Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic - Overview and Best Prices

Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic Review
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  • 2 Prices - New from $1,299 >
  • From Schecter's 2023 Exotic series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 5 strings
  • 35"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Black Limba top
  • Black Limba back
  • Black Limba sides
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter MonsterTone-J (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter MonsterTone-P (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • Schecter Custom Bass String Thru bridge
  • Bass Thin "C" Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Jumbo frets
  • WSC KG700 tuners
  • Side-By-Side Comparison
Show Specs
Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic Specifications
Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic
General
Brand: Schecter
Year: 2023
Configuration: PJ
Strings: 5
Made in: South Korea
Series: Exotic
Colors: Natural
Left-Handed Version: Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body
Body Material: Black Limba
Bridge: Schecter Custom Bass String Thru
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On
Tuners: WSC KG700
Fretboard: Ebony
Neck Material: Roasted Maple
Decoration: Abalone 3-pc Blocks
Scale Size: 35"
Shape: Bass Thin "C"
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.905'' (23mm)
Frets: 21 Jumbo
Fretboard Radius: 12"
Nut: Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 45mm (1.771'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Schecter MonsterTone-J (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Schecter MonsterTone-P (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 0
Knobs: Dome
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls: 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No
Hardware Color: Black

Our Scores and Tone Evaluation

Playability 75
Sound 76
Build quality 67
Value for money 73
Overall Score 73
Tone Evaluation
  • Heavy Metal
  • Hard Rock
  • Jazz
  • Blues
  • Funk
  • Country
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • 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 $1320, which means that the Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic is within the average price asked for this kind of bass. This takes into account all instruments of the same category in our database with 5 strings and Fixed bridge that are made in South Korea.

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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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Pickups noise

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Pickups power

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Often Compared With

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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 Model-T 5 Exotic'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 Model-T 5 Exotic 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 Model-T 5 Exotic
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

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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 Model-T 5 Exotic's 35" scale length compared to other common sizes:

Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic Scale Length Comparison
Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic'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 Model-T 5 Exotic Neck Profile
Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic'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 Model-T 5 Exotic'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 Model-T 5 Exotic has a 12" fingerboard radius.

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

Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic Fretboard Radius Comparison with Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul
Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic'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 Model-T 5 Exotic has the same radius across the board.

Playability compared to main competitors

35'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.771'' Nut Width
12'' Fretboard Radius
35'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.771'' Nut Width
12'' Fretboard Radius
35'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.771'' Nut Width
12'' Fretboard Radius

Nut Width

Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic Nut Width
Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic Nut Width

The Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic has a nut width of 45mm (1.771''). This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 5-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 Model-T 5 Exotic 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 Model-T 5 Exotic Fret Size Comparison
Schecter Model-T 5 Exotic'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 Model-T 5 Exotic's frets are Jumbo size. This is a tall fret size that is becoming increasingly popular because it makes it easier to press down the strings cleanly. With this fret size, you won't feel the fretboard when playing, so if you press down too hard, you will get the notes out of pitch. However, this is something you can overcome by getting used to the taller size.

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

Limba wood pattern used for guitar building
Limba Body
Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple Neck
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony Fretboard

Limba Body: Available in either black or white, it's a type of wood with beautiful natural patterns decorated with long dark chocolate stripes. As a tonewood, it is comparable to Mahogany but with more mid-tones.

Roasted Maple Neck: Similar to simple Maple, but even stronger, darker, and more stable to temperature changes. This is thanks to the treatment process that consists in using high temperatures to drain the water, sugar, and resins from the wood.

Ebony Fretboard: This is one of the most expensive woods there is, which is why it's mostly used for fretboards. It is dense, heavy, highly resistant and comes in a really dark color that gives any guitar a classy touch. Tone wise, it helps the high side of the spectrum and provides good sustain.

Pickups

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with pickups from one of the top brands. This doesn't mean you will get bad pickups, but you might want to consider a pickup upgrade after some time.

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 Model-T 5 Exotic'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 MonsterTone-J Bridge Pickup
Schecter MonsterTone-P Neck Pickup
21 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Schecter MonsterTone-J Bridge Pickup
Schecter MonsterTone-P Neck Pickup
21 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Schecter MonsterTone-J Bridge Pickup
Schecter MonsterTone-P Neck Pickup
21 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Schecter MonsterTone-J Bridge Pickup
Schecter MonsterTone-P Neck Pickup

Versatility

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with more options for coil split or coil tapping. This makes it less versatile than some competitors.

What music genre is it good for?

As a 5 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 60
Sustain 85
Versatility 77
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 76

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 Model-T 5 Exotic is made in South Korea. Guitars made here are well-built and tend to have good quality control, even though they focus on mass production. This used to be the most premium option just below Japan or the US, but other countries like Indonesia are becoming great competitors because of even cheaper labor without sacrificing quality.

Bridge

Schecter Custom Bass 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 Model-T 5 Exotic 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 70
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 67