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ESP LTD b-204sm?

E

Emil Schnell

Nov 17, 2018
10
0
#1
Hello everyone :))

I am looking around for a new bass. I dont have much experience and don't have the opportunity of trying out a lot (the local shop isn't that great...). Anyway, I was browsing around an fell in love with the looks on this bass. Therefore I was wondering what experience people in here have. Is it good or bad? Havent really been able to find a clear and honest anwser to this. A lot of Google reviews says it's the most fantastic thing they have ever seen and it looks biased to me and leaves out a lot of stuff. Hope some of you can help me with this :))
 
#2
It's a good bass. Pretty solid. My main gripe with that unfortunate price range is that you can find used instruments that cost $1000+ new in the price range of a new b-204sm... So yeah... If you really want that bass, you probably wont be disappointed, but I always feel like you could get something 2x as good that's used, for that kind of a price.
 
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#4
InternetAlias said:
It's a good bass. Pretty solid. My main gripe with that unfortunate price range is that you can find used instruments that cost $1000+ new in the price range of a new b-204sm... So yeah... If you really want that bass, you probably wont be disappointed, but I always feel like you could get something 2x as good that's used, for that kind of a price.[/QUOTE

Such as? :))
Click to expand...
 
#5
It’s a great sounding base. I have the fretless Version. Lots of great tones with the EQ section.

I don’t know where that thousand dollar price tag comment came from, but Sweet water is selling them new for $550. And you can get them used for 300. And I think it’s a great bargain at that used price. At around $600 I’d be looking at a used Lakeland.

So if you’d like soap bars and Active electronics, this is a good bass.


Sorry for spelling issues above. iPhone talk to type is getting worse. I’m not going back and fixing it.
 
#7
BassAndReeds said:
It’s a great sounding base. I have the fretless Version. Lots of great tones with the EQ section.

I don’t know where that thousand dollar price tag comment came from, but Sweet water is selling them new for $550. And you can get them used for 300. And I think it’s a great bargain at that used price. At around $600 I’d be looking at a used Lakeland.

So if you’d like soap bars and Active electronics, this is a good bass.


Sorry for spelling issues above. iPhone talk to type is getting worse. I’m not going back and fixing it.
Click to expand...

Thanks :))
Im not so experienced and want to get better. Therefore I'm looking for something versatile and when I think about it might be the question I'm asking. If it's versatile. I got someone saying that it's not and someone saying that it is. Therefore I'm not sure what to believe and I don't have the opportunity to try it out :))
 
#8
Emil Schnell said:
Thanks :))
Im not so experienced and want to get better. Therefore I'm looking for something versatile and when I think about it might be the question I'm asking. If it's versatile. I got someone saying that it's not and someone saying that it is. Therefore I'm not sure what to believe and I don't have the opportunity to try it out :))
Click to expand...
Let’s try this. What is your price range? And what styles of music do you play?
 
#9
I mostly buy more expensive basses that are used to meet this price range. Seems to give a lot of bang for buck as already mentioned. However, not everyone wants (or can deal with) the hassle of the problems that can occur with a used bass. Most of my basses were bought used EXCEPT for my SX basses which were cheap enough not to worry and for... wait for it... my ESP LTD B206SM!

Truth is I was in Sam Ash pulled it down and was so amazed I just HAD to own it. Neck is just amazing, and look was killer. After living with it for a while my main gripe is it's kind of heavy. This doesn't bother me much but can be an issue for some people. They make a version in mahogany that is lighter than the ash, but it is WAY more expensive for essentially the same bass.
 
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#10
BassAndReeds said:
Let’s try this. What is your price range? And what styles of music do you play?
Click to expand...

Well that's the thing....
I'm not very experienced and the bass I have, which is also my first, is a very bad p bass. Therefore I have yet to play something better and more versatile, so it would be cool with an all arounder. This is also why im in doubt about just buying it, because of people calling it a metal bass.

I probably wont spend more than 600 dollars
 
#11
bassbenj said:
I mostly buy more expensive basses that are used to meet this price range. Seems to give a lot of bang for buck as already mentioned. However, not everyone wants (or can deal with) the hassle of the problems that can occur with a used bass. Most of my basses were bought used EXCEPT for my SX basses which were cheap enough not to worry and for... wait for it... my ESP LTD B206SM!

Truth is I was in Sam Ash pulled it down and was so amazed I just HAD to own it. Neck is just amazing, and look was killer. After living with it for a while my main gripe is it's kind of heavy. This doesn't bother me much but can be an issue for some people. They make a version in mahogany that is lighter than the ash, but it is WAY more expensive for essentially the same bass.
Click to expand...

Nice
When thinking about it the answer I was looking for was if it is or can be versatile... So is it or can it be versatile?
 
#12
Emil Schnell said:
Nice
When thinking about it the answer I was looking for was if it is or can be versatile... So is it or can it be versatile?
Click to expand...

Define "versatile". You can play literally any genre of music on a P bass without any issues. If you are after a very specific tone, though, you might want a very specific bass... But at that point, versatility boils down to "have two humbuckers, and possibly coil splits".

The real question is, if you are starting out, do you even need versatility?

I started out on a jazz bass and played it exclusively with both pickups wide open, tone wide open for years. I played folk, jazz and metal all the same.

So my advice is, get a really cheap and nice bass that is also simple, learn how to play on it, then when you acquire tastes and needs, invest into something specific.
 
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#16
In my experience LTD/ESP has the most consistent QC of any maker on the market. They are consistent across their entire product range from entry level to the custom shop...And you often find features in their mid level stuff that can only be found in higher priced models among their competition...I have owned and played LTD/ESP basses for the last 30 years and have a model from just about every price point from $300.00 up to $2500.00. I also own several skinny string guitars from LTD/ESP as well...necks are comfortable and well shaped...They often get pigeon-holed as metal basses however which is truly a shame...

One of my favorite bar gig basses (see pic below) is an LTD Vintage 204...which an entry level bass and it is made better than most of the MIM Fenders I own at half the price...Can't go wrong with and LTD...YMMV

IMG_2102_zps5969a6c5.jpg
 
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#18
Snakeman1066 said:
In my experience LTD/ESP has the most consistent QC of any maker on the market. They are consistent across their entire product range from entry level to the custom shop...And you often find features in their mid level stuff that can only be found in higher priced models among their competition...I have owned and played LTD/ESP basses for the last 30 years and have a model from just about every price point from $300.00 up to $2500.00. I also own several skinny string guitars from LTD/ESP as well...necks are comfortable and well shaped...They often get pigeon-holed as metal basses however which is truly a shame...

One of my favorite bar gig basses (see pic below) is an LTD Vintage 204...which an entry level bass and it is made better than most of the MIM Fenders I own at half the price...Can't go wrong with and LTD...YMMV

View attachment 3217948
Click to expand...


Thank you very much :D
Your bass looks good. Im just more interested in these types of basses rather than the more classical types and to me the b-204 looks perfect.
 
#20
Emil Schnell said:
Thank you very much :D
Your bass looks good. Im just more interested in these types of basses rather than the more classical types and to me the b-204 looks perfect.
Click to expand...

never owned any B series Basses but i do own...

ESP/LTD Vintage 204
ESP/LTD Frank Bello Sig
ESP/LTD F-4E
ESP/LTD Stream 204
ESP Surveyor
ESP/LTD F-404FM
ESP/LTD F-414FM
 
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