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Schecter Tempest Blackjack
Schecter Tempest Custom
VS
Playability
78
Sound
79
Build
74
Value
77
Score
77
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Playability
80
Sound
79
Build
64
Value
74
Score
74
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Schecter Tempest Blackjack vs Tempest Custom

Reasons to Get
Schecter Tempest Blackjack over Tempest Custom

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 14"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.925'' (23.5mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
77 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Schecter Tempest Custom over Tempest Blackjack

Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.925'' (23.5mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Other Key Differences
Schecter Tempest Blackjack vs Tempest Custom

Bridge Pickup
Lundgren M6 vs Schecter USA Pasadena Plus
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Lundgren M6 vs Schecter USA Pasadena
Different Neck Pickup
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Schecter Tempest Blackjack vs Tempest Custom

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
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
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

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • 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 Tempest Blackjack is probably the better product overall with its final score of 77 compared to the Schecter Tempest Custom's 74 score, although not by a lot.

The Schecter Tempest Blackjack wins when it comes to build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Schecter Tempest Custom has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Schecter Tempest Blackjack.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Schecter Tempest Blackjack is the better choice.

The Schecter Tempest Blackjack meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Schecter Tempest Custom 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 Tempest Blackjack
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Tempest Custom
  • 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 Tempest Blackjack Overview

  • From Schecter's 2021 Blackjack series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Lundgren M6 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Lundgren M6 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TonePros T3BT TOM & T1Z Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin C Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schecter Locking tuners
  • Weight between 7.65lbs (3.5kgs) and 8.45lbs (3.8kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Tempest Custom Overview

  • From Schecter's 2020 Custom series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 14" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Pasadena Plus (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter USA Pasadena (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TonePros T3BT TOM & T1Z Tailpiece bridge
  • Schecter Medium C Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo 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

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.

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 Schecter Tempest Custom 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: Schecter Tempest Custom.

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 Tempest Blackjack and Schecter Tempest Custom pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter Tempest Blackjack and Schecter Tempest 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: Schecter Tempest Blackjack.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Schecter Tempest Blackjack
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 66
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 79
Schecter Tempest Custom
Pickups 90
Sustain 85
Versatility 61
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 Tempest Blackjack compares to the Schecter Tempest Custom.

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.

The Schecter Tempest Blackjack 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 Schecter Tempest Custom comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

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 Tempest Blackjack 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 Tempest Blackjack.

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.

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 Tempest Blackjack
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Tempest Custom
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • 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

Schecter Tempest Blackjack
Quality of materials 71
Features 75
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 74
Schecter Tempest Custom
Quality of materials 51
Features 65
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 64

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 Tempest Blackjack 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 Tempest Blackjack's Scale Length
Schecter Tempest Blackjack's Scale Length
Schecter Tempest Custom's Scale Length
Schecter Tempest Custom'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 Tempest Blackjack has the longest scale: 25.5". The Schecter Tempest Custom is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) 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 Tempest Blackjack Neck Profile
Schecter Tempest Blackjack's neck profile
Schecter Tempest Custom Neck Profile
Schecter Tempest Custom'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 Tempest Blackjack and the Schecter Tempest 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 Tempest Blackjack Fretboard Compound Radius
Schecter Tempest Blackjack's Compound Fretboard Radius
Schecter Tempest Custom Fingerboard Radius
Schecter Tempest Custom'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 Tempest Blackjack 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 Schecter Tempest Custom favors large hands more than the Schecter Tempest Blackjack. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Schecter Tempest Blackjack:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Tempest Custom:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Schecter Tempest Blackjack and Schecter Tempest 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 Tempest Blackjack
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78
Schecter Tempest Custom
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 80

Specs Side-by-Side

Schecter Tempest Blackjack vs Tempest Custom
General Schecter Tempest Blackjack Tempest Custom
Brand: Schecter Schecter
Year: 2021 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea South Korea
Series: Blackjack Custom
Colors: Black White, Black, Orange Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: TonePros T3BT TOM & T1Z Tailpiece TonePros T3BT TOM & T1Z Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Schecter Locking Schecter Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods Mahogany 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods
Decoration: Pearloid Lines Pearloid Split Crown
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: Thin C Schecter Medium C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) - 12th Fret: 0.925'' (23.5mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 14"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Lundgren M6 (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter USA Pasadena Plus (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Lundgren M6 (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter USA Pasadena (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 1 1