Schecter recently introduced their Machine Gun Kelly razor guitar to mixed reception online, with many expressing immediate negativity.
Kelly himself appeared frustrated by the jokes, though the ultimate judgment lies in the guitar’s comfort and playability.
During the NAMM 2024 event, TESTAMENT‘s lead guitarist Alex Skolnick offered a brief review of MGK‘s “Razor Blade” guitar.
“It plays well,” Skolnick said. “I was surprised how fluent it feels, I thought it would be a little more of a struggle than it is. It happens to be strong with very thick strings, which I’m used to, but they feel extra thick. I don’t know if that’s the gauge or the guitar, but it’s easier to play than you would expect.
“You get a lot of flow, and it’s easy to move from one spot to another. The neck is very smooth, it’s uh, I’m not sure what this is. I don’t know if it’s graphite or some type of metal. It’s interesting, and I think it sounds good. You have to get used to the shape. I’ve never been a fan of odd shapes, I don’t even own a Flying V. But, you know, I’ve gotta hand it to him for doing something different.”
Jokingly asked about the possibility of cutting his finger on the instrument, Skolnick responded: “Yeah, it looks like it’s really sharp. It’s an illusion. Meanwhile, there’s other guitars, named brands, I won’t name any names, that are really sharp at the top, like, dangerous.”
The “Razor Blade” guitar is a unique instrument that features a basswood body shaped like a giant razor blade, with a metallic scratchplate covering the entire top. The guitar has a single Schecter Pasadena Plus humbucker in the bridge position, which can deliver both clear and crunchy tones.
A kill switch on the lower horn allows for stuttering effects and sonic experimentation. The guitar also has a bolt-on maple neck with an ebony fingerboard, 22 extra jumbo frets, and an XX inlay at the 12th fret, representing Machine Gun Kelly’s slogan “Everyone Stand Together”.
It is priced at $1,499 and available from Schecter’s website.