• Find Guitar By Serial Number
• Schecter Guitar Serial No

ESP guitars rose to prominence in the 1980s on the strengths of flamboyant paint schemes and lead style sonic hardware. The Japanese guitar company made a name for itself on signature guitar models built for some of the most popular musicians of the time period. Identifying model years based on serial numbers for these ESP guitars can be difficult as the company kept few production records.

1. For example, for serial number 0236758, the '02' indicates that the guitar was made in 2002; for serial number W10052743, the '10' indicates that the guitar was made in 2010. How do I contact Artist Relations or submit my band to Schecter?
2. Schecter AD-C-1-FR-HR BLK Electric Guitar. Schertor diamond series popular model, Hellrazer arrived. Serial number: W12060064. 【Fret remaining】: 70% ~ 80%.

Company Beginnings

Electric Sound Products was opened in 1975 by Hisatake Shibuya in Japan. ESP was originally created to build custom replacement parts for existing guitars, and did not begin producing its own models until 1976. The guitar company hit the shores of the United States in 1983, setting up shop in New York. ESP introduced its first line of guitars there for the U.S., the 400 series, which had strikingly similar body styles to the Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster models.

The serial number has little to do with anything except as a factory tracking number. All the Diamond series models had an original price between $449 and $899 and have a current value of between $250 and $400 in mint condition (unplayed with all tags) depending on model.

Signature ESP Guitars

Beginning in 1984, ESP built custom guitars for several high-profile musicians, including Vernon Reid, Ronnie Wood and Vinnie Vincent. This trend continued in 1986 when George Lynch, while on tour in Japan, had a signature ESP guitar built for him. The result would become the ESP Kamikaze. The company used Lynch's popularity to release the Kamikaze as its first signature model available in the United States. Hardware from the Kamikaze models would make appearances in the M-1, MI Custom and Horizon Custom models released that same year.

Vintage ESP Guitar Identification

ESP maintained limited records for its earlier models such as the 400 Series and its Signature guitar production line. In order to effectively date an ESP model built from 1976 to 1988, ESP's technical support staff will need the serial number of the guitar but, more important, pictures of the front and back of the headstock, neck and body. Contact information for ESP's technical support is available on the company's United States website under the support heading. Remember, serial number alone is not an effective way to date these earlier models. ESP simply didn't keep good enough records for that.

Current ESP Guitar Identification

Guitars currently in production and maintained in ESP's catalog are much easier to identify, though serial number alone is still not adequate. ESP's technical support staff will still require pictures of the guitar, along with the serial number to accurately identify the guitar for the customer. The reason for the guitar's serial number being insufficient is the multiple guitar companies for which ESP has built parts over the years. Guitar necks, fret boards and head stocks were built for companies such as Kramer, Dimarzio, Robin Guitars and Schecter, with some parts being used on ESP models as well. As a result, the serial number alone is an indicator of which factory produced the guitar, and not the year or model.

Warnings

Only ESP's technical support staff can accurately make the determination of a guitar's year of production. Avoid guitar 'dater websites' that allow users to input a serial number of a model and get back the year and model name of the guitar in question. These sites are primarily used to perpetuate a counterfeiting epidemic that has been ongoing for years in the music instrument industry. The only company or site or personnel that can accurately date any instrument is the manufacturing company itself.

Schecter Guitar Research, commonly known simply as Schecter, is a USguitar, bass and amplifier manufacturer. The company was founded in 1976 by David Schecter and originally produced only replacement parts for existing guitars from manufacturers such as Fender and Gibson.^[1] Today, the company mass-produces its own line of electric guitars, bass guitars, and steel-string acoustic guitars, and offers hand-built custom instruments and a small line of guitar amplifiers.

• 1History
• 3Products

History[edit]

Custom shop days, 1976–1983[edit]

In 1976, David Schecter opened Schecter Guitar Research, a repair shop in Van Nuys, California.^[1] The shop manufactured replacement guitar necks and bodies, complete pickup assemblies, bridges, pickguards, tuners, knobs, potentiometers, and other miscellaneous guitar parts. Contrary to popular belief, Schecter never supplied parts to Fender nor Gibson.^[1] By the late 1970s Schecter offered more than 400 guitar parts, but did not offer any finished instruments.^[1]

Find Guitar By Serial Number

In 1979, Schecter offered, for the first time, its own fully assembled electric guitars. These guitars were custom shop models based on Fender designs. They were considered of very high quality and expensive, and were sold only by twenty retailers across the United States.^[1]

Schecter guitars and parts have been used by, among others, Prince, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum, Gary Holt, Steve Lukather, Pete Townshend, Jeff Loomis, Mark Knopfler, Ritchie Blackmore, Chris Poland, Synyster Gates, Zacky Vengeance, Richard Patrick, Jinxx, Jake Pitts, Tommy Victor, Dan Donegan, Lou Reed, Todd Rundgren, Robin Zander, Rodrigo Amarante, Tony Maue, Shaun Morgan, and Nikki Sixx.^[2]

Texan ownership and mass production, 1983–1987[edit]

Schecter Guitar Serial No

By 1983, Schecter had reached its custom shop production limit and could no longer meet demand. That year, the company was purchased by a group of Texas investors who wanted to build upon Schecter's reputation for quality.^[1] The investors moved the company to Dallas, Texas, where they produced above-par quality guitars using both imported parts and Schecter parts under the Schecter name for less than five years.

At the 1984 winter NAMM show, Schecter introduced twelve new guitars and basses, all based on Fender designs. The most popular of these guitars was a Telecaster-style guitar similar to those that Pete Townshend played. Although Townshend never endorsed this model, it was known unofficially as the 'Pete Townshend model'. Eventually, the Telecaster-style guitar became known as the 'Saturn', and the company's Stratocaster-style guitar became known as the 'Mercury'.

All guitars have the 'lawsuit' peg heads (two small marks on back of headstocks). Schecter was still using Stratocaster and Telecaster headstocks, which Fender had allowed when they were a parts company. It appears this lawsuit may have^[vague] essentially led to their closing in late 1986 to early 1987. The current owners purchased the name in late 1987.

During this period, Schecter managed to sign famous endorsee, Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. Schecter built several custom guitars for Yngwie Malmsteen that featured scalloped necks and reverse headstocks.^{[3][citation needed]}

Hisatake Shibuya and reform, 1987 – present[edit]

In 1987, the Texas investors sold the company to Hisatake Shibuya, a Japanese entrepreneur who also owned the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and ESP Guitars (To this day, Schecter Guitar Research and ESP Guitars have remained separate entities).^[1] Shibuya moved the company back to California and returned Schecter to its custom shop roots, devoting all its efforts to manufacturing high-end, expensive custom instruments.

Schecter guitars were once again only available from a few retailers, one of them being Sunset Custom Guitars in Hollywood, which Hisatake Shibuya also owned. Sunset Custom Guitars happened to be the place where Michael Ciravolo, the future president of Schecter Guitar Research, worked. During 1994/1995 Schecter managed to sign other famous endorsee, Swedish guitarist John Norum.

In 1995, Schecter introduced the highly sought-after 'S Series' guitars and basses, which were Fender-style instruments. In 1996, Hisatake Shibuya asked Michael Ciravolo to become Schecter's president and run the company. Michael Ciravolo, an experienced musician, brought to the company many well-known musicians as endorsees. These included Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots, Jay Noel Yuenger and Sean Yseult of White Zombie, and Xavier Rhone of Carbon Nation.

Michael Ciravolo never really liked Fender designs, so he sought to distance the company from its past Fender-style models.^[1] Toward that end, he added the Avenger, Hellcat, 'Hollywood Classic CT' and Tempest models to the Schecter catalog. He also wanted to reach a new generation of musicians he felt were ignored by most major guitar manufacturers. Yet, at this point, the company was only producing expensive, custom shop models with a return to exceptional quality not seen since the early custom shop days under Dave Schecter. (Schecter's maximum output was forty guitars a month -all custom made.)^[1] To realize his vision, Ciravolo began searching for a factory that could mass-produce Schecter guitars while maintaining high quality standards while maintaining production in the USA Custom shop. As a result of the low production and focus on quality, the USA custom models from this era (1996-2000) are some of the most sought after among guitar collectors.

Michael Ciravolo met with several Asian guitar manufacturers at the Tokyo Music Festival and subsequently decided on a factory in Incheon, South Korea. (Though not known for sure, this location could be the electric guitar factory of World Musical Instrument co. Ltd.) Schecter's guitars were built in the South Korea factory and shipped to the U.S., where they were set up in a Schecter shop. At the 1998 summer NAMM show, with the addition of now Executive Vice President Marc LaCorte, Schecter introduced the Diamond Series, which included six affordably priced non-custom guitars. The line included an affordable seven-string guitar, the A-7, to the market when none were previously available

In 2000, Schecter introduced the now legendary 'C-1, which was debuted by Jerry Horton in Papa Roach's 'Last Resort' music video. The Diamond Series is still in production to this day.

Expanded custom shop, return of USA production, and Schecter Amplification, 2013–present[edit]

In 2012, it was announced that Schecter expanded their custom shop, adding 14,000 square feet to the facility. Later the same year, Schecter announced a new line of USA-built guitars that would bring the company back to its 'roots'. This included the acquisition of several CNC machines from Haas Automation and a new 1,500 square feet spray booth. The new line would be called the 'USA Production Series.' These guitars were officially debuted at the 2013 Winter NAMM show. Schecter also announced a new line of hand-wound electric guitar and bass pickups, that would be available on USA Production and custom shop models, and possibly will be available for purchase in 2013.

Along with the announcement of the USA Production Series, Schecter announced their introduction into the amplification market. These new amps were designed in part with well-known amplifier designer James Brown, known for designing the Peavey 5150 amplifier with Eddie Van Halen, and his line of effect pedals under the Amptweaker name. The amps first announced were the Hellraiser USA 100, Hellraiser Stage 100, Hellwin USA 100, and Hellwin Stage 100. The USA versions are built in Schecter's USA custom shop, while the Stage series is built overseas. The Hellwin is the signature amp for Avenged Sevenfold guitarist Synyster Gates, who helped design the head with James Brown. Both amps use EL34 power tubes, an on-board noise gate, a passive and active input that compensate for the output difference by changing the circuit instead of reducing output, and a 'Focus' control that adjusts the low end response. The main difference between the Hellwin and the Hellraiser is the Hellwin's use of MIDI to control the amp. The Hellwin is also a three-channel amp, as opposed to the Hellraiser's two-channel design. Schecter also introduced a line of speaker cabinets, one featuring a 200W sub-woofer called the 'Depth Charge', that would increase the cabinet's bass response. These amps were debuted, along with the USA Production Line, at Winter NAMM 2013.

Diamond Series[edit]

The Diamond Series was first introduced in 1998, and consists of all the non-custom, mass-produced Schecter models.^[4] The Diamond Series is further divided into groups of guitars, which share common design characteristics. Schecter has stated that it will not customize any Diamond Series guitar, thus any Diamond Series guitar is sold 'as is'.

Although there are a large variety of models available in the Diamond range, many are 'mixed and matched' parts from different Schecter guitars. For example, all 'Omen', 'C', 'Hellraiser' and 'Damien' basses have the same body shape, although some have set necks rather than bolt on necks, different finish colors, and different woods. However, Schecter produces many different guitars from a smaller number of core parts. This mix and match culture has the benefit of allowing guitarists to find a Schecter to fit their exact requirements, but negatively gives less of a 'core product' range as shown by Gibson Guitars who only have a small range of guitars available.

Some of the best known guitars made by Schecter are the 'C Series' in various configurations such as the 'Hellraiser' and 'Blackjack' models, and the S Series, which included the S-1 Elite (double cut) guitars, which resembled Gibson's Les Paul Double Cut and double cut Melody Maker—and the S-1 (a less fancy version of the S-1 Elite). The 'Elite' versions of Schecter's mass-produced instruments often include an arched top, abalone binding, a bound fretboard and a bound headstock with a finish matched to the body. Despite the decorative features, these instruments remained affordable and of reasonable quality. Pickups on many mass-produced Schecter models are almost always 'Duncan Designed' humbuckers (double coil pickups based on Seymour Duncan's pickup specifications), usually with a 'push-pull' coil splitter control that splits the full humbucker pickup sound into the sharper tone of a single coil pickup.

Schecter targeted specific market segments with occasional limited runs of its mass-produced guitar models in novelty finishes. The 'Aviation Series', which appeared around 2006 and ran for about a year, equipped certain mass-produced model bodies (the PT, Tempest, S-1, etc.) with World War II US (and British) aircraft colors and markings, and special pickup covers that look like cooling louvers.

Schecter also makes seven-string models, and recently, eight-string models. Schecter's 'Diamond series' guitars use components such as TonePros locking bridge products on non-tremolo models and original Floyd Rose double locking tremolos on many of the six and seven string models. Many models also feature USA EMG or Seymour Duncan pick-ups and Grover tuners.

Products[edit]

Guitars[edit]

The following list of guitars are correct as appears on the Schecter Website ^[5]

• C Series = C-1, C-1 Arist, C-1 Blackjack, C-1 Blood Moon, C-1 Classic, C-1 Blackjack EX Baritone, C-1 Elite, C-1 Exotic Star, C-1 FR, Schecter C-1 Hellraiser FR, C-1 Lady Luck, C-1 Platinum, C-1 Plus, C-1 SheDevil, C-1 SheDevil FR, C-7, C-7 Blackjack, C-7 FR, C-1 XXX, C-8 Hellraiser, C-1 custom
• S Series = S-1, S-1 Blackjack
• Tempest Series = Hellraiser Tempest, Tempest Blackjack, Tempest Classic, Tempest Custom, Tempest Extreme (Excluding USA)
• 00 Series = 006 Deluxe, 006 Extreme (Excludes USA), Hellraiser 006, 007, 007 Elite
• S-1 Tribal = Devil Tribal Delux, S-1 Scorpion Tribal Deluxe (Excludes USA)
• Devil Series =Devil Custom, Devil Spine
• Hollywood Series = Hollywood Classic
• Stargazer Series = Stargazer, Stargazer 12
• Sunset Series = Hellraiser Sunset FR, Sunset Deluxe
• Stiletto Series = Stiletto 6 FR, Stiletto Classic
• PT Series = PT, PT Fastback, Pete Dee Signature
• Hellcat Series = Hellcat VI
• Ultra Series = Ultra III, Ultra Classic, Ultracure (Robert Smith signature model), Ultra VI Bass/Baritone
• Artist Models = Loomis 7 and 7 FR (Jeff Loomis), Porl Thompson Model (Porl Thompson), RS-1000 and Ultracure (Robert Smith), Synyster Standard, Custom, Deluxe and Special (Synyster Gates), Vengeance Custom and ZV Blade (Zacky Vengeance), Pete Dee Model (Pete Dee), Jake Pitts C-1 FR (Jake Pitts), Jinxx Recluse-FR (Jinxx), Al Jourgensen Signature Triton (Al Jourgensen)
• Extreme Series = 006 Extreme (Excludes USA), Omen-6 Extreme (Excludes USA), Omen-6 FR, Omen-6 FR Extreme, Omen-7 Extreme, Tempest Extreme
• Banshee Series = Banshee Extreme, Banshee Elite
• Demon = Demon (Excludes USA), Demon-FR (Excludes USA), Demon-7 (Excludes USA), Demon-7 FR (Excludes USA)
• Hellraiser Series = Hellraiser 006, Hellraiser Avenger, Hellraiser C-1, Hellraiser C-1 FR, Hellraiser C-7, Hellraiser C-7 FR, Sunset Hellraiser FR, Hellraiser Tempest, Hellraiser V-1, Hellraiser V-1 FR, Hellraiser C-8 LIMITED EDITION, Hellraiser DLX
• Blackjack Series = C-1 Blackjack, S-1 Blackjack, C-1 Blackjack ATX, C-1 Blackjack ATX FR, C-1 Blackjack FR, C-1 Blackjack EX Baritone, C-7 Blackjack, C-7 Blackjack ATX, Tempest Blackjack, V-1 Blackjack ATX, V-1 Blackjack ATX FR, V-1 Blackjack, Blackjack ATX C-8
• Avenger = Avenger, Avenger FR LIMITED EDITION
• Omen Series = Omen Solo-6, Omen-6, Omen-6 Extreme, Omen-6 FR (Excludes USA), Omen-6 FR Extreme (Excludes USA), Omen-7, Omen-7 Extreme (Excludes USA), Omen-8
• Damien Series = Damien-7 FR, Damien B-2, Damien B-2 FR, Damien Special, Damien Special FR, Damien-6, Damien-7, Damien-FR, Damien V-1, Damien V-1 FR, Damien ELITE FR, Damien-7 ELITE Damien-8 ELITE
• V Series = V-1 Classic, Hellraiser V-1, Hellraiser V-1 FR, Blackjack ATX V-1, Blackjack ATX V-1 FR, Blackjack V-1, Damien V-1, Damien V-1 FR, Hellraiser V-7, Hellraiser V-7 FR, Hellraiser V-8
• Solo Series = Solo-6 Classic, Hellraiser Solo-6, Hellraiser Solo-6 FR LIMITED EDITION (2009)
• Semi/Hollow Body = Corsair, Corsair Bigsby, TSH-1, TSH-1 Classic
• 7 Strings = C-7 Blackjack, Damien-7, Hellraiser C-7, Loomis-7, Loomis-7 FR, Omen-7, Omen-7 Extreme, 007, 007 Elite, C-7 Diamond Deluxe
• Baritones = C-1 Blackjack EX Baritone
• Sun Valley Super Shredder Series = FR, FR S, PT FR
• Sun Valley Super Shredder III = 6, 7 String
• Apocalypse Series = C-1 Red Reign, C-1 Red Reign FR S, C-7 Red Reign, C-7 FR S Red Reign, Solo-II Red Reign, Solo-II FR Red Reign, V-1 Red Reign, V-1 FR Red Reign, C-1, C-1 EX, C-1 FR, C-1 FR S, C-7, E-1, PT, V-1

Acoustics[edit]

The following list of acoustics are correct as appears on the Schecter Website (Accessed 25 February 2012):^[6]

• Royal Acoustic
• Orleans Acoustic
• RS-1000 (Robert Smith signature model)
• GLP-1 (Grant Lee Phillips signature model)
• Hellraiser Studio Acoustic
• Hellraiser Stage Acoustic
• Omen Extreme Acoustic

Basses[edit]

The following list of basses are correct as appears on the Schecter Website (Accessed 18 December 2008):^[5]

• 00 Series = 004 Series
• C Series = C-4, C-5
• Damien Series = Damien-4, Damien-5
• Diamond J = Diamond J
• Extreme Basses = Stiletto Extreme-4, Stiletto Extreme-5
• Hellraiser Series = Hellraiser-4, Hellraiser-5
• Model-T = Model-T
• Omen Bass Series = Omen-4, Omen-5, Omen-8
• Stargazer Series
• Stiletto Series = Custom-4, Custom-5, Custom-6, Deluxe-4, Deluxe-5, Elite-4, Elite-5, Stiletto Extreme-4, Stiletto Extreme-5, Stiletto Stage-4, Stiletto Stage-5, Studio-4, Studio-5, Studio-6, Studio-8
• Riot series= Riot-4, Riot-5, Riot-6
• ELITE ..elite 4, elite5

Amplifiers[edit]

• Hellraiser
• Hellwin

Discontinued instruments[edit]

The following instruments are no longer in production by Schecter Guitars as of 2012. Although, some guitars, like the Damien-7, The Banshee Elite, and Hellcat VI have been brought back for 2016 and are currently available to purchase on Schecter's official website.^[6]

Guitars

• Banshee
• 00 Series = 006 Elite (2008), 007 Elite (2000-2007)
• C Series = c-1 Classic, C-1 Tremolo (2006 Only), C-1 Jolly Roger (2005 Only), C-1 30th Anniversary Model (2006 only), C-1 Exotic (2005–2006 only), C-1 Custom XXX (2005 only), C-1 Shedevil, C-1 Shedevil FR (only 100 made, 2009) C-1 E/A (2008), C-1 Elite (2008), C-1 Special (2007), C-1 Stealth, CB-2000 Celloblaster, C-7 Plus (discontinued), C/SH-1 (2007), C/SH-12 (2007 only), C-1 +
• S Series = S-1 DLX, S-1 PLUS (2001–2002), S-1 30th Anniversary Model (2006 only), S-1 Elite (2008), S-1 Hot Rod, S-1 Scorpion Tribal Doubleneck, S-1 'Bada Bling', S-1 'Black Widow' (2005 only), S-1 'The Devil's Rejects' (2007 only), S-1 'Vampira' (2003 only), S-1 Blackjack (2004).
• Hellraiser Series = Avenger Hellraiser FR (available exclusively at Drum City – GuitarLand, Inc. And 30 White models were made for special order through any authorized Schecter retailer in 2010)
• Avenger Series = Avenger 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning' (made only in 2007)
• Banshee Series = Banshee (2007)
• Damien Series = Damien-7
• Gryphon Series = Gryphon Limited Edition (2008), Gryphon-7
• Hellcat Series = Hellcat (2008)
• Hot Rod Series = Hot Rod '39
• Artist Series = Jerry Horton C-1, Jerry Horton Tempest (2007 Only), PT 30th Anniversary Model (2006 only), PT Custom, Synyster Custom (White w/ Gold Stripes, only 100 made), Vengeance Special (2008), Vengeance Standard (Zacky Vengeance signature model, 2007 only), Pete Dee Diamond Series (White on Black, Black on White)
• PT Series = PT Elite, PT Blackjack
• Aviation Collection = PT 'Flying Tiger' (2004 only), PT 'Bomber Girl' (2004 only), S-1 'RAF Spitfire' (2006 only), Tempest 'Midway' (2006 only), PT 'Bottoms Up!' (2006 only), Ultra 'P-51' (2006 only), Tempest 'A-10 Warthog' (2007 only), Ultra 'F-117 Stealth' (2007 only)
• Tempest Series = Tempest 30th Anniversary Model (2006 only), Tempest Deluxe, Tempest 'New Orleans Saints NFL Katrina Relief' (only made in 2005), Traditional 30th Anniversary (2006 only)
• TSH-1
• Unknown Series = V-7, A-5X Celloblaster, A-7, SW-3500 (2007), T-1M33

Hollowbody

• Jazz Series
• Jazz Elite (last made in 2005)
• Jazz-6 (last made in 2002)
• Jazz-7 (last made in 2001)

Acoustics

• SW-Classical
• SW-1000
• SW-2000
• SW-2500
• SW-3000/RW
• SW-3000/QM
• Acoustic Elite (2008)
• Diamond ACS Acoustic (2008)

Basses

• Gryphon (Limited US 'Guitar Center' run)
• Ultrabass, C-4XXX (2005 only)
• 004 Series

Custom shop[edit]

As well as the mass-produced Diamond Series, Schecter offers a custom guitar service. On their website, Schecter says, 'The Custom Shop is reserved only for orders made through a Schecter Authorized Dealer'.

Example projects^[7] include:

• House of 1000 Corpses
• Tempest Tartan
• Dawn of the Dead Tribute
• CS-1 #26
• PT Nashville
• CET Flame Koa
• Hollywood Classic

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abcdefghiGill, Chris (September 2006). 'Schecter: A Guitar History'. Guitar World. 27 (9). pp. 76–80.
2. ^'Artists'. Schecter Guitar Research. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
3. ^Wright, Michael (2009-12-14). 'Schecter Yngwie Malmsteen'. Vintage Guitar® magazine. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
4. ^Molenda, Michael (August 2006). 'Schecter Turns 30'. guitarplayer.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
5. ^ ^abSchecter Guitars Website, http://www.schecterguitars.com/index.asp, accessed 18 December 2008, 21:00
6. ^ ^abItems not present on Schecter Guitars website, http://www.schecterguitars.com/index.asp, Items are shown in discontinued section and in the past catalogs, accessed 25 February 2012, 06:50
7. ^Displayed on the Schecter Guitars Custom Shop page, http://www.schecterguitars.com/custom.asp, accessed December 18th 2008, 21:40

External links[edit]