Dimapur, July 26 (MExN): Nagaland-based guitarist and composer Arenlong has officially joined Strandberg Guitars as an endorsed artist — a milestone that brings his journey with the brand full circle.
Arenlong first caught Strandberg’s attention in 2020 when he won the Strandberg Guitar Contest in India, and six years later, that connection has evolved into a formal partnership.
The endorsement places Arenlong within a lineage of players who have helped define the modern progressive guitar sound. Since Swedish luthier Ola Strandberg founded the company in 2012, Strandberg guitars have become closely associated with ergonomic, headless instrument design and have been adopted by prominent progressive and fusion players such as Plini and Jordan Rudess — establishing the brand as a go-to choice in the progressive metal and instrumental guitar world.
Joining that artist roster situates Arenlong alongside a global community of players known for pushing technical and melodic boundaries on the instrument, stated an update received here.
Known for blending progressive rock and metal with intricate, melodic guitar solos, Arenlong has built a distinctive voice as both a player and a composer. His debut EP, Willow (2022), showcases that sound in full — a body of work that reflects years of refinement across genres and influences.
Alongside his Strandberg Contest win, Arenlong has claimed victories at the Boss Guitar Maestro Contest (2015), the National Guitar Solo Contest (2014), and Best Guitarist honors at the Hornbill International Rock Contest (2013). In 2020, he was also named a winner of an international online guitar contest hosted by acclaimed UK guitarist Jack Gardiner — further cementing his place among a global community of accomplished players.
Beyond his solo work, Arenlong is featured on the NAMMA Music Artist Roster, where he collaborated with Abhay Nayampally, J-Rod Sullivan, and producer Sandeep Chowta on the EP Treekam.
Arenlong also credits India's growing boutique-gear retail scene with helping make this endorsement possible. Mumbai-based dealer The Stockist, which stocks Strandberg alongside other premium brands like Taylor, Suhr, and Mayones out of its Malad West experience centre, has played a key role in bringing high-end, hard-to-source gear to Indian musicians — and in supporting the relationship that led to Arenlong's endorsement.
With headless guitars and boutique gear still relatively rare in India, The Stockist, who invest in inventory, setup expertise, and artist relationships, are helping close the gap between Indian players and the global gear market.
Alongside the new Strandberg partnership, Arenlong also endorses Hotone Audio and SIT Strings, rounding out a gear lineup built around brands he uses on stage and in the studio.
