Schecter Owners Club, part 3

[songwriter21]

New tuners, knobs, and strap buttons...zero neck dive now. BOOYAH.

 

[wild4oldcars]

Picked up a pretty neat Schecter recently, a 2003 MIK “California Custom” J4. Emgs and Hipshot bridge are stock equipment, only thing I added were the strap locks and Sadowsky style knobs (originals were just chrome domes). Seems like a less than common specimen, but it seems like a nice piece, not unlike my Stiletto Elite of similar vintage. The sunbursted quilted maple top tramples the line between beautiful and gaudy, not sure which side I favor yet lol. It’s hard to notice from the players side, though

 

[John Stephen]

That's a beauty!

 

[TonyP-]

New tuners, knobs, and strap buttons...zero neck dive now. BOOYAH.

Was the tuner swap just because of neck dive or was there any other issue.
(Clarification)
Not a challenging question since I have 2 of these, but I’m also using very wide straps and have not noticed an issue.

 

[songwriter21]

Was the tuner swap just because of neck dive or was there any other issue.
(Clarification)
Not a challenging question since I have 2 of these, but I’m also using very wide straps and have not noticed an issue.

Not much dive, and that I like the reliability of aftermarket tuners. I don't trust the single-bushing kind, unless it's a BIG bushing like Gotoh uses on their GB707s, Resolites, etc.

 

[songwriter21]

Unfortunately, my Evil Twin turned out to have an unfixable curve up at the first fret or two (unfixable with truss adjustments), so back it will go to GC.

BUT, I bounced back with them, and found another used Stiletto Studio, and surprisingly, with factory case, for $605. It looks like the previous owner didn't even play it. I, as usual, changed the bridge, tuners, and knobs. This time, I also changed the strap buttons to match the gold/black motif. This is one of the nicest-looking basses I've ever owned. Kudos to Schecter and GC again!

 

[TonyP-]

Unfortunately, my Evil Twin turned out to have an unfixable curve up at the first fret or two (unfixable with truss adjustments), so back it will go to GC.

BUT, I bounced back with them, and found another used Stiletto Studio, and surprisingly, with factory case, for $605. It looks like the previous owner didn't even play it. I, as usual, changed the bridge, tuners, and knobs. This time, I also changed the strap buttons to match the gold/black motif. This is one of the nicest-looking basses I've ever owned. Kudos to Schecter and GC again!

Sorry to hear about about the ET.
I think the ETs, is the camp as the most reactive instruments I have ever played.

The specs on the Stiletto sound great.

 

[songwriter21]

Sorry to hear about about the ET.
I think the ETs, is the camp as the most reactive instruments I have ever played.

The specs on the Stiletto sound great.

One thing that I found, other than the neck curve, was a surprisingly flexible neck (being a reinforced 7pc neck). My Studios just feel beefier and sturdier, with the the neck being thicker...and they're non-reinforced 5pc necks. They feel like home to me.

 

[songwriter21]

View attachment 4573929

View attachment 4573935
Like em or not, Korn played a great gig a few nights ago. They started with about 40 minutes of hits using acoustics and backed by chior and organ. Then they debuted their new album. Fieldy is taking a break and they've had Ra Diaz filling in (and killing it) I'm looking at the rigs and had to chuckle at Head and Munkey with their dual Mesa Half Stacks each and there is Ra with a Schecter Corsair and some kind of small vintage combo... and of course I'm sure he's DI to FOH. But still pretty cool.

One of the biggest acts in the world being handled by a $900-1000 mass produced bass and a combo amp. He busts out a stilletto studio for the album debut.

Not surprised. My Stiletto Studios can stand up to basses waaaaaay pricier. Eq them right, and most of all, set them up right, and they crush.

 

[songwriter21]

Sorry to hear about about the ET.
I think the ETs, is the camp as the most reactive instruments I have ever played.

The specs on the Stiletto sound great.

Took another chance, and this time ordered a new Evil Twin 5, from MF. I absolutely love the Fishman sound, and dual-coil mode can basically mimic my Studios' ("flat canvas") EMG tone. EMG sounds that way to me, anyway, similar to Nathan East's BBNE2.

 

[gunai]

Took another chance, and this time ordered a new Evil Twin 5, from MF. I absolutely love the Fishman sound, and dual-coil mode can basically mimic my Studios' ("flat canvas") EMG tone. EMG sounds that way to me, anyway, similar to Nathan East's BBNE2.

Lemons occur even with instruments that cost multiples of the MIK Schecters.
It's a good chance to take, and the neck being 'flexible' (as most thin necks are) has not negatively affected the long term stability of my own Evil Twin 5.
Here's hoping your 2nd one is more in line with the quality that we have come to expect from the Korean factory.

 

[TonyP-]

Took another chance, and this time ordered a new Evil Twin 5, from MF. I absolutely love the Fishman sound, and dual-coil mode can basically mimic my Studios' ("flat canvas") EMG tone. EMG sounds that way to me, anyway, similar to Nathan East's BBNE2.

I’m curious if it works out better for you.
I hope it does.
They just sent me a Riot 5 and I’m going to change the EMG PJx pickups for EMG PJCS (Non X).

 

[songwriter21]

The boys getting ready for battle yesterday.

 

[stingray69]

Models that state "EMG Active EQ" have an actual EMG preamp inside. Lower cost models, like the Extreme, use a preamp branded "G&B". They are a OEM supplier from Korea.

+1

As an aside, I've seen other posts here on TB that people have spotted G&B preamps in Cort (A-series), MTD Z-series, overseas Lakland models, etc. Some of these basses are $1,500+. Not sure how they compare or are voiced to actual EMG preamp models, but they are a widely used bass preamp apparently. I'm quite content with the tone of the 2-band G&B preamp in my Stiletto Stealth-5, no plans to replace it.

 

[songwriter21]

+1

As an aside, I've seen other posts here on TB that people have spotted G&B preamps in Cort (A-series), MTD Z-series, overseas Lakland models, etc. Some of these basses are $1,500+. Not sure how they compare or are voiced to actual EMG preamp models, but they are a widely used bass preamp apparently. I'm quite content with the tone of the 2-band G&B preamp in my Stiletto Stealth-5, no plans to replace it.

G&B also made Peavey's radiused VFL pickups for the Cirrus and many other bass models of theirs. Solid stuff.

 

[TonyP-]

+1

As an aside, I've seen other posts here on TB that people have spotted G&B preamps in Cort (A-series), MTD Z-series, overseas Lakland models, etc. Some of these basses are $1,500+. Not sure how they compare or are voiced to actual EMG preamp models, but they are a widely used bass preamp apparently. I'm quite content with the tone of the 2-band G&B preamp in my Stiletto Stealth-5, no plans to replace it.

I believe the G&B preamps just don’t have a “specific voice” so to speak. Some folks might want more of a character, the EMG “preamp per se” is not really a preamp, it’s more of not having a voice as well BUT it’s more of a-detailed ‘EQ’.
It’s more sensitive to slight changes and of more boost and cut capabilities. They work better IMHO in general then the G&B but that is just my $.02 on the matter.

 

[stingray69]

Looking forward to reviews eventually dropping on YouTube for the latest Stargazer models.

One thing of note is how they pushed the neck pickup much more forward than in previous versions.

Also, very interested in the switching options for the pickups - should be a very versatile sounding instrument!

Sweetwater has a Pre-order for these, but I have no idea when they are expected to drop.

 

[AbnormalForms]

I dig the black with maple fretboard, but am a bit disappointed that they didn't bring back the cherry burst. The fact that it comes in a 12 string option though.... Very interesting...

 

[stingray69]

Looks like Sweetwater has stock on both the Black & White Stargazer 4 & 5-string models today.

Somebody please buy one of these so I can live vicariously through them without hurting my pocketbook - I'll settle for at least some sound clips.

 

[evil1603]

Yeah, glad they brought back that model, looks cool, am very curious about the sounds. If they had moved that bridge pickup a liiiiittle bit further towards the neck….