I Want a Headless

[wharf rat]

I’m in the Navy. I’d like a guitar to keep on the ship. I don’t have a ton of room. I’ll be playing thru a Kemper Player and headphones. I was thinking about a cheap Squier but I’d like something I will be good with once I get off the ship.

I have looked at Kiesel and Strandberg.

I gravitate towards pristine cleans and heavy music.

I currently have a Music Man Cutlass, and play thru a Quad Cortex.

My budget is $0-2500.

What should be on my radar?

 

[Frankencat]

Hils Next HN3 $499 US, Strandberg Boden Essential $999 US. Both great guitars, if you are on a budget then the Hils is the right choice. Just know that it has a very small neck down by the nut, the rest is all good. The Strandberg Essential is a great guitars, their proprietary EndurNeck is a love/hate thing, personally I like it and better pickups. I don't think it's $500 better though and as long as you can deal with a smaller neck shape then it's all good. I am on vacation and I bought my Hils with me.

 

[Arcoril]

I'm looking at picking up another headless guitar and I've had my eye on the HN3 for a few weeks now but my only hangup is that it doesn't have the forearm extension that the Strandberg has. I currently have an EART GW2 which has a similar forearm extension to the Strandberg and I find that it really helps me hold the guitar in any position I want. Are you having any issues with ergonomics or balance on the HN3 versus the Strandberg?

 

[wharf rat]

Incoming!!! Decision made lol

 

[Dave Lewis]

Sorry but Henry 8th guitars just look wrong to me .

 

[Frankencat]

I'm looking at picking up another headless guitar and I've had my eye on the HN3 for a few weeks now but my only hangup is that it doesn't have the forearm extension that the Strandberg has. I currently have an EART GW2 which has a similar forearm extension to the Strandberg and I find that it really helps me hold the guitar in any position I want. Are you having any issues with ergonomics or balance on the HN3 versus the Strandberg?

Not really. They are similar in use.

 

[spawnofthesith]

Incoming!!! Decision made lol

View attachment 35190

I commented on you’re thread at TOP too but I got super excited because I thought this was a new finish for the essentials. I might’ve ordered tonight if that was the case but then I noticed the fanned frets and my hopes were crushed

 

[littlebadboy]

GOC will have a drop tonight! I hope you'd catch one because they go really quick!

 

[wharf rat]

I commented on you’re thread at TOP too but I got super excited because I thought this was a new finish for the essentials. I might’ve ordered tonight if that was the case but then I noticed the fanned frets and my hopes were crushed

I almost bought a Kiesel Tim Miller, as I’m local to Kiesel but this just struck me as the better buy for me.

 

[Frankencat]

Kiesel are made in the US right? Vs Indonesia for the Strandberg and others, if that makes a difference to you.

 

[Eagle]

£2.5k would get a used Aristides H/O6 .

BK pickups and perfect build.
Mayones Hydra could also be found for £2.5k .
Forget the others if you can find one or these two.

 

[Eagle]

And the Hydra;

The build quality and materials used in these two is in another league to Strandberg and Kiesel.

 

[Eagle]

Strandberg seriously downgraded the wood section with the NX range.
This is the version before;

No veneer and roasted maple with heavy figure, neither of which you will find now.

 

[Eagle]

But Still King!

A good bit more than 2.5k though.

 

[laxu]

Anything but Strandberg. I hate the bridge design, the heel design sucks and Endurneck is a gimmick.

You can disagree, but I just don't like them, and the company does not impress when they sold me the worst guitar I've ever owned.

 

[Eagle]

Anything but Strandberg. I hate the bridge design, the heel design sucks and Endurneck is a gimmick.

You can disagree, but I just don't like them, and the company does not impress when they sold me the worst guitar I've ever owned.

I’m not disagreeing but could you elaborate?
The heel was bad and the hardware has design issues but what was the other problems or did you just not gel with it?

 

[laxu]

I’m not disagreeing but could you elaborate?
The heel was bad and the hardware has design issues but what was the other problems or did you just not gel with it?

The quality on the one I had was awful. Terrible fretwork, router made hole near the nut, finish flaking off the bridge, worst quilt top ever etc.

I've tried others that were better, but I'm insulted that the guitar was sold in the first place.

Endurneck did nothing to help my playing, and it was annoyingly thick at the first few frets so my hand would cramp. I remember the other Strandbergs I've tried, mostly MIJ models, being more normal in this regard.

 

[Frankencat]

That Mayones Hydra looks sweet.

 

[Los-D]

And the Hydra;
View attachment 35209
The build quality and materials used in these two is in another league to Strandberg and Kiesel.

 

[Los-D]

But Still King!
View attachment 35212
A good bit more than 2.5k though.