I love my LTD Surveyor '87 I bought new for $599 a few weeks ago. Despite a few nitpicky comments from people online about the nut and tuning machines, for many if not most people, they won't really need to switch them out. Had it lowered, and it's truly not garbage as some seem to believe (though I initially was going to replace it-just so happens that the Graph Tech model I bought was slightly slimmer.) I may still replace it if it gives me problems, but so far, it's great. I had to replace the tuning machines because I use a Hipshot Xtender. And that's it. Love the sound plugged in and unplugged, it's almost "cheaty", easy to play with a light touch, light Rotosound SB66LB strings, and that wonderful neck,
The pickups, labeled "vintage"-which they are!-can do anything. I have Strat pickups that hum more than the SJB-1-it hums, but inconsequentially so. The SPB-1 is great too, which makes changing them just for "fun" not so attractive to me. Maybe there is "better" out there-lots of good pickups!-but I do not even feel that strong drive to get a hum canceling J at this point, because I love the tone of my single coil Duncan. The Surveyor "vintage" PJ set is quite versatile, IMHO-at least they are great for my needs, with excellent tones.
It's relatively heavy, at a non-YouTube influencer-friendly 10lbs, but well balanced, and you do not at all feel that weight with a good strap on your shoulders. No neck dive issues.
These are great, well-made instruments even at retail price-highly recommended.They "sleep" because there are so many other good basses and Well-Behaved, brands out there. But, even though it's a pity ESP does not make high end basses for the US market, the LTD ones are, in my limited experience with only my Surveyor as a sample, awesome.
The M-1 Custom '87 guitar I also purchased days away from the Surveyor was perfect. LTD is not a toy instrument brand-no need for snobbery-and the higher end LTDs are truly excellent, with perfect necks and amazing solidity.
(I know the LTD logo is not "reputable"-ignore and try them out! They have their own neck profiles, but are based on ESP models. Nothing whatsoever wrong with this sub-brand.)
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