shinksma
What? I get a title?
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2014
- Messages
- 5,318
Last year I picked up a headless 8-string guitar (Legator Ghost) with fanned frets because I wanted something different, and it was small enough (due to headless config) that flying with it seemed feasible (not yet explored that yet).
I found it fun to shred on, but it is not built for chords, especially in the first position (a.k.a. cowboy chords, the usual D, G, C, Am etc chords) - the string spacing was compressed to allow for a narrower neck, but my fat sausage fingers can't make clean string contact.
I poked around and found other headless 7/8 string makers also often had that compressed string spacing - I even emailed Kiesel to ask them, and they confirmed. Even the PRS 7-stringers have an ever so slightly narrower string spacing than their WF/WT 6-stringers, but it is not a big amount, and it is spread evenly, so I can adapt to it. Feels like a "Regular" width, I suppose. I have no idea what the string spread is on PRS's 8-stringer.
Then I found out that Strandberg has a string spacing identical to the WF/WT stringing of a 6-string PRS: 7mm center to center. At least, on their 7-stringer Bodens.
So I picked up a Boden NX Prog 7 last week, which has a trem. Chording is so much easier, because it is identical in feel to my usual guitars. The mild fan of the frets is also nice: just enough to add that extra scale length on the bottom, but not so much that it confuses me when trying to find the right fret. And the trem makes for an added dimension compared to my PRS 7 stringers.
If PRS ever makes a 7 stringer with mild or no fanning and a trem, I'd snag it. Core, S2, or SE. But for now, I'm happy with my Boden Prog. It is very travel-ready - the headless design is an inch shorter than the Legator Ghost, and the gig bag makes for a good overall shape/size.
An 8-string PRS in the regular line-up with a mild fan would be also a strong acquisition.
But I don't see PRS ever making a headless design, so if I were to travel and wanted to bring a guitar I'd take the Strandberg right now.
I found it fun to shred on, but it is not built for chords, especially in the first position (a.k.a. cowboy chords, the usual D, G, C, Am etc chords) - the string spacing was compressed to allow for a narrower neck, but my fat sausage fingers can't make clean string contact.
I poked around and found other headless 7/8 string makers also often had that compressed string spacing - I even emailed Kiesel to ask them, and they confirmed. Even the PRS 7-stringers have an ever so slightly narrower string spacing than their WF/WT 6-stringers, but it is not a big amount, and it is spread evenly, so I can adapt to it. Feels like a "Regular" width, I suppose. I have no idea what the string spread is on PRS's 8-stringer.
Then I found out that Strandberg has a string spacing identical to the WF/WT stringing of a 6-string PRS: 7mm center to center. At least, on their 7-stringer Bodens.
So I picked up a Boden NX Prog 7 last week, which has a trem. Chording is so much easier, because it is identical in feel to my usual guitars. The mild fan of the frets is also nice: just enough to add that extra scale length on the bottom, but not so much that it confuses me when trying to find the right fret. And the trem makes for an added dimension compared to my PRS 7 stringers.
If PRS ever makes a 7 stringer with mild or no fanning and a trem, I'd snag it. Core, S2, or SE. But for now, I'm happy with my Boden Prog. It is very travel-ready - the headless design is an inch shorter than the Legator Ghost, and the gig bag makes for a good overall shape/size.
An 8-string PRS in the regular line-up with a mild fan would be also a strong acquisition.
But I don't see PRS ever making a headless design, so if I were to travel and wanted to bring a guitar I'd take the Strandberg right now.