Last Updated on December 21, 2023 by Chris
I first heard of Solar Guitars when I was watching Ola England‘s YouTube channel. Being a fan of his aggressive playing style as well as his humorous content, I was naturally interested when he said that he was starting his own guitar brand when it launched in 2017. Obviously, I also wanted to know if there were gonna be any left handed Solar guitars available too!
Before starting his own guitar company, Ola previously had signature guitars with Strictly 7 Guitars, and Washburn Guitars.
His Washburn Solar series looked super cool to me; sleek-looking, pointed, and large scoops in the already generously large cutaways to reach those high frets. With his guitar brand, Englund further refined those designs which we now know as the Type A. He also released various other designs under the Solar brand too.
Let’s have a look at Solar guitars…
Or go straight to the guitars.
Table of Contents
Who Are Solar Guitars?
Solar Guitars is the guitar company of Swedish guitarist Ola Englund, best known for his YouTube channel and as lead guitarist with metal bands Feared, and The Haunted.
Over the years, his experience as both recording artist and music producer, Ola had spoken and exchanged ideas with many musicians and producers, sharing what they thought would make perfect guitars for both touring and home recording.
The first Solar guitar models were the Type A, Type S, Type V, and Type E.
Type A and S are double cutaway designs, while Type E and V models are more aggressive-looking and aimed at the modern metal guitarist. Englund’s intention for the brand was to design guitars that looked amazing, felt really comfortable to play, and deliver killer tone to the modern guitarist from beginners to professionals.
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Well-known players of Solar guitars include Martin Larsson and Jonas Stålhammar of At The Gates, Mike Wead of King Diamond, and Marcus Siepen of Blind Guardian.
Lefty players include Aaron Pettit of Destroy Planets! and YouTuber Paul Farrer.
What Do I Think of Solar Guitars?
When I first saw a Solar guitar, it was a Type A; not sure which one it was, but I thought it was so cool with its matte black finish and sleek looks.
They’re aimed more at modern progressive shredder types as well as down-tuned and drop-tuned metal chuggers, than other styles of music, so I don’t think they’d be everyone’s cup of tea.
I myself like this though, as these guitars look and sound thoroughly modern, thanks to their sharp angles, horn scoops, and the Solar Duncan pickups, born from a collaboration between Solar Guitars and Seymour Duncan.
Also, I really love the fact that you get some pretty high-quality guitars with some great features, at a very reasonable price. The Solar Guitars left handed range is priced from $699 – $1199.
Left Handed ESP LTD EC-1000 VB Reviewed. Kickass guitar or not?
Different Types of Solar Guitars
Electric Guitars:
- Type A – The original shape that Ola started with when he first started designing guitars.
- Type AB – Bolt-on neck versions of the Type A series.
- Type E – Based on the Gibson Explorer body shape.
- Type G – Based on the Gibson Les Paul body shape.
- Type S – Similar shape to the Type A, but with a more exclusive, elegant, and classical look.
- Type SB – Bolt-on neck versions of the Type S series.
- Type V – Solar Guitars’ take on the V-shape.
- Artist Series – Guitars created in collaboration with various recording artists.
Bass Guitars:
- Type AB Bass – Bass guitars with the Type AB body shape.
Left Handed Solar Electric Guitars
Please note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, if you decide to make a purchase when you click through I may get a small commission. If you do buy something, then I’d like to say “thank you so much”! It really does help me keep this website going.
At present, there are six different left handed Solar guitars, all of them electric.
Solar A1.7Vinter LH
$1,499.00 MSRP, Made in Indonesia
Specs:
- STRINGS: 7
- SCALE: 673 mm (26.5″)
- NECK: Full Access Set-Through Maple with Dual Action Truss Rod
- BODY: Alder
- NECK PROFILE: C
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony with Luminlay side dots and 12th Fret Solar Logo
- FRETBOARD RADIUS: 400 mm / 15.74″
- FRETS: 24 Super Jumbo Stainless Steel
- NUT TYPE: Graphite
- BRIDGE: Evertune F-Type
- TUNERS: Solar 18:1 Locking type
- NECK PICKUP: Fishman Fluance Modern
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Fishman Fluance Modern
- CONTROLS: Volume & Tone with Push/Pull for voice change, 3-way Blade
- FINISH: Pearl White Matte
Check price/availability at:
Solar A1.7TBR LH
$1,349.00 MSRP, Made in Indonesia
Specs:
- STRINGS: 7
- SCALE: 673 mm (26.5″)
- NECK: Full Access Set-Through Maple with Dual Action Truss Rod
- BODY: Swamp Ash
- NECK PROFILE: C
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony with Luminlay side dots and 12th Fret Solar Logo
- FRETBOARD RADIUS: 400 mm / 15.74″
- FRETS: 24 Super Jumbo Stainless Steel
- NUT TYPE: Graphite
- BRIDGE: Evertune F-Type
- TUNERS: Solar 18:1 Locking type
- NECK PICKUP: Duncan Solar
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Duncan Solar/Bridge
- CONTROLS: Volume, Tone, 5-way Blade
- FINISH: Trans Blood Red Matte
Check price/availability at:
Solar A1.6AFRFB LH
$1,299.00 MSRP, Made in Indonesia
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 648 mm (25.5″)
- NECK: Full Access Set-Through Maple with Dual Action Truss Rod
- BODY: Alder
- TOP: Flame Maple Veneer
- NECK PROFILE: C
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony with Luminlay side dots and 12th Fret Solar Logo
- FRETBOARD RADIUS: 350 mm / 13.78″
- FRETS: 24 Super Jumbo Stainless Steel
- NUT TYPE: Locking
- BRIDGE: Floyd Rose 1000 with 34 mm block
- TUNERS: Solar 18:1 Locking type
- NECK PICKUP: Fishman Fluance Modern
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Fishman Fluance Modern
- CONTROLS: Volume & Tone with Push/Pull for voice change, 3-way Blade
- FINISH: Flame Black Matte
Check price/availability at:
Solar E1.6FBB LH
$1,299.00 MSRP, Made in Indonesia
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 628.65 mm (24.75″)
- NECK: All Access Set-Through Maple with Dual Action Truss Rod
- BODY: Mahogany
- TOP: Flame Maple Veneer
- NECK PROFILE: C
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony with Luminlay side dots and 12th Fret Solar Logo
- FRETBOARD RADIUS: 350 mm / 13.78″
- FRETS: 22 Super Jumbo Stainless Steel
- NUT TYPE: Graphite
- BRIDGE: Evertune F-Type
- TUNERS: Solar 18:1 Locking type
- NECK PICKUP: Duncan Solar
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Duncan Solar/Bridge
- CONTROLS: Volume & Tone with Push/Pull for coil split, 3-way Blade
- FINISH: Flame Black Burst Matte
Check price/availability at:
Solar T1.6D LH
$1,299.00 MSRP, Made in Indonesia
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 648 mm (25.5″)
- NECK: Set-Through Maple with Dual Action Truss Rod
- BODY: Alder
- NECK PROFILE: C
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony with Luminlay side dots and 12th Fret Solar Logo
- FRETBOARD RADIUS: 350 mm / 13.78″
- FRETS: 24 Super Jumbo Stainless Steel
- NUT TYPE: Graphite
- BRIDGE: Evertune F-Type
- TUNERS: Solar 18:1 Locking type
- NECK PICKUP: Duncan Solar
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Duncan Solar/Bridge
- CONTROLS: Volume & Tone, 5-way Blade
- FINISH: Aged Natural Matte / Distressed
Check price/availability at:
Solar V1.6FBB LH
$1,249.00 MSRP, Made in Indonesia
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 648 mm (25.5″)
- NECK: Full Access Set-Through Maple with Dual Action Truss Rod
- BODY: Mahogany
- TOP: Flame Maple Veneer
- NECK PROFILE: C
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony with Luminlay side dots and 12th Fret Solar Logo
- FRETBOARD RADIUS: 350 mm / 13.78″
- FRETS: 24 Super Jumbo Stainless Steel
- NUT TYPE: Graphite
- BRIDGE: Evertune F-Type
- TUNERS: Solar 18:1 Locking type
- NECK PICKUP: Duncan Solar
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Duncan Solar/Bridge
- CONTROLS: Volume & Tone with Push/Pull for coil split, 3-way Toggle
- FINISH: Flame Black Burst Matte
Check price/availability at:
Solar A1.6D LH+
$1,249.00 MSRP, Made in Indonesia
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 648 mm (25.5″)
- NECK: Full Access Set-Through Maple with Dual Action Truss Rod
- BODY: Alder
- NECK PROFILE: C
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony with Luminlay side dots and 12th Fret Solar Logo
- FRETBOARD RADIUS: 350 mm / 13.78″
- FRETS: 24 Super Jumbo Stainless Steel
- NUT TYPE: Graphite
- BRIDGE: Evertune F-Type
- TUNERS: Solar 18:1 Locking type
- NECK PICKUP: Duncan Solar+ (Plus)
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Duncan Solar+ (Plus)/Bridge
- CONTROLS: Volume & Tone, 3-way Blade
- FINISH: Aged Natural Matte / Distressed
Check price/availability at:
Solar A2.7C LH
$849.00 MSRP, Made in Indonesia
Specs:
- STRINGS: 7
- SCALE: 673 mm (26.5″)
- NECK: Full Access Set-Through Maple with Dual Action Truss Rod
- BODY: Mahogany
- NECK PROFILE: C
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony with side dots and 12th Fret Solar Logo
- FRETBOARD RADIUS: 400 mm / 15.74″
- FRETS: 24 Super Jumbo Nickel
- NUT TYPE: Graphite
- BRIDGE: Fixed
- TUNERS: Grover 18:1
- NECK PICKUP: Duncan Solar
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Duncan Solar/Bridge
- CONTROLS: Volume & Tone, 5-way Blade
- FINISH: Carbon Black Matte
Check price/availability at:
Left Handed Solar Bass Guitars
At present, there are no left handed Solar bass guitars available in the current range, and there’s only one available in right handed configuration.
Final Thoughts
So in 2023, there are a total of eight different Solar electric guitar models available to left handed players. Very good going really seeing as it is a relatively new and growing guitar company.
It’s fantastic that Solar guitars offer lefties the chance to own a guitar featuring the EverTune bridge. Very few guitar companies do this, although I know ESP, Schecter, Jericho, and BC Rich have made lefty guitars with an EverTune bridge.
These are mostly available in black finishes, although there is one red, one white, and two in aged natural! I suppose this is understandable as Solar’s target market are mainly modern metal players, who seem to prefer their guitars in matte black and little in the way of decorative inlays or shiny chrome hardware (this is, however, available to our right handed friends).
Personally, I’d be more likely to go for any finish other than black; probably due to a lack of availability of other finishes for lefties from other guitar manufacturers!
Also, it’s a shame there are no Type G, or S guitars or bass guitars available for lefthanders; hopefully, in the future, we’ll get ’em…
What do you think of these left handed Solar guitars? Let us know in the comments below.
Image credits: solar-guitars.com