The Schecter Nick Johnston HSS Review

I recently purchased the NJ HSS and in this video I give you my honest opinion of it after owning it for about a month and recording several songs with it.
Chapters
0:00 - Jedi Jingle Maker Song Recorded With The Guitar in the Video
1:30 - Introduction and Overview
2:22 - My Taste in Guitars Lately and the Quest for Classic Tones
3:05 - The Body, Feel, and Weight
3:29 - Telecaster Knob and Graphite String Tree Modifications
3:50 - The Paint Job
4:33 - It Needed a Setup
6:15 - Use the Truss Rod as the Seasons Go By
6:45 - The Tremolo
8:05 - The Pickups
9:02 - Grounding Issues & New Single Coil Pickups Planned
9:34 - 5 Way Switch Eradication Continues
10:11 - Additional Shielding and Treble Bleed Planned
11:20 - A Neck to Die For and Decent Frets
12:22 - The Nut, String Tree, and Locking Tuners
14:55 - Final Thoughts and Next Steps
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Ibanez Electric Guitars amzn.to/3ZrSuB7
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Schecter C-1 SLS Elite - Black Fade Burst amzn.to/3vXEJN1
Ibanez S570AH Standard 6-String Electric Guitar amzn.to/3hC1Cld
Ibanez AZ427P1PBCKB AZ Series Premium 6-String Electric Guitar (Charcoal Black Burst) amzn.to/3X7K0NT
Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Send me an email (listed on the about tab for this channel) if you would like to collaborate musically. Thanks for watching!

[@roosternm6830]

Fender hot noisles single coils. They sound great and quiet

[@JediJingleMaker]

Outstanding 2roosternm6830! After I saw your comment yesterday, I researched them and really appreciate you pointing them out to me. I LOVE the NJ HSS, but the noise and grounding issue must go before I use it on a recording again. It looks like the "Ultra Noiseless" Hot Single Coils are the way to go. I am almost 100% certain those are the pickups I will get. It looks like the only way to buy them is in a 3 pack, which means I will probably put one of them in the neck position of my Ibanez SEW guitar, another noisy one, just not nearly as much.

[@Robbinsnator]

Have the same one and I can’t get over how great it is.

[@JediJingleMaker]

Yes indeed, the thing is solid (once I fix the grounding and noise issues on mine, it will be a lifetime keeper for me). Hope you sub.

[@chadwickhurlburt6529]

Cannot complain about Schecter guitars. I don't own any, but several people have brought them to me to do a "once over". My experience so far is that Schecter produces some solid instruments with some exacting QC out of the factory. Even with their mid-range products. This is wise and super important. 90% of any brands customers will have their first experience with a brand based on what their budget line is all about. If the budget line is awesome, you will find a customer base. At my age, the Ibanez RG 550 and early Saber and Radius line guitars were their budget line when I was young. They had specs back then that are only found on the most expensive models today. Things like high-end Gotoh tuners, Edge tremolos, and DiMarzio made pickups. Pots and switches were some of the best on the market too. I laugh all the way to the bank every time I score on of those old guitars for under $700 today. Schecter makes some of the best playing guitars in the modern age, based on all of the ones I've had my hands on. Enjoy.

[@JediJingleMaker]

Most excellent @chadwickhurlburt6529, I love the old RG 550s, that is a rad guitar. I am now up to 5 Schecters and totally agree, the quality is very good, the all seem like guitars you could use for a lifetime, especially the ones with stainless frets. At this point, I always have Schecters on my wish list. This one is at the top of the list currently www.schecterguitars.com/SVSS-Exotic-HT?quantity=1&custitem_color_master_list=303 I hope you sub!

[@waltscott6161]

I have a Dimarzio Heavy Blues 2 in the neck and a Area 67 in the middle. Smooth neck tones and decent quack in the 2 and 4 positions. Works well if you use the volume knob.

[@JediJingleMaker]

That sounds great, I appreciate the information on the Heavy Blues 2 and Area 67. I am wanting to reduce noise to the maximum extent, so plan to use Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder staggered posts with an RWRP in the middle position on one of my current mod guitars and I am planning to use an Fender Ultra Noiseless Hot Pickups on another. However, I have not yet decided on the Schecter. How do the Dimarzios handle the 60 cycle hum?

[@waltscott6161]

They are stacked, dead quiet under gain. Number of positive reviews on youtube@@JediJingleMaker

[@JediJingleMaker]

Thanks for that Walt, I checked them out and decided I will go with those in either this guitar or a Firefly I am working on (FFST).

[@RGBloke]

look forward to seeing your PRS switch mod, my Nick Johnston HSS arrived very poorly setup FYI the 2 point trem posts sit in plastic bushes and there isn't an earth wire at the base (there is an earth on the claw)

[@JediJingleMaker]

Thanks @DogFather, great comment. Since I made this video, I got all the tools I will need to make my mods on this thing. Mine also came with high action and played 'meh' initially. The setup fixed that issue for me. I am really surprised to here about the plastic bushings. I now have a voltage meter that can check continuity, so I think I will do an "operation" video on the Schecter as I start to modify it and see exactly how well (or not) mine is grounded. Currently, hands down, it is the loudest guitar (60 cycle hum and interference) I have ever owned. Who knows what I will find in mine, when I start to dig in, it comes from a long way away... Hope ya sub! Here is another video I recently made about my reaper 6 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqLRYqKebKilqJY

[@jameshawkins4514]

I've got a 10 year old blackjack with active Duncan's and thru the body strings. Came with locking nuts. It is a good guitar. Oh, and I'm a leftie. I recently bought an Aaron Marshall 6 string. Active pickups are something from schecter, but I'm thinking I want to put in an old dimarzio tone zone in the bridge and I've got the satriani "Fred" pickup that might find its way in the neck. It's a great player. And I got Sweetwater to pleck it for me so i got it pretty much exactly how I'd want it.

[@JediJingleMaker]

I love that Aaron Marshall 6, I have had my eye on that for sure. Good to hear you like it. I have never had a pleck, but TBH it makes a lot of sense on a guitar with stainless steel frets. I hope you sub!

[@UtsavManga]

Hey bud, Is this the traditional or custom shop?

[@JediJingleMaker]

Hey! That is the Indonesian one, not the custom shop.

[@UtsavManga]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@Slap63]

All Guitars in this song are completly recorded with a Schecter Signature Nick Johnston Traditional HSS Strat AS kzbin.info/www/bejne/r33ZmpyKordmY7s

[@JediJingleMaker]

Most excellent and really creative track! Check out my original music on the channel made with the gear and guitars I review kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXPTqHivicaXjM0

[@Stratisfied22]

My favorite Strat of all time, it basically smokes my American Fender Pro ll in every way for half the price.

[@JediJingleMaker]

Indeed, the thing is a beast and the only thing a Fender gets you is the name on the head stock at this point. Looks like the student has become the master, heh. I hope you sub. What is your next guitar (on the wish list)?

[@Stratisfied22]

Been GASing for the Yamaha Revstar, I'm hearing a lot of good things about them. Also been looking at Vola guitars which are very fair priced for being made in Japan. With the Fender I realize now I've only been keeping it because of the nostalgia it brings but at the end of the day even my EART Strat destroys this Fender. Be well buddy I subbed for ya good luck with the channel!@@JediJingleMaker

[@JediJingleMaker]

Gnarly @Stratisfield22, you have great taste in guitars, the Revstar and Vola are in the sweet zone for sure. I feel the same way about my Fender Strat, not sure I keep it for reasons other than the sentimental ones. You really activated the GASification for me with that EART guitar reference. I might just have to get one now, not sure how long I can resist. I have had my eye on the headless guitar they sell, even have one with a swamp ash body now. Also the humbucker telecaster seems like an incredible guitar. Thanks for the comment.

[@jbin2756]

I have both...disagree. 2 different guitars and tone is different too.

[@JediJingleMaker]

Good point, comparison is silly at some point.