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Harley Benton SC-Custom III
Schecter Omen Extreme-6
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Playability
77
Sound
73
Build
64
Value
81
Score
71
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Playability
78
Sound
70
Build
58
Value
79
Score
69
FIND IT ON:
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Harley Benton SC-Custom III vs Schecter Omen Extreme-6 Specs Comparison
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Schecter Omen Extreme-6
General
Brand: Harley Benton Schecter
Year: 2024 2015
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Custom Line Omen
Colors: Gold, Black, Blue, Purple, Yellow, Burst Black, Orange, Red
Left-Handed Version: Yes Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Meranti Mahogany
Bridge: Wsc Tune-O-Matic Tune-O-Matic w/ String Thru Body
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Grover Machine Heads Schecter
Fretboard: Jatoba Rosewood
Neck Material: Meranti Maple
Decoration: White pearloid crown Abalone & Pearloid Vector
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: Harley Benton Modern C Thin C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.807'' (20.5mm) - 12th Fret: 0.886'' (22.5mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 13.78" 14"
Nut: Graphite Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Tesla TM VR-Nitro Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter Diamond Plus (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Tesla TM VR-Nitro Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter Diamond Plus (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Gold Black & Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Harley Benton SC-Custom III and Schecter Omen Extreme-6 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton SC-Custom III and Schecter Omen Extreme-6's switch options

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton SC-Custom III over Schecter Omen Extreme-6

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2024 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
Tesla vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.807'' (20.5mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.886'' (22.5mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 14'' (355.6mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
81 vs 79
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Schecter Omen Extreme-6 over Harley Benton SC-Custom III

Decorative Top
Quilted Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Graphite
Good tuning stability with rich tone
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.807'' (20.5mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.886'' (22.5mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
14'' (355.6mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton SC-Custom III vs Schecter Omen Extreme-6

Bridge Pickup
Tesla TM VR-Nitro Alnico-5 vs Schecter Diamond Plus
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Tesla TM VR-Nitro Alnico-5 vs Schecter Diamond Plus
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Meranti vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Meranti vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Jatoba vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Graphite vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Harley Benton SC-Custom III vs Schecter Omen Extreme-6

Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Harley Benton SC-Custom III Prices

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

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Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both favor small hands .

Harley Benton SC-Custom III:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Omen Extreme-6:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

Both meet 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Harley Benton SC-Custom III
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Omen Extreme-6
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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 the Harley Benton SC-Custom III

Meranti wood pattern used for guitar building
Meranti
Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba

Meranti is an affordable wood used mainly for affordable electric guitars. It's generally lighter and softer than Mahogany. Find out more about Meranti.

Jatoba is a hard and dense wood that emphasizes the mid-lows, giving a fuller, more round sound than, for example, Mahogany. However, it also has a lot of clarity in the top end. Find out more about Jatoba.

Woods Used in the Schecter Omen Extreme-6

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
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.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

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: Schecter Omen Extreme-6.

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

The Harley Benton SC-Custom III has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Schecter Omen Extreme-6. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Harley Benton SC-Custom III.

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.

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: 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.

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

Winner: Schecter Omen Extreme-6.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Harley Benton SC-Custom III
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 61
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 73
Schecter Omen Extreme-6
Pickups 55
Sustain 85
Versatility 71
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 70

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 Harley Benton SC-Custom III compares to the Schecter Omen Extreme-6.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Indonesia.

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.

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 Harley Benton SC-Custom III has a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.

On the other hand, the Schecter Omen Extreme-6 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 Omen Extreme-6.

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 Harley Benton SC-Custom III 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: Harley Benton SC-Custom III.

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.

Both come with a similar bridge: 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: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Harley Benton SC-Custom III's are Grover Machine Heads while the Schecter Omen Extreme-6's are Schecter

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.

The Harley Benton SC-Custom III has 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.

On the other hand, the Schecter Omen Extreme-6 comes with Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Schecter Omen Extreme-6.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton SC-Custom III
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • 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 Omen Extreme-6
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Harley Benton SC-Custom III
Quality of materials 71
Features 55
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 64
Schecter Omen Extreme-6
Quality of materials 55
Features 55
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 58

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

Harley Benton SC-Custom III 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

Harley Benton SC-Custom III's Scale Length
Harley Benton SC-Custom III's Scale Length
Schecter Omen Extreme-6's Scale Length
Schecter Omen Extreme-6'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 Omen Extreme-6 has the longest scale: 25.5". The Harley Benton SC-Custom III 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

Harley Benton SC-Custom III Neck Profile
Harley Benton SC-Custom III's neck profile
Schecter Omen Extreme-6 Neck Profile
Schecter Omen Extreme-6'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.

Both the Harley Benton SC-Custom III and the Schecter Omen Extreme-6 have a C-shaped 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

Harley Benton SC-Custom III Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton SC-Custom III's Fingerboard radius
Schecter Omen Extreme-6 Fingerboard Radius
Schecter Omen Extreme-6's Fingerboard 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 Harley Benton SC-Custom III's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Schecter Omen Extreme-6's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Schecter Omen Extreme-6.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Fret Size

Harley Benton SC-Custom III Frets Size
Harley Benton SC-Custom III's Frets Size
Schecter Omen Extreme-6 Frets Size
Schecter Omen Extreme-6's Frets Size

The Schecter Omen Extreme-6 has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Harley Benton SC-Custom III's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Harley Benton SC-Custom III
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 70
Playability 77
Schecter Omen Extreme-6
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78