Although it doesn't hurt having a nice mid-range priced bass like a Schecter lying around either.

I just saw the Schecter Stiletto Studio 6 Bass is about 900 and has 3 band eq.

I'm seriously considering getting a NS/Stick, and I can't make up my mind on the tuning. Do most/all NS/Stickers go with the 8-string tuning in fourths that pretty much looks like a standard 8-string bass tuning, or does anyone use fifths and the "standard" Stick inverse strings and tunings?

What I'm really getting at, as a keyboardist turned Stickist turned bassist, I have no special bond with fourths and really like the fifths tuning on my Sticks. But I think I'd like an NS/Stick in fifths. But maybe not.

I guess it's the age-old newb question about what tunings to start in, but with NS/Stick. I know Don Schiff started on "regular" Stick before going over to NS/Stick and I believe fourths standard tuning. Is it hard to go back and forth from Stick fifths to NS fourths?

I should probably lurk on Dean's channel more. I'm sure these questions have been asked and answered before.

Thanks, guys!

I would not want an NS tuned in fifths. Gary mentioned something about using a Stick tuning on the NS, I recall someone else on this board doing that also. Since I also have a Grand, I have something that's tuned that way. I also fingerpick and use a pick on the NS, so keeping a bass or guitar-like tuning in fourths or alternate tuning I prefer. I would not be happy having less strings tuned like a normal Stick. If you are talking straight fifths, I'm not sure that's possible with eight strings.

One disadvantage of having the lowest bass string in the middle of the neck is I would not be able to slap it like a normal bass guitar.

If you get an NS, I also recommend buying Muriel Anderson's "50 RH Techniques You Must Know" DVD. Learning fingerpicking/classical guitar instruction works wonders on an NS. Steve Osborn, one of his former instructors, and several guitar seminars I've taken at Interlochen has me picking the NS more like a guitar player than what I did previously from bass. Even though the left hand will not always work the same way as a guitar player because of the neck width and scale length, the RH techniques help with developing some finess with fingerpicking and picking an NS.

Hmmmn. Food for thought. And Don Schiff plays an NS pretty much exclusively now? Does anyone know why he migrated to NS as opposed to Stick?