“I didn’t set out to start a guitar company. I set out to solve a problem. That problem became a purpose”: Behind the rise of Strandberg, the firm that ushered in a headless guitar revolution – and changed the concept of guitar design in the process

It’s fair to say that the vast majority of the electric guitar industry keeps one eye looking back. In how many other industries would it be the norm to continually revisit and reissue designs that first came out in the 1950s and 1960s? Probably not many, which is what makes the guitar industry so fascinating.

Nevertheless, despite the ever-present romanticising of the guitar designs of yesteryears, there are a select few companies that have developed an ethos to radically transform the electric guitar and take the humble instrument into the modern age.

Strandberg Guitars is at the very top of that list, and has been ever since Ola Strandberg established his eponymous company in 2012. But the development of the guitars began years earlier, when Ola’s lifelong interest in guitar building grew into a passion. That passion then became a purpose, one defined by a drive to make the guitar as ergonomically optimal as possible.

This was achieved through revolutionary neck profiles, proprietary hardware, unique body shapes and, of course, a headless design to promote balance and stability.

“I never set out to create a guitar company. I set out to solve a problem,” he tells Guitar World. “As a teenager in Sweden, I spent countless hours fixing guitars at a local music store. I loved the instrument, but I couldn’t ignore its flaws.

“Heavy bodies. Neck dive. Awkward wrist angles. Long rehearsals often ended with sore shoulders and numb fingers, not just for me but for almost every guitarist I knew.”

A long hiatus from playing was followed by a head-first deep dive into guitar building. Strandberg’s "Ergonomic Guitar System” – a blueprint that looked to correct the shortcomings of traditional guitars – was born, and before long Ola found himself doubling down on a design that would be optimised in terms of comfort, well-being and playability, built for guitarists disillusioned with the alternatives.

“It was never about reinventing the guitar for the sake of novelty, it was about removing anything that didn’t help you make music, and refining everything that did,” he reflects. “It’s not that ergonomic guitars didn’t exist, but the ones that did looked very different from the norm of what an electric guitar should look like.”

A large part of the ergonomic concept, as alluded to above, was concerned with weight and balance. There was one solution that stood out: a headless design. Experimented with in the past by the likes of Ned Steinberger, headless guitars never quite caught on, but since Strandberg’s formation, we’ve witnessed a headless renaissance like never before.

Now, more players than ever are cottoning on to the visual and playability benefits of headless guitars, and though Strandberg’s roots are inherently linked to progressive music, players from wider genres – Jacob Collier included – are taking note.

“We didn’t invent headless guitars, but we reframed them,” Strandberg says of the rise of the headless guitar, and the role his firm has played. “Removing the headstock meant perfect balance, rock-solid tuning, and a more compact, travel-friendly form. Players realized they could go longer, play cleaner, and hurt less.

“Those practical benefits, combined with a modern aesthetic, are why more players are making the switch today.”

“When the first Strandberg Boden launched, it was more than a model, it was a statement. Lightweight, often chambered bodies that hug you whether seated or standing. Multiscale frets for even tension and perfect intonation across six, seven, and eight strings. Hardware integrated seamlessly into the body for stability.”

Another key statement from the Strandberg school of thought is the EndurNeck – a revolutionary, asymmetrical neck profile that promotes optimal wrist positioning and movement. The development of this, Strandberg says, was a turning point.

“The real turning point was when I began carving necks to match the natural movement of the hand,” Strandberg says. “The patented EndurNeck profile was born from a great deal of experimentation and studying posture and biomechanics.

“I had to develop my own construction techniques and find materials that were light but strong, engineering hardware that could stand the demands of touring, convincing players to try something so visually different.

“But the first time a guitarist picked one up and said, ‘This is how it should feel,’ I knew we were onto something. The result is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Now, the Strandberg line is headed up by a range of headless guitars, each offering varying body shapes, pickup combinations, multi-scale options, colorways, and string configurations. The core principles remain the same, though – and that goes for each end of the firm’s price range spectrum.

As Strandberg asserts, “There’s always room to refine – both to create more accessible entry points and to push the premium boundaries. Both approaches serve the same mission: giving players the best tools possible.”

With signature artists such as Plini, Jacob Collier, Jordan Rudess and more already on its roster, and a growing pool of Strandberg players, the firm is in rude health going into its next chapter. The future is bright for Strandberg, and for players – beginners and pros alike – looking to level up their collection.

To that end, Strandberg recently unveiled its most affordable guitar yet, the Boden Essential, which brought the firm’s unique design ethos to an all-new group of guitarists.

As Strandberg notes, “The Boden Essential was our answer to a big question: how can more players experience the Strandberg feel? We streamlined production, kept the ergonomic core, and made it more affordable without compromising the DNA. The Boden Essential has been a true success in bringing more players into the Strandberg family.

“If your first guitar is balanced, stable, and easy on your hands, you build good technique from day one,” he adds. “You get to focus on the music, not fighting the instrument.”

Going forward, expect more of the same from Strandberg. Only in this case, ‘the same’ translates to ‘innovation’.

“We’ll keep evolving and exploring new ideas and designs, finding ways to make our instruments even more player focused,” Strandberg teases. “The journey that started in my workshop has become a global movement – but we’re only getting started.

“If your guitar has ever felt like it’s fighting you, this is your invitation. Whether you’re playing six, seven, or eight strings, whether you’re chasing shimmering cleans or crushing gain, Strandberg guitars are built to disappear under your hands - so your music can take center stage.

“I didn’t set out to start a guitar company. I set out to solve a problem. That problem became a purpose. And that purpose is still driving us forward.”

• Visit Strandberg Guitars for more information.