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I've been making references for a while about an attempt to bring back Soloway Guitars. Well it appears to be happening. This past weekend I received the prototype of the first model that will be released. They wanted my feedback and were hoping for my blessing. After playing it for a couple of days I'm happy to say that it's very much a go. This may be more information than anyone really wants to read but here's all of the details and some photos of the prototype. I'll add a video to the op in the next day or two.
I have to say up front, this is not my company or my initiative but I have been involved every step of the way. The real driver is Chris Cole, an old friend and customer from the old days. He was pretty passionate about our guitars and really wanted to have a go at bringing it back with some updated designs. So we spent the last year or so working out all the details. It's being built in North Carolina by a team that Chris has assembled and Saturday the first prototype arrived here in Halifax.
This model is based on the Single 15 that we built for several years but there have been LOT of changes and refinements.
First the size: it's now a Single 14, so the lower bout has shrunk by an inch. But it's also a bit deeper. Neither of those changes are really obvious to me but they do make the guitar really comfortable. The extra depth also required a redesign on the neck pocket and heel contour and I think that's my favorite design aspect of the entire instrument.
Like the Single 15, the interior of the body is almost completely hollow with just a small block under the bridge.
The top is maple but unlike the old Soloways which were mostly swamp ash back and cores, this has a Spanish Cedar back. That makes it a bit warmer but is still very light weight. The prototype is 6.8 lbs and I expect that to be pretty typical.
The neck and fingerboard are both roasted maple. It will be available with a variety of fingerboards but I really wanted roasted maple for the prototype just because it's a material that I really believe in. I like both the feel and the stability. There’s a light oil finish on the maple so it feels almost raw. Inside the neck there are still a pair of graphite rods that add stiffness and tonal clarity to all of our necks. The frets are stainless steel.
A couple of significant changes on the neck that I thought would make it more comfortable for most people (and that I had wished that I had done in the old days) the radius is a slightly rounder 12" and the frets are 6150's, slightly smaller than the enormous 6100's that we had used through the original run. I think most people will find this a bit more familiar than the almost flat radius and huge frets that I used to use.
The nut width is 1.7" and the neck profile is .850 at the first fret increasing to .940 at the octave with a full C shape verging on a D (so quite full in the shoulders), so comfortably large without being overwhelming.
The scale length is 25.5” on the prototype but it will also be available with a 24.75” conversion neck so we can mix and match bodies and necks on demand. There is also going to be a 24” version available down the line (it should be a nice choice for those of us with “aging” hands but it will not be a conversion neck so the body and neck together are going to require a bit more development).
The pickups in the prototype are Lindy Fralin Pure PAF’s. No decisions have been made about pickups for the long term but I like Lindy’s pickups a lot and I thought that PAF’s would give us a good starting point. So far they are living up to my expectations. They are warm, even and expressive without being especially aggressive.
After playing the prototype for a couple days, my first impression is that this is one of the most comfortable guitars that I’ve ever played (and that’s really important to me). Going from 15” down to 14” but making the body a bit thicker both turned out to be great decisions, both for sitting and standing. The neck size, the slight increase in the fingerboard radius and the less gigantic frets all make this a more comfortable guitar that anything we were building at any time in our history. And roasted maple is just a joy. Tonally, the guitar is a little warmer and more even than our old guitars. The sustain is still outstanding.
Prices and availability are still to be decided but I'm sure there will be more information very soon.
Last edited by Jim Soloway; 11-01-2022 at 04:43 PM.
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10-31-2022 05:07 PM
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I need a back up for my Borys Jazz Solid. Are you going to make anything like that?
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IMO, the design of this guitar is exquisite; subtle curvature, visually inviting. This guitar simply looks like it would comfortable to play.
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I don't quite know why I think this, having never touched a Soloway nor even seen one in person. But it looks like a contemporarily-shaped instrument that a jazzer could use without it seeming too weird. Despite the awkward phrasing, that's meant to be a compliment.
Put more crisply, that's a good-looking guitar!
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Wow, that is just lovely! Jim, I appreciate your courage in allowing these designs to be re-investigated.
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Fantastic news, Jim! That "look" is my favorite from the Soloway series! Looking forward to more updates!
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Great news, I hope it’s a success. That one looks fantastic. Love the color. Since I am a 15” user, I am getting interested. Will there be one?
If you don’t mind cosmetic suggestions, all black hardware (including the pickups), and an option for no dots on that beautiful fretboard. Just my preference of course, to each his own. Also, big SS frets.
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It's gorgeous.
Any chance of the Swan 27 inch?
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The design is a beauty to behold, and I wish the endeavor much success!
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Fantastic! Do you know if a 7 is anywhere in the pipeline, Jim?
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Well, it's beautiful, and I think I'll start saving up some money
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Mine too. I always thought the Single 15" body design was the best work I did during the entire run. I was resistant at first at going to 14" but now that it's in my hands I'm really glad we did. It's an incredibly comfortable guitar and by increasing the depth a bit we were able to maintain most of the air inside. We've also switched from swamp ash to Spanish cedar for the back and core of the body and that's definitely warmed it up a lot.
Originally Posted by marcwhy
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These dots are one of only two real objections I have to the prototype. They're black pearl and like most pearl dots they disappear in most lighting. We're have a running conversation right now on what the dots should be. It probably will depend on which fingerboard we're using. There will definitely be some options for the board. I can got with or without top dots but if they're going to be there then visibility ought to be the number 1 priority. Originally Posted by Woody Sound
The frets are still pretty big. 6150's are generally considered jumbos but the 6100's that we always used were like playing on railroad ties. Not everyone can handle frets that size. And yes, they are stainless.
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Probably but we're moving really slowly are 27" would come after a 24". At my age, 24" is almost the only way I can play in standard pitch any more so I've lobbied for it pretty hard. Originally Posted by Bluedawg
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"Pipeline" is probably an exaggeration for our current process. More like a slow trickle Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
I'm guessing that if we do a 7-string it would come after we do a 27" scale length.
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A poll? I like 6230 -- Fender vintage-sized. being stainless steel removes the "they wear out quickly" concern. Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
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Congrats Jim. I'm not really in the acquisition mode anymore but this would give me something to think about. I have spanish cedar bass and I agree that it's a wonderful wood for guitar or bass.
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I enjoyed several Soloway guitars throughout the first life - 6 and 7 strings, Swans, Goslings and Loons. The carve top ones too.
All great instruments!
This new one looks like something really special - and the culmination of years of thought, reflection and refinement.
I hope these take off in a manner deserving of such a great instrument!
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Jim,
Have you ever considered making a proper headless? A 24" hollow with 20-22 frets and short enough to be a carry on would be a killer axe!
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Beautiful guitar.
I am not convinced the back is "Spanish Cedar".
Two reasons:
1. Spanish cedar is very soft and porous
2. The photo of the back shows no resemblance to "Spanish Cedar" I have seen, nor the modest quantity of it I have from a few sources. .. enough for 20 to 25 necks (where it is normally used)
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Many builders are now using Spanish Cedar for guitar bodies including Godin. Renowned Finnish builder Juha Roukangas has a whole page on his site about it. Originally Posted by bohemian46
Spanish cedar (Cedrela Odorata) - shaking the tree of tradition
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definitely looks like spanish cedar to me. I have a 5 string bass that has a body of spanish cedar and the grain of Jim's guitar looks virtually identical to my bass. Maybe the stain is fooling the person who made the comment that it doesn't look like SC. Holds up to the tension of those strings just fine. Much more tension than a 25.5" guitar. Instrument sounds amazing. The spanish cedar and maple top is an awesome combination.
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I took a few runs at it as a business concept but at this point in my life I can't really do anything without some sort of business alliance and absolutely no one has ever been interested. Even with this current arrangement I had to push really hard for a 24" version to get on to the agenda and a headless had no appeal whatsoever. Really it's going to take someone who's willing to be a crusader and at 70, those days are behind me. Originally Posted by jzucker
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Exactly Originally Posted by jzucker
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Jim, a good business read when you have time. Dan built some of the greatest “ahead of their time” amps ever.
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