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Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio
VS
Playability
77
Sound
84
Build
74
Value
68
Score
78
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Playability
73
Sound
76
Build
72
Value
74
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
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Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow vs Sterling JP150 DiMarzio Specs Comparison
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow Sterling JP150 DiMarzio
General
Brand: Strandberg Sterling
Year: 2021 2020
Configuration: HSH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Boden Fusion John Petrucci
Colors: Red, Yellow Purple, Orange Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Chambered Alder Mahogany
Bridge: Strandberg EGS Pro Rev7 tremolo system & string locks Modern Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: At bridge Locking
Fretboard: Indian Rosewood Ebony
Neck Material: Maple Roasted Maple
Decoration: Green Side Dots Custom Jp Inlays
Scale Size: 25.5" to 25" 25.5"
Shape: EndurNeck John Petrucci
Thickness: 1st Fret: 1.2'' (30.5mm) - 12th Fret: 1.1'' (27.9mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 20" 16"
Nut: Locking Compensated
Nut Width: 36mm (1.417'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Suhr SSV+ Bridge (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio Crunch Lab (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Suhr V60LP single-coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Suhr SSV Neck (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio LiquiFire (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Boost
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Black
Show Diagrams Comparison
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio's switch options

Reasons to Get
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow over Sterling JP150 DiMarzio

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Scale Length
25.5" to 25" vs 25.5"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Neck Profile
EndurNeck vs John Petrucci
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Boost
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
Nut Width
1.417'' (36mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
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 16'' (406.4mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio over Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow

Decorative Top
Figured Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Scale Length
25.5" vs 25.5" to 25"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Profile
John Petrucci vs EndurNeck
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Boost vs Coil Split
Increases the output of the pickup
Pickups
HH vs HSH
High output without hum
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.417'' (36mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 20'' (508mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
74 vs 68
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow vs Sterling JP150 DiMarzio

Bridge Pickup
Suhr SSV+ Bridge vs DiMarzio Crunch Lab
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Suhr SSV Neck vs DiMarzio LiquiFire
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
Headless vs 4-2
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Compensated
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow vs Sterling JP150 DiMarzio

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
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 Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • 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 Amber Yellow Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Sterling JP150 DiMarzio 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 Sterling JP150 DiMarzio. 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
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Sterling JP150 DiMarzio meets 6 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

Sterling JP150 DiMarzio
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 the Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow

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

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.

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 Sterling JP150 DiMarzio

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

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.

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: Sterling JP150 DiMarzio.

Pickup Configuration

The Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow has an HSH configuration while the Sterling JP150 DiMarzio 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.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Sterling JP150 DiMarzio'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: Tie.

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 Sterling JP150 DiMarzio 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

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow offers 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.

On the other hand, the Sterling JP150 DiMarzio comes with the following: Boost.

A Boost will give your pickups more output, similar to an active pickup. It's great if you like to use a lot of output for heavy genres, but also like to use a cleaner tone often.

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
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio
Pickups 85
Sustain 65
Versatility 79
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 76

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 Sterling JP150 DiMarzio.

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 Sterling JP150 DiMarzio comes with a Compensated nut. Each hole where the string sits at the nut is cut at a different distance from the bridge, which compensates for the different amount of tension that each string is subject to. This fixes most intonation issues across the fretboard, so it gives great tuning 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.

Both in this comparison come with 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: Tie.

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

The Sterling JP150 DiMarzio 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: Sterling JP150 DiMarzio.

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
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Boost Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • 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
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio
Quality of materials 70
Features 70
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 72

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
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio Nut Width
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Sterling JP150 DiMarzio has the wider nut with 41.9mm (1.65'') vs 36mm (1.417''). This is a 5.9mm (0.233'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Sterling JP150 DiMarzio, 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
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio's Scale Length
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio'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 Sterling JP150 DiMarzio 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 Sterling JP150 DiMarzio'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

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow Neck Profile
Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow's neck profile
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio Neck Profile
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio'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 Sterling JP150 DiMarzio, 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
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio Fingerboard Radius
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio'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 Sterling JP150 DiMarzio'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 and Sterling JP150 DiMarzio Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Strandberg Boden Fusion NX 6 Amber Yellow
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77
Sterling JP150 DiMarzio
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73