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ESP LTD SURVEYOR 405 ( NAT)

M

mokeanL

Jul 5, 2009
78
0
Charlotte, NC
www.myspace.com
#1
hi, my dad has bought this bass for me and its shipping from florida as we speak. ive never heard and or played esp so im doing nothing but wondering. i told him to get me the spector 5 legend until i could afford the rebop. how would you say esp surveyor compares to the other 5-ers in its price range. pretty much im asking if its worth hanging on to or trading for what i want. thanks - rob (btw the only reason im thinking about keeping it is because the emg's, until ive heard differently):bassist:


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#3
I had an ESP 5er that was my main player for probably 4 years until I got a Music Man Bongo, which replaced it for 2 reasons, First being the preamp, which was amazing, but second was the fact that it was a 6er.

Mine wasn't a surveyor, it was a B-305, the predecessor to the 400 series, but it was a pretty good bass for the time and the money. It was neck through, and the build quality was really good, the preamp was sufficient for the time, 2 volume knobs (which was a really nice thing) 3 band on board, I forget the specs right now.

All in all I think that ESP makes underrated basses that are really good for their price range, and you should be fairly happy with that surveyor. It doesn't sound like a Spector, obviously, but it's should still be a good sounding bass that can last you a few years or more until you get the cash to trade up to a rebop, which is probably a good idea regardless of what bass you had before that.
 
#6
Oh no, I wouldn't trade that for a Spector Legend. EMG TW and EMP P, 2 band EMG eq, it maybe ugly, but I wouldn't trade that for a legend. a Rebop or a Euro, worth considering, but not for a legend.

Here's a surveyor...



Unless, you prefer the Legend sound and comfort of course... I wouldn't trade it for looks only though.
 
#7
OK...I never played the surveyor, but Bassplayer did a review on them (not the LTD), but the more expensive version. It sounded like a nice bass, a p pickup in the neck position, and a MM style in the bridge, but both covered so that thethey look like soapbars.

I'd be pretty darned happy if someone dropped that in my lap. You should be thanking your Dad.
 
#10
It is strange that you got that instead of a Legend. Your dad's been played!

You could trade the ESP for a Legend, and maybe get some extras as well, if you are hell bent on a Legend. But don't get played either. The Surveyor is worth way more imo.

EDIT : $500 for a surveyor? Times are hard indeed.
 
#11
well thats what im trying to figure out, why is it worth more to you? i mean its active emgs yes cool what else does it for you about this bass? the esp is a grand and the spector is 800 price doesnt mean anything to me really as far as quality. i just have played spectors and cannibal corpse is one of my favorite bands - seeing alex webster play a spector is what turned me onto them


its a special right now some instruments are getting price cuts, soon it will return to original price. thats why we picked now to look
 
#14
Electronics mostly. Swamp ash and maple, sounds like a good combination too. ESP is good quality, probably in the same ballpark as the spectors. Bridge looks crap though.

If you really don't like it, swap it. I would not try to modify it in any way! I would think the Surveyor would be pretty good at a death metal gig (in black anyway).
 
#15
mokeanL said:
and to surrendermonkey how did you find that clip? him using a pick does me no justice i use fingers, id love to find one with someone playing with fingers
Click to expand...

The surveyor isn't exactly popular. I've been interested in one and liked the sound in that clip (although it's got some amp simulation / distortion going on). I've been also looking at the Traben Chaos Core 5 (or John Moyer signature), another bass in the same ballpark.

That's the only video of a Surveyor I know of.
 
#17
In that case, a Ibanez SR505? That's another one you should have a look at. Although the string spacing is tighter (probably closer to the Spector), which maybe not a bad thing in itself (slap harder, finger style easier). Spector Legend 5 is not bad in itself. If you prefer it to the Surveyor and are ok with sound and looks, then why not indeed.

so,

Ibanez SR505.
Spector Legend 5.
Traben Chaos Core 5.
ESP LTD Surveyor 405.
Ibanez BTB 575.
Ibanez SRX 475.

Things to look out for in case of a trade.
 
#19
mokeanl.....your a youngin' aren't you?

personally i think you are doing a huge dis-service to both your father and ESP....

the surveyor series of basses by ESP are very well made and play and sound amazing....Most prople assocoate ESP with Metal music....but this series was designed for those wanting more of a classic look, feel and sound...

I happen to own three ESP's and until recently one of them was my main player.....They are highly underrated basses and can hold their own with basses costing twice as much or more...

In terms of ESP vs. Spector....I would play the ESP....I personally have never liked the feel of Spectors...though i have run across a few that sound fantastic

when judging a new bass i always do so in this order

1. Feel----if it feels good and comfortable i'm going to play it...plain and simple....if it does not feel comfortable to me i'm not going to play it no matter how it sounds or looks

2. Sound----if it sounds like pud i'm not going to play it either....


way down on the bottom of the list would be looks

who cares what the hell it looks like if it is the right feel and sound

i can name you about 100 musicians that play butt ugly instruments....and love them because they have the feel and the sound and the mojo.....people are way too hung up on looks...IMHO

look at it this way you want a girlfriend that looks good on your arm and has nothing else going for her at all but her looks? Or do you want one that is just ok looking with a great sense of humor that can hold an intelligent conversation, and knows her way around the bedrooom?....think about it...seriously!

it's fairly obvious you have your mind made up...and it's your bass after all.....but think you should give it a chance before you condemn it simply based on looks

with those electronics i'm sure you can find a wide variety of tones...
 
#20
Snakeman1066 said:
mokeanl.....your a youngin' aren't you?

personally i think you are doing a huge dis-service to both your father and ESP....

the surveyor series of basses by ESP are very well made and play and sound amazing....Most prople assocoate ESP with Metal music....but this series was designed for those wanting more of a classic look, feel and sound...

I happen to own three ESP's and until recently one of them was my main player.....They are highly underrated basses and can hold their own with basses costing twice as much or more...

In terms of ESp vs. Spector....I would play the ESP....I personally have never like the feel of Spectors...though i have run across a few that sound fantastic

when judging a new bass i always do so in this order

1. Feel----if it feels good and comfortable i'm going to play it...plain and simple....if it does not feel comfortable to me i'm not going to play it no matter how it sounds or looks

2. Sound----if it sounds like pud i'm not going to play it either....


way down on the bottom of the list would be looks

who cares ehat the hell it looks like if it is the right feel and sound

it's fairly obvious you have your mind made up...and it's your bass after all.....but think you should give it a chance before you condemn it simply based on looks

with those electronics i'm sure you can find a wide variety of tones...
Click to expand...

Said everything I was going to say, but did it in a way that wouldn't get me a warning.

+1
 

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