New bass day - ESP LTD B-336SR
 

TBers!

I just bought this off of the bay and am anxiously waiting delivery!

According to what I can find, ESP made the B-336 for NAMM but then shelved the idea for a six string in this series, instead selling only the 4 and 5 stringers (B-334 and B-335). So it's a sample/prototype that never went on sale to the general public.

While I've seen a black one and a brown one, I found this one with a gorgeous red stain, EMG's (not sure the model) and scooped it up to be my main bass (my ESp LTD B-206SM will be my backup/practice bass).

Anyone whose got more info on this particular model (B-336) chime in... I can't wait to get it setup with extra-low action, put some DR Hibeams in, straplocks and plug it into my big old Trace rig.

That's a pretty one. Congrats!

Thanks!

I got the ESP LTD B-336SR bass last night and it arrived from the seller in a stock ESP carton with a second ESP carton inside holding the guitar. Looks FABULOUS - just gorgeous. The red stain is deep and beautiful, not glossy but natural. The 'bay seller is an authorized ESP dealer.

I cleaned it with some Dunlop guitar cleaner/polisher, replaced the battery, replaced the strings with DR Hi-Beams, installed Dunlop straplocks, and Finger Eas'd the strings and fingerboard/neck. I checked the tone and it's incredible - the EMG's are noticeably brighter than the stock ESP pups in my B-206SM (I think they are ENG 45DC's). On my B-206SM, I tend to use the neck/bridge pickup at about 20% neck, 80% bridge as the neck pickup just seems a bit too boomy; but on this guitar it's much more evenly distributed (probably 40% neck, 60% bridge) due to the brighter EMG's.

I was hoping that it would feel much like my B-206SM, and it does as for the most part appear to be identically built guitars. On a minor note some of the neck inlays appear to be barely visible for some reason. The B-336SR is slightly lighter than my B-206SM (no heavy spalted maple top), but other than that, it's pretty much the same: bolt on neck, same body contours, neck, preamp-battery inserts, tone/pickup controls and headstock. It has a black nickel ESP bridge, matching ESP tuners, and a 3 band preamp, internal to the EMG's. The only significant difference I've found so far is the lighter weight and the EMG pups.

I still have to spend some time tonight lowering the action, slap on my Gruvgear Fretwrap and playing the hell out of it in anticipation of bringing it to rehearsal Monday night.

BTW, I ordered a stock ESP hardshell case for ESP LTD B-series guitars on the bay and it should be here next week - in the meantime, I'm going to transport with my Roadrunner gig bag.

I'll post experiences with the guitar after rehearsal Monday with the full band, rig, and everything.

Can't wait to hear what you have to say. Looks really nice!

OK... here's the skinny.

The bass needed a serious setup. The neck was out of alignment and the frets needed leveling. I had such severe fret buzz from the 18-21st frets on G and C strings (and the 7th fret on the A string) that there was no audible note at all... just buzz.

I had a friend of mine straighten the neck and lower the action, which vastly improved the playability, but more fret work (about 10 hours) is needed to make the guitar truly incredible. I remind myself that this guitar was a prototype and never sold to the public, so I doubt that the quality control was what it should've been since it was a mock-up. Still, it's nothing that a good setup/fret leveling won't fix.

The EMG's sound awesome - bright, hot and clean. The neck has very smooth feel and not varnished or plastic-y. Even with the fret problem, I was able to hammer out an excellent rehearsal last night with it - nailing Dream Theater's "Dance of Eternity," "Metropolis Part 1," "Ytse Jam," ELP's "Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part I" and Rush's YYZ for covers. All of our originals sounded great, too, and it was surprisingly easy to play, even with the fret issues (I don't often hit the C string's 18th-21st frets, so it wasn't noticeable).

I'll post one more follow up for the ESP LTD B-336SR after next week when the frets have been leveled and the action lowered another 30 thousands of an inch or so (I'm getting the nut slotted more deeply as well; there may be some shimming involved to really bring the action as low as possible without fret buzz). :hyper:

Here's my rig in a pic from rehearsal last night, with the ESP LTD B-206SM on the left, and the ESP LTD B-336SR on the right. The effects are a Boss ME-50B, a Korg Pitchblack tuner, and the amplification is a Trace Elliot AH500X running dual mono full range into a Trace Elliot 1048 and a Trace Elliot 1528 cab.

:D

Here's my bass post-setup and post-fret leveling. Plays like butter, action is SUPER low with zero buzz, no dead spots, intonation is perfect all the way up the scale, the active EMG's are bright, hot and very clean. Absolutely LOVE that bass... a one of a kind and just perfect. Now to find a great 6 string fretless, a nice Trace practice rig and a second Boss ME-50B for the house, and I'm set!

You're freakin' great man
 

The pieces you play (I mean songs) and the basses demonstrate your good taste

Further enhanced by the one of a kind, especially nowadays, Trace Elliot rig

I said you display good taste because basses are very stock and standard, but treated and cared for like a true pro should.

The multifx processor tells you rely on your excellent rig for sound shapin' and the processor is there for taylorin' so, really
"old school" sound boy in the goodest of senses.

Enjoy your brand new jem, I feel disappointed not havin' the opportunity to attend your rehearsals, or better watch you all playin' live.

Cheers,
Wallace

Thanks Wallace - I really appreciate you taking the time to listen and comment. If you ever get the chance to come to Chicago and can make it to a rehearsal or a gig, you are MORE than welcome to join us!

Thanks again

Beauty bass man!

Thanks - I can't resist - another pic! :hyper: