MusicRadar Verdict
While you might think Essential means no frills, this Boden is anything far from it. The iconic Swedish brand has another winner.
Pros
- +
Super-fast neck
- +
Excellent finish and build quality
- +
Good tonal variation
Cons
- -
Headless style isn't for everyone
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What is it?
The Boden Essential is Strandberg’s entry-level model that dispenses with the multi-scale format in favour of your run-of-the-mill standard fare, but as we dive in further, this no-frills edition from Sweden’s best-known headless brand is anything but standard.
Currently the most affordable Strandberg available, the Essential is the seventh iteration of the Boden silhouette (not including the J Artisan series and other specials) and the first to feature a standard scale length.
Other cost-cutting exercises include matt finishes and a Meranti body, but when compared to its closest-priced stablemate, the Standard, there’s little else to set it apart. So how else has Strandberg managed to shave off £/$500? Read on, as we dive a little deeper into the differences.
Build quality
Build quality rating: ★★★★☆ (half stars indicated with ½)
The finish on the Essential is equal to the high quality that befits all Strandberg models, there are certainly no corners cut when it comes to finishing standards. The most obvious difference here is the satin. The Essential is available in Black Granite, Astro Dust, and Elemental Blue Satin Acrylic.
Unfortunately, the one on test here is the Black Granite and for my money, the most staid, having come face to face with the red/orange-hued Astro Dust at NAMM and looked on with envy as our sister site, Guitar World, managed to snag the Elemental Blue Satin Acrylic in a game of rock, paper, scissors. Such jealousy quickly ebbed away as soon as I held it for the first time since January and was reminded of how light and well-balanced this thing is.
Despite the satin paint job, it doesn’t seem to suffer too badly from the greasy finger marks that you often encounter with such finishes. However, if that sort of thing really bothers you, then go for the Elemental Blue as it seems less susceptible and it must be said that no amount of lighter colouring will help if you’re picking one of these up with greasy chip fingers. Wash your hands, you don’t work for Fox News.
The roasted maple neck has a satin finish, further adding to the speed with which your hand glides across the unique EndurNeck profile, and well complemented by the rosewood fretboard and finely dressed stainless steel frets. There’s no carbon fibre reinforcement in the neck, unlike the other Boden models, so we can add that to our cost-shaving bingo card.
The Boden silhouette is chockful of cutouts and there’s plenty of body contouring around the back and neck joint, it’s no wonder that these guitars are so lightweight. That said, the Essential is solidly built. There’s zero play in any of the controls and I love how the jack socket is integrated into the metal backplate and neatly tucked away, so you won't feel like you’ll do any damage swinging it around, or when sat down.
Talking of hardware, the Boden Essential features the brand new EGS Arc cast zinc fixed bridge and string locks, also in a matt finish. Not sure if this is part of Strandberg’s cost-cutting, but the hardware doesn’t feel any less than the high quality expected from the Swedish brand.
Playability
Playability rating: ★★★★1/2
As I mentioned previously, the neck profile is unique and if you’ve never played a Strandberg before then it might feel a little odd at the start. Have no fear as that feeling will swiftly dissipate once you start playing. The neck profile and finish mean this guitar is ruthlessly fast, with the only downside being when you switch back to a more traditionally profiled neck – now that feels odd.
That neck speed is matched by excellent access to the upper frets courtesy of the contouring around the neck joint
The connotations around a headless guitar of this type often mean the Boden lends itself to a certain type of playing and music style, so for the shredders out there, the Essential doesn’t disappoint. That neck speed is matched by excellent access to the upper frets courtesy of the contouring around the neck joint, despite the fact that the cutaway isn’t as deep as your average Jackson/Ibanez/ESP super-strat.
Sounds
Sounds rating: ★★★★1/2
The Essential comes equipped with the same custom OEM humbuckers that can be found on the standard model and while it might seem like the guitar’s weakest point on paper, the reality is much different. At your disposal is a five-way pickup selector switch that can produce a wide variety of tones.
Position one is the bridge in straight humbucking (series) mode; two sees the bridge humbucker combined with the outer coil of the neck; the third is the bridge and outer coil of the neck but in parallel and the inner coil of the neck in series; four is the inner coil of the neck pickup and the fifth position is the neck humbucker.
The tonal variation as you work your way through the positions is where the Essential really shines
The Bridge pickup is tight and focused, while the neck is smooth and rounded, so no surprises there. The tonal variation as you work your way through the positions is where the Essential really shines.
The coil splitting offers plenty of spank in the fourth position, while the additional series/parallel wiring dishes out some serious punch in the middle position. It’s also quite a bit louder than the rest, which may have something to do with I’m always drawn to it. Yes, the Boden has the looks of the shredder but tonally, it can offer a lot more.
Verdict
It doesn't ever feel like you're doing battle with it but are instead instantly at one with the instrument from the outset
There's a certain snobbery around headless guitars. Folks don't much like change (despite the fact Strandberg has been around for over 40 years) and they fear what is different to the norm. Whether you find this style of guitar an abhorrence or a thing of beauty, I urge you to try out the neck. The idea of an asymmetric V-shaped neck profile shouldn’t work, but it does. It’s quick and comfortable.
The Boden Essential is lightweight and svelte in the hand, but the best of all, it’s so effortless to play. It doesn't ever feel like you're doing battle with it but are instead instantly at one with the instrument from the outset. The tonal possibilities are also a strength, and the Essential is firmly pitched in the do-it-all bracket.
This might be the most affordable guitar from Strandberg, but you wouldn’t notice, such is the high standard the company holds itself to. I’d like to see an Essential Sälen model at some point in the future.
MusicRadar verdict: While you might think Essential means no frills, this Boden is anything far from it. The iconic Swedish brand has another winner.
| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Build quality | Lightweight, well-balanced and sleek | ★★★★1/2 |
| Playability | You need to try this neck to believe it | ★★★★1/2 |
| Sounds | The five-way arrangement gets a lot out of the humbuckers | ★★★★1/2 |
| Overall | More affordable but not compromised where it matters | ★★★★1/2 |
Specs
Launch price: £1,049/$999
Made: Indonesia
Type: Six-string electric guitar
Body: Solid Meranti
Neck: Roasted one-piece maple bolt-on neck, EndurNeck Profile
Fingerboard/radius: Rosewood, 20”
Scale length: 25.5” / 647mm
Nut/width: Graphite / 42mm
Frets: 24, DHP Stainless Steel
Hardware: Black, EGS Arc cast zinc fixed bridge & string locks
String spacing at bridge: 52.5 mm
Electrics: Strandberg custom OEM neck and bridge humbuckers, master volume, master tone, five-way selector (bridge series humbucking / bridge series humbucking + neck outer coil / bridge series humbucking + neck outer coil in parallel in series with neck inner coil / neck inner coil / neck series humbucker)
Weight: 4.75 lbs / 2.15kg approx
Left-handed options: No
Finishes: Black Granite (as reviewed), Astro Dust, Elemental Blue Satin Acrylic
Cases: Essential gig bag
Contact: Strandberg
Also try
($999/£849)
The Q54 is Ibanez’s cheapest standard-scale headless and mostly comes in HSS configuration, but for a shade more there are HH models with burl maple tops.
Around $300
Now discontinued following huge popularity at launch when the range sold for around $300-$300, they are out there on the used market if you can find one. The good news is HB has been teasing a new version of this accessibly-priced headless model.
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