Schecter sure do make a lot of guitars. They offer a ton of variety, and even though there is the unmistakable ‘Schecter style’, this hard-rocking brand makes so many models and variations of those models, that it’s easy to get lost in it all. And that’s coming from me, who has worked with the brand in this industry for a long time!
So, today I plan to give you a little bit of an explainer blog. I’ll take their most popular collections and lay out the differences for you to hopefully understand. I’ll include as many types as I can, and I endeavour to make simple sense of it all.
We’ll see. Are you with me, you hard rockers?
The Schecter C-1
Before we dive in, I want to explain the Schecter C-1 body shape, since they rely on that heavily throughout all of their offerings.
The C-1 started off as a Schecter Custom Shop design back in the 80s and I’d say it’s their trademark shape. Ostensibly, it’s a chunky superstrat with a 3-a-side headstock and a carved top. In many ways, it's a synthesis of Fender and Gibson stylings, with the result actually being pretty uniquely Schecter’s.
We’ll see a lot of the C-1 body today, and its name often changes to support the string augmentation, so 7 strings might be called C-7, 8 strings are called C-8, and so on.
The Schecter Ranges at a Glance
Omen (inc Omen Extreme and Omen Elite)
Hellraiser (and Hellraiser Hybrid)
Standard
Schecter Standard are very attractively priced guitars that bring more to the table than many at this level. Great for beginners but also excellent for more seasoned players, the Standard range puts high-output pickups on a relatively diverse range of guitars.
Shapes include the Avenger (a unique design to Schecter), the PT (similar to a Tele), the Solo-II (LP-adjacent) and the omnipresent C-1. All have mahogany bodies, with some including burl tops and gradient finishes.
Omen (inc Omen Extreme and Omen Elite)
Shecter’s Omen guitars are where many first start with the brand. Omen guitars are affordable rock models based on the carved top C-1 shape, and are available in 6, 7 and 8 string varieties. They may be affordable, but they are not cheap beginner guitars at all, and are built to the same solid standards as more expensive models.
Omen Extreme models have quilted maple tops and slightly fancier inlays. Omen Elite models are more upmarket looking again, with gloss top/matte back finishes, upgraded Diamond pickups and a string through body hardtail bridge. Omen Elite and Extreme guitars have the option of a Floyd Rose tremolo (see FR in the guitar’s name) or a hard tail.
Damien
The Shecter Damien is based on the cool C-1 shape, with matte black finish and bat inlays. 6.7 & 8 strings, Floyd Rose and lefty options.
Demon
Schecter Demon guitars have matte finishes, gothic cross inlays, single-ply binding and Schecter’s own take on active pickups. These are distinctly ‘metal’ in aesthetic, and are mainly C-1 shaped guitars in 6, 7 and 8 string formats. One notable addition is the Demon S-II, which is more like an aggressively offset SG.
Classic
Schecter Classic are made in Japan, at the famed FujiGen facility. These are premium-grade instruments, and all come with a wooden hard case. In terms of the range, they are next in line to one-off American Schecter Custom Shop instruments, so the quality is excellent.
Custom
If you consider what Gibson do with their Custom models (Les Paul Custom, ES-355 etc) then it’s a similar story here with Schecter Custom instruments. Certain models, made with block inlays (mostly), lots of binding and a refined appearance.
Retro
Here is where you’ll find models like the PT (hot-rodded Teles), the Stargazer (vague Rickenbacker resemblance) and the Corsair (a 335-alike). So it’s not so much a particular spec as much as it's a collection of the less ‘hard rocking’ Schecters, though they are still pretty ‘rock’ if you ask me!
Deluxe & Plus
Confusingly, the Deluxe range is the beginner range, less expensive than the Omen range. The Plus series has a veneer of ‘quilted maple image’, which to you and I means a synthetic ‘pretend’ figured maple top. Both Deluxe and Plus ranges are generally based on the C-1 shape, and are available in 6, 7 and 8 string configurations.
Hellraiser (and Hellraiser Hybrid)
For many, this is the quintessential Schecter style. The Hellraisers have lots of abalone and pearloid multi-ply binding (on body, fingerboard and headstock), cross inlays and active pickups. You often see them in their signature colour, Black Cherry, a dark red that shows off the quilted top.
The Hellraiser is another one based on the chunky C-1 body shape, and is available with 6, 7 or 8 strings, a Sustainer unit, a Floyd Rose tremolo and a left-handed model.
Hellraiser hybrid guitars are similar but have slimmer necks, a set neck join (with ultra access at the body), a compound radius fingerboard and ‘carbon fibre’ binding. These are perhaps a touch more subtle, and more shred-friendly.
Reaper
The Reaper shape is a sleeker, less chunky Superstrat shape, with a reversed 6-in-line headstock. Banshee guitars are very similar. The Reaper tends to have two humbuckers, minimalistic inlay work, and is offered in standard 6 and multiscale 7 string versions.
Many Reapers have a burled top that’s shaved away to reveal the Ash body below. One notable exception is the Reaper-6 Custom, which conforms to the Custom spec of black finish, binding and classy understatement.
Blackjack
Black finish only for the Blackjacks, string through body bridge or Floyd Rose, pearloid line inlays and high-end Lundgren M6 pickups are what you get here. It’s currently a smaller range, with only Avenger, C-6 and C-7 models available.
SLS
The SLS range may look superficially similar to a lot of Schecter guitars, but the key is in the details. These are all neck-through guitars with thin ‘performance’ neck profiles and probably the most ‘now’ specs: certain SLS guitars are multiscale, for example, and others have Fishman FLuence pickups.
These are for the more tech-oriented guitarists, with slimmer bodies than traditional Schecter axes.
Apocalypse
Initially, the Apocalypse looked battle scarred, grey and utilitarian, with minimal inlay work and pickups with see-through red bobbins. That has all changed now: the Apocalypse range now has a ‘Red Reign’ look (it looks textured but is a flat gloss finish) with a matte back ‘n sides. There are roman numerals for fret markers and the same lack of binding as before. The red pickups remain, too!
Schecter Apocalypse guitars are available in V-1 (flying V-style), Solo-II (offset Les Paul), C-1 and C-7 varieties.
Banshee Mach
Banshees look similar to Reapers in terms of shape, with a slimmed-down, carved top Superstrat look. The Banshee Mach group of guitars are made from Swamp ash with flamed maple tops, and have ebony fingerboards. Banshee Mach guitars can be had with Hipshot, Floyd Rose or Evertune bridges.
Black Ops
The Schecter Black Ops is more of a variety on one guitar than a full-on sub range. The Schecter PT Black Ops is the main guitar: it’s a fully black 'open pore' T-style with one humbucker pickup and a very stripped-back aesthetic.
The Black Ops range builds on this, with 7 and 8 string multiscale models and left-handed varieties available, too.
Sunset
Schecter’s Sunset guitars are similar to the Reaper in shape (not the same!) but with a 3-a-side headstock and a carved bevel along the top of the body. I see these as a cross between the Reaper and C-1, and they are available in Sunset Extreme (flame top, Schecter USA pickups) and the Sunset Triad style, which is all-black and features a triple coil humbucker. 6 and 7 strings, of course!
Sun Valley Super Shredder
Sun Valley Super Shredders are quite traditional 80s Superstrats, with pickguards, high output passive pickups and locking tremolos. These are a loving nod back at the likes of Charvel and Kramer, from the age of the gunslinger.
Wylde Audio
Finally, Schecter make Zakk Wylde’s Wylde Audio brand of guitars. This is quite separate from Schecter’s other offerings, as they have their own entirely unique shapes and finishes.
A Schecter for Every Guitarist
That’s most of the ranges that Schecter carries right there. Limited Edition models and Artist signatures haven’t been included because of how numerous and changeable they can be. I think I’ve touched all of the major bases, and from this you can see how much ground the brand covers! They are obviously slanted towards rock and metal, but that makes sense given how guitar-centric those genres are.
Schecter offer unique looking guitars that are tightly built and highly spec’d, and do not rely on decades-old heritage to appeal to their ever-increasing audience. If you want something a bit different - that still totally delivers - then look into Schecter’s vast catalogue of guitars. I think you’ll find a lot to like!
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