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Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow
Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard
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Playability
77
Sound
84
Build
74
Value
68
Score
78
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Playability
77
Sound
65
Build
52
Value
75
Score
65
FIND IT ON:
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Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow vs Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard Specs Comparison
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard
General
Brand: Strandberg Dean
Year: 2021 2009
Configuration: HSH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia China
Series: Boden Fusion Artist
Colors: Red, Yellow Custom
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Chambered Alder Terentang
Bridge: Strandberg EGS Pro Rev7 tremolo system & string locks Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: At bridge Grover
Fretboard: Indian Rosewood Granadillo
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Green Side Dots Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" to 25" 24.75"
Shape: EndurNeck C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 1.2'' (30.5mm) - 12th Fret: 1.1'' (27.9mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 20" 12"
Nut: Locking Plastic
Nut Width: 36mm (1.417'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Suhr SSV+ Bridge (Humbucker / Passive) DMT Design (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Suhr V60LP single-coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Suhr SSV Neck (Humbucker / Passive) DMT Design (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard's switch options

Reasons to Get
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow over Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2021 vs 2009
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
25.5" to 25" vs 24.75"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Pickups Brand
Suhr vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Locking vs Plastic
Best tuning stability for intense tremolo usage
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
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 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
20'' (508mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard over Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
24.75" vs 25.5" to 25"
Easier to adapt to
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Pickups
HH vs HSH
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.417'' (36mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 20'' (508mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
75 vs 68
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow vs Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard

Bridge Pickup
Suhr SSV+ Bridge vs DMT Design
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Suhr SSV Neck vs DMT Design
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Terentang
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Granadillo
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 Amber Yellow vs Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

    Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard Prices

      SET PRICE ALERT

      These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

      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 Amber Yellow:
      Big Hands
      Small Hands
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard:
      Big Hands
      Small Hands

      Beginner Friendliness

      The Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard meets only 3. 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 Amber Yellow
      • Comfortable shape
      • Easy-to-use bridge
      • Tall frets
      • Narrow nut
      • Comfortable neck
      • Comfortable fretboard
      • Short scale
      • Locking tuners

      New Player Friendliness

      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard
      • Easy-to-use bridge
      • Tall frets
      • Comfortable neck
      • Comfortable shape
      • 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 Amber Yellow

      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 Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard

      Granadillo wood pattern used for guitar building
      Granadillo
      Terentang wood pattern used for guitar building
      Terentang

      Granadillo is often used as a replacement for rosewood, but it's not widely available. It is harder and denser, so the tone is said to be more chimey than rosewood.

      Terentang is a cheap wood that is pretty common in the Solomon Islands.

      Winner: Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow.

      Pickup Configuration

      The Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow has an HSH configuration while the Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard 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 Amber Yellow has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard. 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 Amber Yellow.

      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 Amber Yellow gives you 5 switch options while the Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard gives you 3. This means that the Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

      Only the Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.

      Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

      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 Amber Yellow.

      Final Sound Quality Scores

      Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow
      Pickups 85
      Sustain 70
      Versatility 95
      Tuning Stability 85
      Sound 84
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard
      Pickups 60
      Sustain 80
      Versatility 56
      Tuning Stability 65
      Sound 65

      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 Amber Yellow compares to the Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard.

      Country of Origin

      The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow is built in Indonesia while the Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard is made in China.

      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.

      China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

      Winner: Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow

      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 Amber Yellow 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 Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard 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 Amber Yellow.

      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 Amber Yellow 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 Amber Yellow.

      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.

      The Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow's brige is a 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.

      On the other hand, the Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard's is a 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 Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow 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
      Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow
      • Stainless Steel Frets
      • Expensive Wood
      • Locking Nut
      • Top Brand Pickups
      • Coil Split Pickups
      • Weight Relief
      • Luminescent Inlay
      • Tremolo
      • Made in Indonesia
      • No Neck-Through Build
      • No Compound Radius Fretboard
      • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
      • No Strap Lock
      Strengths & Weaknesses
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard
      • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
      • No Locking Tuners
      • Made in China
      • No Expensive Woods
      • No High-Quality Nut
      • No Top Brand Pickups
      • No Neck-Through Build
      • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
      • No Weight Relief
      • No Luminescent Inlay
      • No Tremolo
      • No Compound Radius Fretboard
      • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
      • No Strap Lock

      Final Build Quality Scores

      Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow
      Quality of materials 61
      Features 75
      Quality Control 85
      Build Quality 74
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard
      Quality of materials 51
      Features 50
      Quality Control 55
      Build Quality 52

      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 Amber Yellow Nut Width
      Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow Nut Width
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard Nut Width
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard Nut Width

      The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 36mm (1.417''). This is a 7mm (0.276'') difference

      This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard, 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 Amber Yellow's Scale Length
      Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow's Scale Length
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard's Scale Length
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard'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 Amber Yellow features a multi-scale of 25.5" to 25" while the Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard has a regular scale of 24.75".

      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 Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard's 24.75" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

      On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker 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 Amber Yellow Neck Profile
      Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow's neck profile
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard Neck Profile
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard'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 Amber Yellow and the Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard 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 Amber Yellow Fingerboard Radius
      Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow's Fingerboard radius
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard Fingerboard Radius
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard'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 Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow'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 Amber Yellow.

      Fret Size

      Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow Frets Size
      Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow's Frets Size
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard Frets Size
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard's Frets Size

      The Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow's Medium Jumbo 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 Amber Yellow
      Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
      Chord Playability 75
      Solo Playability 80
      Playability 77
      Dean Michael Schenker Bolt-On Standard
      Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
      Chord Playability 55
      Solo Playability 80
      Playability 77