Strandberg Essentials honest review
Hi everyone,
This is a review for the Strandberg Essentials series that I normally wouldn't write out, but I’ve seen a lot of hate for Bergs recently, so I just wanted to throw in my two cents since i bought the essentials model few weeks ago.
I own multiple Strandberg models and really love the design, especially the EndurNeck (which I won't spend time praising here). The Essentials covers almost all of my 6-string needs. The only thing I've replaced are the pickups, which I won't review - I'll just say the OEM pickups sound great, but they are not my cup of tea.
The guitar feels fantastic, and the non-branded stainless frets make no difference to me compared to Jescar. I do miss the multiscale feature, though that's just personal preference. Bending feels easier, and you don't have to worry about excessive wear.
The N2 bridge allows for more string-height customization, which is pretty dope. It doesn't stay in tune quite as long as the old NX hardware, and while I'm not bothered by the zinc material, I do believe it's a downgrade from previous versions. That said, it doesn't feel cheap (aside from the plastic caps between the tuners), and setting it up is effortless.
The guitar feels lightweight even without body contouring, and I don't notice much difference. The roasted maple is beautiful, and the paint job is great. It has these little sparks at certain angles and lightings that you just can't see in online pictures.
For the price, I believe you're receiving the whole Strandberg experience at half the cost. I'll end up selling my other Strandbergs, although I'll keep my extended range model. In my opinion, the price tag is unmatched for what it offers.
Regarding the fact that it's made in Indonesia, I believe the workers at the Cort and PRS facilities are doing a better overall job when it comes to guitar production. It eats the Ibanez Alpha alive when it comes to quality. Of course, lemon guitars happen since it's a mass-produced product, and you'll occasionally run into one. I've ordered directly from their website multiple times, and I've never received one I could complain about and I'm really, really picky when it comes to inspecting guitars.
The best thing about them as a brand is that they will genuinely help you out and get you a replacement if a lemon pops up. You won't get a dismissive answer or get ignored for their mistakes, they truly accommodate based on my experience when i needed help.
If you've ever thought about getting a Strandberg but were skeptical because it's made in Indonesia, I encourage you to go to your local store, try one out, and if you like it, order directly from Strandberg. Their staff members are brilliant, too.
I hope that a written, non-sponsored review might be out of help.
Thank you for reading, as a bonus I've uploaded a short YouTube clip that I've recorded below: