Design and Engineering: Solus S1

The Solus S1 is the pinnacle of contemporary luthiery. The S1 is the first of a line of exquisite electric guitars, handcrafted from select tonewoods, custom built to ergonomically suit each player’s needs. While created and crafted in Bend, OR, the stunning appearance and design are applicable worldwide. The fanned frets, fixed multiscale bridge, free-way switch, integrated piezo saddles, and forked head all garner new perspective on guitars in the modern world. The body shape is extremely thin and light, inspired by a number of classic designs in a contemporary context. The unique single horn style leaves more material on the body, the better to resonate vibrations, which is a downside of many minimalist designs; it also serves a major aesthetic purpose. The contoured bottom half is designed for a number of playstyles and is flexible to match with whatever the user finds comfortable. A number of uncommon design choices are what make this guitar noteworthy, as the S1 is not only different, but remains very functional by all industry standards. As playability was not sacrificed in the process, the final instrument remains both beautiful and purposeful by anyone’s standards.

All Photographs by Alex Pfiffner