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Anyone know if ESP is any good?

#22
Well i own three ESP basses and feel the need to defend them here (Inclding the F-104, the F-404 and a B-255) now granted i like pointy basses (I also own three B.C. Rich basses a Warlock, and Mockinbird, and a Virgo) not to mention an Ibanez Iceman. IMHO there is no company out there that compares with ESP based on what you get for the price. The F104 you asked about is just one step above their entry level bass in the "F" series. It is made of Agathis which some people have issues with (And i'm not sure why because this wood is commonly used in the manufacture of mid-ranged guitars and basses, due to its good resonating properties), but it is 35" scale, has a maple and rosewood neck with 24 frets, and has a two band active EQ. For its current strret price of $299.00 new it cannot be touched for build quality and features. The body style is a little extreme, but very comfortable to play. The EMG designed ESP stock pickups are not for everybody, but i really dig the sound as well as the EMG 40DC's in the higher priced models. People who make blanket statements that any brand of bass sucks IMHO is just a stupid jerk (again IMHO) that doesn't know how to access the proper tone from these instruments. I don't care for Fender products myself but you won't find me bad mouthing them, as obviously many people play and love them, they just are not for me.

What no one seems to have addressed here is that it will be your bass it is important that you play what you like. Find what feels, sounds, and looks good to you regardless of what is on the headstock. Regardless of what others say you should play, at the end of the day it is your bass and you have to play it day after day and night after night. If its an ESP great, if not geat ....again its your bass no theirs. If one bass fit everyone their wouldn't be literally thousands of choices out there. That said IMHO ESP basses are very good basses and are built very well. (heck I own three for a reason) for a mere $50.00 bucks more you could step up to the F-154DX which has a three band EQ, a string thru body bridge, a flame maple top, maple walnut and rosewood neck, and abalone dot fret markers.

They get the rap for being metal basses for good reason....lets run the list of players who use them shall we?

off the top of my head...

Orion from Behemoth
Tom Araya from Slayer
Pig Benis from Mushroomhead
Beefcake the mighty from Gwar
Steve DiGiorgio from Testament
Bobby Burns from Soulfly
Danny Horboychuk from Dry Kill Logic
Buske from Terror
Dave Pybus from Cradle of Filth
Laz Pina from Il Nino
Lurk from Full Blown Chaos
Fred Leclercq from Dragon Force
Aaron patrick from Bury Your dead
Henkka Blacksmith from Children of Bodom

I'm sure there are more (Probably a couple hundred more) but i didn't feel like looking them up, but you know there are plenty of Blues, Funk, Country and R & B players that use them to like:

Al Threats
Lige Curry from P Funk
Tom Barney
Warren McRae from Tina Turners Band

(again off the top of my head i'm sure there are more just don't have the time to look them up)

Don't let a few un-informed opinions or the Fender Mafia scare you off from buying or playing what you want and or like. The B.C Rch's I own are all good basses, two of them are NJ's and one is a fairly recent build all of them play and sound fantastic to my ears and hands.

But I really dig my F-404 it is my main "go to" bass and wouldn't trade it for two MIA Fenders, but that is just me.

again you have to play what you want and like. Not what others want and Like.

I Fell very comfortable in saying that the F-104 you asked about is a very good starter bass that blows away anything in its price range with it features.

I should mention I also own A Jazz Bass copy (SX), a PJ bass (i built myself) and a Stingray copy (OLP which i further modified after its original owner swapped out the pups and jack) none of these see action on stage But My ESP's and B.C. Riches often see the stage.

again play what you like and like what you play regardless of what is on the headstock

good luck on your search
 
#23
Snakeman1066 said:
Well i own three ESP basses and feel the need to defend them here (Inclding the F-104, the F-404 and a B-255) now granted i like pointy basses (I also own three B.C. Rich basses a Warlock, and Mockinbird, and a Virgo) not to mention an Ibanez Iceman. IMHO there is no company out there that compares with ESP based on what you get for the price. The F104 you asked about is just one step above their entry level bass in the "F" series. It is made of Agathis which some people have issues with (And i'm not sure why because this wood is commonly used in the manufacture of mid-ranged guitars and basses, due to its good resonating properties), but it is 35" scale, has a maple and rosewood neck with 24 frets, and has a two band active EQ. For its current strret price of $299.00 new it cannot be touched for build quality and features. The body style is a little extreme, but very comfortable to play. The EMG designed ESP stock pickups are not for everybody, but i really dig the sound as well as the EMG 40DC's in the higher priced models. People who make blanket statements that any brand of bass sucks IMHO is just a stupid jerk (again IMHO) that doesn't know how to access the proper tone from these instruments. I don't care for Fender products myself but you won't find me bad mouthing them, as obviously many people play and love them, they just are not for me.

What no one seems to have addressed here is that it will be your bass it is important that you play what you like. Find what feels, sounds, and looks good to you regardless of what is on the headstock. Regardless of what others say you should play, at the end of the day it is your bass and you have to play it day after day and night after night. If its an ESP great, if not geat ....again its your bass no theirs. If one bass fit everyone their wouldn't be literally thousands of choices out there. That said IMHO ESP basses are very good basses and are built very well. (heck I own three for a reason) for a mere $50.00 bucks more you could step up to the F-154DX which has a three band EQ, a string thru body bridge, a flame maple top, maple walnut and rosewood neck, and abalone dot fret markers.

They get the rap for being metal basses for good reason....lets run the list of players who use them shall we?

off the top of my head...

Orion from Behemoth
Tom Araya from Slayer
Pig Benis from Mushroomhead
Beefcake the mighty from Gwar
Steve DiGiorgio from Testament
Bobby Burns from Soulfly
Danny Horboychuk from Dry Kill Logic
Buske from Terror
Dave Pybus from Cradle of Filth
Laz Pina from Il Nino
Lurk from Full Blown Chaos
Fred Leclercq from Dragon Force
Aaron patrick from Bury Your dead
Henkka Blacksmith from Children of Bodom

I'm sure there are more (Probably a couple hundred more) but i didn't feel like looking them up, but you know there are plenty of Blues, Funk, Country and R & B players that use them to like:

Al Threats
Lige Curry from P Funk
Tom Barney
Warren McRae from Tina Turners Band

(again off the top of my head i'm sure there are more just don't have the time to look them up)

Don't let a few un-informed opinions or the Fender Mafia scare you off from buying or playing what you want and or like. The B.C Rch's I own are all good basses, two of them are NJ's and one is a fairly recent build all of them play and sound fantastic to my ears and hands.

But I really dig my F-404 it is my main "go to" bass and wouldn't trade it for two MIA Fenders, but that is just me.

again you have to play what you want and like. Not what others want and Like.

I Fell very comfortable in saying that the F-104 you asked about is a very good starter bass that blows away anything in its price range with it features.

I should mention I also own A Jazz Bass copy (SX), a PJ bass (i built myself) and a Stingray copy (OLP which i further modified after its original owner swapped out the pups and jack) none of these see action on stage But My ESP's and B.C. Riches often see the stage.

again play what you like and like what you play regardless of what is on the headstock

good luck on your search
Click to expand...

TL;DR.

I saw something about agathis being a good wood... It's definitely not my thing. I am not a fan of soft pine to make bass bodies out of... especially if you're going to be thrashing it around in a metal band.

If it was his first bass, it'd be one thing. But he already has a decent bass. The f-104 is not even a step up from the squier.

I'm not a "Fender Mafia" member, but I still stand by the fact that his bass is fine and that his money would be better spent on an amp he can gig with instead of the practice amp he has.

I'm trying to read more stuff in your post but good lord man, it's long and rambling. No offense meant to you, I would agree with you if it was his first bass...
 
#24
Invalid Link Removed

traben array attack 4 - 399 dollars.
pretty good specs

* Bridge: Traben Tribal Flame bigger bridge
* Scale: 34" four string
* Construction: bolt-on
* Pickups: Rockfield humbucker and J-style Rockfield
* Electronics: Rockfield active preamp
* Controls: 3-Band EQ, volume , and blend
* Body: royal paulownia
* Top: burled maple
* Fretboard: rosewood
* Nut: chrome-plated brass
* Deep cutaway on lower horn


looks metal too

Invalid Link Removed

Dean Metalman 2A Demonstrator -299 dollars

* Mahogany body
* Mahogany neck
* Rosewood fingerboard
* Red chainsaw inlays
* Skull ruby eye knobs
* 34" scale
* Die-cast tuners
* Chrome Hardware
* Dual pickup 2-band electronics
* 22 frets
 
#26
If you like how it looks, sounds, and feels, then it's the right bass for you. You don't need to worry what anyone else thinks about it. This bass is for you.

I have an Aria Pro II from my teenage years that is completely beat up. I abused that bass to the max. I used it as a project bass. I learned how to solder by messing around with that bass. Know what? It looks like crap. It still plays really well and it sounds great to me. I would probably never take it out on a gig because of its appearance.

Do you dig it? Get it. Play it. Love it.

Peace,
Joe
 
#27
^ dont listen to him he's my evil twin.

im kidding :p.
if it sounds good and it feels right to you, then get it. If you really want nothing more than to get that bass, get it. Because if you get another one youll kick yourself because youll always be saying "what if i got that bass"

Make sure that it feels right, thats the most important thing, sound can always be upgraded. Check out as many basses you can too.
 
#29
i have played that bass and its fine in my opinion however not my taste. i settled for a squier j bass which gave me more of a feel/sound i wanted (maybe because am not into metal?) but maybe you could also look at other options and as some one else said look into upgrading your amp,however imo if you are sure you want this bass and nothing besides then go ahead and get it
 
#32
Visirale said:
TL;DR.

I saw something about agathis being a good wood... It's definitely not my thing. I am not a fan of soft pine to make bass bodies out of... especially if you're going to be thrashing it around in a metal band.

If it was his first bass, it'd be one thing. But he already has a decent bass. The f-104 is not even a step up from the squier.

I'm not a "Fender Mafia" member, but I still stand by the fact that his bass is fine and that his money would be better spent on an amp he can gig with instead of the practice amp he has.

I'm trying to read more stuff in your post but good lord man, it's long and rambling. No offense meant to you, I would agree with you if it was his first bass...
Click to expand...

you will note i posted: "The F104 you asked about is just one step above their entry level bass in the "F" series."

I get the idea that he isn't happy with his current bass, that being the case he may play it less than he should also the F-104 is an active bass with a 2 band pre-amp...in my book that is a step up in the ability to control tone....and i have also played the affinity series and in terms of build quality the F-104 is much better than the squier in my book!

you will also note i posted: "for a mere $50.00 bucks more you could step up to the F-154DX which has a three band EQ, a string thru body bridge, a flame maple top, maple walnut and rosewood neck, and abalone dot fret markers."

basically to make my recap short and sweet if he likes the way it looks, plays, sounds, and feels he is going to play more and be a happier camper and he shouldn't let anyone distract him from his goal based on their opinion/s

he asked if ESP was any good and i was simply trying to say yes they are...look at all the people that play them "see above" including me as i own three

plus i had just come in from a gig where they almost hit me with a artillery shell (Big Firework fell over and exploded on the ground after bouncing off a tree and up on stage), and i had a little to drink. i was tired angry, and buzzed.

so yep probably rambled a bit, but bottom line ESP makes some killer stuff., and he needs to play what looks good, sounds good, and feels good to him.

and yes i posted "due to its good resonating properties" agathis does have good tone qualities, note i said nothing about how well it handled bumps and dings.
 
#34
I love these low-dollar basses with unique looks and features that fall outside of the traditional realm. They're great beginner instruments, but by that, I don't just mean people who've just started playing.

I started grabbing up low-dollar obscure basses a couple years ago just to tinker and have fun with! It's a good way to get inside the instrument and get your hands dirty, learning how to do setups and try different things with the hardware and tunings, swapping out pickups and preamps and using different wiring schemes and ... well, there's really nothing you can't do! Plus, you can throw a bunch of stickers on them, sand them down and paint them... hell, even rhino liner it or take a blowtorch to the wood (Ask Bryan316 about his custom firewood bass - it's killer!)

I've currently got 6 "beaters" that I fool around with - a Dean Metalman V and ML, a Hamer Explorer, a BC Rich Warlock, a goth Epi T-Bird, and an Ibanez Iceman. I've also got a bucket full of parts and doo-dads that I swap out, fiddle with, and have come up with some glorious combinations of hardware and playability. Sure, I probably could've taken the 2G's that I've spent in second hand hardware and what not and bought one nice, always spectacular bass, but I wouldn't have had nearly as much fun and learned as much about the happenings inside as I know now.

The point is, find something that feels good, sounds good - and experiment with it. And don't be so quick to rule out other brands - BC Rich, Dean, Traban, etc. They make high-volume production instruments that aren't always perfect, but play a bunch and find the right one and you have a wealth of possibility at your hands. Heck, you'd be surprised how huge a simple bolt on Warlock can sound when you throw a larger mass bridge, a bone nut, and some Duncan QP's in there.

Have fun, and don't sweat the small stuff - there's nothing that says you can't play well and look cool at the same time :)
 

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