The standard for budget guitars: Pickups aren't microphonic. Frets don't cut you. Stays in tune. Upper frets are reasonably accessible. Not hard to play fast. No major manufacturing flaws. Basically nothing to get in the way of playing.
@@D14V0R05 Regardless of price, that is the bare minimum. The premium guitars would be expected to be flawless in construction and have labor-intensive features.
@@D14V0R05 Won't be surprised if Gibson tries to market poor QC some day in the style of "every guitar we make is unique in some way" or "our guitars are cut by real humans, not by those INAUTHENTIC CNC cutting units".
@@generalrodcocker1018 I own several jacksons and played tons of their budget models since I used to work at a music store. I have yet to play a Solar, but these S by Solar guitars look like they offer way more for the money than any cheap Jackson I've played. My Brandon Ellis Kelly is a great guitar though.
Don't mind the black neck at all. I think it's really cool you can get such a cool guitar for that price. My first guitar was terrible and it almost made me quit. It wouldn't stay in tune, the neck was warped and it was an over all crap guitar. If you get a good instrument from the start, it's gonna be so much more fun. I think it's a very cool move from Solar.
Yeah I feel like I’m probably the minority here. It’s actually not that bad on this guitar, but some guitars/finishes it looks so bad. My assumption was always they painted them so they could use less desirable pieces of wood (like with flaws) for the neck but IDK 🤷♂️
my first guitar was a bc rich warlock(because metal XD) and it was one of their cheapest. the setup on it was awful. probebly because its a very different climate in china vs in sweden XD. it was really hard to play so when my sister got a gibson les paul studio i started playing on that because that played great. i eventually bought one of my own and a couple of years ago i figured i should look up how to set up guitars. now my warlock play great too. it has a way thinner neck and it has 24 frets so its better for shredding :)
4:50 I was like "WHAT?!" I personally detest natural clear coated necks. It looks so cheap. Like the neck wasn't even made for that guitar and was just a stock neck picked up as a replacement. Imo, necks should always either match, or contrast with the body. Just like how headstocks should always match the body.
It's because guitar manufacturers (sometimes) paint necks when the wood grain isn't pretty enough for a clear/natural finish. also it allows for defects to be fixed with filler so you don't have to reject so many damaged ones. Basically - cheaper guitars have painted necks, so I get what he's saying. but then when you get past the $1000 range you start to see nicely painted necks to match the body.
This sounds completely foreign to me. I am not lying when I say that with the exception of one single Harley Benton, and a cheap 80s guitar from my uncle, I have never, ever seen a sub-500 guitar with a painted or stained neck. All cheap guitars I've ever seen aside from those two have had clear coated necks. I can't imagine what you're referring to is anything other than an old phenomenon that was the case maybe back in the day before CNC machines or maple wasn't universal on necks.
it is absolutely awesome! really love the way it turned out. It is a really great first guitar also, because you want something decent to learn on that shall help you be a better player. Stack up a notch against all of those other budget guitars. Although could use it for performances and studio as well, just like you showed us, it sounds great. You can upgrade this platform as well with all of the parts. The fretboard seems to work good. You could always install a flatmount Kahler tremelo easily. Of course if you want an original or 1000 series floyd it would need to be routed. The pickups do their job decent and are all balcked out. A nice touch. What i am recommenden is putting on a blacked out S logo or greyish color. Well laterZ.
I got one this week, I' m telling you it is legit. It honestly plays as well as my "real " Solars. I was shocked! They left out my whammy bar for the Floyd but I will let it slide....
No offense brother just my opinion but what would you rather have an ESP or an LTD didn't mean to seem like I was screaming at everybody sorry...LOL!!😂😂
@@ronnielobosmith4870Its easier to manage things if you have two corporate entities. S by solar has already been active in Brazil for a year, its just easier to have a budget brand for countries like that.
If you close your eyes and listen to both the Solar and the S, you'll hardly notice any difference. I don't have one of these myself, but it's on the radar.
Satan (Dad) loves all tuning Taylor....but he loves E standard at the moment....due to it the anger it raises in Djent/Nu-metal player's....Dad's very old school 🤘😁😂
I really want to get an S by Solar but sadly no distribution for Canada maybe they will one day. The panted neck does not bother me at all and I think it looks awesome but I think that is a personal preference. Your videos are great and I appreciate everything you put into them \m/ Thanks again!
It'll be a couple more months before we can say if it's solid or hit n miss though, Raymond got one the other day and apparently it was horrendous. Could've been that the 3/4 scale is just inherently faulty in the design or he got unlucky, but on the bright side yours came in pretty solid so hell yeah! Also, I prefer natural open pore necks if it's a dark wood choice like wenge/purpleheart lol but if it's a boring ass 1 piece maple neck (not rock nor flamed) then yeah I'm all for it matching (on a flamed maple 1pc tho transparent tint finishes rule) lol
I am no import duty expert but I have never paid import duties from Thomann for orders in the $600.00 range. I have been told its a bit higher than that before they hit you.
Totally agree on the natural neck. Also agree on it being something I can get past pretty easily for $300 lol. I think I'd be pretty comfortable buying one of these for a younger relative metalhead!
Wish they had them last year. Bought a pacifica, im not complaining, that alnico 5 humbucker is great and it has that twang on single coils. Would have been cool to have a metal looking axe though.
I just wish Solar's exp had a normal downward pointing style headstock. It's the only thing that's putting me off buying one. Same as it was with Chapman's Ghost Fret. And I can't just put a bag over her head... stock? hue
I like brands who cater to a wide range of budgets, bc typically they put more effort into their lower models than Donner/Ivy/Ect.. I have a maxed out Hagstrom that I love; but to be completely honest, my budget line jackson remains one of my most played guitars. I do wish that neck was set though. I was looking at the teles and just thinking man, that would look so much nicer set in. The black namebrand Solar tele with the set neck is often sold out. Let's see if I can hold out or will I cave to the S.
In my opinion it looks supercheap + it is more expensive than for example Jackson, where paint will not come off neck. I am assuming that after lowering action and giving bit tension to trus rod truth will come out. I recommended Solar and done fret level, recommended not cheapest Jackson and same. 1 fret must be always sticking up :) Even in my 600 quid Jackson was the same. Guitars I did not had to level the frets were MiM tele and chinese Rockburn (lol). Maybe you can lower action on the bridge, testing on higher frets and then match it with trus rod on lower, then play and bend every fret? If it is better than in Solar and Jackson - respect. But it need yet to be ordered by normal person so they don't pick nice one. Still, would not recommend. Just because of hefty price, cheap look and paint on the neck. It must be a metal kiddo like I was. Had to promise myself I will never buy black guitar again cuz my rack looked and still is looking depressing.
Hey mate ! You don't play standing, so does this guitar have a good balance ? In general, this kind of guitar like Explorer or SG or Viper have the neck which falls down when you are standing. How is it here, please ? Must we change the local attachments ?
*I just got a $215 neck through super strat made in Vietnam with a Wilkinson trem and tuners that is every bit as good as what people pour $1000 into. Ultimately, most guitars are built by CNC, or at least high rate duplicator routers, so that's how they can make something top of the line for entry level pricing. Even the pickups are high end, but that's one of the most deceptive components on an instrument when compared to selling costs.* Coupled with the fact that they're using species of trees that are plentiful in Asia and a cousin variety to what we have in the east, their costs are just so low that the major names can barely compete anymore. *I would hate to see Gibson go out of business, but they have made a lot of poor business decisions, haven't remained current and competitive, and a 3,000 Les Paul is really just an old man's guitar that will be used as a trophy piece rather than a daily played instrument.* It's only old farts that can afford them in enough abundance to keep Gibson from shutting their doors completely!
Na minha humilde opinião, esse shape é horrível! A tocabilidade deve ser bacana, mas em termos de design isso foi um assassinato ao shape maravilhoso da lendária Explorer.
I don't mind a painted bolted neck so long as it isn't a gloss finish. If it is, I hate it and I wonder why they would go through the extra effort just to make something less playable for the majority of people. (I'm looking at you LTD!)
Dude...what are you talkin about? Thet painted neck is lively. I love when the neck matches the body of guitar. Especialloy if it'e black and especialy satin
1:55 Made in China for $299. Pass. You'll get better Ibanez or Cort from Indonesian factory in that price range. Plus that satin finish is already full of your fingerprints.
You're just used to seeing a clear bolt-on neck cause it's default on 99% of bolt-ons, reason being a) on budget guitars they're both bolt-on and clear coated because it's cheap; and/or b) historically all bolt-ons trace back to evolving from imitating Fender. I would actually praise this guitar for having a matching neck cause it's more rare/different and doesn't give off "entry level import" vibe like for example what cheapest LTDs are to more expensive LTD/ESP models.
To my ears. Ceramic just sounds almost completely lacking a mid range. Perfect if. That's what your aiming for but otherwise that thing looks great after sanding the neck to something not so sticky i would swap pickups and love it forever
if that guitar cost $800 it would sound the same. You're paying for QC and more hands on the guitar instead of machine with more expensive parts. If it sounds like shit the unbranded chinese pickups might be the main reason, or the amp/cab suck
It's same better pickups and better finish, that haven't weared down and the sound the sound - as some not that known NFS Heat/Unbound cars for Itali GTO makers so sure I have a knife for the Gibraltar. Don't try this at home - might get hurt demon.
I don't like guitars with no pickup rings...looks like something is missing...like my car's bumper is missing and I can see the insides ( Ugly cavities )
liked the video, your amped roots demo here was of very poor tuning and setup of speaker cab impulse responses and just overall gain that was much less when you used roots compared to the real amp.. just my two cents though buddy
In two years when the parts are failing and the tuners can't hold a note for more than half an hour, you will know you bought a cheap guitar for a cheap price. Cheap guitars sound just as good as the premium when they are new, but they sure as hell don't last.
Please let us listen to the music. You are advertising your pages and promotion links at the very beginning. Dont like it man. We need to first like your post in real.
I'm interested! I play live shows every weekend and don't particularly love the idea of taking my expensive solar's out to get damaged I'd like to pick one up for a live guitar that I can beat up and not feel bad about. Thanks for making this!
I bought a set of 7 string Solar Pickups off of Reverb like a year ago to put in one of my 7 string Ibanez's. But now I'm thinking of buying the AB4.7C S by Solar, and putting those pickups in there. And swapping the locking tuners over from my Ibanez onto the AB4.7C. Medium frets are no problem. That would be a sweet guitar. Even if it just become my backup for now. Now Ola NEEDS to make a higher end S by Solar series with Evertune bridges, and locking tuners in the $600-$700 range. LOL.
Higher end budget guitars. You remind me of the people who wanted epiphones to be more like gibsons the got mad when the prices went over a grand. …um pick one. Not both
@@Ottophil What they F you talking about? I have 2-7 string Solars with Evertunes. 2-Gibson Les Paul's. 2-Epiphone SG's, 3-7 string Ibanez's, 3-6 String Ibanez's. 1-6 String Schecter, 1-7 string Schecter, all ranging from a few Hundred dollars up to several Thousand dollars. I've been a relatively successful musician for decades. My entire guitar collection is worth over $15,000. Not to include the $12,000 in amps I own. So shut up. I only made a suggestion to help people who cannot afford $1200-$2500 guitars have access to something a bit higher. What do you got, a Squire that won't intonate properly?
"This is the beginning of the signal chain; if this sucked, there's no way that anything after it is going to magically fix it. That's not the way signal chains work." While you're not wrong in saying that, it's also pretty lousy logic to apply to an electric guitar. 90% of what you're going to hear from the instrument is going to be a direct consequence of how the pickups are manufactured, and how the thing is wired. As long as you don't have microphonic pickups, and you're not suffering a ground loop problem... it's going to sound pretty damn close to anything else you run through that setup. The biggest difference is going to be determined by SC vs HB pickups... I like the video, the guitar looks promising, but that statement kinda rubs me the wrong way. The largest determining factors in whether or not a guitar is any good aren't going to be the things you see or hear.
Looks and sounds great. The Solar and the LTD or ESP 'EX' are only "Explorer" shapes I like outside of the real deal Gibson's. The finished neck looks nice on it too, bonus if it's a satin smooth type finish.
If anyone lives in England in Cannock, there is a beautiful shop just next door in Walsall called T.R music. They have some brilliant budget guitars in there. I tried a 1999 epiphone Les Paul and it was brilliant and they have lots of others too. The staff are extremely friendly and their life’s goal seems just to be helping you get a good guitar for a good price. 100% recommend and I was not paid for saying this 😂
