Schecter Nick Johnston 10th An HSS AS

Schecter Nick Johnston 10th Anniversary HSS AS: Feature Assessment

The Schecter Nick Johnston 10th Anniversary HSS AS, available from September 2025, takes the standout elements of Johnston's acclaimed Custom Shop model and offers them at a distinctly lower price. At $1555, this factory model packs alder for the body and a wenge neck that bolts on, finished simply with oil, giving the wood an immediate, tactile feel beneath your palm. No case or gig bag is included.

Construction and Finish

This model is distinctly upgraded over many production line ST-Style guitars. The wenge neck, paired with an ebony fingerboard, makes for a slick and premium-feeling combination, especially combined with the metal ring fingerboard inlays. The neck sports the Nick Johnston C-profile, measuring 20 mm at the first fret and 22 mm at the twelfth. A 14-inch (356 mm) fingerboard radius coupled with a nut width of 1.65 inches (42 mm) and 22 extra jumbo frets gives a broad, quick, and modern playing surface. Out of the box, fretwork is immaculate, with stainless steel fretwire seated cleanly and crowned without rough edges. High-gloss Atomic Saffron finish is applied evenly, showing off the alder body's gentle contours.

Hardware and Playability

The guitar comes equipped with a Schecter Nouveau Tremolo, which operates via a two-point mount for modern stability, paired with locking machine heads from Schecter's Nouveau line. The nut is a black Graph Tech TUSQ XL for frictionless tuning. Out of the box, balance is spot-on, and the finish around neck heel and cutaways is clean, making higher-fret access smooth. The wenge neck's oiled finish delivers a slick, responsive slide, an instant favorite for players who dislike sticky gloss. No gig bag or case is included, which may disappoint some, but the core hardware is robust at this price point.

Electronics and Controls

This instrument features a traditional HSS configuration: a Schecter USA Nick Johnston Sub Atomic humbucker at the bridge and two Sub Atomic single coils in the middle and neck positions. The electronics are as straightforward as they come: a five-way blade switch, a master volume, and a master tone featuring a push/pull coil split for the bridge position. That allows the bridge humbucker to shift into a single-coil mode, broadening the palette.

• Pickups: Schecter USA Sub Atomic, custom spec for Nick Johnston
• Controls: 1 volume, 1 tone (push/pull for coil split), 5-way switch

Factory strings are Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010-.046), a versatile choice that complements the instrument's ST-Style ambitions.

Sound and Performance

The hallmark of Nick Johnston's guitars is definition and expressiveness, and the 10th Anniversary HSS AS keeps that intact. The USA Sub Atomic pickups serve up a bright, articulate single-coil chime in the neck and middle; switch to the bridge, and the Sub Atomic humbucker offers more heat and fullness without sacrificing clarity. With the tone knob pushed in, the bridge is punchy for rock or fusion. Pull out for coil split, and it dials in the expected glassy, cutting vibe of a single coil with enough low-end retained. Players out for a traditional ST-Style sound will find spanky cleans in positions two and four; blues and expressive leads are covered, especially given the warmth and dynamic response available with the neck pickup. High-gain tones aren't the signature here, though the guitar holds up for moderate crunch thanks to the humbucker's overwound design.

The overall playing experience matches Nick Johnston's own assessment at the launch: "It plays like butter." The combination of extra jumbo frets, flat radius, and slick ebony makes everything from bends to rapid runs comfortable and fluid. Sustain is aided by the tight neck joint and quality tremolo mount. The instrument feels lively and immediate, every note transmitting clearly, with a sense of connection to the player's touch.

Fit, Finish, and Value

Build quality is consistently high, showing careful fretwork, neat sanding, and a finish free from the usual pitfalls seen at this price point. The Indonesian assembly likely comes from an experienced high-end division, matching or exceeding expectations in this segment. The wenge neck, in particular, stands out as a high-tier appointment rarely found outside custom builds. Even small details, like the creamy black Graph Tech TUSQ XL nut, raise the value proposition. The lack of a case is a minor letdown, but every critical aspect, hardware, finish, and fretwork, is executed to a standard rarely met by production ST-Style guitars at this price.

Conclusion

The Schecter Nick Johnston 10th Anniversary HSS AS represents a strong statement for Schecter: bringing Custom Shop specs and feel into a financially accessible model. From the wenge and ebony materials to the expressive and dynamic USA-made pickups, the instrument balances modern hardware with vintage-informed ergonomics. For players seeking an ST-Style guitar with boutique construction and pro-level electronics, minus the ultra-premium price, this limited anniversary model is well worth a hands-on look.