NBD: Schecter P5

[odarellmc]

Ok so I just got this bass, it comes with tools taped to the inside of the box but that's about it. One of the first things you notice is now light the body is and how neck heavy it is. They say the body is alder, but it's the lightest alder I've ever felt. I am a bit disappointed with the grain matching not a huge deal but something to be concerned about if thats a thing for you.. Overall this bass feels like it's 8 8.5 lbs, it only balances with a strap. It doesn't feel cheap, but it doesn't feels like a 1k bass either. I have a lakland LOG P5 that I got for less than 1k and it's feels very premium. The neck is satin finished with the fretboard being glossy. It's a relatively shallow and I would say the string spacing is about 18mm. So it's a fast neck but it feels good with the frets nicely rolled at the ends. The tuners are fine but some better tuners maybe lightweight are in order.. The tone monster pickups are relatively scooped and on the dark side. There is also some lights buzzing that almost disappears when you touch the strings. They come with earnie balls strings, not sure if that account, for the color of this bass, but if you want this bass to have more mids you could try a string change not sure if they would change the scooped nature of the pickups but the pickups for what they are good very good. Not sure what the deal is with no pickup covers.The action out of the box was great. Once I tuned it up I didn't need to make any adjustments. It played really nice. The best thing about this bass is the b string, very very nice, clear with definition, im sure the 35" accounts for it and it's one of the reasons why I was interested. The sound is balanced across all strings with a very good range of sound from the tone knob. My final thoughts? I'm not sure if its a keeper, I think it sounds great and the b strings is up there with my laklands although it doesn't feel as nice as the Skylines. I do wish the bass was better balanced, but all and all its a good bass with a great b string, at least with these strings. I think these would be killer on the used market, but the price is somewhat questionable. Out of 5 stars, I rate this bass a 3 stars. Pros: great b string, fast neck with great fretwork, lightweight body, alot a variation with tone knob. Cons: neck heavy, lack of pickup covers, questionable grain matching. I hope you found this informative please ask any other questions you may have...

 

[odarellmc]

Just tested out on my DAW, it's a bit brighter and no noises from the pickups....

 

[Nuage420]

I've found new schecters to either not quite or just barely warrant their price tag but used to be a great value.
I'm sorry to hear your disappointment, I have been eyeing a traditional P bass other than Fender and Schecter was top of my list based on my love for my Stilletto Studio 4 being such a rock solid instrument. I'll definitely need to play one before I buy now.

 

[WestyBassBob]

Alder can be very light weight while you have a baseball bat size chunk of maple on that fiver neck. So it’s not surprising it would be a bit neck heavy. Perhaps a high mass bridge and lightweight tuners? Of course it’s all about how much you like it and are willing to invest to make it what you want.

 

[Nuage420]

Alder can be very light weight while you have a baseball bat size chunk of maple on that fiver neck. So it’s not surprising it would be a bit neck heavy. Perhaps a high mass bridge and lightweight tuners? Of course it’s all about how much you like it and are willing to invest to make it what you want.

I mean... if it's a grand it should feel better than a $500-800 fender

I've also been looking at the ESP AP-5s they play and feel great

 

[P. Aaron]

Cool lookin’ bass. Congrats.

Strings can make a huge difference. I use DR Low Rider Nickels or DR Nickel Sunbeams on my Precision & Dimension basses. They’re easy on the frets & hands and seem to hold the tone longer than any steel strings I’ve used.

I like an old-school tone with a bit or warmth. DR Nickel’s seem to deliver that. Flats or steel will go in many other subtle directions.

 

[WestyBassBob]

I mean... if it's a grand it should feel better than a $500-800 fender

I've also been looking at the ESP AP-5s they play and feel great

For a grand maybe. Although prices seem to have jumped a lot in the last year. It may be that a grand gets you what 5-800 used to get you.

FWIW it’s almost impossible to match a close grained wood like alder.

 

[odarellmc]

For a grand maybe. Although prices seem to have jumped a lot in the last year. It may be that a grand gets you what 5-800 used to get you.

FWIW it’s almost impossible to match a close grained wood like alder.

That may be true but at least try, my 2 sunburst American Std P & J have excellent matching..

 

[odarellmc]

I mean... if it's a grand it should feel better than a $500-800 fender

I've also been looking at the ESP AP-5s they play and feel great

I have a Yamaha pj so that's something I'll pass on, I find 35 5ers on avg have better b strings, and the b on this is pretty good, the dynamic range of this bass is wide and scooped, trying different compressors now to tame the b..

 

[Nuage420]

I have a Yamaha pj so that's something I'll pass on, I find 35 5ers on avg have better b strings, and the b on this is pretty good, the dynamic range of this bass is wide and scooped, trying different compressors now to tame the b..

I'm hoping I can get my hands on a P5. My local GC has schecters always. They just got two ultras in and they always have the stilettos.

 

[odarellmc]

I'm hoping I can get my hands on a P5. My local GC has schecters always. They just got two ultras in and they always have the stilettos.

I think if this is your only 5 it's pretty great, my laklands are my measuring stick, and basses like my dj 5 are about 500.00 more expensive but the quality is there. This bass feels nice but not as refined as the laklands. Maybe that's the difference between the 2 in terms of feel...maybe 500.00 more would me better balance and grain matching..

 

[Bassclef46]

Who doesn’t put on a pickup cover? That’s a fail for sure

 

[odarellmc]

Alder can be very light weight while you have a baseball bat size chunk of maple on that fiver neck. So it’s not surprising it would be a bit neck heavy. Perhaps a high mass bridge and lightweight tuners? Of course it’s all about how much you like it and are willing to invest to make it what you want.

Thats the question, I could add a preamp and new pickups, I do love the tone knob on this bass however...since there's not batt compartment it would have to fit under the pick guard but I haven't looks because I'm still deciding on if I'm keeping it...

 

[Bassclef46]

I would return that bass. Get an Ibanez. I don’t think they make a pbass style but they have very similar neck profiles to Schecter, If that’s important to you. The BTB are real nice.

But the neck dive and other issues you are having with it. Spending that money you want to feel happy about it and that doesn’t seem to be the case. Hope it works out either way

 

[Nuage420]

I would return that bass. Get an Ibanez. I don’t think they make a pbass style but they have very similar neck profiles to Schecter, If that’s important to you. The BTB are real nice.

But the neck dive and other issues you are having with it. Spending that money you want to feel happy about it and that doesn’t seem to be the case. Hope it works out either way

That's what I did. And these Nordstrand Big Rigs are based off of vintage 1951 P pickups. I've got a very large palet to work with.

 

[ric4682]

Ok so I just got this bass, it comes with tools taped to the inside of the box but that's about it. One of the first things you notice is now light the body is and how neck heavy it is. They say the body is alder, but it's the lightest alder I've ever felt. I am a bit disappointed with the grain matching not a huge deal but something to be concerned about if thats a thing for you.. Overall this bass feels like it's 8 8.5 lbs, it only balances with a strap. It doesn't feel cheap, but it doesn't feels like a 1k bass either. I have a lakland LOG P5 that I got for less than 1k and it's feels very premium. The neck is satin finished with the fretboard being glossy. It's a relatively shallow and I would say the string spacing is about 18mm. So it's a fast neck but it feels good with the frets nicely rolled at the ends. The tuners are fine but some better tuners maybe lightweight are in order.. The tone monster pickups are relatively scooped and on the dark side. There is also some lights buzzing that almost disappears when you touch the strings. They come with earnie balls strings, not sure if that account, for the color of this bass, but if you want this bass to have more mids you could try a string change not sure if they would change the scooped nature of the pickups but the pickups for what they are good very good. Not sure what the deal is with no pickup covers.The action out of the box was great. Once I tuned it up I didn't need to make any adjustments. It played really nice. The best thing about this bass is the b string, very very nice, clear with definition, im sure the 35" accounts for it and it's one of the reasons why I was interested. The sound is balanced across all strings with a very good range of sound from the tone knob. My final thoughts? I'm not sure if its a keeper, I think it sounds great and the b strings is up there with my laklands although it doesn't feel as nice as the Skylines. I do wish the bass was better balanced, but all and all its a good bass with a great b string, at least with these strings. I think these would be killer on the used market, but the price is somewhat questionable. Out of 5 stars, I rate this bass a 3 stars. Pros: great b string, fast neck with great fretwork, lightweight body, alot a variation with tone knob. Cons: neck heavy, lack of pickup covers, questionable grain matching. I hope you found this informative please ask any other questions you may have...
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Thanks for the informative NBD post! I didn’t know these existed until I stepped into a guitar center last week and saw one that looked just like yours. I don’t normally like 5 string P style basses, but something about the look made me give it a try. I was impressed by how light it was and even more impressed by how good it sounded. It’s definitely on the list to spend more time with, and maybe buy.

I agree with others about changing the stock strings before deciding on returning it or not. Some Dunlop Super Brights, DR Sunbeams/Pure Blues/Fat Beams, GHS Balanced Round Core Boomers, etc. would all have a thicker and more balanced sound with the slightly scooped pickup.

 

[odarellmc]

Thanks for the informative NBD post! I didn’t know these existed until I stepped into a guitar center last week and saw one that looked just like yours. I don’t normally like 5 string P style basses, but something about the look made me give it a try. I was impressed by how light it was and even more impressed by how good it sounded. It’s definitely on the list to spend more time with, and maybe buy.

I agree with others about changing the stock strings before deciding on returning it or not. Some Dunlop Super Brights, DR Sunbeams/Pure Blues/Fat Beams, GHS Balanced Round Core Boomers, etc. would all have a thicker and more balanced sound with the slightly scooped pickup.

Thanks I think I'll try either the dunlops or sunbeams, I have earnie balls on a SBMM and they're great, however these string don't sound bad, maybe something a bit more mid forward to balance out the scoopy pickups...

 

[odarellmc]

So I've read that these are ceramic pickups, most likely used to make it sound modern. This is my first ceramic pickup bass...so maybe it's the nature of ceramic to sound a bit scooped...

 

[Greycode]

I bought a new Schecter Evil Twin last year. I had to wait 6 months for it to arrive from the manufacturer, but well worth the wait. Perhaps it received a little closer attention at the factory since it is a Left Hand version? I don't know, but it is a beautiful Bass, plays superbly (the guitar, not me!) and setup by Andertons (UK) was faultless.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Ok so I just got this bass, it comes with tools taped to the inside of the box but that's about it. One of the first things you notice is now light the body is and how neck heavy it is. They say the body is alder, but it's the lightest alder I've ever felt. I am a bit disappointed with the grain matching not a huge deal but something to be concerned about if thats a thing for you.. Overall this bass feels like it's 8 8.5 lbs, it only balances with a strap. It doesn't feel cheap, but it doesn't feels like a 1k bass either. I have a lakland LOG P5 that I got for less than 1k and it's feels very premium. The neck is satin finished with the fretboard being glossy. It's a relatively shallow and I would say the string spacing is about 18mm. So it's a fast neck but it feels good with the frets nicely rolled at the ends. The tuners are fine but some better tuners maybe lightweight are in order.. The tone monster pickups are relatively scooped and on the dark side. There is also some lights buzzing that almost disappears when you touch the strings. They come with earnie balls strings, not sure if that account, for the color of this bass, but if you want this bass to have more mids you could try a string change not sure if they would change the scooped nature of the pickups but the pickups for what they are good very good. Not sure what the deal is with no pickup covers.The action out of the box was great. Once I tuned it up I didn't need to make any adjustments. It played really nice. The best thing about this bass is the b string, very very nice, clear with definition, im sure the 35" accounts for it and it's one of the reasons why I was interested. The sound is balanced across all strings with a very good range of sound from the tone knob. My final thoughts? I'm not sure if its a keeper, I think it sounds great and the b strings is up there with my laklands although it doesn't feel as nice as the Skylines. I do wish the bass was better balanced, but all and all its a good bass with a great b string, at least with these strings. I think these would be killer on the used market, but the price is somewhat questionable. Out of 5 stars, I rate this bass a 3 stars. Pros: great b string, fast neck with great fretwork, lightweight body, alot a variation with tone knob. Cons: neck heavy, lack of pickup covers, questionable grain matching. I hope you found this informative please ask any other questions you may have...
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Made by Cort.
This is also a 35"