At the NAMM 2024 show, Testament’s lead guitarist Alex Skolnick offered a defense of Machine Gun Kelly’s controversial ‘Razor Blade’ guitar.
In January, Schecter announced the release of a new Machine Gun Kelly signature model, deviating from traditional designs with its unique visuals. The ‘Razor Blade’ guitar quickly became a topic of intense debate within the music community.
Alex’s Review Of The Guitar
Skolnick, familiar with novel guitar designs, started his review by spontaneously playing the guitar, showing its features. He mentioned he had no initial biases, only knowing about the online debate over the guitar’s look. The musician commented:
“It plays well. 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.”
The Neck’s Mystery Material And Sound Quality
The rocker then highlighted the guitar’s ease of playability, noting:
“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.”
Addressing concerns about the guitar’s sharp appearance, Skolnick humorously remarked:
“Yeah, it looks like it’s really sharp. It’s an illusion. Meanwhile, there are other guitars, named brands- I won’t name any names- that are really sharp at the top, like dangerous.”
Public Perception And Machine Gun Kelly’s Response
The ‘Razor Blade’ guitar has received mixed responses. Some people are impressed by its striking design and see it as a bold innovation, while others have mocked it, calling the idea foolish. Responding to the criticism, Machine Gun Kelly took to social media to express his thoughts. He stated:
“I’ll never explain my art, because true art is conversational and always up for interpretation. But I will say, most of you constantly interpret it wrong. And then blame me for your version of what you think my art is. Ultimately, I’m sad at how people perceive me in general. Peace.”
Following two successful models, Schecter introduced the unique Machine Gun Kelly ‘Razor Blade’ guitar. This guitar, shaped like a razor blade and with a metallic top, has a special maple neck and an ebony fretboard. It features advanced components for various tones and effects, including a kill switch for sound control, and sells for $1,499.
Watch Skolnick’s review of the instrument below.
