Schecter damien vs damien elite price\performance comparison

[Soon2shred94]

Schecter damien vs damien elite price\performance comparison
I've decided that I am going to buy a floyd rose guitar, as my first electric although I know how tough it is to tune. I've narrowed it down to these two :

Schecter Damien 6 FR
Emg H4\H4A pickups, Licensed floyd rose trem, rock-maple neck
Arched Basswood Body, Satin Black Finish
Price I have to pay : $500
I was sure I was going to buy the damien 6 fr because it seemed like the better deal, but then I read online that the satin black paint wears off quickly and it dents and chips easily


Schecter Damien Elite FR
Emg 81/85 active pickups, Floyd rose special tremolo, maple neck
Quilted Maple top with mahogany Back
Price I have to pay : $700

I honestly don't think the elite is worth the extra $200.
I NEED a durable guitar, one that with proper care, will last me 2-3 years! So which should I go with?
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[memiller]

You're basically paying for real EMG's and getting some upgraded aesthetics for free. I'm not sure what the difference in the trems themselves are, but I'm guessing the Damien Elite gets the better end of that deal as well.

Yes, it's worth the extra $200. You're definitely getting that much more value. That said, I'd personally go for a C-1 instead. http://backstage.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/schecter-guitar-research-c-1-fr-standard-electric-guitar

[nofearfactor]

Im not much of a collector, I consider myself more a working guitarist who just happens to own a bunch of guitars. My only really highly collectible guitar, a 68' Les Paul Custom, I only keep because of an emotional attachment- it was my first electric after a few years of classical lessons that I bought used in a pawn shop in the late 80s when I was 16 and had just joined my first metal band. I had been using a borrowed Strat before I got the LP. I could never sell it, even though I dont play it. My next couple of guitars after the LP were 2 87' Charvel Model Twos. Those were the guitars that got me into 'superstrat' type shredders with Floyd Rose trems and adding EMG active pickups to my guitars- and have been playing those types ever since. I buy em used if I can find what I want used, mod em if I have to, use and abuse them, and then I warehouse them and look around for several more of something else for the next few years. Im kind of quirky in that I like to change the brand of my gigging guitars after several years or seasons. I was using the 2 Charvels early in my gigging career then they got me into Jacksons; after Jackson I changed to Ibanez's; then I went to ESP,ESP-LTDs; and now Im playing Schecters. And I love em.

Im in 2 different bands ( a metal band and an industrial/metal band) and my main 3 go-to's right now are: a Damien Elite-7 FR, a Hellraiser C-1 FR, and a Damien FR. The Damien FR all I had to do to it to make it giggable for me was change out the passive EMG-HZs to an active 81,85 set; and add straplocks.

To be honest, whether in rehearsals or at home practicing or at gigs, I almost always want to play the Damien FR 6string. I love it. Its just an awesome playing guitar- especially for the types of aggressive and extreme metal that I play. Once you change those HZs out to actives, and you can get past it being bolt-on with a licensed Floyd, then its just as fine a playing guitar as any that is close to or over $1000 or better. It fits perfect on me, hangs just right when gigging, and its slightly heavy ( I prefer heavy guitars anyways). And IMO- the flat black finish just gets better with age- mine looks great, no chips or cracks or anything. I dont know where you got your info "the satin black paint wears off quickly and it dents and chips easily". I play mine alot plus Im not easy on my gear- I really use and abuse my gear- and mine still looks great going on about 2 years now. Its just a great playing guitar that can be had at a good price and is durable enough to last awhile. At first I thought I bought my glossy shiny Damien Elite-7 FR and my Hellraiser C-1 FR for shows and then I would just use the Damien FR for rehearsing and as a backup, but the Damien FR has turned out to actually be a more comfortable and easy guitar to play than the other 2 higher priced guitars.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a30/nofearfactor/Guitars%20and%20Gear/th_DamienFR.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a30/nofearfactor/Guitars%20and%20Gear/?action=view&current=DamienFR.jpg)
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a30/nofearfactor/Guitars%20and%20Gear/th_SchecterHellraiserC-1FR.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a30/nofearfactor/Guitars%20and%20Gear/?action=view&current=SchecterHellraiserC-1FR.jpg)
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a30/nofearfactor/Guitars%20and%20Gear/th_DamienElite7.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a30/nofearfactor/Guitars%20and%20Gear/?action=view&current=DamienElite7.jpg)