Schecter Guitar Research Synyster Gates Custom-S Relic Electric Guitar Distressed Satin Black
Avenged Sevenfold's Synyster Gates signature guitar featuring a USA bridge humbucker, Sustainiac neck pickup, and vintage-inspired relic finish. Built for metal shredding with character and credibility.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Schecter USA Synyster Gates bridge pickup delivers focused mids, tight lows, and singing highs — perfect for modern metal
- +Sustainiac neck pickup provides infinite sustain for soaring leads and ambient textures without pitch shift
- +Floyd Rose 1500 tremolo system offers expressive bending and extreme pitch modulation
- +Relic finish adds vintage character while protecting the guitar's collectibility from finish checking
Cons
- −Premium price ($1,999) reflects signature status but limits accessibility for emerging players
- −Floyd Rose requires setup and maintenance — not ideal for players who prefer simple tuning stability
- −Sustainiac neck pickup trades traditional neck tone for sustain, sacrificing some tonal versatility
The Verdict
Schecter’s collaboration with Synyster Gates produced a guitar built specifically for fast, aggressive metal playing with a touch of theatrical flair. This isn’t a generic superstrat — it’s an instrument shaped by a signature artist’s actual needs and artistic vision.
The bridge pickup is the star. Custom-voiced for metal, it delivers clarity and aggression in equal measure. Focused mids cut through dense band mixes. Tight lows refuse to muddy. Singing highs stay articulate at any gain level. The Sustainiac neck pickup is the wild card — it trades traditional warmth for infinite sustain, enabling wide pitch sweeps and ambient soundscapes that would demand a volume swell or expression pedal on a conventional guitar.
The Floyd Rose 1500 is fully capable, and the batwing body contours are ergonomic for high-speed playing. The relic finish looks cool and is genuinely protective — vintage-inspired but not gimmicky. If you’re a metal shredder who appreciates Avenged Sevenfold’s catalog and wants a signature instrument with legitimacy, this delivers. For players exploring metal or seeking different tonal philosophies, look elsewhere.
