A few updates: 1) I've learned that electric basses often employ this shape to increase the tone for low notes. Since Tosin is known for being an 8-string guy, I'm starting to think this shape may be more helpful for 7 or 8-string guitars than 6-string guitars. It's possible the shape was just moved over to 6-string after the fact. 2) If this design was first thought of for 8 string, the thumb issue at the upper frets would be less of an issue. I can't imagine anyone has their thumb peeking out on fret 15 of an 8 string guitar. 3) Those who follow the channel know I care more about how a guitar feels than how it sounds. You also know the Strandberg has been my main guitar since the end of December. The fret ends on that guitar, the trem, and the extra time it takes me to change strings have been frustrating, so I impulse-bought the Abasi. Notice, all of the issues are related to physical use and not sound. I really thought the Larada might solve all of those issues. Then I could repair the Strandberg fret ends and resell it for more than the cost of the Abasi guitar (a win-win situation). I guess the fact that the Larada came defective saved me the headache of having to resell it myself once I didn’t love the design.
Without watching the video (yet) but reading the pinned comment, the shape came first. A form of this was first developed when he was still with Ibanez. I believe I only saw one version, and relatively shortly after he parted with Ibanez and started Abasi Concepts, and I believe brought the design with him. Similarly to Ola Englund being with Washburn, leaving with his designs, and starting Solar. Anyways, off I go to watch the video. Loved all the other ones of yours I’ve watched!
I'm relatively sure I recall Tosin talking about the body design and mentioning these things, it's important to remember this guitar is purpose built for Tosin's hands. And he places his thumb flat against the back of the neck when he's playing for the most part, as you mentioned this is definitely a habit for 7-8 string players. I think Tosin considered this body a win-win design because it also adds weight to the body to counteract the ridiculous weight of an 8 string headstock (being larger than regular headstocks and also have extra tuning pegs etc). I don't think people like tosin make ANY changes to a guitar based on tonewood, and instead aim all-out at ergonomics. Of course, because Tosin places his hands very differently from most guitarists, this build is essentially his tweak to the strandberg design to feel more comfortable in his hands and to specifically feel more comfortable with 8 strings. I personally feel making this 6 string model was a huge overreach by the company and I don't know who it caters to, since the entire design was specifically to make an 8 string guitar more comfortable.
there's a virtually 0% chance i'll ever spend this much money on a guitar. But there's like, a 100% chance i'll watch more of your videos. I love how honest you are, while CONSTANTLY pointing out that it's just your opinion. super appreciated!
This single cut design is common on basses, specially on extended range instruments, to counterbalance the extremely heavy neck and prevent neck dive (Which still, at the end, makes the instrument heavier. I have a 6s bass with this design and it's heavier than a neutron star)
I'm a very visual learner (even though I spend hours using my ears) and I love all the visuals you have. If more people talked about ergonomics, we'd have a lot more innovative guitar designs as opposed to the traditional stuff in different colors and woods.
I really hope we get more ergo stuff. The second this channel really takes off, you can expect me to have a lot of rare, strange ergonomic guitar deep dives. It just so happens that most of them are above 3grand with bad resale, so I can’t get them yet. Thanks for always supporting!
You're the goat for being so transparent, and honest about the obvious ergonimic concerns you ought to have with this guitar. So many people just rave on and on about how comfortable it feels to play, while shoving aside how obstructive the neck joint can be by saying "it does get in the way but I got used to it". If a guitar were THAT ergonomic, you shouldnt need to adapt away from your typical style of playing to compromise for the guitar's shape...
Hey Andre. I've stumbled upon your videos just recently, and I'm extremely impressed with how you present these videos; the way you speak and how you go deep into detail in regards to the instrument as well as expressing your positives and negatives on the instrument you showcase. I'll be watching your content daily. I'm proud to say, as a fellow Jersey City native, you've come a long way!
Interesting. I am an 8 string guitar boy. I had Strandberg, and those tuners were driving me crazy every second, and body was too small, were never able to reach comfort position. But 8 string Larada changed everything for me - perfect guitar. Sounds great, super comfortable when playing in classical position with correct height for foot stand. Did not picked up strandnerg ever once since got Larada, so sold it without any regret. I am agree on thumb position at higher frets, but it was easy to adapt. Anyway, we are all different, glad that you've made this review, thanks and good luck.
Great review as always. I thought the same thing, that it would be a good ergonomic choice. Im looking into my first 8 string and really wanted something comfortable and with Fishman (preferably Abasi) pickups. Looks like a Strandberg with Abasi pickups might be the move. Ergonomics are king ever since you inspired me to consider it. Have purchased that leg cushion for my custom 24 and notice significantly less pain in the wrist and back. Cheers Andre!
I just discovered this channel. I love it. I never even considered ergonomics for a guitar but more comfort means I’d be inspired to play more and not have to stop because my neck hurts. I’m always trying to buy light weight guitars.
This is one of my dream guitars, I really appreciate your deep dive into ergonomics, it’s something I value so much in all tools and furniture so the analysis of the ergo of this design is absolutely appreciated
Make sure you try one before buying. I was able to get my hands on a used 8 string at Guitar Center that was $3200. It was out of tune and the strings were way too thin compared to my other 2 8 string guitars. But the out of tune or how it could have sounded didn't even matter because I knew the access beyond the 12 fret and fanned frets for me was a no go. Guitar could have been $320 but I would never own one.
The extra long upper singlecut design may be for added neck stiffness, and may be influenced by extended range basses. I remember when the PRS Singlecut was introduced in the early 2000s, Paul Reed Smith said that the singlecut design gave a huge increase in neck stiffness over the doublecut as there was a lot less unsupported neck. Bass makers like Fodera, Elrick, Conklin, Ritter, Ibanez, Sadowsky, Cort, Warwick make basses with very long scales and 6 or more strings, and a way to keep these necks stiff without being really thick or using composite materials is this singlecut design which reduces the amount of unsupported neck allowing it to be slimmer. From an aesthetic point, this design is quite "modern" and associated with progressive metal and fusion styles, and (correct me if I'm wrong) isn't common in guitar design, so is a way for Abasi to differentuate their design from a lot of the other ergonomic guitar designs. Their double cut body looks very muck like a Strandberg.
Thanks so much for the review, I was about to buy a masters Larada 6 without playing it, but your tip about the limited access for the thumb on the higher frets really was helpful. Going to go w an Emi instead. Many thanks
I found your channel a couple months ago, and I'm blown away at your feedback and all the different approaches you take to evaluating each guitar. You rock, and I honestly loved this as much as the rest of your content! Happy just watching stuff you come out with :)
Hey Andre, Not sure if anyone answered this yet - Tosin stated the primary reason for the top portion of the body is to give more support to the neck. Since it's a longer scale, he wanted to offset the length of the neck by putting more of it 'into' the body. Thanks for making videos!!
I actually almost bought this exact guitar, was the stealth B stock on their website, when it was gone suddenly, I knew it was you that grabbed it haha. Kinda happy I didn't as I'd rather have a larada with 8 strings rather than 6 as well this video provides alot of analysis on the build itself. Good review as always, thanks for doing this.
I found out through your videos the importance roll of the ergonomics on the instruments. And how unconscious were in my search for the perfect guitar for me. You also said that design innovations should be more focus in ergonomic rather than aesthetics. Function follows form so to speak.
What a bummer that the you got an axe with faulty wiring. Hope that the next one you get will give you sonic delights! As for the guitar itself, I'm not a real fan of the esthetics, but that is a personal thing, after all, if it plays great and sounds great, then who cares! Got my Strandberg 2 weeks ago and have been really enjoying it. Love the ergonomics, the sounds I get out of the Suhr pups, and that neck, though it took me to get used to, is one I don't believe I ever will want to change... go figure, all of that due to your strandberg project!
As I have said before,your analysis of guitars ergonomics are so incredibly informative...very very interesting to say The least ..thanks Doc for informative and in depth dive
I don't know if it's because I'm a bass player first, but I love odd shaped guitars that usually get hate. My favorite is a Parker Fly but I'd love to own this Abasi also.
I hear you about the upper bout of the body blocking your thumb from being free to reach over and do what it will as you change hand positions while playing in the upper register. Apart from visual style of the body shape, which is interesting and pretty cool, an obvious reason for this extension of the body would be to strengthen the neck by shortening its free length. If you play with your thumb on the back of the neck all the time it's not really an issue. For me it would be.
I've never played an Abasi but I question the single-cut design covering the bass side of the fretboard, I realize there's some clever heel joint design and apparently it feels comfortable... But I tend to have my thumb over the neck, whether for fretting chords or to get leverage with Yngwie-style exaggerated vibrato. To me it just seems that the huge slab of the body would get in the way.
maybe Tosin himself uses classical technique (thumb on the back of the neck) when he plays upper frets and to him, that single cutaway design makes sense but yeah to a lot of people I feel like that's not exactly comfortable
I think the single-cut design might be inspired by extended range bass designs (Fodera Emperor II for example) where playing thumb over the neck isn't going to as much of an issue, and Abasi have copied the look. And I presume Tosin Abasi doesn't play thumb over the neck (he playes 7 and 8 strings mainly, these days?) so didn't se it as an issue.
The single cut style like this is beneficial by design at least on bass guitars, rather than artistic. Im not sure how it translates to standard electric guitar, but as someone who plays a single cut bass primarily, the advantages of that design are 1) That it make the neck much stiffer. That is to say, since the neck is supported to the 12th fret rather than 17th or 19th fret like a double cut, the neck is less likely to bow, and in fact, the truss rod needs much less tension to hold the neck straight - a huge benefit on 5 or 6 string basses. Also, there is more consistency between notes in the lower register. 2) it eliminates the fender dead spot that is inherent to the P-Bass and J-Bass designs, in which the C, C# or D on the G string dies off rapidly into a harmonic with no fundamental behind it. I don't know how much this all carries over to guitar, though, as a lot of these things arent necessarily considerations for guitar like they are for bass.
Honestly the one I’ve been looking at is the tele one. But saying that, I was looking to pay alot for a fender tele, and decided to buy a cheap tele and put pick ups that had the model on the ones they have. The reason I did that, was because I didn’t know if I was ok spending that much for a guitar and not used to the sounds. So, my cheap guitar sounds great, but the neck isn’t that great… it stays in tune, but the neck isn’t great. Saying that, i probably spent like 500 on a guitar, that I’m happy with but left with a feeling of something is just wanting. Just be careful, I’m happy with mine, but I don’t think I need to spend 2000 or about 1500 on a guitar. I’ll get one that replaces mine, but I love the pickups, and its a beater.. for now , it res good and doesn’t get out of tune.
Ergonomics matters a lot. Upper fret access too. If I pay for 24 frets, and I'm gonna use all of them 🙂 On a serious note, some guitars have decent-ish upper fret access if you just look at them, but when you try to play something which requires you to go up to 23-24 fret during fast phrase, well, on some guitars it's not as easy as on some others. And that means a lot, IMHO. Looking at this guitar, I think that the body cut could be a bit bigger. Also this 'stepped' heel just doesn't look healthy or natural. Anyhow, it just how it looks. Thanks for showing it in detail. Usually people tend to overlook that.
If you were one for clickbait video titles, I would expect this video to be titled “Tosin Abasi catfished me (with ergonomics)” No, I really enjoy the ergonomics talk because no one else talks about it! That’s your niche! And I always appreciate you reminding the audience that our bodies/sizes are all different so what works for one might not work for another. Also +1 for the thumb behind the neck camp! (I blame my classical violin training drilling that into me. Thumb never reaches over, and the higher up you travel, the more the thumb goes underneath the fingerboard.) So while we’re polar opposite in size, I do appreciate your hand positioning.
Lol I grew up a classical violinist too. I'm very resistant to wrapping thumb my over the top of the neck because of that. You have to though for some genres like funk.
That upper part may serve sound, tone purposes. The neck is more massive with that part, may give some tone advantage? I wanted to have a Forshage headless hollowbody shape for me made but it also sports some similar idea..
Hmmm. A couple of things. Obviously, from the picture, I own that exact guitar. I always play in the "classical" position and have absolutely no issues at all. It's too bad, that you actually didn't play the guitar. It sounds amazing! The price is also great compared to the other Abasi guitars. You are right on one thing. Because of the bolt on neck, it does take a little time to get used to the upper register playing. But, you quickly do get used to it. I also own a Strandberg Original. The Abasi and that one are my go to guitars. The only thing I can say is that I hope you get that one fixed or replaced and give it another chance after actually playing it and understanding the switch positions. I do enjoy the in depth review.
Thanks Chris! I did play it for 15 hours. I no longer pick guitars that sound good if they aren't comfortable to me so the way it sounds amplified would really mean nothing in this case. I will also try the EMI as well when the 6 string comes out!
It would be interesting to compare the feel of the cutaway on the 6 with the 7 and 8 string versions. I wonder if the wider neck would negate some of the thumb positioning issues above the 12th fret.
That’s an amazing point. I almost never play anything besides 6 so I never considered that. I’d assume no one wraps their dumb on a 8 string and that’s what he’s most known for.
I was surprised by this review. I also assumed the shape was for ergonomics. i personally haven't met an ergonomic guitar that has been visually appealing to me, but i understand the need, or desire, for ergonomic guitars. but i would not have guessed this was done for visual appeal. Another great video
The extra long contoured top bout makes two hand tapping very comfortable, it also helps with positioning for techniques like thumping from what I've found.
The elongated upper "horn" is way over the top and I don't really think it helps neck dive considering its still weight at the top of the guitar (when horizontal)
Very informative video! Was wondering about the ergonomics of the Abasi guitars. Never gelled with the looks. And seeing how you wrap around the neck I'm inclined to say have to say you do have big hand sir!
I just got today my larada and I cannot be more agree with you in some points, when you're playing the higher frets it feels weird for the thumb, after some hours I think I'm kind of adapting to the design, but for sure it doesn't feel "natural" and probably that's the main "issue" of this guitar, however, I found the neck overall is comfortable and the "thin u" shape is really helpful for shredding purposes, the sound is really flat, that's not bad or good, but I found at least curious how balanced are the frequencies.
tosin abasi is a classical musician so when he was designing the guitar he had no need for a cut away above the fret board because his thumb is always behind the neck and never over it
I was under the impression thet the single cut design was deliberately meant to train you to not wrap your thumb around the neck - kind of like training wheels to break your muscle memory
Ergonomics is very relative to each individuals... Ergonomic sitting down? Standing up? Which position holds your guitar upon your body? How high do you wear the guitar?...etc. It's all relative to our own little likings imho. In my mind, the overall best erogonomic guitar has to be Klein guitars. But even for them, there are specifics to be taken into account; if one likes playing the guitar real low, which realistically, is not ergonomic at all, then the Klein would be super awkward to play sitting down. So it all boils down to getting the overall best for your need. For me, my EBMM Majesty 7 is the best at everything, followed by my Charbonneau Scimtar 7; thoses two guitars, although coming at two very different price point, i can easily play for long hours. My two cents.😁 EDIT: My Ibanez QX527PB is probably the most ''out of the way'' of my playing that i tried; you don't feel the body at all.
Some company needs to pick you up to make a signature guitar purely for the fact you could probably design the best ergonomics + hardware combination of all time.
I absolutely love the way these guitars look but I know that as much as I want one it really wouldn't be all that comfortable. I'm one of those players that really starts to wrap my hand around the neck when I get to the higher frets.
What is the deal with that huge block after the 12th fret good grief! Thanks for pointing that thumb thing out I wouldn't have noticed it until I had the guitar. Not that I would have bought this one but I'm always shopping for ways to waste my money. Your videos are always enjoyable to watch.
Excellent video. I largely agree with you. And I do in fact own a Strandberg 8 string and 7 string Larada. It's markedly less comfortable than the Strandberg in the seated position although I don't have your issue with the neck joint. That being Said I'm keeping mine, since I need a guitar dedicated to being in drop A. But if I were looking for my main guitar that I spend 90% of my time playing, I would absolutely sell it and get a Strandberg. One thing of note though is that I play it in the extremely vertical neck position you demonstrated when talking about trying to find alternatives that didn't work for you. It's not perfect, but I actually like it. The biggest issue I have with it is just the weight of the headstock.
I’ll admit that I’m generally not super interested in headless guitars, but have you looked at all into Aristides? They seem like they have a pretty well thought-out headless design with options for a multi scale tremolo, and I’ve heard good things about their quality control
Thank you for the review! I played this guitar (well, just the one with a hard tail, don't like trems). You're absolutely right about the issue 2. As a quick note : *my thumb never goes up on the classical guitar, and since i prefer to sit in the classical position with everything that looks like a guitar, this is not an issue at all. I mean -the ergonomics only matter as far as the cutaways are concerned : if it doesn't poke me in the ribs, it's good. So, a strat, abasi, RG's, basses feel absolutely the same. * The problem with Abasi starts when i stand with a strap -unless you jack this guitar all the way up your neck, the higher positions really put the left hand wrist in a dreadful angle. Maybe some people can deal with it, but I already had wrist issues in the past, so it wasn't for me.
I follow a dude on Instagram and he just started playing one of these. I had the same question about comfort of the thumb on higher frets. I have giant hands and I don’t think I’d like playing this guitar. It looks great and the one I heard sounds killer but probably not for me and my catcher mitts😂. I enjoy the reviews, keep them coming.
Really nice to hear how thin the neck is, should be a good 7-String option for me since I have small hands. Saw an interview (Coffee with Ola i think?) where Tosin said that the upper horn is supposed to encourage better thumb positioning in the middle of the neck when playing leads. But yeah seems overly restrictive, the Emi is better functionally and aesthetically imo.
9:07 thank you for finally referencing my guitar hero. hope you do a majesty review in the future! i love this review as well. very balanced and a lot of effort put into pointing out the good stuff and considering what some other people might appreciate.
Been thinking about this review for a while now, cause I’m in love with the 8 string model, and I appreciate your input cause it’s usually the polar opposite of mine haha. Something someone mentioned before is that the 6 string looks like they just shrunk down the 8 string model, and it really rings true. I think the 8 string is EXTREMELY friendly to play, compared to other 8 strings. It feels like an elegant weapon and doesn’t have that caveman, skateboard feeling neck that other 8’s have. That being said, I don’t think the 6 stands a chance compared to other 6’s since there’s so much more out there in terms of comfortable 6’s. Also while we’re on the subject, if they really want me to want a 6 string Larada, they can at least offer a hard tail substitute. I hope they offer different options as the brand picks up more speed.
I wish I could loan you my 8-string Larada for a direct comparison, because I certainly feel that the neck-joint and classical seated position benefit the 8-string design greatly, and wonder about the utility for the 6. I also have a Strandberg Classic 8, and for me the Abasi very quickly eclipsed the Strandberg, so much so that of all my guitars, I took the Abasi as my extended-range guitar, despite the Strandberg being much easier to travel with. Also dollars USD isn't redundant, as there are some other countries like Australia that refer to their currency as dollars as well, so the distinction is helpful haha
Yea I think for 8 string this would probably be much better. And “ dollars United States dollars “is still redundant. Simply saying USD would have been enough.
Tosin must of heard alot of complaints regarding the single cut design because he came out with a double cut version which looks beautiful. I still love the single cut design and as a player who keeps his thumb on the back of the neck the ergonomics seem fine definitely considering one in the near future
I like the aesthetic of this guitar. Looks comfy, erg-ish design without being ugly AF. I appreciate the constant mentions of hitting switches and knobs, btw. You should not have to physically avoid stupid design features to play well, and im nonplussed why everyone puts volume/tone/knife switch right where your pick and strum through. Some day, I will be a great guitar player and people will not remember me by my tone switch and knife selector hand speed.
I realize it'd add to editing time, but I recommend having some intro and outro music, or maybe some music throughout the video in the background to help 'set the tone' of the video. E.g. The narrative arc of a video can be underscored/highlighted with music in this way. Just one particular editing style I think that may help the videos reach bigger audiences. Great quick review of the guitar given its limitations!
I appreciate the idea. I know you’ve given this advice for months now. I’m just not interested in adding music unless the music serves an educational purpose. It’s an artistic choice for me to not have intros, outros, sound effects, etc.
The thumb around the neck thing was the first thing I thought of when I clicked on this vid! I was thinking how that would be a problem for me and render the guitar very unergonomic because I do the same thing as you. I don't understand why the body has to have that large section of wood there, it definitely would get in the way of my playing on the upper frets.
I like the Abasi Emi shape more than the Larada. A little more aesthetic for me, but honestly, if I buy a high end guitar with an "out there" design, it'll either be a Strandberg or Mayones Hydra. I think Strandberg have it nailed on both guitar weight and neck feel and the Mayones Hydra just looks super sick to me.
No excuse at all that the Abasi was defective; considering the Master Series 6s for 2023 are coming out soon (April according to the site), they should have it together by now. I owned one of the originals that were made by another builder in 18: I personally loved that guitar but as it was basically a prototype so it was great promise for what lay ahead. Only Vigier and Abasi have I deeply regretted selling. I hope they send another very soon! Looking forward to your deeper dive!
@@andrefludd Thank god - it is not headless , like Boden... but has this popular and cool "headless guitar" body... . I will be the first one to click your video when you make a review about it !
Great review. As always tbh. Never thought that this body type simply won't allow overhand grip which is a necessity for controlled bends. I'm curious why they didn't make a belly cut extremely big if the body allows it to be bigger and the overall shape suggests to play it in classical position
Andrew Marshalls guitar and this one, as most of the higher end Schecters, are made by WMI in Korea,that's why there are so many similarities. At least in this case. I love 'em both I must say, but the Abasai just fascinates me...
Sounds like instead of a triangle for Art/Ergo/Heritage, there should be 3 circles that have overlap. I think it exists because someone felt that it would be a more ideal choice of guitar. Honestly, I can't see why a Strandberg is perceived as groundbreaking. It's just another take on the same guitars Metal players have always shaped a guitar body. It has proprietary hardware, still needs to be strung, tuned, set up. And since there are few of them, techs simply don't have the experience of working on them routinely. When you have Strandberg with their own section of returns, refurbished Strandberg guitars. They probably have the same experience for wear & tear that the traditional LP, Strat or Tele has. Play with your hands & ears, not the eye candy. SRV's Strat is something most folks would look at next to a pristine brand new guitar & walk away from. Like they would walk away from a 2012 Camry vs a 2023 Camry.
8:00 that, I believe, is a tonal choise, which your matrix is lacking. I'm not sure it makes sense on a solidbody instrument, but on a hollow body instrument, a body that goes all the way up or even past the halfway-point (i.e. the 12th fret) makes an enormous, humongous positive difference tonally. Especially resonance is better, but provided the construction itself is sound (ta-dumm-dish!), You'll have improved acoustic projection, sustain and easy better, tighter low notes
I’ve considered it, but I have no objective way to test how the shape impacts sound. Especially on an electric instrument. But I’m actually working on that.
@@andrefludd oh danm, I should have taken more time to construct a proper comment instead of constantly editing it 😖 The reason a lot of high-class basses have that same kind of neck joint is at least partially that a stiffer neck and more substantial neck-body connection allows for more even, direct tones and a low B that doesn't sound like a fart. Bassdesign is so much more progressive than guitar design. Actually, it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on that subject. I find my fellow guitarists to be scarily conservative, to the point that I don't dare to talk about my design ideas with anyone who plays guitar. But I talk about it all the time with a friend who plays bass. I really don't understand how that can be. Have you had the same experience?
This is the first discussion of electric guitar ergonomics I've seen! I started playing classical with footstool and various devices to raise the guitar off my left leg. I play electric with a strap and a footstool but I still experience discomfort on longer practices. And I like thrash metal so it's not exactly very cool to sit like that! 😂. That discussion of the rear cutaway was really interesting. Unfortunately/fortunately I just spent all my money on a suhr modern. Nevertheless, this was an interesting video for me. Thanks!
I bought the same one but b stock cause it was a couple hundred bucks cheaper and had no cosmetic issues upon arrival BUT my electronics didn’t work either and had to send it in for repair. They need to fire whoever does their electronics in Cali and in South Korea. I love how it feels to play. Just practice standing up like dimebag anyways. Best way to practice for playing live
Excellent review, and we share some of the same biases: I prefer comfort above all else, and ergonomics is important, as part of that. I love the design of the Abasi body in this case, and could likely adapt to a shallow neck, but the placement and orientation of the pickup switch is awful - I'd be hitting it all the time, as I rarely finger-pick. Even in that unconventionally-shaped body, there's plenty of room in the lower bout to move that switch and reorient it so that it's totally out of the player's way when s/he's playing the instrument, while still being accessible. I'd have the same issues with the upper bout extended up the neck - I put my thumb on the back of the neck most of the time, too, and, while I'm rarely that far up the neck, I'd have issues with the design as is. That said, from a "looks" standpoint, this guitar is gorgeous in matte black - it looks very futuristic - and I'm also a fan of the contour carves on the front and back. Lately, my favorite guitar at home is an Eart. It's Strandberg-ish in shape, and the lower bout is similar to the Abasi, though I like the Abasi's output jack location even better. Alas, my guess is that Abasi, as a niche producer, has to price their instruments way, way out of my reach to stay in business, so I won't be a customer.
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A few updates:
1) I've learned that electric basses often employ this shape to increase the tone for low notes. Since Tosin is known for being an 8-string guy, I'm starting to think this shape may be more helpful for 7 or 8-string guitars than 6-string guitars. It's possible the shape was just moved over to 6-string after the fact.
2) If this design was first thought of for 8 string, the thumb issue at the upper frets would be less of an issue. I can't imagine anyone has their thumb peeking out on fret 15 of an 8 string guitar.
3) Those who follow the channel know I care more about how a guitar feels than how it sounds. You also know the Strandberg has been my main guitar since the end of December. The fret ends on that guitar, the trem, and the extra time it takes me to change strings have been frustrating, so I impulse-bought the Abasi. Notice, all of the issues are related to physical use and not sound. I really thought the Larada might solve all of those issues. Then I could repair the Strandberg fret ends and resell it for more than the cost of the Abasi guitar (a win-win situation). I guess the fact that the Larada came defective saved me the headache of having to resell it myself once I didn’t love the design.
The idea that it changes the tone at all is nonsense on the same level as tonewood. It's a weird shape for the sake of marketing.
@@aniquinstark4347
Looks sick though but you right
Without watching the video (yet) but reading the pinned comment, the shape came first. A form of this was first developed when he was still with Ibanez. I believe I only saw one version, and relatively shortly after he parted with Ibanez and started Abasi Concepts, and I believe brought the design with him. Similarly to Ola Englund being with Washburn, leaving with his designs, and starting Solar. Anyways, off I go to watch the video. Loved all the other ones of yours I’ve watched!
I'm relatively sure I recall Tosin talking about the body design and mentioning these things, it's important to remember this guitar is purpose built for Tosin's hands. And he places his thumb flat against the back of the neck when he's playing for the most part, as you mentioned this is definitely a habit for 7-8 string players. I think Tosin considered this body a win-win design because it also adds weight to the body to counteract the ridiculous weight of an 8 string headstock (being larger than regular headstocks and also have extra tuning pegs etc). I don't think people like tosin make ANY changes to a guitar based on tonewood, and instead aim all-out at ergonomics. Of course, because Tosin places his hands very differently from most guitarists, this build is essentially his tweak to the strandberg design to feel more comfortable in his hands and to specifically feel more comfortable with 8 strings. I personally feel making this 6 string model was a huge overreach by the company and I don't know who it caters to, since the entire design was specifically to make an 8 string guitar more comfortable.
@@aniquinstark4347 I'm inclined to agree. I'd like to see some evidence that more wood = more toan. I've heard the same myth regarding Explorers too.
there's a virtually 0% chance i'll ever spend this much money on a guitar. But there's like, a 100% chance i'll watch more of your videos. I love how honest you are, while CONSTANTLY pointing out that it's just your opinion. super appreciated!
Thank you :)
I never write RUclips comments. But these are honestly the best guitar reviews I’ve ever seen.
This single cut design is common on basses, specially on extended range instruments, to counterbalance the extremely heavy neck and prevent neck dive (Which still, at the end, makes the instrument heavier. I have a 6s bass with this design and it's heavier than a neutron star)
Newton star*
Damn! One more mass, and it'll turn out into blackhole😂
I'm a very visual learner (even though I spend hours using my ears) and I love all the visuals you have. If more people talked about ergonomics, we'd have a lot more innovative guitar designs as opposed to the traditional stuff in different colors and woods.
I really hope we get more ergo stuff. The second this channel really takes off, you can expect me to have a lot of rare, strange ergonomic guitar deep dives. It just so happens that most of them are above 3grand with bad resale, so I can’t get them yet. Thanks for always supporting!
Agreed on all things
I find your videos so balanced, meticulous, articulate and very informative. Thank you so much and please keep up the great work.
Thank you. Every Friday at 11am est illl be here :)
You're the goat for being so transparent, and honest about the obvious ergonimic concerns you ought to have with this guitar.
So many people just rave on and on about how comfortable it feels to play, while shoving aside how obstructive the neck joint can be by saying "it does get in the way but I got used to it".
If a guitar were THAT ergonomic, you shouldnt need to adapt away from your typical style of playing to compromise for the guitar's shape...
Commenting now for the algorithm, gonna have to check in and watch later. Been looking forward to this one!
Hey Andre. I've stumbled upon your videos just recently, and I'm extremely impressed with how you present these videos; the way you speak and how you go deep into detail in regards to the instrument as well as expressing your positives and negatives on the instrument you showcase. I'll be watching your content daily. I'm proud to say, as a fellow Jersey City native, you've come a long way!
Ernesto! That means a lot coming from you. We gotta talk soon.
Finally subbed after seeing 4 of your videos over the past few weeks! Great content. You aren’t biased but are truthful. Keep it up man
Thank you
Interesting. I am an 8 string guitar boy. I had Strandberg, and those tuners were driving me crazy every second, and body was too small, were never able to reach comfort position. But 8 string Larada changed everything for me - perfect guitar. Sounds great, super comfortable when playing in classical position with correct height for foot stand. Did not picked up strandnerg ever once since got Larada, so sold it without any regret. I am agree on thumb position at higher frets, but it was easy to adapt. Anyway, we are all different, glad that you've made this review, thanks and good luck.
Your channel is dope. Love the focus on ergonomics and design in recent videos.
Love your videos man! your presentation is top-notch and really keeps me hooked throughout. Can't wait for the next one!
Glad you like them!
Great review as always. I thought the same thing, that it would be a good ergonomic choice. Im looking into my first 8 string and really wanted something comfortable and with Fishman (preferably Abasi) pickups. Looks like a Strandberg with Abasi pickups might be the move. Ergonomics are king ever since you inspired me to consider it. Have purchased that leg cushion for my custom 24 and notice significantly less pain in the wrist and back. Cheers Andre!
I just discovered this channel. I love it. I never even considered ergonomics for a guitar but more comfort means I’d be inspired to play more and not have to stop because my neck hurts. I’m always trying to buy light weight guitars.
This is one of my dream guitars, I really appreciate your deep dive into ergonomics, it’s something I value so much in all tools and furniture so the analysis of the ergo of this design is absolutely appreciated
Make sure you try one before buying. I was able to get my hands on a used 8 string at Guitar Center that was $3200. It was out of tune and the strings were way too thin compared to my other 2 8 string guitars. But the out of tune or how it could have sounded didn't even matter because I knew the access beyond the 12 fret and fanned frets for me was a no go. Guitar could have been $320 but I would never own one.
The extra long upper singlecut design may be for added neck stiffness, and may be influenced by extended range basses.
I remember when the PRS Singlecut was introduced in the early 2000s, Paul Reed Smith said that the singlecut design gave a huge increase in neck stiffness over the doublecut as there was a lot less unsupported neck.
Bass makers like Fodera, Elrick, Conklin, Ritter, Ibanez, Sadowsky, Cort, Warwick make basses with very long scales and 6 or more strings, and a way to keep these necks stiff without being really thick or using composite materials is this singlecut design which reduces the amount of unsupported neck allowing it to be slimmer.
From an aesthetic point, this design is quite "modern" and associated with progressive metal and fusion styles, and (correct me if I'm wrong) isn't common in guitar design, so is a way for Abasi to differentuate their design from a lot of the other ergonomic guitar designs. Their double cut body looks very muck like a Strandberg.
Thanks so much for the review, I was about to buy a masters Larada 6 without playing it, but your tip about the limited access for the thumb on the higher frets really was helpful. Going to go w an Emi instead. Many thanks
Glad I could help!
I found your channel a couple months ago, and I'm blown away at your feedback and all the different approaches you take to evaluating each guitar. You rock, and I honestly loved this as much as the rest of your content! Happy just watching stuff you come out with :)
Thank you :)
Hey Andre,
Not sure if anyone answered this yet - Tosin stated the primary reason for the top portion of the body is to give more support to the neck. Since it's a longer scale, he wanted to offset the length of the neck by putting more of it 'into' the body. Thanks for making videos!!
I think that makes sense for a 8 string but not really for a 6 string. Thanks for sharing
The guitar shape pyramid concept was awesome really made me think 🤯
I actually almost bought this exact guitar, was the stealth B stock on their website, when it was gone suddenly, I knew it was you that grabbed it haha. Kinda happy I didn't as I'd rather have a larada with 8 strings rather than 6 as well this video provides alot of analysis on the build itself. Good review as always, thanks for doing this.
That would look killer in a double cut
I found out through your videos the importance roll of the ergonomics on the instruments. And how unconscious were in my search for the perfect guitar for me. You also said that design innovations should be more focus in ergonomic rather than aesthetics. Function follows form so to speak.
What a bummer that the you got an axe with faulty wiring. Hope that the next one you get will give you sonic delights!
As for the guitar itself, I'm not a real fan of the esthetics, but that is a personal thing, after all, if it plays great and sounds great, then who cares!
Got my Strandberg 2 weeks ago and have been really enjoying it. Love the ergonomics, the sounds I get out of the Suhr pups, and that neck, though it took me to get used to, is one I don't believe I ever will want to change... go figure, all of that due to your strandberg project!
Respect for that D'angelico in the frame.
Just at a glance this is a heavy metal style guitar. It has all the features you could want in a metal guitar.
As I have said before,your analysis of guitars ergonomics are so incredibly informative...very very interesting to say The least ..thanks Doc for informative and in depth dive
Thanks Joe :).
Never noticed this but as a classical player I love that the neck meets the body 12th fret!
I don't know if it's because I'm a bass player first, but I love odd shaped guitars that usually get hate. My favorite is a Parker Fly but I'd love to own this Abasi also.
Awesome video again Andre! Happy birthday to me!
I hear you about the upper bout of the body blocking your thumb from being free to reach over and do what it will as you change hand positions while playing in the upper register. Apart from visual style of the body shape, which is interesting and pretty cool, an obvious reason for this extension of the body would be to strengthen the neck by shortening its free length. If you play with your thumb on the back of the neck all the time it's not really an issue. For me it would be.
I've never played an Abasi but I question the single-cut design covering the bass side of the fretboard, I realize there's some clever heel joint design and apparently it feels comfortable... But I tend to have my thumb over the neck, whether for fretting chords or to get leverage with Yngwie-style exaggerated vibrato. To me it just seems that the huge slab of the body would get in the way.
maybe Tosin himself uses classical technique (thumb on the back of the neck) when he plays upper frets and to him, that single cutaway design makes sense but yeah to a lot of people I feel like that's not exactly comfortable
I think the single-cut design might be inspired by extended range bass designs (Fodera Emperor II for example) where playing thumb over the neck isn't going to as much of an issue, and Abasi have copied the look.
And I presume Tosin Abasi doesn't play thumb over the neck (he playes 7 and 8 strings mainly, these days?) so didn't se it as an issue.
The single cut style like this is beneficial by design at least on bass guitars, rather than artistic. Im not sure how it translates to standard electric guitar, but as someone who plays a single cut bass primarily, the advantages of that design are 1) That it make the neck much stiffer. That is to say, since the neck is supported to the 12th fret rather than 17th or 19th fret like a double cut, the neck is less likely to bow, and in fact, the truss rod needs much less tension to hold the neck straight - a huge benefit on 5 or 6 string basses. Also, there is more consistency between notes in the lower register. 2) it eliminates the fender dead spot that is inherent to the P-Bass and J-Bass designs, in which the C, C# or D on the G string dies off rapidly into a harmonic with no fundamental behind it.
I don't know how much this all carries over to guitar, though, as a lot of these things arent necessarily considerations for guitar like they are for bass.
The bass perspective is very helpful thank you.
newly subscribed and i really like the organised format of this and i can listen to you talk about every point - appreciate this content!
Thank you :)
Honestly the one I’ve been looking at is the tele one. But saying that, I was looking to pay alot for a fender tele, and decided to buy a cheap tele and put pick ups that had the model on the ones they have. The reason I did that, was because I didn’t know if I was ok spending that much for a guitar and not used to the sounds. So, my cheap guitar sounds great, but the neck isn’t that great… it stays in tune, but the neck isn’t great. Saying that, i probably spent like 500 on a guitar, that I’m happy with but left with a feeling of something is just wanting. Just be careful, I’m happy with mine, but I don’t think I need to spend 2000 or about 1500 on a guitar. I’ll get one that replaces mine, but I love the pickups, and its a beater.. for now , it res good and doesn’t get out of tune.
Love the “guitar design matrix” concept
Thank you!
Hey man! Just listened to your last podcast! Super helpful stuff, thank you for all you do
Thanks for supporting the podcast!
Ergonomics matters a lot.
Upper fret access too. If I pay for 24 frets, and I'm gonna use all of them 🙂
On a serious note, some guitars have decent-ish upper fret access if you just look at them, but when you try to play something which requires you to go up to 23-24 fret during fast phrase, well, on some guitars it's not as easy as on some others. And that means a lot, IMHO.
Looking at this guitar, I think that the body cut could be a bit bigger.
Also this 'stepped' heel just doesn't look healthy or natural. Anyhow, it just how it looks. Thanks for showing it in detail. Usually people tend to overlook that.
If you were one for clickbait video titles, I would expect this video to be titled “Tosin Abasi catfished me (with ergonomics)”
No, I really enjoy the ergonomics talk because no one else talks about it! That’s your niche! And I always appreciate you reminding the audience that our bodies/sizes are all different so what works for one might not work for another.
Also +1 for the thumb behind the neck camp! (I blame my classical violin training drilling that into me. Thumb never reaches over, and the higher up you travel, the more the thumb goes underneath the fingerboard.)
So while we’re polar opposite in size, I do appreciate your hand positioning.
That’s an amazing clickbait title. Also, bowed strings are far superior. I should have played cello
Lol I grew up a classical violinist too. I'm very resistant to wrapping thumb my over the top of the neck because of that. You have to though for some genres like funk.
Man I know exactly what you're going to say after seeing this guitar in your thumbnail, just glad to watch another ergonomic nerd in the community!
I appreciate all the nerdy stuff and I enjoy all your videos and I hadn’t even subscribed yet… but today is the day 🎊 🎉 …
Appreciate you!
That upper part may serve sound, tone purposes. The neck is more massive with that part, may give some tone advantage?
I wanted to have a Forshage headless hollowbody shape for me made but it also sports some similar idea..
Hmmm. A couple of things. Obviously, from the picture, I own that exact guitar. I always play in the "classical" position and have absolutely no issues at all. It's too bad, that you actually didn't play the guitar. It sounds amazing! The price is also great compared to the other Abasi guitars. You are right on one thing. Because of the bolt on neck, it does take a little time to get used to the upper register playing. But, you quickly do get used to it. I also own a Strandberg Original. The Abasi and that one are my go to guitars. The only thing I can say is that I hope you get that one fixed or replaced and give it another chance after actually playing it and understanding the switch positions. I do enjoy the in depth review.
Thanks Chris! I did play it for 15 hours. I no longer pick guitars that sound good if they aren't comfortable to me so the way it sounds amplified would really mean nothing in this case. I will also try the EMI as well when the 6 string comes out!
@@andrefludd Sounds good. Some of the other models are not a bolt on.
It would be interesting to compare the feel of the cutaway on the 6 with the 7 and 8 string versions. I wonder if the wider neck would negate some of the thumb positioning issues above the 12th fret.
That’s an amazing point. I almost never play anything besides 6 so I never considered that. I’d assume no one wraps their dumb on a 8 string and that’s what he’s most known for.
I was surprised by this review. I also assumed the shape was for ergonomics. i personally haven't met an ergonomic guitar that has been visually appealing to me, but i understand the need, or desire, for ergonomic guitars. but i would not have guessed this was done for visual appeal.
Another great video
The extra long contoured top bout makes two hand tapping very comfortable, it also helps with positioning for techniques like thumping from what I've found.
Not sure how it would help with thumbing since that’s a right hand technique. Please share if you get a chance!
The elongated upper "horn" is way over the top and I don't really think it helps neck dive considering its still weight at the top of the guitar (when horizontal)
That double cut is REALLY desirable to me honestly. Great stuff as always Andre!
For this form factor, I was expecting a 7-string variant that's multi scale (from ~25-32). That's where this design would shine imo.
Very informative video! Was wondering about the ergonomics of the Abasi guitars. Never gelled with the looks. And seeing how you wrap around the neck I'm inclined to say have to say you do have big hand sir!
I just got today my larada and I cannot be more agree with you in some points, when you're playing the higher frets it feels weird for the thumb, after some hours I think I'm kind of adapting to the design, but for sure it doesn't feel "natural" and probably that's the main "issue" of this guitar, however, I found the neck overall is comfortable and the "thin u" shape is really helpful for shredding purposes, the sound is really flat, that's not bad or good, but I found at least curious how balanced are the frequencies.
tosin abasi is a classical musician so when he was designing the guitar he had no need for a cut away above the fret board because his thumb is always behind the neck and never over it
I was under the impression thet the single cut design was deliberately meant to train you to not wrap your thumb around the neck - kind of like training wheels to break your muscle memory
Ergonomics is very relative to each individuals...
Ergonomic sitting down? Standing up? Which position holds your guitar upon your body?
How high do you wear the guitar?...etc.
It's all relative to our own little likings imho.
In my mind, the overall best erogonomic guitar has to be Klein guitars.
But even for them, there are specifics to be taken into account; if one likes playing the guitar real low, which realistically, is not ergonomic at all, then the Klein would be super awkward to play sitting down.
So it all boils down to getting the overall best for your need.
For me, my EBMM Majesty 7 is the best at everything, followed by my Charbonneau Scimtar 7; thoses two guitars, although coming at two very different price point, i can easily play for long hours.
My two cents.😁
EDIT: My Ibanez QX527PB is probably the most ''out of the way'' of my playing that i tried; you don't feel the body at all.
The dot inlays look like the Kramer Nightswan.
As for body shape I like the double cut more, guess I am a little traditional after all.
Some company needs to pick you up to make a signature guitar purely for the fact you could probably design the best ergonomics + hardware combination of all time.
Maybe I’ll do it myself one day :)
I absolutely love the way these guitars look but I know that as much as I want one it really wouldn't be all that comfortable. I'm one of those players that really starts to wrap my hand around the neck when I get to the higher frets.
What is the deal with that huge block after the 12th fret good grief! Thanks for pointing that thumb thing out I wouldn't have noticed it until I had the guitar. Not that I would have bought this one but I'm always shopping for ways to waste my money. Your videos are always enjoyable to watch.
Crazy how much your channel has grown. Great review
I work on it obsessively lol I’m happy it’s showing :). Thanks for your comment
The Stephens Extended Cutaway on the Washburn N4 is a related concept with neck joint. Stephens felt it improves the sound.
Great video man🔥🔥🔥🤘🏻
You have a great way of speaking Andre and a really lovely voice.
Thank you!
Excellent video. I largely agree with you. And I do in fact own a Strandberg 8 string and 7 string Larada. It's markedly less comfortable than the Strandberg in the seated position although I don't have your issue with the neck joint. That being Said I'm keeping mine, since I need a guitar dedicated to being in drop A. But if I were looking for my main guitar that I spend 90% of my time playing, I would absolutely sell it and get a Strandberg.
One thing of note though is that I play it in the extremely vertical neck position you demonstrated when talking about trying to find alternatives that didn't work for you. It's not perfect, but I actually like it. The biggest issue I have with it is just the weight of the headstock.
I’d like to see your thoughts on petrucci’s music man majesty guitars
I’ll admit that I’m generally not super interested in headless guitars, but have you looked at all into Aristides? They seem like they have a pretty well thought-out headless design with options for a multi scale tremolo, and I’ve heard good things about their quality control
I had one yes
Thank you for the review! I played this guitar (well, just the one with a hard tail, don't like trems). You're absolutely right about the issue 2.
As a quick note : *my thumb never goes up on the classical guitar, and since i prefer to sit in the classical position with everything that looks like a guitar, this is not an issue at all. I mean -the ergonomics only matter as far as the cutaways are concerned : if it doesn't poke me in the ribs, it's good. So, a strat, abasi, RG's, basses feel absolutely the same. *
The problem with Abasi starts when i stand with a strap -unless you jack this guitar all the way up your neck, the higher positions really put the left hand wrist in a dreadful angle. Maybe some people can deal with it, but I already had wrist issues in the past, so it wasn't for me.
I follow a dude on Instagram and he just started playing one of these. I had the same question about comfort of the thumb on higher frets. I have giant hands and I don’t think I’d like playing this guitar. It looks great and the one I heard sounds killer but probably not for me and my catcher mitts😂. I enjoy the reviews, keep them coming.
Really nice to hear how thin the neck is, should be a good 7-String option for me since I have small hands.
Saw an interview (Coffee with Ola i think?) where Tosin said that the upper horn is supposed to encourage better thumb positioning in the middle of the neck when playing leads. But yeah seems overly restrictive, the Emi is better functionally and aesthetically imo.
9:07 thank you for finally referencing my guitar hero. hope you do a majesty review in the future!
i love this review as well. very balanced and a lot of effort put into pointing out the good stuff and considering what some other people might appreciate.
Excellent, no BS reviews. Love your vids.
Been thinking about this review for a while now, cause I’m in love with the 8 string model, and I appreciate your input cause it’s usually the polar opposite of mine haha.
Something someone mentioned before is that the 6 string looks like they just shrunk down the 8 string model, and it really rings true. I think the 8 string is EXTREMELY friendly to play, compared to other 8 strings. It feels like an elegant weapon and doesn’t have that caveman, skateboard feeling neck that other 8’s have. That being said, I don’t think the 6 stands a chance compared to other 6’s since there’s so much more out there in terms of comfortable 6’s.
Also while we’re on the subject, if they really want me to want a 6 string Larada, they can at least offer a hard tail substitute. I hope they offer different options as the brand picks up more speed.
I wish I could loan you my 8-string Larada for a direct comparison, because I certainly feel that the neck-joint and classical seated position benefit the 8-string design greatly, and wonder about the utility for the 6. I also have a Strandberg Classic 8, and for me the Abasi very quickly eclipsed the Strandberg, so much so that of all my guitars, I took the Abasi as my extended-range guitar, despite the Strandberg being much easier to travel with.
Also dollars USD isn't redundant, as there are some other countries like Australia that refer to their currency as dollars as well, so the distinction is helpful haha
Yea I think for 8 string this would probably be much better. And “ dollars United States dollars “is still redundant. Simply saying USD would have been enough.
@@andrefludd Ahh you're right. That's what I get for commenting whilst sleep-deprived
Tosin must of heard alot of complaints regarding the single cut design because he came out with a double cut version which looks beautiful. I still love the single cut design and as a player who keeps his thumb on the back of the neck the ergonomics seem fine definitely considering one in the near future
I like the aesthetic of this guitar. Looks comfy, erg-ish design without being ugly AF. I appreciate the constant mentions of hitting switches and knobs, btw. You should not have to physically avoid stupid design features to play well, and im nonplussed why everyone puts volume/tone/knife switch right where your pick and strum through. Some day, I will be a great guitar player and people will not remember me by my tone switch and knife selector hand speed.
I realize it'd add to editing time, but I recommend having some intro and outro music, or maybe some music throughout the video in the background to help 'set the tone' of the video. E.g. The narrative arc of a video can be underscored/highlighted with music in this way. Just one particular editing style I think that may help the videos reach bigger audiences.
Great quick review of the guitar given its limitations!
I appreciate the idea. I know you’ve given this advice for months now. I’m just not interested in adding music unless the music serves an educational purpose. It’s an artistic choice for me to not have intros, outros, sound effects, etc.
Thank you for the thoughtful, detailed review. Very informative.
Slowly watching your channel grow :)
An excellent, and well thought out review. Thank you, as ever, for your unique insights.
Thank you for always supporting Simon.
The thumb around the neck thing was the first thing I thought of when I clicked on this vid! I was thinking how that would be a problem for me and render the guitar very unergonomic because I do the same thing as you. I don't understand why the body has to have that large section of wood there, it definitely would get in the way of my playing on the upper frets.
we need these videos!!!!!
The 8 string I played, me being a 6 string guy, almost made me make the jump… it just felt ssoooo gooood!
Same opinion on the switch, definitely way too close to rock out on unfortunately!
Loving these videos
Great content! Greetings from Chile
I like the Abasi Emi shape more than the Larada. A little more aesthetic for me, but honestly, if I buy a high end guitar with an "out there" design, it'll either be a Strandberg or Mayones Hydra. I think Strandberg have it nailed on both guitar weight and neck feel and the Mayones Hydra just looks super sick to me.
No excuse at all that the Abasi was defective; considering the Master Series 6s for 2023 are coming out soon (April according to the site), they should have it together by now.
I owned one of the originals that were made by another builder in 18: I personally loved that guitar but as it was basically a prototype so it was great promise for what lay ahead. Only Vigier and Abasi have I deeply regretted selling. I hope they send another very soon! Looking forward to your deeper dive!
I'm very interested now in the new Abasi Emi 6 with 3 singles.. looks killer...
I bought one :). UPS currently has it lol
@@andrefludd Thank god - it is not headless , like Boden... but has this popular and cool "headless guitar" body... . I will be the first one to click your video when you make a review about it !
You’re a one-man focus group. Looking forward to your signature model ✌🏼
Hetfield has essentially had this headstock design on a custom explorer 30 years ago bro
I've always thought this guitar was hideous,,, but I loved your video about it. Keep up the awesome work.
Thank you
What is up with their quality control?
Great review. As always tbh. Never thought that this body type simply won't allow overhand grip which is a necessity for controlled bends. I'm curious why they didn't make a belly cut extremely big if the body allows it to be bigger and the overall shape suggests to play it in classical position
Andrew Marshalls guitar and this one, as most of the higher end Schecters, are made by WMI in Korea,that's why there are so many similarities. At least in this case. I love 'em both I must say, but the Abasai just fascinates me...
Sounds like instead of a triangle for Art/Ergo/Heritage, there should be 3 circles that have overlap. I think it exists because someone felt that it would be a more ideal choice of guitar. Honestly, I can't see why a Strandberg is perceived as groundbreaking. It's just another take on the same guitars Metal players have always shaped a guitar body. It has proprietary hardware, still needs to be strung, tuned, set up. And since there are few of them, techs simply don't have the experience of working on them routinely. When you have Strandberg with their own section of returns, refurbished Strandberg guitars. They probably have the same experience for wear & tear that the traditional LP, Strat or Tele has. Play with your hands & ears, not the eye candy. SRV's Strat is something most folks would look at next to a pristine brand new guitar & walk away from. Like they would walk away from a 2012 Camry vs a 2023 Camry.
Useless above the 13th fret..
But we only need to go 11. right?
8:00 that, I believe, is a tonal choise, which your matrix is lacking. I'm not sure it makes sense on a solidbody instrument, but on a hollow body instrument, a body that goes all the way up or even past the halfway-point (i.e. the 12th fret) makes an enormous, humongous positive difference tonally. Especially resonance is better, but provided the construction itself is sound (ta-dumm-dish!), You'll have improved acoustic projection, sustain and easy better, tighter low notes
I’ve considered it, but I have no objective way to test how the shape impacts sound. Especially on an electric instrument. But I’m actually working on that.
@@andrefludd oh danm, I should have taken more time to construct a proper comment instead of constantly editing it 😖
The reason a lot of high-class basses have that same kind of neck joint is at least partially that a stiffer neck and more substantial neck-body connection allows for more even, direct tones and a low B that doesn't sound like a fart. Bassdesign is so much more progressive than guitar design.
Actually, it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on that subject. I find my fellow guitarists to be scarily conservative, to the point that I don't dare to talk about my design ideas with anyone who plays guitar. But I talk about it all the time with a friend who plays bass. I really don't understand how that can be. Have you had the same experience?
Hey have you tried the Dean Razorback models
This is the first discussion of electric guitar ergonomics I've seen! I started playing classical with footstool and various devices to raise the guitar off my left leg. I play electric with a strap and a footstool but I still experience discomfort on longer practices. And I like thrash metal so it's not exactly very cool to sit like that! 😂. That discussion of the rear cutaway was really interesting. Unfortunately/fortunately I just spent all my money on a suhr modern. Nevertheless, this was an interesting video for me. Thanks!
I bought the same one but b stock cause it was a couple hundred bucks cheaper and had no cosmetic issues upon arrival BUT my electronics didn’t work either and had to send it in for repair. They need to fire whoever does their electronics in Cali and in South Korea. I love how it feels to play. Just practice standing up like dimebag anyways. Best way to practice for playing live
Also their customer support guy I had to email him twice a bunch of times just to remind him to email me back
Gibson Les Paul and SG Junior for life baby
Excellent review, and we share some of the same biases: I prefer comfort above all else, and ergonomics is important, as part of that. I love the design of the Abasi body in this case, and could likely adapt to a shallow neck, but the placement and orientation of the pickup switch is awful - I'd be hitting it all the time, as I rarely finger-pick. Even in that unconventionally-shaped body, there's plenty of room in the lower bout to move that switch and reorient it so that it's totally out of the player's way when s/he's playing the instrument, while still being accessible. I'd have the same issues with the upper bout extended up the neck - I put my thumb on the back of the neck most of the time, too, and, while I'm rarely that far up the neck, I'd have issues with the design as is. That said, from a "looks" standpoint, this guitar is gorgeous in matte black - it looks very futuristic - and I'm also a fan of the contour carves on the front and back. Lately, my favorite guitar at home is an Eart. It's Strandberg-ish in shape, and the lower bout is similar to the Abasi, though I like the Abasi's output jack location even better. Alas, my guess is that Abasi, as a niche producer, has to price their instruments way, way out of my reach to stay in business, so I won't be a customer.