Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
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- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
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They’re clearly targeting a niche group of players, why are you all moaning about that? If it doesn’t float your boat, then fine.
“No multiscale, no green/orange flameburst, no 2+2 headstock...”
Dammit guys, Solar is new to the bass market, let’s give them a chance, as I said they’re clearly targeting a type of player, if they don’t have the features you expect from a bass, fine, there are a bazillion makes on the market.
Ola is a cool, hard working dude, and I hope he finds a market for his basses.
I’m also not a fan of those basses, but I’m not moaning about it all over TB.
and YES, I know, freedom of speech, especially on a forum, but I see more negativity than anything else on this topic and that saddens me.
No likey = just ignore the topic. No one cares that they don’t come in the color YOU like.
“No multiscale, no green/orange flameburst, no 2+2 headstock...”
Dammit guys, Solar is new to the bass market, let’s give them a chance, as I said they’re clearly targeting a type of player, if they don’t have the features you expect from a bass, fine, there are a bazillion makes on the market.
Ola is a cool, hard working dude, and I hope he finds a market for his basses.
I’m also not a fan of those basses, but I’m not moaning about it all over TB.
and YES, I know, freedom of speech, especially on a forum, but I see more negativity than anything else on this topic and that saddens me.
No likey = just ignore the topic. No one cares that they don’t come in the color YOU like.
i believe in berating new products online to encourage the manufacturers to put out better instruments,
is it annoying and repetitive to comment "pffft not 37/34 multi-scale" on every new post about a bass designed for metal and/or progressive music ? yep. Nearly as annoying as poorly designed 'hype-train' basses that i know i'll never be about to fall in love with :L
some people love headless, some people love 18v, some people love exotic wood- there's nothing wrong with asking for that.
Companies listen to forums and comments sections- if theres a product out there that you want, tell someone to make it.
Like I said before, I like the looks and specs of the Solar basses. The cutaways in that sleek body shape would give me great access to all 24 frets. I've spent many years playing in and touring with punk and metal bands, plus I dig on unique basses that not everyone and their dog is playing (that whole "stand out from the crowd" type cool factor). My main bass is a heavily modded LTD HTB-600, which has a "metal" shape. Ergo, I feel like I'm at least somewhat part of the demographic Solar would want to target with its basses.
My main objection lies in the 4/5-in-line reverse headstocks, because it makes replacing the E or B tuning pegs with Hipshot XTenders (and actually using them to flick into D or A respectively) more of a pain-in-the-neck than it needs to be. Given that modern metal players/bands like drop tunings and are creating music where you need to switch in and out of alternate tunings on the fly, you'd think that having a 2+2 headstock where players can easily drop-in-replace desired tuning pegs with Hipshot detuners would be a no-brainer in terms of metal bass design. The reverse inline headstock looks "metal," but doesn't function the way I need it to BE "metal." If not for that, I would be keen to try out that 4-string.
And I'll admit, black basses bore me. I think a transparent crimson/blood red would look badass on that 4-string, especially with some black highlights to make the wood grain pop. That literal "fire and brimstone" color scheme I'm imagining would be totally metal.
My main objection lies in the 4/5-in-line reverse headstocks, because it makes replacing the E or B tuning pegs with Hipshot XTenders (and actually using them to flick into D or A respectively) more of a pain-in-the-neck than it needs to be. Given that modern metal players/bands like drop tunings and are creating music where you need to switch in and out of alternate tunings on the fly, you'd think that having a 2+2 headstock where players can easily drop-in-replace desired tuning pegs with Hipshot detuners would be a no-brainer in terms of metal bass design. The reverse inline headstock looks "metal," but doesn't function the way I need it to BE "metal." If not for that, I would be keen to try out that 4-string.
And I'll admit, black basses bore me. I think a transparent crimson/blood red would look badass on that 4-string, especially with some black highlights to make the wood grain pop. That literal "fire and brimstone" color scheme I'm imagining would be totally metal.
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Listen, I am WITH you on everything METAL regarding a bass guitar! The eye catching colors, custom paint jobs, standing out, lowered tunings sound...and I am BIG fan of reverse head-stocks. The Chinese are building me a reverse Jackson neck with reverse shark-fin inlays for my Jackson JS2, of which the body of it is at the artist right now (has been since March, hes a little slow) and it got the neck pickup soap-bar hole filled with a wood plug and he is painting an AWESOME complete picture on it that is the epitome of METAL and POWER. I also just bought a Dingwall and DarkGlass X, so you know what that can do regarding metal. SO can you do what you want with the Hipshot detuners if they were on, say, reverse bananas or Jackson style, or even on the Jackson's would you be running out of room at the E or B.
With the Solar headstock, I could theoretically bore out a hole on the bass side to install a Hipshot Xtender to make the bass function the way I'd want it to. There might even be enough meat on that part of the headstock to do that without even defacing the Solar logo. I could live with the 1 + 3 "reverse MusicMan" tuner arrangement. In fact, I think it would look cool and unique. My inner punk who doesn't like to play by the rules would approve.
I know this is a lousy picture, but the bass on the right (with the swirl paint job) is my modded LTD 4. I think you'd appreciate it: https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/asuka-and-nine-jpg.3851824/
I know this is a lousy picture, but the bass on the right (with the swirl paint job) is my modded LTD 4. I think you'd appreciate it: https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/asuka-and-nine-jpg.3851824/
Yeah, you kicked ESP in the ARSE with that paint job, nice! I was looking at ESP before I bought my Dingwall, and I just don't know why ESP has all those boring dark colors and natural wood tones, come on! There is red color ESP bass out and it is affiliated with some Japanese "Bang Dream" cartoon band of cartoon character girls. I think it is the best looking/color ESP has out right now for a bass but somehow these Japanese people want between $900 and $1300 for this bass, again, because it has this silly stupid connection to a cartoon, I don't get it..I just dont. That shape of your ESP bass reminds me so much of the BC Rich Virgin guitar body from like 1992.
I had a luthier friend of mine do that paint job and the various mods. He knocked it out of the park with that swirl. (I also had him replace the stock active EMGs with passive Duncans and a V/V/T setup. I adore the massive tone on it.)
He knows people who do photography with alt-models and that bass has been in some of those photo shoots.
Considering that bass was found laying in the corner of a music store collecting dust because nobody wanted it, it's found its place with me. It was an $800-$900 bass I snagged for about $250. I've gigged with it, toured with it, recorded with it, and it's been in photo shoots with models.
The bass is a HTB-600 Children of Bodom sig model. The body shape is a variant of ESP/LTD's F-shape. I like how the upper horn looks like the gnarled finger of a witch or reaper. Stock photo of what the bass originally looked like: https://www.6-string.com/media/cata...acksmith-electric-bass-sku-number-lhtb600.png
And contrary to what people might think, I find the bass quite comfortable to strap on and it balances the way I like.
And, yeah, I feel like ESP/LTD's coolest and most interesting stock instruments are Japan-exclusive.
Back to topic, though...
He knows people who do photography with alt-models and that bass has been in some of those photo shoots.
Considering that bass was found laying in the corner of a music store collecting dust because nobody wanted it, it's found its place with me. It was an $800-$900 bass I snagged for about $250. I've gigged with it, toured with it, recorded with it, and it's been in photo shoots with models.
The bass is a HTB-600 Children of Bodom sig model. The body shape is a variant of ESP/LTD's F-shape. I like how the upper horn looks like the gnarled finger of a witch or reaper. Stock photo of what the bass originally looked like: https://www.6-string.com/media/cata...acksmith-electric-bass-sku-number-lhtb600.png
And contrary to what people might think, I find the bass quite comfortable to strap on and it balances the way I like.
And, yeah, I feel like ESP/LTD's coolest and most interesting stock instruments are Japan-exclusive.
Back to topic, though...
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i’ve played in bands that go from D standard to drop C in the middle of live sets for over a decade and i have never once considered getting a D-tuner. you’ll live.
i know this forum is heavily populated by guys pushing 70, but there’s no need to announce that this bass isn’t for you. if you’ve only played a p bass with flats and a tort for the past 30 years, maybe just sit this thread out. none of the complaining in this thread is constructive. it’s a sick bass at a perfectly reasonable price.
i know this forum is heavily populated by guys pushing 70, but there’s no need to announce that this bass isn’t for you. if you’ve only played a p bass with flats and a tort for the past 30 years, maybe just sit this thread out. none of the complaining in this thread is constructive. it’s a sick bass at a perfectly reasonable price.
this paint job is RAD. I’m a total sucker for loud obnoxious paint jobs. I’m holoflashing a custom Dunable R2 bass very soon, i’ll post it when it’s done.
At the end of the day, in spite of my criticisms with the design of the Solar bass headstock (I'd prefer it to be non-reverse, but I like how it looks), I am still curious to try this sleek number out: AB2.4BOP - Black Open Pore Matte six-string guitar - Solar Guitars- Website. I want to know how the neck might feel. Because you never know till you get your hands on it. I've encountered necks where the number specs on paper were everything I wanted, but my left hand wasn't into it. On the other hand, I've encountered necks that run counter to what I normally go for and my left hand liked it.
People can argue left and right that Ibanez, Schecter, LTD, etc. are all cut from the same cloth, but the necks on each one feel quite distinct. I have things I like and things I'm "meh" on for all those necks. For all I know, that Solar could have a neck that my left hand falls in love with.
People can argue left and right that Ibanez, Schecter, LTD, etc. are all cut from the same cloth, but the necks on each one feel quite distinct. I have things I like and things I'm "meh" on for all those necks. For all I know, that Solar could have a neck that my left hand falls in love with.
I like the neck to body assembly. Contoured neck, 6 bolts. Should be pretty solid. The aesthetics aren't my thing, especially that lower horn. Is it just me or is the neck exceptionally flat at almost 16" radius? Nut width not posted but looks wide on the 4 string. I can see this competing with some of the 'sharper' looking Ibanez basses and I think the prices are more than reasonable ... curious to know where they are made.
I'm guessing the Solar basses are made in Indonesia since the body is made of sungkai and that wood is native to there. I have no idea as to its use as a tonewood but it appears to be used for furniture so I'd guess that it would be solid, stable stuff. Probably a bit heavy.
Indonesian-made instruments have come up in leaps and bounds in terms of quality during the last decade or so, so no qualms from me there. Someone once said that if Korea is the new Japan then Indonesia is the new Korea.
I did a quick search of "sungkai" here on TalkBass and there was an old post by an Indonesian member who said that sungkai is often referred to as "Indonesian ash" since it has that open grain pattern like swamp ash, but is not technically an ash.
And the 400mm radius interests me as well. I like that kind of radius. Plus, the Solar's competitors, like the LTD B-4E have 400mm radii: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. I once had a late 1990s Warwick Corvette Standard with the wenge neck that seemed to have a 20" radius fingerboard. Quite flat. LOVED how that neck felt. That bass would have been a keeper, but I didn't like the way the bass hung on me (too horizontal and too far left, making first position a stretch.) That Solar looks like it would balance better than my old Corvette.
Indonesian-made instruments have come up in leaps and bounds in terms of quality during the last decade or so, so no qualms from me there. Someone once said that if Korea is the new Japan then Indonesia is the new Korea.
I did a quick search of "sungkai" here on TalkBass and there was an old post by an Indonesian member who said that sungkai is often referred to as "Indonesian ash" since it has that open grain pattern like swamp ash, but is not technically an ash.
And the 400mm radius interests me as well. I like that kind of radius. Plus, the Solar's competitors, like the LTD B-4E have 400mm radii: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. I once had a late 1990s Warwick Corvette Standard with the wenge neck that seemed to have a 20" radius fingerboard. Quite flat. LOVED how that neck felt. That bass would have been a keeper, but I didn't like the way the bass hung on me (too horizontal and too far left, making first position a stretch.) That Solar looks like it would balance better than my old Corvette.
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You like the flat'ish' neck, like Jackson neck ? Its all about the neck.I do. I wonder what the nut width here is on that link for the Solar bass. I cant play anything smaller than like 1.65. Looks like jumbo frets, which is a plus for me. The curves and cut ins (bevels I guess) are aesthetically real nice actually. I'm just not diggin that real deep curvy cut on the head-stock opposite the tuners. I'd really like to see light colored maple neck here as well, you know, like on any shredder 6 string guitar worth it's weight. They only have 3 basses now, so maybe more to come, to match their guitars. I had a really nice Fender Jazz bass (yeah, not so metal but sounded great), but the neck, way too narrow for my chubby fingers, I sold it.
Yeah, I prefer necks with a flatter profile. The back of my LTD's neck feels too rounded for my tastes, but I make it work.
And who says a Fender Jazz isn't metal? Martin Mendez of Opeth uses them.
And go figure, "metal" basses can achieve smooth and versatile tones in jazz, funk, or fusion style contexts.
And why not? Plenty of modern metal bands incorporate jazz fusion elements into their music. Rivers of Nihil was not above incorporating saxophone solos into some of the songs of their 2018 album Where Owls Know My Name. I love this band too, Ever Forthright (who incorporate a lot of jazz fusiony stuff into their music):
Oh, and I used the "Contact" part of the Solar website to ask about the nut width. If I get an answer, I'll post here.
And who says a Fender Jazz isn't metal? Martin Mendez of Opeth uses them.
And go figure, "metal" basses can achieve smooth and versatile tones in jazz, funk, or fusion style contexts.
And why not? Plenty of modern metal bands incorporate jazz fusion elements into their music. Rivers of Nihil was not above incorporating saxophone solos into some of the songs of their 2018 album Where Owls Know My Name. I love this band too, Ever Forthright (who incorporate a lot of jazz fusiony stuff into their music):
Oh, and I used the "Contact" part of the Solar website to ask about the nut width. If I get an answer, I'll post here.
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I had one of those D series, a 6 string. It wasn't too heavy (my TRB1006j is heavier) and it sounded and played great.
That's a beautiful Spector, I think I seen it for a couple thousand, blood splatter paint-job I think? I like the inlays too. I didn't mean you cant play metal with a Jazz bass, if the nut on it was wider, much wider, Id have kept it. I loved the sound of it. Its just, well, kinda jazzy looking, I just couldn't see Chris Kael playing it.
