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Schecter Banshee GT FR
Schecter Omen Elite-7
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Playability
77
Sound
79
Build
62
Value
73
Score
73
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Playability
75
Sound
68
Build
58
Value
72
Score
67
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Schecter Banshee GT FR vs Omen Elite-7

Reasons to Get
Schecter Banshee GT FR over Omen Elite-7

Neck Profile
Ultra Thin U vs Thin C
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickups Brand
EMG vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Strings
6 vs 7
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.748'' (19mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.89'' (48mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
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
Fretboard Radius
14'' (355.6mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
73 vs 72
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Schecter Omen Elite-7 over Banshee GT FR

Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Thin C vs Ultra Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Strings
7 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.748'' (19mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm) vs 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
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
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 14'' (355.6mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Other Key Differences
Schecter Banshee GT FR vs Omen Elite-7

Bridge Pickup
EMG 81 vs Schecter Diamond Heretic
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
EMG 60 vs Schecter Diamond Heretic
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
R6 vs 3-4
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Schecter Banshee GT FR vs Omen Elite-7

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
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
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs Burl
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Schecter Banshee GT FR is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Schecter Omen Elite-7's 67 score, although not by a lot.

The Schecter Banshee GT FR wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Schecter Omen Elite-7 in every aspect.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Schecter Banshee GT FR.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 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

Schecter Banshee GT FR
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

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

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 Banshee GT FR Overview

  • From Schecter's 2020 Banshee GT series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 14" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Special Hot Rod Locking Tremolo (Schecter Exclusive) bridge
  • Ultra Thin U Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Schecter tuners
  • Weight between 6.95lbs (3.2kgs) and 7.35lbs (3.3kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Omen Elite-7 Overview

  • From Schecter's 2021 Omen series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 7 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Burl top
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter Diamond Heretic (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter Diamond Heretic (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Schecter Custom Hardtail w/ String Thru Body bridge
  • Thin C Bolt-On neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Schecter 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
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.

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.

Woods Used in the Schecter Banshee GT FR

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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 Omen Elite-7

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

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

The Schecter Banshee GT FR has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Schecter Omen Elite-7. 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 Heavy Metal and similar genres.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Schecter Banshee GT FR's and use them on any guitar:

The Schecter Banshee GT FR's pickups are Active while the Schecter Omen Elite-7's are Passive.

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: Schecter Banshee GT FR.

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

The Schecter Omen Elite-7 gives you 5 switch options while the Schecter Banshee GT FR gives you 3. This means that the Schecter Omen Elite-7 gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

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

Schecter Banshee GT FR pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter Banshee GT FR's switch options
Schecter Omen Elite-7 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Schecter Omen Elite-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: Schecter Omen Elite-7.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Schecter Banshee GT FR
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 79
Schecter Omen Elite-7
Pickups 55
Sustain 85
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 68

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 Banshee GT FR compares to the Schecter Omen Elite-7.

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 Schecter Banshee GT FR 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 Omen Elite-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 Schecter Banshee GT FR'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 Omen Elite-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: Schecter Banshee GT FR.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. Both come with 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 Schecter Banshee GT FR 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 Elite-7 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 Elite-7.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Banshee GT FR
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Omen Elite-7
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Schecter Banshee GT FR
Quality of materials 45
Features 65
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 62
Schecter Omen Elite-7
Quality of materials 55
Features 50
Quality Control 70
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

Schecter Banshee GT FR Nut Width
Schecter Banshee GT FR Nut Width
Schecter Omen Elite-7 Nut Width
Schecter Omen Elite-7 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Schecter Omen Elite-7 has the wider nut with 48mm (1.89'') vs 41.3mm (1.625''). This is a 6.7mm (0.265'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Schecter Omen Elite-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 Banshee GT FR's Scale Length
Schecter Banshee GT FR's Scale Length
Schecter Omen Elite-7's Scale Length
Schecter Omen Elite-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 Omen Elite-7 has the longest scale: 26.5". The Schecter Banshee GT FR 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 Banshee GT FR Neck Profile
Schecter Banshee GT FR's neck profile
Schecter Omen Elite-7 Neck Profile
Schecter Omen Elite-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 Schecter Banshee GT FR 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 Omen Elite-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

Schecter Banshee GT FR Fingerboard Radius
Schecter Banshee GT FR's Fingerboard radius
Schecter Omen Elite-7 Fingerboard Radius
Schecter Omen Elite-7'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 Schecter Banshee GT FR's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Schecter Omen Elite-7'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 Elite-7.

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''.

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 Omen Elite-7 favors large hands more than the Schecter Banshee GT FR.

Schecter Banshee GT FR:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Omen Elite-7:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Schecter Banshee GT FR and Schecter Omen Elite-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

Schecter Banshee GT FR
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77
Schecter Omen Elite-7
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Schecter Banshee GT FR vs Omen Elite-7
General Schecter Banshee GT FR Omen Elite-7
Brand: Schecter Schecter
Year: 2020 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 7
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Banshee GT Omen
Colors: Black Patterns, Blue Patterns, Red Patterns, Purple Patterns Black, Blue Burst, Red Burst
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Floyd Rose Special Hot Rod Locking Tremolo (Schecter Exclusive) Schecter Custom Hardtail w/ String Thru Body
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Schecter Schecter
Fretboard: Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods Maple
Decoration: Offset/Reverse Roman Numerals Pearloid Lines
Scale Size: 25.5" 26.5"
Shape: Ultra Thin U Thin C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.748'' (19mm) - 12th Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 14" 16"
Nut: Locking Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 48mm (1.89'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active) Schecter Diamond Heretic (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker / Active) Schecter Diamond Heretic (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1