Schecter: What do you guys think of them?

[electracoyote]

I've owned several Schecters. All were most impressive.

Schecter's claim to fame used to be importing well-made Asian instruments (mine were Korean) and then taking the extra step of un-boxing them here in their USA factory/warehouse and techs going over each one with a fine-tooth comb for quality, then doing a decent set up before shipping them on to the retailer and ultimately the consumer. It seems every Schecter I purchased new was almost perfect right out of the box and only required minor tweaks, if anything.

I don't know if that's still the case. There was a thread recently where someone complained of a number of legitimate QC issues with his new Schecter. Maybe that was the rare lemon, but I was a little surprised by that.

 

[fretno]

 

[AaronVonRock]

I heard someone once say that Schecter and Ibanez were the Huffy of basses.

I do like the Schecter Model-T, though.

 

[crucislancer]

One of my co-workers has a Stiletto, he brought it into work one day as he was going to a jam session after, and let me have a couple of minutes with it. The bass played well, had good weight and looked nice. We didn't have an amp handy so I can't comment on the tone. Note that he's not a metal bassist, he plays Jazz and rock, and does some work for a local classic rock cover band.

Back when they first released them, I played a Model-T for 20 minutes at a music store. Awesome bass, would have bought it if I was in the market for a new bass.

 

[wmhill]

I played one (damian 4) for years without much issue. They are hard to beat in that price range. The ones with the EMGs are way better than the standard diamond series pickups. I have had several of their electric guitars and had similar success with em as well.

 

[Timmah]

I like Schecters as a whole, they tend to be good basses at good price points for the markets they aim for. Sure, there's a billion and one bottom-of-the-line basses out there, but they make better quality ones too. I had a Diamond J5 for about a year and quite liked it, though previous owner had done his best to kill the bass. A buddy of mine has a Stiletto 6, and he loves it to death. My personal favorite thing about the company is their abundance of lefty models, though I doubt that applies to you.

 

[higain617]

I had a Raiden Elite-4 that I received in a trade. It sounded and played well, but I did think it was kinda cheap-feeling. It also had the look of teenage metalcore, IMO.

 

[thebreakman]

I have a Studio 4. Very well made and feels good. Just not what I want in a bass so I guess I'll be selling.

 

[Charlzm]

I've never gotten around to playing one. for some reason, I've always associated them with teenage metal-core bass players. Sounds kind of ridiculous now that I think of it.

Anyway, what are your opinions on the brand overall?

I had a Schecter Hellraiser Extreme 5 and, aside from looking a little Black Sabbath-y, it was a fine NT bass that easily provided more value at the price point (around $1100) than anything else I tried. I eventually got a different 5 string and sold the Schecter to a friend who also recognized that it was a fine bass.

Really, I think the looks might be the deal-breaker for some people. Otherwise, good-sounding and good-playing bass and an exceptional value at the price point.

 

[twinjet]

I've never gotten around to playing one. for some reason, I've always associated them with teenage metal-core bass players. Sounds kind of ridiculous now that I think of it.

Anyway, what are your opinions on the brand overall?

I drew heavy influence from Anthony Jackson and mainly played in jazz bands and combos. I also recorded on a pop album, did some rock and some blues. All on a Stiletto Custom 6. I loved that bass. Sold it a few months back to get an American P bass, as my style and tonal needs had changed. That bass was sitting in a case all day for weeks at a time, while my Fender Jazz was getting all the love.

Here's a few pictures.

Spoiler

 

[jagiato]

I have been playing guitar for around 35 years but just switched to bass a couple months ago and I have a Schecter Damien 7 string. Things I noticed right away -

• the guitar was setup very well right out of the box (I made a couple of very minor tweaks)
• It has a very sturdy feel to it, I don't feel like it's going to break if I bump a table, there weren't any of the typical craftsmanship problems you see in the lower price ranges like bad fret jobs, poor electronics shielding, bad electronics, warped neck, etc. It feels like a workhorse that can take a beating. Tuning and neck stability are excellent (this thing never needs tuning and has not yet required adjustment or setup modifications after over 5 years despite my low action preference)
• decent sound for that price range (EMGs), not much character, but versatile
• I play a little of everything, with an emphasis on fusion, jazz, and this thing handles it all very capably

I was talking to a guy at my local GC and he said they have a really poor resale value. I needed cash for a bass so I sold an Ibanez instead. I refused to part with the Schecter for the $50-75 bucks I would have gotten. I definitely feel like the instrument gave a very good bang for the buck.

I don't know about their basses.

 

[tuba_samurai]

My Schecter experience was with the Ultra VI Diamond Series. It was kind of like the Fender Bass Vi. Three humbuckers, E-e tuning, 30 scale. The fit and finish was excellent and I was very pleased with it overall. Ende up trading it for an active Yamaha, but I miss it sometimes. The other Schecters that I have tried out (Stilleto and The Precision clone) were very nice as well. I would own another.

 

[superheavydeathmetal]

I am rather a Schecter fanboy because not only do they make great quality stuff, especially for the dollar, but they are the most lefty-friendly guitar manufacturer. Plus, they don't hold value well, so they can be had on the used market for a steal. I got my Schecter Sixx for less than $500 and the craftsmanship is outstanding.


Schecter is like a Toyota Corolla. They play great, are built solid, will do what you need, but they aren't going to turn any heads.

 

[waveman]

I have their J Bass, my primary gigging bass, it's great for the money. Sits right in the mix, stays in tune, and comes stock with a hipshot licensed drop tuner.

 

[logicman69]

They are OK, but I found the neck uncomfortable in my hands.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I really like them. Their marketing is very unfortunate though. The Stiletto Custom that I own is 7.2 lbs and balances well. The neck is great for me and it sounds good for live work. If I was doing a lot of recording, I'd use a Fender but for 4 hr live gigs, its outstanding.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I don't think this looks like a metal head bass to me.

 

[Maxdusty]

I had a Schecter Elite (on my user pic come to think of it). Nice bass and would have otherwise kept it. I don't just play rock, I also play funk so it's not just a HM instrument. However, reason for selling it? I want to eventually get the Schecter Studio instead. Better tonal control.

 

[Bodeanly]

Robert. Effing. DeLeo. That's what I think about them.

 

[Biggbass]

I like the old, first generation Schecters. Still have an early 80's P bass and PT Tele. They are really great instruments.
The newer stuff...meh...seems to be designed to appeal to yoots, as Vinny Gambini would say. But that's ok, yoots is where the mass purchasing power is.