The Complete Solar Guitars Price Guide 2026: The YouTube Guitarist Who Built a Guitar Empire

Last updated: February 2026

In 2017, a Swedish YouTuber with a million subscribers did something that guitar industry veterans said was impossible: he launched a guitar brand, sold direct to consumers, and shipped 300 guitars immediately—no year-long distributor pipeline, no trade show waiting game, no dealer markup chain. Ola Englund had spent two frustrated years watching his Washburn signature guitar crawl through traditional distribution. So he built Solar Guitars to prove there was a better way.

Nine years later, Solar is one of the fastest-growing guitar brands in the world. The lineup spans from $219 S by Solar budget instruments to $1,999 Platinum premium builds. Every guitar is designed by a working metal guitarist for working metal guitarists—Evertune bridges, Seymour Duncan collaboration pickups, stainless steel frets, and body shapes that look as aggressive as they sound. Solar didn't just disrupt the guitar industry's distribution model. It proved that a modern guitar company could be built on YouTube authenticity, direct-to-consumer efficiency, and uncompromising metal focus.

Solar Guitars Market Overview 2026

Solar's market is young but growing rapidly as the brand matures.

Key Market Statistics:

• Average Used Solar Price: $720 (up 6% from 2025)
• Active Listings: Approximately 1,200 guitars currently for sale
• Monthly Sales Volume: Around 380 guitars sold per month
• Price Range: $150 (used S by Solar) to $2,000 (Platinum models)

Solar's direct-to-consumer model means used prices often sit close to new-direct prices—there's no inflated retail markup to depreciate from. This creates a unique market where "used" savings are smaller than with traditional brands, but new-purchase value is exceptional.

The Solar Philosophy: Direct, Honest, Metal

Why Ola Left Washburn

Ola Englund's YouTube channel had nearly a million subscribers when he signed with Washburn for a signature guitar. The experience was revealing:

• Guitars took over a year from design approval to consumer availability
• Distributors who didn't know Ola were selling his guitars
• The traditional chain—manufacturer → distributor → retailer → customer—added cost at every step
• Feedback loops were glacially slow

Solar's Solution:

1. Design in-house: Ola designs every guitar
2. Manufacture efficiently: Partner with quality Indonesian factories
3. Sell direct: solar-guitars.com is the primary channel
4. Ship immediately: No year-long pipeline
5. Listen to the community: YouTube comments become design inputs

The Naming System

Solar uses a logical tier-and-shape naming system:

• First letter: Body shape (A = superstrat, E = explorer, V = V-shape, S = single-cut, T = T-style)
• First number: Quality tier (1 = premium, 2 = mid-tier)
• Second number: String count (6 = six-string, 7 = seven-string, 8 = eight-string)
• Suffix: Features (C = standard, Svart+ = upgraded pickups, Platinum = ultra-premium)

Example: A1.7C = Type A superstrat, premium tier, 7-string, standard config.

Premium Tier (X.1 Models): $1,099-$1,999

Top-of-line instruments with Evertune bridges and Duncan Solar pickups.

A1.6C Carbon Black Matte (~$1,099)

Specifications:

• Body: Alder
• Neck: Maple, set-thru construction
• Fingerboard: Ebony, 24 frets, 12"-16" compound radius
• Frets: Stainless steel jumbo
• Pickups: Duncan Solar humbuckers
• Bridge: Evertune (constant tuning stability)
• Tuners: Solar locking tuners
• Scale: 25.5"
• Origin: Indonesia

A1.6Svart+ (~$1,299)

Upgraded Premium:

• All A1.6C specs plus:
• Pickups: Duncan Solar+ Plus (Alnico VIII magnets)
• Tighter, more defined high-gain response
• Enhanced clarity for recording

A1.6 Platinum (~$1,999)

Ultra-Premium:

• Custom premium finish
• Highest-tier appointments
• Limited production runs
• Collector-oriented

Other X.1 Premium Models

• E1.6C/Svart+: Explorer-style (~$1,099-$1,299)
• V1.6C/Svart+: V-shape (~$1,099-$1,299)
• S1.6C: Single-cut (~$1,099)
• A1.7C: 7-string premium (~$1,149)
• A1.8C: 8-string premium (~$1,199)

Used X.1 Premium Values: $700-$1,000 (excellent condition)

Mid Tier (X.2 Models): $699-$799

Professional specs at accessible prices.

A2.6C (~$699-$799)

Specifications:

• Body: Mahogany or alder
• Neck: Maple, bolt-on construction
• Fingerboard: Ebony, 24 frets
• Frets: Stainless steel
• Pickups: Duncan Solar humbuckers
• Bridge: Fixed bridge or Floyd Rose options
• Scale: 25.5"

Other X.2 Mid-Tier Models

• E2.6C: Explorer-style (~$699-$799)
• V2.6C: V-shape (~$699-$799)
• S2.6C: Single-cut (~$699-$799)
• A2.7C: 7-string mid-tier (~$799)

Used X.2 Values: $450-$600 (excellent condition)

S by Solar: $219-$349

Ultra-affordable metal guitars launched in 2023.

S by Solar AB2.6 (~$299-$349)

Budget Superstrat:

• Body: Basswood
• Neck: Maple, bolt-on
• Fingerboard: Laurel, 24 frets
• Pickups: Solar-designed humbuckers
• Bridge: Fixed or tremolo options
• Designed for metal at minimum price

S by Solar Range

• SB2.6: Budget single-cut (~$219-$279)
• EB2.6: Budget explorer (~$299-$349)
• VB2.6: Budget V-shape (~$299-$349)
• AB2.7: Budget 7-string (~$349)

Used S by Solar Values: $150-$250 (excellent condition)

Where to Buy Solar Guitars: Platform Comparison

Marketplace Analysis

Solar Direct (solar-guitars.com) (Average Price: $800)

• Primary sales channel
• Full warranty and support
• No middleman markup
• Best for: New purchases, full selection

Reverb (Average Price: $720)

• Growing used market
• Community familiar with the brand
• 6.5% price appreciation year-over-year
• Best for: Used X.1 premium models

eBay (Average Price: $620)

• Broader buyer pool
• Auction opportunities
• 5.0% price trend
• Best for: S by Solar deals

Guitar Center (Average Price: $700)

• Select models available retail
• Physical inspection possible
• 5.5% appreciation
• Best for: Trying before buying

Tips for Buying Used Solar

1. Compare to Direct Price: Solar sells direct—check solar-guitars.com before paying "used" prices. Sometimes new-direct is barely more than used
2. Evertune Verification: On X.1 models, verify all Evertune saddles function correctly. Each string's saddle has independent springs that must be intact
3. Stainless Fret Advantage: All Solar guitars use stainless steel frets—virtually zero wear. Fret condition should be excellent even on older models
4. Pickup Tier Matters: Duncan Solar (standard) vs Duncan Solar+ (Svart+, Alnico VIII) are different pickups. Know which you're buying
5. Body Shape Comfort: Solar offers unusual shapes (Type E, Type V). These play differently from traditional superstrats—try if possible

Solar vs. Competitors

Modern metal guitar comparison:

Solar Advantage: Evertune bridge at this price point is unmatched—perfect tuning stability for recording and live performance. Set-thru construction. Direct-to-consumer pricing.

When Others Win: ESP for Korean manufacturing quality and active EMG tones. Schecter for Fishman Fluence versatility. Both have stronger brand recognition in retail stores.

Famous Solar Players

The Solar community is built around Ola Englund and the YouTube/social media guitar world:

• Ola Englund: Founder, The Haunted, Feared—uses Solar exclusively
• Jared Dines: YouTube guitarist and collaborator
• Kmac2021: YouTube guitarist and content creator
• Growing roster of metal and progressive artists

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are Solar guitars really designed by Ola Englund? A: Yes. Ola designs every Solar guitar model, spec sheet, and aesthetic detail. His YouTube career testing hundreds of guitars informs every design decision. This is genuine artist-driven design, not marketing branding.

Q: Where are Solar guitars made? A: Solar guitars are manufactured in Indonesia by quality partner factories. Ola maintains close quality control through frequent factory visits and sample testing. S by Solar budget models are also Indonesian-made.

Q: Is the Evertune bridge worth it? A: For recording and live metal—absolutely. Evertune maintains perfect tuning regardless of temperature, humidity, or playing force. It eliminates the "out of tune after two songs" problem. The bridge does slightly reduce the guitar's organic resonance, which some players notice on clean tones.

Q: How does buying direct work? A: You order from solar-guitars.com and receive the guitar shipped directly from Solar's warehouse. Standard shipping times vary by region. Direct purchasing means no retail markup—you're paying Solar's price, not a retailer's marked-up price.

Q: Are S by Solar guitars any good? A: Remarkably good for $219-$349. They're not premium instruments, but they're well-designed for metal with high-output pickups, 24 frets, and aggressive body shapes. A $50 professional setup and eventual pickup upgrade can transform them into impressive players.

Conclusion

Solar Guitars exists because a working metal guitarist looked at the guitar industry and saw an outdated distribution model charging players extra for inefficiency. Ola Englund's solution—design directly, manufacture efficiently, sell immediately—proved that a modern guitar company could deliver professional-quality instruments at fair prices without the traditional industry markup chain.

The A1.6C at $1,099 delivers Evertune stability, Duncan Solar pickups, stainless steel frets, and set-thru construction at a price that forces the competition to justify their higher tags. S by Solar at $219-$349 proves that genuine metal guitars don't require a large budget. And the entire lineup—designed by someone who reviews guitars for a living—benefits from a level of player-centric thinking that big brands struggle to match.

Nine years from YouTube experiment to globally recognized metal guitar brand. Solar isn't just a guitar company. It's proof that the old rules don't apply anymore.

For the most current pricing and availability, visit solar-guitars.com directly. Prices are consistent across the direct channel; used market prices vary by platform.

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