ESP Vintage-4 Bass Guitar

[HMZ]

Has anyone seen or played an ESP Vintage-4? I'm looking for a passive PJ type bass and this looked interesting. It does come with a high price tag at $1499.00.

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....tar?sku=513719

[rnilson]

They are pretty good basses from my experience. I just played one the other day in a local guitar shop. The neck was super comfy and quick. The bass felt light. To my ears it's p pickup soloed sounded thicker than the MIA that they had at the shop. It was well built and the relic look OK. (Not as realistic as some I have seen.)

It was nice thick and punchy. The J pickup hummed quite a bit. The store said the wiring in that room was really bad. (I thought this was really weak for a music store!) Overall a good bass, but I am not sure if I would pay $1400 for it.

[HMZ]

What store did you see it in? I see Guitar Center and Sam Ash have them on there web sites but I have not seen on in the stores. $1499.00 for a Japanese knock off does seem a bit expensive.

[5string5fingers]

It's not like this is a knock off by one of the random companies from the 70s and 80s. ESP is a big company,who make high quality instruments,and are highly under rated.

[rnilson]

Originally Posted by HMZ

What store did you see it in? I see Guitar Center and Sam Ash have them on there web sites but I have not seen on in the stores. $1499.00 for a Japanese knock off does seem a bit expensive.

Small local store...The best kind.

[panama]

hahahahahaha he called ESP a japanese knockoff company

[HMZ]

Originally Posted by panama

hahahahahaha he called ESP a japanese knockoff company

That's what they started as...Fender knock offs

[sarcastro83]

I've played one, and it was good, but like you said... a bit expensive for what you're getting. But, if you like it, and cost isn't a thing, I say go for it!

[5string5fingers]

If you have a problem with it being a " just a fender knock off" then why dont you buy the real thing?

[livinglow]

I have an ESP J-Four and it smokes any passive Fender I've played. I would highly recommend ESP as a Fender alternative.

[Mr-Wunderful]

You could get a new G&L SB2 for close to that price new or a used one for less than half that. For that matter you could buy a new G&L Tribute model for less than half of that.

[Bassmickeyd]

Now is it official, everyone is on the 'distressed' bandwagon?

[HMZ]

Originally Posted by 5string5fingers

If you have a problem with it being a " just a fender knock off" then why dont you buy the real thing?

I would but Fender doesn't make a passive American standard PJ. They make a mia deluxe that is active/passive but it has humbucker pickups. I want single coil pickups like the American standard line.

Buy the way I am not knocking ESP...I know they make quality guitars. I remember back in the 80's mia Fenders were going for like $600-$700 hundred dollars and you could get an ESP Jazz bass for like $300 and it was just as good.

[Kitsapbass]

I notice you said Fender doesn't have an American Std p/j P bass. Are you specifically wanting american made or ?

[krovx]

I bought one to try out since I could get a used one with case that was literally mint for 600 from Guitar Center. I wasn't impressed with it at all in terms of tone so I returned it. It played great, but the PJ tone wasn't what I expected from a PJ setup. If you're not a big fan of Fender and are looking for a PJ alternative I would recommend a Lakland or G&L SB-2 before the ESP. Especially at full sale price, yikes! The used market is amazing.

A thing that made me laugh about the ESP is they distressed the bass, then added a clear coat over that? Seems kind of weird.

By no means am I an ESP basher. I am not fond of their basses but I used their guitars extensively when I was touring in metal bands. They are a solid and consistent company especially with the LTD line.

[HMZ]

Originally Posted by Kitsapbass

I notice you said Fender doesn't have an American Std p/j P bass. Are you specifically wanting american made or ?

I would prefer a MIA...I have an American 2010 Fender P bass that I love but I really don't want to cut it up to add a J pickup.

[HMZ]

Originally Posted by Mr-Wunderful

You could get a new G&L SB2 for close to that price new or a used one for less than half that. For that matter you could buy a new G&L Tribute model for less than half of that.

Thanks for the input...That might be a good alternative I'll have to check that out but same thing I have not seen one in a store. Do you own one? I see it has only a volume control for each pickup but no tone control.

[krovx]

Originally Posted by HMZ

Thanks for the input...That might be a good alternative I'll have to check that out but same thing I have not seen one in a store. Do you own one? I see it has only a volume control for each pickup but no tone control.

Many people mod them to have a double stack knob for the volumes and add a tone control which I find useful. My complaint with PJ setups is the J really needs to be noise canceling, or you can get a lot of unwanted noise especially if you push a lot of tube / distortion. I always end up throwing some kind of humbucking single coil J pickup ( Think Dimarzio Area J or a Nordstrand) in the bridge to get rid of the noise.

[JGR]

I have a pair of them - tobacco and vintage white. Great basses - I could do without the relicing, but it doesn't bother me. They are great quality, great sounding basses.

[bassplayer8953]

Looking for something on that order, a little more reasonable?

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ESP-VINT204-LIST

Gotta agree that for in the $1500 range, the ESP wouldn't make the cut.

IMO this little beauty would win, hands down:

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-FEN-019407X-LIST