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Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster
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Playability
78
Sound
82
Build
69
Value
71
Score
76
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Playability
73
Sound
77
Build
75
Value
60
Score
75
FIND IT ON:
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Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster Specs Comparison
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster
General
Brand: Strandberg Fender Custom
Year: 2022 2020
Configuration: HH SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia United States
Series: Boden Standard Artisan
Colors: Green, Yellow Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: American Basswood Roasted Alder
Bridge: Strandberg EGS Rev 7 fixed & string locks 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: At bridge Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Maple Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Maple Birdseye Maple
Decoration: Offset Luminlay Dots Vintage Clay Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" to 25" 25.5"
Shape: EndurNeck 1963 C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 1.2'' (30.5mm) - 12th Fret: 1.1'' (27.9mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 21 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 20" 9.5" to 12"
Nut: Locking Bone
Nut Width: 36mm (1.417'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Strandberg custom OEM bridge humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Strandberg custom OEM neck humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: Series Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Gold
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster's switch options

Reasons to Get
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber over Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2022 vs 2020
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 25.5"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Pickup Mods
Series Split vs None
Connects pickups in series to imitate a humbucker
Pickups
HH vs SSS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
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
Paint Finish
Poly vs Aged
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Value Score
71 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster over Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Decorative Top
Burl 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
25.5" vs 25.5" to 25"
Easier to adapt to
Compound Radius
9.5" to 12" vs 20"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
SSS vs HH
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.417'' (36mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Paint Finish
Aged vs Poly
Paint has been artificially aged
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance

Other Key Differences
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
Strandberg custom OEM bridge humbucker vs Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Strandberg custom OEM neck humbucker vs Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Birdseye Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
Headless vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
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 Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster 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 Standard NX 6 Amber favors large hands more than the Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber 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 Standard NX 6 Amber
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    Sound Quality Comparison

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

    Woods Used in the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber

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

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

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

    Woods Used in the Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster

    Birdseye Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Birdseye Maple
    Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
    Ebony
    Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
    Alder

    This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

    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.

    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.

    Winner: Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster.

    Pickup Configuration

    The Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber has an HH configuration while the Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster has SSS pickups.

    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.

    On the other hand, SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

    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 Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

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

    Winner: Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster.

    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

    Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

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

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

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

    Winner: Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
    Pickups 85
    Sustain 75
    Versatility 82
    Tuning Stability 85
    Sound 82
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster
    Pickups 100
    Sustain 70
    Versatility 72
    Tuning Stability 65
    Sound 77

    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 Standard NX 6 Amber compares to the Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber is built in Indonesia while the Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster is made in United States.

    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.

    The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

    Winner: Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster

    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 Standard NX 6 Amber 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 Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

    Winner: Tie.

    Fret Material

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

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

    Winner: Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber.

    Bridge

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

    The Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's brige 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.

    On the other hand, the Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster's 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.

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

    Winner: Tie.

    Tuners

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

    Winner: Tie.

    Neck Joint

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

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

    Winner: Tie.

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

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

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
    Quality of materials 61
    Features 65
    Quality Control 80
    Build Quality 69
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster
    Quality of materials 60
    Features 65
    Quality Control 100
    Build Quality 75

    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 Standard NX 6 Amber Nut Width
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Nut Width
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster Nut Width
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster 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 Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster, 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 Standard NX 6 Amber's Scale Length
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's Scale Length
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster's Scale Length
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster's Scale Length

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

    In this case, the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber features a multi-scale of 25.5" to 25" while the Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster 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 Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster'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 Standard NX 6 Amber Neck Profile
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's neck profile
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster Neck Profile
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster'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 Standard NX 6 Amber and the Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster 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 Standard NX 6 Amber Fingerboard Radius
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's Fingerboard radius
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster Fretboard Compound Radius
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster'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 Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster 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 Standard NX 6 Amber Frets Size
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's Frets Size
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster Frets Size
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster's Frets Size

    The Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber'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 Standard NX 6 Amber
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
    Chord Playability 75
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 78
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
    Chord Playability 70
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 73