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Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top
Solar A1.6LB
VS
Playability
73
Sound
71
Build
70
Value
56
Score
71
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Playability
73
Sound
79
Build
68
Value
73
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top vs Solar A1.6LB Specs Comparison
Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top Solar A1.6LB
General
Brand: Gibson Custom Solar
Year: 2024 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Indonesia
Series: Modern Type A
Colors: Brown Green Burst Matte
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: 1-Piece Mahogany Alder
Bridge: Stop Bar Evertune F-Type
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover with Kidney Button Solar 18:1 Locking Type
Fretboard: Dark Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Maple
Decoration: Mother of Pearl Block Solar Logo on 12th Fret
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: 50s Rounded Medium C Solar C Shape
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" 13.78"
Nut: Corian Graphite
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: 498T Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Duncan Solar/Bridge (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: 490R Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Duncan Solar (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Speed Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 2 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Gold Black
Show Diagrams Comparison
Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top's switch options
Solar A1.6LB pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Solar A1.6LB's switch options

Reasons to Get
Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top over Solar A1.6LB

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2024 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Paint Finish
Nitro vs Poly
Thin finish that creates aging marks faster
Bridge
Fixed vs Evertune
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Solar A1.6LB over Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Paint Finish
Poly vs Nitro
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Evertune vs Fixed
Fixed bridge that will keep the guitar in tune forever
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
73 vs 56
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top vs Solar A1.6LB

Bridge Pickup
498T Humbucker vs Duncan Solar/Bridge
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
490R Humbucker vs Duncan Solar
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs R6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Corian vs Graphite
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top vs Solar A1.6LB

Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple vs Flame Maple Veneer
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

    Solar A1.6LB Prices

      SET PRICE ALERT

      These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

      Hand Size Comfortability

      After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both favor small hands .

      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top:
      Big Hands
      Small Hands
      Solar A1.6LB:
      Big Hands
      Small Hands

      Beginner Friendliness

      Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

      New Player Friendliness

      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top
      • Comfortable shape
      • Easy-to-use bridge
      • Tall frets
      • Comfortable neck
      • Comfortable fretboard
      • Narrow nut
      • Short scale
      • Locking tuners

      New Player Friendliness

      Solar A1.6LB
      • Comfortable shape
      • Locking tuners
      • Tall frets
      • Comfortable neck
      • Comfortable fretboard
      • Narrow nut
      • Short scale
      • Easy-to-use bridge

      Sound Quality Comparison

      The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

      Woods Used in Both

      Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
      Ebony

      Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

      Woods Used in the Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top

      Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
      Mahogany

      Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

      Woods Used in the Solar A1.6LB

      Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
      Maple
      Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
      Alder

      Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

      Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

      Winner: Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top.

      Pickup Configuration

      Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

      Pickups Quality

      Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

      However, the Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

      Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

      Winner: Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top.

      Versatility Comparison

      Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

      Switch Options

      The Solar A1.6LB gives you 5 switch options while the Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top gives you 3. This means that the Solar A1.6LB gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

      Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

      When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

      Winner: Solar A1.6LB.

      Final Sound Quality Scores

      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top
      Pickups 90
      Sustain 70
      Versatility 53
      Tuning Stability 70
      Sound 71
      Solar A1.6LB
      Pickups 85
      Sustain 75
      Versatility 57
      Tuning Stability 100
      Sound 79

      Build Quality Comparison

      When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top compares to the Solar A1.6LB.

      Country of Origin

      The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top is built in United States while the Solar A1.6LB is made in Indonesia.

      The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

      Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

      Winner: Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top

      Nut Material

      If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

      The Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top has a Corian nut. It used to be the go-to nut for Gibson, but it's slowly being replaced by Graph Tech (Tusq). It's a synthetic material made to be similar to Bone, but it doesn't have the same self-lubricating properties, and it's less resistant.

      On the other hand, the Solar A1.6LB comes with a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.

      Winner: Tie.

      Fret Material

      Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

      In this comparison, the Solar A1.6LB is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

      Winner: Solar A1.6LB.

      Bridge

      The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

      The Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top's brige is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

      On the other hand, the Solar A1.6LB's is a Evertune. It will keep your guitar in tune and intonated until the next string swap. If you really like extremely subtle vibratos, this might not be the bridge for you because you won't be able to perform them as well. However, the fact that you won't need to tune your guitar is a huge advantage that many people will gladly pay the extra price for.

      Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

      Winner: Solar A1.6LB.

      Tuners

      The Solar A1.6LB has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

      Winner: Solar A1.6LB.

      Neck Joint

      Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

      Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

      Winner: Tie.

      Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

      Strengths & Weaknesses
      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top
      • Made in United States
      • Expensive Wood
      • Top Brand Pickups
      • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
      • No Locking Tuners
      • No High-Quality Nut
      • No Neck-Through Build
      • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
      • No Weight Relief
      • No Luminescent Inlay
      • No Tremolo
      • No Compound Radius Fretboard
      • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
      • No Strap Lock
      Strengths & Weaknesses
      Solar A1.6LB
      • Stainless Steel Frets
      • Locking Tuners
      • Expensive Wood
      • Top Brand Pickups
      • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
      • Luminescent Inlay
      • Made in Indonesia
      • No High-Quality Nut
      • No Neck-Through Build
      • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
      • No Weight Relief
      • No Tremolo
      • No Compound Radius Fretboard
      • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
      • No Strap Lock

      Final Build Quality Scores

      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top
      Quality of materials 60
      Features 50
      Quality Control 100
      Build Quality 70
      Solar A1.6LB
      Quality of materials 63
      Features 65
      Quality Control 75
      Build Quality 68

      Playability Comparison

      Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

      Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

      Nut Width

      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top Nut Width
      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top Nut Width
      Solar A1.6LB Nut Width
      Solar A1.6LB Nut Width

      The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Solar A1.6LB has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0050000000000001'') difference

      This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Solar A1.6LB, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

      Scale Length

      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top's Scale Length
      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top's Scale Length
      Solar A1.6LB's Scale Length
      Solar A1.6LB's Scale Length

      The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

      The Solar A1.6LB has the longest scale: 25.5". The Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) scale length difference.

      This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

      This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

      Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

      Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

      Neck Profile

      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top Neck Profile
      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top's neck profile
      Solar A1.6LB Neck Profile
      Solar A1.6LB's neck profile

      No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

      Both the Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top and the Solar A1.6LB have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

      Fretboard Radius

      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top Fingerboard Radius
      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top's Fingerboard radius
      Solar A1.6LB Fingerboard Radius
      Solar A1.6LB's Fingerboard radius

      Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

      In this case, the Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Solar A1.6LB's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Solar A1.6LB.

      Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

      Fret Size

      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top Frets Size
      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top's Frets Size
      Solar A1.6LB Frets Size
      Solar A1.6LB's Frets Size

      The Solar A1.6LB has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top's Medium Jumbo frets.

      Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

      Final Playability Scores

      Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1-Piece AAA Quilt Maple Top
      Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
      Chord Playability 65
      Solo Playability 70
      Playability 73
      Solar A1.6LB
      Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
      Chord Playability 50
      Solo Playability 90
      Playability 73