Guitar Recommendation
I have about $500 to spend on a new axe. I currently own an American Stratocaster, which handles my Hendrix/Clapton moods very well. I'm looking for something to satisfy my metal moods (Iron Maiden/Joe Satriani/Randy Rhoads/etc.).
I see a couple of guitars I am interested in:
Schecter Damien 6
Schecter Damien FR (Floyd Rose - double locking??)
Schecter Omen 6 (not sure how the Omen and the Damien differ?)
Ibanez RG321
Ibanez S470 (ZR tremolo)
Ibanez S520EX (ZR tremolo)
While a tremolo would be preferable, I don't want a bad one, so I will buy a hard tail if that is all that works in my price range. I have read that the Schecter neck is not the best for shred (I know the Wizard II is). I have played both necks and I like both necks (I really like the feel on the Wizard II). The Damien cases are $20 cheaper than the Ibanez cases (I will buy a hard case).
Thoughts on the guitars listed above??
I see a couple of guitars I am interested in:
Schecter Damien 6
Schecter Damien FR (Floyd Rose - double locking??)
Schecter Omen 6 (not sure how the Omen and the Damien differ?)
Ibanez RG321
Ibanez S470 (ZR tremolo)
Ibanez S520EX (ZR tremolo)
While a tremolo would be preferable, I don't want a bad one, so I will buy a hard tail if that is all that works in my price range. I have read that the Schecter neck is not the best for shred (I know the Wizard II is). I have played both necks and I like both necks (I really like the feel on the Wizard II). The Damien cases are $20 cheaper than the Ibanez cases (I will buy a hard case).
Thoughts on the guitars listed above??
Comments
The Schecter C-1 BlackJack is a fantastic hardtail axe. It has a Duncan JB and Jazz pup set and they are very very nice. Again, the neck is pretty sweet and the sustain is really good. It isn't as fast on the neck, but it's still quite good.
You might also look at a Jackson DXMGT Dinky... with or without a trem. I have the hardtail of this currently and it's quickly becoming my favorite guitar for almost everything (and I'm NOT a metal head at all).
Those should all be around $500 (you will have to haggle with the sales people to come down probably - but they will).
I had originally wanted the RG370DX but after reading a number of reviews online, many had problems with the tremolo system on that model. That was the only reason I've stayed away from it...
Schecter - I read great things about the quality of Schecter guitars, and this one has a Floyd Rose (although if it's not a double locking tremolo, I will be less interested). I'm still not sure about the neck on the Schecter for shredding.
Ibanez - I do know the Wizard II neck is quite fast and comfortable to play on. I also like the sound out of the INF3 and INF4 pickups ont he one I played. My concern with these is the lower end tremolo and all the bad reviews I read about them.
my tip is to go for a neck-thru-body design or set-neck, as these allow the best upper fret access for shred.