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Schecter Quality Control

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EADG mx

EADG mx

Jul 4, 2005
1,849
24
#1
During the search for my first 5er I was recommended to check our Schecter. After browsing the site and finding specs that more or less matched what I was looking for, and hearing so many rave reviews about the quality and bang for buck, I decided to go for one.

In December 2006 I ordered a new Schecter Studio 5, left handed, in honey satin finish. After some hold up with the distributor, I was told that it needed to be assembled and I would receive it soon. I received the bass in mid March. It's tonal quality lacked low end and it had a strong neck dive, but otherwise it played fine and served me pretty well for the next year or so.

Here is where the problems begin. Now you'll just have to take my word on it, but I'm serious about my music and serious about my gear. I don't have a ton of valuable stuff, so I treat what I have like my children.

In the past year to year and a half, this bass has consistently failed on me. To start, I noticed that the gold finish started to fade and chip slightly. Next the volume and tone pots started crackling when turned, even after I cleaned them multiple times. The pickups developed a very noticable and irritating humming, so prominent in the neck pickup that I have deemed it unbearable and cannot use it. The lowest tuner began to stick when turned, and for a while I could hear a faint rattling (although this ceased eventually). Now today while restringing, one of the posts made an audible cracking sound and now refuses to turn.


but this is what really gets to me. I e-mailed customer service on these matters and my e-mail went unanswered. Ditto for the e-mail that I sent to the distributor where I purchased it. Under their warranty policy, I will have to send the bass to their factory in CALIFORNIA (from Ontario) to have it inspected, with no guarantee that it will be covered, AND on top of that I PAY SHIPPING.

Basically, I could potentially drop the cash to ship this thing across most of the U.S. and back to find my bass in the same condition.

So I ask you - what gives?

I'm tempted to just take it to a local luthier and tell him that I don't give a #$% about warranty and to just fix it. What would you do in this situation?
 
#5
That is the point of this thread.
You can't expect as much from a $700 bass as you can from a $1400 bass.
If your bass is this:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Schecter-Stiletto-Studio5-Bass-?sku=513094[/url]
You paid a bit much.They can be had righty all day for $649 to $699. A lefty can't be that much more.
Even in Canadian dollars.
$1400...good grief!

I would definately take it to a good local Repairman.

Rick
 
#6
EADG mx said:
That wasn't the point of the thread.
Click to expand...

If you must know, my parents didn't want to purchase it online and I had no way of purchasing it myself. On top of that it was a custom order. \

But the price is irrelevant now, it doesn't matter. I'm asking about the defects and what I should do about it
 
#7
My Schecter Custom 5 hasn't had any issues like that. It's less than a year old, and the only "issue" is a slight wear mark on the bridge on the B string. Only a little bit of the gold finish has worn off. Just happens to be from my hand rubbing on it.

Sorry to hear that you're having problems with yours. Have you tried calling anyone over at Schecter?
 
#9
First thing you need to do is stop with the emails. Sit down and write a letter explaining the situation or have your parents do it. Make copies of all your documentation and send it with the letter to Schecter and carbon copy it to the distributor where you purchased it. I don't know how Canadian post works, but in the US, I would send both letters via Certified Return Receipt. This way, you have proof that somebody signed for the letters and they will have no way of denying you sent them any documentation. Keep a copy of the letter for your records. They can always say they didn't get your emails and keep you at bay that way. Don't back down and be firm without being a jerk. This usually will get some sort of communication going. I hope it works out.
 
#10
Spector_Ray said:
First thing you need to do is stop with the emails. Sit down and write a letter explaining the situation or have your parents do it. Make copies of all your documentation and send it with the letter to Schecter and carbon copy it to the distributor where you purchased it. I don't know how Canadian post works, but in the US, I would send both letters via Certified Return Receipt. This way, you have proof that somebody signed for the letters and they will have no way of denying you sent them any documentation. Keep a copy of the letter for your records. They can always say they didn't get your emails and keep you at bay that way. Don't back down and be firm without being a jerk. This usually will get some sort of communication going. I hope it works out.
Click to expand...


Thanks for this, it's a great idea but -

why would they have a customer service e-mail on their site if they don't respond? Are you saying it's an easy way to disregard complaints? I really don't like the sound of that, that's all.
 
#13
EADG mx said:
Thanks for this, it's a great idea but -

why would they have a customer service e-mail on their site if they don't respond? Are you saying it's an easy way to disregard complaints? I really don't like the sound of that, that's all.
Click to expand...

I've put almost 20 hours of resoldering, repair, replacement and re-setting up the bum truss rod into my friend's Studio 4 that he bought because it looked cool. Schecter Diamond series basses are very poor basses. I will just say it because there's no way to sugarfoot around it. They sound terrible, the insides are a jumbled mess of a joke, and everyone seems to love them because they have supposedly high-end features. Well, they dont. You got hosed and I do truly feel bad for you. You should sell it and get something else. Your problems will only continue.

List of problems my buddy's Schecter has had so far:
  • Broken nut after 3 days (it's plastic, not graphite)
  • Bridge was not mounted correctly and was not sitting flush on the body, discovered when I tried to set it up for the first time
  • 6 weak solders broke in the control cavity over 4 months
  • The bass EQ knob does nothing anymore, I can't figure out how to fix it without replacing the EQ
  • Treble knob felt ready to fall out of the body when bass arrived
  • Neck is slightly warped along it's axis
  • Truss rod is constantly slipping, causing action to constantly go high
  • His G string tuner sticks and is not screwed into the headstock properly, putting it at an angle. The screw heads on it had been stripped before I had even seen it.

Noted, he plays in a metal band, but I've seen their shows and he does not thrash the thing around.

I do guitar work for my friends as a favor and I have seen 4 separate Studios that were just incredibly shoddy basses. I don't have super high standards, but IME and IMO, Schecters are not worth 200$.
 
#14
embellisher said:
Some companies do not respond to emails in a timely manner. In the business world, telephone or postal mail is the best way to make sure you get a response.
Click to expand...


Understandable but this was months ago. I don't mind a late response within reason but they didn't respond at all. I havn't tried calling or snail mail though
 
#19
I was thinkin about gettin a schecter at first too, but then I played one and hated the sound, its great for metal but all that floppy growly stuff ain't that cool to me. I did more research and settled on getting a spector, so maybe if you can't get all this sorted out, you should check out that option. A spector legend will be cheaper and im sure the quality will be a thousand times better. The schectoer I played felt cheap anyways, and one i played at gc had horrible fret sprout, but that was probly due to being placed up to the ceiling near the heating in the winter.
 
#20
Time Consumer said:
I was thinkin about gettin a schecter at first too, but then I played one and hated the sound, its great for metal but all that floppy growly stuff ain't that cool to me. I did more research and settled on getting a spector, so maybe if you can't get all this sorted out, you should check out that option. A spector legend will be cheaper and im sure the quality will be a thousand times better. The schectoer I played felt cheap anyways, and one i played at gc had horrible fret sprout, but that was probly due to being placed up to the ceiling near the heating in the winter.
Click to expand...

I like Spectors but I don't think they make lefties in my price range
 
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