Schecter Stiletto Elite-5 5-String

CONSTRUCTION/SCALE: Neck-Thru / 35"

BODY: Mahogany w/ Figured Maple, Very Nice!!

NECK/FINGERBOARD: Multi-Laminate Maple & Walnut /Rosewood

FRETS: 24 Jumbo
INLAYS: 12th fret Diamond
PICKUPS: EMG HZ
ELECTRONICS: Vol/Blend/Active 2-Band EQ (w/ selectable treble frequencies)

BRIDGE: S-Tek
BINDING: Creme (neck/headstock)
TUNERS: Schecter
HARDWARE: Gold
COLOR: Honey Sunburst (HSB)

Could have had a 3 band active EQ, Should have had String thru and still could be modified as it has the correct bridge for it.

I play in a cover band at the moment and we cover a lot of different sounds from "Asia" to "Zepplin" and everything in between, You can dial in whatever sound you need with the EMGs. I converted the preamp to an 18 volt unit (add a battery in series, see the EMG site for instructions, it's not hard.) and The *#@* thing even sounded BETTER! I always wanted to get a Warwick, I cant justify it anymore. I paid 1/4 the price for this Bass.

One tuner is loose (the threads are stripped), still works I'm just going to replace it. The action is alright after setting it up but I believe if the nut was raised a few thousandths it could be better, but for where it's at now it is screaming fast with very little fret buzz. (All basses need to be set for the user so, I didn't ding it for the setup, just the tuner problem and nut height)

Neck Thru, Tough as nails, I play all the time and leave it out of its case @ home on a Hercules stand. Strap locks are solid. No Pot noise, no problems with the input jack yet. Ive always played out with it without backup. Once it's set up I haven't had to redo the setup unless I change to a drastically different string gauge. (I do play 1/2 step down).

Never had to contact the company, should for the tuner though.

Geeze, Ive been playing for almost 30 years and there is NOTHING I dislike about the sound of this Bass. I use a Samson Concert Series wireless, Alesis Nano compressor, an Ampeg SVP-PRO preamp (Boss Bass Chorus in the efx loop)and a Peavey PV1500 Power amp. I run thru a Custom made 4X10 cab and a 2X12 cab.
I never expected to own a Schecter! I would recommend anyone to at least TRY this bass if you have the chance.

2006-07 Made in Korea, 24 fret, 5 String.
Mahogany body with maple top, Vol, blend, bass, treble layout,
2 EMG American made soapbar humbuckers with USA made EMG electronics. 9vt active. Neck is 5 piece maple and walnut. Finish gloss black cherry. Neck-thru design. S-Tek locking bridge, Gotoh tuners, Rosewood Fretboard,neck is of medium girth and width. All hardware is gold. A separate battery compartment would have made it perfect.

I like everything about this bass. I run it through a Fender Bassman 150, an SWR Workingmans 15, or a Hartke Bass Attack Pre-amp/DI.
Sound is rich, full, loud, punchy, and midrange growly. Any sound you want, it's in there.

Set-up was perfect. I actually raised the action a bit and put a set of DR HI-Beams 45-125's on it. I had to file out the B string saddle to make the non-tapered B fit into the saddle. Perfect Fit!

Built Like a Tank. Heavy too.

One of the saddle hex screws was slightly stripped. I called the company and Brian at Schecter was the coolest. He sent me out the whole saddle assembly that goes into the finger style bridge with free wrenches to boot. Best customer service I've ever dealt with.
He sent them out Monday, I should recieve it Thursday or Friday.
I live in Phila, PA. Schecter's in California. If the mail's on the ball I might get it sooner.

Love the Bass, Love the Company and Warranty support.

The specs are covered ad nauseum in other reports, so I won't go into that here.
I *will*, however, reiterate the beauty of this bass: the figured maple is amazing on all of my Schecters. (I actually own three schecter guitars; 007 Elite, C5 and this Stiletto Elite 5. I will continue to buy Schecters (until they start giving them to me)
The Neck through design is very attractive and has a very nice, sturdy feel.

It sounds killer through my Ampeg SVTs. I play mostly aggressive music and it rocks, but it's also buttery smooth during mellow intros.

I bought it new, a factory second because of an almost imperceptible finish burn that occurred presumably as a result of an overzealous final buff job.
The setup was pretty decent, with an easily corrected fret buzz. Intonation was dead on.

I'm actively gigging with both of my Schecter basses, and have had absolutely no problems with them at all.
As you've seen, I don't typically give 10s.

I have had no issues, so as of yet, no opinion.

I've been playing guitar for over 25 years, but just picked up the bass aout a year ago.

I have the Honey Burst finish. It features the S-Tek bridge, EMG HZ pickups, 2-band active EQ, neck binding, dual diamond 12th fret inlays, and gold hardware.

Suits my music style 100%. The pickups are the real deal. It has great and quick action. Every note that I hit on this bass is clear.

Straight from the factory the bass is setup well. I made one minor adjustment. I raised my BEA strings a little to cancel out some fret buzz. Other than that, excellent.

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I've been playing for about 10 years, and I out of all the basses that I've played, for the price of this bass, its a good buy for a neck-thru bass.

I recently purchased 2 Stiletto Elite 5 basses to add to my existing bass arsenal, which includes a Stiletto Studio 5 and a Washburn Taurus 5: for some reason, one of the 2 Elites was a 2005 model, and the other was a 2006 (both in brand new condition and awesome, so their dates-of-manufacture don't matter: HOWEVER, I did discover [see below]that their electronics were slightly different!). Both instruments are assembled in Korea and setup at the Schecter "shop" in California. Both are 35" scale basses with 24 frets, and both are neck-thru body instruments with gloss-finished (one has a honey burst finish, the other a dark cherry--and each is DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS!) mahogany bodies with figured maple tops, 5-piece maple-walnut necks and rosewood fingerboards (the fingerboards have fret and position markers in the creme-colored body binding on the side of the neck, with only a diamond-shaped inlay in the 12th fret on the fingerboard itself). Their body style belongs to what I'd call the "Spector Euro-Style" category of sleek, curvy basses. Each has shiny brass hardware, which includes non-locking Grover tuners, and S-Tek bridges that are designed with the equivalent of a separate bridge for each string. Both have EMG Hz soapbar pickups (passive) with 9-volt active electronics. I ordered the basses with Schecter Diamond-Series hardshell cases (a worthy investment, although it did set me back $100 per instrument). Each also shipped with its own set of allen wrenches. The Elites retail for $899 and would be worth every penny at THAT price. But, like most folks, I got mine for $599 each (not including the cost of the hardshell cases), which is an absolute STEAL.

I play covers in a wide range of musical styles--really, everything from Hendrix to Dave Matthews Band to Steely Dan to Moody Blues--and for this reason I need to produce a rainbow of tones from my basses. The Schecter Elite 5's are quite capable, on their own, of producing each of those tones. Both have 12db+- gain EQ controls for Treble and Bass (unlike the Stiletto Studio, which has a 3rd EQ control for midrange). The 2005 Elite has a dedicated volume control for each of the two EMG Hz soapbar pickups; whereas the 2006 Elite has, instead, a master volume control and a pickup pan control (I don't know which I prefer; however, because the controls on the two basses look, and are positioned, identically, the difference in their functions caused me a bit of confusion at first [especially since Schecter doesn't provide a user's manual with its instruments!]). Each base is a champ, though, whether played in the studio or live.

However, because I shift rapidly between styles from song-to-song, I don't have the time to fine-tune the EQ and pickup controls on my instrument between songs. Consequently, in addition to adjusting the EQ and pickup volume differently on each bass, I string each Elite differently (one is strung with D'Addario Chrome flatwounds and is my "blues, R&B, jazzy" axe; the other is strung with Rotosound black nylon flatwounds and is used for folky, country acoustic songs [my Stiletto Studio 5 is strung with the original Elixir roundwouns, and produces the grit and edge that I need for hard rock songs]). Interestingly, even when they had their original Elixir strings on them, the Elites produced a tangibly different underlying tone than my Stiletto Studio: a little brighter, not quite as warm, with slightly less pronounced midrange and bottom. I conclude that this difference stems from the fact that the Elites have maple tops and are laminated, whereas the Stiletto Studio has a satin finish and bubinga top.

In my experience, Schecter Studio basses typically ship with low action, good intonation, necks that are stable and straight as an arrow, and dead-on pickup adjustment. The Elites were no exception: the only adjustment that I made--which I've made for every Schecter bass that I've owned--was to raise the action on the B, E and A strings (this eliminates that percussive fret noise that young bass players, in particular, adore, but which I am personally not fond of). One of the Elites came with flawed electronics (see below); but, in every other respect, the instruments were impeccable, with flawless finishes, high quality woods, and top-shelf and solid brass hardware. Like Shecter Studio basses in general, the Elites have the construction and material quality of basses 3-to-4-times the $599 price that I paid for them.

These basses are built for the long haul and will easily endure the rigours of live playing. Their hardware, as mentioned, is SOLID, as are their finishes; and, even though I live in a climate with considerable humidity and temperature extremes, I find that, as with my Stiletto Studio 5, as long as I keep the Elites in their hardshell cases, they never seem to require a trussrod adjustment. Because I gig with 3 Schecter basses (I use my passive Washburn Taurus 5 as my designated backup bass), I COULD use them as backups for one another; but I suspect that, as long as I kept fresh batteries in them, I would never have to use them that way. They are not only beautiful, but durable, instruments!

One of the Elites came to me with goofed-up electronics--turning the pickup/volume controls would produce an audible crackling sound. The dealer from whom I purchased the instruments remarked that mine was the first Schecter instrument that he'd sold that had a construction flaw; and, with total cooperation from Schecter, he was able to send the bass back and receive a perfectly-functioning replacement in about 2 weeks. Kudos to Schecter for their speedy response to this issue--clearly quality control is a high priority for them!

I have been playing for a number of years and have used a wide variety of basses: everything from Squire J-Basses to StingRay 5's. Like every Schecter Studio bass that I've played or owned, the Elites are totally comparable in workmanship, sound and playability to far more expensive instruments such as the Peavey Cirrus, the Warwick Thumb or Streamer bass, or the Modulus 5. If either were lost or stolen, I'd replace it in a heart-beat (and, in the case of robbery, severely punish the troglodite who stole it).

I have only three minor quibbles with my Schecter Studio Elites: 1) A midrange EQ control, like the Stiletto Studio has, would be nice (although not essential); 2) It would be ideal if the instruments had 18 volt electronics, as the Stiletto Studio does, since I would then have to replace batteries less frequently; and 3) In a similar vein, whereas the Stiletto Studio 5 houses the batteries in a separate compartment whose cover screws on through brass screw inserts, the Elites have the battery in the electronics compartment, without screw inserts; so that you have to be very careful not to strip the screw holes when you repeatedly replace the compartment cover (I plan on having a wood-working friend of mine put in stainless steel screw inserts to rectify this problem).

For these reasons, the Stiletto Studio 5 (which retails for $949) MIGHT be a slightly better value; although its advantages are counter-balanced by the fact that it's satin finish is not nearly as durable as the glossy finish on the Elites (AND a lot of folks would argue that the Elites are even more good-looking than the Studio). On balance, though, the Elite 5 is a truly excellent and versatile bass that can be had for a price that is far lower than what it could command...highly recommended!

I wrote a review earlier, so I'm just updating everything about a year and a half later. The pickup screws have been an issue. I play very hard on the bass, including hitting the strings with my palm for a percussive touch. After about a year, the top screw on the bridge pickup came out of its socket halfway, and others were coming loose. I ended up having to put them back in with wood glue to keep them from coming out (a warning- the heads strip easily). Also, the little plastic rubber band things that separate the tuner keys and bodies broke on two of the tuners- a big inconvenience because they're now on there only halfway and they slip occasionally. I have had no problem with anything else on the bass, including strap buttons. Just a word of advice- the pickups are not indestructable and should be treated with care. If they come out, I recommend putting them back in with wood glue. The tuners, however, had no reason for the bands to break. These are problems that need consideration, but overall this a great bass. I still love the sound and feel of the guitar, and I still think it's a great buy.

this is a schecter stiletto 5 string bass(neck thru). it has five strings and 24 frets. 2 pickups with an active preamp (bas, treble, and pickup volumes. the top of this bass is flamed maple. s-tek bridge so each string has its own bridge. 35 inch scale for low b clarity.

i play a combination of rock, funk rock, hard rock, reggae, and ambient music. My bass influences are flea, claypool, wooten, bill dickens, and p-nut. i can get pretty close to their tones on this bass. and that isnt bad beign that their basses arent priced any lower than 2 grand. this bass is so quiet. there is no noise whatsoever when my hands not on the strings. this bass is really bright and percussive when everything is turned up. its really close to warwick tone. it can get really warm and fat sounding when you turn off the neck pickup. this bass has the best slap tone and there is not one thing i dislike about the sound.

this bass was set up well out of the box. i havent tampered with the bridge or neck adjustments because i dont need to. the pickups were well adjusted, but i dont like the fact that the pickups are only bolted down with a screw on each side. id feel more comfortable if there were 2 screws on each side. the finish on this bass is so nice. the gold hardware looks like it will hold up for a long time. the overall appearance of this bass is excellent and it is a real eye catcher.

this bass will withstand live playing jsut like any other bass if you take good care of it. the hardware on this bass will hold out for a long time. the finish will probably get banged up a lot if i dont take care of it, but im not an idiot. i can deffinately depend on this bass because it is a quality bass. id use it without a backup but ill have to bring a screwdriver and an extra nine volt battery just in case.

never dealt with them.

ive been playing for about 4 years. id consider myself to be pretty good for the amount of time ive been playing. when i play my bass in my room, i use an ibanez sw 65 amp. and i use that same amp for my school jazz band. but for band practices and whatnot i use my hartke rig which consists of a hartke 3500 head and the vx410 cab. if this bass were stolen or lost i will kick myself for not gettign the insurance on it, then i would buy it again. i love everything about this bass. it plays so smoothely and sounds even smoother. i compared it to the musicman SUB five string and the b string on that bass was too floppy for my liking. i chose this one because the b string had more definition and the tone had more variety than the 2 band musicman. i wouldnt mind this bass having a batter hatch on the back but thats just being picky.

Most of the specs are already listed on the earlier reviews, so in short: Neck thru, 35" scale w/ 24 frets; active EMG hz soapbar pickups, 5 pc laminate neck, honey sunburst laminated top, seperate volume controls for each pickup, bass and treb controls, S-tek bridge (individual bridge for each string; gold hardware, Grover tuners. Korean made. No mid control, but that's ok (amp head takes care of that for me, but that's just me.)

I play mostly contemporary Christian, gospel, and jazz. Sound is perfect for those styles. Since gospel sound draws heavily from R&B, the low end on this bass really comes thru. Plus, bringing up the bridge pickup helps give it a more hi-fi sound for jazz.
My rig is basic: Hartke 3500, Peavey 410TX, Korg DTR1 rack tuner with an ART power conditioner. Will get a volume pedal soon as the Elite 5 does not have a master volume control. I haven't found a sound that I dislike coming out this bass. Way better than the Ibanez BTB405 I traded in to make the final payment for it!

This is strange. When I first tried this bass at the store a month before I bought it, I was blown away by the low action. I put it in layaway immediately. But when I got it home, the E string appears to be hitting a fret (can hear it on the guitar but not so much thru the amp). I'll have it checked out, but it hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for this axe. Pickup height is just right. The finish is flawless. The color is not as "orange" as some others I've seen. Looks great on stage. All of the hardware was tight and feels like it should. Love the neck. my hands are small, so this bass seems much faster than the BTB or the Yamaha RBX765a I used to have.

Haven't had this bass for a long time, but I'm not one of those players who abuse what I work hard for. Never thrown down a tennis racket or a golf club!! I think the finish will last for a long time. I will get straplocks for this bass since the location of the rear stap button is high, the strap can come off easily. Backup? With a kid in college, affording a backup is out of the question!!

Haven't had to use Customer Support yet. Have only had the bass for a couple of weeks

I've been playing off and on for 30 years (more "off" than "on" during that time - late '60's early '70's, then again in the mid '90's). Own a Conn alto sax, Yamaha keyboard, Pro Tools rig. Also the aforementioned Hartke/Peavey combination). I've owned Ibanez, Yamaha and Carvin. Other than the Warwick Neck-Thru Thumb a friend of mine let me used for a month, this is the best playing and best sounding bass under $1000 list price. The neck-thru design is beautiful and great-sounding. I've gone thru 3 basses in the last 4 years trying to find I sound I both like and can afford, and right now, the Schecter is fulfilling all what I ask for in a bass. Don;t let "made in Korea" fool you. Remember...we used to say the same thing about "Made in Japan".

Construction: Neck-Thru
Body: Mahogany/Quilted Maple
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Scale: 35"
Inlays: Diamonds On The 12th
Hardware: Gold
Bridge: 'S' Tek
Tuners: Diamond
Binding: Creme: Neck
Frets: 24 Jumbo
Electronics: EMG HZ w/Active 2-Band EQ

In one word "Awesome"
Just about any sound you could think up.
If it lacked anything,a mid tone control would have been a nice touch.
Quiet,no noise,none,nada.....

bought it online from American Musical Supply.
It came in needing a bit of setup.
Raised the strings and adjusted the p'ups and all was good.
This thing is gorgeous.
For the money...Wow

So far so good.
2 months into it and not anything.
One simple 1/4 turn of the truss rod when the warmer weather got here,but that's it.
I don't even bother bringing my second bass to gigs anymore.

none so far.
limited lifetime warranty.

I've only been playing bass for about 6 months now.
My band does mostly covers - classic rock to newer tunes plus some originals.

This bass was constructed in Korea (which rocks, by the way) and was set up in California (which rocks, as we know). It's a five string, neck-through, flame topped, 4 knobed bass machine.

The tuners are gold, the finish is gorgeous, the neck is solid as rock, the inlay is tasteful, and it plays like a charm.

I bought this as my first bass ever. I needed that low-end, without the greazy synth sound, and needed it to do it on-demand, which means I cannot always count on collaborators to drop everything and record. It is also available as a guest bass for just such an emergency. The sound is thick, phat, beautiful, adjustable, dynamic, and simply perfect for me. I'm not a bassist, but after test driving many, many models at Guitar Center, this--in its price range--far out-delivered its competition. It is not easy to sit with, without a strap, but that may be the fault of me, my chair, my mouse, my desk, and all the other studio artifacts surrounding any given record-session. There are no strap locks, so I had to dig into the closet for an older strap not fitted with them.

The playablility is satisfying. I can't stop playing it, and I'm a guitarist. My Tele is jealous. It seems to sound clacky and buzzy when just sitting and practicing unplugged. None of this is apparent in a recording. By boosting the highs on the board and in the channel strip, I hear appropriate highs, but nothing like what it sounds like unplugged. This tells me that the action is light enough to offer easy playability yet the electronics are fashioned to sound like a bass, not a toy.
I may be naive here, but I like the combination of light action without compromising the bass signal.

I beleive it will hold up under pressure. What attracted me to the instrument was the neck-through design. It is more like a weapon than anything. I felt like the scene in Kill Bill, selecting the perfect sword among so many. It felt right, especially in comparison to many of the others in its price range.

Hope this helps.

Not had to deal with customer support.

I'm new to playing the bass, not new to recording it, jamming with it, or desiring one. I don't like the question of what I'd do if it were stolen, because being stolen from sucks period. If it lost or damaged or borrowed extensively, I'd be one upset without-a-bass person.

I have mentioned comparsions: Yamaha, Fender, Ibanez, and lower model Schecters. (Price range contingent.) The Fenders were Mexican, the Ibanezes didn't do it for me, the Yamahas were okay, the four string Schecter was alright, but this was perfect.

ok i was playing a fender squier P-bass that sucked but i have been playing for 1 1/2 to 2 years. i needed a new bass i wanted a five- string so i played Ibanez, OLP, yamaha, fernandes,and fender. Nothing seemed right but the warwicks but it was out of the question. so i picked up this schecter with honey burst finsih it is beatiful. gold hard ware. it has a neck thru body s4 jumbo frets to soap bar emg HZ an active preamp 2 band hi and low volume for each pick up, 2-tek saddle bridge a string gets its own saddle. bit heavey at 9 -10 punods i payed $630 for it and comes with a warrenty it fits my need for rock, blues jazz, slap.

i have to give it a 10 i cant seem to geta bad tone but it would be cool to have mid tone control fast neck its not wide either it has a smooth crisp sound and the B string shakes everything. sounds great d-tuned. great for soloing the pre amp is quiet it doesnt make noise all the way up.

i gave it a nine cuz the knobs were loose but that i fixed and also cuz its a bitch to get to the battery. but the string set up was great and the pick up hieght to. i wish it had a thicker sting gauge low it high (45/65/85/105/125) it came with GHS but ill put daddarios on or DR's the truss rod needs no adjust ment

i play everyday on my own once a week at jazz practice twice a week in my rock band. it hold out good i played it indoors for jazz there was no problems and i played outdoor too and no problems. i have a rock gig in july and it should do me well no need for a back up. never had my strap bottums fall off but on my next trip to guitarcenter im getting dunlop strap locks.

i emailed schecter with a shit load of questions and they answered them all in a day!!!!! thats service when i need my squier fixed i waitied and waited for answers schecter really cares

i have been playing for almost 2 yeArs and i have not played anything better (except vintage fenders and warwicks) it is a great bass for the money and if this bass was stolen i would do anything i could do to get it back plus kick myself for getting it lost or stolen it sounds great for anything effects sound great on it it beats ibanez's hands down//

2002 Elite-5. Bought it in Sept 2002. I've learned from other owners that the bridge screws have been changed from round head to flat head...obviously an improvement. Honey Sunburst - beautiful finish and nice workmanship. EMG-HZ Passive pickups with preamp. All other details are as described by former reviewers. Bought it from Guitar Center (West Palm Beach) for $590.

The sound is full, clear and Piano-Like. Definitely different than my MM Stingray, but that's what I was looking for. Great sustain, great fundamentals.

Action, fit and finish were good, though I might have some adjustment done as far as neck relief goes - personal preference.

Still early yet, but I'm not concerned with longevity. Replaced the Strap buttons with Dunlops, but I do that with all my basses. I don't see a need to have a backup with the music I'm playing right now, and my MM Stingray would add a totally different sound.

I'm using a Carvin head with any or all of the following: 2 single 15" Bag End cabs, and 1 2X10 w/piezo Peavey cab..depending on what's needed. The Elite 5 sounds best with the 10" cab. I have to roll out some low end if I'm using the 15"'s...a little boomey on the B string.

My major concern (and I haven't seen this addressed yet) is the fact that intonation adjustments will be a bear. There is no adjustment screw, and the saddle has to be loosened AFTER loosening the string, retightened, and checked. If the adjustment isn't right, the process has to be re-done (similar to an acoustic guitar). I will likely replace the bridge if intonation becomes a problem....and maybe, throw in a set of Bart's, only because I really like them. Otherwise, it looks great, it fits me well, the 24 fret neck is great, through-body neck, solid...an exceptional buy for under $600.

I bought this bass from musiciansfriend.com for $600 including shipping. It is made in Korea (excellent quality though) I got it in black cherry finish. It has a 35" scale maple and walnut neck through body, a 4 piece maple body, a rosewood 24 fret fingerboard, and a beautiful flame/ quilt maple top (kind of halfway in between the two). It has EMG active soapbar pickups, two volume/ two active tone knobs, an S-Tek bridge, and all gold hardware (including screws and strap buttons). Tools and a cable were included. The only things I wish it had were an ebony fingerboard and a string through body bridge.

I play rock, worship songs, punk rock and metal, and it is perfect for pretty much anything out there. It has beautiful sustain that lasts forever and ever. I use it with an old Yamaha amp (I don't know what type). The B string is very tight and full. It is not noisy at all on any settings. With my usual settings it has a deep bass sound with some nice treble but not much midrange. It can cover pretty much any sound out there, and it has a full sound when slapping. The only bad things are that the A string sounds a little quieter than the others and that it lack a midrange knob.

The first bass I recieved from them had a badly warped neck (and as a result terrible buzzing). The second "bass" I recieved was an S-1 Elite guitar (musiciansfriend's fault). When I finally got my bass it had perfect action. All the rest was fine and the finish is perfect.

I have to play without a backup due to low monetary supplies, but it is rock- solid. By the day this thing falls apart, heck will have already frozen over. Even if I had another bass I still would not be afraid to play without a backup. The strap buttons are very solid as well. Still, take care of it! It's too beautiful too hurt.

Musiciansfriend.com was very nice about the whole thing with the returns and they paid for the shipping, but it was a big hassle (and whoever sent me a guitar from the shipping department is an idiot). I think the neck was warped because it probably stayed in a hot warehouse too long. Schecter has a warranty for it, but I'm not sure how long it's for. I still recommend musicinsfriend.com due to their prices, however.

If this bass was stolen, I would first cry for a long time, suffer from depression, eventually save my money, and buy a new one. I wouldn't get anything else (except maybe a Stiletto Studio 5). I love its beauty, tone, and sustain. I chose this one after months of looking on the internet and at stores for the right one, and this was it. The only things it needs to be perfect are a midrange control, a string through body bridge and an ebony fingerboard. For $600 (and even if it costed $1000), this is as good as it gets.

2002 made in Korea, setup in USA. 5 String Fretted. Black Cherry AAA Flamed Maple finish...just plain GORGEOUS. All other features have been stated in other reviews. I do want to add that the neck is not thin...it doesn't feel like a little toy in your hands, like my old Ibanez 895 and 885 5-strings did. It feels like you can grab a hold of it, and really play hard! The weight is almost perfect and the balance is very good, although with a nylon type strap, it slides down like it is a little neck heavy, but a nice leather strap...and it stays put with little effort.

I play metal, and it fits just fine....Sound is variable, so it fits every style known to the modern musician. Nice fat sound for ballads, and a great punchy one for heavy metal....WITHOUT A PICK!!!!! I play through a Hartke 3500 head and 410BXL cab...a perfect match...the eq on the head adds color to the already great tone out of the bass. Plays great in the studio...looks even better on stage with the lights hitting the black cherry finish. The balance is perfect for studio work...when you sit in a chair or on a stool, you seem to forget you have a big ole bass on or between your thighs. The bass is VERY quiet...except when the tone knob is turned ALL THE WAY UP...crank it back a hair, and any noise is eliminated. In the studio, I go direct...no amp...and the tone is so perfect, that I don't even have to EQ it through the board....just adjusting the control knobs, pan or volume knobs gets me any sound I need.

This bass was bought at Guitar Center of Cherry Hill, NJ, but was ordered straight from the factory and was picked up before it was even taken out of the box from the warehouse...to my surprise, the action was perfect, have not had to adjust it yet. I read on one of the other reviews about the nut being bulky or something like that, I find it to be wonderful, non-obtrusive, and I play a lot of low stuff on the neck....the reason why I needed the 5 string! The pickups were adjusted correctly, and sound very bright when needed. The only flaw I noticed was the finish had slight swirl marks from polishing it at the factory before shipping....that was easily removed by polishing it with GHS guitar polish, the good kind! The tuners are rock solid, and have not once gone out of tune...even when the bass sits for a couple days!

As far as durability, this bass has not seen many gigs, since it was only purchased about 2 months ago, but it is the only bass I play live, with an old Ibanez RoadStar 4 string as a back up, although I have not pulled the Ibanez out on stage. Like I mentioned before, this bass does not feel like a toy...as do many basses for under $600. The hardware finish is good and looks like it will last as long as the finish of the bass....although it is gold, and I would prefer black with this finish. The Black Cherry Flamed Maple finish is so deep, you could get lost looking into it. No comment on strap buttons, as I replaced them with Dunlop Strap Locks, as I recommend anyone does, if you don't want to drop your bass...EVER! All my basses have 'em...can't live without 'em. This is one dependable bass, I looked long and hard for an affordable 5 string , trying anything and everything, not really paying too much attention to cost, but to overall quality, and reading other reviews such as this one...this will be in my arsenal for a VERY long time to come. The neck is straight as an arrow, and has not needed to be adjusted in it's short life.

Never had to deal with them about this particular bass, but have emailed them with questions prior to purchasing, and they responded within 24 hours.

Schecter has a lifetime limited warrantee, and as long as nothing is really wrong with it from abuse, they will fix and return. Guitar Center will also fix anything on the bass for the entire time the original owner has it.

BEST BASS UNDER $1000.....A QUALITY NECK THROUGH FOR UNDER A GRAND....UNBELIEVABLE. I have been playing bass for 14 years, and have owned BC Riches, Fenders, Ibanezes, Rickenbackers and have found this to be THE BEST I have owned. Some people have to own many guitars/basses at the same time...this is the only bass you will ever need. If it was stolen, I'd be in jail for beating the crap outta the guy....if it was lost...I would run out and buy another, no doubt. The only thing I would want to add on the whole bass, is I would have a separate compartment for the 9 volt battery, because it is a pain to have to unscrew the whole back plate just to replace the battery.

Purchased new from Guitar Center in 2002, this was made in Korea. For a Korean made bass, this thing is pure butter, I love it. It's a 35" scale with a 2 octave neck (24 frets). This is a 5 string bass that came with a low B, but I go rid of that and strung it up with a high C, or you can consider it a "tenor" 5 string, normal EADG tuning only with the higher string a C (EADGC). For those of you who are searching for a bass to tune with a high C and you're limited to 6-900 dollars this is the bass for you. Maple body and neck with (i believe) a 3 piece laminated neck. It is a neck through containing to humbucking EMG-HZ active pickups. 2 volume controls control the volume of each pickup and then there are another 2 controls with control the treble and bass for both pickups. Rosewood fingerboard.

I am mainly a jazz player, hence my high C; I prefer soloing in the upper registers. This bass has an INCREDIBLE upper register, but as wih ANY bass, this will need some work done on it. The frets are uneven and I get rattling on the open E string and fret buzz on the first 5 frets. This can be cured hopefully by getting a nut with greater elevation, and that would get rid of the fret uzz without having to fork out another $100 for a fret job (if this company spentmore time on there fret work on each instrument, the isntrument would be $300 dollars more, and this buzz is not even a big deal). To compromise for the higher nut, I would just need to lower the bridge saddles and it would feel the same. As far as fret buzz goes, it is little compared to the buzz and dead spots you'd find on a Fender. This bass is great for funk, slapping sounds great, this bass would basically replace my Fender Jazz, 20x better, 2x the price. Strings dont die on this thing, there is never a DULL sound as youd get with shorter scale basses, and I think tension of the strings have to do with it. The Neck-through construction and scale length plays a great role on keeping these strings alive. I've had this bas for 2 months now changed strings 3 days after I got it and put a high C on it. The strings are cheap D'Addario strings and they last longer andsound better than exensive DR's did on my Fender Jazz.
I would prefer this bass for the stage as it's got superb looks AND sounds over my Fender Jazz and fretless Fender P. I'd save the fenders for Direct input into the sound board for the studio as moststudio guys are used to dealing with "the Fender sound". If I were to be Mic'd in the studio, Id use the schecter. The only problem is is the fret buzz, again, its no big deal compared to any Fender I've played. Harmonics register nicely with this bass. I've never heard a bass that had such good harmonics.

I was impressed with the playability when I playedthis in the shop. I got home and did a setup myself and the sound and playability improved 5x. I suggest having someone set this bass up for you before you leave the shop if you have no experiencewith setups. Finish is excellent. Smooth easy neck, my thumb glides across the back of the neck. Action is pretty low and it's got kick as response.

This bass is reliable. PERIOD. The hardware will last, so will the neck, keep in mind, this is a neck through, so if you &*#&^ something up, you can't just replace the neck. This is my first bass that actually looks nice, so I wouldn't jump around with it unless I had an expenive ass strap. ANY bass dropped on hard floor will develop pocket's in the wood that progressively get WORSE with the weather, so take good care of it. But the bass is reliable. Thick finishm study hardware sturdy strap buttons that dont come loose and very dependable. I would use it without a "backup" at a gig. But basically the only backup you need is a 9 volt battery that will go dead once or twice a year considering its active electronics. (You will know when it's dead when you ear farting noise from youramp if you have a reliable amp. Don't blam the amp before you blame the battery!)

Haven't delt with them, but I found a Mail-in Warranty in my gig bag 3 weeks after I purchased the bass. Problem is is you have 10 days t get it in, so that kind of sucks. But I suppose the warranty is still useful if you have a reciept of when you bought it.

This bass is great. As soon as I get afew more buck Im gnna get a new nut put in because its too low. That should improve the already great sound. For $600 dollars, this is a steal. Literally, A NECK-THROUGH 35" scale bass length for that price, AND it sounds good you cant go wrong. I was a FENDER FREAK for the longest time, now own this bss I can't play fenders anymore. And it kicks Ibanez behind too as well as everything else undr $1,000.

Okay, this is an update post... exactly one lunar year after I got the bass (I'm not kidding...) My first review is right before this one...

Still a great bass... I reshielded the bass, and the buzz is gone (it should be noted that I probably didn't even need to do this: apparently my house only has one or two truly grounded outlets, and I don't usually use them...)

Let's see... what else... All the problems I mentioned in my first review, I fixed relatively easily. I fixed the fretbuzz, fixed the nut problem, I also put the action MUCH lower my filing down the actual bridge pieces (the carbon composite pieces).

Just make sure to keep it clean...

A pretty sweet bass, a great value, and I'm looking forward to getting my new Schecter Stiletto Studio six-string!

Setup in California, but made in Korea (don't let the tags fool you), this bass is awesome. 24 frets, 5 strings, quilted maple top with mahogony body wings. It's got two volumes, a decent bass & treble boost/cut, wired through 2 humbuckers (EMG-HZ) that sound great, the neck one has a great jazzy tone for deep down, almost upright sound. The bridge pickup has a tone that really cuts too, great for that Stu Hamm style slap that I love oh so much.
It's got a great bridge design, the setup for the bridge would have been great, but there was some ugly fret buzzing on the E and B (I mean a lot!) that I just couldn't stand. After a few easily made adjustments with the included tools, the action was perfect for me. Intonation is another story though... The bridge doesn't seem to allow for enough room to make the necessary changes.
Oh yeah, forgot to say, it's neck through.
Anyway, as for the tuners, they're OK, gold finished, but they looked like (for some reason every Elite-5 I've tried had this same problem) someone at the factory god their sweaty paws all over my new bass and didn't clean up. That can lead to some corrosion on the tuners (yes, the tuners have corroded a little), so clean it up quick when you get it.

This bass's sound is great. It's very versatile, but I don't like the EQ too much. It's decent, I'll probably keep it, but I'm gonna get a panning pot to replace the second volume control.

Well, the setup as far as bridge stuff goes was great. The frets seemed to be horribly uneven or something on the E and B though, you just don't get that kind of buzz when frets are level even if the action is too low.
The bass came to me in good shape, but the nut seems a little clunky, whenever I sweep my hand fast towards the headstock, that pointy little edge on the nut pokes into me. Just file/sand it down though, that'll do fine.
Also, the control knobs on every Elite I've tried were uneven, but that doesn't require much to fix.
Remember though, don't ding Schecter too much for the contruction stuff like that, that was not done by them. If you want, order a custom US-made one.

Once it's setup, it'll do fine for everything, the only worry I have is how long it'll last after I do something stupid to it on accident...

Dealt with the compnay a few times, nothing big, just asking about what type of strings they use on the bass... They were generally helpful and knew what they were talking about most of the time. I only give a 6 because I shouldn't have had to email them to find out what strings were on it, there should have been a manual or at least something online.

I've been playing for quite a while, and I've been around with quite a few basses. This one is right near the top of the list. Great for any level, any playing style. However, if you're a more advanced player and have plenty of money, I'd suggest either getting Schecter to make it themselves or get something else. This bass holds its own with every other bass in the price range, but once you start getting into $900 and up, quality of craftsmanship might be noticeably different.

It has a 35" scale, 24 frets, no markers on the fret board except on the 12th fret, however fret markers on the neck binding, rosewood fingerboard, maple neck, Mahogany body w/quilted maple top. The electronics were EMG-HZ pickups with active tone circuit, 2-band EQ, 1 volume, and 1 "blend" knob to mix the pickups or use each seperately. The finish is honey sunburst (Gorgeous!) with gold hardware, and an "S Tek" bridge.

I've been playing bass for over twenty years and this bass is my favorite of any bass I,ve player with a retail price tag under $1200.
Wonderful Deep and brilliant sound! Very versitale! Pickups have plenty of gain without getting muddy and extremely quite! Go from warm and punchy to soft to booming bottom to a great funky snap! VOTED BEST 5-string for anything under $1200 hands down by me! I owned Fenders,Carvins,Samick,Peavey, Ibanez and played countless boutique models that did not have this one's sound quality!

The action is low and easy to finger pick or slap lightly and the funk is in your face! Get up find a Schecter dealer and try one out I promise you you will not be dissapointed! S-tec Bridge eliminates overtones from neighboring strings. Finish is sweet! I believe Shecter tweeks the hell out of it before it leaves there center because the action on mine is perfect! Well built professional grade instrument!

Durable as hell! Necks is through body and is straight as an arrow!
Multi laminate gives so much more stabilty than a single piece neck! I will be surprised if I have to adjust anything for quite some time because it plays so damn easy you don't need to pound the crap of it like many basses!
I consider myself very picky and was never satisfied with any Bass until I got my hands on this one a couple month's ago!

Don't know never had to contact them because Schecter Did a great job Specing this product!

Buy one before the words out and the price is $1000 or more! If it were stolen I would hope I never found the thief! I am still stunned that I got this much for $599.00! Restored my faith that there is a company making great instruments without ripping back pocket of your Levi's. Enough Said! Happy Gigging!

I recently played a 2001 Schecter Stiletto Elite 5 string. It had a 35" scale, 24 frets, no markers except on the 12th fret, rosewood fingerboard, maple neck, Mahogany body w/quilted maple top. The electronics were EMG-HZ pickups with active tone circuit, 2-band EQ, 1 volume, and 1 "blend" knob to mix the pickups or use each seperately. The finish was black cherry with gold hardware, and an "S Tek" bridge. The tuners were ca;led "Diamond". Thats all the info I have on this bass.

This bass is simply the shit!! I looked at the price tag ($550 dollars approx.) and was weary of how this bass would measure up. My jaw hit the floor right after I hit the first note. The pickups had tons of volume and clarity without any of the typical "bottoming out" of some 5 strings. This bass is capable of producing damn near any sound you're going after. I slapped, popped, thumped, picked, and fingered this bass for about 20 minutes. IT sounded great for any style of music. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!! Can go from bright and punchy to mellow and fat. Metal, Jazz, Funk, Rap, Rock, and even R&B, this bass will do the trick! Practically no noise from the pickups.

The action came super low and solid. Every note was powerful, clear and easy to hit. No dead spots, perfect intonation, stayed in tune even thru the most stressful slaps and pops. Came flawless from the factory as far as I can tell.

This bass played and felt like a dream. I don't own one yet so I can't really attribute my idea of how long it lasts to anything. But from the first note I it on it, I was in love. This bass feels like it can do no wrong. lol

The guys at the store are very reliable (I've dealt with them many times before) but I never dealt with the Schecter customer support team.

Now, I've been playing for about 6 years now and I've played and owned a LOT of equipment. I am greatly looking forward to adding this magnificent bass to my arsenal of instruments. This bass plays just as good as any Tobias or Spector or Washburn I've ever played. Schecter has gained a faithful customer in me.