Or what I'm referring to as the S3-IV for short. I've always been a Fender player--first on a MIM Squier for 5 years and then a MIM P for 10 years with two minor pit-stops on Mustang basses. Going non-Fender has been absolutely anathema for me, but here I am.
I received it on Thursday but never got around to posting a thread. I tried a few of these out in the shops, and they always had consistent great necks and a good tone, so I just bided my time and grabbed one with a HSC for $450. I didn't like the neck on the more expensive Stilettos nearly as much. Anyway let's talk.
Fit and Finish: Feels great. The finish looks to be really well-done on the body and the paint on the back of the neck and up to the headstock is an even, glass-smooth coat with zero issues. I do wish it came in more colors than a black pick guard and a satin black finish, but it still looks classy. I was considering putting one of the competition stripes on it for contrast, but I kind of like it as-is. I can see the finish getting a bit tedious with fingerprints, but it's been okay for me so far. The back will be buckle-washed to f*** in no time.
Body: It's nothing very unique, but I like the shape. It's a bit slim, which suits me well. It reminds me of some Yamaha shapes, but the thing is LIGHT. My back is happy, and it's far lighter than my 10 pound precision bass. Even inside of the soft/hard roadrunner case, it still feels lighter than my P. It's made of basswood, and I know some people really frown on it as a tone wood, but I'll be honest and say I'm surprised that the sustain and body resonance is actually better than I expected. I suppose because it's so light, but I sounds like a I got a good piece because the sound is full and balanced. I'm very happy.
Neck: This was one of the main reasons I bought this bass. Maple with a rosewood board, thin C shape. It's one of the fastest, most comfortable necks I've played.
Hardware: The S-Tek bridge is a top-loading bridge unlike any I've used, but tuning stability is rock solid and the bridge is easy to adjust. Standard Schecter tuners and a TUSQ XL nut. The knobs and input jack all appear to be good quality.
Electronics: This is where I was torn. I've never used an active bass before. When I played it before practice on my own, I favored the P side of the blend knob and assumed that's where I'd stay for band practice. In the band room, I ended up favoring the MM pickup. Maybe it's because my guitarist uses a guitar with P90s and tends to boost some of his lower end, but the MM pickup sat well in the mix and had the fills sounding very musical. The P pickup had a lot more bass to it and sounded almost muddy. I might look to upgrade that pickup (and the electronics in general) long-term, but I'm happy for now.
Tone: This thing BOOMS. There is a satisfying click at the halfway point of the blend and Bass and Treble boost knobs, and I kept myself there for an even tone. If I turned up the treble boost, I'd get more of that scooped-mid metal sound. If I boosted the bass, this thing got crazy. I'm no metal player, so I kept the more balanced tone. It's pretty versatile and not just for heavier music, as I initially thought and was fearful of.
Also bought some La Bella flats for my P--embarrassed to say my first set of flats. Love 'em.
I received it on Thursday but never got around to posting a thread. I tried a few of these out in the shops, and they always had consistent great necks and a good tone, so I just bided my time and grabbed one with a HSC for $450. I didn't like the neck on the more expensive Stilettos nearly as much. Anyway let's talk.
Fit and Finish: Feels great. The finish looks to be really well-done on the body and the paint on the back of the neck and up to the headstock is an even, glass-smooth coat with zero issues. I do wish it came in more colors than a black pick guard and a satin black finish, but it still looks classy. I was considering putting one of the competition stripes on it for contrast, but I kind of like it as-is. I can see the finish getting a bit tedious with fingerprints, but it's been okay for me so far. The back will be buckle-washed to f*** in no time.
Body: It's nothing very unique, but I like the shape. It's a bit slim, which suits me well. It reminds me of some Yamaha shapes, but the thing is LIGHT. My back is happy, and it's far lighter than my 10 pound precision bass. Even inside of the soft/hard roadrunner case, it still feels lighter than my P. It's made of basswood, and I know some people really frown on it as a tone wood, but I'll be honest and say I'm surprised that the sustain and body resonance is actually better than I expected. I suppose because it's so light, but I sounds like a I got a good piece because the sound is full and balanced. I'm very happy.
Neck: This was one of the main reasons I bought this bass. Maple with a rosewood board, thin C shape. It's one of the fastest, most comfortable necks I've played.
Hardware: The S-Tek bridge is a top-loading bridge unlike any I've used, but tuning stability is rock solid and the bridge is easy to adjust. Standard Schecter tuners and a TUSQ XL nut. The knobs and input jack all appear to be good quality.
Electronics: This is where I was torn. I've never used an active bass before. When I played it before practice on my own, I favored the P side of the blend knob and assumed that's where I'd stay for band practice. In the band room, I ended up favoring the MM pickup. Maybe it's because my guitarist uses a guitar with P90s and tends to boost some of his lower end, but the MM pickup sat well in the mix and had the fills sounding very musical. The P pickup had a lot more bass to it and sounded almost muddy. I might look to upgrade that pickup (and the electronics in general) long-term, but I'm happy for now.
Tone: This thing BOOMS. There is a satisfying click at the halfway point of the blend and Bass and Treble boost knobs, and I kept myself there for an even tone. If I turned up the treble boost, I'd get more of that scooped-mid metal sound. If I boosted the bass, this thing got crazy. I'm no metal player, so I kept the more balanced tone. It's pretty versatile and not just for heavier music, as I initially thought and was fearful of.
Also bought some La Bella flats for my P--embarrassed to say my first set of flats. Love 'em.
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