Solar Guitars annouces first bass lineup

[VolverseLoco]

I got a response from one of the folks at Solar guitars regarding the nut width on the 4-string.

The nut width on the 4-string is 38mm, which is about 1.5".

So it's a narrow neck, which is what I prefer since I don't have big hands.

Thanks. That was the size of my Jazz bass nut. Not much string spacing for me but yet it is like the most common width across many, many basses.

 

[deff]

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.

Ola frequently adds in new colors and options to his lineup of guitars, if the basses sell, he'd likely do that. He based the colors off of what sells and his aesthetic and frankly color is just a personal preference thing.

I understand the tuner issue. Your issue with the headstock not withstanding, the whole 4 string is 34" and 5 string is 35" thing if you are selling a bass aimed at metal players 34" isn't well thought out. I'm sure the manufacturer advised him that people want a 34" scale because it is what they're used to, but 35" for people that play BEAD is what should have happened. For metal people today, it is almost an entirely downtuned world. I'm not saying everyone wants multiscale, I know I don't, but everyone wants something that works better.

I actually didn't think that Ola would ever make basses. That being said, he was consistent with the aesethic of his guitars. If you like the Solar guitars and play bass maybe this will appeal to those people. Dude seems funny and very nice. I wish him all the best.

 

[Dincrest]

And as I said, all of my criticisms notwithstanding, I'd still like to strap one of those Solar 4-strings on and try it out. See how it balances on my body and how the neck feels in my hands.

 

[Dincrest]

Here's one of Ola's vlogs from the Indonesia factory.

Speculation time:
The basses seen at around 23-24 minutes in look like ESP/LTD B-series basses, so it seems that perhaps Solar uses the same Indonesia factory that ESP does for its LTD instruments. I believe ESP contracts World Music for its LTD stuff rather than Cort or Samick and World Music is reputed to do good stuff.

If this is the case, I say cool.

 

[ChuckMann]

They look like reworked Samicks

 

[J Posega]

They look like reworked Samicks

You searched for and revived a 2 year old thread for this comment???

 

[Dincrest]

For what it's worth, the factory Solar uses is PT Wildwood (from what I gathered in the video). I'm pretty sure PT Wildwood make ESP/LTD and Schecter instruments among others. I have a 2018 LTD D-5 that looks like the ones in the background around 23:40 in the video and it's a great bass that punches above its weight class. Serial number starts with IW which, I assume is "Indonesia, Wildwood."

I'm pretty sure Samick has their own separate factory in another part of Indonesia.

To circle back, has anyone on TalkBass sampled a Solar Bass? I know LowEndLobster did a a few videos on a Solar 4-string bass.

 

[ChuckMann]

You searched for and revived a 2 year old thread for this comment???

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