Strandberg has deliberately created a buzz, referring to it as an April Fool's prank; however, it turns out that the headless acoustic guitar they are developing is genuine, and a prototype might have been unveiled.
Ready to rock the acoustic world? That's what Ola Strandberg, the mastermind behind Strandberg Guitars, seems to be planning! In a candid chat with us, he spilled the beans about his plans to bring his famed ergonomic designs to the realm of acoustic guitars.
During a guitar health seminar held in collaboration with UK music store, Andertons, Ola confirmed the exciting news. "We're working on it at the moment," he admitted when asked about a potential headless acoustic guitar. But he didn't stop there—he even revealed a sneak peek of a prototype back in 2023, as part of an April Fools' prank.
You might think they're just pulling our strings, but this isn't the first time Strandberg has played tricks on April Fool’s Day. But this time, there's a twist. Ola claimed they were developing a prototype hybrid percussive guitar-like instrument that combined the guitar with percussive techniques. The video teasing this invention showed a hollow acoustic build with two sound holes—one on the upper bout and one below the bridge.
Looking closer, we can see that this design is a clever workaround for Strandberg's EGS bridges that need to sit at the edge of a guitar body to work. In the video, we even see Strandberg artist Per Nilsson treating the rear of the guitar like a drum! Despite the April Fools joke, the guitar in the video is very real, and it's a nifty concept indeed.
"It was intentional to keep people guessing," Ola reveals now. "If it was real, or if it was just an April fool — that was a prototype." It seems we should have suspected something when we noticed that this April Fools prank is the only one that doesn't have a dedicated page on Strandberg's website—they've kept this one away from prying eyes.
The prototype shows the signature EGS bridge and headless design, but it doesn't have room for fanned frets like a previous prank did. Strandberg's 2021 April Fools skit introduced a headless, fanned fret ukelele, named the Strandberg Madeira, which might have been the first step into exploring unchartered waters for the acoustic build.
Only time will tell if this bold new venture will make waves in the acoustic guitar market—just like Strandberg's headless electric guitars have changed the game[4]. The trapezoidal EndurNeck, another signature feature of Strandberg's electric guitars, is renowned for its ergonomic benefits, and it's likely that similar ergonomic principles will be applied to the acoustic model[6].
So, stay tuned! The acoustic music scene might soon witness a new revolution brought to us by Strandberg Guitars.
- Ola Strandberg, the mastermind behind Strandberg Guitars, is planning to bring his ergonomic designs to the realm of acoustic guitars.
- At a guitar health seminar, Ola confirmed the news about a potential headless acoustic guitar, adding a sneak peek of a prototype in 2023.
- Strandberg Guitars is developing a prototype hybrid percussive guitar-like instrument that combines the guitar with percussive techniques.
- The design of the hybrid guitar features a hollow acoustic build with two sound holes and a workaround for Strandberg's EGS bridges, allowing a guitarist to treat the rear of the guitar like a drum.
- Strandburg's April Fools prank shows the signature EGS bridge and headless design, but it doesn't have room for fanned frets like the Strandberg Madeira, a headless, fanned fret ukelele introduced in 2021.
- With the potential release of an acoustic guitar, the acoustic music scene might soon witness a new revolution brought to us by Strandberg Guitars, following the success of their headless electric guitars and ergonomic features like the trapezoidal EndurNeck.
