[Drew]

I wouldn't say you CAN'T "shred" on a Hellraiser (and I hate that word) - if you're any good, it's a good enough guitar that it'll be able to keep right up with you. And I used to think a finished neck would bug me, but my bass is finished (granted, a matte) but I have no problems with that.

What it comes down to then is looks, feel, and tone. Your 1527 is your traditional "shred" guitar, with it's deep cutouts, slim neck, double locking trem, basswood body, and high output pickups. The Hellraiser is more of a modern (in the Nevermore, not Limp Bizkit sense) metal machine, with it's slightly longer scale, active pickups, mahogany body, fixed bridsge, thicker neck... Additionally, it stomps all over the 1527 in cosmetics - the black cherry version is just absolutely sexy.

The biggest issue here, I think, is probably the scale length. 25.5" vs. 26.5" isn't MUCH of a difference, but if you're just making some stretches on a 25.5, then you might have trouble on a 26.5. Ultimately your hands would just get used to it, but it could lead to a lot of initial frustration.

If you're not into the Rusty Cooley school of stretchier lead playing, this is a non-issue (and he's played on like 27" necks before, but then again he's gotta be at least half alien), but it's worth thinking about.

Personally, I want one of each.

[eaeolian]

Originally Posted by Drew

If you're not into the Rusty Cooley school of stretchier lead playing, this is a non-issue (and he's played on like 27" necks before, but then again he's gotta be at least half alien), but it's worth thinking about.

His hands are friggin' HUGE.

I do get sick of "you can't shred on XXX guitar". Ever seen Al DiMeola blaze on a Paul? Yngwie on Strats with tiny fets? (They weren't all scalloped, either.) If you can play, you should be able to do it on just about anything that's a decent guitar with some adjustment time.

It really comes down to preference. For my left-hand style, the Ibby necks are too thin, although I'm sure I could adjust. I personally like the Schecters better, but I could see where the scale length might bother people...

[Adam]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

My RG1527 will arrive later today. Perhaps I could write up a review for you. I've owned/played basically every Ibanez/Schecter 7-string ever made.

Thanx that would be great

Originally Posted by Drew

If you're not into the Rusty Cooley school of stretchier lead playing, this is a non-issue (and he's played on like 27" necks before, but then again he's gotta be at least half alien), but it's worth thinking about.

Personally, I want one of each.

I am into Rusty Cooley, so I guess I should stick with 25.5" necks

[Toshiro]

I don't like archtops or tune-o-matics, therefore I'd take the Ibanez, but the Schecter has that sweet neck binding and the longer scale... argh! Then, I have to think, I hate red and love blue.....

[Adam]

Originally Posted by eaeolian

I do get sick of "you can't shred on XXX guitar". Ever seen Al DiMeola blaze on a Paul? Yngwie on Strats with tiny frets? (They weren't all scalloped, either.) If you can play, you should be able to do it on just about anything that's a decent guitar with some adjustment time.

I do have a Fender Strat and I shred on that(and on scalloped), I agree with you on that everyone thinks you can't shred on the classcis, I mean look at these people Chris Impellitteri, Joe Stump, and Matthew Mills, they are faster than Malmsteen, and some superstrat users, and they all use stratocasters or other company's "strats": but Drew brought up a good point: the 26.5" scale length neck, and that would probably bring some difficulties towards shredding, unless I keep playing it to get used to it, but it will still be akward because my 7 string and my Fender strat are both 25.5" scales.

[Naren]

Originally Posted by eaeolian

I do get sick of "you can't shred on XXX guitar". Ever seen Al DiMeola blaze on a Paul? Yngwie on Strats with tiny fets? (They weren't all scalloped, either.) If you can play, you should be able to do it on just about anything that's a decent guitar with some adjustment time.

Good point. I love my Les Paul, but I can't solo really high on it and I can't do any super fast soloing on it. Pata from X Japan pretty much only plays Les Pauls and he can get some really fast clean perfect solos on that. It baffled me and I asked this insanely good Japanese guitarist friend of mine how he did it (my friend happens to be a huge X Japan fan. Used to be the lead guitarist for an X Japan cover band) and he told me that Pata, for one thing, has long fingers, and for another thing, he plays a little bit different from normal players.

I couldn't find a really good example, but here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4JR1...istic%20desire Pata's solo starts at around 4:00 (after Hide's solo that starts around 3:40). It's not "shredding," but it is fast playing around the 22nd fret, etc.

[Adam]

You know what's weird?, Chris never jumped in to defend his Hellraisers

[Drew]

Originally Posted by Yngwie

but Drew brought up a good point: the 26.5" scale length neck, and that would probably bring some difficulties towards shredding, unless I keep playing it to get used to i, but it will still be akward because all my 7 string and my Fender strat are both 25.5" scales.

Try an XL neck before you decide, though. I had no trouble with the Hellraiser's 26.5", and I actually loved the feeling of a 27" RG7 I played once. Sure, it's a bit stretchy down in the lower registers (although I actually enjoyed that), but up at the top of the neck I thought it actually played a little easier because you had slightly more space to work with.

Like I've said just about any time this debate has come up - while I don't try to play like Rusty (cause, frankly, Idon't think I can, lol), I've been hugely influenced by his whole approach to the guitar, particularly the "lots of notes per string" scale thing, and I keep saying a C7 Hellraiser is next on my hit list - clearly I'm not too worried about the extra inch.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Yngwie

You know what's weird?, Chris never jumped in to defend his Hellraisers

The search engine does that for me. If I chimed in on every Hellraiser thread on here in the last year, I'd have another 10,000 posts from that alone.

But if you insist:

Dominant axe. Plays nice. Looks nice. Big neck. Arr.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Yngwie

I am into Rusty Cooley, so I guess I should stick with 25.5" necks

Rusty is so good because he's comfortable on the necks that he likes. Just because HE is comfortable on 25.5" doesn't mean that you will be. Play what suits you man, not what suits your guitar heros. Hell, I worshipped Motley Crue when I first started playing. You don't see me playin' a freaking Kramer, do you?