Schecter: Blackjack SLS V-8

Some new Schecters are now available at Davis GMC, this Blackjack SLS V-8 ($990) is one of them. Great build & specs all round (ebony fretboard, Duncan active Blackouts). I'm not a V fan but this one's a good performer once strapped on. It's an illusion, really, but the fact that there's less body material & more neck meat, it gives the SLS a balanced feel (of sort).

Incompatibility issue (Schecter - D'Addario)

The objective of this post is not to demean brand names for any incompatibility issues. Manufacturers do not conceive their products to be compatible with others'... Anyway, the pic above shows the Schecter Omen 8. Please note the image you see above, I am highlighting the thickest string in the line-up. Portion A is thinner than Portion B so that it helps the string to go through the machine head hole without issues. This was the default string set, fitted back at the factory.

I bought 2 packs of D'Addario EXL 140-8 to restring both my Schecters.

It turned out that the thicker portion (Portion B) of the .074 string could not go through. Should I be content with just winding the excess portion, I'd be dealing with so much string material that it makes me look very stupid because the ATX sports a set of locking tuners, I hardly need a round's worth of excess string there.

So I thought maybe the holes in the locking units are smaller but it was the same frustration with the Omen 8's non-locking ones- it just wouldn't go through. The pic you see above was after I snipped off the thinner bits, I attempted to compress a little bit of the thicker portion in the hope that a sizable length would go through & I would be able to force-pull the remainder from the other side but it was a futile attempt.

So ladies & gentlemen, if you are hoping to get the EXL 140-8 for your Schecters, I would advise you NOT to do so.

Schecter: Blackjack ATX C-8

Despite the downpour last evening, I went out to get my Schecter Blackjack ATX C-8. It's not my first 8-string guitar but the acquisition anxiety was the same, nevertheless. Some specs:

• Construction: Set-neck with Ultra Access neck joint
• Body: Mahogany
• Neck: 3-piece mahogany
• Scale length: 26.5"
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Nut: Graph Tech Tusq
• Frets: 24 jumbo
• Pickups: Seymour Duncan Active Blackout humbuckers
• Bridge: Hipshot-8
• Tuners: Schecter Locking

 Like all C-series, the body top is curved, accentuated by some light beveling.

The Hipshot 8 bridge is non-locking & hassle free, it looks the works, hopefully it is as lasting as the guitar's impression. The pickups on board are Seymour Duncan's Active Blackouts which churns out lots of character, definition & don't sound averse in clean settings.

Ebony fretboard, a well-finished one in this instrument. The only fretboard marker here is this 12th fret lightning arrow.

The headstock features a Tusq nut, smooth & effective. The fact that all strings travel straight to the machine heads also contributes to tuning stability. But more importantly...

...the Schecter brand tuners are locking units; better grip on the strings so they won't go out of tune. The 'W' prefix in the serial number provides owners with quality assurance, of course. Coupled with the Korean origin & the belief that you frequent this blog rather frequently, you'd know which plant handles the making of this instrument & the other brand names manufactured under its roof.

There's a little quirk to note here; the knob nearest the bridge humbucker is the bridge pickup's volume control, followed by the neck's volume control & finally, the farthest knob- the master tone control. The ATX C-8 is apparently a limited run & had been discontinued. My utmost thanks to Janet & Joe @ Davis GMC in helping me secure this guitar before its total disappearance from the catalogue.

A more detailed entry on the playability & tone offerings soon... It's a cold Tuesday morning, I just finished playing this guitar which is awaiting a wipe down before being put away. My left/ fretting hand fingers feel more muscular now after the 8-string workout. Believable? He, he...

Jack 8

I requested Janet (Davis GMC) to look into the acquisition of a Schecter Blackjack ATX 8 for me- awaiting reply...

OK... leaving office now. Nothing beats going home to a wonderful, cold shower. And playing guitar thereafter.