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SonicPulverizer « Not too extreme »
Published on 10/29/12 at 15:15The Schecter C1 Hellraiser is an excellent playing guitar that possesses much more charm than you might think. The C-1 has a mahogany body and set mahogany neck with what Schecter calls an "ultra-access" cutaway. As far as electronics are concerned, the C-1 is EMG equipped with an 81 and an 89 wired into a 3 way blade switch, shared tone, and two push pull volumes that split the coils in the pickups. The appointments such as the body binding and cross inlays look a lot more appealing in person than in stock photos and lend the guitar a more expensive feel. I'm not a fan of over the top metal guitars but something about the looks of the hellraiser seemed restrained and thought out.
UTILIZATION
The strings are loaded thru-body to a tone pros Tune-o-matic bridge, adding sustain and clarity to the guitar. I enjoyed the feel of the neck and noted that the frets were in better shape than most Gibson USA guitars I've played. The cutaway provides ample maneuverability with the upper registers of the guitar, living up to it's "ultra-access" banner. Tuning stability was average with the guitar. The inclusion of active pickups and coil tap functionality is something otherwise unseen on guitars in the sub $1000 range.
SOUNDS
I played the Schecter through a Mesa boogie Stietto Deuce. Mesa 4x12 cab. No pedals.
The guitar handles every genre with finesse. The strings have an elasticity to the feel that resembles the playability of the newer plek'd Les Paul Traditionals. The C-1 has a great deal of sustain and not clarity both in clean and heavily distorted passages. The guitar is on the darker side of the spectrum but markedly brighter than most all-mahogany Gibsons.
OVERALL OPINION
The Schecter C-1 Hellraiser is a lesson in refinement that most guitar company's geared toward aggressive stylings could learn from. It's very obviously a "metal" guitar, but when you hold it in person with light hitting it, it has a very classy vibe going on. The binding and the active electronics give the consumer a sense that they are getting their money's worth-- which, to be honest, doesn't happen often these days.
UTILIZATION
The strings are loaded thru-body to a tone pros Tune-o-matic bridge, adding sustain and clarity to the guitar. I enjoyed the feel of the neck and noted that the frets were in better shape than most Gibson USA guitars I've played. The cutaway provides ample maneuverability with the upper registers of the guitar, living up to it's "ultra-access" banner. Tuning stability was average with the guitar. The inclusion of active pickups and coil tap functionality is something otherwise unseen on guitars in the sub $1000 range.
SOUNDS
I played the Schecter through a Mesa boogie Stietto Deuce. Mesa 4x12 cab. No pedals.
The guitar handles every genre with finesse. The strings have an elasticity to the feel that resembles the playability of the newer plek'd Les Paul Traditionals. The C-1 has a great deal of sustain and not clarity both in clean and heavily distorted passages. The guitar is on the darker side of the spectrum but markedly brighter than most all-mahogany Gibsons.
OVERALL OPINION
The Schecter C-1 Hellraiser is a lesson in refinement that most guitar company's geared toward aggressive stylings could learn from. It's very obviously a "metal" guitar, but when you hold it in person with light hitting it, it has a very classy vibe going on. The binding and the active electronics give the consumer a sense that they are getting their money's worth-- which, to be honest, doesn't happen often these days.