Schecter as my third bass?

[BeGotten FreeK]

Hey Crew.

I'm considering buying my third Bass and have done extensive deep-dives and research, and have come to the conclusion of the...
Schecter SLS Evil Twin-5 Left-handed bass. -- SLS Evil Twin-5 LH

My criteria is:
- Left-Handed.
- 5 string.
- Active.
- 35" Scale.
- Ideally under $2,000 USD ($3,000 AUD).
- Awesome to look at - so I'd want to play it. (I think the Evil Twil is absolutely beautiful)

I play for fun at home with some studio work. I don't have a band, nor do I do live gigs.
I have a Fender P-bass and a Takamine acoustic bass. I'd like something versatile to cover tones different to these.
There are precious few left-handed basses around to try, so this will be a blind purchase, (Seriously, this bass is not in stock anywhere in this country (Australia)).

My hesitations.
- String spacing. (16.5mm). I took a similar spec Ibanez SR, turned it upside down, and pretended to play the neck. It felt weird. I don't know if it is a poor feel, or just different to my usual P-bass. I might get used to it. I might not. I am primarily a finger player. Very rarely pick. Never slap.

- Availability. I'd like it by mid-April, but local supply has around a 6 month wait. Shipping from the US would cost $200-@500 with limited return options.

- Alternative options. I've considered many similar basses, but keep coming back to the Evil Twin... however, if I want different tones, I could buy 3 entry-level basses for the same money. A Sire/Sadowski J-bass, An ESP LTS B-205 (five-string), and a Sterling Ray for example.

Any thoughts?

 

[BeGotten FreeK]

Would you get this:

When you can get these three:

For the same dollars? That is the question.

 

[Sharko]

Why would you want 3 more entry level basses?

 

[Michael Jewels]

I can't speak for the model you're interested in, but I can say that Schecter instruments leave nothing to be desired, and they are very underrated.

This is my Schecter CV-5.

Extremely well built, and extremely versatile sound-wise.

Buy a Schecter.

 

[Michael Jewels]

 

[BeGotten FreeK]

Thanks guys. That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Not everyone gets it.

 

[Timmah]

Schecter makes wicked underrated instruments. However- make sure you’re really okay with that 16.5mm spacing before you pull the trigger

 

[BeGotten FreeK]

Schecter makes wicked underrated instruments. However- make sure you’re really okay with that 16.5mm spacing before you pull the trigger

Yeah, I need to go back to that music shop and pretend to play those upside-down Ibanezes. I don't think the spacing for my plucking hand was a problem, but it felt tight with my fretting hand. There's just so little available for wider spacing on left-handed basses.

Then again, I finger-play my guitars like a bass. I have no idea how to play them like a guitarist. They must be like 9 or 10mm.

 

[Jeff K]

I have a son in Texas who plays guitar and bass. He's been an Ibanez guitar guy for about the last decade. But lately he's been raving about the Schecter guitars. His new favorites.

 

[WayneP]

Schecter makes great basses. I’ve had a couple of Studio Stiletto models and they were excellent, especially for the price.

Some years back I did a head-to-head comparison of my 5-string Stiletto with my custom 4-string. The Schecter definitely was able to hold its own. See here.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Official Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Official Heartfield Club #36
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Official Pre-Gibson Tobias Owners Club
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
See here.

 

[BeGotten FreeK]

Schecter makes great basses. I’ve had a couple of Studio Stiletto models and they were excellent, especially for the price.

Some years back I did a head-to-head comparison of my 5-string Stiletto with my custom 4-string. The Schecter definitely was able to hold its own. See here.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Official Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Official Heartfield Club #36
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Official Pre-Gibson Tobias Owners Club
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
See here.

That's a good comparison. Thank you.

The Schecter Evil Twin is roughly twice the price of the Stiletto range. I could get a 5-string Stiletto and a second bass instead.

I think I'm just itching to buy a new bass, instead of waiting for the Evil Twin to get in stock (like anywhere! Nobody locally has it, extremely rare internationally, too). It'll be several months wait. I want to justify getting something else now, but I think I'll end up regretting it.

Argh. I'm in that horrible place. I know I should wait. I should. But there are so many beautiful basses out there! But none as beautiful to me as the Evil Twin. But what if I wait, and then don't like it? Graaaagh!

 

[GIBrat51]

Would you get this:
View attachment 7162544
When you can get these three:
View attachment 7162547View attachment 7162551View attachment 7162549

For the same dollars? That is the question.

Well...
I wouldn't buy a Jazz Bass, for a start - even without a tort pickguard... Offset bodies feel weird to me, so... none of my 27 basses have one. As for 5-string basses? I have no use for one, and besides; either the necks are too wide for my stubby fingered troglodyte paws to wrap around - or if not? The strings are too close together for my thick, stubby fingers to fret cleanly. However...
Since I'm also left handed? Assuming I had to buy a 5-er, it would probably be the Schecter. Partly because I've messed with one last year at Sweetwater (a righty, but neck width and string spacing's the same), but mainly because I already own a Schecter; a Stilleto Studio 4FL lined fretless bass. So far? No complaints at all; for the money, it's one Hell of an active fretless bass...

 

[Corrington]

I’ve owned three Schecter basses. I still own two. I sold my Stiletto and bought two Banshees b/c I moved to short scale basses. I love the sound, feel, look, balance and comfort of my Schecter basses.
The Evil Twin is sexy as it gets. If they ever make a short scale version, I’d buy it.
Jump in. The water is fine. Embrace and enjoy your Evil Twin.

 

[WayneP]

Argh. I'm in that horrible place. I know I should wait. I should. But there are so many beautiful basses out there! But none as beautiful to me as the Evil Twin. But what if I wait, and then don't like it? Graaaagh!

Wait for the one you really want! If it turns out you don’t like it, the other basses will still be there.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Official Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Official Heartfield Club #36
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Official Pre-Gibson Tobias Owners Club
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide

 

[lowendblues]

I have 3 Schecters, a older Model T, an Omen elite, and an Exotic P. All top notch basses.

 

[BeGotten FreeK]

Solved.
After much searching, stressing and negotiating...
Today I placed my order for the Schecter Evil Twin-5 L/H bass.
Down payment paid. 3+ months wait. Free shipping and set-up when it gets here.
Soon I'll be a proud Schecter owner.

 

[Corrington]

Congrats. Enjoy.

 

[BeGotten FreeK]

Holy great smoking gravy! This bass is incredible!!!

Have you ever experienced something that you thought was pretty much as good as it can get, but then you experience something even better and it blows you away? Everything you had known to that point you thought was great, but you simply didn't know that even greater-ness existed. That has been my experience with getting this Schecter.

My Takamine and Fender are great instruments. I will always love them. I felt they were perfect. But everything about this Evil Twin is just a higher level of perfection I never knew before. Its feel, its tone, its look, its playability, its functionality... just beautiful.

Guys, I want to thank you for encouraging me to take the extra step and reach up to a higher-priced bass. Being a left-handed player in a regional area meant I had to buy this in faith, not being able to test it first (I've never been able to test ANY bass first), but this Schecter - It has been totally worth every hard-saved cent. I love it. No regrets at all.

 

[LiptonJigglers]

I had nothing but problems with my Schecter and its EMG electronics; YMMV; and as such, there's no way I could support them (Schecter or EMG) in any way shape or form. Yeah sure it's a hard line to take but I can't afford to have a second go at it.. once bitten twice shy!
With that in mind, I'd be looking elsewhere

Edit; I see you bought it.
I enjoyed mine for the first 3 weeks. Hope it lasts longer than that for you.

 

[Gopherbassist]

View attachment 7270044

Holy great smoking gravy! This bass is incredible!!!

Have you ever experienced something that you thought was pretty much as good as it can get, but then you experience something even better and it blows you away? Everything you had known to that point you thought was great, but you simply didn't know that even greater-ness existed. That has been my experience with getting this Schecter.

My Takamine and Fender are great instruments. I will always love them. I felt they were perfect. But everything about this Evil Twin is just a higher level of perfection I never knew before. Its feel, its tone, its look, its playability, its functionality... just beautiful.

Guys, I want to thank you for encouraging me to take the extra step and reach up to a higher-priced bass. Being a left-handed player in a regional area meant I had to buy this in faith, not being able to test it first (I've never been able to test ANY bass first), but this Schecter - It has been totally worth every hard-saved cent. I love it. No regrets at all.

Glad you're enjoying it! Keep us in the loop on how you like it down the line.