel making them harder to reach especially with the shorter fingers, which in turn makes me suspect an inverse fan fretting might be more favourable, but i doubt this is possible.
Still, it's nice to see a company taking things forward rather than the same old and dull Gibson and Fender models and copycats.
Fabulous, it's good to see good ideas successfully implemented.
I wanted one of the black classic boden 8 strings for years. Proud to say i got one early this year. It has the meanest sounding tones for deathcore/metalcore, plus some amazing clean tones.
Thank you for making these!
1:15 "Guitar Neutral" ... love that term and (as commented on previous videos) am totally down with the philosophy. Thanks, as always, for another finely-crafted and thoughtful video!
Cool video. Love the Blue chip pick. It's all I use.
Been waiting for this one! Great video, as always.
I don’t have a Strandberg story but I do have an ergonomics anecdote. I recently bought an Ibanez mikro 5 string bass which has a 28.6” scale neck. It’s so nice to be able to play larger bass lines on a guitar sized instrument
Just got my Fusion Alex Machacek (Suhrs,HSH). What an incredible instrument...! Thank you for your informative videos.
Great vid, Keith. I love the "short history" series, and I just bought a Fusion 6 tremolo model. Can't wait for it to get here.
Another great production and very interesting. I did not know about this company. The last company that i really knew, in regards to headless guitars, was Steinberger. Oh, nice playing also! Good stuff!
Thanks Mr. Tom!
i immediately confused Strandberg with "Steinberger" which came out in 79' & has been played by so many recognized players. i was thinking how could i get the name & date wrong for so long?...LOL thanks for clearing that up.
I bought my Strandberg Standard 6 to be a travel guitar. I considered the Steinberger Spirit, but I saw a demo video where the demonstrator took out the pickups and showed that the guitar was literally blocks of wood glued together and that, combined with my inability to get definitive information on the string spacing (necessary for swapping out the pickups) pushed me in in the Strandberg direction. I've only had the guitar for 6 days, but I'm sold on it. It's "refurbished" and I can't see any flaws in the workmanship. I looked into a Keisel headless, but, although their base prices are pretty low, their guitars ramp up in price very quickly.
Awesome as always! I'd love to learn about Steinberger as well... those are pretty wacky too!
I bought my first guitar 50 years ago on the 28th of this month, as a birthday present to myself. With strong roots set in the past I have never even considered a 'weird looking Strandberg', but I sure can relate the 'left hand' thing! Thanks for the great video, and I think you may have set the hook for something new here... 8) --gary
I think this is my fourth or fifth time watching this. For the last two or three years I've really wanted a Strandberg, and I finally got a Boden 8 Natural, and have fallen in love with Strandberg in the way I assume Slash loves Les Pauls.
I would love to see a history on Parker Guitars!
Beautiful finishes. I've been looking at Kiesel headless models now I have an alternative maker. Thanks for this very well done and informative video, Keith.
Just ordered the new Boden Essential 6. So hyped.