Schecter Model T Session - someone please disuade me...

[EdBo]

You're due to play something fretless with all that experience, come on! If getting a Jazz, get a fretless one man. Otherwise it'll just be another bass which won't sound better than your precisions and you'll ditch it in a closet.

I have no desire for a fretless unless I could fall into a big doghouse.
I'm debating between a Diamond J Plus or a MIM Geddy Lee. Kinda leaning toward the Geddy because if I lose interest in the Jazz Pickups I ban whittle the headsock down to look like a Tele and put it on a Slab P body. That probably why I'm thinking about a Jazz, my subconscious mind already knows where that neck will end up, .

 

[EdBo]

If I was gonna get any Schecter it'd be this one:

View attachment 3010842

Go extra long .

 

[Peteyboy]

Go extra long .View attachment 3010848

Dang. The John Holmes Signature Model?

 

[EdBo]

Dang. The John Holmes Signature Model?

6 lbs 14 0z with the custom strap pin extension for my short armed wide body. I could have just did lightweight tuners but, I'm glad I did the pin ext so I can reach the tuners. It's really fun to play. Best neck I've ever owned. I believe it's perfect.

 

[Peteyboy]

6 lbs 14 0z with the custom strap pin extension for my short armed wide body. I could have just did lightweight tuners but, I'm glad I did the pin ext so I can reach the tuners. It's really fun to play. Best neck I've ever owned. I believe it's perfect.

I actually didn't notice that! The neck on this model just looks extra long. Did you hack that pin extension yourself? Pretty clever.

 

[Bullitt5135]

I don't need another bass.
I don't need a P/J.
I already have a lovely Maruszczyk P/J (well, P/JJ really)

BUT... dang, this thing is sexy, the right shade of 'natural', look at that fingerboard!... and nice neck profile with a comfy/slim (for me) 42mm at the nut... hmmm... combining a bit of that "telecaster" bass vibe with the split-coil Precision, and a preamp... and it's not TOO expensive...

Please, someone tell me they've tried it and it is a terrible terrible bass...

View attachment 2932369

I tried it, and it was noticeably heavier than all my other Fender, Squier & G&L basses. I'm fact, I put it back on the rack before I could form an opinion about the tone. I will admit, it looks pretty sweet.

 

[EdBo]

I actually didn't notice that! The neck on this model just looks extra long. Did you hack that pin extension yourself? Pretty clever.

Yes, I hacked and slit and made it fit. I took my Dewalt cordless drill to a $900.00 Bass the 5th day I owned it. Works great. Used a wood insert, a standoff(threaded 1/4 x 20 on both ends, 1/4 x 20 nut(as a spacer) and a Dunlop strap lock pin that I threaded.

 

[mcnach]

Awesome! To be honest, I'm glad you haven't tried the dip switches before your reviews. I also saw your poston another forum about this bass. Because if they were set as seen on the photo, you'll like the bass even more when set to your liking and that setting isn't what you'd like best as I understand.
By the way, I don't own this bass yet. I like research lol Found one with a nice wood grain today. I'm getting it tomorrow. The last one with distributor guarantee in the city. Phew! If it was all passive I wouldn't care but all the electronics inside carry more risk of failure. I'm really hoping I won't be needing anything else unless it is broken or stolen or whatever.

-Got a 2xhumbucker Schecter, which sounds waaay too dark for most stuff but that's what it is. I was a complete noob when I bought it.
-A beginner Epi. One of those called Toby, which has a surprizingly comfy neck and it could handle bridge cable roto flats juust barely. lol
That one had 2xJs originally but I got crazy and removed the terrible pickups and put a SD SPB-4 which is the best passive P for my liking. This one is a beater. Cheap body, great pickup; smash it noone cares.
-I do NOT like Jazz basses. Not the shape, not the sound; except fretless Js and I highly respect who can play those well.

So, this baby makes a lot of sense. Lovely bridge to remove strings easily without metal fatiguing them(I won't be using thru body holes) and just like you I'll be using the bridge pick just a tiny bit blended sometimes.

Looking at the frequency response of the treble control when you set the switches in different ways, it looks like by default it is set in a pretty sensible manner, so I see why it's set that way. There's one position that brings the frequency lower, but does not touch the higher frequencies... that could be interesting but I like passive tone controls as they remove all treble beyond X so it's a nice way to remove string noise when you want a very smooth sound... so I won't know if I like it enough until I try it. Been too busy yesterday and today doesn't look much better... Perhaps at the weekend, and then band practice next week.

If you found one of these *in person* that you like, then that's the best possible way to go about it. I don't like buying online because who knows what you'll get, and if you try 10 supposedly similar basses, there will be one or two that will leave you cold, and one that will feel better than the rest etc... Go get it before someone else does!
I really think this bass is a very special instrument.
I like how the pickup positions are not like most P or PJ basses, which certainly contributes to its more unique sound, allowing it to be more present in the mix more easily with good definition... but it can still sound close enough to a more traditional P if you like.

Electronics... It's true, the more complex they are, the more likely they are to fail at some point. However... it's not like it's complex in any way either. They are pretty simple preamps, and built by a pretty reputable maker... Of course, now mine will fail tomorrow as that's what happens when you say these things but failure is rare.
However, it does make me a little nervous that with active pickups there's no bypass switch possible. I mean, I can bypass the preamp, but the pickups themselves have their little preamps too which I can't bypass.
Still... has anyone heard about them dying suddenly? It is a possibility, but a very low one.
If I play an important gig I always have a backup bass. If it's a 'fun' gig, I'll sing bass lines on a microphone instead "de dum dum dadadadummm"

My only criticism is... it's not my Stingray.
Well, not a criticism. What I mean is... I'm attached to the Stingray in such way that I cannot imagine ever switching to something else for good. So anything else is going to be additional. My main band will be recording our 3rd album later in the year... and it will be the Stingray again. But live I do use others sometimes... Precision or PJ. For rehearsals I use everything Yes, I'm afflicted with GAS (not as bad as some others here though) and I have more basses than I really need...
It seems such a shame to not use the Model T more... however it's getting used more and more. Other basses sound good but I always find them a bit of a compromise in something. The Model T is the only one that I can get the right sounds (I don't say the same sound, I say the *right* sounds) of, easily, apart from my Stingray.

I'm actually considering another side project that would be a bit more funk/rock (got a drummer and sax player on board already), and anything I do on that vein is being done on the Model T...
Most people buy a bass to fit a band... I think I may be forming a band so that I can use a bass more !!!
(I never claimed to be reasonable)

I realise that I make it sound as if the Model T is good but not good enough... nothing of that sort. It's only that I'm truly at home with the Stingray and it has been my main bass for years, so I'm unlikely to drop it and use the new one instead for everything. I love the Model T. I enjoy it more than any of the other basses I own.

So go buy it and tell us alll about it!!!

 

[mcnach]

If I was gonna get any Schecter it'd be this one:

View attachment 3010842

Oh! That is seriously sexy...
If it had a maple fingerboard, it would be true bass porn to me

 

[mcnach]

6 lbs 14 0z with the custom strap pin extension for my short armed wide body. I could have just did lightweight tuners but, I'm glad I did the pin ext so I can reach the tuners. It's really fun to play. Best neck I've ever owned. I believe it's perfect.

In just over a month, I'll get back a bass I used to own and sold in a moment of madness.
It's nothing special... it's a cheap bass, but it sounds fantastic, it's very light, has a great neck... and the guy I sold it to doesn't seem to use it anymore, so my lovely girlfriend said she'll buy it for me (she's a bass player too... keeper!!! )

It has a small telecaster shape body, so neck dive is there. Not terrible, not a deal breaker, but it's the one thing I never liked.
I have looked at those extensions like you have but it worries me that they may be prone to snapping... They must screw quite deep into the body, right? How are you finding it? Any concerns?

This is the bass in question:

 

[mcnach]

I tried it, and it was noticeably heavier than all my other Fender, Squier & G&L basses. I'm fact, I put it back on the rack before I could form an opinion about the tone. I will admit, it looks pretty sweet.

Mine is not heavy at all, but when looking at reviews I found some that seemed to be heavier than the norm... That's another reason why buying 'in person' is a much better proposition. That is, if you can find locally what you're after. Sometimes you need to risk it...

 

[EdBo]

In just over a month, I'll get back a bass I used to own and sold in a moment of madness.
It's nothing special... it's a cheap bass, but it sounds fantastic, it's very light, has a great neck... and the guy I sold it to doesn't seem to use it anymore, so my lovely girlfriend said she'll buy it for me (she's a bass player too... keeper!!! )

It has a small telecaster shape body, so neck dive is there. Not terrible, not a deal breaker, but it's the one thing I never liked.
I have looked at those extensions like you have but it worries me that they may be prone to snapping... They must screw quite deep into the body, right? How are you finding it? Any concerns?

This is the bass in question:
View attachment 3011071

I drilled an aprox 3/8 of an inch hole in the body and screw a inset into the body. It's not going anywhere.

McMaster-Carr

Then a standoff threaded into av strap lock pin.

McMaster-Carr

I have extra's and I could send you the parts I used for mine, if you pay the shipping. I may be cheaper for you to get the parts locally.

 

[EdBo]

Insert

Stand off

 

[clickclack]

Got it! Sort of, I opted to go with the shop's own cargo personnel which takes a few more days but I can wait, knowing it's in safer hands.
I had requested some photos before ordering, to see the grain especially. Yummy.

 

[jeff7bass]

I got GAS for this one in Vintage Sunburst and Maple neck!
Invalid Link Removed

 

[mcnach]

I drilled an aprox 3/8 of an inch hole in the body and screw a inset into the body. It's not going anywhere.

McMaster-Carr

Then a standoff threaded into av strap lock pin.

McMaster-Carr

I have extra's and I could send you the parts I used for mine, if you pay the shipping. I may be cheaper for you to get the parts locally.

Oh, thank you and thank you! That's very useful!

Very kind of you to offer I should be able to find something like that locally, you're right. Thank you for the links and images, and again for offering.

 

[mcnach]

Got it! Sort of, I opted to go with the shop's own cargo personnel which takes a few more days but I can wait, knowing it's in safer hands.
I had requested some photos before ordering, to see the grain especially. Yummy.
View attachment 3011398

Oh I see what you mean about the grain. That's a beauty!

Well done!

 

[clickclack]

Thanks man.
Here's the mystery treble knob freq. response settings, clearly shown on graphs. I took this from BTC control pdf but handy as a simple image without all the other installation info. Some people can have a hard time reading the vertical lines. It isn't linear, hence the difference in width between vertical lines. From 1Khz, to the right up to 10k it is 1Khz increments. To the left, 100Hz, up until after the large gap, then they become 10Hz. Stating this because I saw a video of a luthier who wasn't aware of this. The last one is probably very piezo-like airy when boosted to max. May be useful for virtuosic solo performances or something. That's not me yet.

 

[DDXdesign]

I actually didn't notice that! The neck on this model just looks extra long. Did you hack that pin extension yourself? Pretty clever.

It actually is also extra long - the dUg signature baron is 35" scale instead of the standard version's 34"

 

[clickclack]

tell us alll about it!!!

Arrived early! drool

Default Eewny Balls are terrible indeed and don't suit this bass at all. I will never understand how they sell these strings for the prices they're going for. Prifirincis I guess. Anyway, keeping cool. My beloved Roto flats are on the way home to the rescue. I'm sure it's going to be a climax machine with the growl from the bass and thump from flats going together. mmmm

My dip-switches were set to off/off so it seems there isn't a default and depends on who assembled it. I like on/on and on/off. I'll be boosting to get more roto sparkle as they fade. Then, it's bath time for them. I use ultrasonic cleaner and cycle until they feel like they wish to die already. lol The other settings are suited for cutting better, so you're right on that mcnach.

The only imperfection when I try to point one, beside small cosmetic issues is that this could be a reverse-p and kick even more ass. I may just go mad and do that in the future, after the new bass smell fades away.