“Now for something completely different”….

**jazzkritter** · 08-27-2021, 03:27 PM

Worth taking a look at, sounds decent, headless, weird body…

Strandberg Salen Jazz - Natural | Sweetwater

**jads57** · 08-27-2021, 04:05 PM

Love the Concept! Just have always found 24 frets to displace the Sweet Harmonic Spot on the neck pickup position. Hopefully they've addressed this as well?

**jazzkritter** · 08-27-2021, 04:52 PM

I expected not to like it and almost didn’t watch. Glad I did that guitar really challenges assumptions! Surprised it sounded as good as it does.

**st.bede** · 08-27-2021, 06:03 PM

I played a couple of my friends’ Strandbregs. They were 7 strings. The neck was really wide, so my hands being small, had a difficult time.

At first the weird neck shape and the fanned frets threw me off. Once I became used to those two things, the guitar started to feel addictively comfortable. If I came across a used 6 string one, at a good price, it would be difficult for me to pass up.

Over all, the price is what kills me. If I remember right, they are made somewhere they do not pay workers well. (I guess we could include the US in that statement. I think almost everyone agrees the Federal minimum wage is far away from a living wage.... ). I have to assume that Strandbreg is not paying their workers well. However if they are, then maybe the prince is about right.

Also I have come across some quality control issues with Strandbreg. The guitar my friend ordered had some fret issues. He sent it back and then bought another one. The second one also had some issues but he kept it anyway. They are cool.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 08-27-2021, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by st.bede

Over all, the price is what kills me. If I remember right, they are made somewhere they do not pay workers well. (I guess we could include the US in that statement. I think almost everyone agrees the Federal minimum wage is far away from a living wage.... ). I have to assume that Strandbreg is not paying their workers well. However if they are, then maybe the prince is about right.

Where are .strandberg* guitars made? - .strandberg* Guitars Knowledge Base

... SooOOoo if you are persistent, you might be able to find one that was made in Sweden or Japan.

**jads57** · 08-27-2021, 11:13 PM

Wonder if they will offer a 7 string version of this Jazz model?

**Doctor Jeff** · 08-27-2021, 11:37 PM

Nope, not gonna happen.

If Charlie Christian couldn’t recognize what it was, I ain’t interested in it.

**Gabor** · 08-28-2021, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by jazzkritter

Worth taking a look at, sounds decent, headless, weird body…

Strandberg Salen Jazz - Natural | Sweetwater

one of the first thing I look for in guitar photos is the headstock. Unfortunately, the photographer did not manage to include it on any photos :-)

**st.bede** · 08-28-2021, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

Where are .strandberg* guitars made? - .strandberg* Guitars Knowledge Base

... SooOOoo if you are persistent, you might be able to find one that was made in Sweden or Japan.

It is not about where it is made, but the conditions surrounding the making versus the cost. It is difficult to read into your statement. Ever time I have seen one, it was made in Indonesia. Here is my assumption: the workers are paid comparatively low, and the CEOs are paid comparatively high. If a guitar is being sold at that level of price make it somewhere where there are better working conditions or make it documented that the there is a high standard of living for your workers. You have to remember, I am in the US where the income gap between average pay and CEOs pay is around 300%. As result the standard of living is falling in the US.

**Doctor Jeff** · 08-28-2021, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by st.bede

It is not about where it is made, but the conditions surrounding the making versus the cost. It is difficult to read into your statement. Ever time I have seen one, it was made in Indonesia. Here is my assumption: the workers are paid comparatively low, and the CEOs are paid comparatively high. If a guitar is being sold at that level of price make it somewhere where there are better working conditions or make it documented that the there is a high standard of living for your workers. You have to remember, I am in the US where the income gap between average pay and CEOs pay is around 300%. As result the standard of living is falling in the US.

That would be a very high price for an Indonesian guitar.

However, I don't think one can make assumptions about working conditions in other countries. My bias is Japan > Korea > Indonesia = China in terms of quality. I don't have any firm info about factory conditions in these countries though.

BTW, the income gap in the US is 320:1, not 300%. Would that it were only 300 percent higher for CEO's!

CEO compensation surged 14% in 2019 to $21.3 million: CEOs now earn 320 times as much as a typical worker | Economic Policy Institute

**artcore** · 08-28-2021, 07:27 PM

they seem to be a great ergonomic design. This could be really good for ageing players with thumb/finger issues. that play solo,like me!.They do have less expensive models that are basicly the same. The prices do seem to be a bit much.

**jazzkritter** · 08-28-2021, 08:17 PM

A positive spin, er, view could be that just as Japan, Korea and China entered the international markets making questionable quality, each of the three now can produce world class guitars.
Indonesia now has the chance to join the crowd. I have a MII Ibanez AF95FM, and it a very nicely done guitar for $600.
All economies need to crawl, then walk, before they run. I do believe it’s counter productive to say ‘well considering what they pay workers I won’t buy, as in a way supporting a nascent economy is a good thing. OTOH will the conditions improve? Dunno. Is it fair to judge other countries labor practices by our US standards? Dunno. But I gotta say I like the Asian view of responsibility of a CEO. You screwed up? Over there: jail. Here leave with your golden parachute and go do it again. Incredible.

jk in a philosophical mood.