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Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
Gretsch G2655 Streamliner
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Playability
78
Sound
82
Build
69
Value
71
Score
76
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Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
59
Value
78
Score
68
FIND IT ON:
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Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Gretsch G2655 Streamliner Specs Comparison
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Gretsch G2655 Streamliner
General
Brand: Strandberg Gretsch
Year: 2022 2016
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Boden Standard Streamliner
Colors: Green, Yellow Blue, Brown, Yellow
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Semi-Hollow
Body Material: American Basswood Laminated Maple
Bridge: Strandberg EGS Rev 7 fixed & string locks Gretsch V-Stoptail
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: At bridge Die-Cast
Fretboard: Maple Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Nato
Decoration: Offset Luminlay Dots Pearloid Big Blocks
Scale Size: 25.5" to 25" 24.75"
Shape: EndurNeck Thin U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 1.2'' (30.5mm) - 12th Fret: 1.1'' (27.9mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 20" 12"
Nut: Locking Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 36mm (1.417'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Strandberg custom OEM bridge humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-2S (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Strandberg custom OEM neck humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-2S (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: Series Split None
Volume Controls: 1 3
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Nickel
Show Diagrams Comparison
Gretsch G2655 Streamliner pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G2655 Streamliner's switch options

Reasons to Get
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber over Gretsch G2655 Streamliner

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2022 vs 2016
From a more recent year
Scale Length
25.5" to 25" vs 24.75"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Neck Profile
EndurNeck vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Series Split vs None
Connects pickups in series to imitate a humbucker
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.417'' (36mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
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 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G2655 Streamliner over Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber

Scale Length
24.75" vs 25.5" to 25"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Profile
Thin U vs EndurNeck
Comfortable neck with more grip
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Volume Knobs
3 vs 1
More volume control
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.417'' (36mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 20'' (508mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
78 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Gretsch G2655 Streamliner

Bridge Pickup
Strandberg custom OEM bridge humbucker vs Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-2S
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Strandberg custom OEM neck humbucker vs Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-2S
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Maple
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Nato
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
Headless vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Gretsch G2655 Streamliner

Strings
6
Same playing style
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
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

  • 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

    Gretsch G2655 Streamliner Prices

      SET PRICE ALERT

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

      Hand Size Comfortability

      And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gretsch G2655 Streamliner favors large hands more than the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber.

      Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber:
      Big Hands
      Small Hands
      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner:
      Big Hands
      Small Hands

      Beginner Friendliness

      The Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G2655 Streamliner meets only 4. 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

      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner
      • Comfortable shape
      • Easy-to-use bridge
      • Tall frets
      • Comfortable neck
      • Comfortable fretboard
      • Narrow nut
      • Short scale
      • Locking tuners

      Sound Quality Comparison

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

      Woods Used in Both

      Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
      Maple

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

      Woods Used in the Strandberg Boden 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 Gretsch G2655 Streamliner

      Nato wood pattern used for guitar building
      Nato
      Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
      Laurel

      Nato a hard and dense wood similar to Mahogany, but cheaper and not quite as hard. Tone-wise, it's also similar, but it doesn't have quite the same attack as Mahogany.

      There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

      Winner: Tie.

      Pickup Configuration

      Both pickup configurations are HH. 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 Gretsch G2655 Streamliner 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: Gretsch G2655 Streamliner.

      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 Standard NX 6 Amber gives you 5 switch options while the Gretsch G2655 Streamliner gives you 3. This means that the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

      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
      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner
      Pickups 90
      Sustain 75
      Versatility 53
      Tuning Stability 70
      Sound 72

      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 Gretsch G2655 Streamliner.

      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 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 Gretsch G2655 Streamliner 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.

      Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

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

      Winner: Tie.

      Tuners

      In this case, the Strandberg Boden 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.

      The Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber 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 Gretsch G2655 Streamliner 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 Standard NX 6 Amber.

      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
      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner
      • Synthetic Bone Nut
      • Top Brand Pickups
      • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
      • No Locking Tuners
      • Made in Indonesia
      • No Expensive Woods
      • No Neck-Through Build
      • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
      • No Luminescent Inlay
      • No Tremolo
      • 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
      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner
      Quality of materials 56
      Features 55
      Quality Control 65
      Build Quality 59

      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
      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner Nut Width
      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner Nut Width

      The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gretsch G2655 Streamliner has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 36mm (1.417''). This is a 6.9mm (0.271'') difference

      This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gretsch G2655 Streamliner, 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
      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner's Scale Length
      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner'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 Gretsch G2655 Streamliner 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 Gretsch G2655 Streamliner'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 Standard NX 6 Amber Neck Profile
      Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's neck profile
      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner Neck Profile
      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner'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 Gretsch G2655 Streamliner, on the other hand, has a U neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

      Fretboard Radius

      Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Fingerboard Radius
      Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's Fingerboard radius
      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner Fingerboard Radius
      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner'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 Gretsch G2655 Streamliner'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.

      Fret Size

      Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber and Gretsch G2655 Streamliner 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
      Gretsch G2655 Streamliner
      Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
      Chord Playability 75
      Solo Playability 60
      Playability 73