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Schecter SLS Elite-4 Bass Guitar - Black Fade Burst

4-string Electric Bass with Maple Top, Swamp Ash Body, Maple/Walnut/Padauk Neck, Ebony Fingerboard, and 2 Active Soapbar Pickups - Black Fade Burst
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Schecter SLS Elite-4 Bass Guitar - Black Fade Burst
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Armed to the Teeth with Modern Player Conveniences

The Schecter SLS Elite-4's liquid sculpture neck-through design offers the ultimate in looks, comfort, and tone. A richly figured flame maple veneer gracefully adorns an ivory-bound swamp ash body that's precision carved to hug the player's body and maximize neck access. Even into the 20th fret and beyond, the SLS Elite-4's endless 3-piece neck and violin sustain show no signs of stopping. A pair of direct-mounted Fishman Fluence active soapbar pickups with 3-way voicing switch, push-pull coil splitting, and 2-band active EQ equip this bass for classic funk and soul as well as modern forms of rock and metal. And with stock features that include a permanently lubricated TUSQ XL nut, a set of studio-stable Grover tuners, and a dual-action truss rod with easy-access neck heel wheel, the Schecter SLS Elite-4 bass from Sweetwater leaves little reason to upgrade post-purchase.

Sculpted swamp ash body with maple veneer

The SLS Elite-4's first impression for most players will be its death-defying body curves and breathtaking flame maple veneer. From top to bottom, back to front, this bass is a work of art. The SLS Elite-4's design is equal parts form and function, comfortably hugging the player's body when seated or standing and providing unparalleled fret access up and down the neck.

3-piece neck with XJ steel frets

Built for a lifetime of use and abuse, the Schecter SLS Elite-4 features a 3-piece neck of maple, walnut, and padauk to resist warping and action creep over time. Its articulate ebony fingerboard comes fitted with 24 effortless Extra-jumbo stainless steel frets that are spec'd for tour-grade resiliency.

Active Fishman Fluence pickups

The Fluence active pickups have been a real game changer in terms of tone, output, noise, and clarity. The SLS Elite-4's Fluence active soapbars feature both a 3-way voicing switch (classic, funk, and modern) and push-pull coil splitting to stand up to virtually any style of music. Factor in a 2-band active EQ section (bass and treble) and a dedicated pickup blend knob, and the SLS Elite-4 may replace many or all other basses in your arsenal.

Schecter SLS Elite-4 Bass Guitar Features:

  • The culmination of Schecter's decades of bass research
  • 9-volt active Fishman Fluence soapbar pickups provide 3 distinct voices: classic, funk, and modern
  • Push-pull coil splitting, active 2-band EQ, and pickup blend control equip this bass for any style
  • Liquid sculpture neck-through design is comfortably contoured and sustains for days
  • Beautifully figured flame maple veneer on an ivory-bound swamp ash body
  • Strong 3-piece maple/walnut/padauk neck with articulate ebony fingerboard and stunning abalone inlays
  • Extra-jumbo stainless steel frets are spec'd for a lifetime of use and abuse
  • Permanently lubricated, Teflon-impregnated TUSQ XL nut eliminates string stickage
  • Dual-action truss rod with convenient neck heel access wheel
  • Studio-stable Grover tuners keep you in the groove

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

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Tech Specs

  • Number of Strings: 4
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: SLS Elite
  • Body Material: Swamp Ash with Flamed Maple Top
  • Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
  • Color: Black Fade Burst
  • Neck Material: Multi-ply Maple/Walnut/Padauk
  • Neck Shape: Thin C
  • Radius: 16"
  • Fingerboard Material: Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Abalone Offset
  • Number of Frets: 24, Extra Jumbo, Stainless Steel
  • Scale Length: 34"
  • Nut Width: 1.496"
  • Nut Material: Black Tusq
  • Bridge/Tailpiece: Schecter Custom Bass String-thru / Top-loaded Bridge
  • Tuners: Grover Bass 144
  • Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Bass Soapbar Pickup
  • Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Bass Soapbar Pickup
  • Controls: 1 x volume (push/pull voicing), 1 x blend, 2-band Active EQ
  • Switching: 3-way toggle voicing switch
  • Strings: Ernie Ball Super Long, .045-.105
  • Case Included: Sold Separately
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 1391

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

The bass that brought me back to the four string fish

I played bass for nearly ten years, but had to give it up to move on with my career. Now settled in that space I wanted to jump in again to my love for music. I got on the phone with Dave "the bass master ninja warlord expert" the presales engineer. My friend raved about him so I searched out his advice. We talked about the bass market and what my needs were. While I was looking at some more expensive basses, I really just wanted something new with lots of range. Would I play metal again? Bounce back to the Beatles? I just didn't know. I may not even like to play bass anymore so I didn't want to blow up my wallet and then get something to collect dust. Dave suggested a Schecter and to not sleep on it. People pounce on Fender and go mad for Music Man, but I thought why a Schecter??!?!

I looked and looked, I clicked and clicked, but that Black Fade Burst on this SLS Elite-4 was just ingrained into my eyes anytime I shut them. I took the plunged, hit purchase, and opted for the Plek Pro at my friends recommendation. I waited a week or so but my new baby arrived. The last time I bought a bass was in the 90s, but this bass ACCELERATED me to 3099. Holy potatoes and gravy the tones I could get out of this thing blew me away.

The body of this bass will bring tears to your eyes with the amazing wooden face. The multi-color stripe down the neck joining down into the body is like pure electricity jamming into an electrical socket. I could not only get the tones I desired out of it, but I got so much more. Metal, funk, pop, and bippity bop this thing just swings. I was worried as it has a treble and bass adjustment that without a mid knob I would be limited. It has a 3 position selector switch that let me hit all the mid highs and lows I desired. Switching between the pickup settings there is just so much versatility.

When I bought this bass I didn't know if I would keep picking it up. Would my interest in playing come back? Well unfortunately I just can't put this thing down! Its robust, modern, sleek, and my hand dances down the fretboard like something out of a ballet at Radio City Music Hall. The neck is thin, but strong, very easy to adjust your hand to go from fret 1 to fret 24. No matter if you are standing or rocking out on your knees on the floor this bass will bring a monstrous sound to your home, office, or any club in town.
Music background: I used to play bass and I do play now
Rated 5/5

Unexpectedly Awesome

This bass is absolutely beautiful. I'm completely floored by the quality out of the box.

I'll be honest, I have always been on the fence about Schecter basses; especially their lower priced models. I took a chance and I'm totally happy I did.

This bass sounds fantastic. The fluence pickups are extremely responsive and have a certain "mwah" quality when you dig in. Plenty of usable tones with a preamp that can let you do basically any style. The option to go single coil is a great touch as well.


The fit and finish are GREAT minus some minor sloppy paint work near the base of the fretboard and an ever so slightly misaligned bridge pickup. Other than that, the fret work is IMPECCABLE. No high frets and no sharp fret ends. The knobs are all nice and tight and the bridge and tuners are of very high quality.

I've owned some very nice basses: American fender, Warwick, EBMM, Sandberg and this easily hangs right with them

This bass is an outstanding value. Buy it!!!
Music background: Musician of 20+ years, bassist, guitarist, singer/songwriter.
Rated 5/5

INCREDIBLE VALUE!!!!

I used to miss my '63 Fender Jazz bass. It just felt perfect to me. Well, after purchasing this bass and gigging extensively with it for about 3 months, I can honestly say, it feels just as good. The big difference, is that this bass is worlds apart when it comes down to versatility. Once I have my amp set to my satisfaction in any given situation, I can make tonal adjustments for a wide selection of musical styles from the bass itself. Also, the fit and finish of these basses seems WAY beyond the price point. The Fishman Fluence pickups are great. The hardware on these basses is excellent. The truss rod adjusts smooth as silk, the tuning machines are some of the best I've ever used and the controls have a good, solid detent, where applicable. If you're looking for a bass in this price range, you can't go wrong with this one and you DEFINITELY can't go wrong with Sweetwater!!
Music background: 56 year professional
Rated 5/5

I love this guitar

I'm new to bass but really love this guitar.

I

This bass with the Fishman pickups is utterly silent, there is no discernible noise either 60Hz or digital regardless of how you configure the pickups. I can stand in front of my computer monitor and even reach out and touch the screen while leaving the strings floating (not touching them) with none of the horrible hiss I experienced from that other guitar.

In addition to that there are an impressive range of voices you can get from this bass. I'm still learning to turn the knobs and switch the switch etc to get various sounds.

This is also a very lightweight which is nice, it doesn't weigh down on my shoulder and yet has almost infinite sustain it seems.

Thank you Sweetwater for helping me resolve that issue and get into this instrument. Now I'm spoiled though and the 60Hz hum in my electric is bothering me. Probably I'll get the six string electric version of this guitar as well, the Fishman pickups seem superior to any other's I have experience with.
Music background: Just a hobbiest, neglected playing for decades and just now getting back into it.
Rated 4.5/5

versital

shipping was decent. clean and well packaged. had a few issues but were resolved outside of sweetwater. the bass itself is really great. just wish there was more info on certain aspects of the equipment.
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