Swap
Swap
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage
Solar A1.7AC
VS
Playability
75
Sound
78
Build
84
Value
69
Score
79
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
70
Value
70
Score
75
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Add more to comparison

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage vs Solar A1.7AC

Reasons to Get
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage over Solar A1.7AC

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 15.75"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Nut Material
Compensated vs Graphite
Fixes intonation issues
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.765'' (19.4mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.825'' (21mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Bridge
Fixed vs Evertune
Good sustain and needs no set-up

Reasons to Get
Solar A1.7AC over Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage

Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.765'' (19.4mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.825'' (21mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Bridge
Evertune vs Fixed
Fixed bridge that will keep the guitar in tune forever
Value Score
70 vs 69
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage vs Solar A1.7AC

Bridge Pickup
Keith Merrow Custom Fishman Fluence vs Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Keith Merrow Custom Fishman Fluence vs Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico
Different Neck Pickup
Headstock
4-3 vs R7
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Compensated vs Graphite
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage vs Solar A1.7AC

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
7
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage 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.

Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage is probably the better product overall with its final score of 79 compared to the Solar A1.7AC's 75 score, although not by a lot.

The Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage wins when it comes to playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Solar A1.7AC has the upper hand when it comes to sound, value for the money.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage is the better choice.

The Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Solar A1.7AC meets only 4. 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.

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Solar A1.7AC
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Easy-to-use bridge

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage Overview

  • From Schecter's 2021 Artist series
  • Keith Merrow Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 7 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • 5 Ply Maple/Walnut neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Keith Merrow Custom Fishman Fluence (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Keith Merrow Custom Fishman Fluence (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Hipshot Low Profile Fixed Bridge bridge
  • Thin fast C Bolt-On neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Hipshot open gear locking with Knurled Barrel adjustment tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Solar A1.7AC Overview

  • From Solar's 2020 Type A series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 7 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Evertune F-Type bridge
  • Solar C Shape Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Solar 18:1 Locking Type tuners
  • Compare Specs >

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

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
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.

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.

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: Tie.

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.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Solar A1.7AC's online:

Both use Active pickups. These pickups use an additional 9v battery to be able to increase their output for high gain tones. This is why they're popular among heavy metal guitarists. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. Also, the clean tones aren't as clean as other pickups because they'll have really hot output.

Winner: Tie.

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

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage's switch options
Solar A1.7AC pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Solar A1.7AC's switch options

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

Winner: Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 78
Solar A1.7AC
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 100
Sound 81

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 Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage compares to the Solar A1.7AC.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage is built in United States while the Solar A1.7AC 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: Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage

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 Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage has a Compensated nut. Each hole where the string sits at the nut is cut at a different distance from the bridge, which compensates for the different amount of tension that each string is subject to. This fixes most intonation issues across the fretboard, so it gives great tuning stability.

On the other hand, the Solar A1.7AC 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: Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage.

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.

Both in this comparison come with 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: Tie.

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 Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage'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 A1.7AC'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 A1.7AC.

Tuners

They both have 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: Tie.

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.

The Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage has a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

On the other hand, the Solar A1.7AC comes with 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: Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Solar A1.7AC
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage
Quality of materials 76
Features 80
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 84
Solar A1.7AC
Quality of materials 61
Features 70
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 70

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

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 48mm (1.89'').

This is considered a wide width for a 7-string guitar. It gives your fingers the extra space you need to play without muting accidentally, but this also makes bar chords harder to perform, especially if you have small hands.

Scale Length

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage and Solar A1.7AC's Scale Length
Both have the same 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.

In this case, both have a scale length of 26.5".

This scale is close to the popular 25.50" length, but adding an additional inch allows you to tune your strings lower while keeping the action low without causing fret buzz. This is useful for lower tunings, 7-string, or even classical guitars.

You want to avoid such a long scale if you don't plan to play in low tunings since the longer scale also means the frets are more separated, making it harder to play fast, especially for small hands.

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

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage Neck Profile
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage's neck profile
Solar A1.7AC Neck Profile
Solar A1.7AC'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 Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage and the Solar A1.7AC 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

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage Fretboard Compound Radius
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage's Compound Fretboard Radius
Solar A1.7AC Fingerboard Radius
Solar A1.7AC'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 Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison are balanced for most hand sizes.

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Solar A1.7AC:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage and Solar A1.7AC Frets Size
Both have a similar XL Jumbo fret size

Both have a XL Jumbo fret size. These are really tall frets made like this so you don't meet any resistance when playing techniques like vibrato, bending, tapping, etc. They should make the guitar easier to play, but you have to be careful not to get the notes out of pitch by pressing down too hard, which might happen since the fretboard will be too low to stop your hand.

Final Playability Scores

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75
Solar A1.7AC
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage vs Solar A1.7AC
General Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Stage Solar A1.7AC
Brand: Schecter Solar
Year: 2021 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 7
Made in: United States Indonesia
Series: Artist Type A
Colors: White Black Matte
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: Hipshot Low Profile Fixed Bridge Evertune F-Type
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Hipshot open gear locking with Knurled Barrel adjustment Solar 18:1 Locking Type
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: 5 Ply Maple/Walnut Maple
Decoration: Custom offset silver metal rings Solar Logo on 12th Fret
Scale Size: 26.5" 26.5"
Shape: Thin fast C Solar C Shape
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.765'' (19.4mm) - 12th Fret: 0.825'' (21mm) 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 15.75"
Nut: Compensated Graphite
Nut Width: 48mm (1.89'') 48mm (1.89'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Keith Merrow Custom Fishman Fluence (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Keith Merrow Custom Fishman Fluence (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 1