Last year we reviewed both the Schecter Solo II Standard and the Schecter Solo II Custom, both of which we found to be incredible Les Paul alternatives with modern perks and a fantastic price tag. Today we’re exploring the new Solo II Platinum!

Let’s start with the specs:

Features:

– Mahogany Body
– Maple Top
– 3-Piece Maple Neck
– Ebony Fretboard
– Schecter Locking Tuners
– TonePros Tune-O-Matic Bridge
– EMG 57/66 Pickups
– GraphTech XL TUSQ Nut
– 24 X-Jumbo Frets
– 14’’ Fretboard Radius

Tone:

This version of the Solo II is tailored more toward a modern metal player, which should seem obvious from the specs. I’ve not tried the EMG 57/66 pickups before, but I was pleasantly surprised. Not a far cry from the more traditional 81/60 combination, but to my ears, they present a smoother listening experience and perhaps a touch less pick attack to boot.

The overall tone is thick and warm as you would expect from a Mahogany-bodied Les Paul, just with a bit more edge to it. Cleans are what you’ve come to expect with EMGs: nothing fancy, just functional. Distorted tones are far more notable on this instrument, with a nice bite to complement the warmer Mahogany construction, giving you clarity and attack without overdoing it.

My one complaint is that there is still a bit of hiss in the tone much higher up that I can’t seem to tweak out. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s there and may annoy some players.

Build Quality:

The Platinum model is on par with the Custom and Standard. No major issues regarding fret ends, and no finish flaws as far as I can tell. However, the same two issues appeared on this version: some scratches on the pickguard and a slightly loose bit of a hardware, this time it was on the bridge. The former isn’t a big deal as it’s bound to get that way just through normal playing, the latter is easily fixable with a screwdriver.

The playability is impressive, and while it doesn’t have the compound radius of its brother the 14’’ radius across the neck makes it more suited to modern, shred-style playing. Your fretboard is going to feel far more like an Ibanez than a Les Paul, that’s for sure.

Final Verdict:

Truth be told, there isn’t much different here, but the few differences in specs that you will see are impactful. The beauty of the Solo II is the variety of flavors it comes in – essentially a traditional, modern, and crossover version – letting you get the same basic instrument with different specs based on the kind of player you are.

In this case, if you’re a modern metal player the Platinum is primed and ready for everything you can throw at it. While it will never compete with a high-end custom guitar, the value for the price is impossible to argue. Whatever your style, this is a solid, dependable workhorse designed to fit your preferences.


 

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