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Schecter Hellcat VI

#81
lunarpollen said:
Can any Hellcat VI owner tell me what the string spacing, the bridge width, and/or the tailpiece width is? I definitely intend to get one, but today I had the strange notion of bolting a Bigsby vibrato on it. So I did a bit of comparison via photoshop between the Gretsch Jet Baritone and the Hellcat VI, being that the Gretsch's scale length is a mere 1/4-inch shorter. I did this to see if the Bigsby model B50 would fit on the Hellcat. Unfortunately, it won't (not enough space between the bridge and the end of the bass). But then I remembered the ABS "Les Trem"... The bridge/tailpiece of the Hellcat VI look to be similar to that of a Gibson guitar, and if the dimensions/spacing are the same, then the Les Trem (which has string spacing of 3 1/4") *might* be a viable option for what I have in mind.
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The total width from E to E is 2" (center to center). The string to string width is about 7/16". The width of the bridge itself is 3 1/4". The bridge studs are 3 7/8" apart.

It is exactly the same as the TonePros tune-a-matic type bridge on my Schecter C1 Classic guitar, which is the standard Les Paul size. It is a TonePros locking guitar bridge, with the saddle slots widened a little to accommodate the thicker strings.

Hope that helps.
 
#82
Showdown said:
The total width from E to E is 2" (center to center). The string to string width is about 7/16". The width of the bridge itself is 3 1/4". The bridge studs are 3 7/8" apart.

It is exactly the same as the TonePros tune-a-matic type bridge on my Schecter C1 Classic guitar, which is the standard Les Paul size. It is a TonePros locking guitar bridge, with the saddle slots widened a little to accommodate the thicker strings.

Hope that helps.
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Yes it does help, thank you very much! The Les Trem might actually work for the Hellcat VI...
 
#85
Showdown said:
I just looked up the Les Trem. The tailpiece on the Hellcat VI is the same as on a Les Paul, so it should work fine.
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The only things I'm worried about are (1) will the ABM Les Trem's slots accommodate the thicker bass VI strings? and (2) where would I find a bridge with roller saddles with grooves big enough to accommodate the thicker strings? Would I have to have one custom made? I suppose maybe I could find a metal shop who would be able to widen the Les Trem's slots, but I can't imagine that it would be easy or even possible to widen the grooves of already-assembled roller saddles...

I definitely wouldn't want to keep the standard bridge on if I was using a vibrato unit, i'd be sawing the strings in half at the saddles, not to mention that tuning wouldn't be stable with the string windings binding on the saddles. I had similar issues with my Bigsby-equipped Les Paul guitar until I got a roller bridge.
 
#86
I just received my brand new Hellcat VI this morning at work... Won't get to try it out plugged-in until I get home... I'm surprised at how small it looks in person. Sounds great unplugged, even if the high E string has an odd sort of chorusy ringing that's slightly sitar-like. I guess it probably just needs a slight adjustment to fix that issue, but I actually kinda like how it sounds.

Anyway, I noticed on the Schecter website FAQs, it says the Hellcat VI is set up with SIT Power Steel stainless gauges 25,35,45,55,75,95. However, the one I just received came with a tag saying "This instrument is strung with D'Addario"... And there's no indication of what gauges the strings are. I suppose I could take it to a guitar tech and have him use a micrometer to measure them (or I guess I could get one myself, although I'm not sure much one costs), but I did leave a voicemail with Schecter tech support. I hope they get back to me soon....
 
#87
lunarpollen said:
I just received my brand new Hellcat VI this morning at work... Won't get to try it out plugged-in until I get home... I'm surprised at how small it looks in person. Sounds great unplugged, even if the high E string has an odd sort of chorusy ringing that's slightly sitar-like. I guess it probably just needs a slight adjustment to fix that issue, but I actually kinda like how it sounds.

Anyway, I noticed on the Schecter website FAQs, it says the Hellcat VI is set up with SIT Power Steel stainless gauges 25,35,45,55,75,95. However, the one I just received came with a tag saying "This instrument is strung with D'Addario"... And there's no indication of what gauges the strings are. I suppose I could take it to a guitar tech and have him use a micrometer to measure them (or I guess I could get one myself, although I'm not sure much one costs), but I did leave a voicemail with Schecter tech support. I hope they get back to me soon....
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I'm not sure who makes their strings. I bought a couple of sets from their website and they came in a package that says Schecter with no mention of who makes them.
 
#88
Brian from Schecter Diamond Series tech support called me back and told me that they've switched to D'Addario strings for all their instruments, and that the string gauges for the Hellcat VI are the same as they were with the SIT strings.

Would Fender Bass VI strings be the best replacement set for this beasty?
 
#90
lunarpollen said:
Brian from Schecter Diamond Series tech support called me back and told me that they've switched to D'Addario strings for all their instruments, and that the string gauges for the Hellcat VI are the same as they were with the SIT strings.

Would Fender Bass VI strings be the best replacement set for this beasty?
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Fender Bass VI strings will fit, although the low E string is just a hair long (the fat part of the string wraps around the tuner post a little), but they do work. I have some Ernie Ball bass VI strings on mine now. I bought them before I ordered the strings from Schecter, so I will replace them with the Schecter when they need it.

The good thing about bass VI strings is that you have more choices. La Bella makes a flatwound that fits.
 
#91
agreatheight said:
+1. I can appreciate that you want it to be a bass, but if Schecter says it's a guitar, they built it, it's a guitar.
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All "basses" are guitars, unless its a standup bass.

So technically yes it's a guitar. But so is your Zon Sonus. It's just a 4-string bass guitar. My Hellcat VI is a short scale (30") 6-string bass guitar. My Epiphone Rivoli is a short scale (30") 4-string bass guitar. Bass is just the descriptor of note range. There are bass guitars, bass viols, brass basses, bass saxophones, and probably many more bass instruments.

Schecter has the Hellcat VI on the guitar page not because it's not a bass guitar, but because it's based on almost the exact same body shape as the non-bass Hellcat guitar. That's why they organized them like that. On the other hand, their Hellraiser guitars and basses have only a somewhat similar body shape; they are definitely different enough that grouping them together would look a little weird.

After plugging my new Hellcat VI in at home, it leaves no doubt that it's a bass. Damn this thing sounds nice and rich. I just have to get used to the 30" scale (my Rivoli has been decommissioned from many months now) and roundwound strings (I usually prefer flats but I want this one to stay with rounds). The fretboard dots are a little dark too, sometimes a bit hard to see.
 
#93
lunarpollen said:
All "basses" are guitars, unless its a standup bass.

So technically yes it's a guitar. But so is your Zon Sonus. It's just a 4-string bass guitar. My Hellcat VI is a short scale (30") 6-string bass guitar. My Epiphone Rivoli is a short scale (30") 4-string bass guitar. Bass is just the descriptor of note range. There are bass guitars, bass viols, brass basses, bass saxophones, and probably many more bass instruments.

Schecter has the Hellcat VI on the guitar page not because it's not a bass guitar, but because it's based on almost the exact same body shape as the non-bass Hellcat guitar. That's why they organized them like that. On the other hand, their Hellraiser guitars and basses have only a somewhat similar body shape; they are definitely different enough that grouping them together would look a little weird.

After plugging my new Hellcat VI in at home, it leaves no doubt that it's a bass. Damn this thing sounds nice and rich. I just have to get used to the 30" scale (my Rivoli has been decommissioned from many months now) and roundwound strings (I usually prefer flats but I want this one to stay with rounds). The fretboard dots are a little dark too, sometimes a bit hard to see.
Click to expand...
Thank you for writing this - it saved me a lot of typing work, and I couldn't have expressed the point of your post better.
 
#95
After one band practice with this thing I just want to leave my other basses locked away in my closet. It was amazing. There's still some getting used to playing all our tunes on an instrument where the strings are significantly closer together, but that shouldn't take long at all. This thing cuts like a knife and sits well in the mix. It was my first ever brand new bass purchase, and I'm definitely not disappointed. Good pickups definitely make a huge difference, and this thing's got 'em! I can get traditional old-school bass tones, rockabillyish/surfy baritone sounds, and New Order-ish lead bass tones out of this thing. It's so damn versatile, and playing chords is not a problem. I can't wait to use it for our show on the 20th. It's going to help us sound so good......
 
#96
I recently picked up a Hellcat VI to replace my Fender Jaguar Baritone Custom, and I'm loving it. Between the slightly longer scale length and the versatile pickup switching I can get a much deeper sound than I could out of the twangy Jaguar. Looking forward to using it in a band setting.
 
#98
grygrx said:
I've got one on the way. It appears that they have been discontinued. I had a hard time finding it.
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When I ordered mine in late September, I couldn't find any place that had the black version in stock except Woodwind & Brasswind. A bunch of places had the sunburst, but I wanted black.

My Hellcat VI finally had its first gig use on Tuesday evening, and it served me admirably. I just wish the fretboard dots were more visible. The bizarre lighting situation at this venue made things difficult.....
 
#99
lunarpollen said:
When I ordered mine in late September, I couldn't find any place that had the black version in stock except Woodwind & Brasswind. A bunch of places had the sunburst, but I wanted black.

My Hellcat VI finally had its first gig use on Tuesday evening, and it served me admirably. I just wish the fretboard dots were more visible. The bizarre lighting situation at this venue made things difficult.....
Click to expand...

I called five places that had them listed on the internet, but all of them were out of stock. The last place I called was Woodwind & Brasswind, (which btw is basically music123) and they had one 'B' stock in Black, which had been a floor model. They gave me a decent markdown over the internet price (which was already marked down for being B stock) and 45 day return policy. I've never done business with them before, hopefully it will be ok!
 

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