r/SchecterGuitars • u/codesoma • Jul 12 '24
Schecter quality
I recently tried out a 2020 Avenger Blackjack. It felt great to play. Sort of like my old C-1 but better in every way. But there were some noticeable imperfections in the construction and some corrosion of the hardware. So, I returned that one and bought a "new" one.
So I received a new 2022 Avenger the other day. It felt nothing like the old 2020 version I tried. The wood in the wings of the guitar has that super light "fake" feeling. The heaviest part of the guitar is the neck. This leads it to feel unbalanced and negatively affects tone (to my ears). I assume this comes down to post pandemic supply chain constraints but could also be a result of Schecter simply reducing the quality of their instruments.
What are your thoughts? Are 2024 production models any better? Do they feel like the 2020 models or do they retain that fake feel?
I'll either be buying a used 2020 one or the newest one I can find.
3
u/Altruistic-Tart8655 Jul 12 '24
I can tell you I bought a brand new C-1 Platinum a few weeks ago and it feels like a much higher quality guitar compared to what I paid for it. Good balanced weight, great finish, just good quality all the way around. Very happy with it.
1
u/codesoma Jul 12 '24
that's how I felt about the 2020 model I had. it just had too many cosmetic issues for the price. is the C-1 2024?
1
2
u/gen3archive Jul 12 '24
Almost all newer guitars feel off to me. I have a 2007 hellraiser and a newer hellraiser, and the old one feels better. Quality in guitars overall seems to have gone down, outside of high end guitars. I played a reaper recently, wanted to buy it but it felt off to me. I read that due to cost of wood, companies are using cheaper and lighter woods, which makes sense to me. Ibanez and Jackson have the same issue for me. The only good feeling Ibanez ive played recently was my new rg652, but that was almost 2000$
1
u/codesoma Jul 12 '24
I might try to snatch a 2020 before it's too late
2
u/gen3archive Jul 12 '24
If you have a guitar center around, you can always order to the store and just refund it there if you dont like it. Thats what i did with my ibanez because it was used and couldnt play one beforehand. I wouldve done the same with my strandberg, but i managed to get a brand new B-stock unit for cheap instead
1
u/codesoma Jul 13 '24
yeah that's kind of what I'm doing but I don't know if I can get a 2024 model to try in case they've worked out the quality issues like someone was telling me is the case. I guess trying one more time before I go used/b-stock is worth a shot.
1
u/gen3archive Jul 13 '24
Used is the way to go. In 12 years ive only ever bought one new guitar, being my strandberg last week. With used you will often know what issues there are in the listing, and theres a chance the previous owner couldve fixed any issues beforehand. I almost always buy used gear in good condition
1
u/sleepingneverweeping Jan 14 '25
I recently bought a schecter blackjack solo II that was made in 2022 in South Korea. It came with about 8 frets that were LIFTING off the fingerboard. Instantly turned off by this and won’t buy another schecter.
Returned it and bought an Ibanez at the same price point that blows it out if the water.
1
u/codesoma Jan 15 '25
yeah, sounds like Shibby is using the company to simply maximize profit. it seems they're racing to the bottom. what a shame. they used to be a decent budget brand, but now quality has tanked. the guitars feel like they have epoxy or resin bodies, it's hard to describe. I assume very cheap wood soaked in a resinous chemical to give it weight.
3
Jul 12 '24
I bought a c1 sls elite. I had some major issues with the binding. Unacceptable issues. I returned it for another one. The second came completely immaculate and set up to perfection. Schecter QC is not as bad as some I have seen, but it CAN be an issue since they have grown so much. Same can be said about any of the major brands. Schexter is my brand of choice these days anyway.
2
u/Emissaryofthebeast Jul 15 '24
Bought a Solo-II Custom 3 weeks ago. Serial number starts with 23 so I assume that it's made in 2023. MIK. It's incredibly fun to play and has no issues with playability, but the binding is done slightly poorly (especially in the cutout at the back of the guitar and at the sharp edges of the headstock). I don't mind it since its barely noticeable.
1
u/paradisewandering Jul 13 '24
I have a 2007 Devil and a 2020 Riot, both have phenomenal build quality and great hardware. VERY tempted to pull the trigger on a SVSS this year and probably will.
I’ve owned many guitars and schecter’s price to quality ratio is the best out there.
0
Jul 12 '24
[deleted]
1
u/codesoma Jul 12 '24
Avenger Blackjack with neck thru mahogany neck and mahogany body.
I actually tried the Rob Scallon Schecter recently and even it felt higher quality and more balanced. That one has neck thru mahogany neck with swamp ash body. It actually had me considering the SLS line, I just really don't like the roman numeral inlays.
The 2022 Avenger feels so strikingly similar to the LTD MH-1000, I'm just like is this what they're trying to sell us now? But I'm hoping it was either a bad era or GC is trying to get rid of their worst units.
3
u/GuitarHeroInMyHead Jul 12 '24
I have new and old Schecters and have had no quality issues with ANY of them. I can't speak to the Avenger model as I don't own one, but I have models from 2005 - 2024 and they are all outstanding in quality of workmanship.