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Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black
Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label
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Playability
78
Sound
82
Build
72
Value
67
Score
77
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Playability
75
Sound
77
Build
68
Value
73
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black vs Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label Specs Comparison
Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label
General
Brand: Strandberg Ibanez
Year: 2023 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 7
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Sälen RGD
Colors: Black, Red, Natural Black Burst Patterns
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Chambered Mahogany Layered Ash & Nyatoh
Bridge: Strandberg EGS Series 7 fixed & string locks Mono-rail
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: At bridge Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads
Fretboard: Rosewood Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Panga Panga/Walnut
Decoration: Illuminlay dots White Step off-set dot
Scale Size: 25.5" to 25" 26.5"
Shape: EndurNeck Nitro Wizard-7
Thickness: 1st Fret: 1.2'' (30.5mm) - 12th Fret: 1.1'' (27.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 20" 16"
Nut: Locking Plastic
Nut Width: 36mm (1.417'') 48mm (1.89'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Strandberg Classic Bridge (Humbucker / Passive) Bare Knuckle Aftermath-7 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Strandberg Classic Neck (Humbucker / Passive) Bare Knuckle Aftermath-7 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Series Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 0
Hardware
Strap Lock: No Yes
Hardware Color: Black Black
Show Diagrams Comparison
Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label's switch options

Reasons to Get
Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black over Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label

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 26.5"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Neck Profile
EndurNeck vs Nitro Wizard-7
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Locking vs Plastic
Best tuning stability for intense tremolo usage
Pickup Mods
Series Split vs Coil Split
Connects pickups in series to imitate a humbucker
Strings
6 vs 7
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
1.2'' (30.5mm) vs 0.75'' (19.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
1.1'' (27.9mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.417'' (36mm) vs 1.89'' (48mm)
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

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label over Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black

Decorative Top
Poplar Burl vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
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
26.5" vs 25.5" to 25"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Profile
Nitro Wizard-7 vs EndurNeck
Thin neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Series Split
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Strings
7 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm) vs 1.2'' (30.5mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 1.1'' (27.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm) vs 1.417'' (36mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 20'' (508mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
73 vs 67
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black vs Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label

Bridge Pickup
Strandberg Classic Bridge vs Bare Knuckle Aftermath-7
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Strandberg Classic Neck vs Bare Knuckle Aftermath-7
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Flame Maple
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Panga Panga
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
Headless vs 7
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black vs Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label

Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
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 Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label 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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label favors large hands more than the Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black.

    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    Both meet 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

    New Player Friendliness

    Strandberg 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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Locking tuners
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale

    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 the Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black

    Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
    Mahogany
    Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
    Rosewood

    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.

    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 Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label

    Panga Panga wood pattern used for guitar building
    Panga Panga
    Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
    Ebony
    Flame Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Flame Maple

    Panga Panga is an African wood very similar to Wenge. It comes in a very dark color with tight grain. Its tonality favors the low-to-mid frequencies.

    Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

    This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

    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.

    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: Tie.

    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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label 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

    Both give you different pickup mod options.

    The Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black offers 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.

    On the other hand, the Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label comes with the following: Coil Split.

    Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

    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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label
    Pickups 85
    Sustain 80
    Versatility 67
    Tuning Stability 75
    Sound 77

    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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label.

    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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black 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 Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label comes with a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

    Winner: Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black.

    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

    The Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

    Nevertheless, the Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

    Winner: Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label.

    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 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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label
    • Locking Tuners
    • Expensive Wood
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Coil Split Pickups
    • Luminescent Inlay
    • Strap Lock
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No High-Quality Nut
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black
    Quality of materials 61
    Features 70
    Quality Control 85
    Build Quality 72
    Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label
    Quality of materials 55
    Features 75
    Quality Control 75
    Build Quality 68

    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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label Nut Width
    Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label has the wider nut with 48mm (1.89'') vs 36mm (1.417''). This is a 12mm (0.473'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label, 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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label's Scale Length
    Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label'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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label has a regular scale of 26.5".

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

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

    On the other hand, the Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label's 26.5" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.This scale is close to the popular 25.50" length, but adding an additional inch allows you to tune your strings lower while keeping the action low without causing fret buzz. This is useful for lower tunings, 7-string, or even classical guitars.

    You want to avoid such a long scale if you don't plan to play in low tunings since the longer scale also means the frets are more separated, making it harder to play fast, especially for small hands.

    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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label Neck Profile
    Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label'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 Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black 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 Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label, on the other hand, has a Wizard neck. This is thinner than most C-type necks. It won't get in your way if you want to play fast solos. It's not as slim as 'Super Wizard' necks, so it might fit you better if you don't like ultra-thin necks.

    Fretboard Radius

    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black Fingerboard Radius
    Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6 Black's Fingerboard radius
    Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label Fingerboard Radius
    Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label'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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label'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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label Frets Size
    Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label's Frets Size

    The Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label 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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 50
    Solo Playability 90
    Playability 75