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Schecter Reaper-6 Elite
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone
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Playability
82
Sound
79
Build
83
Value
81
Score
81
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Playability
72
Sound
75
Build
58
Value
68
Score
68
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Schecter Reaper-6 Elite vs Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone

Reasons to Get
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite over Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2023 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 13.78"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Graphite
Good tuning stability with rich tone
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Set
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.748'' (19mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 27'' (685.8mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
81 vs 68
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone over Schecter Reaper-6 Elite

Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.748'' (19mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
27'' (685.8mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Other Key Differences
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite vs Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone

Bridge Pickup
Schecter USA San Andreas vs Duncan Solar/Bridge
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Schecter USA San Andreas vs Duncan Solar
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Wenge vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Graphite
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite vs Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
R6
Same Headstock
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
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Quilted Maple Veneer vs Flame Maple Veneer
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
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
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • 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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Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone Prices

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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 Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone's 68 score, which is a significant difference.

The Schecter Reaper-6 Elite wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone in every aspect.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Schecter Reaper-6 Elite.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Schecter Reaper-6 Elite is the better choice.

The Schecter Reaper-6 Elite meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone meets only 4. 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 Reaper-6 Elite
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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

Schecter 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 >

Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone Overview

  • From Solar's 2020 Type E series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 27"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple Veneer top
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Duncan Solar/Bridge (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Duncan Solar (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TOM Fixed Bridge bridge
  • Solar C Shape Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Solar 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
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
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.

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the Schecter Reaper-6 Elite

Wenge wood pattern used for guitar building
Wenge

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.

Woods Used in the Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone

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.

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.

However, the Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

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: Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone.

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 Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite and Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone'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 Reaper-6 Elite.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 79
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 75

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 Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone.

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 Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone 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.

The Schecter Reaper-6 Elite 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 Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone comes with a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.

Winner: Schecter Reaper-6 Elite.

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 Reaper-6 Elite 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 Reaper-6 Elite.

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

The Schecter Reaper-6 Elite has the best tuners of the two because they are 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: Schecter Reaper-6 Elite.

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 Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone 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
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite
Quality of materials 83
Features 90
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 83
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone
Quality of materials 43
Features 55
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 58

Playability Comparison

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

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

Nut Width

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite Nut Width
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite Nut Width
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone Nut Width
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone, 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's Scale Length
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite's Scale Length
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone's Scale Length
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone'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 Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone has the longest scale: 27". The Schecter Reaper-6 Elite is only 25.5" long. This is a 1.5'' (38.1mm) 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 Reaper-6 Elite Neck Profile
Schecter Reaper-6 Elite's neck profile
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone Neck Profile
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone'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 Reaper-6 Elite and the Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone 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
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone Fingerboard Radius
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Schecter Reaper-6 Elite 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.

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 Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone favors large hands more than the Schecter Reaper-6 Elite. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite and Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone 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
Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 80
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Schecter Reaper-6 Elite vs Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone
General Schecter Reaper-6 Elite Solar E2.6FBB-27 Baritone
Brand: Schecter Solar
Year: 2023 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea Indonesia
Series: Reaper Elite Type E
Colors: Blue Black Burst Matte
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Khaya African Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Hipshot Ibby HM TOM Fixed Bridge
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Set
Tuners: Hipshot Grip-Lock Solar 18:1
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Wenge Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Lines Solar Logo on 12th Fret
Scale Size: 25.5" 27"
Shape: Ultra Thin C Solar C Shape
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.748'' (19mm) - 12th Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 13.78"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Graphite
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Schecter USA San Andreas (Humbucker / Passive) Duncan Solar/Bridge (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Schecter USA San Andreas (Humbucker / Passive) Duncan Solar (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1