Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III vs Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue
Reasons to Get
Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III over Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue
Reasons to Get
Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue over Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III
Other Key Differences
Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III vs Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue
Shared Features
Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III vs Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue
Common Strengths
- High-Quality Nut
- Top Pickup Brand
- Expensive Wood
Common Weaknesses
- Weight Relief
- Stays in Tune (Evertune)
- High-Quality Frets
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- From a High-Quality-Standards Country
- Luminescent Sidedots
- 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 Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III's 71 score, although not by a lot.
The Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue wins when it comes to playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III has the upper hand when it comes to sound, value for the money.
If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue.
Which One is Better for Beginners?
If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue is the better choice.
The Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III meets only 3. 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 Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III- Comfortable shape
- Tall frets
- Comfortable neck
- Comfortable fretboard
- Narrow nut
- Short scale
- Locking tuners
- Easy-to-use bridge
New Player Friendliness
Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue- Comfortable shape
- Easy-to-use bridge
- Tall frets
- Narrow nut
- Comfortable neck
- Comfortable fretboard
- 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 Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III Overview
- From Schecter's 2017 Sun Valley Super Shredder III series
- Made in Indonesia
- 7 strings
- 26.5"'' scale
- 16" Fretboard Radius
- Quilted Maple top
- Mahogany body
- Maple neck
- Ebony fretboard
- Bridge pickup: EMG Retro Active Hot 70 (Humbucker/Active)
- Middle pickup: EMG Retro Active Single Coil (Single Coil/Active)
- Neck pickup: EMG Retro Active Single Coil (Single Coil/Active)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
- 5-way Switch
- Floyd Rose 1500 Series bridge
- Thin C Bolt-On neck
- 24 XL Jumbo frets
- Schecter tuners
- Compare Specs >
Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue Overview
- From Schecter's 2015 Artist series
- Zacky Vengeance Signature
- Made in South Korea
- 6 strings
- 24.75"'' scale
- 14" Fretboard Radius
- Mahogany body
- Mahogany 3-pc neck
- Rosewood fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker/Passive)
- 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
- 3-way Switch
- TonePros T3BT TOM & T1Z Tailpiece bridge
- Thin C Set neck
- 22 XL Jumbo frets
- Grover 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
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 Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III
Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.
Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.
Woods Used in the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue
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.
Winner: Tie.
Pickup Configuration
The Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III has an HSS configuration while the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue has HH pickups.
HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.
On the other hand, 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 Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue 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 Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III's and use them on any guitar:
We found the same or similar pickups to the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue's online:
The Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III's pickups are Active while the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue'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: Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue.
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 Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III gives you 5 switch options while the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue gives you 3. This means that the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve
Only the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue 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.
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 Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III.
Final Sound Quality Scores
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 Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III compares to the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue.
Country of Origin
The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III is built in Indonesia while the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue is made in South Korea.
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.
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.
The Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III has a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.
On the other hand, the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue comes with 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).
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.
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 Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III's brige is a Floyd Rose. This is a double-locking bridge system that allows you to perform techniques like dive bombs and pinch harmonics. The locking nut allows your guitar to stay in tune even after the most intense tremolo usage. The disadvantage is that it takes more work to change the strings and set up everything correctly.
On the other hand, the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue'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 Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III.
Tuners
Both come with regular tuners. The Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III's are Schecter while the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue's are Grover
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 Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III has a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.
On the other hand, the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue 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 Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III.
Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:
Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Tremolo
- Retainer Bar
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue
- Expensive Wood
- Black Tusq XL Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Split Pickups
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in South Korea
- 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
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
The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III has the wider nut with 47.6mm (1.875'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 5.6mm (0.221'') difference
This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.
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 Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III has the longest scale: 26.5". The Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue is only 24.75" long. This is a 1.75'' (44.4mm) scale length difference.
This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.
This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.
Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).
Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.
Neck Profile
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 Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III and the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue 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
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 Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III.
Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.
Hand Size Comfortability
Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.
And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III favors large hands more than the Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.
Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder 7 III:
Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom Reissue:
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.