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Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
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Playability
78
Sound
74
Build
77
Value
76
Score
76
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Playability
70
Sound
79
Build
74
Value
69
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
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The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster was discontinued. It was replaced by the American Ultra II Stratocaster. Check out our comparison.
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Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops vs Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Specs Comparison
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
General
Brand: Schecter Fender
Year: 2024 2019
Configuration: H SSS
Strings: 8 6
Made in: Indonesia United States
Series: Diamond American Ultra
Colors: Back White, Sunburst, Black, Blue, Brown Burst
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Alder
Bridge: Hipshot 8 String Multiscale Fixed 2-Point Deluxe Synchronized Tremolo with Pop-In Arm
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Schecter Locking Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Maple
Neck Material: Mahogany 3pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods Maple
Decoration: None Black Pearloid Dots
Scale Size: 27.5" to 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Thin "C" Ultra Modern D
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 20" 10" to 14"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Bone
Nut Width: 56mm (2.205'') 42.8mm (1.685'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fishman Fluence Open Core Modern-8 (Humbucker / Active) Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None S-1 Switch
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's switch options

Reasons to Get
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops over Fender American Ultra Stratocaster

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2024 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
27.5" to 25.5" vs 25.5"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Neck Profile
Thin "C" vs Ultra Modern D
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Strings
8 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Pickups
H vs SSS
Hum-free with more right hand freedom and sustain
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
2.205'' (56mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
76 vs 69
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster over Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
25.5" vs 27.5" to 25.5"
Easier to adapt to
Compound Radius
10" to 14" vs 20"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Ultra Modern D vs Thin "C"
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
S-1 Switch vs None
Modifies the pickups
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Strings
6 vs 8
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
2 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
SSS vs H
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) vs 2.205'' (56mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Other Key Differences
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops vs Fender American Ultra Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Open Core Modern-8 vs Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-4 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops vs Fender American Ultra Stratocaster

Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

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    Hand Size Comfortability

    And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops favors large hands more than the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster.

    Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops 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 PT-8 MS Black Ops
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Locking tuners
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale

    New Player Friendliness

    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Locking tuners
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Short scale

    Sound Quality Comparison

    The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

    Woods Used in the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops

    Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
    Mahogany
    Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
    Ebony

    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.

    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 Fender American Ultra Stratocaster

    Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Maple
    Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
    Alder

    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.

    Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

    Winner: Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops.

    Pickup Configuration

    The Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops has an H configuration while the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster has SSS pickups.

    A single H pickup gives you the advantage of having a little longer sustain (all other things being equal) because there will be less magnetic fields from other pickups affecting the strings' vibration. However, they also give you the least versatility because you won't have other pickups at different distances from the bridge to create different tones. A single humbucking pickup is used for noiseless high output, which is used mainly for Hard Rock genres.

    On the other hand, SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

    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.

    However, the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

    We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's online:

    The Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops's pickups are Active while the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster'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: Fender American Ultra Stratocaster.

    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 Fender American Ultra Stratocaster gives you 5 switch options while the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops gives you 3. This means that the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

    Only the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster comes with some kind of pickup modification: S-1 Switch.

    An S-1 switch can do a lot of different pickup combinations. It can split them, connect them in series, parallel, add more pickups to each position, and more. Check out the diagram to know how it affects this model.

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

    Winner: Fender American Ultra Stratocaster.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops
    Pickups 85
    Sustain 90
    Versatility 42
    Tuning Stability 80
    Sound 74
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
    Pickups 100
    Sustain 60
    Versatility 82
    Tuning Stability 75
    Sound 79

    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 PT-8 MS Black Ops compares to the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops is built in Indonesia while the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is made in United States.

    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.

    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.

    Winner: Fender American Ultra Stratocaster

    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 PT-8 MS Black Ops has 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).

    On the other hand, the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

    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.

    In this comparison, the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

    Winner: Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops.

    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 PT-8 MS Black Ops'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 Fender American Ultra Stratocaster'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.

    The Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops 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 Fender American Ultra Stratocaster 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: Fender American Ultra Stratocaster.

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

    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops
    • 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
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
    • Locking Tuners
    • Made in United States
    • Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • S-1 Switch Pickups
    • Tremolo
    • Compound Radius Fretboard
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Expensive Woods
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops
    Quality of materials 86
    Features 70
    Quality Control 75
    Build Quality 77
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
    Quality of materials 51
    Features 80
    Quality Control 90
    Build Quality 74

    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 PT-8 MS Black Ops Nut Width
    Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops Nut Width
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Nut Width
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops has the wider nut with 56mm (2.205'') vs 42.8mm (1.685''). This is a 13.2mm (0.52'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops, 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 PT-8 MS Black Ops's Scale Length
    Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops's Scale Length
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's Scale Length
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster'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.

    In this case, the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops features a multi-scale of 27.5" to 25.5" while the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster has a regular scale of 25.5".

    A multi-scale fingerboard incorporates two scale lengths at the same time. This is present in some instruments with long scale to give a different tension to the lower strings than the higher strings. The thickest strings need more tension to avoid fret buzz (especially when tuned low), so the scale is longer for these strings, while the thinnest strings will need less tension (because they have a lower gauge), so they have a shorter scale to reduce stiffness for bends.

    It can feel awkward if you've never played a multi-scale because the frets will have more separation for the higher strings, but a lot of people love their versatility.

    On the other hand, the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's 25.5" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.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 PT-8 MS Black Ops Neck Profile
    Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops's neck profile
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Neck Profile
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster'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 PT-8 MS Black Ops 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 Fender American Ultra Stratocaster, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

    Fretboard Radius

    Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops Fingerboard Radius
    Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops's Fingerboard radius
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Fretboard Compound Radius
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster'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 Fender American Ultra Stratocaster 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.

    Fret Size

    Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops Frets Size
    Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops's Frets Size
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Frets Size
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's Frets Size

    The Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's Medium Jumbo frets.

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

    Final Playability Scores

    Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
    Chord Playability 55
    Solo Playability 90
    Playability 78
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
    Chord Playability 80
    Solo Playability 70
    Playability 70