OK, so the Schecter USA Nick Johnston isn’t a super modern guitar, but it caught my eye for a few reasons:
- Nick Johnston plays one and it’s his signature guitar. If you haven’t heard him, you should. He is a monster player who knows when to shred and when not to. In that respect, he’s much like Guthrie Govan.
- The neck is Wenge and bolt-on. This is an amazing combination that few builders have tried, much less offer as standard or an option. This makes it very modern in my opinion.
- 3 single-coils rather than humbuckers
- No excess bling
Nick’s tone is very much like a vintage strat that has been updated for the 21st century — but not optimized like most guitars — for modern metal and shred. It lacks the super high output pickups, humbuckers, whammy bar, and gaudy bling that characterises so many modern strat-style guitars today. Which is why I like it so much. The ring inlays also add a very nice and subtle touch to the whole aesthetic. And that Wenge neck! The tone he gets out of this thing is magical.
There are a few versions of this USA custom shop signature guitar. The one from 2017 in Atomic Green is cool, and in 2019, there is a new version that has a retro nitro finish. All in some very cool pastel colors that aren’t over-the-top gaudy or crazy.
Overall, there’s a lot to like about this guitar.
