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ESP LTD B-205 (SM)

JoZac21

JoZac21

Nov 30, 2009
1,250
207
Brooklyn, NY
#1
Yesterday I put an initial payment down on an LTD B-205SM... to be quite honest with you, I always had negative preconceived notions concerning ESP/LTD instruments, being that they're primarily marketed to "metal musicians", which, although I do appreciate good metal, I'm certainly not.

I was looking for a back up bass for my Sadowsky, as I play in a Soul-Rock group and we gig and rehearse a lot, sometimes in not the greatest neighborhoods at not the greatest hours.

Strangely enough, Larry Hartke was the one who recommended I check one out... and I was blown away. If I hadn't have seen the price tag, I would have estimated, after playing it a bit, that the instrument was worth at least twice what they were charging.

So here's my question... I can't seem to find many reviews or information from people whom have owned the instrument. Have any of you had some long term gigging experience with LTD B-20x instruments? I feel like with this bass I was really looking for the holy grail combination of inexpencive but seriously high quility... did I actually find it?

Any input on these basses would be appreciated.

Thanks a bunch.
 
#2
I keep attempting to find more information on these instruments... I've been scouring the internet, and I can find much of anything... is this a new model?

Bass in question:

B-205SM_NS.jpg
 
#3
I can't say anything about the B series, but I have a F-255 that I play through a Hartke HA7000 (4x10 & 2x15's) and I LOVE it!
Good feel, great craftsmanship, well worth every penny. The F-255 looks like a metal bass, but I can coax plenty of different sounds from, I've played metal to reggae to jazz on mine and it works out well. I've never recorded with it, so I can say anything about that. I highly recommend.
 
#6
Um, I played a B-500 for the last 3 years. I loved it. All EMG electronics sounded amazing. It was neck-thru which I really liked and although it was satin black the neck was never sticky or anything. The 3 EQ allowed for great variety in tone too. The B-series is a great series I think especially with weight, setup, sound, and the looks aren't bad either. I just traded my B-500 tho.
 
#7
My guitar player has a B-205, I believe an older one.

bass seems pretty nice, but his always has dead strings on it and relief is set up too high so I have a hard time reallly being critical aabout its tone/playability.
 
#8
Thanks for the responses... it seems to me this is a pretty new instrument, and the 6 string is the more popular model. I'm gonna pick the bass up on friday, so I'll write up a complete review, of which there seem to be little-none online.
 
#9
The B-20x series is not new. They've been around for at least 10 years.

I have a B-206, bought new just before they came out with the ugly Spalted Maple top. Most of my experience should also apply to the 5 string version.

Overall, it's a nice bass for the money, but heavy, even for a 6 string.

At the time I bought it, it was advertised as having EMG HZ pups. (It's even hand-written in the owners manual.) They could be an OEM version, but they lack the quick-connect and EMG logo.

The preamp seemed voiced better for skinny-string than bass guitar and ate batteries quickly. I replaced it.

The neck needs seasonal tweaks, but nothing out of the ordinary.

The finish is very thick and hard. (Learned the hard way. :D )

Hope this helps.
 
#12
I own the B-206SM (the six-string model), and through experience, the feel is very nice. The neck is very smooth and the frets are Extra jumbo.
As far as playability goes, it's very fast, the low B is very defined (as the 35" scale neck is intended for), as are all the other strings.

(This is a completely fabricated thought on other people's thought) I think the notion that these are metal basses is that they have a very bright sound that is useful for having a low B note cut through the mix, but in all honesty, the high intensity is good for versatility.
The stock EQ system and pickups are, like the bass it's self, very bright and punchy. The highs and lows are very distinct and the mids are prominent enough to make a solid mix. Along with being very easy to have a high bass and high voicing makes it very easy to twist into taking large portions of either out. If you need a solid, low-end for a backline part, or a very grainy and puncturing sound, it has the ability to do that.


I find that it sounds best with the original pickups, and, regrettably, I got rid of them for defective EMGs and am now currently waiting for the ability to buy new ones/re-install the old ones.


There was a few minor problems I faced right away:
1. The factory strings are horribly dry. Replace immediately.
2.When getting a new set of strings (DR Red Devil 30-125), my G string has annoying buzz when played open and the solution after a few trouble-shooting ideas ,turned out to be that the nut was not tall enough. That might have been a small flaw on mine. But it's always a good idea to check.

If you have any other questions, message me.

Also, the finish is amazing in person.
 
#14
Thats one of the brand new series by them. Ive been waiting for them to start showing up on MF and other such big internet store websites. Most anything from esp ltd from the 154dx, 155dx series are great basses imo. B series like your looking at are certainly suitable for any form of music. I prefer the F series for their 35 scale and slightly longer distance of bridge to end of body. But looks wise I like both the B & F series about equal. The bass your looking at and the rest of the new lineup ect for B'series is here: The ESP Guitar Company | 2011 USA Website
 
#15
Gonna bump this way up cause Hello Music has these for $300 today.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I almost got one, but decided I'm happy with my P bass.

That spalted maple though, oh my goodness...
 
#16
This may not be relevant anymore (or at all), but I bought a B-254 a few years back (Honeyburst, neckthrough, stringthrough, Active EMG pre and pickups (HZ), black nickel HW...gorgeous) new for $300. It's got a great neck and is very comfortable to play. Very warm.

I played a similar B-2xx model with the ESP's, and I wasn't as impressed. Everyone's tastes are different but I prefer the EMG's pickups & preamp over the ESP's.

I agree that the spalted top is gorgeous on that B205-SM, but I wouldn't bite either.
Thanks for the link.
 
#20
RyanJD said:
Almost sold out on Hello Music.

I had an ESP LTD F-205. I assume this B-205 is similar but better. My F-205 was pretty nice, but I traded up.

I'm seriously in love with spalted maple...
Click to expand...
Im pretty positive the only difference between the B-204/5 and F-204/5 were the bodys and inlay at the 12th. The Old F/B-205's had EMG HZ's with an EMG B preamp. I think in 2006 they started making the spalted versions, the "E" versions, and started using their own pickups and preamp. I think LTD's are the most underrated basses. The fit, finish, and sound have been fantastic on every LTD Ive owned. The good news is though that they are very cheap and you can score an older $700+ bass for a couple hundred.
 

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