The Strandberg Boden Essential 6 isn’t trying to be a traditional guitar, and that’s exactly why it works.
The Strandberg Boden Essential 6 takes the company’s distinctive headless guitar design and puts it into a more affordable package. With a lightweight body, Strandberg’s signature EndurNeck, stainless steel frets and a standard 25.5-inch scale, it’s designed to give players the Strandberg experience without moving into the company’s more expensive models.
I’ve spent significant time with the Boden Essential 6, including recording, practicing and gigging with it. After a full year with the guitar, I’ve also had a chance to see what has held up, what I’d change and why this has become one of the guitars I reach for most often.
What Is the Strandberg Boden Essential 6?
Strandberg is best known for its headless guitar designs, ergonomic bodies and distinctive EndurNeck profile. Many of the company’s guitars also use multiscale fretboards, but the Boden Essential 6 uses a conventional 25.5-inch scale, making it a particularly interesting option for players who want the Strandberg design without moving to multiscale.
The Essential series is also designed to be more accessible than Strandberg’s higher-end models. The Boden Essential 6 is manufactured in Indonesia and originally sold for around $999, putting it within reach of players who might otherwise be hesitant to try a headless guitar.
Build Quality and Features
The Boden Essential 6 features a solid Moran body with an Elemental Blue finish and a baked maple EndurNeck. The body is extremely compact and lightweight, while the bolt-on neck provides a clean transition into the upper frets.
The guitar has a rosewood fretboard with a very flat 20-inch radius and 24 stainless steel frets. Strandberg also uses Luminlay markers (only launch models received the luminlay) on both the side of the neck and the face of the fretboard, which makes the guitar particularly easy to navigate in darker environments.
One of the biggest differences compared with many Strandberg models is the straight scale. If you’ve always wanted to try a Strandberg but weren’t interested in a multiscale six-string, the Essential 6 solves that problem.
The EndurNeck
The EndurNeck is probably the feature that takes the most getting used to. Instead of a traditional rounded guitar neck, Strandberg uses a geometric profile designed to provide consistent hand positioning as you move around the fretboard.
I was initially unsure about it, but it didn’t take long before the shape started to feel natural. In fact, I eventually found myself really enjoying it, particularly for chord work and playing for longer periods of time.
If you’re coming from a traditional Fender or Gibson-style neck, expect an adjustment period. Once you get used to it, though, the EndurNeck becomes one of the guitar’s biggest strengths.
Pickups and Electronics
The Boden Essential 6 uses Strandberg OEM humbuckers with a five-way selector, giving you access to full and split and parallel pickup combinations without needing push-pull controls.
Pickup Switching
1. Bridge Humbucking, 2. Bridge Humbucking + Neck Outer Coil, 3. Bridge Humbucking + Neck Outer Coil in series with Neck Inner Coil, 4. Neck Inner Coil, 5. Neck Humbucking
In my original testing, I was impressed by how versatile the pickups were. They can produce clean, dynamic tones as well as thick crunch and high-gain sounds, making the guitar suitable for everything from clean playing to modern rock and metal.
The electronics are relatively simple, with volume, tone and the five-way selector. The rear cavity is also clean and easy to access, making the guitar a good candidate for future modifications if you want to replace the pickups or other components.
EGS Fixed Arc Bridge
The Essential 6 uses Strandberg’s EGS Fixed Arc bridge with barrel-style tuning hardware. Tuning the guitar is straightforward, and I found the tuning stability to be excellent during my initial testing.
The bridge also keeps the overall design compact and contributes to the guitar’s lightweight construction. A right-angle cable can plug into the rear of the guitar and tuck neatly out of the way, which is particularly useful when sitting down or recording.
How Does the Boden Essential 6 Feel to Play?
This is where the Boden Essential 6 really shines. The guitar weighs under six pounds and has virtually no neck dive, making it extremely comfortable to play while sitting or standing.
The compact body and EndurNeck also make it easy to maintain a comfortable playing position. I’ve found this particularly useful for recording because I can play the guitar without feeling like I’m fighting the instrument, and I can easily move between the guitar and my computer.
The 20-inch radius is another major part of the playing experience. It’s extremely flat compared with a traditional guitar, which makes fast playing and heavy rhythm work feel great. Large bends higher up the neck can take some adjustment, however, especially if you’re used to a more rounded Fender or Gibson-style fretboard.
One Year Later
After a full year with the Boden Essential 6, my overall opinion is still very positive. I’ve recorded with it, gigged with it and used it extensively for practice, and the guitar has held up well.
The biggest reason I continue to reach for it is the ergonomics. It’s incredibly light, compact and comfortable, and there’s essentially zero neck dive. If I’m sitting on the couch and want to practice while watching TV or working with headphones, this is often the guitar I grab.
The Elemental Blue finish has picked up a few marks and dings, but it has held up surprisingly well. The matte finish develops some natural wear over time, but I actually think that adds character to the guitar.
My opinion the pickups original charm has faded a little over the past year of regular use They’re perfectly usable and sound great, but upgrading to a name-brand pickup would be one of the first modifications I’d consider. The Suhr branded pickups strandberg uses would be my first choice!
The barrel tuners have also continued to work without any major problems, although they feel cheaper than some of the other headless hardware I’ve used. Again, that’s more of a tactile complaint than a reliability issue and I suspect strandberg chose these materials for weight reduction.
I also still wish Strandberg offered a tremolo option for the Essential 6. The fixed bridge works well, but a tremolo would make the guitar even more versatile for players who like dive bombs and expressive vibrato.
Is the Strandberg Boden Essential 6 Worth It?
If you’re looking for a conventional guitar with premium name-brand hardware, there are other options around the $1,200 price point that may offer more for your money. But that’s not really what makes the Boden Essential 6 interesting.
You’re buying into the Strandberg design: the headless body, EndurNeck, extremely low weight, compact size and ergonomic playing position. There aren’t many other guitars that offer that combination, particularly with a standard 25.5-inch scale.
For players who value comfort, portability and modern ergonomics, the Essential 6 makes a lot of sense. It’s also an excellent option for anyone who has been curious about Strandberg but doesn’t want to jump straight into one of the company’s more expensive models.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Extremely lightweight
- Excellent ergonomics
- Virtually no neck dive
- Standard 25.5-inch scale
- Stainless steel frets
- Comfortable EndurNeck
- Versatile five-way pickup configuration
- Compact travel case
- Easy to modify
Cons
- Limited finish options
- OEM pickups are fairly basic
- Tuners feel inexpensive
- 20-inch radius takes some adjustment for large bends
- No tremolo option
Final Verdict
The Strandberg Boden Essential 6 isn’t trying to be a traditional guitar, and that’s exactly why it works. It’s lightweight, comfortable, compact and genuinely different from the typical electric guitar.
After a year of using it for practice, recording, gigs and travel, the biggest compliment I can give it is that it has become one of my go-to guitars. I don’t necessarily pick it up because I need a particular tone or feature. I pick it up because it’s incredibly easy and comfortable to play.
If you’ve been curious about headless guitars or want to experience the Strandberg design without spending several thousand dollars, the Boden Essential 6 is absolutely worth considering.
Rating: 9/10
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