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Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black
Ibanez FTM33
VS
Playability
78
Sound
82
Build
72
Value
67
Score
77
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Playability
75
Sound
80
Build
65
Value
63
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black vs Ibanez FTM33 Specs Comparison
Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black Ibanez FTM33
General
Brand: Strandberg Ibanez
Year: 2023 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 8
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Sälen FTM
Colors: Black, Red, Natural Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Chambered Mahogany Ash wing
Bridge: Strandberg EGS Series 7 fixed & string locks FX Edge III-8
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: At bridge Ibanez
Fretboard: Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: Mahogany 7pc Maple/Walnut w/KTS™ TITANIUM rods
Decoration: Illuminlay dots
Scale Size: 25.5" to 25" 27"
Shape: EndurNeck FTM
Thickness: 1st Fret: 1.2'' (30.5mm) - 12th Fret: 1.1'' (27.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 20" 16"
Nut: Locking Locking
Nut Width: 36mm (1.417'') 55mm (2.165'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Strandberg Classic Bridge (Humbucker / Passive) Lundgren Model M8P (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Strandberg Classic Neck (Humbucker / Passive) Lundgren Model M8P (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Series Split None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Black
Show Diagrams Comparison
Ibanez FTM33 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez FTM33's switch options

Reasons to Get
Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black over Ibanez FTM33

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2023 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
25.5" to 25" vs 27"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Pickup Mods
Series Split vs None
Connects pickups in series to imitate a humbucker
Strings
6 vs 8
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
1.2'' (30.5mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
1.1'' (27.9mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.417'' (36mm) vs 2.165'' (55mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Fretboard Radius
20'' (508mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
67 vs 63
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Ibanez FTM33 over Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black

Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
27" vs 25.5" to 25"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Strings
8 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 1.2'' (30.5mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 1.1'' (27.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
2.165'' (55mm) vs 1.417'' (36mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 20'' (508mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black vs Ibanez FTM33

Bridge Pickup
Strandberg Classic Bridge vs Lundgren Model M8P
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Strandberg Classic Neck vs Lundgren Model M8P
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
Headless vs 4-4
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black vs Ibanez FTM33

Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
Same Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Locking
Same Nut Material
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
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
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Retainer Bar
  • 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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Ibanez FTM33 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 Ibanez FTM33 favors large hands more than the Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black.

    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Ibanez FTM33:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez FTM33 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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Ibanez FTM33
    • 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

    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.

    Woods Used in the Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black

    Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
    Mahogany

    Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

    Woods Used in the Ibanez FTM33

    Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Maple
    Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
    Ash

    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.

    Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

    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 Ibanez FTM33 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: Ibanez FTM33.

    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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black gives you 5 switch options while the Ibanez FTM33 gives you 3. This means that the Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

    Only the Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black 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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black
    Pickups 85
    Sustain 75
    Versatility 82
    Tuning Stability 85
    Sound 82
    Ibanez FTM33
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 85
    Versatility 61
    Tuning Stability 85
    Sound 80

    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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black compares to the Ibanez FTM33.

    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.

    In this case, both have Locking nuts. 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.

    Unfortunately, neither of them have a retainer bar for the nut, which would be a helpful addition. Without it, the strings will change pitch once you lock down the nut, so you'll have to make more micro-adjustments at the bridge to tune it correctly.

    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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black 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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black.

    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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black 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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black 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 Ibanez FTM33 comes with Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

    Winner: Ibanez FTM33.

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

    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black
    • Stainless Steel Frets
    • Expensive Wood
    • Locking Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Series Split Pickups
    • Weight Relief
    • Luminescent Inlay
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Ibanez FTM33
    • Expensive Wood
    • Locking Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Neck-Through Build
    • Luminescent Inlay
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Retainer Bar
    • No Strap Lock

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black
    Quality of materials 61
    Features 70
    Quality Control 85
    Build Quality 72
    Ibanez FTM33
    Quality of materials 46
    Features 65
    Quality Control 85
    Build Quality 65

    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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black Nut Width
    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black Nut Width
    Ibanez FTM33 Nut Width
    Ibanez FTM33 Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez FTM33 has the wider nut with 55mm (2.165'') vs 36mm (1.417''). This is a 19mm (0.748'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez FTM33, 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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black's Scale Length
    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black's Scale Length
    Ibanez FTM33's Scale Length
    Ibanez FTM33'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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black features a multi-scale of 25.5" to 25" while the Ibanez FTM33 has a regular scale of 27".

    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 Ibanez FTM33's 27" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.This is a scale used for baritones and guitars with more than 6 strings. Since the scale is so long, the tension of the strings will be higher. This means that bending will require a lot more strength than with a shorter scale. However, it also allows you to use really low tunings without causing fret buzz and without needing to increase your string gauge too much.

    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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black Neck Profile
    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black's neck profile
    Ibanez FTM33 Neck Profile
    Ibanez FTM33'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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black and the Ibanez FTM33 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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black Fingerboard Radius
    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black's Fingerboard radius
    Ibanez FTM33 Fingerboard Radius
    Ibanez FTM33'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 Ibanez FTM33's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black'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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black.

    Fret Size

    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black Frets Size
    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black's Frets Size
    Ibanez FTM33 Frets Size
    Ibanez FTM33's Frets Size

    The Ibanez FTM33 has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black'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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
    Chord Playability 75
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 78
    Ibanez FTM33
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 50
    Solo Playability 90
    Playability 75