Schecter Omen Elite-8 MS Charcoal

Schecter Omen Elite-8 MS Charcoal review

The Schecter Omen Elite-8 MS Charcoal is an eight-string electric guitar with a multiscale neck, two passive humbuckers, and a fixed bridge. At a listed price of $949, it aims to make extended-range playing accessible without an overly complicated setup. Player reports point to strong playability and a sound that can handle low tunings, though details such as the tone control and pickup output may matter depending on your expectations.

This model has a mahogany body, a poplar burl top, a bolt-on maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. The Charcoal finish is the listed color, but buyers report variation in how it looks compared with promotional images. One owner described a darker, brownish beige appearance rather than the redder shade expected. Poplar burl varies naturally, so the top's figure and overall appearance may differ from one guitar to another.

Multiscale layout and playability

The 25.5-inch to 27.5-inch scale range, approximately 648 to 698.5 mm, gives the low strings more length than the high strings. That arrangement is intended to support string tension across the broad range of an eight-string guitar. One player who already had experience with seven-string guitars found the transition immediate, while another recommended the multiscale design for a first eight-string instrument. Individual adjustment time will depend on playing habits, but the reported experiences suggest the layout is not inherently difficult to adapt to.

The neck has a thin C profile, a 20-inch fingerboard radius, pearloid line inlays, and 24 jumbo frets. Its Graph Tech XL Black TUSQ nut is 56 mm wide. Players describe the neck as very slim and comfortable, and one reported clean fretwork without sharp edges. Intonation was close to correct on that instrument, with only minor adjustments needed. Another owner found the general setup good straight out of the box. Those are individual reports, not a guarantee that every guitar will arrive identically adjusted.

Several owners also remarked that the guitar felt surprisingly light. No weight specification was provided, so this is a player impression rather than a measured figure. Still, it may be welcome for players accustomed to heavier extended-range guitars.

Pickups, controls, and hardware

Schecter Diamond Heretic humbuckers are fitted in both the neck and bridge positions. Reports on their sound vary somewhat: one player found them clear and not too bass-heavy, while another heard more low end than desired and suggested reducing bass at the amplifier. A separate owner felt the passive pickups produced a weaker signal than expected and needed more gain. These differences may reflect amplifier settings, pickup height, or personal preference, but buyers seeking a particularly high-output sound should keep them in mind.

The volume and tone controls are paired with a five-way blade switch. Players liked the range of sounds available from the selector, with one describing positions two and four as coil-split sounds. There is no supplied switching diagram or frequency response information in the provided specifications, so the exact operation of every position is not documented here. The tone control drew more criticism: multiple owners said its knob sat too high above the body, and one found that it could catch their attention while playing. Another owner corrected the height with washers. A separate report found the tone adjustment subtle enough to be of limited use.

The bridge is a Hipshot eight-string multiscale fixed design with strings routed through the body. The guitar has no tremolo system and comes with neither a case nor a gig bag. Its original string set is Ernie Ball eight-string Skinny Top Heavy Bottom, with gauges of.009,.012,.016,.026,.036,.046,.064, and.080. One player reported stable tuning in Drop E, despite noting that the guitar does not have locking tuners. Locking tuners are not listed among the specifications.

Verdict

The Omen Elite-8 MS Charcoal makes a solid case for players exploring eight strings or multiscale guitars. Its reported strengths include a comfortable thin neck, clean fretwork, a useful five-way switch, and a fixed bridge suited to low tunings. The main cautions are the tone knob's fit, mixed impressions of pickup output and bass response, and possible differences between the actual top and product images. At $949, it offers a capable foundation, provided you are comfortable checking the setup and dialing in the pickups to suit your rig.