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Are LTD’s sleepers?
- Thread starter bigdaddybass12
- Start date
Good basses. Much like the Corts, they don't seem to get much love. The only reason I can see is the name on the headstock.
Are they still made in Korea?
I played some of the 2000's Korean made models that were pretty nice, could be set up to be nice instruments.
Haven't played a recent one.
I played some of the 2000's Korean made models that were pretty nice, could be set up to be nice instruments.
Haven't played a recent one.
Lots of basses produced in Asian countries are sleepers. Are they all amazing? Nah. But plenty of them are plenty good.
So I've had a few ltd basses in my hands and I liked them better than anything else in that place. (Guitar center) I played a stingray that was good and a couple Ibanez basses that were ok. If you are ok with a little more meat on a neck it's great. I still wouldn't mind getting a b5 or d5 bass and getting it all player ready. They are comfortable and balance well. Just a bit heavier than a typical Ibanez sr. Probably closer to what a prestige neck through would weigh. So I'd say definitely a sleeper bass.
Yes on the name. But then some boutique basses have names that us budget bassers' have never heard of,
their necks are some of the best and most consistent ever, real stud sticks. I had a B-50 that was hard to beat, they could be found dirt cheap, but like most secrets those days are mostly over.
I tried a 204, the electronics sucked, turned me off GASsing for an F4-E fearing they're the same.
I tried a 204, the electronics sucked, turned me off GASsing for an F4-E fearing they're the same.
Mine was. The electronics sucked and the bass wasn't in the best shape, but I loved and still love playing it. Great neck feel, good balance, not heavy.
A lot like Corts and Schecters. Some meh, a few blegh, and a bunch good. Gotta search around for the good ones in my experience.
My friend has a Tom Araya sig bass & it's a nice instrument. It's funny watching this cute girl w/the librarian look & a huge voice playing that bass 
.
I'm looking at their multi-scale bass, if for no other reason than it's scale length. Same reason the Ibanez multi isn't on my radar.
.I'm looking at their multi-scale bass, if for no other reason than it's scale length. Same reason the Ibanez multi isn't on my radar.
Oh yes, I'm an LTD enthusiast. I never set out to be one, but somehow LTDs found me and I love them. When stacked up against comparable Ibanez or Schecter basses, I vastly prefer how LTD "thin U" necks feel in my hands and the way their bodies balance/nestle against me. All three of my basses are now LTDs. I've played and/or owned basses from budget to boutique in terms of price and brand name... and LTDs just feel "right" to me.
The headstock shape is polarizing. I love it, others think it's hideous. I think another polarizing thing is that ESP/LTD is seen as a "metal" brand since its biggest brand ambassadors are metal artists, but ESP/LTD instruments are versatile and can do it all. I also like that they have basses for everyone from the traditional AP and '87 series to the wild F series.
My favorite bass is my early 2000s F-205. It's one of the rare 34" scale F-series basses (which have all been 35" scale for years now). Korean made. I got it preowned for a steal at a mom 'n pop shop. The F body shape looks like it would be uncomfortable, but guess what? It nestles perfectly against my body.
My workhorse bass is a recently acquired new-old-stock 2018 D-5, Indonesian made. That thing looks, feels, and sounds more plush than its price tag would suggest. I got it at a mom 'n pop shop where it was definitely well cared for.
My retired bass is a heavily modded HTB-600 Children of Bodom sig model, Korean made. I also got that bass preowned for a steal (I call it a Guitar/Gutter Center rescue), and it has toured with me up and down the east coast, been in photo shoots with alt models, and every band I've used it in says its tone is the best.
I posted about them here in the ESP/LTD club thread: Official ESP club
In terms of manufacturing:
LTD Deluxe models, those with the 1000 designation like the F-1004 or B-1005, are still made in Korea in the WMI (World Music Instruments) factory.
LTDs made in Indonesia, from what I've gathered through my own online digging, are most likely made at the PT Wildwood factory. I don't know if the Core-Tek factory (which is in a different part of Indonesia than PT Wildwood) makes any LTD instruments.
With LTD basses, you definitely get what you pay for. The cheapest ones are a roll of the dice, but the upper echelon ones are amazing.
The headstock shape is polarizing. I love it, others think it's hideous. I think another polarizing thing is that ESP/LTD is seen as a "metal" brand since its biggest brand ambassadors are metal artists, but ESP/LTD instruments are versatile and can do it all. I also like that they have basses for everyone from the traditional AP and '87 series to the wild F series.
My favorite bass is my early 2000s F-205. It's one of the rare 34" scale F-series basses (which have all been 35" scale for years now). Korean made. I got it preowned for a steal at a mom 'n pop shop. The F body shape looks like it would be uncomfortable, but guess what? It nestles perfectly against my body.
My workhorse bass is a recently acquired new-old-stock 2018 D-5, Indonesian made. That thing looks, feels, and sounds more plush than its price tag would suggest. I got it at a mom 'n pop shop where it was definitely well cared for.
My retired bass is a heavily modded HTB-600 Children of Bodom sig model, Korean made. I also got that bass preowned for a steal (I call it a Guitar/Gutter Center rescue), and it has toured with me up and down the east coast, been in photo shoots with alt models, and every band I've used it in says its tone is the best.
I posted about them here in the ESP/LTD club thread: Official ESP club
In terms of manufacturing:
LTD Deluxe models, those with the 1000 designation like the F-1004 or B-1005, are still made in Korea in the WMI (World Music Instruments) factory.
LTDs made in Indonesia, from what I've gathered through my own online digging, are most likely made at the PT Wildwood factory. I don't know if the Core-Tek factory (which is in a different part of Indonesia than PT Wildwood) makes any LTD instruments.
With LTD basses, you definitely get what you pay for. The cheapest ones are a roll of the dice, but the upper echelon ones are amazing.
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I always thought they looked cool, and any time I picked one up it felt good.
Never saw them consistently around town, but never heard anyone complain about them online either.
Never saw them consistently around town, but never heard anyone complain about them online either.
LTD makes some really nice instruments. I have to admit that I ignored some of their models because the styling was so Metal.
I have an LTD Stream bass. Wonderful.
Yeah, it’s a little different Can’t say I am crazy about it but I have seen worse like Rickenbacker. G&L is a little odd. Warwick is odd also. Just to name a few. We (us old cats) were all raised on fenders. So that shape is etched into our minds.
LTD (much less the LTD2's or MIJ. ESP's) is the most overlooked, available here, offshore bass line, and overall, they're terrific axes.
The 'Metal' rep and some of the shapes that are just a little strange to Western tastes holds them back somewhat. However, in the more traditional shapes, the APB's, the 'Fender-bird' axes, and the re-issue Surveyors are well-made axes with great hardware and electronics.
The 'Metal' rep and some of the shapes that are just a little strange to Western tastes holds them back somewhat. However, in the more traditional shapes, the APB's, the 'Fender-bird' axes, and the re-issue Surveyors are well-made axes with great hardware and electronics.
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