Solar: X2.6FR / Dismember

This body outline reminds us of the fact that Ola Englund (SOLAR Guitars owner) is a huge Dimebag fan. I see this design as inevitable. This new one has that very attractive orange finish with a matching colour for the 12th fret inlay. If you are interested, be informed that the bridge here is  Floyd Rose Special.

Here's another new one - a signature model for Dismember guitarist, Robert Sennebeck. The bridge here is an FR 1000 with a thicker-than-usual whammy block. 

Pics: SOLAR Guitars

Wade @ SOLAR

We all knew Dallas Wade from his days in Nile. OK so that episode was overshadowed by Karl Sanders at the forefront of Nile but that chapter was closed. Dallas is now making ears bleed in Narcotic Wasteland. More importantly, he's now in the SOLAR camp.

Pic: SOLAR guitars

SOLAR: Relik

That's right, folks. Solar guitars now offer the AB1.6 in a relic finish. The infatuation over the worn out, semi-desecrated look will not go away any time soon. Nothing really new here, hardware & electronics were done in other Solar models prior to this Relik series. Yes, it's officially called the Relik model.

 

Pic: Solar

Fanned 8

Maybe I missed this but it's labelled as new at Solar's web store: A1.8BOP, a fanned fret 8-string. Just by looking at this pic, that headstock looks a little overwhelming. Hopefully it does not translate into neck heaviness. Imagine struggling with the number of strings here plus those fanned frets & your guitar's neck keeps diving. Hmm.

Pic: Solar

Oxy goodness

Solar Guitars has this AB1.6FR model covered in metal. Yes, the body's top coat here is of the metal element. Objective - to manifest an oxidized, worn-in look as time goes by, compounded by how much bio fluid you transfer onto it. Not cheap though: USD 2,199.

Pic: Solar

SBS

This happened last week but many pictures were not up yet so it's featured today instead. I am of the opinion that Solar guitars are affordable. Well, at least they are fairly priced. But things just got more affordable lately. S by Solar (SBS) is a sister brand that offers a more affordable take on things.

Many of the Solar models are offered in the SBS lineup but colours are limited in the mean time. Prices are in the USD219 - USD299 range so these are indeed affordable instruments. Of course, we don't have a proper Solar dealer here. I won't lead you to Cristoffori to check things out because their Solar inventory is poor; no new models came in since Solar had made direct purchases (from their web store) possible.

Pics: SBS

European Masters

Deserving development - Solar guitars now feature Euro models (Europesn Master Series). One example is the Type X you see here.

Please be reminded that these are hand-crafted instruments & prices are reflective of the level of craftsmanship & costs involved. These are not the extension of the Indonesian models currently offered in the catalog. There are already excessive online vitriol on how the price is excessive of what's on offer. I wonder how these trolls came to this conclusion considering they have not tried the instrument. Idiots.

Pic: Solar

Black Friday @ SOLAR

SOLAR guitars decided to call their Black Friday deal the Black Sabbath Sale. Some good stuff going for good discounts & what I wanted & could really afford is... sold out. Just great! 

Pic: SOLAR FB

BS Sale

Solar Guitars' Black Sabbath sale. Why the mention? Because you know how it is with the Solar dealer here... let's not go there. Focus on what the sale has to offer. Folks it's 40% off, it's never been done before but yes, you have to factor in the shipping charges but it's still worth getting & not waiting for things to happen here at the stores.

These are good examples of value-for-money considerations. 

Do take note that this is the case now.

Pics: Solar Guitars

OSG

I've been meaning to update this earlier but some other stuff just got in the way. The Solar A2.6 are now available in three new colours; orange, silver & green. Together with the current yellow version these should offer plenty of considerations if you wanna get the visual attention while shredding those notes. Of course, do not rely on the Solar distributor here to bring these in any time soon, please purchase online, I urge you. 

PIC: Solar Guitars

Single V

Darn - Single pickup V-type by Solar Guitars (V2.6AG). Darn - Solar Guitars dealer here has next to zero interest in updating their current line-up despite the recent addition (of older models). 

Single solar

A new batch of SOLAR guitars are in. This GC2.6 singlecut is one of them (SGD1,379). It's like a year's worth of wait (June 2019) for some new SOLARs to make it here but it's a scant affair. Disappointing, to say the least. We could have bought these new models online, direct from the manufacturer's homepage but some of us chose to support local enterprises by buying from them instead. Time to re-consider.

More new Solars

Solar guitars are beefing up their bolt-on lineups which is the right thing to do. A gold hardware version is now available (FR bridge, do note) & that delicious maple flame top veneer. Seen here: SB1.6FRFM.

At the fixed bridge front, we have this wonderful AB1.6HTPB. It's not quite obvious here but the burst edges are not black, it's purple. Basically, my prayers for a non-evertune bridge version for this model is answered with this model. One more time, we rest in utmost trepidation knowing that the Solar dealer here is not pro-active when it comes to having the latest offerings in store. Damn! 

Natural bolt-on

Following the launch of its bolt-on series, Solar adds this natural finish to its line up, featuring a Floyd Rose bridge. There had been many new additions to the Solar catalog since the confirmation of its official distributor here (CLICK) but local inventory had been slow & showing disinterest till the current stock had been cleared. Sigh.

Solar bolt

Hot off the press - Solar guitars now offers a bolt-on option (Above: AB1.6S). That's right folks, the new model even features a roasted maple neck. However, I am waiting for a non-Evertune model, not that I dislike this type of bridge but I want something simple.

Positive distress

More good stuff from the Solar camp. These are the so called distressed models but they look absolutely mint to me. I'm quite a sucker for that natural finish but we all know how it is with the availability of anything Solar &  new - S L O W.

Naturally

So this finish debuted in the Solar line up. I wouldn't have thought it'd be included at all seeing how the gaudy & elaborate tops were the thing for this brand name. OK so that's one for the to-check list. On that note, we have yet to receive any news on the next batch of Solar guitars coming in. Won't blame you for considering something else for your early Xmas considerations.

PIC: Solar guitars

Hola, Solar!

Let's end June on a positive note. The new look Funan Center is alive & kicking once more. On opening day, 28th June, the vicinity of FC was riddled with congestion, both the human & vehicular kind. The traffic was regulated by specially mobilized AETOS/ CISCO officers. Only legit parties with delivery/ occupancy (tenants mostly) accounts were allowed to enter the building's premises. The rest were resigned to roadside dealings which were bothered by constant honking & the afore-mentioned officers gesturing them to drive on instead of waiting. 

I remember the initial FC because Roxy Music was located there. The place, despite its tiled floors, held its rustic charm the way Queensway Shopping Center did before its facelift. After its first facelift, I remember FC for the Taco Bell located at the ground floor, the only fast food establishment I favoured because KFC was passe.

This time, I remember FC for Solar guitars! That's right folks, Solar guitars are now available at FC through Cristofori Music. My apologies for the lack of pics featuring the store itself & Launch Day occurrences. I was running late because my watch stopped- I thought I was early!

Nothing fancy, just the A2.6 in this alien fluorescent  lime green. Everything here is the works & I'm giving Solar guitars a definite thumbs up. This won't be my last- still have the baritone (sans Evertune bridge- sorry, not a fan) & singlecut on my list which didn't make the shipment this time round. 

My only gripe- the default capacitor. Solar guitars joins Gibson & Fender, among other well known brand names, in skimping on unseen features. Don't get me wrong, this one is perfectly functional but it's a .047uf used for humbuckers. Geez... There's no written literature restricting this pairing but we know how the .047uf beefs up the bottom end of your tonal spectrum so during testing time at the store, the guitar sounded extra boomy & affected lower notes definition. I was bothered by this but somehow, I knew it's something fixable (prior knowledge/ experience helps) so I proceeded with the purchase anyway.

A quick trip to Beez's next door (Excelsior Shopping Center) to get the default cap swapped out & in went the Sprague Orange Drop. It's not about capacitor supremacy but this one's a .22uf which brought back some top end sizzle into the mix but not suppressing clarity in any way. A more comprehensive appraisal to come, promise. 😎

Thank you to Dexter & all at Cristofori  music for the absolutely pleasant shopping experience despite the crowd. OK, so I was the first to purchase the SOLAR, they said, but only because I was running late. Cheers, everyone, it had been a happening June.

SOLAR @ SG details

Here are the details of the launch today. I walked past FUNAN Center yesterday & didn't see much human presence to indicate an official opening of the building. Anyway, a brief cyber-comm with the organizer confirmed the event & an assurance that every guitar purchase comes with a complementary bag less the V2.6C 😎

Solar @ SG

Anticipating this event next weekend- finally, there's an official distributor here which makes buying so much easier.

However, the models currently offered are pretty much limited- no singlecut/ Type E/ Type V/ Artist... On behalf of the keen SOLAR fans here, we hope that the distributor is as keen as us in seeing this brand through. We hope it won't suffer the PEAVEY fate where the distributor has very little interest in hearing out what the players want & bring in only selected models which they think has a commercial potential.

Despite being only 7 days away (less than 7 actually, launch day is 28th June) scant details are available. Hoping there'll be an autograph/ meet-&-greet session at the very least. Will share here once they come to light.