Black Metal

ESP released these LTDs calling them the Black Metal Series. These are only two from the lineup of six guitars. Variations apply, do visit the manufacturer's homepage to know more.

I actually find this Black Metal label rather contentious. We do know (my assumption) Black Metal is a music genre as well, yes? So by inviting this distraction, players might be thinking these guitars are for this music genre exclusively. Yes, the Seymour Duncan Mortal Coil pickups in these guitars are the perfect supplement for hard, heavy music but not exclusively. Reb Beach has EMGs in his guitars but he's not a metal guy. 

If that colour scheme looks familiar, it's actually the reverse of what SOLAR is doing with their Assassin models. 

And everyone was inspired by BC Rich, yes? 😅

Pics: ESP / SOLAR / GC

27 / 7 / curved

This is the 7-string version of the SOLAR ACS model (ACS1.7FRPS) with an extended scale length of 26.5". No idea if 27 frets are a thing in the mean time but SOLAR has its own take which often end up being more affordable than the competitors. Really like the flake finish 👍

Pic: SOLAR

27

SOLAR now offers a 27-fret model. This here is the ACS1.6FRW sporting a standard 25.5" scale length. ESP & Ibanez did it, now SOLAR has one that should be more affordable than the aforementioned brand names. A GOTOH 1996 bridge in this one. Nice.

Pic: SOLAR

 

Assassin 8

Oh man, SOLAR is offering the Assassin features in an 8-string format. The one you see here is the A1.81A (A for active pickup - it's a Fluence Open Core Red). The Assassin concept is fundamentally a black-out guitar featuring a single humbucker, a single control knob & red highlights for the pickup, inlay & truss rod cover - simplet yet very intimidating for those of us who dwell in the metal zone.

Pic: SOLAR

Capo pedal

The manufacturer refers to this as a capo in a pedal format. It raises / lowers pitch emulating a physical capo function. In layperson understanding, it's actually a pitch-shifting device & it's gonna cost you USD249. Yay / nay? (PS: the SOLAR Chug capo can be purchased direct from the manufacturer's homepage).

Pic: SOLAR

MORK @ SOLAR

Mork's Thomas Eriksen & Alex Bruun are now in the SOLAR camp. Heck, yeah!

SOLAR Sus

If you have been wanting a SOLAR guitar with a Sustainiac system on board + a pickguard, this AP1.6FRG is it. If there's something we noticed about SOLAR guitars, it is the fact that the manufacturer will include features that are popular in other brands. It's not an immediate manifestation but it happens along the way.

Once again, SOLAR would like us to know that this is one of those finished neck that has a satin feel instead of a gloss overcoat.

Pics: SOLAR

SOLAR: S1.6H-RSO

The new SOLAR S1.6H is not just a neck-through model; the neck rear had been satin-ized as depicted above. There are players here who prefer a glossed over body but not the neck. They want the neck to retain the matching hue but dislike that lacquer overcoat as it makes the surface sticky when the fretting hand gets sweaty. Love the fact that the SOLAR fretboard inlay had been darkened to blend into the ebony.

Pic: SOLAR

Pickguard

Solar guitars are featuring pickguards on some models, the one you see here is the A1.6DBOP. Not a fan.

Pic: SOLAR

Assassin 27

New one by SOLAR guitars - the Assassin VA1.61FR. The first to feature 27 frets. Actually, the 26th & 27th frets are partial frets. Hamer, ESP & Ibanez had such frets in their respective models. As for me, I'm happy with 22 frets 😅

Pic: SOLAR

777

Solar guitars had just released a trio of 7-string guitars. This black one here is perhaps the least vibrant of them all. The sparkle finish is barely visible. That single knob feature is a winner in my books (AB2.7BSG).

Flame top version (AB2.7FPBG). Both guitars feature a pair of in-house Modern Alnico pickups. 

This is the most attractive among the three featuring a sparkling flip-flop finish; you know, the type that switches colour depending on your viewing angle (AB2.7BSG). All three guitars feature a bolt-on neck-body attachment.

Pics: SOLAR

Culto winter

This was a sensible move by SOLAR. The Nocturno Culto signature model (GC1.6NC) gets a single pickup treatment (Duncan's Black WInter!) & given a canibalismo finish with a matching headstock. Simple features for an instrument that is arguably conceived for a single mission - manifesting black metal.

Pic: SOLAR

Canibalismo... flushed

Looks like the SOLAR camp is enticing us with this slightly revised canibalismo finish; it's now sporting  a darkened SOLAR label at the headstock. Ditto the brand logo on the fretboard (12th fret area). This gives a very flushed look, less distracting in fact. Side note, wish the Duncan SOLAR pickups are made available separately. These are awesome pickups for distortion.

Pic: SOLAR

Assassins

A simple affair by SOLAR; single humbucking (active), non-whammy bridge & a single control knob. These specifications mean the Assassin models are appealing to a niche market but there's a strong following for such instruments. As for me, I wish there's a non-Evertune iteration. Loving the black-red theme. 

Pics: SOLAR

SOLAR H

Solar guitars did this. It's a big deal because according to Ola, a headless Solar will not happen. In any case, these seem affordable (USD599 / USD699), bolt-on models with in-house pickups. The scale length here conforms to the fanned fret design; 24.75" - 25.5". I'm not a fanned fret fan so this & the slanted pickups are deal-breakers. Slanted pickups here are form-slanted as opposed to placement-slanted. Form-slanted pickups are not readily replaceable; very few (hardly any, in fact) replacement units out there are as such. 

New follower shout-out: Armand Wright. Thanks for following 👍

Pics: Solar

Solar: Relik

Kinda expected this to happen; a relic Solar. This is an AB1.6FRB Relik (USD1,699) to be precise. I personally don't fancy this kind of finish on a guitar but this look sells so many manufacturers are offering their respective interpretations of relic instruments. Come to think of it, I did own one, an LTD but simply could not come to terms with what it was.

Pic: Solar

7 extended

If you are familiar with a 7-string in terms of feel & tone but wish for a lower, detuned performance - perhaps rivalling an 8-string - this one might be it. The Solar A2.7W-29 is an extended scale (29") 7-string with simple appointments. 

This is a neck-through model, so upper fret access is impressive. 

Pics: SOLAR

Solar: Summer sale

There is no Summer here, quite obviously. There's Summer elsewhere & Summer sales are happening elsewhere, not here. Good thing for us, there's international shipping so those of us without Summer sales to be throwing money at, we can still buy stuff from Summer sales elsewhere. Visit SOLAR's webpage to see good Summer discounts (unlike the sale discount figures here). 

Pic: Solar guitars

Pyro Azul

This is downright attractive - AB1.6 in this blue-ish pyro azul finish. Apparently, it's not that new. It had been in the catalog but with a different bridge (FR1000). This time, a GOTOH bridge supersedes the previous iteration. It costs a little more as well as it's finished in Spain.

Pic: SOLAR guitars

Some new Vs from the Solar camp. Interestingly, the headstocks here are 'reversed' despite looking otherwise. I've documented a trio here that caught my attention.

• White: VAR2.6W. A simple two-pickup model with  TOM type, through-body bridge. 
• Green: VAR1.6FRGN. A neon green finish & featuring a locking FR1000 bridge. If you are new to the Solar range, obnoxiously bright green, yellow & pink are staple colours.
• Blue: VAR1.6FRVC. Ok... not exactly blue, it's a flip-flop of blue, purple & green & the only one here featuring a pair of Duncan Solar + (Alnico VIII magnets)