Johnston V

A new Schecter for Nick Johnston to perhaps properly blend into the Mastodon persona. Currently, this USA V-1 is out of reach for most of us, listing for USD6.5K. Perhaps a more affordable iteration would be made available along the way like they did for his Strat-type models.

Pic: Schecter

C-1 50th

These are now available at Davis GMC. Ash body & ebony 'board for both, the FR bridge there is the 1500 version & pickups are in-house Sunset Strip Anniversary edition less the Sustainiac.

Pics: Schecter

Nick's 10th

Didn't realize Nick Johnston's relationship with Schecter is now a decade old. This purple beauty here is a 10th Anniversary Nick Johnston's commemorative model that already available at Davis GMC ($1,899). Nick's initial infatuation with guitars saw him embrace a Fender (a Highway 1 if memory serves me right) & the Strat-esque features are firmly preserved here. Some say they prefer this bridge as opposed to the Fender's. 

Pic: Schecter

C1 Standard

This is how the C1 looks like today. I used to own one but it was in a natural, non-gloss finish. The good thing about Schecter is that, along the way, they would refine their current models to acclimatize to the contemporary looks based on the developments of their other models in the catalog. Faded finish, covered pickups & that hardtail bridge are ready enticements for beginners & pros alike. The list price here is also an enticement itself: $680

Pic: Schecter

TK Tele

This is a nice one with good specs. The TK there stands for Toru Kitajima, so it's a signature model & the reason why it's listing for $1,950, in stock at Davis GMC.

Pic: Schecter Japan

Resin-ated

Interesting finish by Schecter; resin injected streaks across the E-1's maple top. Other than that, it's just an E-1 model. Pickups are Seymour Duncan '78 / '59. To note - this is a 24.75" guitar. 

Pic: Schecter

Schecter: Red Dawn

New for 2025: Schecter Red Dawn guitars. This particular model you see above is the Sunset 6 ET. The Red Dawn models are basically shred-type players with Fishman pickups (Modern Ceramic / Alnico) which sport a rail design instead of pole pieces. If you don't fancy the Evertune bridge, a tune-o-matic type bridge is also offered. Other variations include baritone & 7-string models.

Pic: Schecter

Headless Syn

Got word on this from a friend - Synester Gates now has a headless signature model. Schecter is not new to this so no surprises there but Synester embracing one is definitely a change. Many fans would be missing that signature, pincer-type headstock for sure. Be informed that the body is chambered & pickups are in-house Schecter USA models. 

Pic: Schecter

KR @ Davis

I'm just glad to know this guitar is still in production & it's still being brought in by Davis GMC (Schecter Japan,  KR-24, List: $1,499). If you fancy a singlecut with modern vibes, this one is really under-rated. Notice the bridge upgrade - it's now the hipshot version as opposed to the in-house model in mine when I bought this guitar like nearly a decade ago. Also, the price had gone up by $200 since then. 

EDIT: Mine was the maple 'board version but this matching headstock version is just ... 👌

 

Pic: Schecter

Schecter: Headless

 Schecter Japan has headless models now. 

Really wish these would make it here somehow 😓 There're limited options here at the stores. In fact, only the Ibanez Q models are making an impact here. Strandberg - no dealer. Kiesel - direct purchase / build to order models... prices are getting out of hand.

Pics: Schecter Japan FB

Schecter LP-esque

These two guitars appeared in one of my guitar-related feeds today. 

Yes folks, these are Schecter singlecut design guitars (PS-LP-SR), no hiding the fact that they are direct copies of a certain G-brand instrument. A quick check showed that these are not featured at Schecter Japan's official website. In fact, they are exclusively sold at Japan's Shimamura store. Will these make it here considering we have a Schecter distributor in town? Let's see what pans out come 2024.

Pics: Schecter Japan X

Strat-esque

This is a good one - Schecter's BH-1-STD-24 ($1,490 @ Davis GMC). Reminds me too much of the Fender HM Strat without the Floyd Rose shenanigans. Ash body gives it a tight bottom end; at least that's how I heard it. Pickups - might be more for the drive geeks. Good price for a Japanese instrument.

Pic: Schecter Japan

Sunset assault

Here's an intriguing new model from Schecter - Sunset Triad. It features a triple coil pickup at the bridge position, Tripocalypse they call it. The neck single coil is the Apocalypse. As the names imply, the guitar is set to stun; metal & beyond, that is. The thing with pickups, despite the manifestations & names, it might not meet your tonal expectations. Example - Seymour Duncan's Screamin' Demon isn't exactly what the name suggested it to be. 

Lest we forget, Fender's MP Marauder had a triple coil pickup in there. It was OK. 

Ibanez's ATK bass had a triple coil pickup in it as well. That Sunset Triad looks cool as heck but if you dislike the bridge pickup, then be informed, finding a replacement would be a needle in the haystack quest.

Pics: Schecter / GAK / MR

Sunset Extreme

Schecter's Sunset Extreme - a new, no-frills guitar aimed at the metal heads.  I absolutely like that one-knob affair & fixed bridge for easy re-string. Pickups here are Schecter's own Sunset Strip (b) / Pasadena (n) which are American made. Very good upper frets access as you can see above.

Pic: Schecter

MV-6

I believe this is a recent release by Schecter, the MV-6. If it looks familiar, it's because...

... Squier has a version of its own, before this MV came along. No further comments. 😑

Pics: Schecter / Fender

KR weekend

Welcoming the weekend with my Schecter KR... & back to hearing Seymour Duncans in action 😅 

Taking this opportunity to re-evaluate my right hand performance. Sometimes I feel the right hand is affected by what's there at the bridge area, in particular the bridge itself. In this Schecter, the Hipshot type bridge is a minimalist appointment to not have too many details getting in the way. My right hand is actually comfortable resting over such a feature. It gets tricky when I deal with a Tele-type bridge, especially the 3-saddle version when it feels like the palm is going in & out of surfaces. 

Johnston Trad

Nick Johnston is a single coil person but strayed into the HSS path quite recently. The SSS version is still in production in addition to this wonderful iteration. The Schecter NJ Traditional (Indonesia) is every bit a Nick Johnston, just a pickup combo variation. We've seen a few HSS guitars here that are value-for-money; Bacchus BST, GTRS S800, Ibanez AZES etc. This guitar is another one for the list but it's in mid-price territory due to the endorser affiliation. Just be informed that the frets are extra jumbo stuff so it's not quite the Fender-esque feel but a contemporary variation of it. Available at Davis GMC (usually not for long, he he...).

Pic: Schecter GR

OS

I think I'm seeing a Schecter acoustic guitar at Davis GMC for the first time. The Orleans Stage model feature a solid spruce top & maple back / sides. It's in the Takamine ball park in terms of playability, tone & price but this one has good clarity. 

Pic: Schecter

Black guard

It's a re-string Friday. Guitar in question - Schecter VE-TE. I've been quietly disliking this pickguard.

Black 'guard (single ply) & a fresh set of Dunlop 009s. I'm a big fan of D'Addario but time & again, I would digress to check out if other brands are worth the bother.

Re-string Saturday

 

Indoor Saturday night. It's raining. I'm just glad that this Schecter KR came my way. It's not as appealing as the C models but it holds its own in terms of playability & tone. This guitar was made a little brighter by the Duncan El Diablo & Distortion pairing which let me dial in more bass at the amp. Brand names like Schecter, Fernandes & Yamaha, among others, offer some quirky models this side of Japan which are worth getting our hands on if they were made available here. It's totally a business thing when it comes to availability; not brought in if it's not selling.