esp bass ,bad or good

[wishforbass]

Esp basses are expensive .
But is it just me that I think they are good just for metal ,like some model I saw like Tom arya bass ,has fat rhythm sound ,you can't go out of rhythm with it .
The fat sound is too much fat for other style like softer music .
Other thing is that they are not that much flexible or at least Tom arya model one .the sound is so muddy .
You can't hear clean sound from it .
Usually slap on them will be not good ,and they are good for pick and fast play .
I know some say p pickups in fact speed get sloppy (I didn't see it but other say it does )
But hum style on esp are like too much hum.
I don't know maybe esp just focus on metal but shouldn't a brand have different style basses and flexible ones.
They look good ,weight good but sound is not beautiful .
You can hear the bass but bass is mix with not visible sound .
It's like it's too much noise mix with it .
I saw other humbucker like Warwick but they weren't that much noisy that esp is .
Esp sound is fat but mix with noise lead a weird sound that in metal mix may worm but in some other style I don't think so .
Was any point behind making esp this way ?
Does emg want make his unique sound or can't emg make better pickups for bass?

Emg is great for guitar but for bass ,
I don't think so .

 

[Snakeman1066]

ESP/LTD basses come in many price points and many body styles (including traditional shapes and multi-scale basses)...not every ESP/LTD bass is equipped with active EMG pick-ups... they also use passive and single coils as well as other brands including Norstrand, Aguilar, and their own in-house brand...

while it is true that many metal players play ESP/LTD basses and the brand gets associated with that Genre of music...there are Rock, Funk, Blues, Country, and R & B players that also use ESP/LTD basses...

off the top of my head...

Bunny Brunel
Rocco Prestia
Warren McRae
Sean McKee

ESP got a metal rap because almost all of the Jackson endorsers jumped ship to ESP after the Fender Buy-out...in a way ESP owes it's popularity to Fender

ESP/LTD is known for making high quality guitars and basses and every price point...if you can't find something you like...something tells me your listening with your eyes and not your hands or ears...

I own 6 ESP/LTD basses at various price points from $200.00 to 1,200.00 and they are better made than many of their competition at the same price point and offer features, specs, and upgrades not available from the competition at the same price point...

 

[tfer]

I play an ESP 6er in a Country band...

 

[Sid the Kid]

I have an ESP E-II AP-5. A mouthfull, I know, and now discontinued.

The construction is flawless. The playability is second to none. Wide bridge spacing, super smooth neck finish, perfect fretwork and meticulous attention to detail.

It has 2 Seymour Duncan music man humbuckers with series/single/parallel switching, a blend knob, and 3 band SD preamp. It sounds remarkable and also sounds nothing like any Leo Fender design. I think it could use better pickups but the Seymour Duncan setup still kills.

The sound of the bass is very versatile, and the look of the bass is very not metal. They also do some top notch Fender ripoffs which are no doubt as good or better than a Fender.

It's easy to listen with your eyes when you see pointy basses! The poor ESP sound you describe says more about the musicians using them than the instruments. ESP makes great basses.

 

[Sid the Kid]

Emg HZ pickups generally suck, especially compared to full fledged EMG's. Night and day differece.

Keep that in mind when you are looking at cheaper LTD basses.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I don't think their high end stuff is worth the price, but their budget line is pretty daggone phenomenal.

That said, I'd love for Doris to deliver her signature series to my door:

The inlays light up, BTW

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Neon Blues]

Esp basses are expensive .
But is it just me that I think they are good just for metal ,like some model I saw like Tom arya bass ,has fat rhythm sound ,you can't go out of rhythm with it .
The fat sound is too much fat for other style like softer music .
Other thing is that they are not that much flexible or at least Tom arya model one .the sound is so muddy .
You can't hear clean sound from it .
Usually slap on them will be not good ,and they are good for pick and fast play .
I know some say p pickups in fact speed get sloppy (I didn't see it but other say it does )
But hum style on esp are like too much hum.
I don't know maybe esp just focus on metal but shouldn't a brand have different style basses and flexible ones.
They look good ,weight good but sound is not beautiful .
You can hear the bass but bass is mix with not visible sound .
It's like it's too much noise mix with it .
I saw other humbucker like Warwick but they weren't that much noisy that esp is .
Esp sound is fat but mix with noise lead a weird sound that in metal mix may worm but in some other style I don't think so .
Was any point behind making esp this way ?
Does emg want make his unique sound or can't emg make better pickups for bass?

Emg is great for guitar but for bass ,
I don't think so .

Not sure what your bass experience is like but ESP are one of the best brands going around and offer a massive range of good products. I've owned an ESP Vintage Four and is one of the best Precisions I've ever played.

They generally use EMG's in their basses because they are powerful and clean which is the exact opposite of muddy.

If you are getting a muddy tone and can't hear yourself in the mix with EMG's. You are doing something drastically wrong.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Esp basses are expensive .
But is it just me that I think they are good just for metal ,like some model I saw like Tom arya bass ,has fat rhythm sound ,you can't go out of rhythm with it .
The fat sound is too much fat for other style like softer music .
Other thing is that they are not that much flexible or at least Tom arya model one .the sound is so muddy .
You can't hear clean sound from it .
Usually slap on them will be not good ,and they are good for pick and fast play .
I know some say p pickups in fact speed get sloppy (I didn't see it but other say it does )
But hum style on esp are like too much hum.
I don't know maybe esp just focus on metal but shouldn't a brand have different style basses and flexible ones.
They look good ,weight good but sound is not beautiful .
You can hear the bass but bass is mix with not visible sound .
It's like it's too much noise mix with it .
I saw other humbucker like Warwick but they weren't that much noisy that esp is .
Esp sound is fat but mix with noise lead a weird sound that in metal mix may worm but in some other style I don't think so .
Was any point behind making esp this way ?
Does emg want make his unique sound or can't emg make better pickups for bass?

Emg is great for guitar but for bass ,
I don't think so .

ESP has probably the biggest range of basses. Their range from beginner to pro instruments is larger than any other company. Personally I love my f-415fm. Sure it doesn't exactly have the look for church on Sunday but it's a great bass IMO. It's dead silent(no noise) if you leave the 3 band eq flat which is what I always do anyways. I can easily get a great slap tone out of it. The ESP and EII stuff is great. Now yeah if you buy a $300 bass you get a $300 bass.

I won't speak for all EMG pickups but personally I think EMG 40DC pickups kick ass. If you don't like them you're In the minority (especially among 5 and 6 string players) . I've seen those pickups in everything from $5k spectors to priceless custom instruments like Les Claypool from Primus custom CT basses. I've also played an ESP surveyor loaded with EMGs versions of the musicman and P pickups. The pickups didn't work that great together but individually I thought they sounded good. I prefer the 40dc over anything else and I've owned $6k neck through warwicks and even now if I spent 10k on a custom bass I'd go with those pickups. If your dead set against EMG pickups I'd recommend looking at one of ESPs Aguilar or nordstrand loaded basses.

 

[jd56hawk]

Esp basses are expensive .
But is it just me that I think they are good just for metal ,like some model I saw like Tom arya bass ,has fat rhythm sound ,you can't go out of rhythm with it .
The fat sound is too much fat for other style like softer music .
Other thing is that they are not that much flexible or at least Tom arya model one .the sound is so muddy .
You can't hear clean sound from it .
Usually slap on them will be not good ,and they are good for pick and fast play .
I know some say p pickups in fact speed get sloppy (I didn't see it but other say it does )
But hum style on esp are like too much hum.
I don't know maybe esp just focus on metal but shouldn't a brand have different style basses and flexible ones.
They look good ,weight good but sound is not beautiful .
You can hear the bass but bass is mix with not visible sound .
It's like it's too much noise mix with it .
I saw other humbucker like Warwick but they weren't that much noisy that esp is .
Esp sound is fat but mix with noise lead a weird sound that in metal mix may worm but in some other style I don't think so .
Was any point behind making esp this way ?
Does emg want make his unique sound or can't emg make better pickups for bass?

Emg is great for guitar but for bass ,
I don't think so .

One model is $950, one is $450. I tried the LTD model out last month. Surprisingly nice bass for under $500.

 

[DavC]

had a ESP LTD J-2005 ... i think that was the model ...

it was OK ... neck was rather thick , was a boat anchor , build quality was OK ... MIK ...

 

[wishforbass]

Guys I meant the Tom arya model .
It sound so muddy and unclear .maybe because it's the signature .
I never see other esp nor ltd ,in my country to try it .

 

[inanimate_carb]

Araya's tone using that bass is likely because of amp distortion, dead strings, and the way he sets his tone and EQ. A well-made bass with EMG pickups in it normally won't sound muddy or unclear. The Araya signature in somebody else's hands may be as bright and punchy as anything else.

 

[gwangi]

I haven't played any of the ESP line but the LTD line I have a B-206sm and I really like how the neck & fingerboard feel alot but I'm starting question the quality now of the instrument, I've already have had the neck go bad on me and ESP put a new neck on and the pickups sound kind of thin and the machine heads are starting to get loose and falling apart, I've looked into replacing the machine heads but I'm looking at major bucks and I don't think it's worth it.
So I'm starting to get disappointed.

 

[rodv66]

ESP is great brand and known for qualiy. They make traditional and non traditional styles. With so many styles and price points, there is something for everyone.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Yeah, they run the gamut - really bad to really good - but they seem to have targeted the "heavy rock" niche exclusively, like Kramer. I've played a few, was not impressed - but that doesn't mean much.

 

[maves75]

I've so many ESP/LTD basses I admire. No first hand experience with them. I'd like an Araya Signature. An early TA500, and a 604 FRX mostly. I can't see why you couldn't obtain acceptable sound from either one. I'm happy to be able to obtain an Araya bass on demand. The one I own is one of 2 and murderous hard to find. I'll buy most likely a 604 FRX when I can. Great shape to me.

 

[Malak the Mad]

That said, I'd love for Doris to deliver her signature series to my door:


The inlays light up, BTW

"All the better to light your way to my doorstep, Dearie!" drool, said the Big Bad Bassist in Granny's clothing.

 

[shawshank72]

I don't think their high end stuff is worth the price, but their budget line is pretty daggone phenomenal.

That said, I'd love for Doris to deliver her signature series to my door:

The inlays light up, BTW

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

That is one hell of a bassist. Very talented.

 

[socialleper]

I wouldn't call ESP\LTD expensive. They are well built and reliable instruments. They really are mostly knock offs of other brand's designs, but are executed well. I was almost going to buy one of their 214 Vintage PJ basses, but found a good deal on a Peavey Forum. I have a TA-600 that I really like.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I had an ESP LTD B1006 six string bass.
Nice solid neck through bass,
The neck pickup sound was phenominal!

They're discontinued,but there are a few still out there.
One bass that I should have kept.