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… they’re all unmistakably Schecter but they each offer something slightly different to each other. What unites them is that ‘SLS’ – it stands for Slim Line Series. These guitars feature a thinner arched top body measuring 45mm deep for a lighter feel. And many players swear by the tonal qualities of lighter guitars.

Still, these top Schecter guitars offer a lot of value for what you’ll spend with them.The C-1 models offer compelling options if you’re looking for a Schecter guitar for beginners, while the 2 Omen models offer more oomph for more money. However, on this list the best Schecter guitar for the money is the exceptional Hellraiser C-1. Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2010 This one is a keeper. I have had my Schecter Tempest Custom in gloss black with gold hardware since February, 2010. The intonation on this guitar is fantastic. I've only been playing for almost 2 years, and played many a guitar. Buy Now: Andy checkes out the Schecter Tempest Standard, a true mean rock n roll machine. Schecter has taken the classic set neck mahog.

[geo-out country=”Australia” note=””]Buy the Schecter Blackjack SLS C-1 from Guitar Center[/geo-out]

The Blackjack SLS C-1 is one of the more straight foward models in the line-up: six strings, through-body stringing. The body is made of mahogany (models with transparent finishes have a flamed maple top as well), with a three-piece maple neck, ebony fretboard, 24 Jumbo frets, black multi-ply binding and set-neck construction with Ultra Access joint carve. This is a very clever way of sculpting the neck joint area so that it looks and feels like a neck-thru (that is, a guitar where the wood that makes up the neck continues on all the way along the body, often with ‘wings’ of a different type of wood glued either side). All models feature a super-cool Mother of Pearl ‘Hell’s Gate Skull’ inlay centred on the twelfth fret, but it’s to big that it spills out onto the 11th and 13th as well. It catches the light and reflects some rainbow-like hues, which is pretty cool!

Most models in the SLS line are available in two electronics options: an active version with Seymour Duncan Blackouts humbuckers, or a passive variant with Seymour Duncan Full Shred and Jazz humbuckers with a coil split. The exceptions are the eight-string SLS C-8, which is only available with the AHB-1 eight-string Blackouts set, and the C-1 S and C-1 FR-S, which have a Full Shred in the bridge position and a Sustainiac driver in the neck slot. The review model, the SLS C-1, has the Full Shred/Jazz combo, dedicated volume pots for each pickup, and a master tone pot which doubles as a push-pull coil split for both humbuckers. Pickup selection is via a three-way switch, so you end up with a total of six different sounds.

The setup out of the box was far too high and with a considerable bow in the neck, so after taking to the guitar with a screwdriver and Allen wrench and letting it sit overnight it was ready to shred. The satin feel on the back of the neck takes a little getting used to if you’re accustomed to glossy finishes, but if you’re into the oiled wood thing you’ll feel at home. The neck shape is definitely geared towards power chords and fast soloing rather than huge bends, and the string spacing seems particularly well-suited to techniques like sweep picking and string skipping.

Schecter Tempest Blackjack Review Youtube

The choice of a Full Shred in the bridge position is a slightly surprising one, considering the huge popularity of the JB as the Duncan of choice for many guitar companies. The JB is a great all-round pickup for rock and metal styles. But the Full Shred is perfectly suited to the audience this guitar is aimed at: it has a fat and chunky low end but its double rows of Allen screw pole pieces give it a finely-tuned high end. It’s a very articulate pickup, so it’ll certainly keep up with you if your lead playing includes lots of intricate phrasing and dynamic shifts. It’s great for 80s-style rock crunch, and it totally kills for modern metal rhythm chunk. And because there’s so much musically-voiced high end, you don’t lose cut and clarity when you turn down your amp’s treble. This brings out some very expressive, creamy solo tones (and testing this guitar was part of the reason I went for a Full Shred in my Buddy Blaze 7-string – read my review of the pickup here).

The Jazz in the neck position is a very ‘noodly’ pickup with an almost vocal quality and emphasised pick attack: kind of the best of both worlds. It really sings when you sustain or bend notes, but it has almost a ‘honk’ overtone when you play fast, and this really helps to maintain the definition and character of all-out shreddage. The coil split is a lot of fun and the sounds are perfectly usable, especially for sparkly cleans or ringing semi-dirty open chords – the Jazz is particularly nice in single coil mode – but if this was my personal guitar I’d probably take to it with a soldering iron and install individual coil splits on each pickup’s volume control to get even more flexibility out of it.

Other than wishing for dual coil splits, there really isn’t anything I’d change about the SLS C-1. It’s well-balanced, it plays very well (especially if your technique is skewed to the metal/shred side of things), and it has a deceptively wide dynamic range for a genre of guitar that you might expect to squish everything down a little. And it’s a much more versatile guitar than you might think on first glance.

[geo-out country=”Australia” note=””]Buy the Schecter Blackjack SLS C-1 from Guitar Center[/geo-out]

Schecter Tempest Blackjack Review

In recent years Schecter has built a very good fan base, and has become one of the main players in the industry. Today, if you want a great metal guitar, you go to Schecter. That’s just the way it is.

However, Schecter sometimes steps out of this defined space to deliver guitars which are much more versatile than most give them credit for.

If you need a good example of that, we can give you Schecter Tempest Blackjack. This guitar is one of their more refined models, and it just keeps on impressing with its overall performance.

Sure, it’s built for metal and that is something it does incredibly well. However, once you want to tone things down a bit, you will be pleasantly surprised just how classy this guitar can become.

We are going to review this model for you today, and talk about different features it has to offer along with the tone spectrum you can expect from one of these. Let’s dig in.

An Overview

What we got here is very sweet looking guitar that has a very unique body style. The main color theme is a matte black combined with red binding and details. This gives it a very sinister appearance that many will find attractive. When it comes to looks alone, Schecter Tempest Blackjack is hands down one of the more beautiful guitars you can get.

Features

Looks alone don’t make a great guitar, so let’s check out what components you can expect to see on this Tempest. The material used for body is a mahogany that is only complimented by a three piece mahogany neck. The fretboard is ebony with dark red inlays that match the overall theme of the guitar. Now to the pickups.

What you get is a combination of Seymour Duncan Nazgul at the bridge, and Seymour Duncan Sentient on the neck. These are probably the best passive pickups on the market right now, hands down. They are controlled by two volume knobs, two tone knobs with push pull ability, and a 3-way switch.

Bridge is a standard tune-o-matic design that is paired with a set of Schecter locking tuners on the other end. These tuners work flawlessly, and you definitely don’t need to worry about them no matter how aggressive your playing style is.

Sound

What really defines this guitar is its sound. Seymour Duncan Nazgul and Sentient really give you the best passive pickup performance you can get at the moment.

Their output is somewhere between standard passive and active pickups. The flexibility they offer allows you to play anything from a aggressive metal with lots of gain, to more reduced blues with a slight overdrive. You just can’t go wrong. This comes as a pretty decent surprise from Schecter as their bread and butter is definitely hard tone.

Everything on this guitar is set properly right from the factory. The action is just right, and the there is no need for additional setup. All you have to do is find a decent amp and plug
this puppy in.

What we like

What is not to like on this guitar? It has the looks, the sound, everything. One thing that stands out is their choice of pickups which definitely add a whole new dimension of flexibility to this Schecter. That makes it a pretty decent all purpose guitar.

What we don’t like

There isn’t much we can name in terms of flaws on Schecter Tempest Blackjack. Every detail about this guitar is well made and performs great.

In closing

Schecter Tempest Blackjack Reviews

Schecter Tempest Blackjack is a true performer’s guitar. This thing is like a more aggressive Les Paul both in terms of sound, and the feel you have when you play it. It’s a heavy guitar, and heavy is good. If you need a good quality Schecter that will give you much more than just great metal tone, this is pretty much it.

Schecter Tempest Blackjack Price

There is not much this guitar can’t do, and you will definitely need to try one out when you get a chance. Schecter Tempest Blackjack is one of the best guitars in Schecter’s line up at the moment, especially if we’re talking about passive models.