Introduction
Welcome to the world of high-performance guitar playing with your new Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder FR-S Electric Guitar. This instrument is engineered for precision, speed, and versatile tone, featuring advanced electronics and a robust construction. This manual provides essential information for setting up, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting your guitar to ensure optimal performance and longevity.
Image: Full front view of the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder FR-S Electric Guitar in Blue Reign finish, showcasing its sleek design.
Key Features
- Body: Solid mahogany body, providing a rich and resonant tone.
- Neck: Bolt-on hard rock maple neck with a fast thin "C" contour for comfortable playability.
- Fretboard: 24-fret ebony fingerboard, offering a smooth playing surface and clear articulation.
- Bridge: Exclusive Floyd Rose Special "Hot Rod" Locking Tremolo system for precise tuning stability and expressive pitch control.
- Bridge Pickup: EMG Retro Active humbucking pickup, delivering active clarity with passive dynamics.
- Neck Pickup: Sustainiac pickup, providing three voices of unending sustain for creative soundscapes.
- Controls: Intuitive control layout for volume, tone, pickup selection, and Sustainiac activation.
Image: Angled view of the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder FR-S Electric Guitar, highlighting its body contours and hardware.
Image: Close-up of the ebony fretboard and the Sustainiac neck pickup, showing the fret markers and string alignment.
Image: Detailed view of the guitar's headstock, featuring the Schecter Diamond Series logo.
Setup Guide
1. Unboxing and Initial Inspection
Carefully remove your guitar from its packaging. Inspect the instrument for any visible damage that may have occurred during shipping. Ensure all accessories, such as the tremolo arm and adjustment wrenches, are present.
2. Battery Installation (for Active Electronics)
Your guitar features active EMG and Sustainiac electronics, which require battery power. Locate the battery compartments on the back of the guitar body. Open the compartments and insert 9V batteries, observing the correct polarity. Close the compartments securely.
Image: Rear view of the guitar body, highlighting the control cavity and the two 9V battery compartments for the active electronics.
3. Tuning and String Locking
Due to the Floyd Rose locking tremolo system, tuning requires a specific procedure:
- Rough tune the guitar using the tuning machines on the headstock.
- Once roughly in tune, tighten the locking nuts at the headstock to secure the strings.
- Use the fine tuners on the Floyd Rose bridge to achieve precise tuning.
Image: Close-up of the guitar's headstock, showing the locking nut, tuning machines, and the Schecter logo.
4. Tremolo Arm Installation
Insert the tremolo arm into its receptacle on the Floyd Rose bridge and tighten the collar to your preferred tension.
Operating Your Guitar
1. Controls Overview
Image: Close-up of the guitar's bridge area, showing the Floyd Rose tremolo, EMG bridge pickup, Sustainiac neck pickup, and control knobs.
- Volume Knob: Controls the overall output volume of the guitar.
- Tone Knob: Adjusts the treble response, from bright to warm.
- 3-Way Pickup Selector Switch:
- Position 1 (Bridge): Activates the EMG Retro Active humbucking pickup for powerful, articulate tones.
- Position 2 (Middle): Activates both bridge and neck pickups for a blended sound.
- Position 3 (Neck): Activates the Sustainiac pickup (when engaged) or a standard neck pickup tone (when Sustainiac is off).
- Sustainiac On/Off Switch: Engages or disengages the Sustainiac system.
- Sustainiac Mode Switch: Selects between different Sustainiac modes (e.g., Fundamental, Harmonic, Mix). Refer to the Sustainiac documentation for detailed mode descriptions.
Image: Detailed view of the Sustainiac neck pickup, showing its branding and placement on the fretboard.
2. Connecting to an Amplifier
Connect a standard 1/4-inch instrument cable from the output jack on your guitar to the input of your amplifier or audio interface. Ensure your amplifier is powered on and set to a suitable volume level before playing.
Maintenance
1. Cleaning
- Body and Neck: Wipe down the body and back of the neck with a soft, lint-free cloth after each use to remove sweat and fingerprints. For a deeper clean, use a guitar-specific polish.
- Fretboard: Periodically clean the ebony fretboard with a specialized fretboard cleaner and conditioner to prevent drying and cracking.
- Strings: Wipe strings with a clean cloth after playing to extend their life and maintain tone.
2. String Replacement
Replacing strings on a Floyd Rose system requires careful attention to maintain proper bridge balance and tuning stability. It is recommended to change strings one at a time, or to block the tremolo system before changing all strings simultaneously. Always use the same gauge of strings to avoid significant setup changes.
3. Battery Replacement
When the output signal becomes weak or distorted, it's likely time to replace the 9V batteries for the active electronics. Follow the instructions in the "Setup Guide" for safe battery replacement.
4. Storage
Store your guitar in a climate-controlled environment, ideally in a hard case or gig bag, to protect it from extreme temperature changes, humidity fluctuations, and physical damage.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No Sound / Weak Sound | Dead batteries, faulty cable, amplifier off, volume knob down. | Replace batteries, check cable connections, ensure amplifier is on and volume is up. |
| Excessive Buzzing / Fret Buzz | Improper string action, worn frets, neck relief issues. | Adjust bridge saddle height, check neck relief. If issues persist, consult a qualified guitar technician. |
| Poor Tuning Stability | Strings not properly stretched, locking nuts loose, worn bridge components. | Ensure strings are stretched, tighten locking nuts, check fine tuners. For persistent issues, professional setup may be required. |
| Sustainiac Not Working | Dead battery, switch off, incorrect mode selected. | Replace battery, ensure Sustainiac On/Off switch is engaged, try different mode settings. |
Specifications
| Brand | Schecter |
| Model Name | Sun Valley Super Shredder FR-S |
| Model Number | 1246 |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Fretboard Material | Ebony Wood |
| Number of Frets | 24 |
| Scale Length | 25.5 inches |
| Bridge | Floyd Rose Special "Hot Rod" Locking Tremolo |
| Bridge Pickup | EMG Retro Active Humbucker |
| Neck Pickup | Sustainiac |
| Controls | Volume, Tone, 3-Way Pickup Selector, Sustainiac On/Off, Sustainiac Mode Switch |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Hand Orientation | Right |
| Item Weight | 5500 g |
| Item Dimensions | 18.9 x 5.91 x 43.7 inches |
Warranty and Support
Warranty Information
Your Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder FR-S Electric Guitar comes with a 2-year warranty. This warranty covers manufacturing defects and ensures your instrument meets Schecter's quality standards. Please retain your proof of purchase for warranty claims. For full details on warranty coverage and limitations, refer to the official Schecter website or contact their customer service.
Customer Support
For technical assistance, service, or any questions regarding your Schecter guitar, please visit the official Schecter Guitars website or contact their customer support department. You can often find FAQs, additional resources, and contact information on their website.