New Gear: Strandberg N2.6

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About 5 months ago, I took a leap of faith, and bought me a Strandberg Essential guitar. It is their "Budget" variant (budget is in quotes because at $1,100 it is hardly a bargain) and it really was a joy to play. My arthritic hands were dancing for joy. I was able to go from about 30 minutes before the pain got too much to continue, to several hours.

I knew then and there that I was probably going to splurge for a higher end version, with the multiscale (fan frets) and better electronics.

It took 4 months, a new version of their Origins (the N2) and the question was more do I stick with 6 strings or grab a 7 string version. Since I just turned 60, and I have only played 6 string guitars, I figured that I really wouldn't "enjoy" the wider neck, and what the fuck is that extra string for anyway.

I pulled the trigger, and wow.

My first fan fret guitar, my first Fishman pickups, and a just gorgeous book matched flame maple veneer on a solid maple cap, laid on a swamp ash body. The body is chambered, so it is about 6-8 ounces lighter than the Essential. And you can feel it.

Frets are perfect, action is low and perfect, intonation is spot on (laced with 10 gauge strings), and the 5 positions of the switch give it a very versatile range of sounds. In a word, it's perfect:

I was going to do a more in-depth review, then I found this by Ola Englund, and fuck me, he swears as much or more than I do. Watch this, and you will get the full deets.

A Swede reviewing another Swede's hardware, and I am so here for it!