Open Box Schecter Guitar Research Omen Extreme-6 Electric Guitar Level 2 Ocean Blue Burst 197881422516

Most Liked Negative Review

Great value but lots of IFs apply

I may be a beginner, but after 100+ days of practice (missed only four so it is nearly 100+ consecutive), I am ready for review with respect to both an adult beginner and an 11 yo beginner. I purchased this on sale for 375 and at that price it is a great guitar…but with quirks. I bought it to share with my 11 yo until I decide what I want for myself and see if he is really interested. This will be his guitar. If it were mine, I would sell it. Here is why. GREAT: 1/ this guitar can compete with any PRS SE series when it comes to looks and finish, including the inlays. Absolutely stunning—and make no mistake if your kid's interest is there but not the strongest, this is a HUGE factor. 2/ The satin neck finish is exceptionally comfortable, makes lacquered necks feel very silly. GOOD: 1/ all components work fine, had to spray the switch as it would not switch to neck at one point, but otherwise no component issues. String replacement is a breeze. 2/ Intonation is fine after I adjusted the truss rod ¼" counterclockwise. I also made a micro change to the low E side of the bridge. Initially, it has a lot of buzz on the first two frets of the thickest strings. It also has more than it should around the 7 fret area, roughly, but bearable. After these adjustments, the notes are almost everywhere what they need to be even past the 12th fret. Before the adjustments, notes were a semi-tone off more often than not. 3/ Subjectively, I really like the neck pickup in humbucking mode, and it is ok even in split coil mode. Works very well with Orange Crush 20 solid state (especially with low gain/max vol instead of using the clean channel, but also on the clean channel) and Blackstar HT5 Mk II tube amp (any setting). BAD: 1/ tone is subjective, but with the Orange, I found the bridge pickup unbearable even in humbucking mode. The tube Blackstar HT5 MKII makes the bridge pickup acceptable in humbucking mode. 2/ Comfort will depend on the person, but I found palm muting with this guitar extremely hard when seated and keeping my strumming hand comfy. Compared to a Telecaster, which is what I will buy for myself, this is just dreadful—which is hardly what I ever expected to say. I have to pick over the neck pickup exclusively to palm mute at 80 bpm seated without my strumming hand moving way more than it should. UGLY: there are three measurements that are off in terms of actual vs expected numbers. 1/ I guess the nut is technically as advertised, but the string spacing is sub-standard by 8-10% vs any MiM Fender or PRS SE or Epiphone I have measured. This is great for my 11 yo, but not at all for me. You would not think 8-10% matters until you try a bunch of guitars in Guitar Center and find out that only the Classic Vibe Squire Strat (same manufacturer) feels about as narrow as this Shecter. Everything else felt more spacious. 2/ Interestingly enough, though the scale length is a true 25.5 the fret spacing at Frets 1-2 is actually that for a 24.75 scale. Again, this is great for my 11 yo, but fret spacing is supposed to be based on scale length and not vary by manufacturer (afaik). 3/ The neck radius is advertised as 14" but when I tried an Ibanez at 15.75" I was like—no way!—it felt totally different. So I bought a luthier measuring tool and sure enough this Shecter is 12" not 14" near the nut and it is actually close to 10" in the wide portion. No wonder the 9.5" Fenders feel ok whereas the 16" Ibanez felt extremely different. This is the opposite of a proper compound neck :) All in all, this is a great beginner guitar for kids but not a guitar one can take seriously if paying any attention. If you are serious about your progress and practice a lot, you may find this guitar deficient within a couple of months. Now, if yours has the proper production specs, maybe you will feel differently and just replace one or both pickups.