Hey guys, can anyone do a quick demo of what the fretless sounds like? I've been looking forward to hearing it for a while but nothing has shown on the web yet :/
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ESP LTD B-205 (SM)
- Thread starter JoZac21
- Start date
The B-205sm and B-205sm-FL are nearly invisible on the web in terms of user reviews, etc.
I have the fretted version and think it's a tremendous value, but the stock SIT roundwound strings give it too much high end 'clank'. Haven't figured out what to replace them with so I'm kinda hoping the tone will settled down - but I'm buying the fretless twin anyway. The fretted is that nice.
I have the fretted version and think it's a tremendous value, but the stock SIT roundwound strings give it too much high end 'clank'. Haven't figured out what to replace them with so I'm kinda hoping the tone will settled down - but I'm buying the fretless twin anyway. The fretted is that nice.
Come Christmas I will have had my B205SM for a year. I got it for myself as a Christmas present and I haven't regretted it once.
I'm kind of a rookie at gear choices, but if I had to pick again I would still choose the same bass.
I agree. I've had mine for a bit longer than you have, and can't find anything I dislike.
I strung both of mine (fretted and fretless) with D'Addario Black Nylon Tapewounds. Sounds good and they PLAY GREAT. So much fun to slide around with no audible squeak or tactile drag. Maybe not as 'expressive' as some other string choices, but I figure it's a bass - part of the rhythm section.
I strung both of mine (fretted and fretless) with D'Addario Black Nylon Tapewounds. Sounds good and they PLAY GREAT. So much fun to slide around with no audible squeak or tactile drag. Maybe not as 'expressive' as some other string choices, but I figure it's a bass - part of the rhythm section.
I say, DO it. Of course everybody's different, and everyone has his own expectations...so I'm qualifying that.
I played a dozen good basses in local shops before buying a pair of B-205s. I never found a B-205 or B-204 to play locally, but played a couple of LTDs that are one or two levels above the B series. Online research suggested that most components across the adjacent model lines are the same - typically the more expensive models have different pickups, but I read comments on the B-205 pickups saying they weren't bad at all.
So being a bass noob, I figured I wouldn't know the difference anyway, so I took a chance and bought the fretted 5 online. Had to tweak the setup and hated the strings. Once restrung, I liked it so much that I bought 'the fretless twin' online, too.
No regrets, and you can't beat the price. In fact, I don't know of another fretless 5 for under $1000. I got mine for about $350 USD.
As for the fretless 4, there's a Fender in the same price range. I feel bad for cash-strapped bassists who don't know, and buy something more expensive without giving the B-20x line a try...
I played a dozen good basses in local shops before buying a pair of B-205s. I never found a B-205 or B-204 to play locally, but played a couple of LTDs that are one or two levels above the B series. Online research suggested that most components across the adjacent model lines are the same - typically the more expensive models have different pickups, but I read comments on the B-205 pickups saying they weren't bad at all.
So being a bass noob, I figured I wouldn't know the difference anyway, so I took a chance and bought the fretted 5 online. Had to tweak the setup and hated the strings. Once restrung, I liked it so much that I bought 'the fretless twin' online, too.
No regrets, and you can't beat the price. In fact, I don't know of another fretless 5 for under $1000. I got mine for about $350 USD.
As for the fretless 4, there's a Fender in the same price range. I feel bad for cash-strapped bassists who don't know, and buy something more expensive without giving the B-20x line a try...
I wish ESP/LTD produced a fretless 6-string from this series 
I may yet buy a B206-SM and have it defretted one day, we'll see.
The B204, 205, and 206-SMs are stupid good guitars for the money. I bought a B206-SM and have never looked back, in fact, I bought a B336-SR to use as my main bass, and the B206-SM as the backup/practice bass. There are some differences between them (the 336 is VERY slightly longer scale, a slightly larger body and has EMG's), but they both sound similar (although I like the EMG's in the B336-SR a bit more than the ESP stock pups in the B206-SM) and play fantastic.
On both my B206-SM and B226-SR I love the way the neck feels - very fast, the B string is nice and tight (I use very low action and DR-Lo Riders). The B206-SM is a little less than a pound heavier than my B336-SR (due to the spalted maple top), but neither are terribly heavy (and no neck dive).
I love the clean body style and the controls/bridge/tuners all feel solid.
They do need seasonal adjustments to keep the action where I want it, but it's no big deal (YMMV, in Chicago, Mother Nature tends to be pretty psychotic, especially after October).
I love my ESP LTD's, and wouldn't even consider another guitar until the price range gets up closer to the $2000 mark.
I'm gonna post the pic of my two guitars (again), well, just cuz...
Invalid Link Removed
I may yet buy a B206-SM and have it defretted one day, we'll see.The B204, 205, and 206-SMs are stupid good guitars for the money. I bought a B206-SM and have never looked back, in fact, I bought a B336-SR to use as my main bass, and the B206-SM as the backup/practice bass. There are some differences between them (the 336 is VERY slightly longer scale, a slightly larger body and has EMG's), but they both sound similar (although I like the EMG's in the B336-SR a bit more than the ESP stock pups in the B206-SM) and play fantastic.
On both my B206-SM and B226-SR I love the way the neck feels - very fast, the B string is nice and tight (I use very low action and DR-Lo Riders). The B206-SM is a little less than a pound heavier than my B336-SR (due to the spalted maple top), but neither are terribly heavy (and no neck dive).
I love the clean body style and the controls/bridge/tuners all feel solid.
They do need seasonal adjustments to keep the action where I want it, but it's no big deal (YMMV, in Chicago, Mother Nature tends to be pretty psychotic, especially after October).
I love my ESP LTD's, and wouldn't even consider another guitar until the price range gets up closer to the $2000 mark.
I'm gonna post the pic of my two guitars (again), well, just cuz...
Invalid Link Removed
Jaco-
Yeah those are Fretwraps by Gruvgear. I slide it up and down to and from the nut depending on if I'm doing a tapping thing or something with a number of open strings - cut's down on any ringing notes, especially the open ones.
Yeah those are Fretwraps by Gruvgear. I slide it up and down to and from the nut depending on if I'm doing a tapping thing or something with a number of open strings - cut's down on any ringing notes, especially the open ones.
Thanks. I visited GRUV GEAR and tried to watch a couple of vids, but there are too many (!) Not enough time. If you can answer this I'd appreciate it:
I play 'normally'. No tapping or other exotic techniques (yet). I do include open strings...a lot...because having 5 strings gives me access to unexpected intervals.
QUESTION: Does your Fretwrap totally mute your open strings, or can it be adjusted to allow the string to sound normally - but without unwanted ringing and sustain?
This female player (Ariane Cap
) suggests it can be done, but I didn't hear it very well in her video example.
I play 'normally'
. No tapping or other exotic techniques (yet). I do include open strings...a lot...because having 5 strings gives me access to unexpected intervals. QUESTION: Does your Fretwrap totally mute your open strings, or can it be adjusted to allow the string to sound normally - but without unwanted ringing and sustain?
This female player (Ariane Cap
) suggests it can be done, but I didn't hear it very well in her video example.
Fretwraps are adjustable - you can make them as tight or as loose as you want, or slide them completely back past the nut. You can keep them loose for a light dampening or tighten them up to mute everything that is open.
To maximize the muting effect, you should of course move the slide the fretwrap to the first fret - but this will mean that you won't be able to play anything below the first fret with the fretwrap sitting near the first fret - it's no big deal unless you are trying to play the low C - the other notes (std tuning, below the first fret) Bb, Eb, Ab, Db can be repositioned easily enough to other places on the fingerboard.
In some songs I will leave my fretwraps slid down to the nut, play a section that has open notes, then find a place to slide it down back to the nut. In this video, you can see me do it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQVTPObIEus&feature=youtu.be
If you wanna cut to the chase (and it's a bit rough in places), jump to about 1:30, where I slide the fretwrap into position for the next section (a lot of open notes) and wait until 2:26, where I slide it back down because I don't need the muting and want to access the notes below the first fret.
To maximize the muting effect, you should of course move the slide the fretwrap to the first fret - but this will mean that you won't be able to play anything below the first fret with the fretwrap sitting near the first fret - it's no big deal unless you are trying to play the low C - the other notes (std tuning, below the first fret) Bb, Eb, Ab, Db can be repositioned easily enough to other places on the fingerboard.
In some songs I will leave my fretwraps slid down to the nut, play a section that has open notes, then find a place to slide it down back to the nut. In this video, you can see me do it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQVTPObIEus&feature=youtu.be
If you wanna cut to the chase (and it's a bit rough in places), jump to about 1:30, where I slide the fretwrap into position for the next section (a lot of open notes) and wait until 2:26, where I slide it back down because I don't need the muting and want to access the notes below the first fret.
Come Christmas, I will have mine!!
It is scheduled for delivery in the next few days, unfortunately I am out of the country until my xmas vacation
rtav (Ron) ==
Thanks for the link. GREAT. Man, yo' fingers jus' be flyin'. Both hands!
I'm going to try a Fretwrap and see what it does for me. Thanks.
Also, I'm going way off topic here, but this is an old thread, so... How did you build up such speed in both hands? Is it just "practice, practice, practice...slowly at first and then build up speed"?
PS. Glad to see someone on YouTube operating in a normal household with kids, pets, spouse, in-laws, neighbors, etc. bouncing off the walls. I'm sure it's not the case, but your vid makes me think of Thanksgiving, before dinner is served. That said, HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
Thanks for the link. GREAT. Man, yo' fingers jus' be flyin'. Both hands!
I'm going to try a Fretwrap and see what it does for me. Thanks.
Also, I'm going way off topic here, but this is an old thread, so... How did you build up such speed in both hands? Is it just "practice, practice, practice...slowly at first and then build up speed"?
PS. Glad to see someone on YouTube operating in a normal household with kids, pets, spouse, in-laws, neighbors, etc. bouncing off the walls. I'm sure it's not the case, but your vid makes me think of Thanksgiving, before dinner is served.
That said, HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
Hi JacoNOT,
Thanks for the kind words. Let's see... Hand strength and speed... Well, as I'm continually trying to improve both I'd have to say the usual stuff. Practice slowly, use a metronome to help as you go, and try to practice with really good musicians. I'm fortunate to be in a band with exceptional players, and it really drives me to stay on top of things and push all the time.
Also, try to stretch yourself by playing challenging music, stuff just a bit outside your comfort zone, and practice, practice, practice.
I hope in some small this helps; and if I've made any progress as a bassist it's due more than anything to these things.
I think you'll like the Fretwraps... I know I do.
Thanks for the kind words. Let's see... Hand strength and speed... Well, as I'm continually trying to improve both I'd have to say the usual stuff. Practice slowly, use a metronome to help as you go, and try to practice with really good musicians. I'm fortunate to be in a band with exceptional players, and it really drives me to stay on top of things and push all the time.
Also, try to stretch yourself by playing challenging music, stuff just a bit outside your comfort zone, and practice, practice, practice.
I hope in some small this helps; and if I've made any progress as a bassist it's due more than anything to these things.
I think you'll like the Fretwraps... I know I do.
I wish ESP/LTD produced a fretless 6-string from this series
On both my B206-SM and B226-SR I love the way the neck feels - very fast, the B string is nice and tight (I use very low action and DR-Lo Riders). The B206-SM is a little less than a pound heavier than my B336-SR (due to the spalted maple top), but neither are terribly heavy (and no neck dive).
I love the clean body style and the controls/bridge/tuners all feel solid.
They do need seasonal adjustments to keep the action where I want it, but it's no big deal (YMMV, in Chicago, Mother Nature tends to be pretty psychotic, especially after October).
I love my ESP LTD's, and wouldn't even consider another guitar until the price range gets up closer to the $2000 mark.
No question a fretless ESP/LTD B206 SM would give me SERIOUS GAS!
I haven't had mine long enough to give any gig comments on it and anyway, I have no shortage of 6 string fretted basses and besides that lately I've been in 5 string mode.
But a couple months ago I wandered into Sam Ash with nothing on my mind and spotted the B206(sm). It caught my eye because it looks almost like my Bass Mods 7 string. How cool, thought I, to have a nice PAIR of nearly identical-looking spalted maple basses in 6 and 7 string! And then I picked it up, plugged it in and PLAYED IT! Yowza! It has the BEST feeling factory neck I ever played! And when I saw the price (slightly over $400 new...note the Bass Mods 7 was just under a grand used!) I knew I'd be leaving the store with it and I did.
Note that in 5 strings the B205 SM like my 6er is spalted maple over ASH. But they also make a B1005 which is very similar only flamed maple over mahogany. Now I love ash, but also love mahogany, but the B1005 is slightly over a grand! However TB reports say it's like a several grand bass.
The bottom line after having my ESP/LTD B206SM for a while is that it only has ONE downside. And that is that mine is as heavy as my Bass Mods 7 string (which is 12 pounds). Not horrible for me, but up there at the upper edge. Nevertheless I would Kill to have B206 fretted-fretless pair of these basses!
PS. I have also owned a ESP/LTD 7 string guitar (not bass) for a few years. I bought it used for a song and it's a positively superb instrument that I love. It's only downside (in my opinion) is the pointy headstock.
The ESP/LTD are some WAY underrated instruments.
Thanks, Ron. I knew the answer would be 'practice' but my right hand seems to have maxed out in terms of speed. I can't alternate index and forefinger fast enough to play certain passages, and can't seem to coordinate 3 fingers (index, fore and ring fingers). Well maybe I've found my limit and will just have to resort to multi-track recording trickery to fill in the gaps...
bassbenj ==
You and I are on the same page regarding "matched pairs", but for me it's 5 strings. I switch back and forth between fretted and fretless B-205SMs - and each experience improves the other.
And FWIW, playing bass is changing/improving my guitar work, and vice versa. At $700 for both basses, I couldn't be happier.
My earlier thread on the virtues of owning a matched pair.
My earlier review/comparison of fretted and fretless B-205Ms.
but my right hand seems to have maxed out in terms of speed. I can't alternate index and forefinger fast enough to play certain passages, and can't seem to coordinate 3 fingers (index, fore and ring fingers). Well maybe I've found my limit and will just have to resort to multi-track recording trickery to fill in the gaps...bassbenj ==
You and I are on the same page regarding "matched pairs", but for me it's 5 strings. I switch back and forth between fretted and fretless B-205SMs - and each experience improves the other.
And FWIW, playing bass is changing/improving my guitar work, and vice versa. At $700 for both basses, I couldn't be happier.
My earlier thread on the virtues of owning a matched pair.
My earlier review/comparison of fretted and fretless B-205Ms.
Jaconot's Nov 12' thread on the 205 fretted/non fretted sold me - I have the 5 fretless on order. What I'm reading here makes me think it was a good choice. Seems to be incredible value, something that I haven't spent too much $ on if the fretless thing doesn't work out.
GREAT. I think you'll be well pleased, assuming LTD production standards and specs remain equal to what they were when I purchased mine.
I LOVE my fretless B-205SM-FL and can't believe it cost just $350. Just remember that the fretboard is rosewood and the bass comes fitted with roundwound strings. Sure, they'll help you "getcho' Jaco on" but they're gonna eat that board. Consider flatwounds, or semi-flats ala GHS Pressure Wound, or if you're goofy like me, try a set of D'Addario Black Nylon Tape Wound (ETB92-5). They feel GREAT to me, right-hand and left-hand - smooth and just the right amount of tension (the B is FAT at .135", so you'll have to file the sides of that nut slot, but only slightly). And they look kuul, too.
And since you took my advice on buying the fretless B-205SM-FL, let me run this past you, as well. Learning about GHS Pressure Wound strings was a major factor in my finally buying the fretless. They're very versatile--between rounds and flats--and should minimize fretboard wear. I bought a set from Jason at BassStringsOnline.com, but haven't mounted them because a) I'm still overly cautious about fretboard wear, and b) I'm just enjoying those nylon tape wounds so much.
WATCH THIS VIDEO and see if 'Uncle Dave' doesn't sell you a set of GHS Pressure Wounds for your new tool. I'll bet he will.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Or in your case, maybe I should say Merry Christmas.
