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Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber
Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
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Playability
78
Sound
82
Build
69
Value
71
Score
76
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Playability
82
Sound
66
Build
57
Value
78
Score
68
FIND IT ON:
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Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Sterling Cutlass Short Scale Specs Comparison
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
General
Brand: Strandberg Sterling
Year: 2022 2020
Configuration: HH HS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Boden Standard Cutlass
Colors: Green, Yellow Green, Pink
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: American Basswood Poplar
Bridge: Strandberg EGS Rev 7 fixed & string locks Fulcrum Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: At bridge Diecast
Fretboard: Maple Maple
Neck Material: Maple Hard Maple
Decoration: Offset Luminlay Dots Dot Markers
Scale Size: 25.5" to 25" 24"
Shape: EndurNeck Cutlass
Thickness: 1st Fret: 1.2'' (30.5mm) - 12th Fret: 1.1'' (27.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.827'' (21mm) - 12th Fret: 0.965'' (24.5mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 20" 12"
Nut: Locking Compensated
Nut Width: 36mm (1.417'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Strandberg custom OEM bridge humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Strandberg custom OEM neck humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: Series Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Sterling Cutlass Short Scale pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Sterling Cutlass Short Scale's switch options

Reasons to Get
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber over Sterling Cutlass Short Scale

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 Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
25.5" to 25" vs 24"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Pickups Brand
Strandberg vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Series Split vs None
Connects pickups in series to imitate a humbucker
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HH vs HS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
1.2'' (30.5mm) vs 0.827'' (21mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
1.1'' (27.9mm) vs 0.965'' (24.5mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
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
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
20'' (508mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Sterling Cutlass Short Scale over Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
24" vs 25.5" to 25"
Easier to adapt to
Pickups
HS vs HH
High output with bright neck cleans
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.827'' (21mm) vs 1.2'' (30.5mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.965'' (24.5mm) vs 1.1'' (27.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) 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
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 Sterling Cutlass Short Scale

Bridge Pickup
Strandberg custom OEM bridge humbucker vs Sterling Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Strandberg custom OEM neck humbucker vs Sterling Single Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Headstock
Headless vs 4-2
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Compensated
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber vs Sterling Cutlass Short Scale

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
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

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

    Sterling Cutlass Short Scale 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

      After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both favor small hands .

      Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber:
      Big Hands
      Small Hands
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale:
      Big Hands
      Small Hands

      Beginner Friendliness

      The Sterling Cutlass Short Scale 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

      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
      • Comfortable shape
      • Easy-to-use bridge
      • Tall frets
      • Narrow nut
      • Short scale
      • Comfortable neck
      • Comfortable fretboard
      • 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 Sterling Cutlass Short Scale

      Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
      Poplar

      Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

      Winner: Tie.

      Pickup Configuration

      The Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber has an HH configuration while the Sterling Cutlass Short Scale has HS 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, An HS configuration gives you a bridge pickup with a lot of output for playing distortion parts, but you'll also have the bright sound of a Tele or Strat neck pickup for your clean tones.

      Pickups Quality

      The Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Sterling Cutlass Short Scale. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Heavy Metal and similar genres.

      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: Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber.

      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 Sterling Cutlass Short Scale 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
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
      Pickups 60
      Sustain 75
      Versatility 64
      Tuning Stability 65
      Sound 66

      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 Sterling Cutlass Short Scale.

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

      Winner: Tie.

      Fret Material

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

      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 Sterling Cutlass Short Scale'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
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
      • Compensated Nut
      • Tremolo
      • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
      • No Locking Tuners
      • Made in Indonesia
      • No Expensive Woods
      • No Top Brand Pickups
      • 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
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
      Quality of materials 51
      Features 55
      Quality Control 65
      Build Quality 57

      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
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale Nut Width
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale Nut Width

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

      This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Sterling Cutlass Short Scale, 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
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale's Scale Length
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale'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 Sterling Cutlass Short Scale has a regular scale of 24".

      A multi-scale fingerboard incorporates two scale lengths at the same time. This is present in some instruments with long scale to give a different tension to the lower strings than the higher strings. The thickest strings need more tension to avoid fret buzz (especially when tuned low), so the scale is longer for these strings, while the thinnest strings will need less tension (because they have a lower gauge), so they have a shorter scale to reduce stiffness for bends.

      It can feel awkward if you've never played a multi-scale because the frets will have more separation for the higher strings, but a lot of people love their versatility.

      On the other hand, the Sterling Cutlass Short Scale's 24" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.There are advantages and disadvantages to a short scale length like this. This guitar will be very easy to play, especially if you have small hands because the frets will be close to each other. Also, since the distance between the bridge and nut is short, the strings will have less tension, so they'll be really easy to bend. However, this also means that you won't be able to lower the action (lower the saddles and get the strings closer to the fretboard) too much or you will get fret buzz since the strings will be a bit loose.

      Also, short scales give less space for the harmonics to 'breath', so this ends up making the tone of the guitar sound more 'bassy' than a loger scale where there's more separation between harmonics, which gives the tone more chime.

      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
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale Neck Profile
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale'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 Sterling Cutlass Short Scale 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
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale Fingerboard Radius
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale's Fingerboard radius

      Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

      In this case, the Sterling Cutlass Short Scale'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 Frets Size
      Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Amber's Frets Size
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale Frets Size
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale's Frets Size

      The Sterling Cutlass Short Scale has Narrow Tall 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
      Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
      Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
      Chord Playability 70
      Solo Playability 80
      Playability 82