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Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist
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Playability
78
Sound
78
Build
87
Value
66
Score
81
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Playability
78
Sound
77
Build
83
Value
74
Score
79
FIND IT ON:
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Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro vs Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist

Reasons to Get
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro over Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs South Korea
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2021 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Strings
6 vs 7
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.765'' (19.4mm) vs 0.748'' (19mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.825'' (21mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.89'' (48mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 26.5'' (673.1mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Reasons to Get
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist over Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro

Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Strings
7 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.748'' (19mm) vs 0.765'' (19.4mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.825'' (21mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
74 vs 66
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro vs Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist

Bridge Pickup
Keith Merrow Custom Fishman Fluence vs Fishman Fluence Keith Merrow Custom Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Keith Merrow Custom Fishman Fluence vs Fishman Fluence Keith Merrow Custom Humbucker
Different Neck Pickup
Headstock
3-3 vs 4-3
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro vs Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist

Body Wood
Ash
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Compensated
Same Nut Material
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
0
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs Burl
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Compound Radius
12" to 16"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro Prices

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Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro is probably the better product overall with its final score of 81 compared to the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist's 79 score, although not by a lot.

The Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro is the better choice.

The Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist meets only 6. 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 Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • 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 Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro Overview

  • From Schecter's 2021 Artist series
  • Keith Merrow Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple top
  • Swamp Ash body
  • Wenge 3-piece with purple heart and maple laminates neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Keith Merrow Custom Fishman Fluence (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Keith Merrow Custom Fishman Fluence (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Hipshot Low Profilefixed bridge bridge
  • Thin fast C Bolt-On neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Hipshot open gear locking with Knurled Barrel adjustment tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist Overview

  • From Schecter's 2019 Artist series
  • Keith Merrow Signature
  • Made in South Korea
  • 7 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Burl top
  • Swamp Ash body
  • Wenge/Maple/Purpleheart Multi-ply w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Keith Merrow Custom Humbucker (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Keith Merrow Custom Humbucker (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Hipshot Ibby HM Guitar Bridge bridge
  • Ultra Thin C Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Hipshot Grip-Lock tuners
  • Weight between 7.5lbs (3.4kgs) and 8.25lbs (3.7kgs)
  • 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
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

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.

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.

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 Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro's and use them on any guitar:

Both use Active pickups. These pickups use an additional 9v battery to be able to increase their output for high gain tones. This is why they're popular among heavy metal guitarists. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. Also, the clean tones aren't as clean as other pickups because they'll have really hot output.

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: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

They both share the following switching options:

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro and Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro and Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist'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 Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 78
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 57
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 Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro compares to the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro is built in United States while the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist is made in South Korea.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

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: Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro

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 Compensated nuts. Each hole where the string sits at the nut is cut at a different distance from the bridge, which compensates for the different amount of tension that each string is subject to. This fixes most intonation issues across the fretboard, so it gives great tuning 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.

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

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.

The Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro has 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.

On the other hand, the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist 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 Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro
Quality of materials 80
Features 80
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 87
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist
Quality of materials 80
Features 90
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 Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro Nut Width
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro Nut Width
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist Nut Width
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist has the wider nut with 48mm (1.89'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 6mm (0.236'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist, 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 Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro's Scale Length
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro's Scale Length
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist's Scale Length
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist'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 Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist has the longest scale: 26.5". The Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro 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 Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro Neck Profile
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro's neck profile
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist Neck Profile
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist'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 Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro and the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist 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 Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro Fretboard Compound Radius
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro'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 Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist favors large hands more than the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro.

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro and Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist 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 Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 100
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro vs Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist
General Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III Pro Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III Artist
Brand: Schecter Schecter
Year: 2021 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 7
Made in: United States South Korea
Series: Artist Artist
Colors: Black Patterns, Red Patterns Black Patterns, Blue Patterns
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Swamp Ash Swamp Ash
Bridge: Hipshot Low Profilefixed bridge Hipshot Ibby HM Guitar Bridge
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: Hipshot open gear locking with Knurled Barrel adjustment Hipshot Grip-Lock
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Wenge 3-piece with purple heart and maple laminates Wenge/Maple/Purpleheart Multi-ply w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods
Decoration: Custom offset silver metal rings Aluminum Offset/Reverse Circles
Scale Size: 25.5" 26.5"
Shape: Thin fast C Ultra Thin C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.765'' (19.4mm) - 12th Fret: 0.825'' (21mm) 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: Compensated Compensated
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 48mm (1.89'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Keith Merrow Custom Fishman Fluence (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Keith Merrow Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Keith Merrow Custom Fishman Fluence (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Keith Merrow Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 0