Are Solar Guitars Worth it? Solar A1.7 Vinter Review
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- Опубликовано: 12 июн 2024
- An in-depth and honest review of the Solar A1.7 Vinter guitar that I've had for about six months. We check out the overall value that's included in the sale price as well as the guitar's features, feel, impressions and QC issues/imperfections.
Of course, the best way to show it off is with a demo - so I've recorded two "studio mix" demos and then added some jam footage at the end. The mix demos are pre-recorded, while the jam videos are live - I've left in the camera audio for half of the clips to help convey the feel of being in the room.
Guitars for all sounds were recorded in Reaper and had Archetype Petrucci by Neural DSP. For the live jam tracks, there's zero post processing or EQ (outside of the EQ in Archetype Petrucci) so you'd be able to replicate those sounds just with the guitar and standalone plugin.
Contents:
00:00 - Introduction
00:12 - Mix Demo #1
02:17 - Guitar Specs
03:27 - First Impressions
08:26 - Mix Demo #2
09:18 - Quality Control
12:11 - Was it worth it?
15:20 - Clean tone demo
17:45 - Lead tone demo
19:10 - Rhythm tone demo
Gear:
Guitar: Solar A1.7 Vinter
Amp Sim: Neural DSP Archetype: Petrucci
DAW: Reaper
Audio Interface: Behringer UMC204HD
Studio monitors: KRK Rokit 8 G4s.
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Social Media links:
Instagram: @karz_93
Twitter: @KarzGuitar
#SolarGuitars #SolarGuitarReview
:) 
Видеоклипы
FRETBOARD CRACK CHECK: nothing so far :)
If you're here to hear how the guitar sounds, here's two mix demos through the video and some live jamming at the end - check the video chapters or the timestamps in this comment below. Live jams have no post-processing or EQ on them (besides the EQ in Archetype: Petrucci), and some clips have camera audio left on to give a better feel of how it'd sound in a room.
Added some more detailed chapter links below if you're after something specific:
00:00 - Introduction
00:12 - Mix Demo #1
02:17 - Guitar Specs
03:27 - First Impressions - Evertune
05:47 - First Impressions - Fishman Fluence pickups
06:07 - First Impressions - Neck profile
06:46 - First Impressions - Frets, movement and higher fret access
07:06 - First Impressions - Body shape and contours
07:26 - First Impressions - Volume knob placement
07:48 - First Impressions - Paint finish
08:08 - First Impressions - Neck dive
08:26 - Mix Demo #2
09:18 - Quality Control
12:11 - Was it worth it?
15:20 - Clean tone demo
17:45 - Lead tone demo
19:10 - Rhythm tone demo
I’m getting the Flying V vinter 7 string. Best looking Solar imo. Your guitar is gorgeous. Really appreciate the 20 minute video! Great work and your lead playing is very nice. I have 2 Solar’s as of now, and my A2.6LN is hands down my favorite guitar I play on. It just feels and sounds better to me than my high end Solar. “Food for thought” for anyone doubting the $700 Solar’s.
Thanks very much! All the best for the upcoming V as well, I may have gone for that over the A Vinter had it been released first haha. Definitely a great looking axe.
Cheers for the insight into the A2 line as well, interesting to hear that it feels better than the high end Solar!
Thank you so much for the video!! First video i've seen that answered all my questions! Fantastic guitar review, love to see more like that
Thanks so much! Always glad to hear when it helps someone out. Any models in particular that you're considering?
Great video! My 7 string Tele Vinter guitar should come in in a little over a month. I'm excited because it's gonna be my first 7 string and Solar guitar.
Awesome, hope it comes in great condition! Those tele vinters look amazing. Also the transition from 6 to 7 strings isn't too bad, you'll probably be used to it in a couple of days!
@@KarzGuitar Do you think that I have B-flat as the tuning the evertune acts on, it would be okay to tune up to Standard tuning when I want to switch it up like you do with drop tuning?
@@GamingNiche yeah that should be fine! The evertune bridge treats each string independently, so if you can do it for one string then you can do it for all. Half a step should be no problem
My 2021 A1.6FB is ridden with fret board cracks, fret sprout, logo peeling....I sent an email to Solar to see what they can do but I won't be holding my breath. Never in all my years have I seen so many issues with a guitar.
Damn dude, sorry to hear that! Hope they fix the guitar or offer to help in some way :/ these issues became prevalent like two years ago now, I thought we were passed this!
Hey man thanks for posting this video!
I'm currently considering in buying the A1.8 winter, so it's the same as yours but just the 8 string version, and also as you .. the looks can't be ignored, that just itself is a piece of art.
But I have to ask, I have never owned a solar guitar before, so how has it been holding up for you now since it's been a while, any more/new cracks? Or any other new issues that have started to appear?
So I'm looking for the best value for money 8 string mid range that I can get, and now the 8 string can now be bought for only 13k dollars which seems like a pretty nice bargain, would you recommend me to take the plunge or would you urge me to stay away?
Just very curious to hear your opinion and experience now almost 1 year after this video was made, i hope you see this.
Cheers!
Hey man, thanks for checking out the video! So my Solar has been great - no issues whatsoever, no cracks.... Evertune holds up well, Fishmans sound awesome too.
I'm not sure if my experience is representative of most people's though, but based on mine alone, id recommend the Solar Vinter. If I were you I'd check out reddit / Facebook and see if you can find many recent issues - I haven't been following the QC situation closely since my purchase. If things seem OK, go for it!
Amazing looking guitar and great review! Seriously considering one of these. Any issues with the fret board a year later?
Thanks! Nope, no issues with the fretboard (and I don't do anything special to look after it either - havent oiled it or anything)
Wow lovely guitar
Great video, very comprehensive. How do you think this guitar compares to a Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C7, Jackson Dinky Pro or Kiesel?
Thanks! Okay, so some very different guitars there. I haven't played the Jackson Dinky Pro at all, so can't comment. But if thats in Jackson's lower budget, I'd confidently say the Solar is better. Haven't played enough mid or high end Jackson's to compare though.
Haven't played the Schecter Hellraiser either, but if that's a SK made Schecter then I'd say it would be of a very similar quality to the Solar. Maybe slightly better - I've got three Schecters and very minimally prefer the feel of them to the Solar, although 'feel' is subjective.
As for Kiesel, I'd definitely say that a Kiesel feels, plays, and is of better quality than a Solar. But that should be given due to the price difference. My Kiesel was about 3k USD, whereas the Solar was 1100 or so. Theres definitely diminishing returns with guitars above 1 - 1.5k, and I wouldn't say the Kiesel is 3x better than the Solar. Obviously, with Kiesel you're spending a lot on the custom woods and finishes. So yeah Kiesel is better, you can make the guitar look exactly how you like, and you can order one with Fishmans and an Evertune, but the price is much higher. It comes down to how much you're willing to spend!
Solar is a great low/mid cost option.
@@KarzGuitar Thanks, man - appreciate the detailed advice! I'm basically going in circles. The Kiesel I'm looking at is the Andy James, which spec'd out ends up ~$2400 (with Kiesel pickups, not Fishmans). That's more than I was intending to spend, and it does make me a little nervous that I can't test one out first. On the other hand, they look lovely, get rave reviews and are custom-built. With Solar, I like that the A1.7AC comes with basically everything I want - but it also does feel like a step down in overall quality.
I'll prob head to the shop to try out some Schecters and Jacksons before deciding. (The Jackson I'm looking at is $1699 and the Schecter is $1149, but doesn't have Evertune...has a hipshot hardtail bridge).
@@theg9566 interesting- it really does depend on your situation, then. Do you want multiple guitars? You could get two solars for that Kiesels price. Do you record in studio much / are you trying to record album-quality tracks? In that case, an evertune will save you a looot of time.
If you only need one guitar, the Kiesel may be worth it - and you'll have some peace of mind regarding QC issues / no risk of getting a cracked fretboard from Solar. But in any case, trying out the Schecters and jackson is a good idea!
@@KarzGuitar I'm mainly a recording artist so tuning stability is a big deal for me. Right now I have 2 guitars: a JM American Pro II that mostly stays in tune and an EVH Wolfgang Standard with a wonky Floyd Rose that never stays in tune. So you just sold me on the Evertune bridge. A guitar that doesn't go out of tune is a big deal for me.
I'm looking to add a 7-string, metal-oriented guitar but figure I'll only get one so want to get the decision right. Going to test out some Jacksons and Schecters next weekend so will report back. I think my plan right now is, if nothing really wows me, then I'll just bite the bullet and do the Kiesel.
@@theg9566 Nice, sounds like you've got a good plan going. All the best, and let me know what you end up buying!
Nice review! What camera slider are you using?
Hey, I forget the model name exactly but it's by GVM :)
This is a wonderful and interesting channel. I found it very useful. worth subbing and liked ! a fellow creator,,..,
i dont think the fretboard has a cracking issue. its the people not aware of how to properly maintain a guitar. its basically impossible to crack if its oiled properly
Nah, it's definitely a Solar issue. At least during 2020-2022. The reports of ebony crackings on new guitars - often arriving at that state - were way too many to be a care issue. It seemed like a large batch of low quality ebony, maybe over-dried in the factory, and then cracks would form due to the spiky inlay. The 12th fret inlay points in either direction down the fretboard seemed to be the origin of most cracks as it went along the grain.
I see a very occassional mention of any ebony cracking issues on MusicMan, ESP, Schecter, Jackson groups, but it was a daily sighting on anything Solar related when the pandemic was at its peak for those couple of years.
Seems to be a lot better these days though!
Nooooo, but Ola is so coooooool. So coooooool.
Legator birthed a new era of guitar-nitpick. "Look, tool marks!" Because you know, I don't want my guitar assembled by tools. It needs to give off the appearance of having come from a virgins womb... and it better not have any "womb-marks."
What exactly are you referencing?
@@KarzGuitar lol I saw a dot on the solar that I would have otherwise never noticed had it not been for all those videos of people ripping Legators a part.
@@KarzGuitar Do you like the Solar? I am thinking about getting one.
@@neoconnor4395 ah yeah I see. Love the Solar, its been really good. Evertune is great for recording. Just do some research on how the cracked ebony fretboard scene is recently - I haven't been keeping track. Or, to be safe, get a guitar from them that's from the Outlet store (since they're B stocks you get pictures) or has a maple fretboard instead lol
@@KarzGuitar Yeah I need an evertune for recording and 8 string evertunes are scant