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Schecter Reaper-6 Elite
Schecter Reaper-6 Custom
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Playability
82
Sound
79
Build
83
Value
81
Score
81
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Playability
78
Sound
79
Build
79
Value
79
Score
79
FIND IT ON:
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Schecter Reaper-6 Elite vs Reaper-6 Custom

Reasons to Get
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite over Reaper-6 Custom

Decorative Top
Quilted Maple Veneer vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2023 vs 2022
From a more recent year
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Set
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.643'' (41.7mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Value Score
81 vs 79
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Schecter Reaper-6 Custom over Reaper-6 Elite

Nut Width
1.643'' (41.7mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes

Other Key Differences
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite vs Reaper-6 Custom

No Key Differences Found

Shared Features
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite vs Reaper-6 Custom

Bridge Pickup
Schecter USA San Andreas
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Schecter USA San Andreas
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Wenge
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
R6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL
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
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.748'' (19mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.787'' (20mm)
Same neck comfortability
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
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
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)
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Schecter Reaper-6 Elite is probably the better product overall with its final score of 81 compared to the Schecter Reaper-6 Custom's 79 score, although not by a lot.

The Schecter Reaper-6 Elite wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Schecter Reaper-6 Custom has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 7 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 Reaper-6 Elite
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Reaper-6 Custom
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite Overview

  • From Schecter's 2023 Reaper Elite series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Quilted Maple Veneer top
  • Khaya African Mahogany body
  • Wenge neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA San Andreas (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter USA San Andreas (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Hipshot Ibby HM bridge
  • Ultra Thin C Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Hipshot Grip-Lock tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Reaper-6 Custom Overview

  • From Schecter's 2022 Reaper series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Khaya African Mahogany body
  • Wenge with Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA San Andreas (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter USA San Andreas (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Hipshot Hardtail w/ String Thru Body bridge
  • Ultra Thin C Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schecter Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

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

Woods Used in Both

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

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

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

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.

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: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

They both share the following switching options:

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite and Schecter Reaper-6 Custom pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite and Schecter Reaper-6 Custom'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: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 79
Schecter Reaper-6 Custom
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 80
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 Reaper-6 Elite compares to the Schecter Reaper-6 Custom.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Schecter Reaper-6 Elite is built in South Korea while the Schecter Reaper-6 Custom is made in Indonesia.

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.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Black Tusq XL nuts. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Both in this comparison come with stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

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 Reaper-6 Elite has a 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.

On the other hand, the Schecter Reaper-6 Custom comes with 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.

Winner: Schecter Reaper-6 Elite.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Reaper-6 Custom
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite
Quality of materials 83
Features 90
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 83
Schecter Reaper-6 Custom
Quality of materials 81
Features 80
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 79

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite Nut Width
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite Nut Width
Schecter Reaper-6 Custom Nut Width
Schecter Reaper-6 Custom Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Schecter Reaper-6 Elite has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.7mm (1.643''). This is a 0.3mm (0.011'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Schecter Reaper-6 Elite, 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 Reaper-6 Elite and Schecter Reaper-6 Custom'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 Reaper-6 Elite Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Schecter Reaper-6 Elite and the Schecter Reaper-6 Custom 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 Reaper-6 Elite Fretboard Compound Radius
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite'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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Reaper-6 Custom:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite and Schecter Reaper-6 Custom 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 Reaper-6 Elite
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 100
Playability 82
Schecter Reaper-6 Custom
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite vs Reaper-6 Custom
General Schecter Reaper-6 Elite Reaper-6 Custom
Brand: Schecter Schecter
Year: 2023 2022
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea Indonesia
Series: Reaper Elite Reaper
Colors: Blue Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Khaya African Mahogany Khaya African Mahogany
Bridge: Hipshot Ibby HM Hipshot Hardtail w/ String Thru Body
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Set
Tuners: Hipshot Grip-Lock Schecter Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Wenge Wenge with Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods
Decoration: Pearloid Lines Pearloid Lines
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Ultra Thin C Ultra Thin C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.748'' (19mm) - 12th Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) 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: Black Tusq XL Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 41.7mm (1.643'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Schecter USA San Andreas (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter USA San Andreas (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Schecter USA San Andreas (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter USA San Andreas (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1