"With a rugged build and more gain than should be legal, this pedal is a must-have for any metal guitarist looking to chug": Solar Chug Lite high-gain distortion pedal review

What is it?

In the vast ocean of online guitar personalities, one name rises above the rest as the king of chug – Ola Englund. This Swedish guitar virtuoso, YouTuber, and record producer has mastered the art of extracting mind-blowing modern metal tones from just about any gear that comes his way and he’s used this knowledge to handcraft his own line of guitars and effects pedals under the Solar brand – allowing you to snag those face-melting tones for your own musical escapades.

Today, let’s put the company’s six-strings aside for a moment and dive into the latest addition to the Solar pedal catalog, the Chug Lite. This pedal is marketed as a streamlined, compact, and user-friendly sibling of the original Chug preamp pedal from 2022. The Chug Lite promises to deliver the same earth-shattering saturation as the original but in a much more manageable package, perfect for those who crave simplicity but don’t want to sacrifice tone.

While the original Chug was designed to shine when plugged directly into a power amp, the new Chug Lite has been tweaked to work seamlessly into the front end of your amp – it’s now a classic distortion pedal. But don’t worry, this little beast still comes packed with the same astonishing amount of gain, and while EQ controls have been simplified, they still offer plenty of sonic shaping.

Speaking of which, a standout feature of the Lite is the new Frequency dial, which works in harmony with the Mid control, allowing you to precisely cut or boost frequencies between 160Hz and 2.6kHz to get that sweet spot just right.

All of this is housed in a sleek, all-metal enclosure that Solar promises is “built like a tank.” Okay, so let’s dive deeper into this pedal and explore what makes the Chug Lite a must-have for any guitarist looking for the ultimate metal tone and answer the burning question: Will it chug?

Specifications

• Launch price: $129/£119/€139
• Type: High-gain distortion pedal
• Controls: Bass, Middle, Treble, Output, Frequency, Gain
• Features: Active EQ, high levels of gain, and a sweepable mid frequency
• Connectivity: 1/4 inch output, 1/4 input, power in
• Bypass: True bypass
• Power: 9V DC , 25mA
• Dimensions: 65 x 42 x 124 mm
• Contact: Solar Guitars

Build

Build quality rating: ★★★★☆

Before we dive into the tones, let's take a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship of the Chug Lite. Priced at around $129, it sits comfortably in the affordable to mid-range pedal category, and I’m happy to report it feels rugged enough to be seriously roadworthy.

The full-metal enclosure not only exudes a rugged charm and feels incredibly sturdy, but the minimal design with its etched-in logo leaves the stomp looking satisfyingly industrial.

If I had to voice a minor concern about the build, it would have to be the sharp edges of the unit. Though this may seem trivial, the rim of the pedal feels a bit too raw for my liking. Sure, once it's mounted on your pedalboard, it might not matter much, but a beveled edge would enhance the overall feel and give the Chug Lite a more polished, refined appearance.

When it comes to the dials and footswitch, everything is as it should be. The control knobs are not only smooth and responsive but also offer a tactile experience that’s pleasing to the touch. The bypass switch engages with a satisfying click and feels reassuringly robust underfoot.

Like I said, this pedal feels very roadworthy, and I'd have no concerns hitting the stage with this pedal at my feet.

Usability

Usability rating: ★★★★★

The original Chug was a treasure trove of tone-shaping options, thanks to its dual concentric pots. But with the Lite version, the focus shifts to simplicity without sacrificing your ability to fine-tune your sound.

Okay, there is nothing ground-breaking about the controls here. Bass, Mid, and Treble, paired with a dedicated mid-frequency band control, is fairly common on metal-centric pedals. That said, there is a reason this particular formula is used so often – it just works.

Dialling in the exact tone I’m looking for is very easy and hassle-free, and the Frequency dial proves to be invaluable for choosing the exact flavor of metal I’m craving. Poky mid-pushed thrash, to scooped nu-metal and everything in between, the Chug takes it all in stride.

However, a word of caution: this pedal packs a serious punch in the volume department. I can't emphasize enough how easy it is to overpower your amp. The Solar website even advises to "please pay attention to output level control and start at low level, then turn up while setting," and I wholeheartedly agree with this advice.

I find myself setting the pedal's output to well under halfway, and it's more than sufficient to push my British-style tube amp into delightful overdrive before even thinking about adding any gain.

Sound

Sounds rating: ★★★★½

Diving into the sound, this pedal cranks out an ungodly amount of gain that’s truly mind-blowing. The level of saturation from the Chug Lite is, quite frankly, insane. Armed with my trusty Gibson Explorer and a Marshall-style tube amp, I set out to explore a spectrum of tones from classic old-school metal to contemporary heavy sounds.

Keeping the gain just under halfway gives me that throaty vibe akin to a JCM900. It’s saturated, responsive, and super musical - this setting eats E-Standard classic metal riffs for breakfast. Plus, it’s incredibly dynamic under my fingers, making it an absolute joy to play.

When I push the gain to the midway point, the saturation and density amp up even more. Sure, you lose a bit of dynamics, but they’re not completely gone. It’s thick, full, and fiercely in-your-face, epitomizing brutal modern metal tones. Honestly, I reckon some pedal brands would chalk this up as their maxed-out setting, but not the Chug; it still has plenty more in the tank.

Maxing out the gain unleashes a relentless wave of distortion, and the dynamics just vanish. At this level, it gets a bit overwhelming for my taste. The high end becomes razor-sharp like a chainsaw, and while it certainly cuts through everything in sight, it can be a touch too intense.

For me, the sweet spot with my rig is having the gain at halfway, dialing back the bass and treble just a tad, and giving a slight boost to the upper mids. This combo results in a super versatile metal tone that's heavy enough to grab attention but dynamic enough to be a blast to play.

Verdict

I'd say the Solar Chug Lite pedal is a formidable addition to any guitarist’s arsenal, especially for those chasing contemporary heavy tones. Priced at a reasonable $129, it perfectly balances affordability with solid construction. Now, while the design is generally sleek, the sharp edges of the unit do detract from its otherwise polished appearance, but this is a minor quibble in an otherwise robust build.

The gain levels are impressive, delivering a saturation that can easily overwhelm if not managed carefully. Just remember, as Uncle Ben once said, with great power comes great responsibility. Just because you have access to this much gain, doesn't mean you need to employ it all the time.

Overall, the Chug Lite delivers on its promise of high-gain distortion in a user-friendly package. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an aspiring metalhead, this pedal is an essential tool for crafting powerful, heavy tones that will leave your audience feeling winded. Oh, and yes, it most certainly chugs!

Guitar World verdict: The Chug Lite takes the essence of Solar’s first-ever pedal and distills it down to the bare essentials for gut-punching, face-melting metal tone. With a rugged build and more gain than should be legal, this pedal is a must-have for any metal guitarist looking to chug.

Also consider

Solar Chug Preamp - $199/$169

Prefer going into an effect loop or using a power amp? Well, the original recipe Chug is the pedal for you - plus you get even more tonal shaping possibilities.

KHDK Dark Blood - $229/£239

For me, the Dark Blood's gain is tight and thick, with plenty of bass response courtesy of the appropriately named “doom” control, which intuitively shapes your low-end.

Wampler Dracarys - $199/£215

Modeled on the classic Shredmaster, the Dracays has characteristics similar to the original Marshall pedal, with its distinctive, spiky tone and amp-like EQ.

Hands-on demos

Ola Englund

THE CHUG LITE - YouTube

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Does It Doom?

It Chugs… But Does It Doom? | Solar CHUG Lite Demo - YouTube

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