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Ibanez FLATV2
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
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Playability
60
Sound
73
Build
77
Value
59
Score
70
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Playability
81
Sound
90
Build
73
Value
72
Score
82
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez FLATV2 vs Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Specs Comparison
Ibanez FLATV2 Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
General
Brand: Ibanez Strandberg
Year: 2025 2022
Configuration: SH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Indonesia
Series: FLATV Boden Standard
Colors: White Green, Yellow
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder American Basswood
Bridge: Gotoh F1803 Strandberg EGS Rev 7 fixed & string locks
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh machine heads At bridge
Fretboard: Rosewood Maple
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Maple
Decoration: Ivory dot inlay Offset Luminlay Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5" to 25"
Shape: FLATV EndurNeck
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.96'' (24.4mm) 1st Fret: 1.2'' (30.5mm) - 12th Fret: 1.1'' (27.9mm)
Frets: 21 Medium Nickel Silver 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 9.843" 20"
Nut: Bone Locking
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 36mm (1.417'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Seymour Duncan FLAT5 (Single Coil / Passive) Strandberg custom OEM bridge humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan FLAT5 (Single Coil / Passive) Strandberg custom OEM neck humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None Series Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Black
Show Diagrams Comparison
Ibanez FLATV2 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez FLATV2's switch options

Reasons to Get
Ibanez FLATV2 over Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2025 vs 2022
From a more recent year
Scale Length
25.5" vs 25.5" to 25"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Profile
FLATV vs EndurNeck
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Pickups
SH vs HH
Very bright bridge tone and a very warm neck pickup
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 1.2'' (30.5mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.96'' (24.4mm) vs 1.1'' (27.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.417'' (36mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
9.843'' (250mm) vs 20'' (508mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber over Ibanez FLATV2

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Scale Length
25.5" to 25" vs 25.5"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Neck Profile
EndurNeck vs FLATV
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Series Split vs None
Connects pickups in series to imitate a humbucker
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HH vs SH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
1.2'' (30.5mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
1.1'' (27.9mm) vs 0.96'' (24.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.417'' (36mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Value Score
72 vs 59
Better price/quality relationship
Fretboard Radius
20'' (508mm) vs 9.843'' (250mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Ibanez FLATV2 vs Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan FLAT5 vs Strandberg custom OEM bridge humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan FLAT5 vs Strandberg custom OEM neck humbucker
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Basswood
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs Headless
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Bone vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez FLATV2 vs Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

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    Hand Size Comfortability

    And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Ibanez FLATV2 favors large hands more than the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber.

    Ibanez FLATV2:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    Both meet 83 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

    New Player Friendliness

    Ibanez FLATV2
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale
    • Comfortable neck
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    Sound Quality Comparison

    The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

    Woods Used in the Ibanez FLATV2

    Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Roasted Maple
    Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
    Rosewood
    Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
    Alder

    Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

    Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

    Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

    Woods Used in the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber

    Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Maple
    Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
    Basswood

    Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

    Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

    Winner: Ibanez FLATV2.

    Pickup Configuration

    The Ibanez FLATV2 has an SH configuration while the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber has HH pickups.

    SH is a more versatile version of the classic telecaster (SS) configuration. The bridge pickup usually produces a bright and twangy tone, while the neck Humbucker gives you the warmer tone you'll need for more Jazzy/Bluish solos and chords.

    On the other hand, Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

    Pickups Quality

    Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

    However, the Ibanez FLATV2 has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

    Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

    Winner: Ibanez FLATV2.

    Versatility Comparison

    Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

    Switch Options

    The Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber gives you 5 switch options while the Ibanez FLATV2 gives you 3. This means that the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

    Only the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber comes with some kind of pickup modification: Series Split.

    The Series Split feature allows it to split and connect some of the pickups in series. When wired in series, the resulting tone is similar to a Humbucker's. The pickups will work together and produce a fuller tone with more output than single-coils, but less than Humbuckers.

    When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

    Winner: Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Ibanez FLATV2
    Pickups 100
    Sustain 61
    Versatility 67
    Tuning Stability 63
    Sound 73
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
    Pickups 83
    Sustain 72
    Versatility 87
    Tuning Stability 81
    Sound 90

    Build Quality Comparison

    When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Ibanez FLATV2 compares to the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez FLATV2 is built in Japan while the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber is made in Indonesia.

    Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

    Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

    Winner: Ibanez FLATV2

    Nut Material

    If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

    The Ibanez FLATV2 has a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

    On the other hand, the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber comes with a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

    Winner: Tie.

    Fret Material

    Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

    In this comparison, the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

    Winner: Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber.

    Bridge

    The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

    Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

    Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

    Winner: Tie.

    Tuners

    In this case, the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber has no machine heads because it is a headless guitar. Instead, the strings are tuned at the bridge. This gives the guitar a better balance and will prevent neck dives. It also makes it more travel friendly.

    Winner: Tie.

    Neck Joint

    Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

    Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

    Winner: Tie.

    Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Ibanez FLATV2
    • Made in Japan
    • Expensive Wood
    • Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Luminescent Inlay
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
    • Stainless Steel Frets
    • Locking Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Series Split Pickups
    • Luminescent Inlay
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No Expensive Woods
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Ibanez FLATV2
    Quality of materials 76
    Features 55
    Quality Control 94
    Build Quality 77
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
    Quality of materials 70
    Features 65
    Quality Control 78
    Build Quality 73

    Playability Comparison

    Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

    Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

    Nut Width

    Ibanez FLATV2 Nut Width
    Ibanez FLATV2 Nut Width
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Nut Width
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez FLATV2 has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 36mm (1.417''). This is a 6mm (0.237'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez FLATV2, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

    Scale Length

    Ibanez FLATV2's Scale Length
    Ibanez FLATV2's Scale Length
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's Scale Length
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's Scale Length

    The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

    In this case, the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber features a multi-scale of 25.5" to 25" while the Ibanez FLATV2 has a regular scale of 25.5".

    A multi-scale fingerboard incorporates two scale lengths at the same time. This is present in some instruments with long scale to give a different tension to the lower strings than the higher strings. The thickest strings need more tension to avoid fret buzz (especially when tuned low), so the scale is longer for these strings, while the thinnest strings will need less tension (because they have a lower gauge), so they have a shorter scale to reduce stiffness for bends.

    It can feel awkward if you've never played a multi-scale because the frets will have more separation for the higher strings, but a lot of people love their versatility.

    On the other hand, the Ibanez FLATV2's 25.5" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

    However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

    Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

    Neck Profile

    Ibanez FLATV2 Neck Profile
    Ibanez FLATV2's neck profile
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Neck Profile
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's neck profile

    No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

    In this case, both have different neck shapes:

    The Ibanez FLATV2 has a V type of neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

    The Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

    Fretboard Radius

    Ibanez FLATV2 Fingerboard Radius
    Ibanez FLATV2's Fingerboard radius
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Fingerboard Radius
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's Fingerboard radius

    Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

    In this case, the Ibanez FLATV2's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber.

    Still, both are closer to a Stratocaster radius than a Les Paul, so both of them will favor chord playing rather than soloing.

    Fret Size

    Ibanez FLATV2 Frets Size
    Ibanez FLATV2's Frets Size
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Frets Size
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's Frets Size

    The Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez FLATV2's Medium frets.

    Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

    Final Playability Scores

    Ibanez FLATV2
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 56
    Chord Playability 90
    Solo Playability 50
    Playability 60
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
    Chord Playability 75
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 81