Swap
Swap
ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1
VS
Playability
82
Sound
81
Build
68
Value
77
Score
77
FIND IT ON:
Amazon logoSweetwater logo
Playability
78
Sound
77
Build
67
Value
74
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logo
Add more to comparison

LTD Viper-1000 Evertune vs Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1

Reasons to Get
LTD Viper-1000 Evertune over Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2020 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Thin U vs Ultra Thin C
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
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
Bridge
Evertune vs Fixed
Fixed bridge that will keep the guitar in tune forever
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Value Score
77 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 over ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune

Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 13.78"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Ultra Thin C vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Plastic
Good tuning stability with rich tone
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
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 Evertune
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Avg. Weight
7.6lbs (3.4kgs) vs 8.2lbs (3.7kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output

Other Key Differences
LTD Viper-1000 Evertune vs Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Pegasus vs EMG 57
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Sentient vs EMG 66
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Nut Material
Plastic vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
LTD Viper-1000 Evertune vs Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
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

  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT
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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune is probably the better product overall with its final score of 77 compared to the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1's 74 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 in every aspect.

However, there's still a reason to choose the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 instead. If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 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 C-1 is the better choice.

The Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune 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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2020 Viper series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Quilted Maple top
  • Mahogany w/ Maple Cap body
  • 3Pc Mahogany neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Pegasus (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Evertune (F model) bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Grover tuners
  • Weight around 8.2lbs (3.7kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 Overview

  • From Schecter's 2015 Hellraiser Hybrid series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Quilted Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple 3-pc neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 57 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 66 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TonePros T3BT TOM w/ String Thru Body bridge
  • Ultra Thin C Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Schecter Locking tuners
  • Weight between 7.45lbs (3.4kgs) and 7.75lbs (3.5kgs)
  • 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

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

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.

Woods Used in the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

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.

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.

You can purchase similar pickups to the ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1's online:

The ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune's pickups are Passive while the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1's are Active.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

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.

Only the ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune's switch options
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1'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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune.

Final Sound Quality Scores

ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune
Pickups 85
Sustain 75
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 100
Sound 81
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1
Pickups 85
Sustain 90
Versatility 51
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 77

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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune compares to the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune is built in Indonesia while the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 is made in South Korea.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

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: Tie

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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 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: Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1.

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.

In this comparison, the ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune.

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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune's brige is a Evertune. It will keep your guitar in tune and intonated until the next string swap. If you really like extremely subtle vibratos, this might not be the bridge for you because you won't be able to perform them as well. However, the fact that you won't need to tune your guitar is a huge advantage that many people will gladly pay the extra price for.

On the other hand, the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1'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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune.

Tuners

The Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 has the best tuners of the two because they are 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: Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1.

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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1
  • 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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune
Quality of materials 75
Features 55
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 68
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1
Quality of materials 55
Features 70
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 67

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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune 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 42mm (1.654'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune's Scale Length
ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune's Scale Length
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1's Scale Length
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1'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 C-1 has the longest scale: 25.5". The ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) 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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune Neck Profile
ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune's neck profile
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 Neck Profile
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1'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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune 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 C-1, 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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune's Fingerboard radius
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 Fretboard Compound Radius
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1'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 C-1 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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune favors large hands more than the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP LTD Viper-1000 Evertune and Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 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 LTD Viper-1000 Evertune
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 82
Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

LTD Viper-1000 Evertune vs Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1
General LTD Viper-1000 Evertune Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1
Brand: ESP LTD Schecter
Year: 2020 2015
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia South Korea
Series: Viper Hellraiser Hybrid
Colors: Red Black, Purple
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany w/ Maple Cap Mahogany
Bridge: Evertune (F model) TonePros T3BT TOM w/ String Thru Body
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Schecter Locking
Fretboard: Macassar Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: 3Pc Mahogany Maple 3-pc
Decoration: Flags MOP Offset/Reverse Dots w/Gothic Cross at 12th Fret
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
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 Stainless Steel 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 13.78" 12" to 16"
Nut: Plastic Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Pegasus (Humbucker / Passive) EMG 57 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker / Passive) EMG 66 (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 1