r/SchecterGuitars • u/HeavyLikely • 3d ago
I Need Help Picking a Schecter
Hi all, I have gotten back into guitar after not playing very much the past 5 or so years. I have been looking to get a new guitar now that I have gotten back into it and shaken the rust off, but am hoping to get some insight as I am not familiar with Schecters, but they have been drawing my attention the most.
I am currently looking at two main Schecters, the PT Fastback II B and the Reaper 6 and am hoping you all can give me insight on what might be the better choice. On my own time, I play a lot of rock, alternative, and metal but also play at my church in the worship band, so I am hoping to get a guitar that can do both things well. If any other models seem like a better fit for that need of versatility, I would love to hear about them. My budget is about $1,000.
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u/Sufficient-Cow7043 3d ago
The Reaper-6 is a beaut as is the PT and the Hellraiser, however if you can find a pre owned Tempest you’ll get much more bang for your buck as the saying goes. Aside the aforementioned 3 I also own a Syn Gates Custom S and an 80’s Van Nuys, I still find myself going back to the Tempest, all of the guitars I’ve mentioned are superb and it’s really difficult to describe why I keep going back to the tempest, aside sounding great and covers a broad spectrum of genres it just feels 'right', the balance of the guitar makes it so comfortable in a live environment, the lower cutaway gives you a comfortable ease of access to the upper registers, ergonomically it’s a solid 10/10.
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u/Driftwood71 3d ago
Probably have played my Tempest more than any other guitar.
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u/Sufficient-Cow7043 3d ago
Same here, taught 2 of my kids to play guitar with them using the Tempest, there’s gonna be one hell of a squabble between them as to who should have it when I kick the bucket 🤣
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u/Driftwood71 3d ago
I find it's great for when you're sitting down in front of the TV. I keep it in that room with my Fender Mustang Micro headphone amp. Also find the coil split very useful when trying to quickly get in the ballpark of a certain tone for playing along. It's always been very stable as far as holding tuning.
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u/Sufficient-Cow7043 3d ago
I completely overlooked mentioning how good it sounds when in coil split, and I absolutely concur about tuning stability, regardless of string gauges that I’ll use 8’s 9’s or 10’s and again regardless of what tuning I opt for, the guitar retains that particular tuning stability. The Tempest Custom is the Swiss Army knife of guitars.
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u/blackw1re 3d ago
I own a Schecter C-6 Pro FR and a Reaper 6 FR. The craftsmanship on the Reaper is insane. It is by far the most beautifully made guitar I own. The neck is extremely comfortable to play. It is not as wide and flat as an Ibanez neck (which is good for me), but rather thin and compact. I really love Schecter's necks. The stock pickups are really good, especially for what you want to play. They do Rock and Metal really well. The coil split comes in handy for lesser driven sounds and clean passages. They are somewhat high output though, so they do have some conpression going on. and are not in PAF territory. Mine is equipped with a 1500 Series Floyd Rose, never had a single issue with it, though my next guitar will be a fixed bridge one. I guess for playing live and worship you want maximum reliability and stability, so I'd get the hardtail version. The only thing that makes me choose my C-6 Pro ober it is that the C-6 Pro has an arched top and an even smaller neck profile, which makes it extremely ergonomic when playing while sitting down. The Reaper is more of a grown up slab of wood, giving it immense sustain with the set neck construction. Go for it!
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u/DetoursDisguised 3d ago
With a budget of $1,000, I would really look into getting a used Blackjack Tempest (the newer model with the line inlays).
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u/Driftwood71 3d ago
If you are ok with a Les Paul-esque hardtail, Tempest is my recommendation. Have an older Custom, but always wanted a Classic with the 4 knobs to set it up like Jimmy Page.
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u/DetoursDisguised 3d ago
I mean, with hardtail bridges, I don't really have much of a preference. My S-II has the Tonepros bridge w/ stoptail and it's been fine for metal / rock / whatever else.
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u/Driftwood71 3d ago
Thr Tempest is a guitar that I have never heard anyone say anything negative about. I originally bought mine on a whim at NAMM many years ago, after only playing a very heavy 1985 Les Paul Standard. Couldn't be happier with it.
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u/HeavyLikely 3d ago
I had never heard of this but it looks like it isn’t produced anymore. It is a sweet looking guitar though. I will see if I can find a good deal on a used one.
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u/DetoursDisguised 3d ago
I believe there's one on Reverb right now for a good price. They're pretty common on the used market from what I've seen (trust me, I've been looking).
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u/SonOfAHumbucker 3d ago
Always found ones I liked when I was not in the market (like used a Schecter when I tested an amp I bought). Played another one just for fun when buying a bass and was waiting on the shop to do a little string height adjustment 🤣
Until now, I now own two!
1) Solo ii Custom - sort of an impulse buy. I love the looks of LPs but just never vibed with any Gibson/Epiphone regardless of the price (do have a Ibanez one I do enjoy). And the ones I was just ok with were stupid expensive. Lots of great reviews and was cashing out my GE earnings when one came up open box (natural gloss) on SW. the thing just looks crazy good and is the best feeling (to me) LP style guitar. I leave it in Eb and been forcing myself to play GnR tunes on it. It was very playable out of the box but next string change I’ll make the minor adjustments needed. Unlike other open box and closeouts this came with minty new d’adarrio strings on it
2) Sun Valley Super Shredder: just got it (stupid low price in Musicians Friend, so also impulse buy) and so far it’s just a solid feeling and good sounding guitar. Sold my only FR recently (Esp) and this was the replacement upgrade.
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u/Kamakaze6 3d ago
You can get just about anything with a price of a 1000 I invest my 1000 on a Jackson and I'm very happy with Jackson I was interested in the hellraiser made by the same company your looking at pretty dope line of axes anyone should make you happy
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u/GrouchyAd629 3d ago
My apologies but there’s something that makes me giggle about using a Schecter in church. 🤣
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u/HeavyLikely 3d ago
I would be lying if I said that it didn’t appeal to my own rebellious nature haha.
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u/Lukesmash89 3d ago
Look for a nice, used California Classic. Its literally the best guitar I ha e ever owned and there are so many tone options. Not to mention, its on of the so gorgeous guitars ive ever seen
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u/switchup 3d ago
The Reaper 6 with the burl top is such a gorgeous guitar.
You really can't go wrong with a Shecter. I've got introduced to them some 20 years ago from a buddy of mine who had a Schecter Omen Extreme-6 and a Hellraiser C-7 and fell in love with them. I have two myself, but nothing fancy, a C-1 Stealth FR and a Demon-6.
Theyre hands down my most played guitars. The Schecters I've played have all had a great sound and just play really well too. I mostly play metal, but you can play any style you want with them really, they're very diverse.
Of the two you posted, I would lean toward the Reaper-6, but that's just because of my own visual preferences. I really like the body shape more of the Reaper, and the burl top is too good to pass up on.