Schecter C-1 Classic

Brand new, solidly built and great playing, the Schecter C-1 Classic is a total steal at its price. The neck is remeniscent to that of a Gibson Les Paul. The body looks like a high scale arch top Fender Stratocaster - but with 10x better tone...due largely in part to the Seymour Duncan humbuckers. A Duncan JB in the bridge really cuts through the mix with plenty of bottom end and mid-high range for any style of playing. A Duncan '59 in the neck is as warm as hot chocolate on a cold winter night. Grover tuners in the headstock do their share of the work to keep this guitar in tune very well. a Tone Pros locking bridge stays in place while you change the strings...no more swinging off and scuffing or scraping the finish. Another good side to this Tone Pros bridge system is that when you have your guitar set up to the way you want it - it stays that way forever. There is a 5 way selector switch, when in the 2nd and 4th positions, the guitar goes into coil tap mode and you get a single coil tone...very very nice! This guitar is a neck-thru instrument - which not only leads to great sustain, but you have access to each and every last fret on the 24 fret neck. A PRS quality guitar at a fraction of the cost - maybe even better!!!

This guitar suits my style very well. I am a European thrash/progressive/melodic styled metal freak. I get a very very thick saturated tone using this guitar with my Line 6 POD. My setup is this...Schecter + Line 6 POD + Crate Blue Voodoo half stack. Yeah, I know you are saying "Blue Voodoo's suck." I can only agree more, but if you do what I do, you wouldn't even know I use a Blue Voodoo to push my sound. I plug the POD into the normal input jack and run the head on the clean channel. By doing this, I get a ton of tube amp warmth and eliminate any crappy solid state undertones. Many people have told me I have one of the best tones in the area. This bolsters the fact that you should use what you want and what you think is the tone for YOU...don't let others tell you bullshit about such and such being a shitty piece of gear unless you try it yourself.

This thing played like heaven as soon as I grabbed it off of the wall mount. The factory settings were perfect. This guitar fits me pefectly. The quilted maple top on it is absolutely beautiful as it is covered only with laquer to enhance the original color of the maple itself. I give this guitar top marks for all categories - it is truly a diamond in the rough.

This guitar is built to last - without a doubt. The hardware is installed very well and there should be no problem with the durability because there are all top quality components in this guitar. The finish is great - very durable thus far. The strap buttons are idealy placed and very strong. I can honestly say I depend on this guitar and I can use it without a backup even though I really won't. That is only because if I break a string - I can grab my Les Paul and go right back to playing instead of having to fidget around and throw a new string on the Schecter. Definitely a 'Grade A' piece of equipment!!!

I have yet to deal with Schecter and probably never will have to.

I have been playing guitar for 7 years. I have gone thru countless amounts of guitars and I believe I have found a home with the Schecter name. If this guitar was stolen, I would track down the sick bastard who took it and shove my foot so far up his ass he'd be tasting the soles of my Vans. If it were lost, I would definitely get another Schecter C-1 Classic.

I was trying this guitar out at the store and was amazed at what a great guitar it was for the price and asthetics. Though the flame top is "pictured on" a flamesless maple top, much like a crappy LES Paul, it still plays better than a LP. The only complaint about this guitar is that I couldn't lower the strings to the settings of my MCARTy. 1/64 on high and lows. No kidding check one out man. Anyways, instead of spending another two grand for a backup, this is definately next on my list. Excellent sustain, pickups were decent but acoustically, this guitar rocks, so pickups will improve it. Great buy if your looking for that deep throaghty sound of moaghony/maple combination and great sustain, and playing comfort. If you have the extra cash though, check out a MCARTY. It, won't hurt to try others out.

New for 2002 made in korea not bad they have mastered their technique and extreme ability to replicate what they advertise. 24 frets, maple flamed laminate top. two volume one tone, 5 way selector switch. pickups are duncans, 59 in the bridge and a jb in the rythm. The guitar is so much greater with real duncans. Passive standard electronics. The body is neck thru with awesome sustain and maximum resonance. Body is mahogany and the top is maple laminate top. The poor man's prs is what they have been calling this guitar and let me tell you it is everything and better. It has a strat body style but a les paul feel and tone. The bridge is a fixed tone pros which works extremely well. The finish is available in antique amber and natural. I recommend antique amber because the finish although dark, comes out very well. tuners are grovers. The neck is relatively thin familiar to that of a 60's les paul or sg. I has a volute on the neck which further proves the strength and durability of this guitar. Although I got no accessories, I believe every penny was worth it. The guitar is a tank and a full blown expressionists guitar. Very good for some one who plays everything.

Covers every musical style with a full range of sound and resonance. I use it through Hybrid amps and a line 6 filter modeler. NOt noisy limited feedback. sounds like a strat and a les paul thanks to the 5 way switch. without a dought the guitar can cover a wide variety of sounds. I like everything about this guitar except the fact that it was built overseas. sustain to the max!!!!!

Every new guitar needs to be tweeked to suit the needs of a guitarist. the guitar was set up relatively well with boomer 10's
Nothing was bad on my guitar except maybe the binding on the neck. Ther were some mill marks along the neck.

Without a dought this guitat will hold it's own on stage. The hardware and construction is high teck d treanyh\\readdyy to walk

I have been playin for 4 yeahr and it has been. cover bans or full now so go get a whie car. O would replace tis guitar if aI had tooo.

Just purchased, 2002. Korean Made and unlike any korean guitar you have ever seen or played. I like this guitar sooo....much this is my second one. This one has the natural finish on the top. The top is a really beutiful curly mape. It looks absolutely killer!

You've no doubt read it before, but here goes. It is a set neck 25 1/2" scale, strat shaped guitar. Neck and body is mahogany with a carved maple top. has natural binding on the body and creme binding on the neck and headstock.

grover tuners and a tone lock tune-o-matic bridge. Two Seymore duncan usa made pickups with a 5 way selector. All hardware is gold plated [not gold toned, gold plated]. Strings thru the body [my favorite set up!]

Has a very nicely done vine of life inlay all the way down the fretboard.

I was amazed to read that one reviewer was having a problem getting a decent sound. Both of mine sound resonant and rich unplugged and have a big balsy, hot, sweet, singing sustain when plugged into an amp. DUDE, YOU EITHER HAVE A WIRING PROBLEM IN YOUR GUITAR OR YOUR AMP IS TRASHED!

the 5 way selector offers a truely wide range of "usable" sounds. I like them all.

I play hard rock and Rock/ blues. This is an incrediably versitile guitar. The longer scale length give it a more harmonicaly rich sound than a gibson, but the overall sound is quite similar to a les paul but a little better string definition.

one thing that needs to be said. I have 6 Schecters, I love everyone of them. But......... if you were to try 5 different Schecters, all of the exact same model, you will find they vary a lot in weight. Both of mine are quite heavy. I prefer the sound of a heavy guitar. They tend to have a little wider response and better string definition. Having said that, I have other Schechters, a C1+ that is quite light, I love it. This is neither good or bad it's just that if you have a preference you need to try some out, shop a bit, to get exactly what you want.

The bottom line is, you cannot go wrong with a Schecter. I would not hesitate to purchase one mail order. Just beaware, the weight varies, doesn't mean they are bad.

What can I say. It is perfect. Flawless in fact. the fret work is immaculate no buz no fret out when bending. I did change the string guage and re-adjust [compensate] the neck. This was a matter of taste however not to fix a problem.

The finish work is great, no flaws, the inlay on the fret board is very well done.

I have owned Scheters for over 5 years. never a problem never a complaint.

Never had to call them.

By now you can probably tell I love this guitar. It is unbelievable quality and value for the money. I have a lot of guitars [about 50] I have been playing many years. I know what I like. I would defy anyone to examine this guitar, play it and be able to identify it as Korean Made [provided you didn't see the sticker on the neck].

OK, Cool,the skinny on this guitar: Quilted ARCHED Maple top <-(this I liked), on a Mohogany body w/cream and natural binding. A Set-in Maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, 24 jumbo frets, with vine of life inlay, and Grover tuners. Seymour Duncan pickups, JB in the bridge, 59 in the neck. Tone-Loc bridge with string through body. Gold satin hardware.

In my opinion this beautiful axe sounds great. I can get a nice Jazz sound and tone. I really like having the coils tapped out, which gives a variety of sound...but I have to agree the other guys here that when playing half the humbucker (though it sounds good), it is not a strat single coil. Now I don't know what the OTHER guy at the top was hearing (and he is entitled to judge by his own ear) but this axe sounds sweet to me. I use it a lot on my DAW for recording demos and like the other guy said, you do get a variety of sound having the humbuckers split, so this helps with layering guitar tracks without me having to switch to my strat, unless I really need to have the strat sound upfront. It was set up with GHL Boomers #10's which gave it a slight percussive sound which I love. This is going to be my main axe for now.

The action was set-up ok, slightly high for what I'm use to but I can get good tone when I need to play clean...so for now I left it alone. The fret work was decent, no buzz, no fuss, so I'm cool with that. The pickups are fine, but I haven't started to experiment to where I may like the height overall.

Finish? Love at first sight! NOW unlike the others who commented here...I did NOT get the amber finish (dodged a bullet there!) Now even though I bought the natural finish and I agree that it does not look like the catalog or online photos of this beautiful axe, I'm still pleased with the finish. Sure, I understand if you never seen this axe and you walk in the store and saw it for the first time and say, "WOW, gotta check this out"! as compare to the slight let down after seeing the photos of it first, BUT! I showed it my friends (guitar players themselves)who have never seen this model...and they LOVED it! (I think a bit envious too! lol) So there, I got my thrill back that way! I agree that the satin finish is going to wear (that I'm not happy with), I'm starting to see it on the bridge from palming. I do wish that (though my opinion) the binding was cream all around, instead of the natural around the body. I love the access I have to the upper frets because of the set-in neck. By the way this is my first set-in neck and I'm hooked. The sustain is good. I give it an eight because the satin gold is doomed to wear (sigh).

Hardware will last, color? NO! <-(disapointed here) I have not used it yet for live playing (our band is currently looking for new recruits), so I've only just used it for recording. The strap buttons are cool (would had been nice to have locking strap buttons come with the axe). Now I can play for hours (and I did too!) and barely come out of tune (big plus here!). I've banged on it enough at home but I'm reluctant to gig heavy with this axe (just because I don't want to scar this pretty girl).

Have not dealt with them...yet. (keeping my fingers crossed)

Playing over 20 years. I have an Ibanez Artist, and a Fender Strat. I play right now through a Line6 Vetta (which I love!). No, I don't think there is anything I would question before buying it...HECK! this is a guy who bought the axe online without even trying it out first! I'm happy with the purchased, and for the buck! Damn good Korean guitar! If this axe was stolen, Hell yeah I would replace it...I love PRS, and LP but they are waaaaay too damn high! I can get my music done with this C-1 Classic, which after all is what matters.

Same as previous post. It belongs in a art gallery not in the hands of a sweaty guitar player.

Here is where I had problems with the guitar. The pickups are great and what you would expect from Duncans . . . however the tone of the guitar itself when not plugged into an amp sounds dull and lifeless. For being a mahogany body and neck the guitar is dull on the bass side and thin sounding on the treble side. Sounds nothing like a Les-Paul, more like a badly made telecaster. And they talk about this great sustain . . . I did not notice it . . . infact my telecaster has much more sustain than this schecter had. Perhaps it is the neck-thourgh design that gives it this tone. So if you are looking for a vintage "classic" tone that would be comparable to a Les-Paul, look else where! When Plugged into an amp the pick-ups save it from being a total loss and it does have its OWN tone= bright, but no low or mid range robustness. It you are looking for a new sound . . . but not expecting your typical mohagany sound . . . this MIGHT be the guitar for you. Oh and it did have some sort of rattle somewhere in the pick-up cavity.

Excellent craftmanship . . . except for the rattle in the pickup cavity. The vine of life inlay is super and the frets are clean and well done. However this really isn't a quilt top . . . its more like highly figured big birds eye type of maple . . . nothing like a gibson or PRS quilt, but none the less it is nice to look at. It was set up rather well and I have no complaints about the overall apperance of the guitar.

I was afraid to touch it . . . it looks that nice . . . but I think it would hold up . . . I dont think the satin gold finsh on the tuners and bridge will hold up . . . also I'm sure that the dark color of the stain and the gloss finish will show scratches pretty easily.

I had questions about the deley in shipment to the store I bought this guiatr from and e-amiled schecter . . . they called me that same day and eased my mind.

Looks great . . . sounds cheap . . . or atleast like nothing I have heard before! Definatly NOT a Classic Sound . . . Schecter seems to really care about their product and did a great job making the guitar . . . it just isn't what I wanted . . . maybe different for other people. Looks like an american made guitar . . . dont worry about buying Korean!

2002 Model (Made in Korea)

THIS GUITAR WILL CHANGE YOUR PERCEPTION OF KOREAN MADE GUITARS!! This guitar has a great feel to it. I love everything about it-- except the cheesy "Diamond Series" font on the headstock. It has 24 frets which are all very accessible (unlike a Les Paul. It has a carved maple AAA quilt top, which is just as nice as the pictures on the website. Too often, I think that the pictures on the website of a guitar manufacturer give you a false perception of the actual finish of the guitar--but not Schecter. It has a mahogany body, natural body binding, and neck-thru design. This does wonders for the sustain of the guitar. It also gives it a smooth comfortable feel. It has two humbuckers (neck: Seymour Duncan '59, bridge: Seymour Duncan JB). This is the only one of the C Series guitars that has actual Seymours in it. There is a rosewood fretboard with a SWEET abalone vine inlay on it. Some people say it is pretty extravagent, but I think it is just perfect. This guitar is similar to a strat in a couple of ways. One is the shape of the body, however Fenders are generally flat-topped guitars. Two is the five-way pickup selector switch and two tone controls and one volume control. The tuners on this axe are Grovers and they stay in tune with the best of em. Jumbo frets on this beast, too. Came with a $90 case, strap, picks, shipped it in 2 days for $40.

I'm using this guitar with a ToneWorks AX1500G Effects Processor running into a Music Man 212HD Vintage Amp. I can honestly say that this guitar sounds just like a Gibson. I play a ton of different styles of music and this guitar covers them all. This guitar is very quiet. Even when I switch on heavy distortion, I don't get any unwanted feedback. Five way selector makes this guitar able to cover almost anything.

I didn't get the guitar straight from the factory. I got it from Drum City Guitar-Land in Colorado. Great store by the way. Anyway, they set it up so I can't really comment on Schecter's setup.

I haven't had it long enough to comment but it seems like it will last a very long time. Quality construction!

Never dealt with them...but they respond to e-mails pretty quickly.

The only thing I don't like about this guitar is the "Diamond Series" logo on the headstock. Other than that, which is minimal at best, this guitar is an incredible value and you should go out and buy one right now!

I think the first reviewer gave a pretty good review of the electronics. I gave an 8 becouse features are different for everyone. It is what it is like a Tele or LP. I find that guitars that have a million features and sounds never have any one decent sound. That being said with the 5 way switch theres a decent amount of sounds to be had here.

After gigging 3-4 times a week with a PRS or a LP Custom, I couldnt stomach seeing them get dinged anymore so I went out and bought a Epiphone LP Custome. Not bad for the money but just wasnt there. I liked all the sounds in the PRS. This Schecter was the perfect axe for my live rigg and Im finding that I love it more and more and Im using it in the studio more. The coil cutting positions just adds to the live flexabilty. No more swithcing between a Strat and LP although I will say Ive never played a coil cut humbucker that sounds nearly as good as a strat. Even on a strat. Close enouph though.

The JB and 59 is a great touch. I use those pickups anyway. You can always replace them although theres obviously no garauntee thats gonna give you the sound you want.

At shows, since we do a decent amount of covers, Ill use it with a Mesa Recto or a Carvin Legacy. In the studio I tend to use amps like a Marshall Plexi/JCM800, Vox AC30, Fender Reverbs etc.. as well as the previouse 2. So Ive covered the gammet with this guitar and Im very pleased. Definitly measurable against a PRS whom I think sell very overpriced guitars. I hate using adjectives like bright, rich, smooth, full etc.. since they mean something a little different to each person so I wont use them. If you wanna get an Idea of sound go try one with your rigg. I will say Im a sound then feel person way before looks. The fact that this axe is a handsome guitar only adds but my main concern is would it be a good replacement for a PRS? Yes..I think so. Not exactly the same, and not necessarily better or worse. Just a bit different. I think a little more present in the high range. A bit more sutain actually. The guitar itself is very heavey. not Les Paul heavey but almost. Even so its not dark and heavy sounding like a LP.

As far as the previouse reviewer saying the top looked different then the pictures Ill say this. Ive seen 6 of these at 2 Guitar Centers before finding the one I thought was best. They all were different to some degree. Thats how this type of see thru finish works. They all wind up a little different and of course there gonna use the best one they have to make the picture. I thought it was close. Finishes always look better in a picture since the res isnt clear enouph to show the grain of the wood so it always comes out looking beautifully fluid. That being said he is right. No matter how close it looks to the web photo if youve never seen it and walk into a music store it attracts your eye. Beautiful. I have a PRS 24 and McCarty 10 top. I find the finish difference to be marginal and only for the critical mind. Then again for me looks is hardly a factor. The natural binding could be a little thicker. At a 1/4" its pretty tame compared to my PRS's binding.

Out of the 6 Ive tried it seems they ship with 2 kindsa setups. a 10 guage medium-high setup and a 9 gauge lower action. I took the lower one since its harder to hide lousy fret work with a light gauge and close action. I found no seriouse buzzing or any dead spots. Pretty decent fret work though it could always be better. Like any seriouse player a like my axes set up a certain way and will always have it done by my guy when I buy a guitar. I also love the 14" radius fretboard. Having played alot of classical I like a flat fingerboard.

Ive had trouble getting answer via email from the company. Thats the only way Ive delt with them so far.

Even though my ratings at 7,8 & 8 seem low, to me its very high. I think highly of this guitar but use my brain when I give ratings. From 1-10 to me a 9 or 10 means theres not much room for any improvement or nothings better. I love this guitar but I dont find that to be the case with any guitar Ive owned. I guess most reviewers are just jadded from all the shit thats come out on the market today. When you find a decent value or something passable that sounds good to you, its automatically a 10.

Ive been playing as a session player for maybe 8 years now. Ive been playing live for at least 12. Since I was 17. Been playing since I was about 12. Ive listed a few of the things Ive owned and used.

I think my next move is to get another classic and have it as my 2nd stage guitar for a backup or alternate tunings etc...Maybe even get a custom based on the classics designs. Maybe with the finish of a C-1 Elite since I love that finish. I really like this axe. Would Defenitly replace if stolen.

Overall, trust your ears and your instincts. Ive found when using my Epiphone LP custom live for about a year, other musicians automatically thought I was bad or didnt know anything. Its called a preconcieved idea. Thier actually the ones who dont know much. There so concerned with names and prices. Ill bet if I made a recording of me jamming with my Gibson LP custom and my Epiphone LP Custom with PAF Pro's, none of them could tell me for sure which was real. Theyd always have a shocked look on thier face when they heard me play and then found out I used an Epi LP. I dont think the Epi is equal to a Gibson, but I form my own opinion and dont think that just becouse I read it or becouse its the general perception.

Dont buy into hype. This guitar isnt very expensive compared to a PRS or a Gibson LP. That doesnt mean its not just as good an instrument in its own right.

This is a 25 1/2" scale lengthe guitar. It is Mahagony with a carved curly maple top. Has a bound neck with natural binding on the body. Two humbuckers with a tune-o-matic bridge, strings thru the body [the best combination in my opinion]. The guitar has gold plated hardware, with a Duncan JB in the bridge and a 59 in the neck position. Has jumbo frets with a vine of life inlayed in the fretboard.

Now for the dissappointing part, if you were knocked out by the photo Schecter used in their adverts you probably wont be happy. The ads always show the finish top to with a very prominent quilted maple. In reality, they used a dark brown tinted finish that mostly obsures the maple top. The overall look is nothing like the photo used in their ads. Having said that, it is still a gorgeous piece. If I had never seen the ad and just walked into a store and saw the guitar, it is still a knock out, but the picture in the ad is better.

What can I say, I have 5 other schecters, I love them. The body weight varies a lot between guitars of the same model. I prefer a heavier body, this one is quite heavy, almost a les paul weight. It really sounds great.

I play mostly blues and hard rock. This thing kills. Great harmonics.

Just like all the other Schecters I own, it's perfect. The neck profile is quite slim with a flat radius fret board. The fret work on this one is perfect, no need for a fret dress.

Over all the guitar is flawless. Too bad they covered up this beautiful piece of wood on the top.

Built like a rock. Can not imagine having a problem.

who knows, never needed it with a Schecter.

This is a killer guitar, but I gave it a 9 mainly because of the tinted, dark brown finish. The highly figured, quilted maple was nearly wasted. It is a shame really.

New 2002 model; basically next evolution of the C-1 line. This one has a 5-piece neck-through-body, mahogany sides, and a carved quilted maple top w/matching headstock. "Natural" body binding, cream binding on neck and headstock. "Vine of life" inlay on fretboard. Genuine Seymour Duncan JB and '59 humbuckers, with 5-way switch for coil-tap options. 2 volume, one tone control. Graphite nut. "TonePros" tune-o-matic bridge (pretty cool, the bridge has set screws that lock it in position so that it won't move even if you take all the strings off). 25 1/2" scale (unlike C1+ and C1 Elite, which are 24 3/4")Satin gold hardware. Grover tuners. I'd call this a very feature-laden guitar.

Sounds great. I also have a C-1+ set neck, and have to say that they sound quite different. Aside from the difference in pickups (the real Duncans in the C1 Classic are warmer and more responsive than the Duncan-Designed models in the C1+), the Classic seems to have a much different character to its sound. It's brighter, almost like a cross between a bolt-on and a set neck. Must be that there's more maple in the equation, with the neck running all the way through the body. Sustain is incredible. The 5-way pickup selector yields some very diverse tones. Although I don't have a specific diagram on the wiring, my ears tell me that the switching is the same as that of the Ibanez dual-humbucker guitars: 1. Full bridge humbucker. 2. Bridge & neck humbuckers, both tapped. 3. Both pickups full humbucking. 4. Neck pickup in series or tapped. 5. Full neck humbucker.
You won't get any "perfect" strat or tele-tones out of this one, but for using one guitar for lots of styles, it does very well. I use lots of different amp setups, and the guitar responds very well from full-shred to blues to jazz.

Factory setup was pretty good. Action was a little high for my tastes on the treble side; easily adjusted. Intonation was pretty close, but not perfect. Pickups were adjusted way down, probably just for protection during shipping; again easy to adjust. Overall construction on this guitar is excellent. Fretwork isn't bad, although that's the one area that Schecter falls down on in my experience (I've owned 4 of them). Some file marks here and there on the frets, and they're not "crowned" evenly. Everything else about this guitar makes me think it could pass as having been made by PRS. The top is nowhere near as "quilted" as some of the website photos indicate; I'm sure that there are better ones and worse ones out there. Mine, with the "vintage amber" color, which actually looks like burled walnut more than it looks like quilted maple. It looks good, and I was more concerned about how it plays. One thing that disappointed me was that with the darker color, they stained right over the 5-piece neck, so you don't get that cool "striped" look that's so neat about laminated through-necks. The back of the neck would probably stand out much better on the natural-colored model.
Overall, very nice hardware. The US-made TonePros bridge seems to be of much better quality than the units on the lower-line Korean guitars. The vine inlay on the fretboard is immaculately done; I can't see any evidence of filler around the edges.
This is certainly a better built guitar than the neck-through ESP Ltd's, as far as I can tell.

All the Schecters I've had so far have been built like brick you-know-what's (although their pickup switches have a reputation for being a bit flaky). I expect this one to be just as good.

Don't expect a reply the same day, but they've been fairly responsive so far. I asked for a warranty card once when it wasn't included with a guitar I'd ordered, and they sent me a free t-shirt and some other stuff along with it. I believe that there's a limited lifetime warranty.

This is a great guitar. In some ways I like my C-1+ better (it's a better blues guitar and has a more Les Paul-like tone), but for total playability and versatility, the Classic is a real bargain. The extra $100 got me real Duncan pickups, neck-through construction, and better hardware. The "vine of life" inlay is a bit overdone in my opinion (it looks like Tarzan could swing from it). Overall, I'm very happy. It's a wonderful guitar, and the great guys at Cheshire Music gave me a hell of a deal on it.