Head to head
ESP TH-400 Charcoal Metallic vs Schecter Traditional Custom
The verdict
The ESP TH-400 Charcoal Metallic comes out ahead overall — 81 to 77 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP TH-400 Charcoal Metallic wins on
- Better build (93 vs 71)
Schecter Traditional Custom wins on
- Better sound (79 vs 68)
- Lower price ($599 vs $899)
Scorecard
| Metric | TH-400 Charcoal Metallic | Traditional Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81 | 77 |
| Build | 93 | 71 |
| Playability | 81 | 78 |
| Sound | 68 | 79 |
| Value | 78 | 80 |
Full specifications
| Spec | TH-400 Charcoal Metallic | Traditional Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Schecter |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Swamp Ash |
| Neck wood | 3Pc Roasted Maple | Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Maple |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 24 | 21 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | EMG 85 Black / EMG 81 Black | Schecter Diamond Vintage Single Coil / Schecter Diamond Vintage Single Coil / Schecter Diamond Plus |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $899 | $599 |
| Bridge | LTD Fixed Bridge w/ String Thru | Wilkinson WV2-SB Tremolo |
| Bridge pickup | EMG 81 Black | Schecter Diamond Plus |
| Case | ST-1 FORM FIT CASE | — |
| Case Included | N | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | Bolt-on |
| Controls | Volume/Tone/3-way Switch | Volume/Tone (Push-Pull)/5-Way Switch |
| Finish | Charcoal Metallic | — |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | 12" (305mm) |
| Hardware | Black | Chrome |
| Neck pickup | EMG 85 Black | Schecter Diamond Vintage Single Coil |
| Neck profile | Thin U | Thin "C" |
| Nut | Molded | Graph Tech XL Ivory Tusq |
| Nut width | 42mm | 1.653" (42mm) |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 25.5" (648mm) |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Tuners | LTD Locking | Schecter Locking |
| Dexterity | — | Right Handed |
| Fretboard inlay | — | Dots |
| Guitar Colors | — | Trans Black Burst (TBB) |
| Knobs | — | Vintage Knob |
| Middle pickup | — | Schecter Diamond Vintage Single Coil |
| Thickness | — | @ 1st Fret- .787" (20mm)/ @ 12th Fret- .866" (22mm) |
| Top Contour | — | Flat Top |
| Top Material | — | Flamed Maple |
| Truss rod | — | 2-Way Adjustable Rod w/ 5/32" (4mm) Allen Nut |