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What are your thoughts about Schecter basses? Stiletto Studio bass...
- Thread starter Art1606
- Start date
I have a neck-thru Elite 5. It's pretty sweet. Have also had a Raiden that I sold. Probably shouldn't have done that...
- By the way, I have struggled with the action on my elite 5. No one had been able to set it up the way I like; decently low action, but with no string buzz on the frets/board. I'm not that picky, but I had 3 people in town set it up and they could either get mile high action or buzz at the the 3rd fret-ish part of the bass... I finally called a builder in town who also conducts "make your own guitar" woodworking classes. I asked if he could do anything. He responded "Schecter, I never even met her"! I knew I was in good hands at that point. What we ended up doing is putting on a bone nut and filing the string grooves down lower, in addition to adjusting the bridge and intonating. Oh, and the B saddle needed to be moved back some, so that there was enough play to get it intoated. The elite has individual "rail" type saddles. I really like it a lot now that I have it set up the way I like.
Hope this helps!!
- By the way, I have struggled with the action on my elite 5. No one had been able to set it up the way I like; decently low action, but with no string buzz on the frets/board. I'm not that picky, but I had 3 people in town set it up and they could either get mile high action or buzz at the the 3rd fret-ish part of the bass... I finally called a builder in town who also conducts "make your own guitar" woodworking classes. I asked if he could do anything. He responded "Schecter, I never even met her"! I knew I was in good hands at that point. What we ended up doing is putting on a bone nut and filing the string grooves down lower, in addition to adjusting the bridge and intonating. Oh, and the B saddle needed to be moved back some, so that there was enough play to get it intoated. The elite has individual "rail" type saddles. I really like it a lot now that I have it set up the way I like.
Hope this helps!!
I gigged a Studio 5 for a couple of years, and have nothing but good to say about it. Great value (I bought it used, and sold it for the same price)...AND it made me a goodly amount of dinero.
I had a Schecter Hellraiser Extreme 5 for a few years. Superb bass; punched way above its price point.
I had the same bass but in 4 string. whilst it looked nice and felt ok (neck was a bit thinner than I like) the sound was a bit lackluster, like you said, just missing something.
I've also owned a couple other basses with the HZ pickups. Honestly any bass with those in it gets passed over by me. They have to be my least favorite pick ups of all time.
I used to have a Schecter Stiletto Custom in natural and it was a beautiful bass, but I could never get the sound I wanted from it which was a surprise to me because my ESP's and Dean Rhapsodies sound excellent with the EMG HZ pickups. So I agree that is more about the preamp than the pickup.
However I sold it and now own 2 Schecter Omen Extremes and those basses are great. I've had them for a few years now and they are going nowhere. I also tried a Schecter Stiletto with the Music Man type pickups and that also sounded really good.
However I sold it and now own 2 Schecter Omen Extremes and those basses are great. I've had them for a few years now and they are going nowhere. I also tried a Schecter Stiletto with the Music Man type pickups and that also sounded really good.
Too bad the pickups don't have "HZ" emblazoned on the front.
So that the unwary don't have to fall into the HZ trap.
For what it's worth, over the past 12 years or so I've seen lots of bassists in myriad music genres gigging with Stiletto Studio basses.
I myself have no direct experience with those basses so I can't judge factors like balance, weight, or playability, but I think it's worth mentioning that I've seen loads of Stiletto Studios in the hands of bassists in gigging bands. That has to count for something, right?
As for EMG HZ's they are a love it/hate it pickup. I sometimes wonder if they get a bad rap because they're shackled to meh preamps. Recently, I was wondering if anyone had experience using HZs with no preamp/passive electronics since they are a passive pickup. Has anyone here ran EMG HZs fully passive with no preamp?
I myself have no direct experience with those basses so I can't judge factors like balance, weight, or playability, but I think it's worth mentioning that I've seen loads of Stiletto Studios in the hands of bassists in gigging bands. That has to count for something, right?
As for EMG HZ's they are a love it/hate it pickup. I sometimes wonder if they get a bad rap because they're shackled to meh preamps. Recently, I was wondering if anyone had experience using HZs with no preamp/passive electronics since they are a passive pickup. Has anyone here ran EMG HZs fully passive with no preamp?
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I have 2 Schecter basses. My main is a c4 Apocalypse. I love the sound and feel of it, I even got rid of an American Fender Jazz because I preferred the c4. I also have a Stiletto 4 string. I got it used for $200 and it's a little beat up but plays and sounds fantastic. I'm currently debating about getting the Stiletto Stealth. I play mainly rock with some metal and for the sound I'm going for my Schecters get the job done.
I have a Stiletto Custom-5 and it's been an amazing bass. I've had it for 12 years now, and it's a been workhorse. Never had a single issue with it, and it plays great. I did put in EMG 40J pickups and a Spector Tonepump Jr. preamp to fit my sound better, but that's just personal taste. Schecter makes great products, and I'd highly recommend any of them
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My experience with them is they are very well made, and play like a dream. Unfortunately, I never could get a sound out of them I could use.
I have a Studio 5 and Studio 4. Both are great solid basses for the money. In fact, they have replaced my Spector Euros.
See that BTB in your avatar? I had one of those...had. Very nice instrument, very well engineered, well built, loved the looks, blah, blah...I traded it in for a Riot 5, & didn't think twice.
I admit I LOVED my BTB, but the Schecter's string spacing was more to my liking, & the setup was dead perfect!
I've messed around several times in the past couple weeks on the exact model of Stiletto you referenced & was very impressed, superb playability (which seems to be a Schecter hallmark).
I'm sure it's been mentioned already, but Schecter started out as a rather high-endy, customish, type shop. They know their stuff. They get unfairly pigoen-holed as "metal" only, but I've liked every one I've tried, including their guitars.
Here's the Riot Session 5, bought it brand new, MSRP $670.00
My ONLY complaint is that it has EMG stuff, which just isn't really my cup of tea. I'm going to do a Nordstrand/Darkglass swap. Having said that, the engineer I just worked with said it's the only 5-string he's ever recorded & been happy with the sound. It's very clear & growly, speaks with authority.
EDIT: Ok...well I just read the whole thread & see I am far from being the only one underwhelmed by the EMG electronics! Wow
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I didn't read through the whole thread,but this was my experience with the Stiletto Elite 5. It played and looked great, but I couldn't coax joy out of it, tone-wise. It was never awful, but it also was always just a little short.