Solar Guitars A1.7FRCAR Sustainiac+

Solar Guitars A1.7FRCAR Sustainiac+ Hands-On Test

The Solar Guitars A1.7FRCAR Sustainiac+ fits into the high-performance seven-string segment, engineered for versatility and modern playability. Examining its specifications in detail shows how its active electronics, long scale, and hardware configuration serve players looking for both tone flexibility and technical reliability.

Body and Finish

The body uses alder, a traditional choice for electric guitars in this style, providing a balanced tonal profile with a slight emphasis on the upper midrange. Finished in a high-gloss candy apple red, the instrument presents a vivid, stage-ready look. The lack of a top wood layer simplifies the acoustic response and keeps the tone focused. All hardware comes in black, contributing to a uniform modern aesthetic.

Neck and Fretboard

The maple neck is set into the body, prioritizing sustain and upper fret access. It is matched with an ebony fingerboard, a dense wood that enhances attack and clarity, especially important on extended-range guitars. The fingerboard features a single Solar logo inlay at the twelfth fret. With a 24-fret layout using super jumbo stainless steel frets, the guitar is designed for technical performance, minimizing fret wear and smoothing bends and slides.

The "C" profile neck, combined with a matte finish, aims to strike a balance between fast playability and comfort. Players will note the substantial fingerboard radius of 400 mm (15.75 inches), offering a relatively flat surface that suits lower string height and easier note articulation. The 648 mm (25.5 inch) scale length is standard for maintaining string tension across seven strings, avoiding floppy low notes.

The nut width is 48 mm (1.89 inches), which allows adequate string spacing for complex chords or intricate finger work, and the locking nut works in coordination with the whammy system for tuning stability.

Hardware and Tuning

The hardware setup centers on a Floyd Rose 1000 double-locking whammy bridge with a 34 mm sustain block, built for aggressive use without significant tuning drift. This is complemented by Solar's own 18:1 locking machine heads, allowing for accurate micro-tuning and string changes. The instrument ships without a case or bag, which buyers should note as an additional purchase if traveling or gigging.

Strings come in a.09 to.62 gauge, nano carbon coated for longer life and a smooth, consistent feel. This range is well-suited to the slightly extended scale, and helps retain clarity on the lower string while keeping the higher strings flexible for bends and vibrato.

Electronics and Controls

The guitar is equipped with an active pickup system. The bridge position uses a Duncan Solar+ humbucker designed for modern clarity, tight low end, and articulate highs. In the neck, a Sustainiac Stealth Pro humbucker adds significant tonal variety; it allows for infinite sustain, feedback like effects, and a synthesizer-like tone when activated.

Control layout is streamlined: a single volume knob, a tone control with a push-pull function for coil splitting the humbucker to single coil operation, and a three-way selector switch. The dedicated 'Sustainiac' on/off switch, along with a separate octave switch, introduces further options for creative sound sculpting, from traditional leads with "violin" sustain to harmonically rich textures. This setup is aimed at players who demand both immediate access to basic tones and quick maneuvering into special effects territory.

Construction Approach

The set neck joint melds the stability of bolt-on methods with additional sustain, aligning with the guitar's intent for heavy and progressive styles. Stainless steel frets extend lifespan and resist wear from aggressive playing or frequent string bending. Matte neck finishes have become a preference for modern players, reducing stickiness and maintaining consistent feel under sweaty or fast-paced conditions.

Applications and Market Position

Ideal for metal and progressive guitarists, the seven-string format and active pickups provide a wide frequency response with clarity at high gain. The Sustainiac system is more commonly found in much higher price brackets, giving this Solar model a notable feature for creative performers who rely on sustain and feedback effects. The Floyd Rose 1000 and locking hardware complete a package targeting the gigging or recording guitarist who needs both expressiveness and stability.

Summary of Key Strengths

• Long-scale seven-string construction retains tension and note definition
• Active humbuckers and coil split offer expanded tonal palette
• Sustainiac neck pickup enables lasting sustain and unique feedback control
• Super jumbo stainless steel frets and ebony fingerboard ensure fast action and durability
• Floyd Rose system and locking tuners provide robust tuning stability under heavy use

With its blend of high-spec electronics, hardware for demanding techniques, and thoughtful construction choices, the Solar Guitars A1.7FRCAR Sustainiac+ is positioned as a serious tool for players who require advanced performance from a modern, extended-range instrument.