I don't like the sound on video, maybe speciffic strings, but it sounded like, a heavy-death metal only bass, to me. Just my opinion any way.
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Fender Vs ESP
- Thread starter El_Charro
- Start date
I somewhat agree. It sounded to me like a “Metallica” bass tone.
Which is exactly what the OP is looking for.
He likes to play heavy metal and is looking for a bass that will work well for that style
If some one likes this tone - it's perfect for him. I like a lot different and would choose Fender.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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The Ltd line isn't bad at all. And, that one looks nice. A vs B...just depends on what feels better to you. Both are nice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I own, and love, several Fender basses. They work for ME and what I need them for.
If I were you I would get that ESP six days a week and twice on Sundays. The tone and style you are looking for are pointing to that bass. There's bonrule that says you're "supposed to get a Fender"..... especially in the metal community.
Get the gear that YOU will geek out over within your budget. The more you love your gear, the more excited you'll be every time you pick it up.
The goal is NOT to walk the line on anyone else's opinion of what you should do (including me). The goal is to keep playing, and for your music to make you happy. If you think to yourself "$%&! Yeah!!!" every time you pick up your bass, you've picked the right bass.
Short version: The Fender seems to be an "obligation" to you.... something you have to talk yourself out of or into. The ESP seems like the bass you really like, but are worried about how others will accept. Given the choice, go with the second scenario.... every.... single.... time.
(By the way, there's just something about a black-on-black bass that will always be BA.)
Hi Everybody,
So...Thank you VERY much for the feedback.
two fingers- I know I already quoted you and responded to what you said yesterday, but I'm re-quoting your post because it REALLY stuck with me after reading it. I think you made an outstanding point about trying to find the instrument that speaks personally to you vs what's popular or industry standard.
After sleeping on it I went ahead and ordered the ESP as I think it's a nice balance between a traditional bass, but with more modern features.
I don't know what it is about that bass, but just looking at the black on black body with the black tuning machines on the neck reminds me of Metallica during the Justice/Black Album era.
Although that was a little before I REALLY got into them in high school, I can't tell you how many hundreds of hours I listened to the Black Album and Live $-t Binge & Purge in high school.
I have listened to so many thousands of hours of that band over the years and I think anything I buy that even sort of remotely reminds me of anything they've done should probably win out.
I love all kinds of music, but they are the band that made me wanna pick up an instrument (if you want some idea of how much I like that band I have a back tattoo that's the combination of the artwork from Ride The Lightning and Master of Puppets).
The EMGs also tipped the scale for me since if I went the Fender route I would probably have replaced the stock pickups with EMGs.
Apparently I'm gonna have to wait a few weeks for them to process my order bc they are out of stock :-( but fingers crossed I made the right decision.
Thanks! \m/
IMO these are super versatile pickups with a very responsive tone knob... tbh they really made me re-think why I've never used active pups. They won't sound exactly like a 60's J or P, but they can do a convincing enough P growl and J bridge sound in addition to heavier sounds.
This! I have 20+ basses and some are quite expensive, some not. But not matter what I buy, I ALWAYS go back to my Suhr Jazz because I never ever ever get tired of playing it. It sings and it's an extension of me when it's in my hands. It is the one bass I could not live without. And it's not anywhere even close to the most expensive one I own.
Nice!
The next thing you need to know about is a TalkBass tradition we have around here.... the NBD (New Bass Day) thread.
That's when you start a new thread to show off your new bass. There's only one "rule". The thread is no good without pics of YOUR bass.
We look forward to seeing yours and getting your first impressions of your new bass.
Just a heads up ESP is now teasing 2021 model releases on social media. If they do an AP-5 with a roasted neck this year I'll be all over it.
For the people comparing it to Squier, that's a bit off in my opinion. More like LTD, The MIM Fender of ESP's. I have an LTD MH1000Deluxe Guitar that is far far better than any Squier I have ever played. It's better than most of the MIM Strats I've played as well, but definitely more comparable to them.
I had a neck-through ESP that was fantastic in every way -- value, build quality, looks -- except for the EMGHz pups. The tone was so bad I was embarrassed to play it before other people.
I'm no fan of the Hz pickups either but I haven't seen them in anything new for over a decade
That's fair! You're right too. Though, that VM jazz I mentioned, it was ridiculously nice! If only I could edit my post...
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Check out this thread
Esp Ltd AP5
Also, hit up @TonyP- and @BeefPie84 I don't know them personally but, they are both knowledgeable, good people.
I have and play both. The ESP LTD AP-5 (blue) has a neck I really love. The thickness (or, lack thereof) is very comfortable for me and the only five string I have. Another thing about the neck is that it is very stable. I do not need to make truss rod adjustments as the seasons vary like I do with my Fenders. In fact, of the four different brands of bass's I use, the Fenders are the most finicky necks. One possible weak point that has been noted about the AP are the tuners. I have not had any problems but yeah, they are a little on the dainty side with the post diameter.
I hesitate to recommend any bass for obvious reasons. Depends on what you like. I say, get both of them.
In my experience, Fender/Squier is a little more mainstream and therefore easier to resell if you change your mind down the road. Otherwise, nothing at all wrong with the LTD. I like that they do modern takes on classic designs. I owned one a few years ago, and it was a really good instrument – it just took a bit longer than I expected to sell it, and the price was lower than I thought it was worth.
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Hi folks...
Just a heads up...I picked up a coupe AP5s for overseas gigs and these basses are fantastic.
I didn’t want to take my Lull’s so I grabbed a pair of AP5s and even with my deals. I kept one of them.
I would rather have a AP5 over any American Standard any day and I mean anyday. You could get two of them for the price of some of the American Fenders.
I can play anything I want and my backs up basses are the AP5 and G&L L-2500.
Just a heads up...I picked up a coupe AP5s for overseas gigs and these basses are fantastic.
I didn’t want to take my Lull’s so I grabbed a pair of AP5s and even with my deals. I kept one of them.
I would rather have a AP5 over any American Standard any day and I mean anyday. You could get two of them for the price of some of the American Fenders.
I can play anything I want and my backs up basses are the AP5 and G&L L-2500.
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I hesitated to pull the trigger on one of those masayoshi's and i think it will haunt me for a long time.
How does the PPJ sound?
