11 Best Schecter Guitars 2024 For Blues, Metal, Classic Rock & More

From the naming to the design, Schecter guitars are made to appeal to metal sensibilities.

Case in point. Apocalypse. Hellraiser. OMEN. Those are just a few of the guitar models Schecter produces.

This isn’t to say they can’t be great guitars for other purposes, and we simply can’t deny their appeal. They’re generally good bang for buck, and are attractive, well-designed axes too.

Word of warning though: these are very limited, so if you see one you like be sure to get it before someone else does & you can't any more!

Let’s look at the best Schecter guitars for blues, metal, classic rock, and more.

Best Schecter Guitars (For Any Genre)

Let’s kick off this list with some of the best, top of the line, premium guitars Schecter has to offer.

These generally come with excellent pickups, are made with great materials, and feature awesome build quality. And, even better, they’re not at a price that should break the bank.

Here are the axes we wish to put a spotlight on.

Schecter C-1 SLS FR-S Evil Twin

The Schecter C-1 SLS FR-S Evil Twin is another sleek, satin black axe made for playing. This guitar has a swamp ash body, two active humbuckers, maple/walnut/padauk neck, ebony fingerboard, and a Floyd Rose bridge for extra tuning and whammy stability.

You can also tell that, like the Blackjack, it’s got a Sustainiac in the neck position. If that’s what you’re after, but can’t cough up the change for the Blackjack, you might find this axe’s price a little easier to stomach (but only slightly).

Not surprisingly, the Evil Twin cooks when using a gain channel or distortion pedal, but the clean tones aren’t half bad either. There’s a fair bit of versatility, but you might need to cut out some of the highs to make it less brash.

I certainly think this one is worth the asking price.

Item weight: 12 lbs.

Package dimensions: 44 x 19 x 5 inches

Schecter C-1 FR-S Apocalypse

What do we have here if not for another gorgeous looking guitar?

The Schecter C-1 FR-S Apocalypse shares quite a bit in common with the previously mentioned Evil Twin. It’s got a swamp ash body, maple/bubinga multi-ply set-neck (and carbon fiber reinforcement rods), Schecter Apocalypse-VI bridge pickup, Sustainiac in the neck, and 24 X-jumbo frets. Of course, it’s got a Floyd Rose locking bridge, too.

If you’re looking for a guitar that seriously thumps, then you’ve found your match. Heavy is what Schecter is known for, and you will get that with this axe.

Discerning metal players should have a blast of a time with this baby.

Item weight: 12 lbs.

Package dimensions: 44 x 19 x 5 inches

Schecter Synyster Gates Custom-S

Now for a guitar that looks a little bit like an Explorer (but with more curve and less angle). The Schecter Synyster Gates Custom-S might not be for everyone, but its design is mean-looking to say the least (just look at the horned headstock).

This guitar comes with a USA Synyster Gates humbucking bridge pickup, Sustainiac neck pickup, mahogany body and neck, Floyd Rose 1500 series tremolo, and carbon fiber neck reinforcement rods.

In terms of tone, it’s got both growl and chime, and it sounds quite good even when you’re using the clean channel. Of course, it tends to come alive with a bit of crunch, or as you might prefer, full on metal mayhem.

It is a versatile guitar, though, so if you like how it looks, nothing should stop you from using it for genres outside of metal.

Item weight: 13.15 lbs.

Package dimensions: 44 x 19 x 5 inches

Schecter Blackjack Slim Line Series C-1 FR Sustainiac

The Schecter Blackjack Slim Line series C-1 FR Sustainiac is the priciest of the bunch. It’s black, it’s sleek, and it’s mean.

This axe comes with a mahogany body, quilted maple top, 24 X-Jumbo frets, Seymour Duncan Full Shred TB-10 bridge pickup and Sustainiac retrofit SLS neck pickup. The double-locking Floyd Rose is something to write home about too.

As the name would suggest, it comes with a thin, fast, satin-finished neck. The sustainer pickup, as you would expect, allows you to sustain notes for longer without the need for constant picking.

This is an excellent guitar, and is highly recommended for anyone looking for a quality thin guitar.

Item weight: 10.36 lbs.

Package dimensions: 46 x 6 x 19 inches

Schecter Hellraiser Custom

You can tell we’re starting to get into mid-level Schecters, because this axe doesn’t come with a Floyd Rose bridge or Sustainiac. Then again, that’s only going to be a small loss for some.

The Schecter Hellraiser Custom comes with EMG 81/85 pickups, mahogany body, and quilted maple top. The Hellraiser model is well-recognized when it comes to Schecter guitars, and we can’t deny it’s still got a lot of the same appeal their upper end guitars have.

I find the cleans a little thin and twangy, but with the EMGs, naturally you can draw plenty of heavy hard rock and metal tones out of it.

Item weight: 12.5 lbs.

Package dimensions: 44 x 19 x 5 inches

Schecter Damien Elite 6-1101

The Schecter Damien Elite 6-1101 offers many of the same conveniences the Hellraiser does (and it even looks about the same). It comes with a quilted maple top, maple neck, EMG active 81/85 pickups, TOM bridge, and limited lifetime guarantee.

Again, this is a decent-sounding, decent-playing guitar. It’s basically the more affordable version of the Hellraiser as far as I can tell.

The EMG humbuckers keep noise to a minimum, which is incredibly helpful, especially when you’re playing heavier genres.

Users thought the guitar had a great sound and loved how heavy it got.

Item weight: 12.55 lbs.

Package dimensions: 44 x 19 x 5 inches

Schecter Sun Valley SS-FR

The Schecter Sun Valley SS-FR comes with a mahogany body, maple bolt-on neck, EMG Retroactive Hot 70 pickup set, Floyd Rose Special “Hot Rod” locking tremolo, and 24 X-Jumbo frets.

This guitar is available in other colors, but the sea foam green isn’t half bad.

This axe can’t do everything well, but what it does, it does well. And what it does is classic hard rock and metal. Basically, it’s perfect for shredding.

Users thought it was good for the money. Some had issues with quality, but we always suggest sending back any products that aren’t up to snuff.

Item weight: 10.01 lbs.

Package dimensions: 44 x 19 x 5 inches

Best Schecter Guitars For The Money

In this section, we aren’t necessarily picking on the cheapest guitars, though to be fair, some that follow are quite affordable.

Having gone through numerous Schecters (as you’ve already seen), we wanted to cover a few that offered tremendous value for the money, and in some cases, had a little something extra to offer (maybe more versatility, or possibly an extra string).

So, here are some of the best Schecter guitars for the money.

Schecter Reaper-6

I love the look of the sky burst finish o this guitar, and although we are talking about a decent guitar here, you can’t judge it entirely by its cover.

The Schecter Reaper-6 comes with a swamp ash body, poplar burl top, ebony fretboard, and two high-output Diamond Decimator humbuckers.

I won’t lie, though. This is still a sick sounding, thin, lightweight guitar. And users found it to be incredibly versatile to boot.

If you’re looking to play more genres and styles than just metal, then this is the Schecter axe you need.

Item weight: 12.57 lbs.

Package dimensions: 46 x 19 x 4.75 inches

Schecter 437 C-7 Deluxe Seven-String Electric Guitar

Although we haven’t featured many of Schecter’s seven-string guitars on this list, we couldn’t resist this one, because it’s incredible value for the money.

The Schecter 437 C-7 Deluxe comes with a basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, hardtail bridge, Schecter Diamond Plus pickups, and chrome hardware.

This isn’t a top of the line Schecter, but its sound is decent enough, and it does handle distortion well too.

Many users loved this guitar, and some even thought it was amazing.

Item weight: 7 lbs.

Package dimensions: 44 x 19 x 5 inches

Best Schecter Guitars For Beginners

Are you just getting started on the electric guitar? Then you don’t necessarily need all the extras like a Floyd Rose bridge or Sustainiac neck pickup to get up and running. All you need is a neck, a body, and two pickups (and preferably it's all put together for you).

But even at the beginner level, we find Schecter guitars to be solid bang for buck.

So, here are a couple of workhorses that should prove affordable and powerful enough for the beginner.

Schecter OMEN-6

The name “Hellraiser” may be synonymous with Schecter, but so is the name “OMEN.”

And here we have the Schecter OMEN-6, which could prove a great beginner to intermediate guitar, with all the essentials to get up and running. You can even get it in different finishes.

The OMEN-6 comes with a basswood body, rosewood fretboard, maple neck, black chrome hardware, and Schecter Diamond Plus pickups.

This guitar is very playable, and, honestly, it’s got a decent tone too.

Item weight: 7.25 lbs.

Package dimensions: 46 x 6 x 19 inches

Schecter 430 C-6 Deluxe Solid Body Electric Guitar

The Schecter 430 C-6 Deluxe is the most affordable guitar on this list. It comes with a basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, Tune-O-Matic bridge, and Schecter Diamond Plus pickups.

The guitar’s tone is decent enough for practice use and is much warmer than you might expect.

I honestly don’t have anything bad to say about how the axe sounds on the dirty channel of an amp, or with a distortion pedal. It might have some unwanted “woof”, but at this price point, you can’t complain.

Most users loved the lightweight entry level axe, and some even thought it was beyond killer for the money.

Some thought you could perhaps do a little better for the money, and that isn’t an exaggeration. But this is still a decent find, because you can also do much, much worse.

Item weight: 10.33 lbs.

Package dimensions: 44 x 19 x 5 inches

What Should I Look For In A Schecter Guitar?

So, it’s time to get a Schecter guitar. But what should you be looking for in one?

Guitars tend to be individual, and what one likes may be despised by another.

But you were attracted to Schecter for a reason. The fact that we’re only comparing different models of guitars created by the same brand instantly makes the selection process a little easier.

To make this even easier on you, however, we’ve also picked out the most important factors to consider when comparing one guitar to another. They are:

• Pickups
• Bridge and hardware
• Neck and playability
• Esthetics
• Budget

Let’s look at each of these in more depth.

Pickups

Although it has been said that your guitar’s bridge, electronics, and tonewood (debatable) are the most significant factors affecting tone, the number one factor outside of the player is always pickups. A guitar sounds the way it does because of pickups!

And that’s why higher priced guitars feature better pickups, while lower priced guitars come equipped with more “generic” pickups.

Schecter guitars all come with decent to excellent pickups. I have not found a Schecter guitar with bad pickups. And that means you can’t go wrong with even an entry-level guitar.

So, this mostly comes down to preference and what you’re looking for. Do you need top of the line pickups with a Sustainiac? Or would generic pickups suffice for now? Do you want something in between?

If you’re a beginner guitarist, you’re not going to notice much of a difference. But someone who’s been playing for a while would probably have a better idea of what they’re looking for. Experience makes a big difference.

There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer, just an answer that suits you. So, if in doubt, go and watch a few YouTube demos to see what you like.

Bridge & Hardware

Why does the bridge or the hardware matter? Because there’s a big difference between a Floyd Rose bridge or other standard bridges.

A Floyd Rose bridge can help with your guitar’s tuning stability in a big way and was originally designed so that guitarists could use their whammy bars in more extreme ways without completely losing their tuning.

If you have no intention of using a whammy bar, then in my opinion, it’s mostly a waste. But it can still help with your axe’s tuning.

If you’re not interested in a Floyd Rose, then you don’t necessarily need to cough up the money for a more expensive Schecter. You’ll probably be happy with the entry-level or intermediate range of guitars available.

That would be the main consideration here since the bridge will affect your guitar’s performance and functionality. Other hardware doesn’t matter that much (assuming it doesn't fall apart)!

Neck & Playability

Schecters generally come with good necks. Some are thicker, and some are thinner than others. We suggest checking the specs of each guitar you’re thinking about buying.

Again, as with anything, the size and feel of the neck mostly comes down to your preferences. What works for another won’t necessarily work for you.

The other thing to keep in mind is the strings on Schecter guitars are generally set low. This makes their axes easy to play, but for some guitarists, the action might be a little lower than they’d like it to be.

Not to worry, however, because if you don’t mind spending a bit of money, you can always take your guitar to a qualified tech to adjust the string height and intonation.

Esthetics

Schecter guitars are all relatively attractive, aren’t they? Again, personal preferences need to be prioritized here, but there’s little doubt in our minds you can find an axe matched to your personal style.

If in doubt, just have a look over the options available again. You will find that most guitars come in different finishes to cater to different tastes.

At the end of the day, it’s all about how a guitar feels in your hands, but if you’re looking to match up your guitar to your band’s brand, or your clothing/costume, then it might be worth thinking about.

Budget

A Schecter guitar will generally run you $300 to $1,200.

That might seem like quite the range, but like Ibanez, they’re clearly appealing to a specific type of guitarist who’s looking for quality at a price that won’t break the bank.

There are companies out there that manufacture guitars in the $3,000 and up range, so yes, you can pay significantly more for a solid axe.

With that in mind, we like what Schecter has done for the consumer. They’ve basically got a great guitar at every price range, and assuming you know what you’re getting into, you can’t go wrong at all.

Of course, we still recommend searching for a guitar that’s within your budget and advise against overextending yourself unnecessarily. Please be responsible with your spending!

Are Schecter Guitars Only For Metal?

No, but they are mostly for metal and heavier genres.

The Reaper-6, for example, is quite versatile, and you can find demonstrations on YouTube that show exactly what’s possible with it.

So, Schecter does have some models that could be perfect to other genres.

The other thing to keep in mind is it mostly comes down to tone. If you like the sound of the guitar, and don’t mind how it looks, then in our opinion it doesn’t matter much how you use it.

These days, you can dial in just about any tone on any guitar, assuming you've got the right gear and know how.

Schecter guitars are certainly designed to sound good with some dirt on them, and that makes them great for hard rock and metal, but that certainly doesn’t make them bad for other playing styles.

And if you’re a beginner just learning to play, genre is not going to make a difference for you until you learn the basics!

Who Plays Schecter Guitars?

Artists can certainly lend some credibility to instruments. You’ll be happy to know that many established artists are endorsed by Schecter. Here are a few names you might recognize.

Derek Smalls (Spinal Tap)

Derek Smalls is the fictional bassist for fictional band Spinal Tap, who originally appeared in the film of the same name.

Smalls may be played by actor Harry Shearer, who is more recognized for his smooth, low-pitched radio voice, but the man is talented, and Spinal Tap has had more success as a “fictional” band than most independent artists ever will.

Smalls plays the Schecter Stiletto Studio-5 bass.

East Bay Ray (Dead Kennedys)

Political hardcore punk band Dead Kennedys found popularity in their original eight year run from 1978 to 1986. The band reunited in 2001 and has been together ever since.

East Bay Ray plays the S-II Omen and his surf guitar influenced playing style is instantly recognizable.

dUg Pinnick (King’s X)

As the bassist and lead singer of King’s X 70-year-old dug Pinnick still rocks hard and has an unmistakably huge bass tone.

Pinnick plays the Schecter Baron-H bass.

Jerry Horton (Papa Roach)

Papa Roach caught the nu metal trend along with bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, Linkin Park, and others. They are best known for their hit single “Last Resort”.

Jerry Horton plays a signature model guitar called the Jerry Horton Tempest.

Nikki Stringfield (Iron Maidens)

Stringfield is from the all-female Iron Maiden tribute band from Los Angeles, California, Iron Maidens. She plays her signature Schecter, Nikki Stringfield A-6 FR S.

Prince

The legendary Prince was a Schecter artist too. He was a true musician’s musician, and a master of singing, songwriting, producing, guitar, bass, and more.

Perhaps the only reason he isn’t more recognized as a guitarist is because many of his singles either had sparse guitar playing on them, or they weren’t used at all.

Prince had his share of unique looking guitars, and could be seen playing his Symbol and Cloud guitars on most occasions.

Best Schecter Guitars, Final Thoughts

Choosing the right guitar is always the hardest part. The good news is, if a Schecter is what you want, then a Schecter is what you’ll get! It’s as simple as that.

The only thing you’ll need to do is compare the different models and their specs, and you should be able to decide on an axe that’s right for you.

Other than that, just review the criteria we mentioned earlier, and if necessary, check Amazon and YouTube for additional reviews and demos.

Thanks for dropping by and happy shopping!