Schecter Synyster Gates Custom S BKGD

Schecter Synyster Gates Custom S BKGD: Full Player-Oriented Test

The Schecter Synyster Gates Custom S BKGD is a signature guitar firmly aimed at players seeking both expressive versatility and standout visuals in a professional-grade instrument. Priced at $1755 and introduced in April 2018, it brings robust hardware, purposeful electronics, and a bold look, reflecting the style of its namesake while offering functional features for demanding musicians.

Construction: Materials and Build Quality

This model features a solid mahogany body and neck, establishing a dense, resonant base for its sound with an emphasis on pronounced lows and highs, traits favoring heavier genres. The neck is reinforced with carbon fiber rods, promising additional stability especially under aggressive play or frequent tuning changes. The fingerboard is ebony, a preferred material for smooth, fast hand movement. Pearloid inlays, including Synyster Gates's signature and a "Death Bat" motif at the 12th fret, add a custom touch. Glow-in-the-dark side dots are also included for visibility on dark stages.

Players coming from traditional shapes will find this guitar notably large and heavy compared to standard forms like the Stratocaster. The added heft is immediately noticeable during longer sessions. Finish-wise, the gloss black paint paired with gold pinstripes is striking, although it is prone to showing fingerprints and sweat more than exposed wood options. The glossy finish extends to the neck, but testers report this does not interfere with playing speed.

Hardware: Tremolo, Machine Heads, and More

• Tremolo: The Floyd Rose 1500 Series system is installed here, appreciated for its tuning stability even under heavy use. The locking nut is also from Floyd Rose. Some users noted small issues such as a loose whammy bar fastener out of the box, which required tightening from the rear of the bridge, an easy adjustment for those familiar with floating tremolos.
• Machine Heads: Grover Rotomatic tuners offer a high gear ratio (18:1), giving precise control over tuning. Hardware is finished in black with gold highlights, consistent with the guitar's aesthetic theme.
• Finish Details: While hardware quality drew positive remarks, reports of minor cosmetic flaws, such as a misaligned nut or slightly marred fretboard inlays, suggest some variability in finishing at this price point. The lever of the tremolo arrived with slight gold plating wear in some cases, but this only affected the portion hidden during use.

Neck and Playability

The neck's "Ultra Thin C" profile and flat 16-inch radius promote rapid fretboard navigation, supporting fast leads and large string bends. Twenty-four extra jumbo stainless steel frets offer a wider surface, aiding both heavy rhythm work and expressive soloing, with added durability over traditional fret materials. Out-of-the-box action typically arrives at a medium height (2mm at the low E and high E), easily lowered with bridge adjustment. The nut width measures at 41.3 mm, creating a familiar but comfortable grip for most players.

Electronics: Pickup System and Controls

• Bridge Pickup: Schecter USA Synyster Gates Signature humbucker, voiced aggressively, with a focus on clarity and bite, especially under gain, while maintaining the ability to sound smooth for cleaner genres like jazz.
• Neck Pickup: Sustainiac system, an active humbucker capable of delivering infinite sustain in several selectable modes (natural and artificial harmonics, standard infinite sustain). Configuration is handled by a three-way mode selector, a two-way on/off switch, and dedicated onboard controls. Power is provided by a standard 9V battery.
• Controls: Volume, tone, a 3-way pickup selector for standard switching, and the additional switches for Sustainiac settings. Some users encountered high noise when the Sustainiac was off, which could be corrected by adjusting internal trim pots accessed via the rear control panel.

Once dialed in, the Sustainiac system becomes a major creative tool, producing effects ranging from endless feedback to controlled harmonic overtones, well-suited for experimental rock and expressive soloing. Both pickups deliver strong output levels and retain clarity across distortion and clean settings.

Sound and Versatility

Despite its metal-focused image, testers found the Synyster Gates Custom S BKGD capable of clear, musical tones suitable for jazz, rock, and fusion, especially when dialing back the gain. The combination of a mahogany body, ebony board, and high-output pickups means the guitar is responsive to both rhythmic attack and subtle dynamics, with a direct and present sound when played clean. The Sustainiac broadens sonic possibilities far beyond standard humbucker guitars, delivering creative textures not possible otherwise.

Setup and Quality Control

Most instruments arrived playable out of the box, but several users needed to correct minor manufacturing quirks: nut centering, bridge float adjustment, fine-tuning of the Sustainiac, and minor finish blemishes. These issues were generally quick to fix, but they might be noticeable to players expecting flawless presentation in this price segment.

Conclusion: Who Is This Guitar For?

The Schecter Synyster Gates Custom S BKGD is a visually and sonically distinctive instrument best suited for players who prioritize high-gain performance, expressive tools like the Sustainiac, and a unique, eye-catching design. While minor setup or finish imperfections may occur, the hardware, pickup system, and playability justify the price for advanced players or fans of Avenged Sevenfold seeking a professional-grade, versatile guitar.

• Pros: Versatile sound, quality hardware, smooth playability, standout looks, creative sustain features.
• Cons: Heavy body, minor cosmetic flaws possible, some setup may be required out of the box.

For guitarists wanting a truly distinctive, stage-ready instrument with a wide tonal palette, the Custom S BKGD delivers, especially for those who value the Sustainiac and Schecter's build ethos.