esp bass ,bad or good

[MonopolyMoney]

The old ESP instruments from when they were a replacement shop for vintage-correct Fender parts were great.

Not saying anything about the new ones nor their players.

 

[pappabass]

I have a older LTD B205 natural finish 5 string. Active EMG pickups. It is fantastic for the money. I have owned it for 15 years. It has seen a lot of road, but has been babied, still looks like new.

 

[edcars]

had 2 ltd vipers, great basses and can be score for fairly cheap and i've always wanted an ESP B-1

 

[bassbenj]

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.

I've got a B-206sm also. I LOVE the neck and fingerboard. In fact i LOVE EVERYTHING about this bass. I've had no problems with any of it and I got it new for a song. The only thing is the weight. The thing weighs a ton and feels like playing a dump truck. But hey if you want everything you have to pay more. Personally, the weight doesn't bother me. My Conklin 7 string weighs even more!

 

[47VevetS]

ESP is known for metal, I love metal, and I love my ESP

 

[songwriter21]

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

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Heck with the bass, I'd for love them to just deliver Doris.

 

[RickyT]

I played an ESP LTD B205 for about 15 years. I played in punk bands, metal bands, rock bands, prog bands and it sounded great for everything.

 

[Feralhog]

The ESP Viper 414 sounds and plays pretty good for what I paid for it used. You have to twist the knobs some to get different sounds, but that is what they are there for I believe. I would consider higher end models if I ever saw one in a store!

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

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 .

In the early 80's ESP's were a great value, haven't kept pace with what they offer but they always seemed to make a quality instrument into the 90's though the prices went higher.

I would be hesitant to make a decision on one person's sound based on their rig, would rather try one on my own, through my own setup. Seems not to smart to base your opinion on a variety of basses without running through a standardized rig like your own.

 

[KohanMike]

I'm glad I looked at this thread, gives me confidence in what I'm about to do. I bought an ESP LTD F-Junior 20.5" scale guitar for $189 specifically to convert into a bass (I only play sub-short scale bass, see my signature). I plan on using flatwound short scale light strings, going to put a cover on the rear pickup, waiting for a bass bridge set and use the tailpiece to cover the six string-through holes. (I've done the same thing to an Epiphone Les Paul Express 22" scale guitar.)

 

[JGbassman]

I have an ESP C305 that is the best sounding bass I've ever owned. I have some baselines pickups and some preamp mods going on, but this bass kills everything else I've tried live. I toured with this bass and did multiple bigger shows with it. It's as pro as any bass I've used. Here I'm using it during an iheart acoustic radio show somewhere on the east coast with the country artist I toured with. And yes, the drummer was using a suitcase as a kick drum. It actually sounded pretty cool...

 

[47VevetS]

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

That EAsP Frank Bello is more like $3900.00

 

[47VevetS]

That EAsP Frank Bello is more like $3900.00

Lol meant ESP not EAsP

 

[Whippet]

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got my attention. wish it came in a 5 string.

 

[Neil goodwin]

Just bought a B-205sm from Thomann. Beautiful, apart from the noisiest pot (mid) ever. ESP claim that it was checked post manufacture, but it couldn’t have been as the noise would have been obvious immediately, as would the amount of crap in the area around the preamp/EQ which had to be vacuumed out. Cleaned the pot with contact cleaner but no difference. Replacement pot being supplied by Thomann, but standard of finish is diabolical fir a premium bass such as this and raises real questions re. ESP as a quality brand.
But it does sound great......