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Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow
Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC
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Playability
77
Sound
84
Build
74
Value
68
Score
78
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Playability
80
Sound
74
Build
65
Value
73
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow vs Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC Specs Comparison
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC
General
Brand: Strandberg Jackson
Year: 2021 2021
Configuration: HSH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Boden Fusion Pro
Colors: Red, Yellow Black Satin
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Chambered Alder Mahogany
Bridge: Strandberg EGS Pro Rev7 tremolo system & string locks Jackson TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: At bridge Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Locking
Fretboard: Indian Rosewood Ebony
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Green Side Dots Pearloid Ghostfin
Scale Size: 25.5" to 25" 24.75"
Shape: EndurNeck Speed
Thickness: 1st Fret: 1.2'' (30.5mm) - 12th Fret: 1.1'' (27.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 20" 12" to 16"
Nut: Locking Plastic
Nut Width: 36mm (1.417'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Suhr SSV+ Bridge (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Suhr V60LP single-coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Suhr SSV Neck (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No Yes
Hardware Color: Black Gold
Show Diagrams Comparison
Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC's switch options

Reasons to Get
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow over Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
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
Neck Profile
EndurNeck vs Speed
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Locking vs Plastic
Best tuning stability for intense tremolo usage
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
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
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
1.2'' (30.5mm) vs 0.775'' (19.7mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
1.1'' (27.9mm) vs 0.835'' (21.2mm)
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
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance

Reasons to Get
Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC over Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow

Decorative Top
Arched Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
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
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 20"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Speed vs EndurNeck
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Pickups
HH vs HSH
High output without hum
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.775'' (19.7mm) vs 1.2'' (30.5mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.835'' (21.2mm) 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
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Value Score
73 vs 68
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow vs Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC

Bridge Pickup
Suhr SSV+ Bridge vs Seymour Duncan JB SH-4
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Suhr SSV Neck vs Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Ebony
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 Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC

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

Common Strengths

  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC 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 Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow favors large hands more than the Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

    Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow meets only 5. 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

    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Locking tuners
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Short scale

    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 Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC

    Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
    Ebony
    Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
    Mahogany

    Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

    Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

    Winner: Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC.

    Pickup Configuration

    The Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow has an HSH configuration while the Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC 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

    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 Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

    We found the same or similar pickups to the Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC's online:

    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: Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC.

    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 Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC 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
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 80
    Versatility 51
    Tuning Stability 75
    Sound 74

    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 Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC.

    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 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 Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC 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 Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC'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

    The Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

    Nevertheless, the Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

    Winner: Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC.

    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 Amber Yellow 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 Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC 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 Amber Yellow.

    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
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC
    • Locking Tuners
    • Expensive Wood
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Compound Radius Fretboard
    • Strap Lock
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No High-Quality Nut
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Tremolo
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow
    Quality of materials 61
    Features 75
    Quality Control 85
    Build Quality 74
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC
    Quality of materials 45
    Features 75
    Quality Control 75
    Build Quality 65

    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
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC Nut Width
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC 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 Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC, 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
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC's Scale Length
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC'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 Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC 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 Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC'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
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC Neck Profile
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC'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 Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow has a C type of 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.

    The Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

    Fretboard Radius

    Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow Fingerboard Radius
    Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow's Fingerboard radius
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC Fretboard Compound Radius
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC's Compound Fretboard 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 Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

    Fret Size

    Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow Frets Size
    Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow's Frets Size
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC Frets Size
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC's Frets Size

    The Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC 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
    Jackson Pro Series Monarkh SC
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 75
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 80