Esp J-models?

I've only heard good things about them, never played one myself though..

 

I'd like to find out as well...

 

I play ESP basses.
Good stuff.
ESP is a big company in Japan that makes custom made basses.I believe they still have the LA branch too.

 

Bumping this thread, I'm hoping someone out there has more input on these since this thread originated, I'm curious about these Basses as well.

 

The ESP basses from the late70's and 80's were very good fender copys.

 

They are nice basses. I don't know the retail but I wouldn't pay over 1K for a 5string. I was thinking about getting one for a back up instrument. ESP makes some good stuff. These are a little less traditional than the old "J" series basses. I had a J-4 and it was really nice. Didn't like the 2-tec bridge but the bass was really great.

 

I bought one for my son. He has had it for 5 years. I play it every once in a while. Other bass players have liked it.

It is easy to get the strings close to the neck. Nice jazz neck similiar to a Fender Geddy Lee. No high points on the frets. Good tuners. Looks great with a 3tone sunburst with a pearl pick guard. Rosewood neck.

Stays in tune easily. Nicley balanced. The neck joint is not as tight as the Godin I have, but you can;t see daylight like on a Fender.

AS far as tone: I never have liked the range of tones from the EMG pickups. Tones are nice, but not enough variation for myself, either between the two pickups or using the tone knob. Listening to my son playing at gigs, it sound great in the house though. Better than some of the other more expensive basses that other band's bass players are using. But who knows how they are e-quing them.

I just recently raised the pickups according to what the EMG sebsite indicates and the sound hase improved both in tone and in volume. Much better now.

Battery's seem to last forever. The first two years we did not even know it had a battery, until I got curious about what was under the hood.

 

I just played on a 5 string. The B string was kinda weak. May have been the strings or the set up. The preamp was really weak sounding. Tons of high end but no bottom. Nice finish and all. They are made in Korea. I think for the money I could find something I would like a little more. That's my take.

 

I have 2 ESP basses
A PJ and another that was custom made with a one piece mahogany precision body with a P and a Stingray pickup.

For custom made ESP basses they sit you down in a showroom and start bringing basses out to show you options.
Then let you play basses to choose the body woods.
Then let you play some more to choose the pickups and tone controls.

I was in the showroom all day and finally put together the bass I wanted.

 

well ive only seen one person play one and thats Stanley Banks for George Benson, any he uses on the Absolutely Live dvd, and the wierd thing is he has a fodera 6 string as a backup, he doesnt touch it the whole concert...but anyway

 

The ESP basses sold in Japan and the custom shop stuff, while pricey is an extremely high quality instrument. I wouldn't mind owning one, but I certainly don't have $3,000 hanging around.

 

Tom Barney plays the J-1005 through the entire "Steely Dan - Two against nature" DVD. And it sounds very nice.

"Although bassist Tom Barney normally uses (and endorses) Aguilar amps, he's opted for an Eden rig on this tour to get the sound he needs for the Steely Dan material. It consists of a Navigator preamp, a WT-1000 power amp, and four D410XST cabinets. He's playing ESP J-1005 LTD Deluxe and Celinder 5-string basses."

-DK

 

They do look nice..

 

Tom Barney sounds VERY good on his.

 

I have played the 4 and 5 String versions of the ESP J Bass in ? and really dig them.they are very Funky(if that is what one is looking for) and the amount of time I spent playing them they seemed very versatile.if one is interested in a Modern J Bass this would /should be on ones list.I was in serious talks with ESP about using the J Bass(LTD)but chose to go with Fender instead.

 

Yes it's true, Tom Barney does use ESP basses. He has an ESP endorsment. They give him basses all the time! He also has an new Eden endorsment and something else He told me (I just forgot what it is!). It's a funny thing, I asked him to give me one of the ESP basses an he told me the extra's go to the kids in his neighborhood. I started to tell him throw some eden stuff my way but didn't bother.
He's a great friend though! I'm looking foward to getting together with him in August (thats if he's not on tour like last year!)

 

Another one I let go a few years back
I played the crap out of this 1984 ESP Mk4 PJ in seafoam green for 15 years before I foolishly sold it. I bought it brand new and it is or was the only bass I ever owned that had just my Mojo from the beginning of it's life until I sold it in 99.
What a great bass, Seafoam green an gold hardware with Duncan 1/4 punders form 86, The bass rocked!

 

reviving a very old thread here..... Last week I saw a custom ESP jazz bass that had extended upper and lower horns... very modern looking... not unlike the newer Valenti basses.

Does anyone have any info / pics on these?