Strandberg Boden 7?

octatonic

Looking for anyone with some experience of the current crop of the Strandberg Bodens.

I need a 7 string that I can take on flights and don't want to go over the top in terms of price so a made to measure Strandberg isn't going to work for me.
I can get another Forshage but that will take 18 months to order and build.
The current Indonesian ones look good but how well do they hold up?

Looking for a non-trem 7 string, probably Original.

sweepy

I found the locking mechanism at the “nut” poorly engineered and screaming of shoddy design and excess movement . The neck shape is surprisingly comfortable and you soon get to grips with it 

octatonic

sweepy said:

I found the locking mechanism at the “nut” poorly engineered and screaming of shoddy design and excess movement . The neck shape is surprisingly comfortable and you soon get to grips with it 

That is disappointing to hear- Forshage used ABM hardware and it is faultless.
I might buy a Strandberg with a return policy and see if it works for me, or look at Kiesel.

sweepy

There is an eccentric cam system that relies on the corresponding block to locate it horizontally and when you tighten it sufficiently to stop the high E slipping the whole assembly moves, needless to say it didn’t inspire confidence


http://guitarworks.thestrandbergs.com/2009/08/28/string-lock-explained/

octatonic

sweepy said:

There is an eccentric cam system that relies on the corresponding block to locate it horizontally and when you tighten it sufficiently to stop the high E slipping the whole assembly moves, needless to say it didn’t inspire confidence

Hmmm... that will irritate.
Looks like Kiesel are the go then.

axisus

octatonic said:

sweepy said:

I found the locking mechanism at the “nut” poorly engineered and screaming of shoddy design and excess movement . The neck shape is surprisingly comfortable and you soon get to grips with it 

That is disappointing to hear- Forshage used ABM hardware and it is faultless.
I might buy a Strandberg with a return policy and see if it works for me, or look at Kiesel.

Personally I think that ABM stuff isn't that good in terms on engineering, especially considering the cost. The grub screws at the locking nut tighten straight on to the string, so the rotation pulls the string to one side. It works, but it isn't elegant.

Jackobean

As an aside - do Strandberg still use different grades of hardware?
I remember they did when the import line first launched.

Vibetronic

I've got the prog 7 (ie one with a trem) and really like it. The nut IS a bit of a pain in the arse, but you do get used to it. I was very paranoid when changing strings the first time as all the advice said to be really careful when tightening - as it's mounted on wood, if you accidentally over tighten it can wreck the whole thing - but really it's the same amount of tweaking you'd do on any locking trem unit. Got a bit string slippage the first time, but after I'd got used to it, it's fine. It's lovely to play, and the multi scale makes the 7-stringness of it sound and feel SO much tighter and controlled than my Ibanez 7 (which is still great, but in a different way). I'm undecided about the Fishmans though. Sound great and powerful live - lots of punch - but occasionally I just want normal pickups - think I'm still getting used to them. The whole thing is really comfy and light to play. If you were in the area you'd be welcome to try it, but I seem to remember you're moving about overseas at the moment 

Vibetronic

One more thing - the tuners on the bridge. They are pretty stiff - I use the allan key thing supplied to tune, as it's lots quicker than doing it by hand! They also each have a thin white washer between them and the bridge - when you take off the tuners to change strings, it's next to impossible to get the washer back on and still get enough grip on the thread to get the tuner itself back on...so I've taken a few of them out completely. Minor gripe, definitely not enough to send it back though!

peteri

I would say try before you buy. 

I went to buy one the other week, utterly convinced it was for me, I’ve been waiting for a certain signature model to come out. 

Apart from an absolutely appalling demo experience at Camden Guitar Guitar, just awful - within five minutes I realised I didn’t get on with the neck so much I literally could barely play it. 

I love the look, concept and sound but the back of the neck just doesn’t line up with where my thumb wants to be

Matt_McG

I had a similar experience. Also tried it in Guitar Guitar. The guys were nice enough but the neck ridge sat exactly on my rhumb joint