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EMG Hz's and Schecter Stiletto Studio

Bassman316

Bassman316

May 27, 2008
845
115
Longs, SC
#1
Hey guys- I tried searching this out, but didn't have much luck finding anything. I've been eyeing this bass up for a while now:

Invalid Link Removed

It looks like a great bass, and I've read good things about the higher end of Schecter's Stiletto line. I haven't had a chance to play it in person yet, which would obviously be necessary before I make any kind of purchase.

Anyhoo, this bass has the EMG Hz pickups in it. I've read around these parts that EMG Hz pickups tend to sound rather cold, very hi-fi and trebly (I do understand this is a matter of personal preference, however). If you'll notice in the description, it says:

"The Studio is armed with EMG Hz pickups, but adds a MID CONTROL on the 18 Volt 3-Band EQ."

The fact that it says "but adds a mid control" kinda raises a red flag with me, as if they're trying to say these pickups lack in the midrange. I don't have a problem with a hi-fi, modern type sound, but I don't want to go too far in that direction, either. Am I reading too far into this? Anyone with experience with this bass care to share their opinion?
 
#2
I think it would be better to read the descriptions from the manufacturer's site than from there.

Anyways, i had the hz pickups on my spector rebop and they were more than fine. I swapped them for active emgs because i thought they were better (to my ears).
Active emgs have a more hi-fi/modern sound IMO.
Anyways, since the bass has a 3-band eq, it means you can boost or cut lows, mids, highs and make the bass sound the way you want.
EMG HZs are very good passive pickups.
 
#3
I had a schecter stilletto custom for several years and I thought it lacked in the high end sizzle. Very boomy in my experiance. I wanted more mid/ highs to bring out the character of my playing. I got a Peavey cirrrus. I liked the way the Schecter played though. Maybe I shoulda tried switching Pickups.
 
#4
Keep in mind the mid control boosts or cuts by 18dB.

So then you could also read into it that it has "too much mid" if you wanted. :D

But they're just pointing out you get an extra control in the preamp - it doesn't mean anything more than that...
 
#5
I've never tried a Stiletto but I do own a Schecter Damien 4 with EMG HZ's and have been a little disappointed with the tone and output volume. By changing the strings and playing with my amps EQ I have been able to obtain the sound I was looking for.

The MID CONTROL on the 18V 3 band EQ may help, the Damien only has a 2 Band EQ with no mid control.

Also, I should add, I was tuned CFCG. I'm sure this caused some of my trouble because I've since reset it to standard EADG and got the tone and volume back.
 
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#7
Bassman316 said:
Anyhoo, this bass has the EMG Hz pickups in it. I've read around these parts that EMG Hz pickups tend to sound rather cold, very hi-fi and trebly (I do understand this is a matter of personal preference, however). If you'll notice in the description, it says:

"The Studio is armed with EMG Hz pickups, but adds a MID CONTROL on the 18 Volt 3-Band EQ."

The fact that it says "but adds a mid control" kinda raises a red flag with me, as if they're trying to say these pickups lack in the midrange. I don't have a problem with a hi-fi, modern type sound, but I don't want to go too far in that direction, either. Am I reading too far into this? Anyone with experience with this bass care to share their opinion?
Click to expand...

Hmmm. By definition "hi-fi" (high fidelity) basically means clear and accurate reproduction with even frequency response. If I had to fault HZ's in my own experience it would be to say that they are somewhat less hi-fi than active EMG's.

HZ's are passive and I think that they tend to be good sounding pickup with plenty of lows though they do lack a bit of the clarity associated with active EMG's. I would never have used "cold" to describe them. They don't lack in the midrange in my experience.

It always makes me smile when I hear things about pickups going through active pre-amps and complaints about pickup output. Output is almost entirely determined by a combination of the pre-amp and the values of the volume pots. Example: My current Spector came with HZ's and the stock 9v pre. The output was insane. Over double the output of my other basses and would send amps into clipping. I converted it to active EMG DC pickups with a full EMG BQC system 18v pre-amp, and the output is pretty well the same now as my fully passive Fender Jazz. Remember that voltage will having nothing to do with output. It is to accommodate greater headroom without distortion when playing hard (many will argue that there is no difference between 9v and 18v). Output in an active bass is based on how the trim is set on or in the pre-amp.

The mid control would not be added to "tame" any issues with the pickups. It is simply an attractive addition to a basses eq section. Cutting or boosting mids tends to have the greatest affect on the tonal characteristics of a bass. Having that control is a big plus, not a "red flag".
 
#8
Hugh Jass said:
Hmmm. By definition "hi-fi" (high fidelity) basically means clear and accurate reproduction with even frequency response.
Click to expand...

That definition also only extends to charts and graphs. Flat response pickups sound depressed in the mids. A graph that displays that they are flat does little to get your mids back.

This coupled with Schecters tendency to only provide 2 band boost only EQ's will really leave the mids behind.

I swapped the Hz's for SD ssb-4's and found a fair bit more mid range and low end happening. If I had a mid control I think I'd be totally happy with it and it would be a lot more versatile aswell.
 
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#9
ysand said:
I think it would be better to read the descriptions from the manufacturer's site than from there.

Anyways, i had the hz pickups on my spector rebop and they were more than fine. I swapped them for active emgs because i thought they were better (to my ears).
Active emgs have a more hi-fi/modern sound IMO.
Anyways, since the bass has a 3-band eq, it means you can boost or cut lows, mids, highs and make the bass sound the way you want.
EMG HZs are very good passive pickups.
Click to expand...
If you wanted to use them as passive pickups, what changes would you have to make to the circuit? Has anybody managed to do this successfully on their schecter?
 
#10
Hugh Jass said:
Hmmm. By definition "hi-fi" (high fidelity) basically means clear and accurate reproduction with even frequency response. If I had to fault HZ's in my own experience it would be to say that they are somewhat less hi-fi than active EMG's.

HZ's are passive and I think that they tend to be good sounding pickup with plenty of lows though they do lack a bit of the clarity associated with active EMG's. I would never have used "cold" to describe them. They don't lack in the midrange in my experience.

It always makes me smile when I hear things about pickups going through active pre-amps and complaints about pickup output. Output is almost entirely determined by a combination of the pre-amp and the values of the volume pots. Example: My current Spector came with HZ's and the stock 9v pre. The output was insane. Over double the output of my other basses and would send amps into clipping. I converted it to active EMG DC pickups with a full EMG BQC system 18v pre-amp, and the output is pretty well the same now as my fully passive Fender Jazz. Remember that voltage will having nothing to do with output. It is to accommodate greater headroom without distortion when playing hard (many will argue that there is no difference between 9v and 18v). Output in an active bass is based on how the trim is set on or in the pre-amp.

The mid control would not be added to "tame" any issues with the pickups. It is simply an attractive addition to a basses eq section. Cutting or boosting mids tends to have the greatest affect on the tonal characteristics of a bass. Having that control is a big plus, not a "red flag".
Click to expand...
How would you go about converting a schecter bass to passive? Could it be done by just adding a switch to cut out the active circuit? Many thanks
 
#12
Luc
GLLabelle said:
I've never tried a Stiletto but I do own a Schecter Damien 4 with EMG HZ's and have been a little disappointed with the tone and output volume. By changing the strings and playing with my amps EQ I have been able to obtain the sound I was looking for.

The MID CONTROL on the 18V 3 band EQ may help, the Damien only has a 2 Band EQ with no mid control.

Also, I should add, I was tuned CFCG. I'm sure this caused some of my trouble because I've since reset it to standard EADG and got the tone and volume back.
Click to expand...

Lucky you.
My diamond studio 4 sounds abysmal at best.
EMG Hz pickups were awful.
The eq was about as good as rubbing two bricks together.
Now, after swapping eq and pups, $600 later I'm still left with an expensive embarrassing bass guitar that produces all the tonal qualities of a dairy farmers paddock.
 

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