Solar Guitars
- Thread starter JB_From_Hell
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JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
They're designed by Ola Englund, who's probably best known for his YouTube channel, also the guitarist from The Haunted and Feared. Used to be in Six Feet Under.
The ones in the $1000 range have stainless frets, glowing fret markers, Evertune or Floyd bridges, and other premium features. The $700 ones have Hipshot fixed bridges and nickel frets. They all have Ola's proprietary Duncan Solar pickups, proprietary locking tuners, and most are either neck-thru or set-thru. There are a few artist models that have other pickups, like EMG or Fishman Fluence.
Like I said, they're packed with premium hardware, and after being out for a few years, the market is not flooded with used ones for sale. I'm sure a lot of that has to do with initial buyers being fans of Ola, and maybe a little more bought-in to the brand to begin with, but I'm curious enough to buy one.
That green V is definitely sweet.
The ones in the $1000 range have stainless frets, glowing fret markers, Evertune or Floyd bridges, and other premium features. The $700 ones have Hipshot fixed bridges and nickel frets. They all have Ola's proprietary Duncan Solar pickups, proprietary locking tuners, and most are either neck-thru or set-thru. There are a few artist models that have other pickups, like EMG or Fishman Fluence.
Like I said, they're packed with premium hardware, and after being out for a few years, the market is not flooded with used ones for sale. I'm sure a lot of that has to do with initial buyers being fans of Ola, and maybe a little more bought-in to the brand to begin with, but I'm curious enough to buy one.
That green V is definitely sweet.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
^ nice
Samick Lover
Member
I have seen some guitar YouTube channels buy some of the models from the brand. They love them. :14::33::headbang::headbang::headbang::guilty:
They are indonesian 1000 dollar guitars. They uses a 12th fret logo to distinguish themselves. Besides the logo, they are nondescript contract build guitars.
while ola is entertaining, I wouldn't want an instrument associated with him. For same reason I wouldn't want a chapman.
Also would not want guitar without inlays. Are they decent? Probably just as good as the indonesian ltd's and Ibanez guitars. You want to pay extra for ola's inlay?
while ola is entertaining, I wouldn't want an instrument associated with him. For same reason I wouldn't want a chapman.
Also would not want guitar without inlays. Are they decent? Probably just as good as the indonesian ltd's and Ibanez guitars. You want to pay extra for ola's inlay?
Masta' C
Well-known member
Yeah, I hate guitar brands associated with actual people...Gibson, Hamer, Ibanez, Paul Reed Smith, Washburn, Parker... :scratchch
God forbid an actual guitar player runs the company...sheesh!
Masta' C
Well-known member
Agreed. I might be putting that one on my x-mas list! Dear wife...
Samick Lover
Member
Why is that? Would you not want a Greg Bennett or a Les Paul for the same reason? :11::crazy:
Obsessive Compulsive
New member
It's based on Washburn Solar his sig model. I'd get a Washburn Parallaxe for a third of the price, and none of his goofiness.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
And stainless frets, an Evertune bridge, and luminous side dots. Equally important to me anymore is where my money is ultimately headed.
Ola’s a goofball, and seems like the kind of person I’d be friends with. He’s not some douchey CEO who could be interchanged with any other random asshat without having an effect on the end product. The older I get, the more stuff like that matters to me.
Like I said before, I’m sure I could get a comparable Schecter or LTD for less (and I love both of those brands), but I like Ola, and would feel good about supporting him.
singularity6
New member
The inlay issue is definitely subjective. I personally like the Solar inlay design.
I feel that Solar and Chapman guitars are competitively priced with their competition. $700-$1300 seems to be the price range that most professional level imports are set at these days. I have an Indonesian made PRS SE (35th anniversary edition, $999.) The build is fairly close to flawless. For the same price I paid for this PRS, I guess I could get an Ibanez RG 550 that is made in Japan, but I'm not convinced that the country of origin makes as much of a difference as it used to. I've picked up and played a number of Player Series Strats. They're great. Epiphone? Yeah... they've really upped their game, too. In fact, I've played several Gibsons and Epiphones in stores. In the end, I found that the quality control was way tighter for the Epiphones. Some of the Gibson guitars were flat out unplayable, which is a real shame.
Looking at the Solar guitars specifically - Duncan Solar pickups, Evertunes, Floyd Rose 1000... all quality parts. Yeah, I think you're getting a tour-grade instrument, and the prices really don't seem all that premium to me.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
I had an Ibanez Tosin Abasi 8 string about a year ago. The build quality was as good as any other production guitar I’ve owned, despite being Indonesian. I think they were like $1200 or $1400 new. It had real DiMarzio pickups, and otherwise quality hardware, but not premium tuners or bridge, and no stainless frets. The felt very similar in quality to the MIJ 7621 neck on my current 7, and the fretwork was just as good.
My current mandolin is a Northfield, built in China from USA supplied materials. It sounds different than the $10,000 Gibson Master Model I had previously, but the build quality is at least as good, and the fit and finish is better. It also came stock with higher quality tuners, and a $150 tailpiece compared to the $25 stamped metal Gibson tailpiece.
In other words, I agree that country of origin is irrelevant.
My current mandolin is a Northfield, built in China from USA supplied materials. It sounds different than the $10,000 Gibson Master Model I had previously, but the build quality is at least as good, and the fit and finish is better. It also came stock with higher quality tuners, and a $150 tailpiece compared to the $25 stamped metal Gibson tailpiece.
In other words, I agree that country of origin is irrelevant.
Masta' C
Well-known member
Country of Origin is definitely a thing of the past. Guitars are built to a price-point, regardless of where they are made, and they either use quality parts and get proper quality-controlled or they don't.
Someone from Indonesia is just as capable of spraying a killer finish, pressing frets, and installing hardware as someone from the U.S. or Japan. We all have hands, eyes, and the ability to be trained in certain skills. There used to be a gap in quality that was largely apparent by country of origin. In the mid-level price segment, that gap has all but closed.
These Solar guitars are priced competitively, as well. Obviously, these smaller brands (Chapman, Solar, etc) suffer from a mature distribution network, but that's all the more reason to support them, if you ask me.
Someone from Indonesia is just as capable of spraying a killer finish, pressing frets, and installing hardware as someone from the U.S. or Japan. We all have hands, eyes, and the ability to be trained in certain skills. There used to be a gap in quality that was largely apparent by country of origin. In the mid-level price segment, that gap has all but closed.
These Solar guitars are priced competitively, as well. Obviously, these smaller brands (Chapman, Solar, etc) suffer from a mature distribution network, but that's all the more reason to support them, if you ask me.
Obsessive Compulsive
New member
It's not the build quality that matters, it's the price. As labor cost in Indonesia is lower than that in the US, guitar makers make a lot FATTER profit margin from any guitar than they would, if the guitars were made in the USA.
For the same reason I am not paying 1000 dollars for an Ibanez Premium. Add 200 hundred dollars more I can get a brand new MIJ Prestige, the real deal.
For the same reason I am not paying 1000 dollars for an Ibanez Premium. Add 200 hundred dollars more I can get a brand new MIJ Prestige, the real deal.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Cheapest new Prestige I see is $1500.
Not saying they’re the same guitar or quality, but that it’s a 50% increase.
Not saying they’re the same guitar or quality, but that it’s a 50% increase.
Masta' C
Well-known member
The hole in your argument is right in front of you...the Premium is $200 less because it doesn't cost as much to make. That doesn't mean it's "20% less of a guitar"!
Furthermore, where are you seeing "new" Prestige models for $1200? I think you'll find Premiums are $1000-$1300 and most Prestige models are nearing $2K at this point. That's a HUGE price difference for very little actual difference between guitars in terms of hardware, features, etc. You're paying for the *idea* that one origin is better than another, but that doesn't translate into actual differences in product like it once did.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Lots of opinions here, obviously.
Since nobody really has first hand experience with a Solar, I suppose I’m obligated to get one
Since nobody really has first hand experience with a Solar, I suppose I’m obligated to get one
