Schecter Justin Beck V Ani - Overview and Best Prices

Schecter Justin Beck V Ani Review
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  • 5 Prices - New from $1,149 >
  • From Schecter's 2024 Artist series
  • Justin Beck Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 4 strings
  • 34"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Swamp Ash top
  • Swamp Ash back
  • Swamp Ash sides
  • Hard Rock Maple with 2 Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
  • Hard Rock Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA MonsterTone-J (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter USA MonsterTone-P (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Schecter Custom Fully Adjustable Top Load or String-Thru bridge
  • Bass Thin "C" Bolt-On neck
  • 21 XL Jumbo frets
  • Schecter Vintage Open-Gear tuners
  • Weight between 9.063lbs (4.1kgs) and 9.188lbs (4.2kgs)
  • Side-By-Side Comparison
Show Specs
Schecter Justin Beck V Ani Specifications
Schecter Justin Beck V Ani
General
Brand: Schecter
Year: 2024
Configuration: PJ
Strings: 4
Made in: Indonesia
Series: Artist
Colors: Natural
Left-Handed Version: No
Body
Type: Solid Body
Body Material: Swamp Ash
Bridge: Schecter Custom Fully Adjustable Top Load or String-Thru
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On
Tuners: Schecter Vintage Open-Gear
Fretboard: Hard Rock Maple
Neck Material: Hard Rock Maple with 2 Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods
Decoration: Black Blocks with "1993" at 12th Fret
Scale Size: 34"
Shape: Bass Thin "C"
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.905'' (23mm)
Frets: 21 XL Jumbo
Fretboard Radius: 12"
Nut: Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 38mm (1.496'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Schecter USA MonsterTone-J (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Schecter USA MonsterTone-P (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3
Knobs: Bell
Pickup Mods: Coil Tap
Volume Controls: 1
Tone Controls: 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No
Hardware Color: Black

Our Scores and Tone Evaluation

Playability 75
Sound 86
Build quality 70
Value for money 77
Overall Score 77
Tone Evaluation
  • Heavy Metal
  • Hard Rock
  • Jazz
  • Blues
  • Funk
  • Country
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Justin Beck V Ani
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Tap Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Active Preamp
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Price Overview

Its average competitor's price is $550, which means that the Schecter Justin Beck V Ani costs around 109% more than the competition. It might be due to it having additional features, but know that you can find cheaper similar alternatives. This takes into account all instruments of the same category in our database with 4 strings and Fixed bridge that are made in Indonesia.

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User Reviews & Feedback

Not all instruments are created equally. That's why it's important to have different opinions. Here's what our users who have played this instrument say. If you've played it before, help others by voting below!

Weight

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Tuning stability

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Neck speed (thickness)

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Neck access to high frets

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Neck profile shape

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Fret edges

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Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the neck profile, scale size, fretboard radius, and nut width, we can conclude that the Schecter Justin Beck V Ani's construction favors people with relatively small hands.

Nevertheless, this comes down in the end to personal preference. Make sure you test this bass—or another one with similar characteristics—before buying.

Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Schecter Justin Beck V Ani meets 3 out of our 6 criteria items for beginner friendliness, which means that it's not bad for beginners, but it could be better. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players to get used to.

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Justin Beck V Ani
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Videos

Justin Beck Ani and Ani V Play Through
Sxhecter Ani V. Crazy PBass sound from Justin Beck
Pretty Lush - Glassjaw Bass Cover - Schecter Justin Beck V Ani
Justin Beck of Glassjaw "Think Outside the Box, but Execute Within" | AMS Interview
WTF IS SCHECTER DOING IN 2024??
Glassjaw 'Coloring Book' - Fender Artist Takeover
Glassjaw @ When We Were Young Festival 2022
Steven Seagal's Insane Guitar Solo
Schecter Sessions: Nick Johnston and Thomas Lang
Guy losses it at guitar center south bay

How Lightweight is it?

We found that the Schecter Justin Beck V Ani weighs between 9.063lbs (4.1kgs) and 9.188lbs (4.2kgs). This was recorded from some online retailers that publish the weight of the instruments they sell.

Playability

Scale Length

Scale length is the distance the strings will span between the bridge and the nut. It can tell you a lot about the overall playability and tone of the instrument. A longer scale length means longer distance between frets, brighter tone and more string tension—which means lower action, but more difficult bending of the strings.

Here's the Schecter Justin Beck V Ani's 34" scale length compared to other common sizes:

Schecter Justin Beck V Ani Scale Length Comparison
Schecter Justin Beck V Ani's scale length (at the top) compared to other popular sizes

This is considered a long scale bass, and it's the most popular choice for several reasons. Even though it might be more difficult to play than short scale basses due to their increased string tension, their punchier low-end results in a clear and defined bass tone that can cut through in a mix, making them well-suited for genres like rock, metal, and funk.

Neck Profile

Schecter Justin Beck V Ani Neck Profile
Schecter Justin Beck V Ani's neck profile

The neck profile tells you the thickness (neck depth) and shape in cross section. Every difference will completely change the feeling and comfortability of the neck. This is a highly subjective thing, but most players indeed prefer certain types of necks (like Cs and Ds) because they feel nice in most hands.

The Schecter Justin Beck V Ani's neck thickness is approximately 0.787'' (20mm) at the first fret, and 0.905'' (23mm) at the twelfth.

These measurements were taken either from the official Schecter website, or, in case this information wasn't provided, by researching multiple online marketplaces and forums where owners of this model have posted their measurements.

It has a C type neck. C-shaped necks like this have been the most popular for the last years. The reason is that they feel good in most hands. It's generally a thin neck that doesn't get in your way when playing fast, but that also has enough mass to give your hands a comfortable grip for chords if they aren't too big.

Thin necks like this make it easier to move your hand across the neck and it helps when playing fast solos, especially if you like to leave your thumb free while playing high on the fretboard. However, thinner necks are also weaker and will need adjustment more often than a thicker neck.

Fretboard Radius

When it comes to fingerboard radius, personal preference will dictate which one is better for you. However, most people seem to agree that a more curved (lower) radius will make it easier to play chords while a less curved (higher) radius is better for soloing and bending.

The Schecter Justin Beck V Ani has a 12" fingerboard radius.

Here's an image comparing this fretboard radius to other popular choices:

Schecter Justin Beck V Ani Fretboard Radius Comparison with Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul
Schecter Justin Beck V Ani's fretboard radius compared to others

This is the same radius that Gibson uses in most of their guitars. When compare to the other popular radius of Fender Stratocasters, you can see that it's a lot flatter. Guitars with this radius are usually made to bring a good balance between single-note and chord playing.

Compound radius fingerboards give the best of both worlds. Unfortunately, the Schecter Justin Beck V Ani has the same radius across the board.

Playability compared to main competitors

34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.496'' Nut Width
12'' Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.535'' Nut Width
14'' Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.654'' Nut Width
12'' Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.654'' Nut Width
16'' Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
U Neck Profile
1.654'' Nut Width
15.748'' Fretboard Radius

Nut Width

Schecter Justin Beck V Ani Nut Width
Schecter Justin Beck V Ani Nut Width

The Schecter Justin Beck V Ani has a nut width of 38mm (1.496''). This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 4-string bass. This is what most players find as a balanced width for both playing chords and single notes across different strings. If you have an "average" hand size, or you're not sure what nut width you'd like, this is a safe bet.

Frets

The Schecter Justin Beck V Ani has 21 frets. Even though 24 frets has become really popular, there's still a good reason to get fewer frets; the pickup at the neck position will be further away from the bridge. This makes the neck pickup achieve a warmer tone. You might want this if you're playing Jazz or similar genres.

However, if you don't care about the warmer neck pickup, more frets will always be better. It's always nice to have the option to play higher notes if you want to.

It comes with nickel silver frets, so they won't last as long as stainless steel frets. If you use your instrument a lot, you might need to replace the frets after a few years. But this is unlikely as most people change instruments before this happens.

Fret Size

Schecter Justin Beck V Ani Fret Size Comparison
Schecter Justin Beck V Ani's fret size (in orange) compared to other popular sizes

Finally, let's talk about fret size. Some people prefer tall frets because it's easier to press the strings and perform bends since there's less friction against the fretboard. On the other hand, some people like shorter frets because they like to touch the fretboard when playing, or because they got heavy hands and tend to press too much on the string and alter the of the note pitch accidently.

The Schecter Justin Beck V Ani's frets are XL Jumbo size. These are extra-large frets, which are perfect for people who truly want the least resistance for techniques like vibrato, bending, tapping, and just playing fast in general. You won't be able to feel the fretboard with these frets, so if you press too hard you'll get the notes out of pitch. It might take a while to get used to them because of this.

Playability Score

Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75

Tone

Wood will have little influence in the final tone of an electric guitar or bass. Instead, the hardware, especially the pickups, will be the most important thing to look at. Bur first, let's see the quality of the wood.

Wood

Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash Body
Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple Fretboard

Ash Body: The most popular Ash wood for guitars is swamp Ash. It has a really light color with beautiful patterns, which makes it perfect for a natural-looking finish. It's not as lightweight as Alder, but also not as heavy as Mahogany. It's known for producing a bright tone with solid mids and lows.

Maple Fretboard: This is one of the most popular types of wood used in all kinds of guitars. It's heavy, strong and compact, which makes it great for necks. However, it's also used for fretboards, bodies and tops due to its light color, resistance and beautiful patterns. When it comes to tone, it highlights the mid and high frequencies.

Pickups

This bass comes with pickups from one of the top brands: Schecter USA. So you can expect well built pickups with great sound that shouldn't need an upgrade anytime soon.

These are passive pickups, so you can expect a rounder sound and a moderade level of output.

Preamp

The preamp is an electronic circuit that serves as an intermediary between the bass's pickups and the amplifier. Its primary function is to boost and shape the bass's raw signal before it reaches the amplifier. This allows for greater control over the bass's tone, volume, and other sound characteristics. Preamps often include tone controls, equalization settings, and sometimes even onboard effects, enabling bassists to tailor their sound to their preferences and the musical context.

This bass has a Passive preamp. A bass with a passive preamp lacks an onboard electronic circuit for tone shaping and signal boosting. Instead, it relies solely on passive pickups and basic tone controls, typically consisting of volume and tone knobs. Passive preamps don't require an external power source like batteries, making them low-maintenance and dependable. While they offer a simpler and more straightforward tonal character, passive basses are appreciated for their warm and vintage sound, often favored in genres like classic rock, blues, and funk. They are an excellent choice for musicians who value the simplicity and timeless appeal of their instrument's tone without the need for active electronic components.

The Schecter Justin Beck V Ani's configuration is PJ. It offers a versatile tonal range by combining the warm, punchy sound of a Precision-style (P-style) pickup with the brighter, more articulate tones of a Jazz-style (J-style) pickup. This makes it a great choice for those seeking tonal flexibility.

More with the same pickups

21 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Schecter USA MonsterTone-J Bridge Pickup
Schecter USA MonsterTone-P Neck Pickup
22 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Schecter USA MonsterTone-J Bridge Pickup
Schecter USA MonsterTone-J Neck Pickup
21 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Schecter USA MonsterTone-J Bridge Pickup
Schecter USA MonsterTone-J Neck Pickup
21 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Schecter USA MonsterTone-J Bridge Pickup
Schecter USA MonsterTone-J Neck Pickup
21 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Schecter USA MonsterTone-J Bridge Pickup
Schecter USA MonsterTone-J Neck Pickup

Versatility

It comes with the popular 3-way switch that is present in most guitars. For more versatility, players tend to prefer a 5-way switch, although it all depends on what you want to use your bass for.

It has a Coil Tap option. This will allow you to get a single-coil sound out of your humbucker once you activate the power tap. The way it works is that it cuts part of the power coming from one of the coils, which ends up giving you a more real single-coil sound.

What music genre is it good for?

As a 4 strings, Solid Body bass with PJ configuration and Passive pickups, we'd recommend it for genres like Hard Rock or similar. However, you can use almost any bass for any genre. This is just the typical type of music for this particular one.

Sound Score

Pickups 100
Sustain 75
Versatility 90
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 86

Build Quality

Country of Origin

Knowing where the instrument is produced is a good way to know how well it's built. Some manufacturing countries are known for having higher quality standards. For example, most expensive instruments are made in the US or Japan, but there are some exceptionally great countries—like South Korea—that are building a good reputation.

The Schecter Justin Beck V Ani is made in Indonesia. Many people prefer the quality of an Indonesian guitar over a Chinese. Respectable brands like Epiphone, Ibanez and Schecter are building in this country because of the great quality and lower price. Some people like to compare them to the ones built in Japan during the 80s, when Japanese guitar makers made a name for themselves.

Still, remember that we're taking about Schecter here, which is a brand with good renown. They know how to use cheap labor in this country without sacrificing too much quality. So you shouldn't end up receiving a useless or ugly instrument.

Bridge

Schecter Custom Fully Adjustable Top Load or String-Thru: The advantage of fixed bridges is that they don't require any kind of set-up. This makes it extremely easy when changing strings because you don't need to adjust anything besides tuning the guitar. Also, the fact that the bridge is directly attached to the body will help to increase sustain. The disadvantage is the lack of versatility since you can't create the same vibrato effects as with tremolo bridges.

Nut Material

Another important thing to analyze is the nut material, as it's one of the most important aspects that can affect the sound and playability of your bass. A well-cut nut will make sure it stays in tune and will make it more comfortable to play.

In this case, the Schecter Justin Beck V Ani has a Black Tusq XL nut. It's not made of plastic or low-quality materials. They're made to resemble the sound you get from bone and ivory nuts, but with slippery materials so the intonation and tuning are stable. Also, each nut is carefully cut to ensure you won't have tune stabilization problems.

Neck Joint

The neck joint is the part where the neck of the bass meets the body. There are three main techniques to attach both parts together: Set-In, Bolt-On and Neck-Through. The latter two provide different advantages, although neck-throughs are the most expensive.

This bass has a Bolt-On neck joint. Even though this type of neck was looked down upon for a long time, nowadays bolt-on necks are well built and provide just as much sustain as any other join method. First of all, it's cheap to make because it consists of simply 4 bolts that attach the neck to the body. And you can travel with the guitar more easily, swap out the neck if you damage it, or upgrade to a more comfortable neck later on.

Build Quality Score

Quality of materials 56
Features 80
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 70