What is the Best Schecter Guitar for Metal? (our top pick)
The Schecter Hellraiser C-1 series
Amid a well-stocked roster of metal-focused guitars, Schecter gives you a good balance of price and quality (and variety) in the Hellraiser C-1 series with EMG pickups and a Floyd Rose tremolo system. It's also the most popular series within the Schecter brand.
There are a bunch of iterations of the Schecter C-1 electrics. Here are a few of the models included:
- Schecter Hellraiser C-1
- Schecter Hellraiser C-1 FR-S
- Schecter C-1 FR-S SLS Evil Twin
- Schecter C-1 Rob Scallon
- Schecter C-1 FR-S SLS Elite
There are more variations but we'll stop there just to simplify things. Of the bunch, the Hellraiser C-1 is sort of the flagship option and one of the most popular. We think it would be the best fit for the largest number of people.
It also gives you a lot of the basics that we want out of a metal guitar and certainly what we'd be looking for from Schecter specifically:
Here are a few features we like:
- EMG + Sustainiac pickups
- Set neck
- Quilted Maple top (always better to have a top piece)
- Grover locking tuners
- Lots of heavy low-end tone
- Often a Floyd Rose or EverTune bridge system
Most mid-tier Schecter guitars have these features. For the rest of the Schecter models it depends more so on the price. We'll list some Schecter guitars in the same price range, in the comparison table below, to give you a better idea of how the brand spreads out their price and quality.
Compare to Other Schecter Electrics
Use this table to compare the Hellraiser C-1 with a few other Schecter electrics in a similar price range.
Schecter | Name | Shop |
|---|---|---|
 | Hellraiser C-1 | |
 | C-1 SLS Evil Twin | |
 | C-1 SLS Elite | |
 | Banshee Mach-6 |
A good look at the Schecter Hellraiser C-1. Sharp design with EMG pickups and a decent price tag.
Pricing for the Hellraiser C-1
Are Schecter guitars only for metal?
In our opinion, yes. Schecter guitars don't really fit any profile outside of metal and hard rock. Sure, they can be used for just about anything. But targeting a Schecter for blues or classic rock makes very little stylistic sense. Even if you're just looking at it from an aesthetic perspective, Schecter's lineup just looks metal. So here's the metal scorecard for Schecter:
- Artist list
- Tone
- Pickup configuration (active and dual humbuckers)
- Looks and aesthetics
- Bridge types
All of these factors push the guitars in a metal direction.
Nice look at a Schecter C-1 Hellraiser with a Floyd Rose. Image via ChicsMusik
What about the Schecter 7 strings?
Schecter carries a number of seven and eight string guitars. These are designed for even heavier metal styles and are particularly useful for lower tunings and more aggressive power chord progressions. In some cases Schecter has released a six and seven string version of the same guitar. For example, they have the Hellraiser C-1 and the Hellraiser C-7. Depending on your playing style and preference, a seven-string guitar may or may not be a good fit for you.
EMG Pickup Considerations
Most mid to high-end Schecter guitars come with at least one EMG humbucker, usually at the bridge position. Many have EMG humbuckers at both the bridge and neck positions.
It's important to note that these are active pickups, yet another spec that we recommend for modern, heavy playing styles. Active pickups need a 9V battery to run which is usually installed inside the back plate of the guitar.
These batteries last a very long time. Think months, not weeks.
Some have even said their active pickups will run for over a year without changing the battery. You can read some more about the difference between active and passive pickups in this Sweetwater article:
Read more: Active VS Passive Pickups
If you're settled on the Schecter brand, I would recommend limiting your choices to guitars that have EMG (or Fishman Fluence) humbuckers. They're a great third-party company and a much better option than some kind of stock humbucker. Plus, the smoothness and aggression you get from active pickups is just hard to beat in the metal and modern rock spaces.
Conclusion
The Schecter Hellraiser C-1 is the guitar we believe will be the best option for the largest number of potential buyers. That said, your situation could be very different.
Consider your budget, preferences, and how you'll be using your Schecter guitar. If what we recommend doesn't suit you, use this article as a guide and take time to get your choice right.
If you want to blindly take our word for it, that's fine too. Drop thoughts and questions in the comments section below.
More Electric Guitar Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Electrics & Roundups
Written by Guitar Chalk on Electrics & Roundups
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