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Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI
VS
Playability
77
Sound
78
Build
67
Value
74
Score
74
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Playability
78
Sound
78
Build
67
Value
74
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
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Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure vs Robert Smith UltraCure VI

Reasons to Get
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure over Robert Smith UltraCure VI

Release Year
2020 vs 2011
From a more recent year
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Volume Knobs
3 vs 1
More volume control
Pickups
HH vs SSS
High output without hum
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 30'' (762mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Reasons to Get
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI over Robert Smith UltraCure

Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
SSS vs HH
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
30'' (762mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Other Key Differences
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure vs Robert Smith UltraCure VI

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1B vs Seymour Duncan SJAG-1B
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N vs Seymour Duncan SJAG-1N
Different Neck Pickup

Shared Features
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure vs Robert Smith UltraCure VI

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
2-4
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Fretboard Radius
14'' (355.6mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • 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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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that both instruments scored 74 out of 100, which makes them similar in terms of quality.

The Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI wins when it comes to playability. On the other hand, the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure 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?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI is the better choice.

The Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure 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 Robert Smith UltraCure
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 Robert Smith UltraCure Overview

  • From Schecter's 2020 Artist series
  • Robert Smith Signature
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 14" Fretboard Radius
  • Chambered Mahogany body
  • Maple 3-pc neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1B (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby Flat Top B50 w/ Roller TonePros TOM TPFR – T3BT bridge
  • Thin C Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Schecter Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI Overview

  • From Schecter's 2011 Artist series
  • Robert Smith Signature
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 30"'' scale
  • 14" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan SJAG-1B (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Seymour Duncan SJAG-1M (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan SJAG-1N (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • TonePros System w/Custom Brass Saddles bridge
  • Thin C Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Hipshot Grip-Lock 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

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

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

The Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure has an HH configuration while the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI has SSS pickups.

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.

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 Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI's online:

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: Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI.

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 Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI gives you 5 switch options while the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure gives you 3. This means that the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure comes with some kind of pickup modification: 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.

Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure's switch options
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI'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 Robert Smith UltraCure.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 71
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 78
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI
Pickups 95
Sustain 75
Versatility 60
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 78

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 Robert Smith UltraCure compares to the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI.

Country of Origin

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

South Korea was for many years the number one choice for mass-producing semi-premium guitars. They can build excellent guitars for a cheap price. Now, it's less common to find Korean guitars because Indonesia has proved capable of building guitars just as well, but likely for cheaper.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

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

In this case, both have 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.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

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.

The Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure's brige is a Bigsby Tremolo. Bigsby tremolos are built differently than regular tremolos. They have a stiffer arm, which is something a lot of people like because the arm won't wiggle around a lot. On the other hand, this type of tremolo is more complicated to restring and it might not be as newbie-friendly as other simpler tremolos.

On the other hand, the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI's 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.

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: Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure.

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.

Both have 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.

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • 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 Robert Smith UltraCure
Quality of materials 51
Features 75
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 67
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI
Quality of materials 66
Features 60
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 67

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 Robert Smith UltraCure Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42mm (1.654'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure's Scale Length
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure's Scale Length
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI's Scale Length
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI'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 Robert Smith UltraCure VI has the longest scale: 30". The Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure is only 25.5" long. This is a 4.5'' (114.3mm) 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 Robert Smith UltraCure 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 Robert Smith UltraCure and the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI 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 Robert Smith UltraCure Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same 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 the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure and the Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI have the same fretboard radius of 14". This radius y closer to the 12'' that most Les Paul guitars have, but a bit flatter. It'll make it easier to play single notes than chords, but it's still comfortable for playing chords without muting strings.

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 Robert Smith UltraCure:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure and Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI 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 Robert Smith UltraCure
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77
Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure vs Robert Smith UltraCure VI
General Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure Robert Smith UltraCure VI
Brand: Schecter Schecter
Year: 2020 2011
Configuration: HH SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea South Korea
Series: Artist Artist
Colors: Black, Red Gray
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Chambered Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Bigsby Flat Top B50 w/ Roller TonePros TOM TPFR – T3BT TonePros System w/Custom Brass Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Schecter Locking Hipshot Grip-Lock
Fretboard: Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple 3-pc Maple 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods
Decoration: Mother of Pearl Blocks Mother of Pearl Blocks
Scale Size: 25.5" 30"
Shape: Thin C Thin C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 14" 14"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1B (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan SJAG-1B (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Seymour Duncan SJAG-1M (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan SJAG-1N (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 3 1
Tone Controls: 0 1