Would you buy a Schecter Hellraiser C-1 for 1275 $?

[Pex]

The Schecter Hellraiser C-1 goes for 929 € which is about 1275 $, compared to US prices (where it’s only 750 $) that’s a difference of 525 $. Would you guys pay that much? I mean I really like the Hellraiser but I can get a ESP LTD EC-400 for about 600 € (825 $).

I think I like the Hellraiser more than the EC-400 but I have no experience with ‘heavy’ guitars (this would be my first ‘heavy’ guitar), so I am not sure if the difference justifies a +50% in price also keeping in mind that Americans pay 525 $ less.

So: would you guys pay 1275 $ for a Schecter Hellraiser C-1?

Greetings, Pex

 

[MetalSound]

the hellraiser is definately worth the money.
i wouldn´t buy a lower ltd series than ec-1000.

 

[Jevil]

Two years ago I paid 920 € for a hellraiser C-1 with FR in a local shop.

I'm very happy with it but i think you can probably find a better price.

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

I have owned both. If the 24.75" scale isn't a problem, I'd go for the EC-400. The C-1 was a cool axe, but not 50%-more-cool. In fact, in retrospect I think I liked the EC-400 more.

EDIT: Holy shit the C-1 prices have gone up. I paid 700€ new for mine a bit over a year ago :O

 

[MetalSound]

EDIT: Holy shit the C-1 prices have gone up. I paid 700€ new for mine a bit over a year ago :O

yes, they changed their distributor whose first action was to raise all prices....

 

[Pex]

i wouldn´t buy a lower ltd series than ec-1000.

AFAIK the only difference between the EC-400 and the EC-1000 series is the optical look and the hardware (locking tuners and a tonepros locking bridge). At least from checking their website - but any input on this is very welcome.

Two years ago I paid 920 € for a hellraiser C-1 with FR in a local shop.

http://www.thomann.de/at/schecter_diamondc1_hellraiser_wh.htm - now it's 935€ without the FR - FR goes for 1050+€.

I have owned both. If the 24.75" scale isn't a problem, I'd go for the EC-400. The C-1 was a cool axe, but not 50%-more-cool. In fact, in retrospect I think I liked the EC-400 more.

EDIT: Holy shit the C-1 prices have gone up. I paid 700€ new for mine a bit over a year ago :O

If the Hellraiser was 700€ - this would be a no-brainer (for me). And how did you like them soundwise? Is there a huge difference?


The 525$ price difference to US-buyers really freaks me out. Why pay 75% more for the same value? (Ignoring tax etc, but still).

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

If the Hellraiser was 700€ - this would be a no-brainer (for me). And how did you like them soundwise? Is there a huge difference?

Not huge, but some. The EC-400 had an EMG-81, the C-1 had an EMG-81TW. With nearly identical string height, pickup height etc. setup, the Schecter had a bit darker tone and less gain. Tone-wise I liked the EC-400 more. It was a solid axe.

 

[locus_coeruleus]

get a used hellraiser

 

[Djunn]

Europe sucks. I bought my first Schecter which was a C1 Elite from eBay a few years back. It was like $400 plus shipping but luckily a friend of mine brought it for me from USA to Turkey. There wasn't a distributor in these days. Now we have a very fair distributor and I got my C7 ATX for $1k cash and I think it's not that bad. I'm considering to buy a Jeff Loomis signature too but I realized that prices went up like $100 more when I had a visit to the store last week. Bah!

 

[::XeS::]

Me too Djunn, 290$ on ebay and I paid it 450€ with shipping and customers.

 

[Pex]

Not huge, but some. The EC-400 had an EMG-81, the C-1 had an EMG-81TW. With nearly identical string height, pickup height etc. setup, the Schecter had a bit darker tone and less gain. Tone-wise I liked the EC-400 more. It was a solid axe.

Thanks for the input, I'm really considering a EC-400 now.

get a used hellraiser

Last time I checked EBay there weren't any good deals on a Hellraiser.

Europe sucks. I bought my first Schecter which was a C1 Elite from eBay a few years back. It was like $400 plus shipping but luckily a friend of mine brought it for me from USA to Turkey. There wasn't a distributor in these days. Now we have a very fair distributor and I got my C7 ATX for $1k cash and I think it's not that bad. I'm considering to buy a Jeff Loomis signature too but I realized that prices went up like $100 more when I had a visit to the store last week. Bah!

Yeah, when buying a Schecter guitar Europe really sucks.

 

[Mago]

Don't go checking prices for Dual Rectos USA vs. EU, if that difference allready freaks you out^^
Are all schecters build in US?
Seems its only the distrubutor, since the price difference of ESP isnt that huge in the states and EU

 

[Pex]

Don't go checking prices for Dual Rectos USA vs. EU, if that difference allready freaks you out^^
Are all schecters build in US?
Seems its only the distrubutor, since the price difference of ESP isnt that huge in the states and EU

AFAIK Schecters arn't build in the US, they're mass-produced in China/Korea and only assembled in the US.
Schecter and ESP are owned by the same company (from what I've heard), so this whole price-difference thing (ESP moderate price difference; Schecter HUGE price difference) is complete nonsense.

Greetings from Vienna btw, Mago

 

[jarenare]

get a used hellraiser

+1 this
Got mine for 450€ with hardcase, almost mint.

 

[midget donkeys]

I don't know what the used situation is in your country but I would look into if I were you. If your carefull you can usually get more guitar for your money when buying used.

That is what I do. Find a guitar a few years old that might have a bunch of dings in the body, but still plays great. It will end up costing 40 to 60 percent less than a brand new one.

If a guitar body has 10 dings in it and you put 5 more in it over time the value of the guitar has not changed much. If you but 5 dings in a brand new guitar you have lowered it's resale value alot more.

When you buy a new guitar it is like buying a new car. The minute you leave the store with the guitar it's resale value goes down a large amount due to it now being "used".

 

[Mago]

AFAIK Schecters arn't build in the US, they're mass-produced in China/Korea and only assembled in the US.
Schecter and ESP are owned by the same company (from what I've heard), so this whole price-difference thing (ESP moderate price difference; Schecter HUGE price difference) is complete nonsense.

Greetings from Vienna btw, Mago

lol servas

seems to be total BS in that case if they even are owned by the same company.
But its the same for Diezel and Mesa: Diezel costs more overseas of course, but not as much more as the difference of Mesas overeseas and here, so the difference has to be the distribution.
So if Schecters are also built in Korea/China they should be about the same price of the Ltd's...dunno if these are also assembled in the US though.

Never saw many Schecters around here, guess there's also not a lot to have used...never looked into that though, ebay germany maybe?

Also: I have an ltd 400 series guitar and I love it

 

[Empathy]

I own two Hellraiser's, a C1 and a C7, both built in '09, coil taps and all. Thoroughly reccomend them over any other Schecters or LTDs for that matter. Get it set up by a pro and you'll be amazed by the results.

Just to stir the pot, the C1 Classics (if you can find one second hand, they're a discontinued model) are probably the best guitars Schecter ever made, bar the Hellraisers. Absolutely ador mine, going to be treating it to a set of bareknuckles soon.

 

[Pardi666]

I got a Limited Edition Hellraiser C-1 less than a year ago, brand new at Guitar Center for $600. I love it; the quality, action and tone are just great!
It actually plays better than my custom made Japanese stratocaster i payed tons of money for.

I don't know about paying that much for it though, not that it isn't worth that much. See if you can find a good quality used one first. It's a very
solid guitar and should handle a lot of abuse before showing any signs of aging.

 

[MetalJonesy]

i got my brand new Hellraiser C1FR with hardcase 3 years ago, shipped from america, including customs for $480 usd, so about £370, over here they retail for like £800 or something!

 

[Robert W]

The higher end Schecters used to be built in Korea. Don't know if they still are, but as a lot of their stuff seems to be built in Indonesia now, I wouldn't count on it.

As for a Hellraiser being worth $1200+ USD? Definitely not. I had a 7 string version and it WAS a good guitar, but it was not $1200+ good. For that kind of money you may just want to save a little more and go custom.