Hey everyone, I tried looking up a youtube video of an ESP LTD Stream 204 but didn't find anything relevant. Anyone played these yet? They look very nice, specially the TSB finish, however I haven't found a single review or anything. 
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Anybody played the ESP LTD Stream 204?
- Thread starter RockinBass85
- Start date
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,950
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
We played all three iterations of the Stream (LTD, E II, and ESP) at NAMM, and we were very impressed. In fact, we awarded ESP a Bass Gear Magazine Best of Show Award for the Stream line!
I've been looking at their basses but with only one music store where I live, the chances of playing it have been slim. Do you know of any sound clips for the ltds? I've been looking at the b4e, does the ltds neck handle low action well?
Site states "Thin U" contour for the neck. While still somewhat subjective in regards to the "thin" portion, it's not going to be a chunky p bass neck.
Wish they had been able to do some better stepping in regards to the prices though.
Low end of ~500 msrp, next step up is ~1.8k, and then 4k. Really nice modern design, classy and still a bit different with some great hardware on the top two models.Just got mine today. The price tag in Canada is 629.00, great construction. sounds great. super thin neck.
I am also quite interested in this bass. Could you maybe tell al little more about your new weapon? How does it sound? How low or high is the string action? Playability? What about neck diving? Considering the position of the strap knobs I am afraid it will neck dive. How much does it weigh?
Sorry for all these stupid questions but you can hardly find any information or videos about this beauty. Although I would prefer a 5 string Version.
Thanks and greetings from Germany.
Marcus
ESP Necks tend to be pretty thin in general, but the Stream series uses the thicker of their two neck contours (Thin U as opposed to Extra Thin U). If you can find an ESP LTD J-series or EC-series bass to try out, they will have the same neck contour as the Stream.
gabrams, could you post a few pics or a video? It is hard to find any pics, vids or user info for the this bass. I had an LTD F-4e for a few yars and loved it. The neck was awesome as was the overall feel, playability and sound. Based on the F-4e I assuming this bass would have the same quality.
Sorry haven't been on in a weeks ill try and post some vids and pics this week. not sure the actual thickness but the neck is much thinner than the esp vintage 4 ihave and the surveyor 4. and weighs about half as much as well. setup out of the box was super low i raised it a bit as i play 1/2 step down and drop to c#.
I saw it hanging on the wall at Guitar Center and thought it was very cool looking, but I had no intention of buying one. After about 20 minutes of playing through my repertoire of bass licks I found it did them all well. The 2-Band Active EQ made it quick and easy to dial-in whatever amount of low-end or spank I was looking for. I was playing it through a GK MB115II and the two paired really well. I liked it so much that that I went back the next day bought the bass. Then I went home, got online and ordered a used GK 1001RB.
I thought this bass was going to be just about looks, but it turns out to be a great playing, versatile instrument. My only concerns now are how the electronics and neck are going to hold up after extended use and a change to heavier strings.
I thought this bass was going to be just about looks, but it turns out to be a great playing, versatile instrument. My only concerns now are how the electronics and neck are going to hold up after extended use and a change to heavier strings.
Broham & Gabrams:
Any more feedback on your LTD Stream 204? I own an LTD B-4B (same as B-4E but w/ bubinga top instead of ebony) and love its looks, feel, the neck is fabulous and handles low action very well. My guess is the Stream 204 has the same pups as mine so hope it sounds as good.
NECK DIVE: Someone else asked about this and I'm very concerned about this too. From the position of the strap button, it LOOKS like this would dive like crazy, or is the weight of the neck balanced out by the body shape?
Lastly, with the strap button at the 15th fret, instead of the more usual 12th fret, my fear is that the nut will be positioned further away, making the 1st - 5th fret area harder to reach.
Thoughts, pics, videos would be very much appreciated
Joe
Any more feedback on your LTD Stream 204? I own an LTD B-4B (same as B-4E but w/ bubinga top instead of ebony) and love its looks, feel, the neck is fabulous and handles low action very well. My guess is the Stream 204 has the same pups as mine so hope it sounds as good.
NECK DIVE: Someone else asked about this and I'm very concerned about this too. From the position of the strap button, it LOOKS like this would dive like crazy, or is the weight of the neck balanced out by the body shape?
Lastly, with the strap button at the 15th fret, instead of the more usual 12th fret, my fear is that the nut will be positioned further away, making the 1st - 5th fret area harder to reach.
Thoughts, pics, videos would be very much appreciated
Joe
Neck dive should never be a concern since it's an easy fix. I have two Thunderbirds...neither is a problem.
Great! What's the solution to neck dive, other than hanging a counter weight on the tail strap button?
There was a really nice strap called the Heads Up. Unfortunately, they stoppped making them. There are a few videos on youtube about making your own, though.
Someone here simply bought a set of ankle weights...the soft ones...and put one on the bottom of his strap. Someone else with an Epiphone Thunderbird Pro IV just put some lead weights in the bottom of the rear control cavity.
Someone here simply bought a set of ankle weights...the soft ones...and put one on the bottom of his strap. Someone else with an Epiphone Thunderbird Pro IV just put some lead weights in the bottom of the rear control cavity.
Broham & Gabrams:
NECK DIVE: Someone else asked about this and I'm very concerned about this too. From the position of the strap button, it LOOKS like this would dive like crazy, or is the weight of the neck balanced out by the body shape?
Lastly, with the strap button at the 15th fret, instead of the more usual 12th fret, my fear is that the nut will be positioned further away, making the 1st - 5th fret area harder to reach.
Thoughts, pics, videos would be very much appreciated
Joe
No experience with your bass so I can't compare.
If I took my hands off the neck to mess with something else, it would slowwwwwly neck dive. But it was a non-issue in my book.
I have my Hartke rig dialed-in to sound good with my J-Bass and flatwound strings (Chromes), but I couldn't get the LTD to sound as good as it did with the GK MB115. I picked up a used GK 1001RB thinking that would do the trick, but it was a piece of junk, so I took it back. I couldn't see dropping $500 on a practice amp, so I had a dilemma there. Then the pots started scratching...after just two weeks. I had read up on the LTD 204 P-Bass copy and it had the same problem with crappy pots. Big disappointment. Brand new bass and I'd have to replace the pots? Unacceptable. Then I realized that the pickups have a slight grind that I could not dial out if I wanted a totally clean sound. Replacing the pickups on a brand new bass? Unacceptable. Then I changed the strings to chromes to see if that would smooth out the tone, but it didn't. And it just didn't feel the same with the heavier strings on it. Can't use flatwound on my new bass? Unacceptable. And I started to get annoyed with just Bass and Treble tone controls. It really needed a Mid control as well, IMO. So, with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart I took the most beautiful of basses back to guitar center. I still miss her. If I had more "toy" money I would definitely have kept her, but I only have enough money for one new bass, so I'll have to keep looking.
No experience with your bass so I can't compare.
If I took my hands off the neck to mess with something else, it would slowwwwwly neck dive. But it was a non-issue in my book.
I have my Hartke rig dialed-in to sound good with my J-Bass and flatwound strings (Chromes), but I couldn't get the LTD to sound as good as it did with the GK MB115. I picked up a used GK 1001RB thinking that would do the trick, but it was a piece of junk, so I took it back. I couldn't see dropping $500 on a practice amp, so I had a dilemma there. Then the pots started scratching...after just two weeks. I had read up on the LTD 204 P-Bass copy and it had the same problem with crappy pots. Big disappointment. Brand new bass and I'd have to replace the pots? Unacceptable. Then I realized that the pickups have a slight grind that I could not dial out if I wanted a totally clean sound. Replacing the pickups on a brand new bass? Unacceptable. Then I changed the strings to chromes to see if that would smooth out the tone, but it didn't. And it just didn't feel the same with the heavier strings on it. Can't use flatwound on my new bass? Unacceptable. And I started to get annoyed with just Bass and Treble tone controls. It really needed a Mid control as well, IMO. So, with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart I took the most beautiful of basses back to guitar center. I still miss her. If I had more "toy" money I would definitely have kept her, but I only have enough money for one new bass, so I'll have to keep looking.
Broham!
You took back your Stream 204!?!?! That was the bass with the problems (pots, etc)?? Oh, please tell me it ain't so! Did you consider exchanging it for another to see if you had a one-of? Either way, thanks for reporting your pain ... so the rest of us won't have to!
Joe
I could have ordered another one, but I just couldn't get a purely clean, warm sound, which is what I use 90% of the time. Plus, I got that one with a $50 discount because after just two days on the floor, the control knobs had begun to oxidize and the finish turned from shiny gold to an almost flat gold color. The guitar tech at GC tried to buff em up, but that just ended up totally removing the finish. lol
Still, that thing looked so good and played so nice that if I had the money to throw around I would probably have kept it. I'm just not in the financial position to have a spare $500 bass. I say check it out. The crappy pots aside, it just might be your perfect #1 bass.
Broham,
Thanks for the follow up. Hhmmm..... finish that just buffs off? Not what I have in mind
How disappointing! I love my LTD B-4B and was hoping the Streamer 204 would sound as good as I REALLY dig the looks of it! Of course there isn't one to try anywhere in this city of 1.7 million
, only the same old Fender and Fender copies everywhere
in the ever-shrinking bass sections of Guitar Centers etc 
. Because stores don't offer much choice in inventory, the only way I could A-B the 3 amp heads I was interested in was to buy all 3 and return the 2 I didn't want :***:! You just have to time things with your credit card billing cycle and watch the 30 day return time 
!!
Thanks for the follow up. Hhmmm..... finish that just buffs off? Not what I have in mind
How disappointing! I love my LTD B-4B and was hoping the Streamer 204 would sound as good as I REALLY dig the looks of it! Of course there isn't one to try anywhere in this city of 1.7 million
, only the same old Fender and Fender copies everywhere in the ever-shrinking bass sections of Guitar Centers etc . Because stores don't offer much choice in inventory, the only way I could A-B the 3 amp heads I was interested in was to buy all 3 and return the 2 I didn't want :***:! You just have to time things with your credit card billing cycle and watch the 30 day return time !!Gabrams,
Any more feedback on your Stream 204? How do you like it? How's the sound / tone? Does it neck-dive? Does having the strap button at the 15th fret, instead of the usual 12th fret, push the nut further away from you? Any other input would be really appreciated!
Thanks,
Joe
