ESP LTD B-4E vs. ESP LTD D-4

[Neveragain55]

Hi Gang,

I was all set to get a new ESP LTD B-4E (Ebony Natural Satin)……

When I accidentally came across the ESP LTD D-4 Electric Bass (Natural Finish)……..

The latter has the neck through construction with a merbau body, mahogany-maple/rosewood neck/fingerboard and other goodies that essentially the B-4E has as well, and I believe the pickups and electronics are identical in each bass.

I’m not very familiar with merabu and was wondering what type of tone it would produce over the Mahogany bodied B-4E.

I already have an older ESP LTD B-104 (4 string) and I love it but my only minor complaint is that it’s a little thick in the higher registers where the neck bolts to the body and I have a hard time wrapping my short fingers around the neck to fret the last three or four frets.

I like the D-4 because.......it's gorgeous, plus it looks like the neck area would be thinner in that region.

I’ve seen some threads on here where people are praising both of these guitars but I was hoping that one or some of you has had the opportunity to actually experience/play the both of them to give some type of comparative review.

I love them both and I can’t understand why the D-4 is a little cheaper than the B-4E bolt on neck model.

Please help me make up my mind……………………….thanks guys…..

 

[Bobster]

In addition to the body wood differences, the fretboard materials are different. The B-4 has an ebony fretboard. The D-4 is rosewood. The electronics and hardware are the same.

Bob

 

[Neveragain55]

So if you had to give a nod to either one in terms of a good bass that would have the most versatile tone to play most music styles, ease of play (neck) and last forever…..which one would you give the nod to?

 

[Toptube]

I'm gonna go on a limb here (wood jokes) and say the ebony bass is going to have a bit more snap and sweeter highs. As the top is just thick enough that it should come into play in the tone. Mahogany tends to "dissappear" under thicker tops. But this one is tough to say, becuase it is heavily sculpted. But even still, it has the ebony fingerboard which will juice the highs up a bit----but the mahogany in the neck and body should sweeten the highs. But it should still have a good presence in the low mids. I think this bass may sound more complex, overall.

Merbau seems to maybe be similar to bubinga or Wenge in that it is very hard and stable, but maybe not super bright like maple. Combine with the mahogany/maple neck and rosewood fretboad: that bass should be warm and powerful in the mids and low mids. But maybe not as complex.

 

[Neveragain55]

Toptube,

Great write-up.......how about sustain for each bass?

 

[Toptube]

both are the same neck construction with the same neckwoods and the same hardware. The sustain s should be very similar. I've never played a bass which didn't have 'enough' sustain, so i wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Neveragain55]

After I sent that last reply and took another look at both basses really well, I felt like such an idiot. (seriously)

Thanks for the replies & advice, I'm going with the B-4E......

 

[Bobster]

Neveragain55. I own a B4-Z (zebrawood top) and I am REALLY happy with it. I don't believe either is a bad choice, but I think the B4-E is going to be a bit brighter, snappier than the D4. I own three Ltd Basses and have been very positively impressed with materials and construction, especially of the neckthrough instruments.

In full discosure, I have replaced the Ltd preamp with an Aguilar OBP-3 which has added a wider palate to the instrument. Let us know what you think after you've had a chance to check it out!

Bob

 

[Neveragain55]

I promise I will,

It's on back order so it won't be for a while yet, but I promise to come back with some impressions once I've taken it for a road test......

 

[Chimpy]

I just bought the B-4B (Bubinga) and am very happy with it. The finish of is excellent

 

[Chimpy]

Sorry, I pressed reply accidently. I was going to say that the finish of the bass is excellent and the tonal options of the active EQ is impressive. Mine came with SIT strings which I found to be very bright and harsh on the fingers so I put some La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats on it and it sounds great.

 

[Bobster]

Looks great, Chimpy!

 

[Neveragain55]

So I got my ESP LTD B-4E a few weeks ago, and I figured I do a quick follow up.

This makes the second ESP LTD product that I own, and I have to say these bass guitars are light years and fathoms above in quality & durability over almost everything else out there in their price range.

Seriously, not to sound like an ESP spokesperson but these things are monsters.

My other ESP LTD is an older Midnight Purple B-104 and I use D’Addario Nickel Round Wound strings on both of them.

Each of the LTD’s that I have has the capability to be extremely punchy with tonal control that can dial in lots of low end growl. You can also get as much brightness & treble as your hearts content out of either one of them.

Of course the B-4E has a bit more sustain than the B-104 and the lower tones are a little warmer & mellower due to the thru-body construction.

My B-104 has a six bolt neck so the sustain on it is amazing when compared to all of the four bolt neck basses I’ve owned. (which have been a lot)

Seriously you could play any genre of music with these basses but the B-104 would probably be better suited for rock, metal, and pop music while the B-4E could be used for anything for the rest of your life.

All of this of course is in my opinion, and I respect the fact that many others may disagree.

I was torn between the Ibanez SR line and the ESP LTD line before I decided on the B4-E because of the similar features each company offers, but I'm really happy with my new B-4E.

ESP for life…….

 

[Bobster]

Very cool Neveragain55.

Enjoy it. I'm sure it will give you many years of great service and enjoyment!

Bob

 

[GTHintz]

Hey I don't mean to resurect an old thread but I'm in a simular spot as the og poster. I have heard some ltd d4 demos and I believe it can be a bass that I'll be able to tone sculpt a lot of cool things from. If anyone on here has experience with these basses I'd love to chat. As a big Rush fan I love the Wal bass sound they had back in the late 80s. I realize that I'm not going to afford $10,000 on a wal. I heard a lot of bright highs in an ltd that may get somewhere in the ballpark of the snappy twang as well as the focused lows that I fell in love with. Does anyone know how this bass will react when you try to play up the neck and get that aggressive Geddy or even Justin Chancellor Tool kinda sound? Thanks!

 

[coralbass]

Hey I don't mean to resurect an old thread but I'm in a simular spot as the og poster. I have heard some ltd d4 demos and I believe it can be a bass that I'll be able to tone sculpt a lot of cool things from. If anyone on here has experience with these basses I'd love to chat. As a big Rush fan I love the Wal bass sound they had back in the late 80s. I realize that I'm not going to afford $10,000 on a wal. I heard a lot of bright highs in an ltd that may get somewhere in the ballpark of the snappy twang as well as the focused lows that I fell in love with. Does anyone know how this bass will react when you try to play up the neck and get that aggressive Geddy or even Justin Chancellor Tool kinda sound? Thanks!

d-4 is my main bass for over 4 years , i play jazz , blues and latin music . with this bass you can get agressive tones for sure but for that tones i use a Fender P Bass. But when im in a jazz\Blues situation everybody love my tone with this bass . the only cons for me is the neck shape that i dont like it and the fact that with steel trings this bass gets a lot of treble tone.

 

[coralbass]

btw , i played a ltd bass with les paul type body that maybe is what you are looking for

 

[GTHintz]

btw , i played a ltd bass with les paul type body that maybe is what you are looking for

Nice. So it does have an active eq and it seems like a good jazz sounding bass. I'm actually getting more into jazz and things like that. I've never played a Les Paul bass or les Paul style bass. It looks cool though. What is the neck difference on your ltd bass compared to like your p bass? I actually have a p bass so I'd understand the comparison.

 

[coralbass]

the overall tones are very clean because de active eq ,but the soapbars are passive! this is my favourite4 string neck , i believe they call thin U shape , 400 mm at the nut my p bass is bigger at the nut ,its very confortable in all positions of the fretboard really fast(same neck as B series) . I had a lot of basses (some really expensive and high end) and this bass is really special for this price , i paid about 400 Euros.
i can say for sure this hardware (tuners and bridge )are the best i ever had . Can you try one D or B series?

 

[GTHintz]

the overall tones are very clean because de active eq ,but the soapbars are passive! this is my favourite4 string neck , i believe they call thin U shape , 400 mm at the nut my p bass is bigger at the nut ,its very confortable in all positions of the fretboard really fast(same neck as B series) . I had a lot of basses (some really expensive and high end) and this bass is really special for this price , i paid about 400 Euros.
i can say for sure this hardware (tuners and bridge )are the best i ever had . Can you try one D or B series?

Where I live I don't have a good music store near me. I don't have anyone who has one to test out sadly either. I do have some good places to go next time I'm visiting the city. What's funny is that the only thing about my p bass I actually like is the neck profile. The tone and everything I can get out of other basses so it's nothing special in my opinion. I'm trying to find something else that will give me more options. I like the idea of what the ltd basses can offer with a neck thru design and ebony fretboard and lots of other nice features all for the same price what you'd pay for a stock run of the mill jazz bass or p bass. And not the American made either. The Mexican made slightly less consistent version. So I'm definitely interested in something unique like one of those b or d 4 string ltds. And I've seen some used basses for around 250-400$ usd. So very affordable and will have a lot of cool features other basses don't have in that price range.