ESP LTD D5 vs Ibanez Ergodyne sound.... FIRST POST!

[Lukejt]

Hey guys. Been lurking since I picked up my first bass last May. Here's the deal, I picked out an Ibanez EDB400 because I liked the way it sounded in the store compared to other guitars in the same price range. I had to fiddle with it a LOT once I got her home. Tightening tuners and loose bits here and there, truss rod adjustments etc. I was never happy with the amount of fret buzz with the Ibanez. One day I saw this used ESP LTD D5 at the music store and picked it up after playing it to check for buzzing. The ESP has much nicer action with out any buzz. No matter how much I tinker with the Ibanez I cannot get the action nice and low w/o killer buzz. Even with a rather high action I get buzz all the time. Some frets are worse than others. I guess a decent luthier could fix some of this, but I'd like to keep the ESP IF I can manage to get a better tone out of it.

A couple weeks ago I upgraded from a practice amp and started playing with some other guys and I found that the Ibanez sounds quite a bit better imho. The Ibanez really thumps and sounds "full" all around the neck, even with the phat knob turned down. The ESP is missing something. I don't if it's the wood or the pick ups or the pre amp. The strings look like they're DRs, so I haven't messed with them. I need to sell one of these basses. The Ibanez really annoys me with it's buzzing frets and high action (I've adjusted the truss rod and bridge on both basses). The ESP has a sweet action and never buzzes on me, but it just sounds "hollow" to me. If I move further away from the amp and play it's really obvious and the Ibanez always sounds better to my ear no matter how I adjust the EQ on the amp or the ESP. No amount of EQ adjustment equals the field, the Ibanez just sounds more full.

Is there an affordable way that I could experiment with the sound on the ESP? Different pots, capacitors, pre amp etc? I don't want to dump a bunch of cash into the ESP only to learn that it's just the type of wood and there's no way to get a "better" sound out of it. I've raised the pups as much as possible already. I wouldn't mind replacing the pups if I knew for sure it would solve my problems. The pups in the ESP are ESP brand passive with an "active" eq (very low output). The Ibanez pups are also passive but they really crank.

Ibanez pluses; Four string, easier to play, fast neck, great sound (imo), really THUMPS, full sound all around even with thin strings, light weight.

ESP pluses; Five strings. Nice action, no fret buzz, nice funky sound when plucking really hard, active 3 band EQ.

Ibanez minuses; No EQ, high action, fret buzz.

ESP minuses; Very low output level, tone is missing something, empty sound....not full sounding.

I'm very experienced with soldering and have no problems swapping parts around, but I'd rather not pay $$$ for expensive pups or pre amps unless I knew for sure it would cure the D5's ills. Yes, I've replaced the battery. I'd love to be able to fix up the ESP for cheap because it looks, feels and plays like a nicer bass than the Ibanez.


Thanks,

Luke

[~ignited~wings~]

The buzzing on the ibanez is almost definitely a sign that you need a fret dress. if you decide to go with the ibanez, take it to a luthier, who knows how to deal with it properly.

As for the tone of your ESP, it could be a number of things, such as pickups or preamp.

Here's the deal, the amount of money you'd spend on a fret dress is much smaller than the amount that you'd have to spend on new electronics. And if the tone problems you've been experiencing have nothing to do with the eledtronics, then that's even more money down the drain.

So the real question is, which is more important to you: better tone, or five strings and a nicer "look/feel" as you say.

[Ach]

Lurk more, try something different, there are plenty of basses, why to keep bass you don't like? Find the bass you likey and sell both pf these

[Lukejt]

Originally Posted by Ach

Lurk more, try something different, there are plenty of basses, why to keep bass you don't like? Find the bass you likey and sell both pf these

I like the way you think . The thought passed my mind, but I'd have to do it w/o shelling out any cash. My wife has about had it with me lately. I'm afraid if I show up with anything new, I'll be sleeping out back with the dog.

[Lukejt]

I found a very nice shop out in the sticks and sat around for a couple hours fooling with a bunch of Fenders. I narrowed it down to a beautiful blue Aerodyne and a P Bass Deluxe. I kept switching back and forth between the two. The P Deluxe won me over. It was very easy to play all over the neck and she just sounded great with a wide variety of tones. I plopped down a deposit on an insane deal. Once I sell the other two I can pick her up.

[SteveC]

I played a D-5 the other day and thought it sounded really good, but if you don't like either of these basses, sell them both and get something you like.