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Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
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Playability
75
Sound
78
Build
74
Value
76
Score
76
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Playability
77
Sound
78
Build
79
Value
78
Score
78
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Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 vs Aaron Marshall AM-6

Reasons to Get
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 over Aaron Marshall AM-6

Strings
7 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm) vs 1.643'' (41.7mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Reasons to Get
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 over Aaron Marshall AM-7

Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 16"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Strings
6 vs 7
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Nut Width
1.643'' (41.7mm) vs 1.89'' (48mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 26.5'' (673.1mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
78 vs 76
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 vs Aaron Marshall AM-6

Headstock
R7 vs R6
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 vs Aaron Marshall AM-6

Bridge Pickup
Schecter USA Solstice
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Schecter USA Equinox
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Wenge
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL
Same Nut Material
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
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
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 78 compared to the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7's 76 score, although not by a lot.

The Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 is the better choice.

The Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 meets only 5. 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

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
  • 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.

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 Overview

  • From Schecter's 2022 Artist series
  • Aaron Marshall Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 7 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Quarter Sawn Wenge neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Solstice (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter USA Equinox (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Hipshot 7-String Fixed Bridge bridge
  • Thin C Bolt-On neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Hipshot Grip-Lock tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 Overview

  • From Schecter's 2022 Artist series
  • Aaron Marshall Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Quarter Sawn Wenge neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Solstice (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter USA Equinox (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Gotoh Vintage 2-Point Tremolo bridge
  • Thin C Bolt-On neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Hipshot Grip-Lock 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

Wenge wood pattern used for guitar building
Wenge
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Wenge is a stiff wood that comes with straight and tight grains. Its color is dark brown and the tonality emphasizes the low and mid-ends (warm) frequencies, similar to Rosewood.

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.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

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 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: 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:

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 and Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 and Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6'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: Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 78
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 78

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 Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 compares to the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-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.

In this case, both have Black Tusq XL nuts. 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).

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.

Both in this comparison come with 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: 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 Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7's brige 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.

On the other hand, the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6's is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

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

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 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: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7
Quality of materials 81
Features 65
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 74
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
Quality of materials 81
Features 80
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 79

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

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 Nut Width
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 Nut Width
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 Nut Width
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 has the wider nut with 48mm (1.89'') vs 41.7mm (1.643''). This is a 6.3mm (0.247'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7's Scale Length
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7's Scale Length
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6's Scale Length
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-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 Aaron Marshall AM-7 has the longest scale: 26.5". The Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 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

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same 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 Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 and the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-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

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 Fingerboard Radius
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7's Fingerboard radius
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 Fretboard Compound Radius
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6'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 Aaron Marshall AM-6 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 Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 favors large hands more than the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6.

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 and Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 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

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 vs Aaron Marshall AM-6
General Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 Aaron Marshall AM-6
Brand: Schecter Schecter
Year: 2022 2022
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Artist Artist
Colors: Blue Green
Left-Handed Version: Yes Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Basswood
Bridge: Hipshot 7-String Fixed Bridge Gotoh Vintage 2-Point Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Hipshot Grip-Lock Hipshot Grip-Lock
Fretboard: Macassar Ebony Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Quarter Sawn Wenge Quarter Sawn Wenge
Decoration: Aluminum Offset/Reverse Circles Aluminum Offset/Reverse Circles
Scale Size: 26.5" 25.5"
Shape: Thin C Thin C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 16" 12" to 16"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 48mm (1.89'') 41.7mm (1.643'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Schecter USA Solstice (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter USA Solstice (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Schecter USA Equinox (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter USA Equinox (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1