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Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC
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Playability
77
Sound
81
Build
73
Value
67
Score
77
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Playability
70
Sound
62
Build
62
Value
70
Score
65
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Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition vs D'Angelico Premier Mini DC Specs Comparison
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition D'Angelico Premier Mini DC
General
Brand: Strandberg D'Angelico
Year: 2021 2021
Configuration: HSH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Boden Fusion Premier
Colors: Red Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Semi-Hollow
Body Material: Chambered Alder Laminated Maple
Bridge: Strandberg EGS Pro Rev7 tremolo system & string locks Chrome Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: At bridge Grover 109 Super Rotomatic
Fretboard: Indian Rosewood Ovangkol
Neck Material: Maple neck – Quartersawn, Carbon Fiber reinforced Maple
Decoration: Offset Luminlay Dots White Pearloid Block
Scale Size: 25.5" to 25" 25"
Shape: EndurNeck C-Shape
Thickness: 1st Fret: 1.2'' (30.5mm) - 12th Fret: 1.1'' (27.9mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 20" 14"
Nut: Locking Plastic
Nut Width: 36mm (1.417'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Strandberg Alex Machacek Edition Bridge (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Designed HB-101B Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Strandberg middle single-coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Strandberg Alex Machacek Edition Neck (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Designed HB-102N Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition's switch options
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC pickups switch and push knobs diagram
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC's switch options

Reasons to Get
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition over D'Angelico Premier Mini DC

Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
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"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Pickups Brand
Strandberg vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Locking vs Plastic
Best tuning stability for intense tremolo usage
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSH vs HH
High output, round sound with a single-coil for cleans
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.417'' (36mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Fretboard Radius
20'' (508mm) vs 14'' (355.6mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC over Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition

Scale Length
25" vs 25.5" to 25"
Easier to adapt to
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
HH vs HSH
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.417'' (36mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
14'' (355.6mm) vs 20'' (508mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
70 vs 67
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition vs D'Angelico Premier Mini DC

Bridge Pickup
Strandberg Alex Machacek Edition Bridge vs Seymour Duncan Designed HB-101B Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Strandberg Alex Machacek Edition Neck vs Seymour Duncan Designed HB-102N Humbucker
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Maple
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Ovangkol
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
Headless vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition vs D'Angelico Premier Mini DC

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition Prices

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

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Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both favor small hands .

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition:
Big Hands
Small Hands
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the D'Angelico Premier Mini DC meets only 4. 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.

New Player Friendliness

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

D'Angelico Premier Mini DC
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • 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 Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

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.

Woods Used in the Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition

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

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 D'Angelico Premier Mini DC

Ovangkol wood pattern used for guitar building
Ovangkol

Ovangkol is a beautiful wood that's popular for acoustic guitars. Its tone sits somewhere between rosewood and mahogany, meaning it has a punchy low-end and nice mid-range. Find out more about Ovangkol.

Winner: Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition.

Pickup Configuration

The Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition has an HSH configuration while the D'Angelico Premier Mini DC has HH pickups.

HSH is a versatile pickup configuration that will give you the high output, full tone, and quiet sound of humbucker pickups, but with the possibility of using a single coil for cleaner tones. The disadvantage is that the middle single-coil pickup will have a noticeable lower volume, so you might want to adjust the height of the pickups. Another problem is that if you set the middle pickup too high, it might interfere with your picking hand.

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

The Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition has pickups from a more specialized brand than the D'Angelico Premier Mini DC. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Heavy Metal and similar genres.

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: Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition.

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 Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition gives you 5 switch options while the D'Angelico Premier Mini DC gives you 3. This means that the Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

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 Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition
Pickups 85
Sustain 70
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 81
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC
Pickups 60
Sustain 65
Versatility 63
Tuning Stability 60
Sound 62

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 Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition compares to the D'Angelico Premier Mini DC.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Indonesia.

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: Tie

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 Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition has 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.

On the other hand, the D'Angelico Premier Mini DC comes with a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Winner: Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition.

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 Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition 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 Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition.

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: Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

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 Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition 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.

The Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition has 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.

On the other hand, the D'Angelico Premier Mini DC comes with Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition
Quality of materials 65
Features 70
Quality Control 85
Build Quality 73
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC
Quality of materials 56
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 62

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

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition Nut Width
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition Nut Width
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC Nut Width
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the D'Angelico Premier Mini DC has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 36mm (1.417''). This is a 6.9mm (0.271'') difference

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

Scale Length

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition's Scale Length
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition's Scale Length
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC's Scale Length
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC'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 Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition features a multi-scale of 25.5" to 25" while the D'Angelico Premier Mini DC has a regular scale of 25".

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 D'Angelico Premier Mini DC's 25" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.This scale is close to a Les Paul (24.75''), but it's slightly longer for those who want more tension of the strings and a slightly brighter sound (but not as much as with a 25.5'' Stratocaster scale).

This longer scale will also mean the frets are slightly more separated, which can affect your speed when playing. However, since this increases the tension of the strings, it will also allow you to lower the action even further without getting fret buzz. It comes at the cost of making the strings feel stiffer, which makes bending more difficult, though.

However, remember that you can also change the tension of the strings by using different string gauges.

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

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition Neck Profile
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition's neck profile
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC Neck Profile
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC'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.

Both the Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition and the D'Angelico Premier Mini DC have a C-shaped 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

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition Fingerboard Radius
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition's Fingerboard radius
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC Fingerboard Radius
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC'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 D'Angelico Premier Mini DC's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition'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 Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition.

Fret Size

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition Frets Size
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition's Frets Size
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC Frets Size
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC's Frets Size

The Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the D'Angelico Premier Mini DC'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

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Alex Machacek Edition
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70