The Schecter MV-6 is a high quality instrument that takes the road less travelled in its approach to the typical S-Type guitar configuration. Yes, it's still three single coil pickups -- even at the bottom -- but the spacing and switching combinations result in a guitar with its own unique voice. 

But before we get to the pickups, the MV-6 packs a lot into its sub-$1000 price tag. The fully contoured alder body is commendably light, and the 14" radius maple neck has excellent fretwork and a very silky feel. There is a modern two-point tremolo system with stainless saddles, plus locking tuners. Like all guitars in the Schecter Diamond Series, the MV-6 brings a lot to the party at a very reasonable price. 

The pickup switching departs from the normal Strat, and given that the "middle" pickup is shifted down next to the bridge Schecter came up with their own unique pickup combinations. What you won't get from the MV-6 is the quacky out-of-phase tones often associated with the neck+middle and middle+plus bridge settings. If you are a Robert Cray fan, this may be a deal breaker. But what you will get are some great traditional blues tones, a more powerful bridge pickup setup, and some great rhythm chime too. Let's dig into it from bottom to top:


1 - Bridge and Middle pickup in series - Effectively this is a bridge humbucker but with true pole magnet pickups. In this format it's a medium output humbucker with nice high end sparkle, and plenty of punch to play nicely with pedals
2 - Middle pickup - A nice blend of Strat bridge and middle tones: Cuts better than the traditional middle pickup but not as brittle or shrill as the bridge pickup can be. Good for blues or can get a little twangy. 
3 - Neck and Middle parallel - Very much like the two pickups of a Tele together: Sweet with a lovely chime, and with the middle pickup positioning relative to the bridge, the low end is fuller and rounder. It's pretty awesome clean or with some grind. It the closest thing to the out-of-phase tone but more balanced in terms of output.
4 - All three pickups in parallel - Usually combining all three pickups on a Strat is a little anemic, but the positioning on the MV-6 creates a rich and full rhythm tone that can be cool and laid back, or funky
5 - Neck pickup - Classic neck blues tone, which is probably the one position that all Strat players can agree on

The MV-6 ditches certain classic Strat tones (sorry Robert Cray) but arguably creates five really usable positions that can work for a wider range of players. If you love the S-Type shape and ergonomics but are not totally sold on the sound, the MV-6 gives you a different canvas to paint with.

The Schecter MV-6 features:

• Alder body with Sonic Blue finish - 7.2 pounds
• 25.5" scale 14" radius maple neck
• Sculpted neck heel
• Thin "C" profile, .787" 1st fret, .866" at the 12th fret
• 14" fretboard radius
• 1.65" nut width
• 24 Jumbo frets
• Graph Tech Tusq nut
• Schecter Diamond 351 pickups
• Schecter 2 point tremolo bridge with stainless saddles
• Schecter locking tuners
• 5-way pickup switch (see below for functions)
• Volume and tone controls
• No bag/case included
• Made in Indonesia
• Model number 4203