Brutal Baritone-scale Brawling in the Key of Keith
Players focused on high-precision technicality and full-fretboard frenzy have long celebrated Keith Merrow’s playing and signature axe, but this expanded-scale 7-string just upped the ante — the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III EX is a bona fide brawler of no-holds-barred baritone brutality. Pared down and poised for power, the flawless playability and far-reaching tone crafting of the prior KM-7 MK-III Legacy go the extra mile, expanding the palette of possibilities that this model already enjoys across progressive metal, neoclassical, contemporary jazz, and hard-rock styles. Its lone Lundgren humbucker brings the full spectrum of extended-scale sonics roaring to life, undergirded by a tonewood triumvirate of mahogany, hard maple, and ebony. Its 3-piece Thin C-profile neck is topped by a compound-radius fretboard, with 24 hard-wearing, extra-jumbo frets sprawling its 28-inch baritone scale length. Offset ring inlays, glow-in-the-dark side dots, and stainless steel frets suit this modern player to any environment and any style of music, but it thrives in the most punishing of down-tuned riffage and exploratory tunings. Schecter locking tuners and a time-tested Hipshot hardtail bridge complete the package that Sweetwater’s low-end theorists are raring to break out during their next gig.
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Premium tonewoods for full-spectrum riff crafting
The KM-7 MK-III EX’s sonorous mahogany body gives it a unique style and flavor. When paired with the hard-maple neck, these tonewoods sound incredible together, delivering a balanced blend of brightness, warmth, and midrange snap and blooming with rich harmonics and shimmering overtones. This guitar's beveled top provides exceptional comfort for hours of playing. Its Hipshot hardtail bridge accentuates the body's natural sustain, while its low profile provides excellent control during speed picking. Up top, an ebony fingerboard supplements your sound with excellent articulation and note separation, ensuring every lick and lead is expertly voiced.
Speed and comfort in uncompromising harmony
Luthiers at Schecter spared no effort to ensure that this signature Keith Merrow axe is fully equipped to handle the diversity of its extended range. The KM-7 MK-III EX boasts a versatile, must-feel 3-piece hard-maple neck, while its Thin C profile stays out of the way as your fingers cruise up and down the fretboard’s 12–16-inch compound radius, permitting easy chording and wide bending in equal measure. Beyond that, the baritone’s 28-inch scale accommodates a broad swath of styles, shining with standard tuning and excelling in down-tuned destruction. The KM-7 MK-III EX’s carbon fiber reinforcement rods and spoke-wheel truss rod adjustment keep the neck right where you plant it, augmenting the increased dimensional stability of its 3-piece design. This means more time with the music and less time at the workbench.
Sanctified sonics, courtesy of Lundgren
Anyone familiar with Keith Merrow knows that he’s a tone fanatic. Naturally, his signature 7-string is outfitted with a lone bridge-mounted Black Heaven humbucker — an enhanced take on the M7 that’s been refined to accommodate the KM-7 MK-III EX’s robust aural aperture, engineered to meet the exacting tonal and performance needs of Keith’s signature style. Its passive design eliminates the hassle of managing an active pickup, but don’t be fooled: this pickup is anything but soft. Its distinctive design’s ceramic magnet placement and winding allow the Black Heaven to rival the high-flashpoint firepower of an active pickup while retaining the clarity, headroom, and organic profile of a passive design. This humbucker conjures a wide dynamic range, enchanting harmonic depth, and detailed sonic complexity, balancing power and presence in every register without compromising definition. Did we mention there’s a kill switch?
Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 MK-III EX Features:
- Designed with Keith Merrow to ensure dynamic musicality across countless playing styles
- Mahogany body anchors tones in a balanced high-output profile of blossoming harmonics and enduring sustain
- 3-piece hard-maple neck imbues your tone with brightness while increasing dimensional stability
- Ebony fretboard supplies near-endless sustain, bell-like clarity, full-spectrum heft, and precision in every register
- Lundgren Black Heaven humbucker utilizes a meticulously placed ceramic magnet to conjure flexible, ferocious, and articulate tones that reinforce its expanded baritone range
- 2-way kill switch replaces any knobs, ensuring foundational tones and Lundgren magic are unimpeded
- Compound-radius 12–16-in. fingerboard provides versatile playability
- Thin C-shaped neck profile supports players of virtually any style with speed, comfort, and control
- 28-in. baritone scale accommodates myriad playing styles that thrive in alternate or down-tuned configurations
- Graph Tech Black TUSQ XL nut ensures accurate intonation and buzz-free sonics
- Schecter locking tuners provide intonation support and stability
