u/Wrong-Intention-6557

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to decide between two 8-strings:
Ibanez Alpha A528
Strandberg Boden Standard N2.8

A bit of context that probably matters:

1. Ergonomics and playing comfort are my top priority (more than tone, looks, etc.)

I’ve already played a Strandberg (6-string) and really liked the feel, especially the neck and overall ergonomics.

Unfortunately, trying these guitars before buying is not an option for me

The Ibanez is significantly cheaper, so there’s a real price consideration

So this feels like a bit of a dilemma:

Strandberg = I already know I like the ergonomics, but it’s expensive

Ibanez = more affordable, but I have no hands-on experience with the Alpha series

My questions:

How close does the Ibanez Alpha series get to Strandberg in terms of ergonomics and long-session comfort?
Is the Strandberg ergonomics still on another level even compared to something like the Alpha?
For someone who already likes Strandberg, is it risky to go Ibanez without trying it?
Is the price difference worth it purely from a comfort/playability perspective?

I’m not really considering other guitars — just trying to decide between these two.

Would love to hear from anyone who has experience with either (especially both).

Thanks!