Schecter Nick Johnston | An Updated, Brutally Honest Guitar Review (plus HUGE tone test!)

[@caiocsampaio]

The thing is that going for a 24 fret scale would move the neck pickup a little bit, removing it from the best position (in my opinion) the neck pickup can be: exactly below the natural harmonic. I don't know if it really makes that big of a difference, but I love so much more my 21 fret strat neck pickup than my 24 fret one. Call me crazy, but it just sounds better.

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

I wouldn't say it sounds crazy at all - makes sense how that would change the tone. I wonder how much of a tonal difference it would make - since I do miss 24 frets on this guitar. If there was only a small difference in tone I would probably opt for 24 frets.

[@zynosgd9982]

it definitely sounds different. Personally I prefer 21-22 frets for a single coil in the neck but I prefer 24 on a neck humbucker as it removes some of the "woofiness" and overly warm sounds that comes with a humbucker in the neck.

[@matibrandrock]

I agree, at least to my ears 22 fret guitars in the neck position sounds better, If I want to do higher notes and I don't have enough frets I do pinch harmonics where there would be where the 24th fret would be which is right above the neck pickup.

[@matibrandrock]

If you have a good bit of distortion you can't always tell it's a pinch harmonic

[@stratolestele7611]

Ha, I just posted the same thing (4/24). You're 100% right.

[@abrazalves]

Thanks for showing up the guitar performance. Super educational

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

No worries!

[@MikeS4628]

If you want to add more resistance to how easy the tone knob turns, cut a piece of felt a little smaller than the diameter of the knob itself and poke a hole it in so you can fit it over the post. Push it down so it goes over the nut holding the pot in place and put the knob back on so it sandwiches the felt between the bottom of the tone knob and the nut. I had to do this on a guitar and it works like a charm. Still easy to turn but it won't wander on it's own.

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Thanks for the tip! Will have to try it. Sounds like a pretty good fix because sometimes the tone has moved without me noticing. Thanks for commenting!

[@We-all-watched-the-video]

Had this guy as a teacher in college!

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

😂 poor soul, that’s all I’ll say! 😂 hope you’re well 👍🏻

[@We-all-watched-the-video]

❤️

[@MrJingles021]

I want the Nick Johnston t-style. I'd definitely want the treble bleed mod too. I have one in a guitar, and it really makes a difference.

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

The T-styles look great!

[@RGBloke]

Thanks for the updated review, love your shredding - you forgot to mention how great it sounds acoustically, I bought mine a couple of years ago as a novice and so far have mostly played it un-amped - it's got such resonance, it sounds good and doesn't annoy the wife (unlike most things). I did find the nut slot pretty high and there were a few uneven frets from the factory, but after fret leveling and setup it's super slick.

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Thanks! Yeah I forgot to mention again about how good it sounds acoustically - much louder too than my other electrics from that side of things. I often play mine without an amp too when practicing! Thanks for commenting and watching. Glad you enjoy yours too.

[@capedukewuhaha]

Mine sounds really dull acoustically. Like a cardboard - even with Elixir strings.I will switch the saddles to highwood and hope it resonates more.

[@RGBloke]

@@capedukewuhaha wondering, do you have HSS like Sean and myself ? FYI my saddle is floating

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

@@capedukewuhaha that’s weird, is your bridge floating? Any modifications to the guitar, or was it always like that?

[@capedukewuhaha]

@@SeanBennettGuitar thanks for responding. Yep, got HSS in atomic blue. bridge floating but almost decked. I'm sure it's just the lacquer. Dulled the lacquer a bit and in the last days I did a slight relic job and now it at least got more high end - or its just placebo. But looks cooler this way. Waiting for the relic highwood saddles and then it should be fine. Worked on my Squier SE like a charm ;-)

[@jamestejada3673]

I got that model used. But the previous owner put a hot rails in the neck position. Not that that is bad.Plus there was a Thornbu ler put in the bridge.

[@jbin2756]

When you split the humbucker do you lose half the volume or did you set the pickup volume split to mat h volume with the other 2 single coils? If that is the case then when you go full humbucker to you decrease the volume? Thanks and great playing

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Thanks! No volume loss between the split positions of the humbucker whatsoever in my experience 😊

[@jonathananthony1901]

I recently got the Seafoam Green SSS model in a trade. I replaces the white pickguard with a Balck pearloid HSS pickguard, and transfered over.rhe electronics, but with a DiMarzio AT1 humbucker in the bridge. All said and done, its one of the most versatile guitars i have. I have a Fender American Professional II Strat, and a Gibson Les Paul, and this sits right in the middle and covers both territories very well! If i could only bring 1 guitar to a gig, it would be this.

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

This is the only guitar I actually take to gigs. Covers tons of ground musically. Been looking at the Dimarzio AT1 because everything Andy Timmons seems to touch becomes gold! Congrats on your SSS 👍🏻

[@jblaze4583]

So the sss is routed for hss under the pickplate?

[@jonathananthony1901]

@@jblaze4583 sort of. I had to take a chisel and enlarge the cavity just a little. It would fit a P90 without modification, but a full humbucker needed a little routing.

[@jblaze4583]

@@jonathananthony1901 Cool, thanks man.

[@jonathananthony1901]

@jblaze4583 absolutely!

[@timparker4228]

If it were 24 frets it would change the position of the neck pup, and thus the tone of it.

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

True, but it would make an intriguing experiment through. Might not necessarily be for the worse.

[@TheZipeedoo]

I think most people call the neck pickup "position 5", and the next click (neck and mid) "position 4"

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

That’s true

[@pedromendonca2963]

For rock and metal, rhythm and leads, you always prefer the split humbucker. So, the SSS version would be a better choice? In which cases would you prefer the full humbucker?

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

I prefer sticking with HSS for flexibility. I like knowing I can have a full humbucker if I want it. Since I’m used to a playing a humbucker in the bridge, I think I would panic a little just knowing that one isn’t there. I would prefer the full humbucker for thick metal rhythm tones on the heavier side of things. But yeah, the split humbucker sounds great! Very pleasantly surprised. Thanks for commenting.

[@johnmurray3346]

Good review brother 🤙🏻

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Thanks!

[@Slap63]

All Guitars in this song are completly recorded with a Schecter Signature Nick Johnston Traditional HSS Strat AS Rain Air - Funky Faxi gets the Blues kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4vbdXmimMubn5I

[@solexhn]

Hey! Could someone tell me how to adjust the action in this guitar. I find the strings too separated from the fretboard for my taste

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Check that the neck is relatively straight first to ensure it’s not a truss rod adjustment that’s needed. Then take a hex key and turn the two hex key inserts on each saddle to lower the strings closer to the fretboard. If the saddles get too low there will be fretbuzz, so try to find a happy medium.

[@scottbaker1991]

I have the HSS orange one. It's a great guitar if I could keep it tune. Even small bends take me out of tune. I've replaced the locking tuners and string tree. Hopefully replacing the nut will fix the tuning issues. I prefer the neck/middle position for most stuff.

[@guyincognito320]

It's the nut slots when it does that. Not sure there's a Tusq drop-in like there is with Fender/Charvel so with that and the tight string spacing I'm not sure I'll pull the trigger on one of these. They seem to be a pound heavier than Fenders also. The Teles average close to 9 lbs going off Sweetwater

[@p.g.pg38]

Thank you very much for this video! Thanks to you, I just discovered Treble Bleed. There doesn't seem to be a standard pattern, of course. Does anyone have the specs (or a link) for this guitar? Capacitor alone? With resistor in series? With resistance in parallel? With a resistor in series and another in parallel? And what values for the capa and for the resistance(s)? Many thanks in advance!

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Thank you for watching!

[@DennyBob521]

You can Google Andy Timmons treble bleed circuit and you’ll find schematics and values for the resistor, etc. That’s a pretty standard treble bleed config for a “strat~ish” guitars.

[@mychalsean]

I got a 10 way switch installed... game changer!!!!

[@timjenkins502]

Have you ever tried a Sun Valley Super Shredser? They are slightly more modern

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Damn, I had no idea about these! Just checked out the 'Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III, Aurora Burst' and it looks amazing! 7 strings with H S S and a Floyd. If they had a version of that guitar with a evertune I'd be completely sold, but I do like Floyd roses anyway - just looking particularly at evertunes at the moment for rhythm work.

[@bozmadde]

i tried them both in a store for hours(the employee was super nice). this guitar slaps on the supper shredder. the quality and smoothness of the neck is just superb.

[@onionheadguy7094]

@@bozmadde love my super shredder, got the T shaped one!

[@jhnel13]

Still loving mine too, I bought the SSS as well. I play them môre than my Heritage guitars.

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

It's a great guitar and I still see no reason to buy a Fender Strat 😂

[@GuitarmanChase]

What tool comes with it to tighten it up?

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Comes with a set of allen keys in a plastic sleeve. One of them is to tighten the tremolo bar to the bridge.

[@bustanorms2028]

nice guitar

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Thanks for watching 😊

[@toroddlnning6806]

you have to tighten the screw on the tremelo-arm, so it doesnt fall out, its an umbraco, i think its called

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Correct! It comes with the guitar and only takes a few seconds to tighten; however, it does need doing occasionally. I tend to find I have to repeat the process once every couple of months.

[@frankantalec7871]

You could try dabbing the tip with a bit of clear nail polish to lock it for a little longer?

[@frankantalec7871]

Meaning dabbing the tip of the set screw that is.

[@stratolestele7611]

Brother, if two frets are added, it would force the builder to move the pickups. That neck pickup tone you love so much would be ruined - if you those classic Strat tones from the neck and neck/middle are what one wants. The more you change the Strat formula, the more you stray from "that" tone. Lotsa options with 24 frets; including Schecter's.

[@lollofunky]

I really want this guitar...i am only scared that I will sell my old beloved Strat after !! :)

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Have both - perfect situation 😅

[@Cr3pit0]

Maybe its just me, but i get around 3 to 4 Seconds of usable Sustain out of this Thing. (Without any effects). Thats almost nothing. Is there a way to naturally improve the Sustain before i hammer it with compression and overdrive?

[@Matt_10203]

Increase the action and try adjusting the pickups.

[@bluwng]

Why is neck pickup the first position? Convention is usually bottom to top and left to right, from this standpoint it should be position 5.

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Splitting hairs

[@bluwng]

@@SeanBennettGuitar stating fact

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

@@bluwng congratulations

[@maddoxmay611]

@@bluwng🤓

[@mKreifeldt]

I’m sick of hearing about 24 frets they ruin the tone of the neck pickup and make it sound completely screwed up. Leo and co knew what they were doing.

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

I just learnt that the hard way after buying the Schecter MV-6. I knew 24 frets impacted tone on the neck pickup, but I didn't expect it to be quite as drastic as I experienced.

[@wagneralvesgtr]

Essa guitarra é simplesmente linda e tem tudo que eu sempre quis em uma strato. Minha encomenda de uma dessa já está a caminho. Não vejo a hora de ter ela em minhas mãos. Para controlar a ansiedade fico vindo aqui para assistir seu review. Já perdi as contas de quantas vezes assisti.

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Parabéns pela sua compra! Ainda toco esse violão quase todos os dias e tenho certeza que você vai gostar do seu. Obrigado por assistir e por comentar!

[@FilipedosSantos]

E aí, chegou a guita? Fiquei curioso pra saber mais sobre ela.

[@MisterTee]

Note to self: don’t buy a MT amp. In shocked at how unresponsive it is to the volume control. The guitar sure looks and sounds great, especially at that price point.

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Yeah - ended up selling the PRS MT15 a few weeks ago. Looking for another amp to replace it with as I still prefer tube amps to preamp pedals.

[@garrettsodroskymusic]

​@SeanBennettGuitar check out the REVV stuff. I have a G20 and it's really great.

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

@@garrettsodroskymusic Thanks! I will check it out

[@bgusj2587]

27:54 LMAO "lost all melody just turned into a soules shredder"

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Honesty is the best policy 😅

[@tyt2lynnin1]

hmmm PRS Silver Sky SE or the Schecter you think?

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Schecter Nick Johnston all the way. Then again I prefer Nick Johnston over John Mayer, so I may have bias.

[@demolitionbmxd]

I would personally go the Silver Sky, far better QC on PRS. These are great guitars though. If you need a humbucker though this might be a better rig. Find a guitar store that sells them and try them out!

[@maddoxmay611]

Definitely Nick Johnston one! I have the PRS SE silver sky and the QC is awful unfortunately, left the guitar in the case for about a months and after taking it out the strings and bridge rusted really bad!I live in the south in the states and humidity is up so it could be that. Out of the box there were pieces of shielding copper sticking out from under the pickguard and when I took the pickguard off there was a big splotch of shielding paint on the body that was covered by the pick guard. That should have NEVER gotten out of the factory but it’s an SE and I guess PRS decided to skimp on it. There are also a couple of black flakes under the finish line something go on the paint while they put the gloss on it. I hate to say it but maybe I just got a lemon or something but go for the NJ Schecter all day!!

[@nickhutchinson9068]

Sun Valley Super strat has the things you're asking for ❤

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

It's the new Schecter MV-6 line that has got my attention! Literally this guitar but 24 frets and without the middle pickup. Looks like the MV-6 guitars have better upper fret access too. It's almost as if Schecter saw my constructive criticisms of this guitar (if you can call them that) 😂 Really want one of those MV-6 guitars now!

[@nickhutchinson9068]

@SeanBennettGuitar That purple MV 6 is a beauty. I'm definitely getting one. Unsure if the white is better looking .

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

@@nickhutchinson9068 Exactly the colour I was looking at! I love the darker look of the fretboard, neck and headstock on the purple body. Stuck between that and the light blue one.

[@ardiantoyeti303rdh4]

this guitar made in indonesia?

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Yeah!

[@mtaskapablo]

Is it a heavy weight guitar??? Some peolpe say yes

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Same weight as a typical Strat I'd say - never found it heavy personally.

[@mychalsean]

I have the grey model before this and it's in lp territory.

[@morganghetti]

I have the sss version of that guitar and it's a wonderful instrument. I completely agree about the pickups. They may be my favorite single coils. I also have an Eric Johnson Strat and an American Pro and the Schecter is 100 percent the guitar as the other two. It's a pleasure to play. But I don't play metal lol.

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Always wanted an Eric Johnson strat! Either that or an SRV model. Great to know that it stands on par with those top of the line Fenders. Thanks for commenting!

[@firdhaus_saleh]

Sorry I just saw the video! Cheers!

[@SeanBennettGuitar]

Just uploaded a two year updated review today 😊

[@schnazzybo]

I hate haych