Schecter Hellraiser questions (I might need some convincing. haha.)

[Josh Burgess]

Alright, first off..... just to throw it out there. The whole Schecter thing is a big turn off to me.... very gaudy/cheap/plastic feeling... just drives me crazy. I guess it's a shallow thing, and I'll have to get over it... haha...

BUT I've been looking around and getting quotes for custom guitars (both a 6 and a 7) for exactly what I want.... which is an all mahogany non-bolt-on 24 fret shred guitar with a floyd and active pickups (preferrably with a single coil or atleast the ability to get some single coil sounds)... which surprisingly has been pretty damn rare on production model guitars in the past.... there is that new Washburn WM526 six string Micheal Keene from The Faceless is playing..... but it's fucking hideous and retails at $1800.... and for that price I could get a custom guitar with most of the same features and the plus of not thinking my guitar is hideous.

anyways, I just noticed Schecter is now including original floyds and the new EMG humbucker/single coil hybrids on their guitars..... amazingly, this is exactly what I want... warm mahogany tone, versatile EMG setup, OFR equipped.... awesome. I still hate the looks, but at $900 brand new with all the features I want in a guitar, it's starting to sound really appealing to me. that's about half the price I'd pay for a custom, meaning I could buy both a 6 and 7 string and have more money left over for other things...

So, I have a few questions for you Schecter guys on here (and I know there's a bunch of you):

1. For the last few years I've been playing Ibanez guitars mainly and also an EBMM JP6 which, like a dumbass, I sold when I was thinking I wanted to quit using 6 strings and just permanently go to 7's. Anyways... with the mahogany body and EMG pickups, I'm sure the guitar will sound very close to what I'm wanting, but how's the playability in comparison? How flat is the fretboard and how good is the fret work?

2. For the 7 string version, how difficult is it to get used to that 26.5" scale? I imagine it makes things easier past the 12th fret, but really low riffing might be a stretch...

3. I see that for the 7 string they use the 707TW pickups in both bridge and neck, but in the 6 string they have an EMG 81TW in the bridge instead of having an 89 in both spots, like you would think they would... any particular reason for this? Maybe EMG just wants them to do it to help advertise for the 81TW or something? Has anyone swapped the 81TW for an 89 in the bridge... if so what did you think?

I guess that's all for now.

 

[MetalJonesy]

hey there,

Im sorta in the same boat for you, i got a custom quote from shcecter a cpl of years back for whats basically a USA made Hellraiser C1 FR my mate has a couple and says they are great guitars. I see them as in the same league as the ESP LTD 400 - 1000 series guitars.

and for the price and the hardware/electronics, you cant go wrong,

im just about to get one shipped from the USA to UK, ive always liked schecters, but they never had one that tickled my fancy until these new 08 models

 

[Josh Burgess]

hey there,

Im sorta in the same boat for you, i got a custom quote from shcecter a cpl of years back for whats basically a USA made Hellraiser C1 FR my mate has a couple and says they are great guitars. I see them as in the same league as the ESP LTD 400 - 1000 series guitars.

and for the price and the hardware/electronics, you cant go wrong,

im just about to get one shipped from the USA to UK, ive always liked schecters, but they never had one that tickled my fancy until these new 08 models

Yeah, it's really the mahogany neck/body, emg's, and OFR that have got me so interested now. really good value... just seems like it would be great for recording...

Although I do wish they didn't have those cheesy "gothic cross" inlays... haha

 

[MetalJonesy]

Yeah, it's really the mahogany neck/body, emg's, and OFR that have got me so interested now. really good value... just seems like it would be great for recording...

Although I do wish they didn't have those cheesy "gothic cross" inlays... haha

and wud be nice if the neck had binding, but i dont mind the crosses, something different, and yeah would be a killer guitar for recording!

 

[Jaymz]

Josh have you actually seen one in person?

 

[Josh Burgess]

Josh have you actually seen one in person?

Nah not the hellraisers. Played a C1 classic a few years ago...

Hmm I just read that they have a 16" radius fretboard with a 10" inch radius OFR with no saddles shimmed.... that seems like a big mismatch that would mess up playability quite a bit..

 

[wishtheend]

My guitarist has the Hellraiser C-1 FR in the white finish which has the black binding. Totally smokes his two ESP guitars (EC-400, M-400). The weight is great, not too light feeling - but not a fucking log. The neck plays really fast, very smooth. Plus, it's got the EMGs already wired with coil tapping which gives a much wider range of tones. Overall it's just an awesome guitar. There is nothing cheap or shabby about it.

 

[Metaltastic]

Wow, that's quite the bit of spec hunting dude (about the radius issues), I'm impressed! You make a good point, though, that it seems like it could be an issue, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.

HOWEVER...

First, I COMPLETELY, 100%, TOTALLY agree on the gaudy/plasticy look of Schecters, not to mention the fact that almost every desirable one is either black cherry (cliche) or black with white binding (REALLY cliche). This is all my own aesthetic opinion, of course, but what isn't an opinion but rather fact is that necks on those things, even the Floyd Rose Hellraiser C1 (my friend has one) are REALLY freakin' thick, too much so for me (for reference, I just got a Prestige RGA, which I love, but I feel the neck is just a bit too thin for my tastes, so it's not like I like a pencil neck). I'd go for a Carvin dude, you can spec it out however you want (OFR included), and the color possibility choices are endless!

 

[Djabthrash]

almost every desirable one is either black cherry (cliche) or black with white binding (REALLY cliche)

I think those Schecters are among the most beautiful guitars, along with some PRS, ESPs (MH400, Horizon, EC1000, ...) and Jackson Soloists. To me Schecter Hellraisers look like a mix between a PRS and a Jackson Soloist/ESP horizon-MH400.
I don't like all the "let's look metal/evil" layout/shape on guitars, like on some BC Rich guitars for instance, but i don't mind the gothic cross inlays that much on my Hellraiser C1 FR.
I own a black cherry one and i think the pictures on the Schecter website look bad compared to the real thing. Check real pictures of those, like Hatesphere live pictures for instance to see how they really look like.
I don't think about those finishes as "cliché", but more like "very classic/sober but still sexy". About the "the gaudy/plasticy look of Schecters" you mention, i think the official pictures on the website look like this but if you see it for real it doesn't look like a toy at all. Just my opinion though.

I think i'm gonna buy another guitar like this when i have more money for more versatility: same shape but different finish (maybe black with white bindings), different pickups as my current 81-85 combo (SDs ?), ...

About the guitar itself as i already said if you don't mind the quite thick neck compared to an Ibanez i think you can't go wrong getting an Hellraiser C1 FR.

 

[gorath23]

I currently own a Hellraiser Avenger (6 string) and I must admit I completely disagree with your views on the quality. In the same period I tried around 4-5 Ibanez guitars and my Hellraiser is far far better quality. The fretwork was flawless, the bindings clean and all the hardware top-notch. I really can't recommend them highly enough. It looks stunning every time I open the case. As for the neck, well it seems pretty damn thin to me, not Ibanez thin, but hardly thick. I also have a Greco LP with a Gibson Medium thick radius and its wayyyy thicker than the Schecter.

 

[GhostUnholy]

The schecter is well built. The neck is thick but I don't think as thick as my Les Paul, and at any rate, its not neccesarily that big a deal. I know metaltastic doesn't like the necks but you should try them out, i didn't think it was a hindrance at all, it was probably around as thick as the necks on my PRSs. They play really nicely i thought. If this is a problem for you, and you want all mahogany, like metaltastic said, get something like a carvin where you can spec it out to your tastes. One thing I will say about schecter is they seem to be built well and consistently but the wood used doesnt seem to be that good, it just doesnt sound that rich. Look at the huge post i made later on in the thread "sell gibson and get a hellraiser?" that should be just a little ways back, i described what i found with schecter/esp (all the cheaper korean ones are from the same factory).

 

[AudioPhile777]

Should be stated that the Devil Custom is friggin SAWEET!

 

[grywolf627]

...About the guitar itself as i already said if you don't mind the quite thick neck compared to an Ibanez i think you can't go wrong getting an Hellraiser C1 FR.

Not trying to stir the pot here or anything, but I don't quite get all the fuss about the neck thickness. After reading so many comments about this, I thought that neck would be a beast. I just played on a Schecter 7 string the other day for the first time, and as a long time Ibanez player, I don't see what the big deal is. I didn't have any problems at all, and completely fell in love with the guitar. Maybe because I don't have "proper" left hand technique/posture, and neck thickness doesn't bother me as much? I just know I have a serious case of envy for my friend's new Schecter.

 

[Josh Burgess]

Wow, that's quite the bit of spec hunting dude (about the radius issues), I'm impressed! You make a good point, though, that it seems like it could be an issue, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.

HOWEVER...

First, I COMPLETELY, 100%, TOTALLY agree on the gaudy/plasticy look of Schecters, not to mention the fact that almost every desirable one is either black cherry (cliche) or black with white binding (REALLY cliche). This is all my own aesthetic opinion, of course, but what isn't an opinion but rather fact is that necks on those things, even the Floyd Rose Hellraiser C1 (my friend has one) are REALLY freakin' thick, too much so for me (for reference, I just got a Prestige RGA, which I love, but I feel the neck is just a bit too thin for my tastes, so it's not like I like a pencil neck). I'd go for a Carvin dude, you can spec it out however you want (OFR included), and the color possibility choices are endless!

Finding out they don't shim the saddles on the OFR is because I was discussing getting a 20" radius on a carvin on their board and seeing if they'd shim the trem to match the board, and the guy listed how the hellraisers have one of the biggest mismatches.... an ofr is 10" that's like a strat, that's a big difference from a modern flat superstrat fretboard. would screw action big time.

Anyways, I could go carvin, but there are a few little things I don't like... the dc127 I'd have to get a shorter 25" scale... and I'm not sure if I could get the flat fretboard like I wanted with them.... they do 14" or 20" (like the holdsworth guitar)... but not sure if they'll put the floyd on the 20"... I still need to call and talk to one of their sales guys.

And the dc727 has that licensed floyd which a lot of people can't stand, and it seems like a lot of work to get an OFR7 on it...

 

[Kazrog]

I have the Schecter Jeff Loomis C7 FR, and it's amazing. I've owned 2 Ibanez 7 strings in the past and this guitar feels far better to me, and sounds 100x better. I have also tried the Hellraisers and they seem great as well.

I'm thinking of getting a second 7 string at some point and about the only production model I'd consider is a Hellraiser C7 FR. I don't want two identical guitars, however if they made the Loomis model in trans satin black with an ebony fretboard I would get that.

 

[Josh Burgess]

I have the Schecter Jeff Loomis C7 FR, and it's amazing. I've owned 2 Ibanez 7 strings in the past and this guitar feels far better to me, and sounds 100x better. I have also tried the Hellraisers and they seem great as well.

I'm thinking of getting a second 7 string at some point and about the only production model I'd consider is a Hellraiser C7 FR. I don't want two identical guitars, however if they made the Loomis model in trans satin black with an ebony fretboard I would get that.

Word. I'm not too keen on the idea of an ash guitar with maple neck... seems like it'd be really, really bright sounding. Mahogany is usually my favorite.... for example I love how SG's sound (but would never buy one because of only so-so playability and fixed bridge). Plus, the hellraisers have the humbucker/single coil hybrid pickups now, which is cool... Kinda surprised they haven't put those on the loomis model

 

[Djabthrash]

Not trying to stir the pot here or anything, but I don't quite get all the fuss about the neck thickness. After reading so many comments about this, I thought that neck would be a beast. I just played on a Schecter 7 string the other day for the first time, and as a long time Ibanez player, I don't see what the big deal is. I didn't have any problems at all, and completely fell in love with the guitar. Maybe because I don't have "proper" left hand technique/posture, and neck thickness doesn't bother me as much? I just know I have a serious case of envy for my friend's new Schecter.

I can tell you my Hellraiser C1 FR neck is way thicker than a normal Ibanez neck, though not as thick as a Gibson Les Paul neck. So for people who are used to super thin Ibanez necks the Hellraiser C1 neck seem thick. I like it personally. Not too thin, not too thick either.

 

[Kazrog]

Word. I'm not too keen on the idea of an ash guitar with maple neck... seems like it'd be really, really bright sounding. Mahogany is usually my favorite.... for example I love how SG's sound (but would never buy one because of only so-so playability and fixed bridge). Plus, the hellraisers have the humbucker/single coil hybrid pickups now, which is cool... Kinda surprised they haven't put those on the loomis model

I hear you. The tone of the Loomis model is actually excellent. I'm more of a mahogany guy also, but to me this guitar sounds a lot like mahogany.

 

[Josh Burgess]

I hear you. The tone of the Loomis model is actually excellent. I'm more of a mahogany guy also, but to me this guitar sounds a lot like mahogany.

Yeah, I've never played it... so, who knows... I just associate ash with strats (the ones that aren't alder) and teles, though that's usually called "swamp ash"... Maybe there's a difference. I don't know.

The single coil option is a big deal to me though. It's always what kept me from using actives before... because I use single coil sounds a lot for cleans. So, I'm happy about the 81TW/89/81-7TW/707TW pickups....

Hmm I was just checking out youtube for some videos of guys playing the hellraiser, and this one was pretty awesome:

 

[MetalJonesy]

Ive just purchased my C1 Hellraiser FR, should be arriving within 2 weeks i think.... cant wait to couple it with the krank rev jr!!! *drool*