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Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
Gretsch G5422T Electromatic
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Playability
78
Sound
82
Build
69
Value
71
Score
76
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Playability
75
Sound
70
Build
62
Value
74
Score
69
FIND IT ON:
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Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Gretsch G5422T Electromatic Specs Comparison
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Gretsch G5422T Electromatic
General
Brand: Strandberg Gretsch
Year: 2022 2016
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia South Korea
Series: Boden Standard Electromatic
Colors: Green, Yellow Black, Orange
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Hollowbody
Body Material: American Basswood 5-Ply Maple
Bridge: Strandberg EGS Rev 7 fixed & string locks Bigsby Licensed B60 Vibrato Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: At bridge Vintage-Style Open Back
Fretboard: Maple Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Offset Luminlay Dots Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail
Scale Size: 25.5" to 25" 24.6"
Shape: EndurNeck U Shape
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" 12.6"
Nut: Locking NuBone
Nut Width: 36mm (1.417'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Strandberg custom OEM bridge humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Strandberg custom OEM neck humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: Series Split None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Gretsch G5422T Electromatic pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G5422T Electromatic's switch options

Reasons to Get
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber over Gretsch G5422T Electromatic

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 24.6"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Neck Profile
EndurNeck vs U Shape
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 Hollowbody
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
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
20'' (508mm) vs 12.6'' (320mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G5422T Electromatic over Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber

Scale Length
24.6" vs 25.5" to 25"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Profile
U Shape vs EndurNeck
Comfortable neck with more grip
Body Type
Hollowbody vs Solid Body
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Volume Knobs
2 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
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Fretboard Radius
12.6'' (320mm) vs 20'' (508mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
74 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Gretsch G5422T Electromatic

Bridge Pickup
Strandberg custom OEM bridge humbucker vs Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Strandberg custom OEM neck humbucker vs Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Maple
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
Headless vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs NuBone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Gretsch G5422T Electromatic

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
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
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
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

    Gretsch G5422T Electromatic 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 Gretsch G5422T Electromatic favors large hands more than the Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber.

    Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Gretsch G5422T Electromatic:
    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 G5422T Electromatic 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 G5422T Electromatic
    • Comfortable shape
    • Tall frets
    • Short scale
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • Locking tuners
    • Easy-to-use bridge

    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 G5422T Electromatic

    Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
    Rosewood

    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.

    Winner: Gretsch G5422T Electromatic.

    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 G5422T Electromatic 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 G5422T Electromatic.

    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 G5422T Electromatic 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 G5422T Electromatic
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 70
    Versatility 56
    Tuning Stability 65
    Sound 70

    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 G5422T Electromatic.

    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 Gretsch G5422T Electromatic is made in South Korea.

    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.

    South Korea was for many years the number one choice for mass-producing semi-premium guitars. They can build excellent guitars for a cheap price. Now, it's less common to find Korean guitars because Indonesia has proved capable of building guitars just as well, but likely for cheaper.

    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 G5422T Electromatic comes with a NuBone nut. It's made by the same company that makes TUSQ nuts. It's slightly softer but hard enough to give you a brighter sound when playing open strings. It's also self-lubricating, so it's good for 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.

    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 Gretsch G5422T Electromatic's is a Bigsby Tremolo. Bigsby tremolos are built differently than regular tremolos. They have a stiffer arm, which is something a lot of people like because the arm won't wiggle around a lot. On the other hand, this type of tremolo is more complicated to restring and it might not be as newbie-friendly as other simpler tremolos.

    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: Gretsch G5422T Electromatic.

    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 G5422T Electromatic 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 G5422T Electromatic
    • Expensive Wood
    • NuBone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Tremolo
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in South Korea
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • 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
    Gretsch G5422T Electromatic
    Quality of materials 56
    Features 60
    Quality Control 70
    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
    Gretsch G5422T Electromatic Nut Width
    Gretsch G5422T Electromatic Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gretsch G5422T Electromatic 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 G5422T Electromatic, 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 G5422T Electromatic's Scale Length
    Gretsch G5422T Electromatic'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 G5422T Electromatic has a regular scale of 24.6".

    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 G5422T Electromatic's 24.6" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.This is a vintage-style scale length that's relatively short when compared to modern standards. A short scale makes the string tension lower, which makes the strings feel looser. This makes it easier to bend the strings, but it also makes fret buzz more likely if the action is set too low.

    The shorter length also means a shorter separation of the frets. It also makes the overall tone sound warmer since the harmonics and overtones will have less space to breathe.

    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 G5422T Electromatic Neck Profile
    Gretsch G5422T Electromatic'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 G5422T Electromatic, 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 G5422T Electromatic Fingerboard Radius
    Gretsch G5422T Electromatic'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 G5422T Electromatic'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 G5422T Electromatic 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 G5422T Electromatic
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 80
    Solo Playability 60
    Playability 75