Schecter Blackjack Sls C-1 Review

Schecter C1 Sls Elite Review

The new Schecter Blackjack SLS C1 Active features a very sleek and slim body with a super slim and super strong 3 piece maple set neck. Its active pickups are the amazing Blackouts from Seymour Duncan. Tuners - Schecter Locking Schecter Locking Tuners feature a locking screw pin to lock the string into place for greater tuning stability. Schecter BlackJack SLS C1-P-SB. As previously mentioned, this model has exactly the same construction as our other review Schecter, so what I'll do is point out the differences in terms of the options. The first is the change of pickups. This model features a Seymour Duncan Full Shred Humbucker in the bridge position and a Jazz in the neck. REVIEW: Schecter Blackjack SLS C-1. Peter Hodgson December 2, 2012 December 2, 2012. The Blackjack SLS range includes a variety of models with similar specs but across different body shapes, hardware features and string counts; the single cutaway Solo-6, the eight-string superstrat-style C-8, the Tele-like PT, the Floyd Rose-loaded V-1 FR V. Schecter is breaking new musical ground with their Slim Line Series of electric guitars. Designed with an ultra-thin, lighting fast neck and a sleek contoured body, the Blackjack SLS C-1 is armed with Seymour Duncan Full Shred and Jazz humbucking pickups, a TonePros w/ string-thru body bridge, and Schecter locking tuners. Schecter is breaking new musical ground with their Slim Line Series of electric guitars. Designed with an ultra-thin, lighting fast neck and a sleek contoured body, the Blackjack SLS C-1 EX is armed with Seymour Duncan Full Shred and '59 SH-1N humbucking pickups, a TonePros w/ string-thru body bridge, and Schecter locking tuners.

Although Schecter was initially known for slightly more traditional guitars, they've really hit their stride in the past decade-plus as purveyors of fine high-performance axes aimed at the metal market. They still cater to the traditionalists – especially with the new USA Production Series unveiled at NAMM in January), but the SLS Blackjack C-1 FR-S is a great example of how Schecter unifies a whole stack of shred-friendly features that are unashamedly pitched at those who dwell on the dark side.

[geo-out country='Australia' note='']Click here to buy one from Musician's Friend[/geo-out]

The SLS has a mahogany body with your choice of Crimson Red Burst or Satin Black finish. The latter is the model on review here: the finish seems particularly well applie, and nicely offset by multi-ply binding. The neck is made of three-piece maple for enhanced stability, and there are 24 Jumbo frets on the ebony fretboard. The headstock is a bound three-tuner-per-side variant featuring Grover Rotomatic tuners with an 18:1 gear ratio for smoother tuning and a higher degree of backlash elimination. The only inlay on the fretboard face of the Satin Black version is a ‘Hell's Gate Skull' which looks pretty bitchen', and definitely positions this as a metal guitar. Personally I think it'd do fine without it, as on the Crimson Red Burst model which has offset dots instead, but it's not a deal breaker. The set neck is carved into Schecter's Ultra Access shape, which mimics a neck-thru instrument, and the profile is the Ultra Thin spec, which is 19mm at the first fret and 20mm at the 12th.

The ‘FR-S' in the model designation refers to the Floyd Rose tremolo bridge (a Floyd Rose 1000 Series, although a version is also available with a TonePros TOM bridge with through-body stringing) and the Sustainiac driver, an ingenious device which provides infinite sustain and the option of various overtones as well. The Floyd is floating with a back rout, and perfectly set up right out of the box. The bridge pickup is a Seymour Duncan Full Shred, a model which was originally developed with Buddy Blaze and Vivian Campbell for the Kramer Nightswan. Electronics include a master volume, a master tone and a three-way pickup selector toggle switch, as well as on/off and three-way mode switches for the Sustainiac. These modes are Normal – infinite sustain of the original note; Mix Mode, where some frets will yield fundamental notes while others will quickly transition to harmonics; and Harmonic Mode, where sustained notes will morph into a high fifth or seventh harmonic vibration. Let's stress that this is a physical, rather than artificially generated harmonic, and you can hear it happening even if you turn your amp off. The Sustainer driver actually manipulates the vibration of the string itself to bring about the sustain or harmonic overtone.

The Full Shred is a fat-sounding pickup with rich overtones in the midrange, great for transitioning from thick chording to expressive solo work. Harmonics jump right off the fretboard, and there are some really nice shifting transients when you apply techniques like bending and slides. It's great for progressive rock or more aggressive metal styles.

When the Sustainiac is used as a pickup instead of a driver, it's a bit muffled and not necessarily a good match for the Full Shred – it could use a little more clarity and definition – but it becomes a superstar when it's used in sustain mode (where it keeps itself busy vibrating the string while the bridge pickup handles the sound). The sustain function is addictive whether you leave it in normal mode or explore the various harmonic options, and it makes the guitar feel literally alive – you can feel the whole damn thing vibrating differently with each note you play, and it opens up a world of expressive possibilities whether you're using a clean or dirty tone, and whether you're playing single notes or chords. If everyone spent three hours a day playing a guitar with a Sustainiac, there'd be no more wars or sadness. It's that much fun.

Schecter Blackjack Sls C-1 Fr-s Price

The evil skull inlay might put a few prospective buyers off, but don't let yourself be one of them – you can always go for the Crimson Red version if you like the specs but not the skull. This is an addictively playable guitar that gears itself toward helping you to play your best, express your innermost feelings and perhaps sear off a few faces. It'd be a crushing axe even without the Sustainiac (and you can indeed buy it with a Seymour Duncan Jazz hum bucker in the neck position instead), but the Sustainiac really kicks it up a notch.

LINK: Schecter

Schecter C 1 Platinum Review

Schecter Guitar Research has been championing the 'not scared' column for a while now with their forward designs, and in the process has garnered love from players ranging from funk and rock icons to modern shred and metal players. They've recently been introducing many new designs that push even their own elevated standards to new heights. One such instrument is the SLS Elite-4, a formidable member of Schecter's Diamond Series that boasts a boutique-bass vibe in an off-the-rack offering. The SLS Elite-4 is crafted in South Korea and packed with goodies that will satisfy the discerning player looking for high-end components, slick playability, and modern appointments.

Where the Elite Meet
Before I even start on the bass, let me say that its case (sold separately for $139) has black hardware. It's not a huge deal, but, man, after staring at stainless latches all my life, the black is a nice, cool change. Once I opened the molded case, I was greeted by a stunning bass finished in what I would call an atypical brown burst, which starts dark around the bridge area and then blossoms at the horns in a pretty, blonde finish. The Elite-4 is not heavy, at just a touch over 8 1/2 pounds, and the narrow 'C' neck had me giddy from the jump.

The SLS Elite-4 quickly charmed me with its interesting materials and construction. The combination of the figured flame-maple top with a slight arch and ivory binding really sells the beauty of the bass. And after flipping the Elite-4 over, a sweet triple-stripe of walnut and padauk is revealed, sandwiched between the swamp ash on the body and the maple on the neck.

The Schecter designers built in some other terrific features, such as the offset abalone inlay markers that reverse after the 12th fret. The 24-fret design provides full access to the upper realm, the bridge can be top loaded or strung though, and I was treated to super-fast action thanks to the perfect factory setup.

For pickups, Schecter went with Fishman Fluence Soapbars, which have some spectrum to them. The sound is controlled by a 2-band Fishman EQ, a blend knob, and a volume knob that pulls double duty as a push/pull coil splitter. There's also a 3-way toggle for switching between classic, funk, or modern voicings.

Schecter Blackjack Sls C-1 Review Car And Driver

So Many Choices
After plugging the bass into an Eden Terra Nova with a matching Eden 2x10 cabinet, I set the EQ flat and the switch to classic (position 1) with both pickups engaged and blended equal. This initial tone was a bit subdued, so I went to the onboard fixers. First, I experimented with the 3-way switch, which provides a mid scoop in the funk position and a mid-boost in the modern position. The modern setting helped my initial setting the most, and the bass really jumped alive when I tapped to single-coil. I went back through the settings with the coil split, and even with the output slightly diminished, I liked the tone better. I loved the funk preset with the single-coil engaged, and probably could have played this setting all night.

I hadn't even gotten started with the onboard EQ at that point.The two independent EQ controls on the Fishman preamp push the tonal realm of the bass into a new place. The Elite-4 needs a decent amount of bass and treble boost to dial in some really nice definition, and once it's there, the tone is great. The bass control does an excellent job in boosting the low end and rounding out the signal. I found the modern setting and its overall mid-boost approach to be a bit too throaty for me in this configuration. For the modern voicing, I preferred pushing the volume knob back in and easing the bass up a bit to get a more balanced sound.

Again, it was the funk voicing with the single-coil setting that conquered the day. With the voicing

dipping out the mids, the bass felt and sounded like a souped-up Jazz, yet went further than that—becoming a refined instrument with charm and manners. Paired with the speediness of the neck and grace of the body, I was playing allthe fun licks (and way too fast, I might add).

The Verdict
I appreciate the refinements of the SLS Elite-4. The body is gorgeous, and the little things like the binding and the easy access to the dual action truss rod are small examples of user-friendly design and execution. On the tonal side, the mids could be a bit harsh at times, for my taste. The ebony fretboard offsets this. However, it's possible the combination of the maple and swamp ash could be pushing the brightness meter up high on the instrument. All that said, one can easily dial up whatever's needed in no time with the onboard Fishman pre. Along with its solid construction and features, the SLS Elite-4 is a fine instrument that will provide years of great playing.

Schecter C1 Sls Elite Review

The new Schecter Blackjack SLS C1 Active features a very sleek and slim body with a super slim and super strong 3 piece maple set neck. Its active pickups are the amazing Blackouts from Seymour Duncan. Tuners - Schecter Locking Schecter Locking Tuners feature a locking screw pin to lock the string into place for greater tuning stability. Schecter BlackJack SLS C1-P-SB. As previously mentioned, this model has exactly the same construction as our other review Schecter, so what I'll do is point out the differences in terms of the options. The first is the change of pickups. This model features a Seymour Duncan Full Shred Humbucker in the bridge position and a Jazz in the neck. REVIEW: Schecter Blackjack SLS C-1. Peter Hodgson December 2, 2012 December 2, 2012. The Blackjack SLS range includes a variety of models with similar specs but across different body shapes, hardware features and string counts; the single cutaway Solo-6, the eight-string superstrat-style C-8, the Tele-like PT, the Floyd Rose-loaded V-1 FR V. Schecter is breaking new musical ground with their Slim Line Series of electric guitars. Designed with an ultra-thin, lighting fast neck and a sleek contoured body, the Blackjack SLS C-1 is armed with Seymour Duncan Full Shred and Jazz humbucking pickups, a TonePros w/ string-thru body bridge, and Schecter locking tuners. Schecter is breaking new musical ground with their Slim Line Series of electric guitars. Designed with an ultra-thin, lighting fast neck and a sleek contoured body, the Blackjack SLS C-1 EX is armed with Seymour Duncan Full Shred and '59 SH-1N humbucking pickups, a TonePros w/ string-thru body bridge, and Schecter locking tuners.

Although Schecter was initially known for slightly more traditional guitars, they've really hit their stride in the past decade-plus as purveyors of fine high-performance axes aimed at the metal market. They still cater to the traditionalists – especially with the new USA Production Series unveiled at NAMM in January), but the SLS Blackjack C-1 FR-S is a great example of how Schecter unifies a whole stack of shred-friendly features that are unashamedly pitched at those who dwell on the dark side.

[geo-out country='Australia' note='']Click here to buy one from Musician's Friend[/geo-out]

The SLS has a mahogany body with your choice of Crimson Red Burst or Satin Black finish. The latter is the model on review here: the finish seems particularly well applie, and nicely offset by multi-ply binding. The neck is made of three-piece maple for enhanced stability, and there are 24 Jumbo frets on the ebony fretboard. The headstock is a bound three-tuner-per-side variant featuring Grover Rotomatic tuners with an 18:1 gear ratio for smoother tuning and a higher degree of backlash elimination. The only inlay on the fretboard face of the Satin Black version is a ‘Hell's Gate Skull' which looks pretty bitchen', and definitely positions this as a metal guitar. Personally I think it'd do fine without it, as on the Crimson Red Burst model which has offset dots instead, but it's not a deal breaker. The set neck is carved into Schecter's Ultra Access shape, which mimics a neck-thru instrument, and the profile is the Ultra Thin spec, which is 19mm at the first fret and 20mm at the 12th.

The ‘FR-S' in the model designation refers to the Floyd Rose tremolo bridge (a Floyd Rose 1000 Series, although a version is also available with a TonePros TOM bridge with through-body stringing) and the Sustainiac driver, an ingenious device which provides infinite sustain and the option of various overtones as well. The Floyd is floating with a back rout, and perfectly set up right out of the box. The bridge pickup is a Seymour Duncan Full Shred, a model which was originally developed with Buddy Blaze and Vivian Campbell for the Kramer Nightswan. Electronics include a master volume, a master tone and a three-way pickup selector toggle switch, as well as on/off and three-way mode switches for the Sustainiac. These modes are Normal – infinite sustain of the original note; Mix Mode, where some frets will yield fundamental notes while others will quickly transition to harmonics; and Harmonic Mode, where sustained notes will morph into a high fifth or seventh harmonic vibration. Let's stress that this is a physical, rather than artificially generated harmonic, and you can hear it happening even if you turn your amp off. The Sustainer driver actually manipulates the vibration of the string itself to bring about the sustain or harmonic overtone.

The Full Shred is a fat-sounding pickup with rich overtones in the midrange, great for transitioning from thick chording to expressive solo work. Harmonics jump right off the fretboard, and there are some really nice shifting transients when you apply techniques like bending and slides. It's great for progressive rock or more aggressive metal styles.

When the Sustainiac is used as a pickup instead of a driver, it's a bit muffled and not necessarily a good match for the Full Shred – it could use a little more clarity and definition – but it becomes a superstar when it's used in sustain mode (where it keeps itself busy vibrating the string while the bridge pickup handles the sound). The sustain function is addictive whether you leave it in normal mode or explore the various harmonic options, and it makes the guitar feel literally alive – you can feel the whole damn thing vibrating differently with each note you play, and it opens up a world of expressive possibilities whether you're using a clean or dirty tone, and whether you're playing single notes or chords. If everyone spent three hours a day playing a guitar with a Sustainiac, there'd be no more wars or sadness. It's that much fun.

Schecter Blackjack Sls C-1 Fr-s Price

The evil skull inlay might put a few prospective buyers off, but don't let yourself be one of them – you can always go for the Crimson Red version if you like the specs but not the skull. This is an addictively playable guitar that gears itself toward helping you to play your best, express your innermost feelings and perhaps sear off a few faces. It'd be a crushing axe even without the Sustainiac (and you can indeed buy it with a Seymour Duncan Jazz hum bucker in the neck position instead), but the Sustainiac really kicks it up a notch.

LINK: Schecter

Schecter C 1 Platinum Review

Schecter Guitar Research has been championing the 'not scared' column for a while now with their forward designs, and in the process has garnered love from players ranging from funk and rock icons to modern shred and metal players. They've recently been introducing many new designs that push even their own elevated standards to new heights. One such instrument is the SLS Elite-4, a formidable member of Schecter's Diamond Series that boasts a boutique-bass vibe in an off-the-rack offering. The SLS Elite-4 is crafted in South Korea and packed with goodies that will satisfy the discerning player looking for high-end components, slick playability, and modern appointments.

Where the Elite Meet
Before I even start on the bass, let me say that its case (sold separately for $139) has black hardware. It's not a huge deal, but, man, after staring at stainless latches all my life, the black is a nice, cool change. Once I opened the molded case, I was greeted by a stunning bass finished in what I would call an atypical brown burst, which starts dark around the bridge area and then blossoms at the horns in a pretty, blonde finish. The Elite-4 is not heavy, at just a touch over 8 1/2 pounds, and the narrow 'C' neck had me giddy from the jump.

The SLS Elite-4 quickly charmed me with its interesting materials and construction. The combination of the figured flame-maple top with a slight arch and ivory binding really sells the beauty of the bass. And after flipping the Elite-4 over, a sweet triple-stripe of walnut and padauk is revealed, sandwiched between the swamp ash on the body and the maple on the neck.

The Schecter designers built in some other terrific features, such as the offset abalone inlay markers that reverse after the 12th fret. The 24-fret design provides full access to the upper realm, the bridge can be top loaded or strung though, and I was treated to super-fast action thanks to the perfect factory setup.

For pickups, Schecter went with Fishman Fluence Soapbars, which have some spectrum to them. The sound is controlled by a 2-band Fishman EQ, a blend knob, and a volume knob that pulls double duty as a push/pull coil splitter. There's also a 3-way toggle for switching between classic, funk, or modern voicings.

Schecter Blackjack Sls C-1 Review Car And Driver

So Many Choices
After plugging the bass into an Eden Terra Nova with a matching Eden 2x10 cabinet, I set the EQ flat and the switch to classic (position 1) with both pickups engaged and blended equal. This initial tone was a bit subdued, so I went to the onboard fixers. First, I experimented with the 3-way switch, which provides a mid scoop in the funk position and a mid-boost in the modern position. The modern setting helped my initial setting the most, and the bass really jumped alive when I tapped to single-coil. I went back through the settings with the coil split, and even with the output slightly diminished, I liked the tone better. I loved the funk preset with the single-coil engaged, and probably could have played this setting all night.

I hadn't even gotten started with the onboard EQ at that point.The two independent EQ controls on the Fishman preamp push the tonal realm of the bass into a new place. The Elite-4 needs a decent amount of bass and treble boost to dial in some really nice definition, and once it's there, the tone is great. The bass control does an excellent job in boosting the low end and rounding out the signal. I found the modern setting and its overall mid-boost approach to be a bit too throaty for me in this configuration. For the modern voicing, I preferred pushing the volume knob back in and easing the bass up a bit to get a more balanced sound.

Again, it was the funk voicing with the single-coil setting that conquered the day. With the voicing

dipping out the mids, the bass felt and sounded like a souped-up Jazz, yet went further than that—becoming a refined instrument with charm and manners. Paired with the speediness of the neck and grace of the body, I was playing allthe fun licks (and way too fast, I might add).

The Verdict
I appreciate the refinements of the SLS Elite-4. The body is gorgeous, and the little things like the binding and the easy access to the dual action truss rod are small examples of user-friendly design and execution. On the tonal side, the mids could be a bit harsh at times, for my taste. The ebony fretboard offsets this. However, it's possible the combination of the maple and swamp ash could be pushing the brightness meter up high on the instrument. All that said, one can easily dial up whatever's needed in no time with the onboard Fishman pre. Along with its solid construction and features, the SLS Elite-4 is a fine instrument that will provide years of great playing.

Schecter Blackjack Solo 6

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