Swap
Swap
Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse
Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S
VS
Playability
77
Sound
85
Build
77
Value
80
Score
80
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoMusician's Friend logoAmazon logo
Playability
80
Sound
85
Build
83
Value
78
Score
83
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoMusician's Friend logo
Add more to comparison

Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse vs Banshee Mach-6 FR S

Reasons to Get
Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse over Banshee Mach-6 FR S

Neck Profile
Thin C vs Ultra Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
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
Value Score
80 vs 78
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S over C-1 FR S Apocalypse

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2020 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Ultra Thin U vs Thin C
Comfortable neck with more grip
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Set
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
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

Other Key Differences
Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse vs Banshee Mach-6 FR S

Bridge Pickup
Schecter USA Apocalypse-VI vs Lundgren M6
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs R6
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse vs Banshee Mach-6 FR S

Neck Pickup
Sustainiac
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash
Same Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Locking
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Tuner Ratio
18
Same tuning precision
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Floyd Rose
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Compound Radius
12" to 16"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Retainer Bar
  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • 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

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 Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S is probably the better product overall with its final score of 83 compared to the Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse's 80 score, although not by a lot.

The Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S wins when it comes to playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

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

Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

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 C-1 FR S Apocalypse Overview

  • From Schecter's 2017 Apocalypse series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Swamp Ash body
  • Maple/Padauk Multi-ply w/Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Apocalypse-VI (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sustainiac (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1500 Series bridge
  • Thin C Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Grover Rotomatic 18:1 tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S Overview

  • From Schecter's 2020 Banshee Mach series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Swamp Ash body
  • Roasted Maple/Purpleheart Multi-ply with Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Lundgren M6 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sustainiac (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1500 Series bridge
  • Ultra Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Grover Rotomatic 18:1 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

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

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.

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Woods Used in the Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse

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.

Woods Used in the Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

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.

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: Sustainer.

The pickups with Sustainer are able to recreate the 'feedback' you get when you hold your guitar near a speaker without muting the strings. This allows them to produce infinite sustain that you can use for as long as you want to create interest sounds and harmonics.

They both share the following switching options:

Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse and Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse and Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S'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 C-1 FR S Apocalypse.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse
Pickups 85
Sustain 100
Versatility 71
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 85
Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S
Pickups 85
Sustain 100
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 85

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 C-1 FR S Apocalypse compares to the Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S.

Country of Origin

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

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.

In this case, both have Locking nuts. 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.

Both models come with a retainer bar, which is helpful when changing the strings on a double-locking tremolo. Without it, the strings would change pitch once you lock down the nut, so you'd have to make more micro-adjustments at the bridge to tune it correctly

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.

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.

Both come with a similar bridge: 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.

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. Both come with Grover Rotomatic 18:1.

Both of them have a 18:1 tuner ratio. This means that it will take 18 turns of the keys to give the tuning posts an entire turn. Higher ratio means more precise tuning (and more time spent tuning your gutiar). Most guitars have a 18:1 ratio, while the most precise tuning can be achieved with a 21:1 ratio.

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 C-1 FR S Apocalypse 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 Banshee Mach-6 FR S comes with Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

Winner: Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Sustainer Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Retainer Bar
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Sustainer Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Retainer Bar
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Weight Relief
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse
Quality of materials 71
Features 85
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 77
Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S
Quality of materials 75
Features 95
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 83

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 C-1 FR S Apocalypse 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 41.3mm (1.625'').

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

Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse and Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S's Scale Length
Both have the same 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.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

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 C-1 FR S Apocalypse Neck Profile
Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse's neck profile
Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S Neck Profile
Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S'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 C-1 FR S Apocalypse has a C type of 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.

The Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S, on the other hand, has a U 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.

Fretboard Radius

Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse Fretboard Compound Radius
Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse'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.

Both have a compound radius. This means both offer you the best craftsmanship when it comes to fretboard design. You'll have an arc to help you play chords close to the nut, while also having a flat design at the higher frets for faster soloing and easier bends.

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 Banshee Mach-6 FR S favors large hands more than the Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse and Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S 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 C-1 FR S Apocalypse
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77
Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 90
Playability 80

Specs Side-by-Side

Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse vs Banshee Mach-6 FR S
General Schecter C-1 FR S Apocalypse Banshee Mach-6 FR S
Brand: Schecter Schecter
Year: 2017 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea South Korea
Series: Apocalypse Banshee Mach
Colors: Red Patterns, Natural Gray Black Burst, Natural Burst
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Swamp Ash Swamp Ash
Bridge: Floyd Rose 1500 Series Floyd Rose 1500 Series
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Neck-Through
Tuners: Grover Rotomatic 18:1 Grover Rotomatic 18:1
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Maple/Padauk Multi-ply w/Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods Roasted Maple/Purpleheart Multi-ply with Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods
Decoration: Roman Numerals Offset/Reverse Roman Numerals
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Thin C Ultra Thin U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.748'' (19mm) - 12th Fret: 0.787'' (20mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 12" to 16"
Nut: Locking Locking
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 41.3mm (1.625'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Schecter USA Apocalypse-VI (Humbucker / Passive) Lundgren M6 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Sustainiac (Humbucker / Passive) Sustainiac (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Sustainer Sustainer
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 1