Mike Stringer is a Canadian guitarist hailing from Victoria, British Columbia. Mike has long been at the forefront of the Progressive Metal scene, becoming a touring musician at only 16. After a stint in iwrestledabearonce alongside his future wife & bandmate Courtney LaPlante, Mike & Courtney formed Spiritbox in 2017, with the goal of releasing authentic, experimental music with a focus on raw emotion & instrumental technicality.

Spiritbox quickly established themselves as a force of nature in the Modern Metal community with singles such as “Rule of Nines,” “Holly Roller,” and “Circle with Me,” driven by Mike’s dynamic guitar work—combining down-tuned aggression with crystalline, ambient textures. Their debut album Eternal Blue, follow-up EP The Fear of Fear, and latest release Tsunami Sea pushed their sound even further and earned international acclaim, Grammy & Juno nominations, and a dedicated global fanbase.

Mike’s demand for tuning stability, tonal clarity, and versatility is what first led him to Aristides guitars in 2017, beginning with the recording of Spiritbox’s earliest material. After nearly a decade of collaboration, we are proud to introduce the STX Series—our first-ever artist collection.

Designed in close partnership with Mike, the STX Series is a bold new offset shape available in 6, 7 & 8-string variants, including multiscale and EverTune options. This ergonomic design reflects Mike’s modern playing style and forward-thinking tone, while staying true to the core Aristides philosophy of innovation and precision. Every STX model offers full customization and is built to inspire—whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering the world of Aristides.