TEST: Solar Guitars A1.6D+

 Did influencer Ola Englund ever think that his guitar company Solar Guitars would be so successful when he founded it in 2017 and its models are now available in over 50 countries? The current Solar Guitars website lists what feels like over 200 different variations of the different models, which is a really large selection of instruments for an independent company. Today we have the Solar Guitars A1.6D+ Aged Natural for testing, which is very woody in the truest sense of the word.

The construction of the Solar Guitars A1.6D+ Aged Natural

The A model obviously seems to be the company's biggest revenue generator, at least with over 60 models on the website you have by far the largest selection in terms of layout and hardware. Once again we are dealing with a classic Powerstrat, although it should be noted that both the body shaping and various other details are not in the classic 80s Powerstrat style.

Rather, the instrument made in Indonesia is a more modern, slimmer version of the model, which not only has two much sharper cutaways, but also has a great deal of individuality due to the significantly higher shaping proportions. In terms of the choice of wood, we are dealing with a combination that is also often found in the Stratocaster range in terms of neck and body. In other words, we have an alder body and a maple neck, although in contrast to the Strat, the fingerboard in this case is made of ebony.

The body and neck have been stained dark, so that at first glance you have the feeling that you are dealing with a mahogany instrument. As already mentioned, the instrument has several shaping approaches, whereby apart from the typical rib protectors on the back and the armrest on the top left, the edges of the two cutaways have also been rounded off and a soft transition has been generated at the base of the neck on the back. According to the manufacturer, the shaping of the neck is a so-called C-shaping. For my part, I would still personally classify the whole thing in the D range. However, this assessment is purely subjective and everyone has to make up their own mind about it.

24 jumbo frets made of stainless steel are installed on the fingerboard, with the instrument having a scale length of 25.5 inches or 64.8 cm, i.e. the long scale length has been installed on the instrument. As fingerboard inlays, Solar Guitars once again uses the Solar Guitar logo on the twelfth fret on the Solar Guitars A1.6D+ Aged Natural and also uses the fluorescent green dot inlays on the side of the fingerboard, which start to glow when the room is slightly darkened and are a real help, especially on dark stages.

The instrument has a matt varnish and even if it doesn't sound very professional, unfortunately it's not my fault, the overall appearance reminds me a little of my grandmother's living room cupboard, which had exactly the same grain, the same stain and the same varnish.

Another nice nod to the 80s is the placement of the locking tuning machines, which are once again mirrored on the underside of the headstock in a 6 in a row style and work with a ratio of 18:1. All of the hardware on the instrument is described as distressed, which means that the metal looks slightly tarnished and is intended to simulate a certain age. Interestingly, I think this design fits very well with the solid wood section that the instrument shows.

What I really like is the detailed solution of the upper strap pin, which is located on the back part of the body. I know some manufacturers who have a similarly pointed cutaway horn on the top of the body and have drilled the strap pin somewhat irrelevantly onto the tip of the horn. Not only does it not look nice, it is also extremely unstable under vertical load. So the rear solution is much better.

The Evertune Bridge

Solar Guitars once again uses the Evertune Bridge as a bridge construction, which is known to have advantages and, in my opinion, disadvantages. For all beginners, here is a brief summary of the basic principle of the Evertune Bridge. The Evertune Bridge is a sophisticated system of springs that are installed inside the guitar and which provide counter-tension to the string tension.

The Evertune Bridge can be set so that no matter how hard you pull or press on the sides, the tone always remains the same, which ensures incredible tuning stability beyond temperature differences, humidity fluctuations or excessive finger pressure. The disadvantage of this setting is that you can no longer modulate the fretted note. This means that bending, vibrato or any kind of phrasing within the pitch is no longer possible with this setting of the Evertune Bridge. A dream for the rhythm guitarist, a nightmare for the lead guitarist.

With the second setting, after perfectly adjusting the system, you can use all the phrasing such as vibrato and bending and still enjoy the mostly very good tuning of the instrument. The disadvantage here, however, is that the response of the tone is a little more indirect when it comes to modulation and you also have to apply a lot more force to the side deflection than with a regular guitar bridge system.

The electronics of the Solar Guitars A1.6D+ Aged Natural

When it comes to pickups and electronics, Solar Guitars has once again opted for two humbuckers from Seymour Duncan for the Solar Guitars A1.6D+ Aged Natural. The models are passive Duncan Solar Plus models, which offer the most important humbucker and single coil circuits for the instrument via a five-way switch. There is a master volume and a master tone control to choose from.

The Solar Guitars A1.6D+ Aged Natural in practice

When you pick up the instrument for the first time, you immediately notice how easy the neck is to play. The neck is very easy to grip, has a pleasant feel and should suit the majority of guitarists in terms of dimensions. The body itself is also easy to handle, nestles comfortably against the body, with the respective millings serving their purpose of making handling more comfortable.

You'll notice that the instrument was primarily designed for the heavy or high-gain range as soon as you connect the instrument to the amplifier and start to use the pickups. In my opinion, the pickups lack a bit of character in the clean range that was initially set. Not that they sound bad, but they lack the liveliness of pickups from Seymour Duncan, for example, which were primarily designed for clean or crunchy sounds. In addition, the single-coil circuit is significantly quieter in terms of output level than the humbucker circuit, which is something to be taken into account, especially in the clean range.

As the level of distortion increases, however, the pickups can be quite convincing. Especially if you like the sound of passive pickups, which are known to differ significantly from active pickups in terms of their dynamics and response, the Seymour Duncan pickups manage to produce a comparatively transparent sound even at high levels of distortion, so that even at high high-gain settings the sound does not drift into muddy tones.

It is also very positive to note that the reverb spiral effect that occasionally occurred in the past and which is known from both Floyd Rose systems and the Evertune Bridge did not appear on this instrument. This made it possible to obtain a transparent sound even at high high-gain settings and corresponding palm-muted riff attacks.

Overall, the instrument is certainly convincing and will certainly bring a lot of joy to its target group. The extent to which the Evertune Bridge can be used effectively is up to each individual, as is whether or not they prefer a purely wooden look. Personally, I left the Evertune bridge as it was set at the factory, i.e. in the "balanced position", which was a bit strange for me, as any form of vibrato or modulation that I normally have in my playing was balanced out and eliminated by the system. But as is often the case, it's all a matter of personal taste.

The sound files were created with an Engl Savage MkII, a Marshall Cabinet 4x12 equipped with a Celestion G12 75T speaker and two Shure SM57.

Conclusion

With the Solar Guitars A1.6D+ Aged Natural, the manufacturer has a good instrument for the hard'n'heavy sector in its portfolio. Anyone looking for an instrument with an Evertune bridge for this music segment should take a look at this instrument.

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Additional Informations:

In the realm of musical instruments, particularly electric guitars, innovations are often greeted with a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism. Among such advancements, the Evertune bridge stands out as a revolutionary solution to one of the most persistent challenges faced by guitarists: maintaining perfect tuning stability. This article delves into the origins, development, and impact of the Evertune bridge, highlighting its journey from a conceptual innovation to a game-changing component in modern guitar design.

### The Conceptual Genesis

The Evertune bridge was conceived by Cosmos Lyles, an engineer with a passion for music and a deep understanding of mechanical systems. The idea originated from the frustration that many musicians experience with the constant need to retune their instruments, especially during live performances and recording sessions. The aim was to create a bridge system that could keep a guitar in perfect tune regardless of environmental changes, playing style, or string wear.

Lyles' initial concept was to design a mechanical system that could compensate for the factors causing a guitar to go out of tune. These factors include temperature and humidity changes, string stretching, and variations in playing pressure. The challenge was to create a system that was both precise and reliable, yet simple enough to be integrated into standard guitar designs without significantly altering their appearance or playability.

### Prototyping and Development

The development of the Evertune bridge involved extensive research and numerous prototypes. Lyles collaborated with a team of engineers and musicians to refine the design. The key innovation of the Evertune system lies in its use of springs and levers to dynamically adjust the tension of each string. This mechanism ensures that the strings maintain consistent tension, thus keeping the guitar in tune.

The initial prototypes faced several challenges, including ensuring the durability of the system under rigorous playing conditions and maintaining the tonal quality of the guitar. Through iterative testing and feedback from professional guitarists, the design was gradually perfected. The final version of the Evertune bridge featured a series of individual modules for each string, allowing precise adjustments and easy maintenance.

### Market Introduction and Reception

The Evertune bridge was officially launched in 2010, marking a significant milestone in the field of guitar technology. Its introduction was met with cautious optimism from the guitar community. Musicians and industry experts were intrigued by the promise of a guitar that could stay perfectly in tune, but there were also concerns about the potential impact on the instrument's sound and playability.

To address these concerns, Evertune engaged in extensive demonstrations and endorsements by professional guitarists. Notable musicians such as Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind) and Scott Ian (Anthrax) were among the early adopters who praised the bridge for its reliability and consistency. These endorsements helped to build credibility and trust within the guitar community.

### Technical Specifications and Functionality

The Evertune bridge operates on a simple yet effective principle: maintaining constant tension on each string. Each string passes through a spring-loaded saddle that adjusts automatically to changes in tension. This mechanism compensates for any factors that would typically cause a guitar to go out of tune, such as bending strings, heavy strumming, or environmental changes.

One of the key features of the Evertune bridge is its ability to be fine-tuned for different playing styles. Musicians can set the system to allow a certain amount of bending for expressive playing, or to lock the tuning entirely for maximum stability. This flexibility makes it suitable for a wide range of musical genres and playing techniques.

The Evertune bridge is designed to be installed on both new guitars and as a retrofit on existing instruments. This versatility has contributed to its growing popularity among both manufacturers and individual musicians. Brands like ESP, Schecter, and Gibson have incorporated Evertune bridges into some of their models, further solidifying its acceptance in the industry.

### Impact on the Guitar Industry

The introduction of the Evertune bridge has had a profound impact on the guitar industry. It has challenged the traditional notion that guitars inherently require frequent retuning, offering a practical solution to a longstanding problem. This has not only improved the performance experience for musicians but also opened up new possibilities for guitar design and engineering.

One of the significant benefits of the Evertune bridge is its contribution to the recording process. In the studio, maintaining consistent tuning can be a time-consuming task, often requiring multiple takes to ensure perfect pitch. The Evertune system minimizes this issue, allowing for more efficient recording sessions and reducing the need for post-production pitch correction.

Moreover, the Evertune bridge has influenced the design philosophy of modern guitars. Its integration requires precise engineering and manufacturing, pushing guitar makers to adopt higher standards of quality control. This has led to advancements in other areas of guitar construction, as manufacturers strive to complement the stability provided by the Evertune system with equally high-quality components.

### Challenges and Criticisms

Despite its many advantages, the Evertune bridge is not without its critics. Some guitarists argue that the mechanical system can alter the natural feel and response of the strings, particularly when it comes to expressive playing techniques like vibrato and bending. While the system can be adjusted to allow for some bending, purists often prefer the traditional feel of a standard bridge.

Another criticism is the complexity and cost of installation. Retrofitting an existing guitar with an Evertune bridge requires precise routing and setup, which can be challenging and expensive. This has limited its adoption among amateur guitarists and hobbyists who may be deterred by the additional expense.

### The Future of Evertune

Looking ahead, the future of the Evertune bridge seems promising. Continued advancements in materials and manufacturing techniques are likely to enhance the system's performance and affordability. Evertune is also exploring new applications for its technology, including potential adaptations for bass guitars and other stringed instruments.

The company's commitment to innovation and quality has positioned it as a leader in guitar technology. As more musicians and manufacturers embrace the benefits of the Evertune bridge, its influence on the industry is expected to grow. The ongoing development and refinement of the system will ensure that it remains a valuable tool for musicians seeking the ultimate in tuning stability.

### Conclusion

The Evertune bridge represents a significant milestone in the evolution of guitar technology. From its conceptual beginnings to its current status as a respected and widely-used innovation, the journey of the Evertune bridge reflects the enduring quest for perfection in musical instruments. Its ability to maintain perfect tuning under a variety of conditions has made it an invaluable asset for musicians, recording engineers, and manufacturers alike. As the guitar industry continues to evolve, the Evertune bridge stands as a testament to the power of innovation in enhancing the art and science of music.