• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Schecters: Show Me the Versatility

J

jk3

Jul 25, 2007
339
2
Chicago
#1
make me a believer

I really want to like Schecter. Unfortunately, I dont know anyone who has any; I dont have time to hang out at guitar center (nor do i want to); whenever i go to the shecter website, the music they play from their sponsored artists just puts me off(and its all very similar - not my thing) - although i've always dug STP.

I love fenders (Js & Ps) - they seem to cross over more styles than any other bass (Metal to Jazz).

to my feable mind, schecter being so big in shred metal i.e.; Avenged Sevenfold and the like, has put a bad taste in my mouth about the company.

can someone like me- who loves smooth groove, yet powerful rock tones - get into schecters - AND WHY?? please
 
#3
The DeLeo model/Model T basses are very nice. They are heavy as heck, but the neck is a work of art and they sound pretty great in a mix. I used one for some recording recently. If you upgraded the pickups to real Seymour Duncans then it would be a real contender.

The Stiletto/Studio models are terrible, IMO. Sorry, they feel like toys and sound more horrible then any other bass I've heard, and this includes starter Ibanez basses. There is no fundamental, the pickups are microphonic and the preamps are really low quality. I do not like them one bit.

The DeLeos and Model Ts are completely the opposite though, and probably what you're looking for. I am a big fan of STP as well and it fits the music (though most of DeLeo's studio work was on a '67 P-bass).
 
#4
I owned a Stiletto Custom and I rather liked it. I was using it for bluegrass/blues/classic rock which is quite a departure from the music on their site. I thought the bass was well constructed and generally comfortable to play.

That being said, I feel that there are better instrumants in the same price range -- G&L Tribute springs to mind. But at that point, we are getting into the realm of personal preference.
 
#5
I own a Stiletto Elite-4 and really like it. I can get a wide range of tone out of the bass with the EQ. It is a great bass for those of us with smaller hands. Downside would be that the bass is not really friendly for slapping if that is what you are after (tight string spacing). Else, I have done some blues backing with it and the guitarist was pleased with the low end fill. The majority of what I play is classic rock. I felt it was a good bass for the money.
 
#8
Try this thread:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220001

There are a lot of Schecter fans on TB. Myself one of them. My Studio 5 is a great bass, and one of the best I've played in the sub $1000 market. There are a myriad of other basses out there that some say are better, but that is a point of personal preference. The electronics are decent, not boutique standards, but very versatile if you use them properly. Spring spacing is tighter than most, so thumpin' and pluckin' on it will definitaly take some practice. If your style leans towards classic rock, finger-style with the occasional pick played song, the Schecter serves well.
 
#9
I've got an elite 5, and I use it for church worship band (styles of Lincoln Brewster, Matt Redman, David Crowder)... It sounds great in the mix, and is a very well constructed, solid bass. 2 band eq, but versatile in the tone you can get out of it. I also use a GEB-7 to further enhance the low end.

The string spacing is tight, so slapping is difficult for me, but I have other basses for that. Overall, I love this bass for what I use it for.

My $0.02

MattO
 
#10
Earwigger said:
The Stiletto/Studio models are terrible, IMO. Sorry, they feel like toys and sound more horrible then any other bass I've heard, and this includes starter Ibanez basses. There is no fundamental, the pickups are microphonic and the preamps are really low quality. I do not like them one bit.
Click to expand...

While my experience with Schecters isn't quite as bad as this, I just haven't played one yet that grabbed my attention. The string spacing is way too tight for me, but I could get around that if the tone had something to offer. To me, they have a very generic tone. Whenever I plug one in, it just leaves me cold. I have trouble imagining it would cut through the mix very well, in fact I played a show where the bassist in another band had a Stiletto and the bass was inaudible in the band mix. I played a Jaguar and another bassist used a Spector Euro and we were definately heard, for whatever that's worth. Of course, this is just my experience and lots of people love them and rave about them. So maybe there is something to them I am not getting. But, I can't see myself using one at this point.
 
#11
My new Hellcat VI is the most versatile stringed thing I've played so far..... Although I still plan to have it modded so that I can play using both the bridge and neck pickups and not the middle pickup (it has three pickups like a Stratocaster, so you can only use one pickup or two adjacent pickups. But they are humbuckers and there is a coil tap feature).
 
#12
Fazed said:
I've got an elite 5, and I use it for church worship band (styles of Lincoln Brewster, Matt Redman, David Crowder)... It sounds great in the mix, and is a very well constructed, solid bass. 2 band eq, but versatile in the tone you can get out of it. I also use a GEB-7 to further enhance the low end.

The string spacing is tight, so slapping is difficult for me, but I have other basses for that. Overall, I love this bass for what I use it for.

My $0.02

MattO
Click to expand...
I have a Stilleto Custom 5. I love this bass. It has tight string spacing and I still slap with it a lot. I just tighten up my playing. I have big hands and really love 19mm spacing, but make do with the Schecter.
 
#13
Earwigger said:
The Stiletto/Studio models are terrible, IMO. Sorry, they feel like toys and sound more horrible then any other bass I've heard, and this includes starter Ibanez basses. There is no fundamental, the pickups are microphonic and the preamps are really low quality. I do not like them one bit.
Click to expand...

I loved the feel of mine but I couldn't get a single sound I liked out of it. I'll never forget when I picked up the ATK300 I have now for the first time in the store. The tone was so versatile and completely blew away the Schecter in every aspect possible. I promptly bought the ATK and sold off the Schecter to a friend of mine for dirt cheap because I needed a quick buck to fund my GAS. Even though I lost money on the deal I made him, I don't regret it. That bass had nothing on any of my other ones.
 
#15
i had Diamond Model T, and it was GREAT..until I purchase real Schecter from David Schecter (early 80´s model-it was "cheap"-price about G@L USA or MM...) then Model T Diam.S. went FAST out of house...but i presume that this would happen to most of MIA deluxe fenders, maybe custom shop fender would succes to keep step with my Schecter(they were high end alternative to Fenders, real custom shop, if you know Sadovsky you can know quality of such Schecters...)...no way they are great basses both Korean DS or real USA Custom Shop
 
#18
I got a Studio 6.... It's not a bad bass. The PU's are a bit noisy but they can be fixed by EQ'ing.... A little shielding might help me out also. The bridge is a PITA. Very comfy playing. It was pretty much my best option being under $1000 and lefty. I tried a great number of them out at Southpaw. Stiletto Customs, Model T, and the California Customs... The California Custom was an awesome 5'er but I was looking for a 6. Sadly, I don't think that they make them anymore. They felt great and looked even better.

They are great gear @ their price... I'm very happy with my Studio 6.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back