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ESP Vs Squirer ?
- Thread starter M4verick
- Start date
FWIW, I just went through this and I ended up with an LTD bass in a roundabout way.
I couldn't be happier. I would listen to the advice to go try them both if you can and then listen to yourself and make the best choice for yourself.
I couldn't be happier. I would listen to the advice to go try them both if you can and then listen to yourself and make the best choice for yourself.
The best advice is always to play both, and more than one of each,if you can. That's the only way to get an objective view of consistency. In the end, you're the one playing it, so you're the one who needs to be happy with it. Anything we say is largely opinion, albeit based on our personal experiences. You need to judge based on your experiences.
On a side note, I think Affinities are hit and miss. Above we have complaints of microphonic pickups, lack of decent adjustability, bad fretwork, etc.. My Affinity J, on the other hand, had good fretwork, easily took the setup I like, and the pickups, while not outstanding, are properly functional with plenty of low end. Not an outstanding instrument, but quite good for what it is: an inexpensive bass.
It's my experience that the lower you go the more your mileage can vary on getting a really good one, so it's even more important to play several, if you can.
On a side note, I think Affinities are hit and miss. Above we have complaints of microphonic pickups, lack of decent adjustability, bad fretwork, etc.. My Affinity J, on the other hand, had good fretwork, easily took the setup I like, and the pickups, while not outstanding, are properly functional with plenty of low end. Not an outstanding instrument, but quite good for what it is: an inexpensive bass.
It's my experience that the lower you go the more your mileage can vary on getting a really good one, so it's even more important to play several, if you can.
Like others have said, play both if possible. I've never played one, but I prefer the look of the LTD to the standard Jazz shape. LTDs normally have a slightly slimmer neck profile also. I have a Squier VM maple bound a blocked neck (MIC) on my Frankenjazz and although it's 1.5" at the nut, the neck profile is kind of on the fat side for my taste - it's fatter than my MIM Fender P neck which surprised me when I bought it.
I think the LTD would probably have a neck profile more like a MIA/MIJ Jazz bass than the squire.
The only reason I say this is that I'm a neck profile guy. I prefer thinner neck profiles. I've been burned in the past buying something on line and then not liking the neck profile.
I think the LTD would probably have a neck profile more like a MIA/MIJ Jazz bass than the squire.
The only reason I say this is that I'm a neck profile guy. I prefer thinner neck profiles. I've been burned in the past buying something on line and then not liking the neck profile.
Well i play VM jazz bass fretless, i did try LTD but no for me.
VM Jazz is tuned up, fingerpoard sanded and new bridge.. it is F good instrument now
VM Jazz is tuned up, fingerpoard sanded and new bridge.. it is F good instrument now
Blackjax said:
+1
I think the VM and especially the CV Squiers are quite good. I haven't tried the LTD, but it's probably quite good too from the comments I read here... so it seems it really comes down to personal preference.
It's often hard to judge in these threads, As people often hate or love a model based on a particular example, often mostly judging the particular set up.
Many times people criticise an instrument because the action is too high and cannot get it to play the way they want to without buzz etc... when all it's required is a very basic setup, fret levelling included...
I have bought a few bargain basses because the owner dismissed them as cheap crap, and I can transform them into something nice with a little effort.
Not everybody is proficient enough doing their own setups And judging whether a poorly set up bass is good or not... so you get extremes in opinion.
Sounds to me like both basses discussed here can be pretty good.
Try and see which one you like best. Then take it to a real tech to make it as good as it can be, for just a few extra bucks, if you cannot do it yourself. Well worth it.
I've owned both, and I would vote LTD over Squier VM without hesitation. I am distinctly underwhelmed by the Squier VM series quality control. I sent back two VM Jazz basses due to ridiculous neck problems before I decided to keep one, and over time it too has developed fret sprout and buzz problems so bad that it needs to be PLEK'd to play correctly again. (No, it's not an action issue.) I have had similar issues with neck instability on my Squier Telecaster, but that's for a different forum.
Perhaps Squier's CV series would be a different story... I've heard they're a notch better in the quality control department. But there is such a tiny selection of those (like two different models, each with a single color scheme) that I'd still give the nod to LTD due to the better variety of instruments available.
In the budget bass space, in my experience it's hard to go wrong with LTD.
But as always, try before you buy!
Perhaps Squier's CV series would be a different story... I've heard they're a notch better in the quality control department. But there is such a tiny selection of those (like two different models, each with a single color scheme) that I'd still give the nod to LTD due to the better variety of instruments available.
In the budget bass space, in my experience it's hard to go wrong with LTD.
But as always, try before you buy!
First off I'm a Fender/Squier guy and its all I own but a local shop carrys the ESP basses some are even roadworn.
I must say for the money they are great basses...very impressed by them and I played a few of them so it's tuff choice to tell you the truth.
I must say for the money they are great basses...very impressed by them and I played a few of them so it's tuff choice to tell you the truth.
hellomusic has the black "relic'd" LTD 204 for $198.00...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Mine came with an extra black pickguard... I don't know if they're still offering it like that. I'm gonna swap out the pickguard whenever I get my workbench cleaned off from my son's Rube Goldberg project...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Mine came with an extra black pickguard... I don't know if they're still offering it like that. I'm gonna swap out the pickguard whenever I get my workbench cleaned off from my son's Rube Goldberg project...
hellomusic has the black "relic'd" LTD 204 for $198.00...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Mine came with an extra black pickguard... I don't know if they're still offering it like that. I'm gonna swap out the pickguard whenever I get my workbench cleaned off from my son's Rube Goldberg project...
Sweet. I have absolutely no excuse or need for a new bass, but how can I pass up a deal like that? Ordered!
Soon I will be out of space and I will sadly have to start making touch choices...
I also ordered one of the Hello Music LTD 204's. Would have liked it to have the maple board but for $179+shipping(had a $20 off coupon)I can't complain much.
