Strandberg Salen Jazz viability?

[goopieguy]

So I’ve been playing jazz for a while, but have never owned a true jazz box. I love the the look and sound of the Strandberg Jazz Salen models, but are they just as viable in a jazz setting as a bigger traditional hollow body?

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

So I’ve been playing jazz for a while, but have never owned a true jazz box. I love the the look and sound of the Strandberg Jazz Salen models, but are they just as viable in a jazz setting as a bigger traditional hollow body?

Any guitar that makes the sound you want in your hands and feels good doing so is fine. I’ve played one Strandberg Salen once for a few minutes at a local music store and thought it felt like a rough, unsophisticated instrument with which I’d never be happy. I don’t know what the pickups were, but I couldn’t get a decent jazz tone through a 20W Friedman tube amp that sounded great and clean with my own LP (which I happened to have in my trunk that day).

I know a few players who have them and love them. But I couldn’t find much to like. You’ll have to play it yourself to know how well it suits you.

[Klatu]

Any guitar that makes the sound you want in your hands and feels good doing so is fine. I’ve played one Strandberg Salen once for a few minutes at a local music store and thought it felt like a rough, unsophisticated instrument with which I’d never be happy. I don’t know what the pickups were, but I couldn’t get a decent jazz tone through a 20W Friedman tube amp that sounded great and clean with my own LP (which I happened to have in my trunk that day).

I know a few players who have them and love them. But I couldn’t find much to like. You’ll have to play it yourself to know how well it suits you.

Shame to hear it, because I find the guitar to be intoxicatingly unique and attractive. Along with the modern design, it's got a fanned fret system and stainless frets.

The video on Strandberg's site of Susanna Risberg was eye opening to me as I wasn't familiar with this player (impressive):

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Shame to hear it, because I find the guitar to be intoxicatingly unique and attractive.

I feel the same way. It looks great and is comfortable in the lap or on a strap. But the hardware felt cheap, eg those “tuners” were hard to turn and didn’t loosen the strings without yanking on them. The neck profile is truly unique, and in my large hands the chunkiness wasn’t a problem at all. But neither the board nor the back felt good to me - playing was a bit awkward for my left hand, and I can’t single out any one reason for that.

I also thought the construction looked a bit unrefined, eg the seams between wood pieces looked a little more IKEA than Van De Rohe. I was disappointed to be sure. It was used but in great condition, and I would have bought it on the spot if I liked it. BTW, I don’t think it should matter in terms of quality, but it was a 7 string.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Just tossing this in, but all their necks seem to be 24 fret. Every 24 fret guitar I've tried in music stores makes me wish it had fewer frets so that the neck pup could be placed around where the 24th fret is.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Just tossing this in, but all their necks seem to be 24 fret. Every 24 fret guitar I've tried in music stores makes me wish it had fewer frets so that the neck pup could be placed around where the 24th fret is.

That was one of my first thoughts while playing it. Even on the neck pickup alone, the one I played was much too bright for my taste no matter how far down I dialed the highs on amp and guitar - there was just nothing dark or mellow about it. But to be fair, my Tele 7 has 24 frets and still gets nicely jazzy on the neck pickup (Lace Alumibuckers). And my Carvin 727 was the same with their hot 7 string humbucker. So I think it's more than just that.

[jads57]

Definitely for the Modern Alan Holdsworth type of player.I love the idea of the Strindberg, but between the neck pickup displacement, thinner shaped neck and sound clips It’s not for me.

Ive owned several Parker Flys which in some ways were a modern take on the solid body guitar design. Wonderful Contemporary instrument but again 24 frets ,thin neck, and a bit flat canvas to my ears. Great in the studio where I felt it really shined as well as light weight!