The Schecter company, named after David Schecter, began as a repair/modification shop that also did some customizing. Schecter began making high quality replacement parts (such as Solid Brass Hardware, Bridges, Tuners, and the MonsterTone and SuperRock II pickups) and build-your-own instrument kits. This led to the company offering of quality replacement necks and bodies, and eventually to their own line of finished instruments. Schecter is recognized as one of the first companies to market tapped pickup assemblies (coil tapping can offer a wider range of sound from an existing pickup configuration). Other designers associated with Schecter were Dan Armstrong and Tom Anderson.
In 1994, Michael Ciravolo took over as the new director for Schecter Guitar Research. Ciravolo introduced new guitar designs the same year, and continues to expand the Schecter line with new innovations and designs.
In 1998, Schecter and Maestro Alex Gregory teamed up to offer the 7-String Limited Edition Signature model based on the patented specifications and neck profile of Gregory´s original 1989 model. This signature model will be individually numbered, and comes with a signed Certificate of Authenticity (list $2,595) (source: Tom Wheeler, American Guitars).
By the mid-1980s, Schecter was offering designs based on early Fender-style guitars in models such as the Mercury, Saturn, Hendrix, and Dream Machine. In the late 1980s Schecter also had the U.S. built Californian series as well as the Japan-made Schecter East models. In the late 1990s, Schecter introduced the Diamond Series that are models based on Schecter's designs but they are produced overseas. In 2006, Schecter discontinued standard production of American-made guitars and went to an entirely custom-based process. Although, all American made guitars are shown as not being produced anymore, just about anything can be ordered from the Custom Shop. In order to get a Custom Shop model, contact a Schecter dealer. For more information, visit Schecter's website or contact them directly.
Instruments currently produced in Burbank, CA since the late 1980s and the Diamond Series in South Korea since 1998 and Indonesia since 2014. Previously produced in Van Nuys, CA between 1979 and 1983 and in Dallas, TX between 1983 and the late 1980s. Schecter opened a repair shop and began offering high quality replacement parts for guitars in 1976.

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH Electric Guitars Models

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DAMIEN SPECIAL Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DAMIEN SPECIAL

- offset double cutaway Showmaster-style mahogany body, figured maple top, multi-ply body binding, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with 12th fret abalone Gothic cross inlay, black headstock overlay, three-per-side tuners, t...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DAMIEN PLATINUM-4 Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DAMIEN PLATINUM-4

- offset double cutaway Precision Bass-style mahogany body, silver/platinum B/H binding, set three-piece maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with platinum bats inlays, matching finish headstock, two-per-side Grover bass 144 series tune...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH C-1 E/A (FIRST VERSION) Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH C-1 E/A (FIRST VERSION)

- offset double cutaway Strat-style mahogany hollowbody, quilted maple top, creme body binding, set three-piece mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with split crown inlays, matching finish headstock, three-per-side Grover tuners, To...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH HOLLYWOOD CLASSIC Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH HOLLYWOOD CLASSIC

- offset double cutaway Strat-style mahogany body, flame maple contoured wings, multi-ply maple/wenge/walnut NTB, cream body binding, 24-fret cream bound ebony fingerboard with 12th fret MOP Schecter Crest inlay, cream bound headstock with...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH JAZZ ELITE Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH JAZZ ELITE

- single cutaway hollow body, maple body with quilted maple top, set three-piece mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone block inlays, raised black pickguard, two Duncan Designed HB-101 humbucker pickups, four knobs, three-...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH SOLO-II PLATINUM Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH SOLO-II PLATINUM

- single sharp cutaway Les Paul-style mahogany body, solid maple top, silver/platinum multi-ply binding, set three-piece maple neck, 24-fret ebony fingerboard with platinum tempest inlays, black headstock overlay, three-per-side Schecter lo...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH STILETTO VINTAGE 4 Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH STILETTO VINTAGE 4

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset dot inlay, maple headstock, two Schecter Diamond pickups, S-Tek bridge, two-per-side tuners, four knobs (MV, blend, two 2-band EQ), chrome h...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH C-1 ELITE Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH C-1 ELITE

- offset double cutaway Strat-style mahogany body, quilted maple top (Amber finish only), abalone body binding, three-piece set mahogany neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with single 12th fret diamond inlay, matching finish headstock, thre...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH SCORPION Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH SCORPION

- double cutaway mahogany body, tuned B-B, maple set neck with rosewood fingerboard, diamond position marker at the 12th fret, 24 jumbo frets, three-per-side tuners, black hardware, two Duncan Designed humbucker pickups, available in Black...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH KENNY HICKEY SIGNATURE Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH KENNY HICKEY SIGNATURE

- offset double cutaway Strat-style mahogany body, black body and headstock binding, set three-piece mahogany neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with green block inlays, green overlay headstock, three-per-side Schecter locking tuners, ToneP...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DAMIEN SOLO Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DAMIEN SOLO

- single sharp cutaway Les Paul-style basswood body, black body binding, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with black pearl bat inlays, matching finish headstock, two-per-side Schecter tuners, Diamond Custom bridge, two EMG H...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH Scorpion Hellraiser Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH Scorpion Hellraiser

- similar to the Scorpion, except has an ultra-excess set three-piece mahogany neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone Gothic cross inlays, black pearl binding, black hardware, and two EMG humbucker pickups, mfg. 2005 only.

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DAMIEN SOLO ELITE Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DAMIEN SOLO ELITE

- single sharp cutaway Les Paul-style mahogany body with flamed maple top, multi-ply body binding, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with stained cross inlays, black headstock, two-per-side Schecter tuners, Schecter Custom (t...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH C-1 EXOTIC Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH C-1 EXOTIC

- offset double cutaway Strat-style mahogany body, solid flame maple top, creme neck and headstock binding, three-piece mahogany neck, 24-fret ebony fingerboard, matching finish headstock, three-per-side Grover tuners, TonePros TOM bridge,...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH C-1 EXOTIC STAR Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH C-1 EXOTIC STAR

- offset double cutaway Strat-style mahogany body, quilted maple top, vintage white body binding, three-piece mahogany bound set neck, 24-fret ebony fingerboard with 12th fret "nautical star" inlay, matching finish bound headstock...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DEVIL DELUXE Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DEVIL DELUXE

- symmetrical double cut basswood body, maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with black pearl tribal inlays, two-per-side tuners, Diamond Deluxe bridge, two active humbucker pickups, four knobs, chrome hardware, Gloss Black finish, 32 i...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH STARGAZER Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH STARGAZER

- offset double cutaway slightly Rickenbacker-inspired ash body, black (2012-present), creme (2008 only), or white (2009-2013) body binding, set maple neck, 22-fret bound maple fingerboard with black block inlays (Black finish, 2008 only) o...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DIAMOND-J Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DIAMOND-J

- offset double cutaway J-Bass style alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret maple (3 Tone Sunburst finish only) or rosewood (Black or Vintage Ivory finish) fingerboard with dot inlays, four-on-one side tuners, vintage style bridge, J-style...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH C-1 HELLRAISER Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH C-1 HELLRAISER

- offset double cutaway Strat-style mahogany body with quilted maple top (Black Cherry finish only), abalone (Black Cherry and Gloss White finish) or grey pearl (Gloss Black finish) body binding, three-piece mahogany neck, 24-fret rosewood...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DIAMOND-J PLUS Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DIAMOND-J PLUS

- offset double cutaway J-Bass style alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with block inlay, four-on-one side Grover Vintage tuners, Wilkinson Bass bridge, STB, J-style pickguard, two Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pick...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH Stargazer-12 12-String Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH Stargazer-12 12-String

- similar to the Stargazer, except in 12-string configuration with six-per-side tuners and a Diamond adjustable bridge/tailpiece, available in Crimson Ghost (2010 only), Dark Vintage Sunburst (2011 only), Gloss Black, or Gloss White (2012-1...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH PETE DEE SIGNATURE Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH PETE DEE SIGNATURE

- single cutaway Tele PT-style alder body, bolt-on maple neck, black or white body binding, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with Adicts custom inlays (diamonds, spades, clubs, and hearts rotating pattern and a 12th fret custom skull and crossb...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH STILETTO-6 FR Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH STILETTO-6 FR

- offset double cutaway mahogany body, lacewood top, bolt-on mahogany neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, black headstock overlay with dagger inlay, three-per-side tuners, double locking licensed Floyd Rose tremolo bri...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH PORL THOMPSON SIGNATURE Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH PORL THOMPSON SIGNATURE

- double cutaway hollow maple Corsair-style body, two f-holes, multi-ply B/N/H/F binding, three-piece mahogany neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with dot and large 12th fret X inlays, matching finish headstock with three-per-side tuners, tune...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH STILETTO CLASSIC Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH STILETTO CLASSIC

- offset double cutaway mahogany body, solid figured maple wings, multi-ply maple/walnut/wenge NTB, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, bound headstock with matching finish overlay and dagger inlay, three-per-side tuners,...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DIAMOND-P CUSTOM Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH DIAMOND-P CUSTOM

- offset double cutaway J-Bass style alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, four-on-one side Grover Vintage tuners, Schecter Custom bridge, STB (top load), J-style pickguard, two Schecter SuperRock Bass...

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH SUNSET DELUXE Image

SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH SUNSET DELUXE

- offset double cutaway Strat-style basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, reverse headstock with matching finish overlay, six-on-the-other-side tuners, double locking Floyd Rose licensed trem...