Schecter Ultra

2007 Vintage Creme model Made in South Korea
Three-piece mahogany neck, bound rosewood fretboard with 22 jumbo frets (25.5" scale)
Solid mahogany body enhanced
Duncan Designed HB-102 humbuckers
Coil-tapping tone control (for emulating single-coil pickups)
3-way pickup switching
TonePros bridge unit
Grover tuners
This is the 2007 Ultra model,not the Ultra III with the Bigsy B-50

I play alternative/indie rock, post punk, shoegaze/dreampop. Lots of chorus, delay and reverb effects; everything from The Cure to Slowdive. For me, this guitar covers it all giving you both deep full almost bassy sounds particularly at the lower stings to nice bright single coil style range of sounds thanks to the coil tap. The Ultra lacks the vibrato arm found on the Ultra III, but I already have 2 guitars with tremolo arms so this isn't an issue for me. If this feature is important for you, then I suggest looking at the Ultra III.

I bought this guitar new at a local music shop, and the factory set-up was surprisingly good. Pickups where adjusted just right. Fit and finish on this guitar was immaculate; better than what I've seen on some pricier guitars.

This is a very solid and dependable guitar that will withstand live playing. In fact, the only reason to have a backup would be in the event of string breakage.

I've never had to deal with Schecter, but it's good to know their guitars come with a limited lifetime warranty.

I own a couple of Fenders, a Squier, and an Epiphone Semi-Hollow electric, but the Schecter Ultra is the one I seem to play the most. I love the way it sounds (particularly through chorus effects). I love the offset body as well as the overall feel and heft of the guitar. My favorite feature would be the coil tap which allows me to play deep 'Cure-like' melodies to bright single coil jangle pop. It's no surprise to see why the Ultra was a favorite of The Cure's Robert Smith. So much that it is the model his signature Ultracure is based on.

Mahog body and neck, Duncan designed pick-ups, Tone Pros bridge, grover tuners. I'm coming from a Washburn Idol WI-65- an exceptionally well spec'd guitar for its price-point- and therefore probably expect more than average for my money. The Idol never quite grabbed me by the cahojnes though for some reason and so the Ultra is it's replacement.

At this price point I think the Ultra is a "good" but not "great" spec'd guitar as the Idol had genuine SD pickups and the somewhat "meh" Emperors new clothes Buzz Feitin tuning system.

Mine is the aged white version with two white scratch plates and the reverse black headstock. I suppose you either love the shape or you don't but I'm glad to be playing something a little bit different.

I always think an unplugged electric guitar reveals a heck of a lot about its potential sound and the Schecter Ultra has hands down the best feel here of any guitar I've owned. It's a pleasure to sit and strum unplugged with the sound reverberating through the body like nothing else I've touched. You can feel the thing humming away against your ribs and hear tones akin to playing an acoustic- it's a beautiful thing. Schecter must have used excellent mahogany, fantastic quality construction methods, an amazing neck join and/or god knows what. The Tonepros bridge undoubtedly contributes to the solidity and looks for all the world like it and a bunch of cockroaches would be all that's left in a post apocalyptic world, such is its chunkiness. Honestly, the machines will be building terminator legs out of the damn things.
In my opinion, paired with some top end pickups added in the future it is going to sing like a Shirley flamin' Bassey.

My only beef would be that the stock Duncan Designed humbuckers are slightly down on power compared to the SD Custom Custom and '59 I'm used to and a little less full of tone. Via the coil tap, the single coil sounds are actually really really useable and greatly add to the guitar's flexibility. Sustain goes on so long I need another shave by the time the notes die out.

I've never played such a "together" guitar. For me this is where the Ultra shines and if I could award it an 11 I would. Why? So many factors, I'll name then at random. The poly finish is beautiful, even, shiny and glassy. The tuners are the usual Grover fayre and dependable as you'd like. Fingerboard is a beautiful bit of rosewood, darker than you usually see and evenly bound with a nice aged cream trim. Frets are jumbo, smooth and very evenly seated. Neck is fatter than I would usually go for- and initially I worried it would be the reason I'd have to sell it on- but a couple of months on I'm sold regardless. I'd say the neck is like a slightly fatter feeling tele neck with the extra girth coming from a profile closer to a 'D' than a 'C'. I'm six foot but think I have slightly shorter fingers than average, for most players I guess the neck would feel similar to a Les Paul and be as expected. The action is the lowest I've ever had and my playing precision has benefited accordingly. I often sit on the sofa and noodle while watching the TV and have found the shape, with the slight reverse approach, actually makes the guitar neck sit up at a really nice angle. Ooo, and I almost forgot the blend-o-thon neck joint leaving you, the player, without a pesky heel in the way at the upper fret end, rockin'.

The guitar certainly feels solid and well constructed. My only worry might be the electrics. The tone pot/ push pull pot turns more loosely than the volume pot and has slight play in it if you grab the dial and yank on it. As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, the actual tone modulation is nearly absent until you get right down the about 2 or 3 and then very sudden. That is my only gripe with the guitar BUT crucially the guitar has had a fair bit of use before me and yet there is no crackle from wear so I can't complain too much. It's a feel rather than a function thing. The Ultra looses one point for this but is otherwise just peachy with a very solid feel as you handle it.

n/a bought second hand.

For the money, it's an easy 9. With genuine SD pickups and a tone pot with a more even adjustment range I'd be awarding a ten. With these two factors being something I can look at in the future, and with everything else factored in, I am, as you can probably tell, completely in love.

Color:Cherry
Body: Ultra, solid mahogany(similar to Gibson Firebird)
Tuners:Grovers
Neck/scale:Mahogany neck, bound rosewood fretboard, 22 jumbo frets
Year:2004
Controls:1 volume, 1 tone with push/pull pot for coil splitting
Pickups: 2 Duncan Designed humbuckers
Bridge: Tone Pros TOM

I run through a Peavey VTM 120 which is a fairly low gain amp by today's standards. The Duncans drive it well, but are abit too hot for my tastes. They would be better suited for newer metal players. I actually prefer them when split over the full on humbucker sound. It is a pretty versatile guitar with the coil split though. The pickups are quiet and not at all microphonic, unless of course you're standing right in front of the amp with everything on 10!

I bought this used so I can't comment on the factory setup. Although I have played some other Schecters that were set up nice from the factory. As far as fit and finish, it's as good and better than many higher end guitars. No complaints.

Will it hold up live? Hell yeah! And yes, the hardware is solid. With Grovers and a Tone Pros bridge you shouldn't have to upgrade or replace anything unless you just want to. You can definately depend on it in a live situation. And the only reson I would need a backup is I have a habit of breaking strings onstage.

Haven't had any problems.

I've played alot of instruments in my 20+ years of playing and this is one of the few guitars that is a keeper. I currently own a couple of Agiles, a couple of Epiphones, a few BC Rich's and an SX. For my tastes the Ultra smokes any of my Epiphones. I dig this guitar so much I'm looking at other Schecter's, a company I never thought much about before. Most of all I like the feel and versatility of this guitar. Eventually I'll change pickups only because they're just too hot for my tastes.

22 jumbo frets, mahogany body, comes stock with two coil-splittable Duncan Designed humbuckers, 1 volume, 1 tone, Grover tuners, rosewood fretboard, similar to a Gibson Firebird style body-but unique, feels like a 12-14 inch radius neck, 2004 or 2005, made in Korea.

Stock Duncan Designed versions of the JB and Jazz sounded pretty decent, slightly muddy, a little better in single coil mode. I decided to take off the covers in hopes of reducing some of the darkness and purely for aesthetics, but found two zebra pups, one white/black, one cream/black, so I sprung for the real Seymour Duncan JB and Jazz and stuck 'em in. Even unplugged the guitar is extremely resonant, and sounds like "rich mahogany". I'm a relative guitar newbie, like to play Beatles, Zeppelin, White Stripes, Metallica and various other styles. The Ultra with the JB/Jazz handles everything extremely well, tons of tonal options with the coil split. I play through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe w/ Jensen speaker and a Flextone III, the Ultra has handled whatever I want to play with aplomb, and the Jazz in the neck produces a truly sweet sound. I've been wanting a Schecter with EMG's but don't like the neck on the Hellraisers at all, so I've been contemplating trying a set in the Ultra. I picked up an Artcore recently that needs some pups so I sprung for EMG 81/85 for the Schecter and will put the JB/Jazz in the Artcore. The EMG's sound great so far, the 81 in the bridge matches up well the the mahogany bodied Ultra, and the alnico magnet 85 in the neck sound great for blues or classic rock.

I bought the guitar used (plastic still on the pickguard), but the guitar was set up extremely well, and has one of the best necks I've ever encountered. The bridge pickup ring was cracked, but it appears that the prior owner tightened a screw too far. Everything else has been superb, nice frets, great tuners, only issue has been the tone pot-seems to have just an on and off setting. Pots and jack were changed out with the installations of the EMGs.

No problems to date, finish has been solid and durable, hardware hasn't worn, great strap buttons, and neck stays straight.

I also have a MIA Strat, MIM Tele, and MIC Artcore, all are nice, but the Ultra is probably my number 1. I was struck by it's appearance in the guitar store, and have found it to be extremely comfortable despite it's relatively large dimensions-it's thin and has a fantastic neck. I'd get a hold of another if it were stolen or lost, it gets played more than any of my other guitars. I sort of wished it had EMG's, and now that it does it's got everything I wanted in a guitar. I've been completely satisfied with this purchase and have been turned on to the quality of all Schecter's guitars.

I just wanted to say I think I am in love with the first reviewer. She the bomb.

Once again still in love

I hope she is durable, the way she talks you would think so.

Awesome

Updating my previous review. I believe the previous person has reviewed the earlier version of the Ultra which is not as cool as the 2004 model ;-P
Advice intended for dumbarse learners like moi.

At first I really loved it through my little Vox amp because Im a single coil girl at heart and I liked the ringing tone combined with the extra grunt of mahogany.
However since then one salient thing has occured to me- this is not a beginners guitar and its style is severely cramped through wee practise amps!
My dufus novice chords suffer extreme and merciless exposure from the sensitivity of these pups which is A- depressing when you fuck up and B exhilarating when you get it right. Humbuckers, mahogany and sustain really broadcast your shit playing to the world so dont expect to fudge your crap technique like you can with vintage and single coil. Turn up the gain ho ho ho. At first I thought 'oh no, this is a crap git' but then I realised it was just me.
Secondly, this git LOVES volume. It is a cramped and frustrated thing when you confine it to a wee practise amp and play it quietly- it wants to make your neighbours scream for mercy so give it some scope and youll REALLY appreciate its true qualities.
It is a stage diva gigging guitar so if youre looking for bedroom doodling gits, this is not for you. However if you have the ability to either gig or play loud there is nothing else in its price range to touch it.

The 2005 model has a lovely Tone pros bridge which is a definite improvement on the crap previous one.

Still solid after some whacks and droppage.

If youre a single coil fiend this is a good intro to humbuckerland since you can always revert with the handy and effective push/pull coil tapping. Ive found it a challenge - a bit like a ride on a big freaky horse that will buck you off if you fuck up but the big insane sound you get with the right amp is ample compensation. I am ready to rawk with this git. I just wish I had the stack to do it justice. And the customization options are mind boggling. Buy one now!!!!

Koran made. Mahogny body three part Mahogny set neck. Vintage Sunburst. Grover tuners. Duncan designed pickups (realy bad sounding pu's) The body is a bit heaver than I've learned to expect from Mahogany bodies (mostly gibson) but still lighter than fender ash bodies)

I play sort of mellow curish stuff to pop punk and alt rock stock the guitar was OK but needed some work to sound decent (The stock PU's) SUCK>>>>>>>>> be prepared to buy new ones!

Set up was realy realy high! I adjusted it down a bit but still should have a prof set the action. THe guitar I picked up as a blem but it looks stunning. First thing I did though was rip out the neck Pu and replace with a SD PAF 59 and it TOTALY Helped the sound!

Seems solid. Not to Keen on the three part neck (I know that is is a gibson standard thing) but I've seen two friends gibson's necks start to come apart once they were 20 years old.

Nope

I bought it as a gigging guitar. Simply because my 63 National Val Pro 84 has no truss rod and does not like to travel. And my Mid 60's joe maphis Mosrite hollowbody is just worth to much to have it get ripped off. So after shoping around I settled on the schecter ultra. Once I replaced the neck UP (I usully only play the neck) the sound improved greatly, although the action is still realitivly poor and needs a prof set up. I plan to evently replace the bridge pick up as well with a StagMag but do not have the cash @ this time.

We picked up the 2004 model with one scratchplate panel. From memory the specs have already been mentioned but Ill go over the ones I can recall
solid mahogany body with setneck, rosewood fretboard, double duncan designed humbuckers, tuneomatic bridge.
Ours had aftermarket sperzel locking tuners as a bonus! Jumbo-esque frets but not ridiculously so.
Cool push-pull coil tapping via the tone knob which took me a while to find because Im a bit of a spaz.
Finish *beautiful* vintage cherry red transparent. Just your basic features with no unnecessary frills- all you need, without a dozen bloody knobs and doohickies to get in the way.
Solid top.
The 2004 was not strung through.
What more would I have wanted? Hmmm... err nothing really.

It suits my style which is mainly alt/goth/rock etc.
We use a Vox 15w amp which compliments it beautifully, particularly on the tapped single coil setting where it can really sing and chime. Big goose to Vox for their smaller amps- they are brilliant.
It is virtually silent on all settings.
Wide range of sounds. Ive never played humbuckers before but these duncan designed ones are wonderful. Rich, full and highly responsive- articulate at both ends without muddiness or harshness.
I think a lot of gibsons sound too warm and gloopy so if youre looking for a slightly steelier, more alt sound, the Ultra is for you. People diss these PUs and rip them out in favour of real seymours but crickey people, give them a go before you trash them! Cannot complain.
Im surprised by the brightness of the single coil sound- not as trippy as my tele copy but still very silvery and good.
The sustain is very long for something that doesnt weight a tonne. I can feel the vibes running evenly through the neck and body, not swinging wildly back and forth like my cheapo crap git. The wood is dense and even with an attractive fleck.
I loved the sound so much I almost cried when I first played it. (:-} But then Im a fruitcake.

We wanted a rock git and had a budget of $1500 NZ or less. We looked at untold mid-range gits from Ibanez, Yamaha, epiphone, ashton, washburn, and various other asian copycat factories.
When Im paying over a grand for something I DONT want a piece of shit with glue splashes, bad wood and crap paintjobs. Only Yamaha and Schecter's finishing was up to scratch.
The Ultra is *perfect*. I dont say that lightly. The wood, the finishing, the colour, the joinery, the frets, the hardwear- faultless. Ive gone over it minutely and it looks as though it was made by a gang of conscientious superluthierfairies on a happy thursday afternoon.
The transparent vintage cherry finish is achingly, glowingly beautiful.
Cool retro styling for those of us not into strats or gibsons.
The action is wonderful. I was having trouble nailing barre chords on my crap git but the ultra makes them easy.
Looking at it makes me sigh with pleasure.

I could not imagine this git giving trouble. Everything is solid, well-sited and tight. The lacquer is thick without being suffocating and along with the woodgrain seems as though it will be very forgiving of knocks and scratches.
Never gig without a backup because shit happens but Id just have myself another Ultra waiting in the wings. Cant see it being affected by lights etc. Solid.
Robert Smith often plays these live and by crikey he knows a thing or two by now.

Dunno. Mixed reports on Schecter by all accounts but Ive never had to deal with them. Their website is informative and well constructed, however.
There is apparently a limited lifetime warranty. Thats confidence for you.

Ive been playing for a few months now. We own a vintage Eko Sparkle 500 series, a crappy chinese tele copy and the Ultra. Two amps, a Vox and a Peavy rage. Boss effects box that needs repairs!
I cannot praise this git enough. It is incomparable value for money. Should also mention that its modest size and manageable weight make it a good choice for girls. Matches my lipstick and doesnt give me a dowagers hump.
There is nothing I dont like about it. I find the 2005 Ultras too flashy and crowded-looking with their larger scratchplates etc.
If it were stolen I would have a psychotic break. Seriously. Schecters are hard to come by down here.