Solar Guitars A1.7FRBOP Sustainiac+

Overview: Solar Guitars A1.7FRBOP Sustainiac+

The Solar Guitars A1.7FRBOP Sustainiac+ is positioned as a high-specification seven-string model designed for extended-range players with a focus on tonal flexibility and advanced electronics. Priced at 1555, this model brings together modern features in the familiar silhouette of a double-cutaway design. This analysis reviews the instrument strictly from its technical details and build choices, assessing the platform for demanding musicians.

Body and Neck Construction

This model's body is crafted from swamp ash, known for delivering a bright yet balanced tonal range with a strong low end and clear resonance. The absence of a top keeps the overall weight in check and offers a direct response. The neck uses roasted North American hard maple, a choice aimed at enhanced stability and resistance to environmental changes. A set-in construction bolsters sustain and upper fret access, key for intricate soloing.

The fingerboard is ebony, a preferred material for performance due to its hardness and slick surface, offering a fast tactile experience. Twenty-four frets are featured, and a 648-millimeter (25.5-inch) scale provides familiar string tension, particularly across the extended lower register of the seven-string configuration.

• Body: Swamp ash
• Neck: Roasted maple (set-in join)
• Fingerboard: Ebony, 24 frets, custom Solar logo inlay at the twelfth fret
• Fingerboard Radius: 400 mm (15.75 inches)
• Scale Length: 648 mm (25.5 inches)

Hardware and Playability Features

The A1.7FRBOP Sustainiac+ is fitted with a Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo system, which includes a 34-millimeter sustain block. This system is favored in modern rock and metal settings and, combined with a locking nut, provides tuning stability under expressive pitch modulation. The Solar brand 18:1 locking machine heads further reinforce this stability, reducing string slippage during aggressive play or frequent tremolo use.

The matte black finish (Carbon Matte) and matching hardware create a unified, stealth aesthetic. The exclusion of a case or gig bag from the package is notable at this price point and should be considered by buyers who need ready protection for transportation.

• Tremolo: Floyd Rose 1000 with locking nut and 34-mm sustain block
• Machine Heads: Solar 18:1 locking tuners
• Hardware: Black, coordinated with finish
• Strings:.09,.62 gauge, nano carbon coated for enhanced longevity

Electronics and Controls

The dual humbucker configuration is the centerpiece of this guitar's specification. A Duncan Solar+ pickup occupies the bridge position, offering a contemporary output profile, suitable for articulate rhythms and lead phrases in a seven-string context. The neck position features the Sustainiac Stealth Pro humbucker, a specialized active unit enabling infinite sustain via an onboard driver system, a core feature for players interested in ambient effects, controlled feedback, or experimental performance techniques.

The control layout is comprehensive: one volume knob, a tone control with push/pull function for coil cutting, and a five-way blade selector switch provide access to a variety of single-coil and humbucker tones. Additional switches dedicated to the Sustainiac system allow the user to activate the driver and cycle through modes, granting further control over the shaping of sustained notes.

• Pickups: Bridge, Duncan Solar+ humbucker, Neck, Sustainiac Stealth Pro humbucker
• Active Circuitry: Yes, for both humbuckers and Sustainiac system
• Controls: Volume, tone (with push/pull coil split), five-way selector, Sustainiac on/off and mode switches

Playability and Intended Use

The A1.7FRBOP Sustainiac+ is engineered for modern, technically demanding musicians. Key choices such as the slim C-shaped neck profile, flat fifteen-and-three-quarter inch fingerboard radius, and streamlined 25.5-inch scale contribute to fast action and clarity in tight chord voicings or rapid lead passages. The Floyd Rose 1000 system and robust locking hardware are intended to serve performing and recording guitarists who require stable tuning with heavy use of vibrato or drop-tuning for extended range music.

The advanced electronics additionally make this guitar well-suited for performance scenarios where sustain or tonal versatility is paramount, including progressive rock, metal, or experimental genres. The Sustainiac system's presence is a targeted solution for players who seek textural control beyond what is available on most production seven-string instruments.

Summary: Technical Strengths and Considerations

The Solar Guitars A1.7FRBOP Sustainiac+ brings together proven modern guitar construction with unique electronic capability. The use of swamp ash, roasted maple, and ebony speaks to a build designed for both stability and expressive nuance. The combination of a reliable Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo, advanced locking tuners, and an extended seven-string format forms a working platform for advanced players. The Sustainiac system remains a distinguishing element, expanding creative possibilities beyond the expectations of most standard instruments.

For users who value robust active electronics, strong tuning stability, and a wide palette of sounds in a contemporary format, the A1.7FRBOP Sustainiac+ stands out as a technical instrument designed to meet rigorous demands. Lack of a bundled case or bag is a practical limitation and should be considered in total cost. This is a guitar built for intricate performance and focused experimentation rather than for players seeking a traditional or minimalist setup.