Swap
Swap
ESP E-II Horizon FR-7
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7
VS
Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
77
Value
67
Score
77
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability
75
Sound
76
Build
70
Value
74
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Add more to comparison

E-II Horizon FR-7 vs Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7

Reasons to Get
E-II Horizon FR-7 over Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs South Korea
Built with higher quality standards
Neck Profile
Thin U vs Ultra Thin C
Comfortable neck with more grip
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.748'' (19mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 26.5'' (673.1mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Reasons to Get
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 over ESP E-II Horizon FR-7

Release Year
2015 vs 2014
From a more recent year
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Ultra Thin C vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.748'' (19mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
74 vs 67
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
E-II Horizon FR-7 vs Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7

Headstock
R7 vs 4-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
E-II Horizon FR-7 vs Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7

Bridge Pickup
EMG 57-7H
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
EMG 66-7H
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
7
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Decorative Top
Quilted Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 77 compared to the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7's 74 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 is the better choice.

The Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

ESP E-II Horizon FR-7
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 Overview

  • From ESP E-II's 2014 Horizon series
  • Made in Japan
  • 7 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Quilted Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 57-7H (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 66-7H (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 Overview

  • From Schecter's 2015 Hellraiser Hybrid series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 7 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Quilted Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 57-7H (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 66-7H (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Hipshot Hardtail (.125) w/ String Thru Body bridge
  • Ultra Thin C Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Schecter Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

Both use Active pickups. These pickups use an additional 9v battery to be able to increase their output for high gain tones. This is why they're popular among heavy metal guitarists. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. Also, the clean tones aren't as clean as other pickups because they'll have really hot output.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 and Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 and Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: ESP E-II Horizon FR-7.

Final Sound Quality Scores

ESP E-II Horizon FR-7
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 95
Sound 81
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7
Pickups 85
Sustain 90
Versatility 49
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 76

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 compares to the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 is built in Japan while the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 is made in South Korea.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

South Korea was for many years the number one choice for mass-producing semi-premium guitars. They can build excellent guitars for a cheap price. Now, it's less common to find Korean guitars because Indonesia has proved capable of building guitars just as well, but likely for cheaper.

Winner: ESP E-II Horizon FR-7

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 has a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

On the other hand, the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 comes with a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The ESP E-II Horizon FR-7's brige is a Floyd Rose. This is a double-locking bridge system that allows you to perform techniques like dive bombs and pinch harmonics. The locking nut allows your guitar to stay in tune even after the most intense tremolo usage. The disadvantage is that it takes more work to change the strings and set up everything correctly.

On the other hand, the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7's is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: ESP E-II Horizon FR-7.

Tuners

They both have locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP E-II Horizon FR-7
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

ESP E-II Horizon FR-7
Quality of materials 55
Features 80
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 77
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7
Quality of materials 65
Features 70
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 70

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 48mm (1.89'').

This is considered a wide width for a 7-string guitar. It gives your fingers the extra space you need to play without muting accidentally, but this also makes bar chords harder to perform, especially if you have small hands.

Scale Length

ESP E-II Horizon FR-7's Scale Length
ESP E-II Horizon FR-7's Scale Length
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7's Scale Length
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 has the longest scale: 26.5". The ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 is only 25.5" long. This is a 1'' (25.4mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 Neck Profile
ESP E-II Horizon FR-7's neck profile
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 Neck Profile
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 has a U type of neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

The Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 Fingerboard Radius
ESP E-II Horizon FR-7's Fingerboard radius
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 Fretboard Compound Radius
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7's Compound Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 favors large hands more than the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7.

ESP E-II Horizon FR-7:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP E-II Horizon FR-7 and Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7 Frets Size
Both have a similar XL Jumbo fret size

Both have a XL Jumbo fret size. These are really tall frets made like this so you don't meet any resistance when playing techniques like vibrato, bending, tapping, etc. They should make the guitar easier to play, but you have to be careful not to get the notes out of pitch by pressing down too hard, which might happen since the fretboard will be too low to stop your hand.

Final Playability Scores

ESP E-II Horizon FR-7
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

E-II Horizon FR-7 vs Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7
General E-II Horizon FR-7 Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid PT-7
Brand: ESP E-II Schecter
Year: 2014 2015
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 7
Made in: Japan South Korea
Series: Horizon Hellraiser Hybrid
Colors: Black, Black Burst Black Burst, Purple
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Floyd Rose Original Hipshot Hardtail (.125) w/ String Thru Body
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Gotoh Locking Schecter Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: 3pc Maple Maple 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods
Decoration: Offset Blocks Offset/Reverse Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 26.5"
Shape: Thin U Ultra Thin C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 1st Fret: 0.748'' (19mm) - 12th Fret: 0.787'' (20mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12" to 16"
Nut: Locking Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 48mm (1.89'') 48mm (1.89'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: EMG 57-7H (Humbucker / Active) EMG 57-7H (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: EMG 66-7H (Humbucker / Active) EMG 66-7H (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1