Swap
Swap
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
VS
Playability
78
Sound
82
Build
69
Value
71
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoMusician's Friend logo
Playability
67
Sound
74
Build
62
Value
68
Score
68
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoAmazon logoFender logoMusician's Friend logo
Add to Compare
Add to Compare
Add more to comparison
Show Full Spec Comparison
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat Specs Comparison
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
General
Brand: Strandberg Fender
Year: 2022 1997
Configuration: HH SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Mexico
Series: Boden Standard Artist
Colors: Green, Yellow White
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: American Basswood Alder
Bridge: Strandberg EGS Rev 7 fixed & string locks 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: At bridge Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Maple Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Offset Luminlay Dots Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" to 25" 25.5"
Shape: EndurNeck Fender Soft V
Thickness: 1st Fret: 1.2'' (30.5mm) - 12th Fret: 1.1'' (27.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm) - 12th Fret: 0.99'' (25.1mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 20" 9.5"
Nut: Locking Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 36mm (1.417'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Strandberg custom OEM bridge humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Tex-Mex (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Tex-Mex (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Strandberg custom OEM neck humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Tex-Mex (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 Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat's switch options

Reasons to Get
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber over Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2022 vs 1997
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 Fender Soft V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
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
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
1.2'' (30.5mm) vs 0.9'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
1.1'' (27.9mm) vs 0.99'' (25.1mm)
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
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
20'' (508mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
71 vs 68
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat over Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber

Scale Length
25.5" vs 25.5" to 25"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Profile
Fender Soft V vs EndurNeck
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
SSS vs HH
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.9'' (22.9mm) vs 1.2'' (30.5mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.99'' (25.1mm) 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
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 20'' (508mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat

Bridge Pickup
Strandberg custom OEM bridge humbucker vs Fender Tex-Mex
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Strandberg custom OEM neck humbucker vs Fender Tex-Mex
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Headstock
Headless vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
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
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT
    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

    And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat favors large hands more than the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber.

    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    Both meet 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

    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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale
    • Comfortable neck
    • 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 Standard NX 6 Amber

    Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
    Basswood

    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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat

    Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
    Alder

    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: Tie.

    Pickup Configuration

    The Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber has an HH configuration while the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat 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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat 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 Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat'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: Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat.

    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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
    Pickups 100
    Sustain 60
    Versatility 72
    Tuning Stability 65
    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 Standard NX 6 Amber compares to the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat.

    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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat is made in Mexico.

    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.

    Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

    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 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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat comes with a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

    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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat'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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
    • Synthetic Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Tremolo
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in Mexico
    • No Expensive Woods
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • 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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
    Quality of materials 56
    Features 55
    Quality Control 75
    Build Quality 62

    Playability Comparison

    Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

    Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

    Nut Width

    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Nut Width
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Nut Width
    Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat Nut Width
    Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat 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 Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat, 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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat's Scale Length
    Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat'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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat 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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat'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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat Neck Profile
    Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat'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 Standard NX 6 Amber 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 Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat, on the other hand, has a V neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

    Fretboard Radius

    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Fingerboard Radius
    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's Fingerboard radius
    Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat Fingerboard Radius
    Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat'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 Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber'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 Standard NX 6 Amber.

    Still, both are closer to a Stratocaster radius than a Les Paul, so both of them will favor chord playing rather than soloing.

    Fret Size

    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber and Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat 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 Standard NX 6 Amber
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
    Chord Playability 75
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 78
    Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
    Chord Playability 90
    Solo Playability 50
    Playability 67