Schecter is a company that started off crafting Strat and Tele-style guitars for players such as Pete Townshend of The Who. (We also did a review on the Schecter PT, the guitar based on the original design for Townshend). Now-a-days, Schecter is known for building guitars favored by the metal scene. Thanks to the company’s focus on shred-worthy instruments, Schecter understands how to make a fast and comfortable neck for guitars and basses alike. Today, we’ll be reviewing the Schecter Stiletto Studio-4 bass.

Let’s dive into the specs, shall we?

Features:

Mahogany Body

Flamed Maple or Bubinga Top

See-Thru Black Satin Finish or Honey Satin Finish

Maple/Walnut Neck

Neck-Thru Design

Rosewood Fingerboard

34” Scale Length

24 X-Jumbo Frets

Abalone Offset Dots

Diamond Custom Bass Bridge

EMG 35HZ Pickups (Passive)

Master Vol/Master Blend

EMG Active 3-Band EQ Knobs

It’s worth noting that there are 5 and 6 string versions of this bass with identical specs called the Stiletto Studio-5 and 6. The Stiletto Studio-4 is loaded with great features, such as the active EQ, and a gorgeous finish, so it’s nice to see a 5 and 6 string option as well!

The finish options on these are absolutely brilliant for the price point. You have the option to get a beautiful see-thru black on a flamed maple top, which looks at home anywhere, whether you are a metal or a country player. To my surprise, they also offer a natural-finished Bubinga top, which is not something you generally see on a >$1000 production model. Bravo, Schecter…

Thanks to the “Ultra Access” carve, the 34” neck offers exceptional fret access to all 24 frets comfortably.

The thin “C”  is a bit rounder than most modern basses aimed at the metal community, but it’s not a bad roundness, and it really makes for a solid, comfortable neck to grab on to while playing fast runs.

Tone:

The mahogany body, coupled with the neck-thru maple/walnut neck, gives this bass a thick tone with tons of sustain and resonance. The 3-band EQ (treble,mid, and bass) along with the blend pot offers infinite tonal options to aid this bass to sit well in any mix.

The EMG 35HZ’s were built using a CS (ceramic and steel) design. The pickups were designed to offer a warmer tone thanks to the high steel content, giving them a smooth attack and flat treble response. (If you want to learn more about ceramic pickup magnets and how they affect your tone, we have a sweet article on Alnico vs Ceramic Pickup Magnets).

The Stiletto, although occasionally a bit boomy on the low end, offers a great amount of punch with little to no unwanted noise/buzz on the high end. Although this instrument would perform well in most genres, it’s definitely a great choice for playing metal.

Build Quality:

There is a general assumption that Korean-made guitars are sub-par. I’d have to say that this is one of the instruments that definitely breaks that trend.

The quality of the finish on the Stiletto Studio is outstanding. There is consistency in the finish around the whole bass, and there are little to no blemishes to be found. Zero complaints here..

The bridge, pickups, and nut are mounted well. The bass comes with very low action out of the box. I’d say it’s great for players using it for faster, metal styles, but some players may find it a little low and require a setup.

If I had to get tedious, I’d point out that the fretwork could be a little bit better. The fret ends are not as smooth and perfect as I’d like, but more than acceptable for an $800 bass.

Overall, I’d say the build quality is definitely above average for something in the price range. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the bass that would impede it’s playability or reliability.

Final Verdict:

The Schecter Stiletto Studio-4 is a killer bass for just about any kind of player. It’s versatility and playability makes it well-suited for anything from country to rock, and it definitely excels at metal. Not to mention, the 5 and 6 string options up the flexibility of the instrument even more. So, there’s definitely something for everyone here.

The fast neck makes it a great bass for guitarists looking to transition to bass without having to adjust too much.

I’d say it might benefit from a setup for some applications that call for higher action, but the stock pickups are wonderful right out of the box.

9-8-7

If you liked this review, click here to read more! We are also authorized Schecter dealers and can order any model they offer in any price range for you.

This article was written by Zac Buras, our editor located in Louisiana.

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