STRANDBERG - Boden Essential

[@Quietistooquiet]

The deletion of zero fret, standard scale, jescar stainless, fixed bridge, HH config and gig bag won my money. Good job.

[@thisguy2973]

So why do you dislike the zero fret?

[@sandwichmaker1289]

@@thisguy2973 when it wears out you get this pinging sound when you bend a string

[@thisguy2973]

@@sandwichmaker1289 I can see that, but ideally, it shouldn’t do that anytime soon.

[@sandwichmaker1289]

@@thisguy2973 zero fret wears FAST because it's so close to the nut, even if it's stainless. couple of years and you're getting a metallic ping sound every time you bend.

[@thisguy2973]

@@sandwichmaker1289 it’s that constant tension over time. I’m tired of hearing the argument that stainless frets are stronger when they can’t even handle long term tension. Long live nickel frets

[@WailingRaven]

Finally, a Strandberg that I might just be able to purchase.

[@matteoziegler7632]

also no fanfret :)

[@WailingRaven]

​@@matteoziegler7632 Personally, I don't mind having the fan frets, since I'm open to trying something new and different. But if certain chords are hard to play on fan fretted guitars, as demonstrated by Andre Fludd, then I'm also okay on not having them. Since I do play around with some extended and/or unusual chord shapes, from time to time.

[@berziimusic]

@@matteoziegler7632 fanned frets are honestly very nice once you get used to it, it never really throw me off much except the fact my agile has no inlay markers

[@smittyjones8755]

I know right? A while back I went to guitar center with the mindset of "mind something around $1000-$1500 to buy". Nothing I picked up in that price range was worth a damn imo. Employee was like, hold on, came back with a Strandberg, I saw that neck and was like eff that, played it, damn I like it, whats the price, told me, handed it back. $1000 is very doable on these. I was expecting basswood body so very happy to see meranti.

[@jirka87]

But the double balled strings are not avalaible in gauges what people need in every case and they are not cheap also...

[@pattol666]

Strandberg may have realized that many people are opting for cheaper headless guitars. Not everyone wants to spend thousands of dollars on half a guitar. Great video, as usual, Ola!

[@kiesta0740]

Yeah, these kinda make the ibanez Q series 6 strings a lot less appealing. This shape is just so much more comfortable.

[@DomicidalCovers]

Also, not everyone wants to spend thousands of dollars on A guitar either 😂

[@godgrinder666]

It's all the about the shape especially the patented neck shape anyway. I have a Korean one, with the tiny body and all the chambering it basically just sounds like what the pickup sound like. I'd imagine this one will be good enough for most people.

[@inflames0777]

Cheaper is relative, isn't it? I checked the price of this one, it doesn't look cheap to me, lol. Spec-wise, which Jackson or PRS series would you compare this against? Just for my understanding.

[@brijul630]

​@@inflames0777 Not sure when $999 became cheap. I own 3 strandbergs and wouldn't purchase this just cuz it's not my cup of tea ..but it's not cheap, price or spec-wise

[@Drummuz]

I love the sqeeky strap, took me a minute to figure out were the sound came from 😅😅

[@zeusbruce2178]

Just bought this exact Strandberg Boden Essential and can't wait for delivery. Especially after Olas stamp of approval! Thanks Ola. Super stoked!

[@zoide-777]

How did it go? What other guitars did you compare it to?

[@biohazard8295]

Any updates bro?

[@sushio4357]

@@zeusbruce2178 updates?

[@TheGalilee416]

I have the Masvadalien from Strandberg and it really plays smooth.... and PIX freakin ROCKS 🤘

[@josiebullock117]

I own a Strandberg Boden Original NX 7 and it's the most comfortable guitar I have ever played. Expensive but worth the price

[@TannerVW]

I recently got my first headless and I am all in on headless. Light as a feather and super comfy to play standing up. You also get the added tuning stability from only place where the strings move on the guitar.

[@Gizmo-st1ky]

I’ve always been interested in trying one of these! They look comfortable!

[@Captain_Yata]

I hope you've had a chance to, they're genuinely (in my opinion) the best guitars on the market

[@CorpseChords]

best intro song yet!! Niice ola!

[@peachmelba1000]

I have a great deal of respect for Ola Strandberg. He really launched the whole brand on his own, back when it started, but I just don't like the aesthetic of his guitars.

[@jann_rygh]

which designs do you like?

[@mylogify]

The aesthetic is amazing, should be comfortable to play, very light weight I want to try some day but only non-fanned frets like this and. Cheap ones like this

[@liamtahaney713]

He's also an extremely nice guy. Met him once at a tradeshow and he was happy to talk to me and my dad (total nobodies of course) for a few minutes. Really passionate about his work but also quite modest. Left a good impression

[@peachmelba1000]

@jann_rygh I'm a fan of the design features of some classic BC Rich guitars (the early ones like the Eagle, the Mockingbird, even the Rich Bitch to an extent, but not the more aggressively pointy ones). I like certain EBMM guitars for how refined the shapes are, even if some of them are somewhat derivative. Their more recent offerings like the Armada, the St. Vincent guitar, and that ORL signature don't really do it for me, however. With the Strandberg, it's not the shape, or their being headless, so much as a sense of them looking quite clinical to my eye. There's an element of fun (if you take my meaning) that's missing. I'm certain they're a joy to play, but to me, they don't scream "Pick me up!"

[@mylogify]

I think one of the nicest looking BC Rich is Death signature. $9000 Custom Shop@@peachmelba1000

[@christoffertornquist3373]

Would be nice with white pickups

[@guygreenberg5307]

I love ola's content! Got my self a strandberg recently! Very light and easy guitar. Enjoy shredding on it! Also loving this colour ❤️❤️❤️🎸🎸

[@EyesOpen369]

Back in the 80s BC Rich Made a Floyd Rose where it was a fast restring process call bullet strings. That had a widow headstock but it had no tune machines. It only had a nut for these bullet strings to rest and the reload process was 3-5min max. And you would be in tune to pitch.

[@krumple4skin548]

Speedloader floyd rose made guitars with them also in the 90s.

[@Pauligrinder]

I'm not that into headless guitars either, but just like you said, there's something about that particular model. It just looks great.

[@BassCommunion]

It must be because of that beautiful finish, I've got a fence painted the same color

[@Pauligrinder]

Could be, red's my favorite color in general.

[@steveweilhart2359]

if you have not played a headless you may be missing something - they are awesome

[@beefnacos6258]

Probably because it doesn't have silly fan frets.

[@Pauligrinder]

Nah, I don't think that's it.

[@adamcogan211]

I think this is honestly the best decision they’ve ever made! There’s next to no reason to have an extended scale 6 string (extended range is a different story) so the fact they could reduce the cost and keep it essentially Strandberg (pardon the pun!) is incredible! Might finally get a Strandberg now!

[@earthquakemagoon2505]

Had a Stranberg in my local guitar shop and it was amazing! Thanks Ola! Skål! 🎸😀👍

[@czdot]

Ola to Ola. Exchanging guitars. 🙂

[@E.C.Robson]

Now there are two Olas enriching my Life

[@scottnelle]

That opening demo had serious Symphony X vibes!

[@jfo3000]

I thought of Helmet 😅

[@peevee605]

I played some Strandberg Guitars in Uppsala at a local music store and the necks are incredible. This is perfect for traveling and long sessions.

[@martintremblay4248]

Beautiful guitar, surprised that I like it so much.

[@Frydo3D]

Popular wood is native to Great Britain, but it's been distributed throughout Europe. Very sustainable. Check it out!

[@battleaxe6108]

I think I plan to get this. Neck looks comfortable and sound like the perfect guitar for the price

[@JaehaPark]

Finally, a non multiscale Strandberg I can actually afford

[@psychoshredder4139]

I just bought my first headless guitar yesterday and can honestly say I love it when I anticipated not liking it, total score.

[@creamwobbly]

Huh. I wish I had the money to buy hobby things that I don't like.

[@psychoshredder4139]

I work my ass off to buy w.e I want. Try getting a job it might do you some good.

[@aarongrimes6490]

Did you iust say fuck it and buy it online?

[@balmain2496]

Never thought I’d be into headless guitars but these are calling to me

[@Keithphotorama]

Awesome review. Hopefully that guitar gets shipped out to the rest of the world in the same conditions that you got yours. Red is my color and love the darker colored neck matching up with the blacks. Since I am an extreme beginner at 61, and deaf, I can only dream of having any guitar talents that you definitely have. If I had the money I definitely would buy this Strandberg.

[@mylogify]

I would buy this if I didn’t have Ibanez Q-52 it’s a nice perfect guitar

[@JacubWhite38]

Never thought I'd see a headless guitar that I'm really into. Hell yeah!!

[@agalvin1313]

I used to own a strandberg and loved it but ultimately got rid of it due to the zero fret and multiscale. The zero fret would ping after a while and would need to be buffed out with steel wool at every string change. I also just don't prefer multiscale for bends especially when the neck is normal 25.5 scale length. This is the first strandberg to have both a traditional nut and straight frets which is really exciting. If they make a more premium version of this spec I will be super interested.

[@beefnacos6258]

Exactly. Well said.

[@jacksvml]

The intro is very Symphony X! Love it

[@TomboyFromHell]

You are just beyond talented brother!! 🎸🔥

[@eamonahern7495]

That metal sound without your impulse response might actually sound great in a mix when bass and drums are added, even though it doesn't chug as powerfully on its own.

[@jasons2851]

Ola crushing bits with a Strandberg

[@mohitrahaman]

10:56 its usually the other way round! gloss and lacquer are the magnets, not matte.

[@jackdevanney1193]

The difference is you can clean a gloss finish. This is why gloss will always be superior.

[@mickenilsson]

Huge respect for Ola not to remove some of the really essential (LoL 😁) stuff like the endure neck wich is a huge part of what makes this guitar what it is. Other brands would easily make that a feature to get from the more expensive range. Fire 🔥

[@Tony_Zagoraios]

Although I own 2 Stranberg guitars, seems that they finally understood that paying 3k for an Indonesian guitar is no longer accepted. Hope their sales will go better now..:)

[@Fadlu_petrucci]

Love from Indonesia 🇮🇩

[@lucaszembrzuski]

Wow if these indonesian models had tremolo it would be a dream come true for me..

[@rikkydavidson1762]

❤cool guitar sounds great out here😮

[@steveweilhart2359]

The Suhr pickups sound much better in the other Strandberg's (they cost more also) nice demo

[@ericwilliams538]

That neck looks very interesting!!!! I've wanted to see how they felt vs. a traditional neck. Just seems as if it would be way more "comfortable" to play.

[@JonManProductions]

If they can make a 7 and 8 string in the line... I'd be all over an 8 string essential because frankly "normal" 8 string guitars all kind of suck in various ways, mainly just being too damn big and overtly wide just to make things work.

[@brijul630]

That squeaky strap makes my teeth itch! I have a few that do that too😂

[@jeffhayes422]

Damn bro! Didn’t realize how successful you really are. Nice office! Friggin incredible Congrats!

[@MikaTarkela]

I had the Boden Original 6 for a couple of years but I never really got used to it. Should have chosen the 7-string because of the scale length. If they release a Boden Essential 7 I’ll probably try it again :)

[@carlhunt1113]

Glad Pix could help!

[@arvinivancanilang832]

Can't wait for the dyad parallel axis review Ola!

[@freakinpro]

I bought an essential and am expecting the pickups to not be amazing so I ordered some dyads to swap into it!

[@danpena7922]

The perfect guitar for a DEVO tribute band.

[@AlokMeshram]

Didn't know Black Mesa did guitar testing too

[@moonelfcosmo]

Hope the QC is better than the NX. I got a used Metal 8 NX made in 2022. I bought it used in the Fall of 2023 and now realize that the truss rod is already maxed out. Sucks!

[@GyRockman23]

That opening riff remind me of "UNSUNG" by Helmet. 🤘🏼😎

[@jamesosterberg2510]

Hey Ola! You should be in touch with Baskim Zuta, and try the new "GBG 120" from "Zuta Amp" in Gothenburg, Sweden. It sounds glorious !! He had a little booth at NAMM too. This amp is the sh********t !!!!

[@kidnavajo]

“I NEED my impulse responses!” Me every time I get a new piece of gear.

[@Ryan_Q3L]

Looks awesome. It'd be cool to have one. Probably the best travel guitar, right?

[@LagunaPadre361]

"constant motion" vibes on the song

[@BlackHawk2029]

OLA! Would love to see an episode of will it chug on the Joyo Preamp House and hear your thoughts on it.

[@alexwilbur4601]

Amazing! Also where can I get that extra squeaky strap? Lol Much love

[@klodinsky3132]

I want a Strandberg 'Hoden' ; exclusively for the german market:))

[@tommydeamon7657]

That tone youre getting on about 10:40 in this video is fraking awsomw wow thank you,s mon,tac uncle olaf

[@Codeaholic1]

It's been a while since I watched Ola. Has he gotten better at guitar?

[@ankhatdubh]

You asked if a Q series Ibanez 7 string will chug: remember? It will if you put acoustic baritone 8 strings on it! .13 on the high E and a .76 on the seventh string. Murderous tone through my DOD box. Tuned down to an A Of course Tak!

[@mattjns]

0:01 Your contribution left unnoticed some Association with an image Just credit time for showing up again Attention wandered I'm left with it Gone by sin too slowly Can't pass it up Then I thought nothing is right I turned it off To die unsung would really bring you down Although wet eyes would never suit you Walk through no archetypal suicide to Die young is far too boring these days Your will to speak clearly Exposed too much Unsung once too often Could not rub off

[@Guilhermetmfranco]

Pix reminds me of my west terrier that died one year ago...i see pix, i upvote.

[@perforations6234]

you made yourself a good hint there... putting weight into the guitar data on your website would help a lot of people (like me, wouldn't have taken the G-Type if I had known before that it comes at 4,5kg ;))

[@lemlem35]

Unironically this fixes the only problem I have with my boden, the straight scale. I just do not like the multiscale at all

[@jasons.3921]

Ola, that opening was pretty tasty! I thought I heard some Kings X influence in there, maybe not, but nevertheless, it was nice to be reminded of those guys.

[@dalejacksonmo]

Awesome brother...Please please Demo the MT100 please with mesa boogie standard favorite cab

[@clowncorpse7230]

It looks crazy Ola with a headless guitar😅it looks like it plays amazing 🎸and sounds great🎵

[@lepotat3700]

Never thought I'd see ola play a headless guitar lol

[@kiesta0740]

what? he's demoed a few strandbergs before and is a fan of the company lol makes sense to support another swedish guitar maker

[@TobyKBTY]

Ola one of the OG strandberg demo-ers way back in the early 2010’s

[@ErebosArt]

headstock comes in dlc

[@rockerets]

headless solar next?

[@jackbootshamangaming4541]

I'd like to see you review Ormsby guitars.

[@giffinpoopoo]

Never been this early to an ola video, it’s 6 am here in NC, that’s a beautiful guitar🤘🤘

[@SuperFlowback]

Me neither, it’s 5:25am in west Texas

[@JosiahLovelace]

No shit, I’m in WNC😂

[@giffinpoopoo]

@@JosiahLovelace No way! I’m in Asheville, where are you

[@Brentisahorse]

Me neither, 7:00am in east TN

[@modernroyaljams]

It looks beautiful. The sound was a bit ordinary for metal riffs. I guess just put a Seymour in the bridge and it would be perfect still for the price.

[@joedamore7653]

Think you need to sell that intro song to Dream Theater for their new album with Portnoy back. I love old DT and that sounded so much like it. That Strandberg is nice for a “low end” model. I sold my classic but I’d consider this model for sure. Love that neck.

[@artem_leschenko]

We are waiting for a ESSENTIAL Telecaster too!

[@irishuwubaby1696]

Imagine if he got solar to make a solar headless guitars.

[@robnolette]

The OEM p/ups aren't the Suhr Aldrich, are they? Ola ×2🤘

[@markwsanders]

Awe man... I miss the “Will It Chug” meter 😢 0:52

[@Nicknikol]

I loved the bass sound

[@manoskf]

Dear Ola you are correct about the pickups they are not that great but the guitar is ........ (I own standard series with the same pu's)

[@Foreskan]

What’s lowkey amazing is that you get a gig bag for this beast

[@joeyvanostrand3655]

It really is astounding. I am a very tiny retailer in Upstate NY. I sell some new and a lot of used. EVERY SINGLE GUITAR that leaves my hands for it's new forever home is sent out in as perfect condition as it can ever be and it leaves in, at the very least, a KACES 1" thick padded gig bag. Every guitar deserves a case of some sort. A good one. You can thank Fender in the late 80's early 90's for cases becoming an oddity. The made the decision to no longer offer cases on all but the higher end models and told the customer base that's how it's going to be and how do ya like that!?! Everyone else followed suit.

[@jihamiya5755]

Ola, the guitar strap noises (I'm assuming), are hella annoying to an otherwise amazing video, hope you do something about those. Great guitar though, hopefully they are priced affordably around my part of the globe. Might just pick one up

[@SiriasisOFFICIAL]

Black one look pretty good, but I think my A1.8C is the coolest

[@brandongreene3213]

Guitar-monies are life!

[@guitarpaddy83]

Hi Ola, can you tell something about the fret size, please? Looks like smaller frets. That would be not for me.

[@ShreddingFinn]

Strandberg should develop their own transtrem, that thing needs to make a comeback on these crazy shapes. Hey I haven't heard "aircraft aluminum" on a guitar since Michael Angelo Batio declared that to Adam Curry on the Ball

[@starwars095]

Hey Ola: Cool video as always. Just curious if fanned frets and headstockless both have benefits and are useful then why don’t more guitar players use them? Thanks…🎸🤔😎🐝

[@WeeFreeMan78]

Pixie ruined it for me. I came to see the guitar but now I want to see more of her 😁

[@JessWoess]

[@RedsBusker]

CAN'T Wait to see a Headless Guitar from Solar 😜😜

[@zenzenzen4741]

Hey Ola, boy do I know about back pain. In fact I’m a bass player who plays Warwick 6string. Well lately I played a fender precision bass and it’s so light compared to the heavy ass a Warwick. So I know what you’re saying

[@cuteasxtreme]

Ola/Ola “Solarburg” guitars when?

[@josephabner8065]

I was googlin this guitars right now... came to YT to search this exactly review... 😮

[@ianbarnes1406]

This is the Strandberg I'd buy if I was in the market, but I'll stick to my Eart for a third of the price😂 Blows me away every time I pick it up and play it

[@KaddysJamKave]

I use to have a Strandberg headless bass guitar in the 90's which was weirdly fun to play... but I can't see myself getting along with one of those 6 string guitars these days lol.

[@mwmmatt1]

Strandberg didn’t exist in the 90’s, are you thinking of Steinberger?

[@KaddysJamKave]

@@mwmmatt1 Oh yeah! I indeed confused Strandberg with Steinberger. Oops! Thanks for the correction. Don't remember what model it was... I just remember it was black haha!

[@mwmmatt1]

@@KaddysJamKave no problem, the older Steinberger basses were awesome, especially the transtrem ones!

[@ArticLight14]

Ola has his enchanted ring of conjuring on today

[@gregheisenburg7781]

@7.34 He spat on the guitar lmao. Great guitar for the value if your in the market. Strandbergs are a must have for any serious guitarist.

[@katsumotoamaya6540]

Sounds great and I don't doubt that it's easy to play, but I'll probably never get used to the way it looks. Just my taste, but I find them ugly. But of course everyone as they like!