Top 6 Best Schecter Guitars on the Market in 2022

Calling all shred heads, metal lovers and connoisseurs of jaw-dropping curl tops and face-melting tones! Are you looking for the best Schecter guitar on the market in 2021? The ultimate Schecter buying guide beckons!

Schecter’s popularity among metal guitarists has helped them establish a stronghold in the 6, 7 and 8 string electric global guitar market. Their styling and electronics also make them a popular choice for guitarists into shredding and drop C tuning. But at the same time, this has cast a shadow on the equally world-class non-metal series of guitars/product lines that deserve more attention. Take a look at the Schecter Corsair with Bigsby or the Schecter PT Fastback IIB

From double cuts to special edition double cuts, from retro collections to the E cuts, from high-end single cuts to hollow bodies – Schecter offers a massive lineup of guitars. Schecter is the savior of the southpaws. I can’t think of any other major brand that produces as many left handed guitars as they do, and they aren’t all the same boring color. From Reaper-6 FR to Zachy Vengeance S-1, from C-1 Hellraiser to Omen Extreme-6, they have an enormous catalog of left-handed guitars that range from reasonably priced guitars to ultra-high-end builds. Most of the guitars in the Apocalypse series, Signature series, and Super Shredder series are available in LH (left-handed) models.

Schecter is known for making cutting-edge guitars with decked-up specs and innovation. They launch new models every year and several limited edition runs. There are hundreds of guitars across the price spectrum in their catalog that caters to all genres and tastes. In this article, we take an in-depth look at six of their best performing and highest-selling guitars.

#1 Schecter Reaper 6 Electric Guitar, Sky Burst

• Body: Swamp Ash with Burl top
• Neck: 25.5″ Scale Ultra-Thin C Maple Neck
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Pickups: Schecter Diamond Decimator Bridge & Neck Pickup
• Electronics: Volume, Tone and 3-way Switch Controls

Construction:

Schecter’s Reaper series is teeming with sleek, sharp and slim axes and the Reaper-6 is no exception. The rich burl top combined with the swamp ash body gives it an absolutely stunning look and a natural resonance and shimmer. The poplar burl veneer, though not as good as the high-end models, does a good job of giving it a boutique feel and eye-catching looks. The neck on the Schecter Reaper series has an ultra-access neck carve that allows you to play up the beautiful ebony fingerboard without any issues. The hardware has a black and chrome contrast and the fit and finish of the guitar are high-quality. This one is a looker, it has the vibe of a boutique build and you are bound to get compliments for it whenever you go stage.

Electronics & Hardware:

The Diamond decimator bridge and neck humbuckers are fiery and versatile with a predilection for sizzling modern rock and metal guitar tones. The control panel comprises of a master volume and tone knobs along with a 3-way pickup selector. It offers plenty of tonal control to masterfully pull off lead and rhythm in a variety of non-metal genres. The knobs have push-pull functions to access the coil-split single-coil tones which add to the versatility of this instrument. One of the outstanding features of the Reaper 6 FR is the Floyd Rose 1500 tremolo system. Its construction is solid and no amount of dive bombing is going to shake the tuning. The Schecter Custom Hardtail Bridge and tuners are high quality and keep the tuning stable. The setup and intonation were playable right out of the box without any need for further adjustments. On the whole, there is value in terms of electronics and hardware when compared to the price tag.

Tone:

The Schecter Reaper 6 FR has copious amounts of sustain and a pleasing natural resonance. The high-output of the bridge pickup can slice through the mix with grit and aggression. The neck pickup has a touch of flash and warmth without compromising on the assertive tonal profile. The overall tone is emphatic with a gnarly low end, high-end clarity and some midrange punch. For the money, you can’t ask for more tone.

Product Highlights:

• Sharp and Sleek Styling
• High Output & Versatile Tone – Good for Metal/Rock
• Floyd Rose with Tremolo
• Good Value for Money
• Available in Charcoal Burst, Forest Burst, Sky Burst and Inferno Burst

#2 Schecter C-6 FR DELUXE Solid-Body Electric Guitar, Satin White

• Body: Solid Basswood Body
• Neck: 25.5″ Scale Ultra-Thin C Maple Neck
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Pickups: Schecter Diamond Plus Bridge & Neck Pickup
• Electronics: Volume, Tone and 3-way Switch Controls

Construction:

The C-6 FR Deluxe is a no-frills ticket to the world of Schecter Guitars. It is a staple among amateur and semi-pro metal and rock enthusiasts, especially if you love to shred. It has a solid basswood contoured body with a rosewood fingerboard. The 24 extra jumbo frets sit on a slender bolt-on neck that is conducive for playing effortlessly fast licks and runs. The neat string-through body and tune-o-matic bridge do a reasonable job of keeping the tuning stable. The chrome hardware finish is passable and compliments the no-so-shiny finish of the guitar. The FR Deluxe is also available in the C-7 and C-8 version if you want more strings.

Electronics & Hardware:

The CR-6 FR Deluxe has Schecter Diamond Plus humbuckers in the neck and bridge position. They are hot and guttural when you crank the gain and harmonically pleasant for clean tones. The tuning knobs, locking nut and bridge hold a reasonably steady tuning and the Floyd Rose offers good quality for the price point. The control panel has the usual master volume and tone knobs along with a 3-way pickup selector to dial in tones on the fly. The construction is sufficient bang for buck to qualify as a back-up guitar or a practice instrument for serious musicians.

Tone:

This polite looking beast is ferocious when unleashed and designed geared to rock out. What the guitar lacks in frills, it makes up in tone. The Diamond Plus pups are gnarly when you crank the gain and harmonically pleasant for clean tones. The tone is very responsive in beefy distorted rhythms and can transcend into lead lines with equal aggression.  The picks are better suited for a heavier modern rock and metal sounds but they allow for the usual variety of tones that can work for other genres. At this price point, it delivers a reasonable quality and variety.

Product Highlights:

• No-Frills Budget Option with good playability
• Ideal for Intermediate Guitarists or as a backup Guitar
• Good Choice for Metal/Rock
• Good Floyd Rose with Tremolo at this price range
• High Value For Money
• Available in Satin White and Satin Black

#3 Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder FR – Metallic White

• Body: Solid Mahogany
• Neck: 25.5″ Scale, Thin C Maple Neck
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Pickups: EMG Retro Active Hot 70 Humbucker in Neck & Bridge
• Electronics: 2 x Volume, 3-way Pickup Toggle Switch

Construction:

This Korean-built axe is a shout out to the serious game of the shred-legends of the 80s. The Schecter SS has a mahogany body with a thin C maple neck and all mahogany body with a flat top contour. Schecter decided to keep to the retro homage and offer a Lambo Orange and Sea Foam Green finish. The 24 X-Jumbo frets are marked with quirky offset dot inlays. The overall design is 80s inspired and the look and feel is retro chic.

Electronics & Hardware:

The Super Shredder FR is a decked up beast with active electronics and high-quality construction. Schecter decided to keep the tonal dialing simple with a two knob panel (individual pickup volume) and the EMG Retro Active Hot 70 Humbuckers. This includes a 9-volt battery compartment that is easy to access. The plug-in FET preamp does a great job of eliminating unwanted noise and humming. You can go ham on the whammy or dive-bomb all you want because the exclusive Floyd Rose Hot Rod system copes well. The Hardtail bridge combined with the tuning locks, keeps the tuning intact reasonably well. The action was relatively low and the setup out of the box was playing. It may need some adjustments based on your personal preference.

Tone:

The Sun Valley Super Shredder has a distinctly neo-classical tonal profile (think Malmsteen) that may not suit the sonic palette of modern metal players. The wafer-thin maple neck will suit technical players and speed demons. The open-coil design of the EMG Retro pups produce warm tones with a formidable presence in the bridge position. You can dial in some nifty PAF-style tones from the neck pup. The guitar really shines when you play overdriven lead lines and upper register notes. The simple two-tone configuration makes it less versatile than some other offerings.

Product Highlights:

• Retro Throwback in Funky Colors
• Dominating Upper Register Tones
• Good Choice for Classic Rock and Neo-Classical
• High Quality Electronics & Craftsmanship
• High Value for Money
• Available in White, Sea Form Green, Lambo Orange and Satin Black.

#4 Schecter C-1 Apocalypse Electric Guitar, Red Reign  

• Body: Swamp Ash
• Neck: 25.5″ Scale Ultra-Thin C Neck
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Pickups: USA Apocalypse VI Bridge & Sutainiac Neck Pickup
• Electronics: Volume, Tone and 3-way Switch Controls

Construction:

The Schecter Apocalypse series is lined up with guitar models built with one single-minded goal: to unleash metal mayhem without mercy. The Apocalypse C-1 FR-S is one such premium offering with a striking scarlet carved top and swamp ash body. The maple neck houses 24 jumbo frets and it is topped with a regal ebony fingerboard. The double-cutaway design gives easy access and makes this a mean shredding machine. The Grover Rotomatic tuners are top of the line. The guitar is sleek, comfortable and the contours / finish are just drop-dead gorgeous. It has glow-in-the-dark dots on the side and peculiar Roman numeral fret-markers (or inlays) in a Goth font. The hardware has a satin black finish and the build and construction materials are top notch.

Electronics & Hardware:

The USA apocalypse VI in the bridge is paired with a Sutainiac neck pup; a match made in HELL! The 3-way pickup selector along with the push/pull coil-splitting deliver lots of creamy tones that are easy to dial in on the fly. Since this is a premium offering, it is armored with the incredibly high-performance Floyd Rose 1500 series. Schecter spared no detail and armed the Red Reign with the Hipshot Hardtail bridge known for its lightning quick response. The tuning stability and intonation of the guitar were on point right after unboxing it. The string through body, Sutainiac pickup, and hardtail bridge is just a recipe for stability and infinite sustain. This is all top-shelf hardware and electronics at a commendable price. Great value for money!

Tone:

The Schecter Red Reign is oozing with sonic character and can deliver at every level with equal grit and aggression. The high-output pick configuration yields an enormous tonal spectrum with impeccable tonal distinction. This combination of Alnico-V and dual flanking Ceramic-8s is an absolute winner. The lows are meaty, the treble is earsplitting and the midrange is sheer crunch. The clarity really hits a home-run when you take this baby out for a shred. The Sutainiac system has an oomph that no other pickup or traditional technique can replicate. The dive-bombing possibilities are endless and last forever. Luckily, the true Floyd Rose/tremolo bridge does an equally incredible job of keeping the tuning intact.

Product Highlights:

• Wicked Looks and Premium Styling
• The Ultimate Dive-bomb Metal Axe!
• Excellent Floyd Rose with Tremolo
• Top Notch Electronics

#5 Schecter Damien Platinum 8, Satin Black

• Body: Mahogany
• Neck: 28” (711mm) inch Maple Neck
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Pickups: EMG 808 Bridge & Neck Pickup
• Electronics: Volume, Tone and 3-way Switch Controls

Construction:

Keeping in line with the rest of the Platinum series, the Platinum 8 is made with a lithe double-cutaway mahogany body with a three piece maple neck. The contrast of the understated satin black finish and the platinum binding give the guitar a touch of regality. The rosewood fingerboard is broad and beckoning and it is bespattered with the characteristic ‘bat inlays’. The three-piece neck, reinforced with carbon-fiber rods, feels sturdy and stout. If you are new to the 8 string guitar, you will take a while before you get used to it. But once you do, the playability, slim neck profile, and Ultra Access heel contraction promote ease of use and high playability. 

Hardware:

Schecter has paired with EMG pickups quite often to create some memorable guitars. And, they have managed to recreate that magic with The Damien Platinum 8. The active 808 EMG humbuckers are just a class apart when it comes to spunk and sparkle. The control panel on the guitar is simple and effective. You get a tone knob, master volume and the usual 3-way pickup selector. There is an easy to access 9-volt battery compartment to power the electronics. This guitar is a string-true body and Schecter decided to install their custom Hardtail bridge that does an excellent job of keep the tuning stable in all situations. The guitar has good intonation upon delivery but may require a setup to suit your style. On the whole, the component quality, electronics, and hardware are comparable to the competitors in this price bracket. 

Tone:

The sustain and sound of this guitar are perfectly allied to the taste of fusion, rock and metal guitarists. Incredible as it may seem, this guitar sounds astonishingly beautiful when played clean. The low end is particularly rich and clear. The meaty tone retains its prized characteristics even in the drop tunings. Even the low F# can sound fat and warm to a fault. The EMG pups are specially designed for an 8 string and they don’t disappoint on tone and versatility. This one is a no-brainer for people looking for a sturdy, high quality 8-stringer that won’t cost an arm and a leg. If you are gigging constantly, the Damien Platinum 8 can easily serve as a reliable work horse for modern metal guitarists.

Product Highlights:

• High Quality EMG Coil-tap humbuckers
• Best Value for Money in this Price Range
• Sturdy Construction and Quality Craftsmanship
• Reliable Main Instrument for Rock and Modern Metal

#6 Schecter C-7 Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 FR Electric Guitar, Black Burst

• Body: Mahogany with quilted maple top
• Neck: Three-piece mahogany, set neck design.
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Pickups: EMG 57 bridge, EMG 61 neck
• Electronics: Volume knob w/ coil tap, Tone, 3-way pickup selector

Construction:

The Schecter Hellraisers are built in the Korean factory and assembled in America. They live up to the promise of a professional guitar with great specs and a reasonable price tag. The body is mahogany with a quilted maple top and carbon fiber binding. The neck houses 24 X-Jumbo frets over a 26.5″ mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard. Despite the long scale, the set-neck with ultra-access has supreme playability and unmatched comfort. I dare to say that it feels faster and more playable than the Omen and Demon series. The only blemish on the otherwise perfect neck profile is that access to the last few frets is a stretch. The glow in the dark inlays, arched top contour, black burst finish and black chrome hardware are excellent.

Hardware & Electronics:

The C-1 Hybrid FR has the EMG 57 in the neck and EMG 61 in the bridge position. These active pickups are capped with brushed black metal covers and are hot and aggressive. The TonePros Bridge and string thru body keep the tuning stable. The TUSQ black nut and locking tuners are synonymous to all high-end Schecters. The Floyd Rose 1000 series is functional and provides value for the cost. The Hellraiser is also available in a regular version without the FR add-on. The finish on the top and the black chrome on the hardware complement each other. The build is high-quality and durable, the craftsmanship is solid and the guitar has the feel of an expensive boutique instrument.

Tone:

The guitar performs well with strumming and chords. The clean tones are hefty and loud and the TUSQ nut adds to the fatness of tone and sustain. The Floyd Rose and EMG pups can team up for some incredible wailing, pinch harmonics and dive-bombs. The EMGs offer a combination of hi-gain, massive-output tones when passed through distortion pedals. On the whole, the guitar works well for fusion, rock and modern metal. You’ve got volume, tone and 3-way pickup selector to work with and can use the control panel to tame the high-handed aggression of this gnarly beast. In conclusion, this is a classy guitar that can easily serve as a primary instrument for semi-pro and professional guitarists.

Product Highlights:

• +1 for the Active EMG 808 Pickups
• Aggressive Tone, Great for Modern Metal
• Durable and Sturdy Main Axe
• Neck Playability and Acoustic Tone

Why Buy a Schecter Guitar?

The Schecter product lines have names like Omen, Hellraiser, Damien, Banshee, Demon and Apocalypse; it should be no surprise that Schecter is a celebrated name in the rock and modern metal community. But a lot of that fame can also be attributed to their ability to deliver high-performance guitars with sleek styling, top shelf electronics and quality craftsmanship at very reasonable prices.

Another unique thing about Schecter is that they are the undisputed leader on the integrated Sutainiac pickup front. Sutainiac pickups have an inbuilt ebow like sympathetic vibration or controlled feedback that can be toggled on an off. If you aren’t already aware, you should check them out!

The models with Sutainiac have an extra panel for the pickup. You can choose between a fundamental note, harmonic and a blend of the two with the 3-Way Sutainiac Mode switch. In addition, you can further control the Sutainiac with the on/off switch and intensity knob which allows you to set the strength of the signal when you turn the Sutainiac on. You can find these on the Schecter C-1 FR S Silver Mountain, Schecter C-1 FR S SLS Elite, Super Shredder PT FR and many other LH models too.

The Schecters are comparable to the ESP Ltd guitars in terms of tone, styling and electronics; with Schecter being the cheap of the two options. It should come as no surprise that both ESP and Schecter Guitar Research are independent lines that are owned by the same parent company.

Over the years, Schecter has built a solid reputation for its high-quality guitars with consistent QA across all price points. Most of their guitars ship ready to play right out of the box with perfect setup and good intonation. Their high-end models have a lot of visual appeal and assertive styling with burl tops, sleek contours and burst finish. They are the weapon of choice for guitarists like Daniel Firth (Cradle of Filth), Dan Donegan (Disturbed), Derek Smalls (Spinal Tap), JD DeServio (Black Label Society), Jerry Horton (Papa Roach), Synyster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold), and many others.

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