It's as versatile as any bass with soapbars and active EQ. Which is in fact sort of a criticism of it. The tone is to my taste very generic. Soapbar-active generic. That isn't necessarily bad mind you, but it's not the kind of bass where you listen and can say, oh, that sounds like an xyz bass! And that is one reason the ESP Ltd is not my main axe. If you want versatile I'd suggest a G&L L2000 which in the Tribute series is right in the correct price range. If you are not familiar with that bass you need to know that it has lots of switches and knobosity that does NOT work like most basses. Some people don't like the complexity, the odd controls and other more minor things. But if you can wrap your head around what Leo was thinking you may end up in love like I am. It's certainly worth a good look. This is especially true since the G&L and the ESP LTD are like opposite ends of he bass spectrum. The B204SM is sort of great looking-playing generic while the G&L L2000 is sort of radical-weird but is often termed here the "Swiss Army Knife" of basses. Personally I favor the G&L over the ESP LTD. Try one and see what you think. I wouldn't buy a G&L over the internet without playing one first. They may not be something you'll like.
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ESP LTD b-204sm?
- Thread starter Emil Schnell
- Start date
It's as versatile as any bass with soapbars and active EQ. Which is in fact sort of a criticism of it. The tone is to my taste very generic. Soapbar-active generic. That isn't necessarily bad mind you, but it's not the kind of bass where you listen and can say, oh, that sounds like an xyz bass! And that is one reason the ESP Ltd is not my main axe. If you want versatile I'd suggest a G&L L2000 which in the Tribute series is right in the correct price range. If you are not familiar with that bass you need to know that it has lots of switches and knobosity that does NOT work like most basses. Some people don't like the complexity, the odd controls and other more minor things. But if you can wrap your head around what Leo was thinking you may end up in love like I am. It's certainly worth a good look. This is especially true since the G&L and the ESP LTD are like opposite ends of he bass spectrum. The B204SM is sort of great looking-playing generic while the G&L L2000 is sort of radical-weird but is often termed here the "Swiss Army Knife" of basses. Personally I favor the G&L over the ESP LTD. Try one and see what you think. I wouldn't buy a G&L over the internet without playing one first. They may not be something you'll like.
Thanks for the great advice
Unfortunatly I dont have an opportunity of trying it out... But I will look into it at some point right now I just really wnat to get going and get a good feeling about my choice. Perhaps I will come across different basses before discovering the exact one for me. This is only the start and I kind of want to try them all already
My advice is to look for a pre-owned one with the Nordstrand Big Split pickups.
However, they tend to be kind of heavy.
What's with "ESP LTD"?
Do Epiphone users say "Gibson Epiphone"?
However, they tend to be kind of heavy.
What's with "ESP LTD"?
Do Epiphone users say "Gibson Epiphone"?
it's funny you ask this as all LTD's have LTD printed on the front of the head-stock...but have ESP printed on the back...also when you look on line they are listed as ESP/LTD
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/esp-ltd-b-204sm-electric-bass-guitar
I do find it odd that the sellers won't split ESP & LTD, yet they do split Fender & Squier.
ESP are quite expensive in comparison to LTD, as you can see on their site.
However, they often look like the same bass. I think the Tom Araya signature LTD is $1K USD, but the ESP version is $4K USD.
Similar with a Frank Bello signature model.
Once I compared my $400 USD pre-owned LTD Deluxe to a $2K USD ESP & could barely tell a difference.
I suppose a timbre-snob could, but I couldn't.
The LTD Deluxe was originally a $1K USD instrument.
ESP are quite expensive in comparison to LTD, as you can see on their site.
However, they often look like the same bass. I think the Tom Araya signature LTD is $1K USD, but the ESP version is $4K USD.
Similar with a Frank Bello signature model.
Once I compared my $400 USD pre-owned LTD Deluxe to a $2K USD ESP & could barely tell a difference.
I suppose a timbre-snob could, but I couldn't.
The LTD Deluxe was originally a $1K USD instrument.
I've long been in love with the 5 string version, the B205SM. Haven't played one, but did get to look it over at NAMM a few years back and it seemed a very solid build. I know the 205 comes up on used bases on GC's site all the time in the $300 range. Also, they'll have a pic of the instrument so you can see how well figured the spalted maple is. I know from talking to ESP, what you get new is a hit and miss on the wood, and I've seen some that were extremely plain. So even if I didn't get to play it first, I'd want to see a pic of the actual bass before ordering. Then with GC's return policy, you're pretty well covered. I plan to get one some day and if the tone isn't quite right, I'll put in some Nordstrand pickups...
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I had and loved a B4E. I sold it thinking I needed something better. I often wish I still had it.
I have since decided I prefer passive to active but I never had any issue with the Ltd.
I have since decided I prefer passive to active but I never had any issue with the Ltd.
I have the fretless 5 which I like allot, as for versatility, the single neck pu sound is very warm and broad in the P bass analog world...I prefer the 2 humbuckers but the one is always an option. actually fretless P is classic...(I don't use the bridge even on the fretless, I'd have to add low end and the 2 pu sound is perfect for the fretless tone) There is enough eq in the preamp to play reggae or it's opposite, very bright. Lots of variety, of course, comes from where and how you pluck the thing. As a first bass it's about 1000% better than what I started out on.
my Epiphone Sheraton.
I have a LTD b204. I purchased it new online - essentially as a beginner bass (after a long lay off) and have bought other basses since, but it remains my favorite. I agree with bassbenj that it doesn't have a particularly distinctive tone, but it is a well-built, good-quality instrument.
I owned a B204 SM. I found it to be a very good quality instrument. Good tone, good playability. It was stable as heck and took a setup nicely. I have since moved on in my bass journey - but the LTD series across the board is a tough one to beat. For the same money, you could do much much worse.
Personally, I will avoid anything ESP in the future. I recently got a new ESP bass and it was, to put it nicely, a lemon. Customer support was responsive, but they were unwilling to fix the problems, even though the bass was under warranty. I'll stick with Fender and Schecter.
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
I've looked at Schecter a lot too. There's just so much different stuff to choose from, and some of it is a little more pricier than I would have liked... Anyway what would you recommend that's kinda the same pricerange?
I really like the Schecter Diamond Series Stiletto Extreme. It was my go to bass for years until I recently got a Fender P Bass. I still use it for some songs because it has 24 frets. They go for about $450.00.
I own LTD F4 ENS (BEAD) & LTD F204 FM (DADG)...35" versions of B series. I will upgrade them with EMG pups and active EQ's at some point. For now, both are great for the job, even paired with a cheap behringer distortion (I play metal these days) I'm on the hunt for a B7K Ultra from Darkglass.Thanks for the great advice
Unfortunatly I dont have an opportunity of trying it out... But I will look into it at some point right now I just really wnat to get going and get a good feeling about my choice. Perhaps I will come across different basses before discovering the exact one for me. This is only the start and I kind of want to try them all already
