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2 Responses to “Schecter Hellcat VI Electric Guitar”

1. SCD 010 says:

   September 4, 2010 at 3:17 am

   I have been looking for a Bass VI type instrument for a long time. When I found out about this one I was immediately intrigued. The big problem with any guitar at this price point is the consistency of quality. One HCVI review I read somewhere mentioned that it was a good guitar but the neck required a lot of work, whereas other reviews don’t raise any such complaints. I did not buy my HCVI from Amazon. I got it from a music shop in my home area. When it came in the low E just sounded dead from the 7th fret up. The shop at the store looked at the bass and said they wouldn’t sell it because the neck was too messed up. They sent it back to Schecter and ordered another. I got that one and it was perfect. The shop looked at it and the neck was great and this one sounds and looks amazing. A huge bargain for the price. I give this instrument a 5 star rating, but I’ve lowered it to 4 just because there are some “duds” out there. Make sure you play it before you buy it if at all possible, or at least know the exchange policy if you have to get it online.

   Oh, and I can’t afford it either, but I played this through a ‘59 Bassman reissue at the music store and it sounds amazing. Those two are made for each other.
   Rating: 4 / 5
2. Troy C. Beirne says:

   September 4, 2010 at 4:12 am

   This instrument is not a standard guitar, nor is it a baritone-range instrument. It is a six-string short-scale bass in the same tradition as the Fender Bass VI. It’s designed to be tuned E to e, like a ‘normal’ guitar, but one octave lower. In other words the bottom four strings (EADG) are the same as on a normal four-string bass. What makes this instrument different are the addition of high b and high e strings that extend the range of the bass considerably higher. This was conceived as an instrument that guitarists would take to quite naturally; same number of strings, same tuning, scale length is only about 6″ longer than most guitars, and you can still play full chords on it, all one octave deeper.

   The Schecter Hellcat itself has a good deal of old-school mojo. The three mini-humbuckers really offer a ton of sound options, and you can easily nail the surf-rock sound and launch right into Some Jack Bruce rifffage with the flick of a switch. It’s very solidly built, as with nearly every Schecter instrument I’ve ever handled. Fit and finish are consistent, if not better, than you’d expect at this price. Playability was excellent out of the box, and only required a few very minor tweaks to suit my own peculiar playing style. I’d guess it could easily become an heirloom piece, and I wouldn’t be surprised if these are being sold as ‘vintage’ instruments in thirty years.

   An interesting side note: there is exactly one set of flatwound strings being produced for this instrument; if that’s what you want, Google “LaBella flatwound short scale six string bass.” They run about $45; any set of strings for a bass as uncommon as this one are going to be pricey, so you won’t be changing ‘em every week.

   If you’ve already done some research on Bass VI-style instruments, and you’re looking to get your first, this is really you’re only affordable option. They’re rare, and don’t often pop up used; when they do, it won’t be a favorable price for those beginning on this instrument. On the plus side, this means if you don’t care for it, resale value is quite high; you won’t lose much on the deal. Usually, this instrument comes with a custom-sized hardshell case, which takes some of the sting out of the price tag.

   The short version: If you’re looking at this kind of instrument for the first time, then this is the one you want. Get it now!
   Rating: 4 / 5

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