ESP B-1 basses

[Daytona955i]

It's hard to search for this bass on here because of the 3 letter word minimum limit.

I want to know all about what you all think of them. Ups, downs, where you got it, new or used, how much it set you back, and PICTURES man, I want PICTURES.

 

[Willem]

I don't know if this one counts...
It's an LTD B-2005, it set me back €865 = $1080 (it'll probably be cheaper in the states), bought it new, was a limited edition last year. It looks totally badass!
I think it's pretty great, plays nice, sounds good. Has some fretbuzz. And I think it goes for all LTD's: it had a terrible setup when I bought it. The neck was too straight! But I got it right now. The pick ups I have are EMG 35P4 (neck) -which is supurb- and EMG 35DC (bridge) -which is going to get replaced by another P4.
Here are the pics...

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[Daytona955i]

I already own pretty much the same bass as that, I have a B-254, the B-1 is actually a discontinued model that has a single MM humbucker in the bridge position that I am highly interested in but can't seem to find much about anywhere.

 

[bass-shy]

The only place I have ever found one was Ebay. I would really like to get my hands on one, though.....

 

[Pantsman]

That is the same ESP/LTD bass my girlfriend is going to laybuy it for AU$300 which is stupid cheap, even cheaper than a Squier. I was sure it had to be a misprinted price tag. I plugged it into a hartke kickback with a 12" speaker and fooled around on it.

First thing i noticed was how much i liked the finish on the neck, that matt black paint feels great. The neck was a little phatter than my yamaha RBX but nothing bad, took about 1min for it to feel 'right'

This bass had a 3 band EQ, blend and Volume knobs and i could get a fair range of tones going, nothing truly 'vintage' though, but you could coax the vibe of a vintage bass. Solid hardware and the 30th anniversary inlay is done well.

For the price this thing couldn't be beat.

EDIT: I looked up this bass on google, there is no way it could be AU$300 they must have missed a 1 in the price, AU$1300 is what it should've been.

 

[The German]

I own a B-1 for more than 10 years now. It's a relyable Instrument. Headstock and Body are painted black. The Fingerboard is from Rosewood or Palisander. The Poti Knobs are not very good, but the Wood Work, the Paintwork ...the complete Concept is really good and beautiful! The Neck is from Maple, but the Body is not so clear. I have some Cracks in the Paint of the Body and -i don't know if i'm right- the Core of the Body could be Maple which is covered on the up- and downside by a wood like Mahogani or something like this. The Neck is not throuh or bolt on - I think its called "set in". The Neck (without the Fingerboard) is painted. But the Painting feels very good and thin. The Fretts are not crowned but they feel very good. They are a little bit larger then those of the Stingray. Even the B-1 has a "lookalike" PU with the great Stingray Bass, they have different Charakter. I prefear the B-1 for all kind of Rock. I think that it fits so good to Gibson Guitars, like LP or Exlorer. I know a guy with a Kramer "Aluminium"-Neck Bass Guitar and my Opininon is, that the B-1 is more related to this Bass than to the Stingray. But always think: the fabulous Stingray, the unique B-1 and the Kramer are a "Precision Bass". My B-1 is made in Japan by ESP Custom Shop. It is a very fine Instrument. It feels elegant and heavy. The electric Hardware is a Mather of Taste (SD Bassline).