Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX Black

Overview: Introducing the Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX Black

The Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX Black stands as the Swedish manufacturer's purpose-built entry for jazz and modern session guitarists who seek maximum comfort, low weight, and advanced ergonomics. Retailing at $2,499 and released in July 2023, this chambered semi hollowbody brings together innovative design choices with high-end materials.

Construction and Materials

• Body: Chambered mahogany core, with maple back and top veneered in mahogany, finished in matte black. The construction dramatically reduces weight while preserving resonance and warmth.
• Neck: Bolt-on mahogany, reinforced with carbon fiber rods for greater stability. Strandberg's patented Endur Neck profile introduces angled facets for ergonomic hand placement and reduced playing fatigue, especially over extended sessions.
• Fingerboard: Rosewood, with 24 medium jumbo frets and Luminlay dot inlays for fret markers. Notably, users report that the position markers on the side do not track the multiscale fret layout from the 12th fret onward, causing confusion for players who rely on these visual cues.
• Scale Length: Multiscale fanned frets, ranging from 25 inches at the highest string to 25.5 inches at the lowest. This setup maintains string tension balance and further aids comfort.
• Hardware: Headless construction with Strandberg's EGS Rev 7 fixed bridge and combined string lock machine heads. Black hardware completes the streamlined aesthetic.

Weight and Ergonomics

Across user comments, two themes stand out: exceptionally low weight and uncompromising ergonomics. The Sälen Jazz NX Black appeals directly to players with long gig sets, travel needs, or even past injuries. Users with decades of playing experience, including former classical teachers and seasoned jazz musicians, point to the relief the instrument provides for their hands, shoulders, and back. The neck's Endur profile receives high marks, even from those who typically play with their thumb over the fretboard, a praise not typically given to modern neck shapes.

Electronics and Controls

• Pickups: Two matched Suhr Thornbucker humbuckers, Thornbucker II at the bridge and standard Thornbucker at the neck. This configuration delivers clear, articulate tones with warmth suited to jazz, but can also be pushed into thicker fusion territory.
• Switching: Five-way selector lever, master volume and tone. Both positions 1 and 5 offer full humbucking operation, either bridge or neck. Positions 2, 3, and 4 split one or both coils, but user reports consistently describe these split settings as lacking in body and volume compared to the full humbucking sounds. These observations suggest the coil splitting is more of an afterthought and not a highlight of the instrument, especially with the significant volume drop.
• No vibrato: The bridge is entirely fixed, so tuning stability is strong, but no pitch modulation options are provided. This suits the jazz focus, though may limit appeal for players needing tremolo effects.

Playability and Sonic Qualities

Feedback characterizes the Sälen Jazz NX Black as "impossible to put down." Its chambered body offers notable resonance with a warmth that suits both traditional jazz and modern chord voicings. Players describe the unplugged tone as lively. Once plugged in, the Suhr humbuckers produce clean, detailed sound that rewards articulate fingerstyle and sensitive phrasing. The neck pickup, in particular, excels for deep jazz comping, while the bridge covers more contemporary territory.

The multiscale fretboard translates to even tension and facilitates both low action and precise intonation across the entire neck. The Endur Neck may initially feel unusual, but most users rapidly acclimate and find improvements in fretting hand comfort and playing endurance. The entirety of the package encourages longer, less fatiguing sessions, an observation echoed by multiple owners.

Areas for Improvement

• Side dot markers: Their positioning fails to mirror the fan of the multiscale frets, leading to disorientation above the 12th fret. Given the high price, this oversight diminishes confidence for gigging players who rely on visual navigation in dark venues.
• Switching options: The five-way lever suggests greater versatility than delivered in practice. Most owners settle on the two main humbucking settings, as intermediate split positions suffer significant volume loss and lack depth, reducing the practical usefulness of those settings.
• No hard case: The instrument ships with a gig bag which is well-made, but some owners lament the absence of a hard case considering the $2,499 outlay.
• Price: The cost is consistently cited as a sticking point, especially for players wary of investing in a radically modern design.

Summary: Who is this for?

The Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX Black is best suited for serious jazz, fusion, and contemporary players who value comfort and mobility above all else. Its chambered body, advanced ergonomics, and uncompromising neck design deliver a unique experience, particularly for those with fatigue or physical limitations. The sonic signature leans heavily into warmth, clarity, and articulation. However, the instrument is less optimal for those requiring extensive single coil sounds or who are sensitive to non-traditional fret marker layouts. For the right player, particularly those seeking a travel-friendly or gig-ready ergonomic jazz guitar, the Sälen Jazz NX Black is a distinctive, premium tool.