Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

I have both trem and non-trem guitars. I play the non-trems most, for sure. Depends on your style...there are a few things that a trem is handy for.

At the price of the C-1 series (or an ESP LTD...another decent choice), why not get both? For under $1000, you could get a C-1 Elite and a C-1 Hellraiser on the used market and still have enough for new pickups in the Elite (Hellraiser comes with EMGs) and a week's worth of food!
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

LTD my personal preference.

Trem? that's totally up to you.
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

Have you never been to Guitar Center?

The whole ****ing place is themed "Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$"
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

I'd get a used SG Std (There is one locally for $800, probably others out there) and a 500T and a Mean 90. Can do the tight metal (500T) and do the sludgey thing (Mean 90). Plus, both pickups are hella versatile for other styles of music.
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

Chuck's original post just screams schecter c1. I'm bias though, because I have one and it is my favorite guitar. There are so many great options, and you can get just about every model used. The C1 artist is more bare bones, no flame top, but comes with real duncans. The hellraisers tend to have emgs (which will be easy to sell for duncans). The classic has a really interesting fretboard, not for everyone. I recommend getting a c1 plus and changing out the duncan design pickups. Cream pickup rings will give it more of an LP/PRS classic look.

If you do some digging you will find out that some schecter c models actually have a proper maple cap and not just veneer. At least that is what the internets tells me :naughty:
 
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Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

Those Schecters look delicious! Are the maple caps massive or just thin veneers? Or thin veneers on top of a thick maple caps? Same question goes to the PRS SE series.

Are there good LTDs that are comparable to the suggested Schecters or are those Schecters superior?

General question: Trem or no trem?

I own both, a Schecter C-1 Classic and a couple LTD's. I actually prefer my LTD's, but that's just me. I think that most Schecters and LTD are on the same level in quality.
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

What about those maple tops? Are they massive or not? I can't find any useful info on the web...
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

What about those maple tops? Are they massive or not? I can't find any useful info on the web...

They are are quite thick I believe. You may want to try a schecter first if you plan on buying one, just because they have pretty big necks. Kinda like a thinner gibson type shape.
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

What about those maple tops? Are they massive or not? I can't find any useful info on the web...

They aren't bad at all, they have decent thickness on the maple tops. Some models have photo flame tops though while some have real flame maple (I'm not sure on all the models about which has which). My C-1 Classic actually just has a plain maple top with the photo flame over it, but it still looks great.
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

They are are quite thick I believe. You may want to try a schecter first if you plan on buying one, just because they have pretty big necks. Kinda like a thinner gibson type shape.

I agree on trying it out, since guitar center is practically made of schecters. I would never say schecters have big necks, but I guess it depends on what we're comparing. I agree it is a thinner than an LP and thicker than a soloist, but overall I would say my c1+ neck is pretty damn thin.
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

I just thought I would add that my c1+ has the same scale as a les paul, which is awesome. Not all of the schecter c's have the same scale, you should keep an eye out for that detail.
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

I have been asking myself this question for a while now. The other day I went to a jam sesh with some old friends and one of them had brought his guitar, a Chapman ML-2. I had heard of these but never had the chance to try one until now, and I was extremely impressed by it. I'm a huge fan of Korean made guitars, and this one just confirmed my belief in Korean build quality. I think this guitar will reach your needs perfectly. Here's a review of it, scroll halfway down the page for the specs.

http://www.musicradar.com/reviews/guitars/chapman-ml-2-578678
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

I agree a Schecter is a great axe, and you may look into BC Rich deluxe(neck thru) series, A Dean ML, A Jackson RR, or even Gibson Explorer/V, I think those would all fit what you're looking for nicely.
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

+1 on the Jackson RR , you can get them pretty cheap used too. The newer 24 fret ones have EMGs in them and I am not a fan but upgrading pups and a rewire would be easy enough.
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

Best fret access in LP shape : nothing can beat this :
ARZIR20FB_DBS_4L_01.png


ARZIR20FB_DBS_4L_01_CU_Body_Back.jpg


+ EMGs what more would you want?
 
Re: Good hard rock/metal guitar for under 1000$?

I skimmed through the thread so I might have missed it but Schecter C1 CUSTOM, the reason I chose that model specifically is because like a Les Paul it has a 24,75" scale as opposed to the 25,5" of the rest of the C-1s.
Also, when the specs don't speak of a top then the figured maple is a simple veneer, when they DO mention it then it's a plain maple top capped with figured maple veneer.
 
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