Schecter Demon-6 Crimson Red Burst

Schecter Demon-6 Crimson Red Burst review

The Schecter Demon-6 Crimson Red Burst is a six-string electric guitar with a basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and two active humbucking pickups. It has a fixed Tune-O-Matic-style bridge with strings routed through the body, rather than a tremolo. The listed price is $599, and the model has been available since June 2024.

Its specification sheet points to a straightforward rock-oriented design: a 25.5-inch scale, 24 jumbo frets, and a Thin C neck profile. But customer feedback raises a practical question that matters more than the finish or pickup layout: the guitar's setup and noise performance may depend on the individual instrument. Reports include both positive comments about sound and feel and serious concerns about fret installation and amplifier noise.

Construction and playing feel

The body is listed as basswood, with a maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. The fingerboard has a 14-inch radius, a 42 mm nut, and gray pearloid Gothic Cross inlays. Schecter supplies its own machine heads, while the hardware has a black-chrome finish. There is no top listed, and the Crimson Red Burst is the guitar's stated color.

One owner described the instrument as light and comfortable to hold, with a fairly thin neck and a fingerboard that felt acceptable. That feedback suggests the neck profile may suit players who prefer a slimmer shape, though comfort is personal and the available comments do not establish how every instrument will feel. The 25.5-inch scale is a familiar length for electric guitar players, while the 24 jumbo frets provide access across the full fingerboard.

That positive impression was not universal. Another buyer reported damage in several spots on the fingerboard and a fret that had not been seated correctly. This is a notable quality-control concern, particularly on an instrument whose playability depends on consistent fret height and seating. A poorly installed fret can affect notes at specific positions and may require professional correction. Inspect the frets and fingerboard carefully when the guitar arrives.

Pickups, controls, and bridge

The Demon-6 uses two Schecter Diamond Active HB-105S humbuckers. A single volume control and a single tone control handle the basic adjustments, with a three-way switch for selecting pickup combinations. One owner praised the guitar's sound and said the controls and switch felt good in use. That is encouraging, but the comments do not provide measured output levels or detailed comparisons across amplifiers.

The fixed Tune-O-Matic-style bridge and through-body string routing keep the design simple and avoid the added setup demands of a tremolo system. One buyer reported that the intonation and string action were acceptable. That is a useful sign, although it does not cancel out the separate report of fret and noise issues. A guitar can arrive with reasonable action and intonation yet still have a localized fret problem or an electronic or mechanical source of unwanted sound.

Finish and setup concerns

Feedback on the finish was mixed but mostly restrained. One owner considered the paintwork acceptable, while noting that it was not perfectly smooth and had small flaws. Glue residue was also visible at some edges. These observations point to cosmetic details worth checking, rather than a reported structural failure. The red burst color is partly a matter of taste, and the available feedback does not suggest a consistent problem with its appearance.

The more serious complaint involved a strong buzz heard through an amplifier when the strings were struck hard. The buyer said the noise appeared only with the bridge pickup, not the neck pickup, and did not seem to come from strings rattling against the frets. They returned the guitar because of it. The cause was not established, so it would be speculative to attribute the noise to a particular pickup, wiring fault, or setup issue. Still, this report makes testing both pickups at playing volume an important part of evaluating a delivered instrument.

That buyer also found the strings unusually dirty, saying they left dark residue on the fingers for several days. This is a replaceable setup item rather than a defining feature of the guitar, but it reinforces the value of checking the instrument and its strings before settling in to play.

Verdict

On paper, the Schecter Demon-6 Crimson Red Burst offers a practical fixed-bridge layout, active humbuckers, and a slim neck profile at a $599 price. Owner feedback supports its comfortable feel and appealing sound, but also documents uneven quality control, including fretboard damage, a poorly seated fret, cosmetic residue, and bridge-pickup-specific amplifier noise on one returned guitar.

Buyers should test every pickup position through an amplifier, listen for noise at both light and hard attack, and check the fretwork across the neck. If those checks pass, the Demon-6 has a useful, uncomplicated feature set. The reported problems are significant enough that a careful inspection matters more here than relying on the specification sheet alone.