The time goes by fast, I remember very well last summer I was shopping for a headless guitar and after a lot of research on the web I chose the Strandberg Sälen Classic. I won’t repeat myself, if you want a full review and the specifications check out my first review. This is a one year after review.
THE HEADLESS THING
Like I said before, I always loved headless guitars. Owning a Steinberger guitar was a dream when I was a kid and still is today, but I know a headless guitar is not for everyone but if you can live without a headstock on your axe, the Strandberg Sälen Classic is a great guitar.
THE SPECIAL NECK
The EndurNeck is not magic, it won’t make you play faster or give you supernatural abilities but it’s a comfortable neck to play and after a while you don’t feel it. As a working musician I have a guitar in my hands for eight to twelve hours a day, this is why I need an instrument that will help me get the jobs done. The neck on the Sälen is a big part of the ergonomic experience with the headless system which, in my opinion, is a big advantage because changing strings is a breeze, it keeps the weight down, the transport is facilitated and I think it looks pretty cool.
My only negative point of the EndurNeck is that when using a capo you have to retune the guitar. In the studio, it’s not a big deal but on a live gig it’s not ideal.
THE MODIFICATION
Out of the box the Sälen was awesome but for my needs a humbucker pickup at the bridge is more my style. I have a Seymour Duncan Lil’59 T style pickup in the bridge position. The sonic experience is more in the super strat camp, something between a Gibson and a Fender. The only recommendation I have for Strandberg is to give a noiseless pickups option on the Sälen or a Tele deluxe option with two Humbuckers.
STRANDBERG VS FENDER
The Sälen Classic is not a Tele clone but more a futuristic approach of a classic design. I love the classic Telecaster with its « less is more » aesthetic and Henry Ford inspiration in the design but the Strandberg is more Steve Jobs with technology, ergonomics and comfort. Technology in service of efficiency is the philosophy of Strandberg guitars: roasted neck, fan frets, headless, 24 frets, stainless steel frets, all those innovations is to make your life easier as a guitar player.
CONCLUSION
My Strandberg Sälen Classic is my number one guitar, I still use other guitars like Ibanez, Prs, fender and others but I always come back to my Strandberg for the tone and the experience. So if you are not afraid to loose your headstock give a Strandberg a spin, you won’t regret it.
Eric Piquette Guitarist 
Found your blog while looking for Sälen reviews. Considering getting one – Butterscotch for me – and it’s not easy to find some real world experiences with it. Good to say that the guitar proved itself over a longer time.
The lack of a humbucker option on the Sälen is one thing that held me back so far. I too would like to swap the bridge PU for a stacked humbucker design or similar but would like the option to split and use it as a single coil. Do you have yours wired as such or do you use it as humbucker only?
Also could you perhaps post sound samples ? Thank you!!
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Hi Max!
I don’t have the option of splitting my bridge pickup into single coil mode because I’m not a fan of that sound but this is a personal taste. When I need a single coil flavor I switch to the middle position, the mix of the bridge and neck pickup is a very versatile tone and my favorite sound on a T style guitar. The Sälen is a great guitar, I use it almost everyday but tone is a personal thing.
Thanks for the comment!
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Thx for your quick reply Eric! Very reassuring & yes tone is super personal. Got bridge humbuckers in my Strat and honestly don’t use the split option very often. Still I like to have it available.
The Sälen demo’s I found online are all with the stock setup and as far as one can judge the sound it fit’s my tastes. I have not been able to play a Sälen, only Bodens but I really like the action. Will try to demo a Sälen once they are available again and also Strandbergs has some in stock.
Thx btw for the Little Rock fusion lick under lessons. Pls do a few more 😉
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Hey Eric,
just a quick follow up: bought a Sälen! Very happy with the guitar, plays and sounds great. Got the butterscotch model. Only thing that didn’t match my expectations was that the paint is actually not that yellow but really transparent. The photos are very misleading. But outside of that I find it’s my favourite guitar. really a great instrument.
Thx again
Max
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