Born in Mokokchung, Arenlong Longkumer discovered his passion for the guitar at the tender age of eleven, gifted with his first miniature acoustic guitar by his father. Growing up, he absorbed knowledge from various sources, nurturing his skills through informal learning. His journey took a more structured path when he briefly enrolled in classical guitar courses in Shillong. From there, Arenlong’s dedication and talent propelled him forward, marking the beginning of a flourishing career as both a guitarist and composer.
Let’s delve into why Arenlong opted for Strandberg guitars as his preferred instrument for musical expression.
Q. Tell us about your Strandberg guitar.
Arenlong: The Strandberg I have with me is the Standard 6 trem, courtesy of the amazing people at The Stockist who made it possible to realize a dream -to own a Strandberg guitar that I’ve admired ever since I first saw it.
Q. Can you share any specific features or innovations of Strandberg guitars that have had a significant impact on your playing experience and performance?
Arenlong: The Strandberg guitar is highly innovative in my opinion and quite stunning aesthetically. From a playing perspective, the guitar body cutaway and the endure neck have had a significant impact on me personally in terms of comfort.
Q. As a musician, how do you feel Strandberg guitars contribute to your creativity and musical expression, particularly in terms of tone and playability?
Arenlong: I think the ease of playing, because of the way it’s designed. Having a lightweight guitar with all the comfort cuts definitely helps ease some of the tension while playing. The stock pickups sound great and overall, it’s just an amazing guitar.
Q. Could you describe a memorable moment or performance where your Strandberg guitar played a pivotal role in achieving the desired sound or feel?
Arenlong: I don’t really have one specific moment as such. But what I can tell you is every time I take the guitar up on stage, it has consistently delivered and that has built my trust with the guitar.
Q. How do you navigate the versatility of Strandberg guitars to accommodate different musical genres and playing techniques in your repertoire?
Arenlong: I personally feel it’s a very versatile instrument. The pickups sound great and with the 5-way selector, it can pretty much handle any style of music. I also like the fact that the multi-scale feature is more prominent on the upper area of the neck and it definitely helps my left hand while playing on the upper frets.
Q. Can you share any insights or anecdotes from your personal journey with Strandberg guitars that highlight their significance in your musical career and development as an artist?
Arenlong: It’s already such a comfortable guitar and on days where I don’t feel like playing, sometimes I just admire its beauty and end up picking up the guitar and start playing. I guess that’s the best answer I can give for this….ha….ha…
Q. As someone who values tone and sonic experimentation, how do you utilize the tonal flexibility and range of Strandberg guitars to explore new sounds and textures in your music?
Arenlong: I haven’t tried the other models but with the one I have, I found the pickups are well-balanced (even though I’m not well-versed on the technical side of things) so I’m happy with the tones I get out of it. I also love the fact that it’s got a decent volume roll-off for some cleaner tones.
Q. What role do you see Strandberg guitars playing in shaping the future of guitar design and construction, especially in terms of sustainability and innovation?
Arenlong: I think Strandberg guitars have already resolved so many issues for a guitarist. Things like the weight of the guitar, portability, and the design to be able to play from different positions. These are things that are really important from a player’s perspective and I’m happy with how the company is dedicated to addressing them.
Q. How do you balance preserving the traditional aspects of guitar playing while embracing the modern advancements and forward-thinking features of Strandberg guitars?
Arenlong: For me personally, the modern advancements of Strandberg guitars have not hindered the traditional aspects of playing the instrument. If at all, it has made guitar playing comfortable and enjoyable.
Q. How do you perceive Strandberg guitars’ impact on the broader music community and their potential to inspire innovation and creativity among fellow musicians?
Arenlong: I think it has already made such a huge impact on the guitar/music community. The sheer amount of world-class players embracing the guitar is evident with big names like Plini, Richard Henshall (Haken), Per Nilsson, and even Jacob Collier. There are so many more amazing artists playing the instrument and that speaks a lot about the guitar. Like many others, I too became an instant fan of the guitar and I’m really happy to be able to play one.
Q. What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are considering incorporating Strandberg guitars into their setup for the first time?
Arenlong: All I can say is, try one. It might just solve some of the problems you have with a traditional guitar and inspire you to play the instrument a bit more.
Q. Describe Strandberg guitars in 3 words.
Arenlong: Imaginative, inspiring, innovative
