So originally I had gone with a Schecter Omen Solo-6

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/schecter-guitar-research-omen-solo-6-electric-guitar



However I noticed scratches (a few deep) on the fretboard a few days into playing it and a bit longer I noticed a few small dents on the left side (when facing the front) of the fretboard.

Long story short I called Musician's Friend and had them exchange out the guitar for a Schecter Hellraiser Special Solo-6

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/schecter-guitar-research-hellraiser-special-solo-6-electric-guitar/h92718

I got one of the last ones they had left (reason you can't buy it anymore on MF) and they actually honored their Facebook deal of the day from like 5 days ago and sold it to me for $329.99 ($599.99 regular)

The main differences are:

Body: Mahogany vs. Basswood
Pickups: EMG Active 81/85s vs. SGR Diamond Plus Humbuckers
Neck: Set vs. Bolt On
Controls: Separate Volume per Pickup
Made: South Korea vs. Indonesia

They look almost identical visually from the front besides the pickups:




So now lets hear it!

3/13/2013 5:51:03 PM

I'll go with the first most obvious, "you have a 9V battery in your guitar, lol"

3/13/2013 5:53:28 PM

if the fucks i give were gasoline, it wouldn't be enough to power a moped around the outside of a dime

3/13/2013 5:53:56 PM

Please see first thread: http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=635226

3/13/2013 5:54:58 PM

you are a nigger

3/13/2013 6:22:08 PM

nice one

3/13/2013 6:30:15 PM

I used the EMG 81/85s for most of the rhythm parts on our last two albums. Solid pickups even if they are active humbuckers which some purists will turn their nose up at. We just layered in tracks with some more organic pickups and I was really happy with the overall sound.

3/13/2013 7:30:56 PM

No one give a fuck about your violin

3/13/2013 7:53:13 PM

I hate active pickups, but that's a hell of a lot better for the money than the previous one you posted.

Still an unnecessarily ugly design tweak (IMO) on an LP, but the woods and neck setup are much better for a cohesive instrument. Having a volume control for each pickups is way more useful than a master volume as well. Also, neck binding FTW.

3/13/2013 7:55:22 PM

yep, all in all for the price it' should be a solid guitar.

3/13/2013 7:56:11 PM

Krallum will be here shortly

3/13/2013 8:09:57 PM

I'm convinced there are very few late-model guitars out there worth the asking price anymore. Better off buying an older tried-and-true platform and tailoring the electronics for the sound you'd like.

Spend much less money, get much more guitar. I've been willing to spend $1500-$2k a couple times in the last few years on a new axe and nothing new I played impressed me more than the oft-cannibalized stockpile of wood and electronics I've got at home. At least not enough to spend that kind of cash. Sure there are some mindblowing production guitars out there, but they come with a ridiculous pricetag.

That said, I'm willing (in fact asking) for someone to show me the exceptions to the rule.

3/13/2013 8:21:47 PM

If you're talking about that $2k price range, there really isn't anything that's worth what you can get on the used market, especially from a major manufacturer.

With that said, a really nice example from a smaller manufacturer/boutique builder, while (understandably) even pricier when new, can be extraordinary values when used.

I had a late model Hamer Newport Pro that was one of the nicest-built guitars I've ever seen. I got rid of it because it only had one volume control and didn't want to hack up a beautiful hollowbody to add a pot, but it was fantastic instrument and I got it for just under a grand.

3/13/2013 8:32:17 PM

I guess you probably couldn't have just kept posting in the original thread because that would probably just make too much sense probably.

3/13/2013 9:02:25 PM

Well then I couldn't have explained it in the OP to anyone new who read the thread.

Apparently Zakk Wylde uses Active EMG 81/85's in his custom Gibsons:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYMupc564zE



[Edited on March 13, 2013 at 11:22 PM. Reason : _]

3/13/2013 11:17:05 PM

Also I would say this would be a guitar I would look at if I was spending around 2-3k: http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/SG/Gibson-USA/Derek-Trucks-Signature-SG.aspx

3/14/2013 12:59:27 AM

As someone who has bought and returned new Gibsons in the past two years due to QC issues, I don't think a new Gibson is a viable option for value in an instrument any more.

Especially not with a fake, non-functional Vibrola tailpiece.

3/15/2013 6:16:43 PM

Give Me Shit About My Second Electric Guitar

would have been apropos

3/15/2013 7:02:22 PM

Quote :

"Especially not with a fake, non-functional Vibrola tailpiece."

It is just for the looks, just like Derek Trucks plays... You know, as in the Derek Trucks signature SG. However if I was spending a few grand on a guitar I would be going with the Warren Haynes: http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-Custom/Warren-Haynes-Les-Paul-Standard.aspx

Quote :

"The included CAE Sound preamp has a unity-gain buffer that, when activated, maintains a consistent tone when volume is lowered. It also preserves signal strength and quality when running through multiple effects. It was important for Warren to have balance between the pickups, to have a smooth sound from the neck pickup, and that when you flip the pickup switch, it doesn't sound like you just switched guitars. He also felt strongly that the bridge pickup never bite your head off. This Inspired By Standard is very successful on all accounts!"

Quote :

"Give Me Shit About My Second Electric Guitar would have been apropos"

I can't really call it my second when I only had the other for a week.



[Edited on March 15, 2013 at 11:09 PM. Reason : _]

3/15/2013 11:07:14 PM

Derek Trucks plays a real '60s SG that has the Vibrola disabled. The Derek Trucks Signature SG has a metal plate that is unable to function as a Vibrola.

3/16/2013 4:51:34 AM

EH

3/16/2013 8:09:20 AM

Quote :

"Derek Trucks plays a real '60s SG that has the Vibrola disabled."

No shit... I thought Trucks went out and bought one of these!

3/16/2013 4:05:16 PM

3/16/2013 4:25:24 PM

^^ My point is that adding a fake Vibrola plate is just as bad as the half-assed relic jobs they do on Mexican Strats.

3/16/2013 4:58:00 PM

Well it changed again because MF basically sold me a guitar that they weren't positive would ever come in again due to being on back order so far. So I ended up going with this:

Schecter 2011 C-1 Artist III :




http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/schecter-guitar-research-2011-c-1-artist-iii-electric-guitar

So vinylbandit you can stop talking about the LP knock off body style

I'm really interested to have coil taps and I think these Seymour Duncans will fit what I am playing better than heavy metal oriented active EMGs. Only downside is I lost one control knob so I am back to Master/Tone w/ Coil Tap, but I'll take that trade for coil taps. It's also nice to only have one cut in the rear of the guitar vs. 3 on the Hellraiser Special (one was for a 9V battery).

If you're wondering, I got it for $170 off the showing retail price, so like $390. I'll be running it into a Crate GX65 until I can get enough dough for a decent tube amp.




[Edited on March 28, 2013 at 12:02 AM. Reason : _]

3/27/2013 11:58:46 PM

so do you, like, have that fucking guitar? or is it going to potentially change again?

3/28/2013 12:00:34 AM

it will be here tomorrow according to UPS, they gave me free next day shipping

3/28/2013 12:02:52 AM

yep it's on the truck for delivery right now, should have it in under 3 hours.

it went from Kansas to Charlotte in less than 2 hours last night.


btw Kris, I haven't been on any pain medicine in about 9 months, so you are behind the times buddy.




[Edited on March 28, 2013 at 9:14 AM. Reason : _]

3/28/2013 9:13:10 AM

3/28/2013 6:56:05 PM

k

3/28/2013 6:58:20 PM

lol wtf.

nice photo-shoot chump. id hate to see what youd do with a good guitar.

3/28/2013 7:05:03 PM

I didn't realize it was bad to take pictures of a guitar, my bad.

are you really calling this a bad guitar??



How much do I need to spend for a "good" guitar? $1200? $3000? This is already a $600 guitar (MSRP $999)




[Edited on March 28, 2013 at 7:21 PM. Reason : _]

3/28/2013 7:15:27 PM

cook it dinner, slip her the pickle

3/28/2013 7:22:53 PM

it won't fit in the 1/4" jack, where else can I try?

Maybe I'll just use the coil tap over and over




[Edited on March 28, 2013 at 7:25 PM. Reason : _]

3/28/2013 7:24:31 PM

[Edited on March 28, 2013 at 7:26 PM. Reason : nvm]

3/28/2013 7:26:05 PM

If you buy used and wait for a good deal, you can get a very nice American-made guitar with a proper gloss nitro finish and a hard case for $650-850 depending on features.

3/28/2013 7:44:04 PM

BRB bros gonna take my guitars out to the woods for a photoshoot.

3/28/2013 7:52:03 PM

BRB going to drive into the city to take pictures in the sun

^^ yea and I can get a great deal on a new guitar when MF screws up on what they sell on a brand new guitar that hasn't been beat up or has problems that an owner isn't going to tell me about. Then when it comes up they will say "OH!, that must be something new, my bad..." 3 year warranty from MF for anything that goes wrong for $50 with no shipping charges and they'll buy it back if they can't fix it or replace it.

Not to mention I've heard plenty of people saying they prefer South Korean made guitars vs. most USA made ones or that there was no difference. Is your "proper" gloss paint job also going to have abalone finishing tastefully done a lot of the guitar?




[Edited on March 28, 2013 at 9:52 PM. Reason : _]

3/28/2013 9:47:28 PM

We're happy you're happy; why won't you shut the fuck up?

3/28/2013 9:57:40 PM

well, that guitar is fucking gorgeous.

my first electric guitar was a warped hunk of shit.

cant even remember the name. it had three pickups but only one worked

if it so much as got foggy outside you had to re-tune it like five times because the neck was made out of fucking balsa wood and each key turn dropped the other five string like seven notes.

the fret inserts were about 1/4mm too wide for the board and sliding up the neck would cut the shit out of your hand.

i loved that guitar

3/28/2013 10:06:41 PM

^^ only responding to comments

^ thanks and yea it is a nice one for my first electric, but I've been playing guitar for about 7 years now, just been on an acoustic Alvarez RD8.

If the only things people can say are about either the looks/where it was made or the "photo shoot", I think I did alright with what I ended up with in the end.

3/28/2013 10:08:37 PM

Man that's awesome. Go overdose on some pills. No one cares about your free bird playing ass

3/28/2013 10:09:31 PM

I'd have to be on pills first bud

3/28/2013 10:12:02 PM

Quote :

"Not to mention I've heard plenty of people saying they prefer South Korean made guitars vs. most USA made ones or that there was no difference."

I've never heard anyone express a general preference for Korean guitars versus American ones. Plenty of people prefer Japanese models, and Korean guitars are nice for the money, but MIA/MIJ is a different league from MIK. It's true that there are also a lot of subpar American examples, especially from Gibson in recent years, but that's true of any factory.

Quote :

"Is your "proper" gloss paint job also going to have abalone finishing tastefully done a lot of the guitar?"

No, but inlays and purfling have nothing to do with sound. A nitro gloss finish will open up with time, allowing the wood to breathe and mature. A poly finish will not, and a matte nitro finish will not adequately protect the wood from sweat and the elements.

3/28/2013 10:14:35 PM

It's a fine first guitar, but the praise is getting a little old. It's almost a little obsessive.

The pictures are good too, but Jesus Christ. There are likely dozens of better guitars owned by the users of this board, and none of us are hanging out in the woods or creating threads daring people to question our wisdom.

Just be happy with it I guess?

3/28/2013 10:16:18 PM

Any 3rd gen driving guitar player is on pills

3/28/2013 10:16:30 PM

I don't drive a 3rd Gen, I own one.

3/28/2013 10:17:28 PM

Quote :

"I've never heard anyone express a general preference for Korean guitars versus American ones. Plenty of people prefer Japanese models, and Korean guitars are nice for the money, but MIA/MIJ is a different league from MIK. It's true that there are also a lot of subpar American examples, especially from Gibson in recent years, but that's true of any factory."

truth

3/28/2013 10:18:07 PM

how do you know it is truth that he has NEVER heard anyone say they prefer Korean guitars over current American ones?

the correct response is "ditto"

3/28/2013 10:19:56 PM

nitpicking yo

3/28/2013 10:20:20 PM