What's Wrong With Schecter Basses?

[[skyraider]]

A while back I was talking to a seasoned bassist about my instruments and I told him I have a Schecter Studio 5 fretless. He kinda wrinkled his nose at that like I'd just farted or something. I asked him what he thought was so awful about it and he said something like "I dunno... Just... Schecter??" To which I responded by enumerating the things I liked about the bass, such as the tone, the appearance and playability. He just shrugged it off with "I guess..."

So I've had this bass for about three or four years now and I still like it. Still have only one real complaint about it, and that it the weight-- it's a bit on the chunky side. But since it's fretless I only play it on the occasional acoustic gig, where I'm sitting down.

So I'm curious to see if this guy is just being a bit snobby or if they have somehow gotten a bad reputation for some reason that I'm unaware of...?

 

[20db pad]

There's nothing wrong with your bass, and I actually see a number of guys playing well and making real money using Schecter Elites and Studios.

There is, however, something wrong with someone who is "seasoned" who throws out attitude like that. FWIW, truly seasoned players have figured out that gear and the brand names associated with it are not very important in the big picture and they also know it's not cool to put down other people's axes.

 

[Neveragain55]

There's a lot of Schecter fans in here and I'm came crazy close to buying their Research Stiletto Studio-4 last year after trying one out in a Guitar Center.

Their really nice basses and you'll find most folks have only good things to say about them.

To expand on your question, and the point about a lot of these non-mainstream basses, most of them are really good. Most guitar manufacturers these days incorporate fairly high quality standards - even the ones made in places like Indonesia, Vietnam and other similar countries.

BMW & Honda has a strong presence in the southern states and the quality of those cars are on par with the ones being made in their home countries.

Bass guitar manufacturing is no different, and a lot of these German & Japanese bass manufacturers do a pretty good job of ensuring that their models made off their shores are done right.

That's not to say that their aren't some crappy examples out there but the point I'm trying to make is that one doesn't have to turn ones nose up at something if it isn't made here at home.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.....

 

[tbz]

They've never had a good reputation, and have always been considered entry level basses, regardless of the price point IME.

Ymmv.

 

[fmachia]

I want a Schecter Model T after trying one at a store. Felt very well put together. Sounded really good even with the stock strings. Solid neck, thunderous PUs, great fretwork, and decently priced. I would take it over a MIM fender in a heartbeat.

 

[Colbert Vape]

I had the Schecter SGR C-4 picked it up cheap, played and sounded great, just had no need for 24 frets.

 

[pcake]

a lot of musicians look down on one brand or another for some reason. i wouldn't worry about it. it could even be mr experienced player just trying to assert his dominance.

 

[fmachia]

Javier Malosetti seems to like his Schecter...



And it doesn't sound too bad either.drool

 

[fmachia]

OMG! Don't watch that, he is mixing cabs! Blasphemy!

 

[Crystalman85]

There's really nothing wrong with schecter basses. they provide great sounds at great prices. I own a schecter stiletto extreme 5-string bass and it sounds totally awesome. I like this bass for it's smooth curvaceous design and it's versatility. I do recommend schecter stiletto basses to anyone looking for a new bass.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Absolutely nothing! The Schecter USA/Custom shop rivals the other US builders of similar models.

 

[Mastermold]

Jazz odyssey.

 

[SirMjac28]

Whenever someone answers a question about gear with "I dunno.... Just.... Brand X?? ask them what's their user name on Talk Bass? (70% of the time they'll have one) then let them know that they're "using your dream rig" and "you only wish you could afford something so nice" by this time they will be so eager to tell you everything about their setup including how much it costs you will have help loading your gear into your car after the gig also you may even get a free round or two.

 

[Thumper19605]

I have one, great bass!

 

[Acoustic356]

To quote Taylor Swift: "haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate... So shake it off.... Shake it off."

If you stay around the forum long enough, you will find that people dislike everything from Fender basses to Fodera basses. If you're happy with it, I wouldn't worry. The only time you really have to worry is when you get a recording contract, and the engineer recording your first album has a bias against the bass. Many famous musicians have changed brands/basses over trivial stuff like that.

 

[steelbed45]

...let them know that they're "using your dream rig" and "you only wish you could afford something so nice"

You recently purchased my dream bass. (Thumb)
I only wish I could afford something so nice.

Back on topic - my old guitarist played a Schecter, the C model I think. It sounded good to me. I'm not sure why ESP and Schecter immediately bring up "metal" in thought, but I'm willing to play/try anything. Honestly, I'd love to try one of the Schecter custom J types.

 

[Jeffrey Bryan]

Schecter is great, they look great, the sound great, they play great. I think they're underrated because they lack in famous endorsement deals. Lot of people appear to be very prone to what someone famous is using.

The only time you really have to worry is when you get a recording contract, and the engineer recording your first album has a bias against the bass. Many famous musicians have changed brands/basses over trivial stuff like that.

Wow, this really is a thing? Wouldn't like to lose my (or the bands) integrity this way...

 

[Sav'nBass]

To echo what others have said there is nothing wrong with Schecter..,.. For me the only thing wrong with the Schecter I had was the right string spacing but the bass itself was solid.

 

[SirMjac28]

You recently purchased my dream bass. (Thumb)
I only wish I could afford something so nice.

Back on topic - my old guitarist played a Schecter, the C model I think. It sounded good to me. I'm not sure why ESP and Schecter immediately bring up "metal" in thought, but I'm willing to play/try anything. Honestly, I'd love to try one of the Schecter custom J types.

+1 the amount of quality affordable gear available today as compared to decades past is mind blowing kids today don't have to spend the entire summer cutting grass and shoveling snow all winter just to afford something used. and way back when I don't remember ever hearing real working musicians sitting around discussing gear? I saw more duck tape on mic stands and cabs than anywhere else.

 

[bssplr]

They do seem to have a very limited marketing stratagy, everything I have ever seen about them was exclusivly geared towards Metal.
They also don't seem to have much of a reach outside the USA. I don't know about other countries but in Canada they are practically non existant. I have always been a fan of their designs so when I heard one of the big electronic chain stores here was going to carry them I went to check one out (about 2 years ago). All the store had was 2 of their bottom line 4 strings I was pretty impressed with them though and I had needed a 5 string at the time so I had them order me a stiletto custom 5. After waiting a year for it to show up I just gave up and bought a Fender.