Schecter A-5X

Read the specs below in other reviews. Big difference in mine and the others, I don't have a coil tap for some reason. Guess this year model didn't have it. This guitar has been out of production for probably 3 years now. Mine is a 2002 model I believe. I bought it new old stock a couple of years ago from Drum City/Guitar Land in Colorado (one of the major Schecter dealers in the country) right after they went out of production. Musicians Friend still listed them on their site at the time but you could not buy one. I am a bass player who switched to guitar in 2001 and wanted something that was a cross between the two. I had played one in a music store in Kansas City while there on business and fell in love with it. Once I could afford it, they stopped making them. I did find the dude dude online from Pentasystems and he wanted big bucks for his, like over $5K. Mine usually just sits in it's case but I pull it out and jam on it from time to time.

This is one of the coolest guitars ever made, a must for any collector such as myself. It sounds best clean with some phase or chorus on it. I prefer the neck pickup, has the best harmonics. The bridge is a bit tinny for me. I play through a Marshall DSL 100 half-stack and all of my guitars are tuned in drop C, as that is what my last three bands have played in. I found that there was little use for this guitar in band settings due to the stange tunings. You can write some cool riffs with it but getting the other instruments to play something that sounds good along with it is tough and we don't have a lot of time to work things out, especially when another member is a little more of novice. I personally think it sounds like crap with lots of gain on it. I love high gain and this thing does not work well with my Marshall. I have tried it with my Peavy bass amp and a distortion pedal and it still does not do it for me. It is beautiful clean though.

Great gloss black finish, setup from the dealer was good, but not great. The action was a bit high but I prefer really low action, so for the average player it would have been fine. Everything is great, the tuners keep it in great tune, even when jammin on it hard. I use my fingers sometimes like on a bass as well. I for some reason think that some other type of pickups might work better with it, but I really hate to mess with a really rare and nice guitar. If it were my only one (I have 10 guitars -- electrics, bass, and acoustics) I might change out the pups to the same kind that are in a high end baritone.

Solid as a rock.

Never dealt with them, but the dealer was awesome. Highly recommended.

I am almost 40 and have been playing since I was 11. Seriosuly on and off since about 1982 (10 year break in there before I jumped back in full force in 2001). I wish mine had the coild tap. Like I said, great clean tones, wish the pups had more definition, just gets really muddy at high gain. I was thinking of selling it since I didn't play it much but I pulled it out tonight to clean it and started jamming. Gonna keep it now I think. I have a baritone guitar (Squire Sub-Sonic Showmaster that my guitar tech swears is a neck through, but is set neck) that I'm going to sell instead. BTW, that Squire Sub-Sonic is the best buy in baritones. The pickups are junk, change them out for some EMGs or Duncans and you have one sweet axe. If stolen, I'd be pissed for sure but would not buy another one. Probably could not find one for a reasonable price.

lets see....

schecter model A-5X penta-guitar (celloblaster style). other reviews give the specs, so read those. designed and FORMERLY endorsed by MAESTRO ALEX GREGORY, once owner of PENTASYSTEM guitar (which i GUESS is now for sale, the guitars, the sites, i think even the PATENTS!). tuned in fifths instead of fourths. nice flat black finish (the auction claimed it was silver, but its DEFINATELY flat black.), mine was used and abused, nice amount of scratches, nicks, dents and scrapes, but it plays beutifuly. the original owner decided to switch out the VOLUME KNOB (DOH!) for an EMG AFTERBURNER, which when activated (via its own individual coil tap) adds a nice, THICK 20 db (!!!) boost.

I play a nice mash of nu-metal, old school punk, old school metal, hardcore, industrial, goth, you name it, ive dabbled in it. This beast can do it ALL. i havent really experimented in the alternate penta-tunings (its in the standard A/E/B/F#/C# right now) but the standard tuning alone allows for some GOOD tones. the pickups seem to be duncan designed twin-blade hums. they actually support the low tone nicely (which is good, because short of having ed roman make me a set of pups for it, id be screwed if i had to replace them. i dont want to route the body out!), which was a suprise to me. the stock factory coil tap changes the hum into single coil tone very smoothly. the added EMG AFTERBURNER, when activated and at full output turns the guitar into a FUZZ KING! think hendrix-style fuzz. I own a marshall valvestate VS100 hybrid, a Crate GFX 212 solid state, a REALLY OLD hand made and wired sound city all tube amp, and a Peavey XXX all tube head. the crate, marshall and peavey are all ran through ampeg 4X12 cabs. the marshall gives a nice, low classic metal sound, and the crate gives it a nice, HEAVY sound. i havent had the chance to use it with the peavey XXX yet (its in storage) OR the Sound city (needs to be refurbished), but i believe this guitar will be done good justice through both. there is almost NO NOISE from the pups (theres a slight hiss and a really, REALLY, REEEEAAAAALLLLLY quiet squeel ((barely noticeable at all) when the AFTERBURNER is at full power, but i bet a noisegate would fix that problem.

set-up was awesome (specially for a USED and ABUSED guitar like this!). it came out of the package almost completly in tune. nice string height, excellent pickup height, great intonation. the finish seems a little thin, but ALL flat finishes are thin (i also own a gibson gothic explorer, that finish is HORRIBLY thin and gets dinged really easy.) as far as construction goes,im not sure of the type of wood, but its nice, dense and resonant. not to heavy (not like a paul) and not to light (like a danelectro), the weight is just right. solid strap buttons (im still putting strap locks on her though, thats a REQUIREMENT for ALL of my instruments, right down to acoustics and even mandolins. why pay anywhere from $100 to $100,000 for an instrument and then not get locks? theyll set ya back like $25 at the MOST, and thats better than paying $150-$200 for a headstock repair, plus i dont think they void warranties or decrease the over-all value of an instrument at all, and even if they do, oh well, i think god or whoever inteded us to PLAY our guitars, not look at them!)

the body is nice and solid. as i said before, the finish is thin as HELL, and there are plenty of battle scars on her (got her used, after all), but she is reliable i think. i definatly think shes reliable. i would bring her to a gig without a backup (mostly because these are completly discontinued from schecter, and the only other penta-guitars in existence are a few made by BC RICH ((last project done by Bernie Rico sr. before he died, only ones ive seen for sale are on Ed Romans website and are $1500 and up!(((worth every penny in MY opinion, i just dont HAVE those pennies!))), the ones MAESTRO ALEX GREGORY made and sold on his site (cheapest one being $9000!!!!), and now the fender custom shop claims theyll make them as well (surely $3000 and up, knowing the money hungry CEOs at fender...)

the hardware seems like nice quality hardware. gotoh tuners, fixed bridge. i find this to be an EXTREMLY dependable guitar.

havent had to deal with schecter, so i couldnt say...

ive been playing for about 4 or 5 years now. i own (i think) about 35 guitars total (including a few basses). Epiphone, Gibson, Bc Rich, Jackson, Ibanez and more. this guitar definatly ranks among the top five:
1. ibanez mike mushok bari,
2. Jackson Roswell Rhoades,
3. Schecter A-5X,
4. Roland G707 synth guitar,
5. Epiphone les paul custom

if it were lost or stolen, i would hunt the bastard down, rape him, and leave him to die with the guitar shoved firmly up his ass. then i would have to hunt for a new one all over again. sadly, information on penta-guitars is VERY hard to find (anyone got any? IE: different tunings, theory, chord charts and diagrams, scales for it? any info is appreciated). i think the pentasystem is the new wave of the future, and i dont see why more people havent caught on to the five-string guitar. everyone laughed at the flying v and explorer when THEY first came out, and look at what those first runs go for now ($20,000 and up, if ya can FIND one). i kinda wish the original owner hadent switched out the VOLUME KNOB for the AFTERBURNER, but i can live with it. all in all, a heavenly guitar and a hell of a steal. if ya want to experiment with low tunings/alternate tunings, or want to dabble in a "perfectly tuned" guitar for classical music, then this is the guitar for you.

as i said before, any penta info is appreciated. send me an e-mail if ya got any.

This bad boy sports a gray satin finish, silky smooth bolt on neck, 24 frets, two Duncan Blade humbuckers with a coiltap. I think it's made of Ash. Grover tuners- they hold up pretty well. It's unique tuning in 5ths makes for some very interesting warm voicings.
It's tuned (A/E/B/F#/C#) and packs a great punch on the low end. The thin neck makes it easier to play than a 7 stringer, but theres no compromise in tone. The low A is .076, eliminating most rattle. All in all, I won't give up my 7, but this guitar is very entertaining and easy to play

Very low noise. Although, the coil tap makes the guitar sound thin when on the mid and bridge pick up settings. This guitar oozes warm bassy tones and has nice jangly acoustic properties too. I'm running this through a Boss MT-2, EHX Small Clone, and ZOOM 3030. At the end I have a 100W Sunn Model T half stack.

The guitar came set up very well, from CALI! The pickups may need a little tweaking, but no real complaints. I love the gray satin finish, and the action takes a little getting used to but is a dream come true.

Built like a mofo tank. I think I can depend on it live, if I could afford it I'd buy another.

I don't speak from personal experience, but from what I've heard Schecter's customer service is quite prompt and efficient.

After playing for 8 years now, I've found a guitar that is both unique in design and tone. If this were to disappear for some reason, I'd get another. Too bad Schecter is shelving it.
All together, this guitar rulez!!

still digging it, the coil tap can be a real life saver on highly distorted settings when you need better definition but can also sound pretty thin on less midrangey sounds

Survived several gigs although it needs to be tuned more frequently than other guitars I use.

Well built and works fine in live situations

Excellent. I mentioned going to a traditonal tuning and the folks at Schecter suggested different strings and offered to send a set to give it a try.
I decided to stay with the Cello tuning

This is a followup mostly to let people know Musicians Friend dropped the price on the A-5X from $469.99 to $349.99. I was lucky and they matched their new price.
At $349.99 you're nuts not to try this guitar out if you want a unique sound. It might not be for you and there will be a learning curve but everyone that hears it loves how it sounds.
If you like 7 strings this is way, way better. It goes lower with more authority and a thin neck.
However, it plays more like a bass than a guitar. I enjoy playing bass so it hasn't been a problem, but your low A is a .075 and your high C# is a .011.
Very playable but chunky. It will kick ass on conventional 7 string guitars.

Made in Korea, set up in California
Body: Ash
Neck: Maple with Rosewood fretboard, bolt on
24 frets, 2 Duncan designed, high output passive humbucker pickups, three way toggle switch, bridge, bridge and neck, neck, grover tuners, Gray Satin finish, standard bridge and through body string termination.
The neck is thin, it's a 5 string guitar, it should be thin, but is slightly thick. I usually don't like thick necks but it feels right on this guitar and is very comfortable. It's 26 1/2" scale with jumbo frets. Very playable.

The sound is incredible. I've used it through several amps but mostly through either a GT-3 or Valve FX/Control 1 into the board. Clean or distorted this guitar has serious punch in the low end and well defined high range. The two pickups have distinct sounds with the neck p/u providing a well rounded bottom and the bridge p/u providing a brighter sound more useful when playing clean. These are good, high output pickups and you better like them because there's not much if anything out there to replace them with. That said, I like how they sound.
If you're buying this to get a drop down guitar sound make sure you can play it first or be able to return it because this axe doesn't sound like a typical guitar. It goes as low as the "A" string of a standard tuned bass and as high as the 21st fret of a traditional guitar's high "E" string.
How?
By tuning in fifths. Because of this tuning you get a lot of tonal diversity.
Because of the tuning it will take some getting used to unless you're a theory jock. The approach I've taken is to find patterns and work with them until I get a better understanding. This is how I taught myself guitar 30 years ago and it has served me well. No matter how you learn be prepared for some time getting used to this instrument.
The reason I enjoy this guitar so much is because it doesn't sound like a baritone guitar or a drop down tuned guitar. It doesn't sound like a bass either, it has it's own unique sonic signature.
It can sound brutal or delicate. With the coil tap you can get a great amount of tonal diversity, even twang. If there is one thing that makes the A-5X worth having it's that until now unheard sound that for me is impossible to accurately describe.

The action out of the box was fairly high with some buzzing on the fretboard but not in recordings. This is mildly annoying but I haven't changed the action. This is such a different guitar that I've decided to try it on it's terms and so far the experience has been very good.
The Schecter A series body is slightly odd and takes a bit of getting used to. One area I wish would have been addressed is a elbow contour. The way I play this sometimes causes fatigue in the right forearm.
The satin gray finish looks good and shows off the guitar body's contours. The Grover tuners work well, everything else except noted are just fine.

This thing is built like a tank. It's fairly heavy with a sturdy neck. The finish is matte so fingerprints and the like don't show up. That's no reason to not keep the guitar clean but compared to Schecter's glossy finishes this is a nice change. The stap buttons are solid but will probably get replaced with locking buttons just becuase they're safer. I don't care for the volume and tone knobs, no big thing and they'll be replaced when convienient.
I have and will continue to use this at gigs. I may some day get a backup for the A-5X, maybe the C-5X, but for now it's my only 5 string.

I had a few questions which were answered via email within an hour by Michael Ciravolo, President of Schecter Guitars. Impressive and helpful. The warranty is lifetime limited- don't know what it means but it sounds better than 90 days.

I've been playing over 30 years, I have several guitars, my favorite being a Carvin DC127T which has displaced a Gibson Flying V and LP Standard as my favorite guitar.
The A-5X doesn't compete but it's not that far off from the DC127T on it's terms. And that is an important thing to remember. There aren't a lot of 5 string guitars and none I know of tuned at "A" that has the heft and power of a bass and the twang of a guitar while sounding like neither. Comparing is somewhat futile.
I love the unique and highly useful sound. I wish the body had been tapered. If stolen I would replace it. After comparing the A-5X to another Schecter, the A7 7 string I was convinced that I had a unique instrument. Still feel that way and love both guitars for different reasons.
Even if this doesn't sound appealing you should try one out if you get the chance. I purchased it because I was looking for something unique and was not disappointed. If I saw it in a store I might have tried it for the sake of novelty. I would have been very impressed and probably would have bought one anyway.
If you're into different sounds this is a great place to start.

Made in Korea, "set up" in USA. I'm guessing it was made in 2000 since it's such a new model. 26" scale. 24 frets. solid body. 2 duncan humbuckers. 1 volume knob. 1 tone knob, which can be pulled out for "tapping" the humbuckers and using them as single coils. Mine is a metallic red w/ all black hardware.

The kicker is that it has 5 strings and is meant to be tuned (low to high) A/E/B/F#/C#. The A-5X and C-5X are basically upgrades and replacements to the Cello-blaster 5 string. I'm giving it an 8 because there's nothing more i could ask for but I'm sure there's more it COULD have. The knobs do their job well, including the single-coil feature.

Its obviously meant for modern metal. Like I said it is intended to be tuned (LtoH)A/E/B/F#/C#. I like that just fine. You can find some really fat major, and other chords. The guy from Orgy used one on the new album. You can easily hear the sound from Fiction when you screw around w/ it.

I've also tried a drop-A, and drop-C tuning, which both work fine.
Drop-C is (C/G/C/F/A); great for System Of A Down, Deftones, etc..
Drop-A is the same thing another 2 whole-steps down

And one the most versatile tunings i've tried w/ it is simply C/G/C/G/C and A/E/A/E/A. Its good for much more than one finger power chords. (but the guitar sounds great w/ those too) This tuning lets you play any and all system of a down rhythm parts and main riffs, and it also adds a little range to the upper strings to almost equal a drop-tuned 6 string. Plus you can find really dissinent sounding minor-ish chords. Anyways, on to sound QUALITY...

I'm using it w/ a CRATE 50 watt bass amp. It sounds EXTREMELY round and fat. I even play bass parts w/ it, and if I had an octave pedal I'm sure it would sound good on even lower bass parts. If I mess w/ the tone on the guitar and EQ on the amp, I can get a great distortion sound which isn't as round as the bass-sound. Distorted chords sound excellent.

When tuned w/ an A tuning like it is meant, the frets buzz if you really mash on it. Most drop-tuned guitars do that, however this guitar is made for that, so maybe i need to have it adjusted. I really don't mind it though. You don't hear it if your playing plugged in anyway. A tiny bit of paint got on the very edge of the finger board. Other than that, everything was perfect.

The guitar seems very dependable and durable. All the hardware is name brand and seems very tough. The finish is excellent, and i'm sure it wont wear off easily. However since I haven't had the guitar long, it's hard to say about reliability. I'll let you know in an update in a few months. I'd assume never play w/o a backup, but if i had to do it w/ any guitar I'd do it w/ this one.

Haven't dealt w/ them yet, and I hope I never have to.

I got it for Christmas for a GREAT deal. Its brand new, plus I haven't played guitar long, so I'll write an update in a few months. But it seems like a great rock guitar. Not having the 6th string to cover really opens up some doorways, as far as chords go. I'm very happy w/ it so far.