• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

NBD - Schecter Stargazer 5 string, relic'd finish

#22
honeyiscool said:
If I had refinished it, my intention at the time was to go with see through fiesta red because I really loved the look of this bass:

View attachment 3040808

Here are my other notes on this bass that I made at the time. Because I'm a total nerd, I keep all my notes. If nobody has touched the bass since I sold it, it should still be like this.

Pickups are Bartolini MV5CBC (Bridge) and Bartolini 59CBJD-LN1 (Neck, Hum-canceling). EQ is an EMG BTS. This is the wiring configuration that I designed for this bass:

View attachment 3040827

I prefer master/blend, but I did this particular one as volume/volume because there was no other way to fit two push-pull controls into this bass without modifying the pickguard.

When I was selling this bass, I actually listed it as a project without pickups, and I was going to sell the pickups separately for maximum money, but then when the buyer started talking to me, we agreed that I'd reinstall the pickups for a price.

When I gigged regularly with the bass, I used to use Gotoh Res-O-Lite GB350 tuners on this bass, which look nearly stock and made it more comfortable for gigging, but I sold them separately since they are quite expensive.
Click to expand...
Got to spend some time going through some of my band's songs solo last night - it was fun. The neck is arrow-straight and the frets show no appreciable wear; through my little Roland KC-110 it sounded decent but it's not a bass amp and not what I use to judge them with. Tonight I'll be able to put it through some paces and compare it to my custom fiver. THEN I'll know how I like it. ;)

I don't mind the dual-volume thing - I hated it when I got my custom (it's set up like that) but I prefer it now as I can get the full volume of each or any variance in between, vs. either or with a blend. Having the push/pull pots provides for more options but we'll see if I can leverage them. And I wonder if I can upgrade the pre to a BQC (?) with stacked bass/treble and mids w/sweep control. That would be ideal for me.

It's been some time since I've played a 35" scale bass. The increased tension makes some songs easier to play (ones that have faster picking) and I'll have to make some minor muscle memory adjustments due to the miniscule increase in length. It seems to have less sustain than my custom; when I send it off for refinishing I'll have to fix one of the holes in the neck as it's stripped, and see if I can source longer neck screws. The one closest to the HS seems to be long enough but I'm not comfortable with the others, and I don't think the joint is as strong as it should be. Perhaps Stewmac or someone has them - do you still have any info on where you got them?

Otherwise I'm happy with it so far, and now have a proper backup (or possibly main bass) to pair with my other five string. Speaking of the finish - I too was considering red, but I'm leaning slightly more towards blue. I've already spoken to my drummer, and he just happened to have some leftover paint from a '70's Corvette Stingray he just painted in Laguna Blue. He showed me some pics and it turned out awesome, so I'll probably go that route as it will be quickest and cheapest. He can maintain the white binding; if it didn't have that I think it would be worth exploring a refin in a translucent color.

One thing I don't like is the absence of any relief in the lower left area of the body, where my forearm rests. That edge feels a little sharp after a while. However, if I assume a dramatic rock stance, bury the bottom strap button into my inner thigh and play close to the bridge with my palm resting on it (causing my forearm to come off the body) I'm fine. Guess I'll have to get used to that position. :bassist:

More thoughts after I jam on it this evening...
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: honeyiscool
#23
Razman said:
Got to spend some time going through some of my band's songs solo last night - it was fun. The neck is arrow-straight and the frets show no appreciable wear; through my little Roland KC-110 it sounded decent but it's not a bass amp and not what I use to judge them with. Tonight I'll be able to put it through some paces and compare it to my custom fiver. THEN I'll know how I like it. ;)

I don't mind the dual-volume thing - I hated it when I got my custom (it's set up like that) but I prefer it now as I can get the full volume of each or any variance in between, vs. either or with a blend. Having the push/pull pots provides for more options but we'll see if I can leverage them. And I wonder if I can upgrade the pre to a BQC (?) with stacked bass/treble and mids w/sweep control. That would be ideal for me.

It's been some time since I've played a 35" scale bass. The increased tension makes some songs easier to play (ones that have faster picking) and I'll have to make some minor muscle memory adjustments due to the miniscule increase in length. It seems to have less sustain than my custom; when I send it off for refinishing I'll have to fix one of the holes in the neck as it's stripped, and see if I can source longer neck screws. The one closest to the HS seems to be long enough but I'm not comfortable with the others, and I don't think the joint is as strong as it should be. Perhaps Stewmac or someone has them - do you still have any info on where you got them?

Otherwise I'm happy with it so far, and now have a proper backup (or possibly main bass) to pair with my other five string. Speaking of the finish - I too was considering red, but I'm leaning slightly more towards blue. I've already spoken to my drummer, and he just happened to have some leftover paint from a '70's Corvette Stingray he just painted in Laguna Blue. He showed me some pics and it turned out awesome, so I'll probably go that route as it will be quickest and cheapest. He can maintain the white binding; if it didn't have that I think it would be worth exploring a refin in a translucent color.

One thing I don't like is the absence of any relief in the lower left area of the body, where my forearm rests. That edge feels a little sharp after a while. However, if I assume a dramatic rock stance, bury the bottom strap button into my inner thigh and play close to the bridge with my palm resting on it (causing my forearm to come off the body) I'm fine. Guess I'll have to get used to that position. :bassist:

More thoughts after I jam on it this evening...
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, the forearm part did bug me a bit, though you stop noticing it after a while. Having to do with the bindings, I suppose. The ergonomics of the bass do kind of reward the player for playing the rock stance, as you say. Since I lightened the tuners, it allowed me to play close to the bridge and have the neck pointing 30-40 degrees and I felt like I got pretty good control that way. The scale is a mixed blessing, but I definitely miss the tightness of the 35 (I only play passive 34s these days).

The neck screws are just standard stainless steel screws I just have a bunch of. I think on that bass they're #10, though I use #8 on most things. The main issue is I don't have them in really fine length differences, I only have them in 1/4" differences, so any longer of a screw in different spots and I felt like I would screw right through the fingerboard, because as you can probably tell, some of the bolts start out lower than others.

If you get another EMG EQ, it'll drop right in without any soldering because the existing wiring is made for an EMG.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back