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Gear you lusted for but could never find
- Thread starter matti777
- Start date
One of my first "real" basses was an Ltd/esp F54, it was the bass that was just before the F204,same pointy style ,but one humbucker by the bridge I had this bass for like 3 years,loved it learned A LOT about bass playing with it,got into an argument with the now ex old lady one night,got really pissed(found out she cheated on me) and smashed it to pieces,after I did it I thought..its a student model I'll find another one...that was like 7..8 years ago, I can't find the f204 and Tom Araya models but not my silver flake F54. If I could find even a black one ,they came in silver flake or like a matte black,I'd pay a premium for one if I could find one!
sorry i can't add the quote after hitting post. This was a response to Aaron D
have you considered commissioning a hand-crafted replica. Of course forget this idea if it important to have an ESP. But if you want one that plays like it looks like it and sounds like it, It can be done.
I say that, while not looking at the exact model you refer to, and not an expert on ESP basses. But i did make a replica 6 string that is very close to the original, including the Spalted Maple wood, with only 2 differences:
This might not be a perfect solution, especially if the reason for wanting one is as a collectable. In which case a replica is out of the question. But if what you loved was how it played... This could be an option.
have you considered commissioning a hand-crafted replica. Of course forget this idea if it important to have an ESP. But if you want one that plays like it looks like it and sounds like it, It can be done.
I say that, while not looking at the exact model you refer to, and not an expert on ESP basses. But i did make a replica 6 string that is very close to the original, including the Spalted Maple wood, with only 2 differences:
- I made a slight variation in the headstock to prevent copywrite problems.
- I used EMG pickups and electronics which sounded slightly better than the original.
This might not be a perfect solution, especially if the reason for wanting one is as a collectable. In which case a replica is out of the question. But if what you loved was how it played... This could be an option.
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It's never been a matter of not being able to find it, but rather being able to afford it.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
I have been looking years for a used Warwick Jonas Hellborg bass. While I know the cost is beyond prohibitive new (it's actually way beyond insane and ridiculous for what it is) but I can't help myself. It's medium scale and i want them all. I always thought there might be a few of them becoming available used at some point. Boy, was I wrong.
They probably only made 12 of them - or something equally as weird. And like my Warwick Alien, I would have to remove that god-awful thumb rest, just to make it playable for me. Nothing like buying a $12K bass and having to rip off that silly glued-on thumb rest, doing who knows what kind of damage to the body.
Oh well, it's a good thing I never found one. At this point I consider myself lucky!
They probably only made 12 of them - or something equally as weird. And like my Warwick Alien, I would have to remove that god-awful thumb rest, just to make it playable for me. Nothing like buying a $12K bass and having to rip off that silly glued-on thumb rest, doing who knows what kind of damage to the body.
Oh well, it's a good thing I never found one. At this point I consider myself lucky!
Warwick Hellborg preamp, a Tung six string, Zon Todd Johnson 6, and a Fodera Matt Garrison 6 string (that I could afford).
A Travis Bean TB2000.
I thought seriously about splurging on one years ago when I found one for sale for $3,000, but passed on it because I felt that it its appeal was mostly the novelty factor.
Since then, I've a actually played a couple of them and now appreciate just how intrinsically great they are. It's really the only bass that I wish I owned but know that it's financially out of my reach.
$12,000 seems to be the current starting price for a TB2000, and I can't justify that as a hobbiest bass player working a blue collar job.
I thought seriously about splurging on one years ago when I found one for sale for $3,000, but passed on it because I felt that it its appeal was mostly the novelty factor.
Since then, I've a actually played a couple of them and now appreciate just how intrinsically great they are. It's really the only bass that I wish I owned but know that it's financially out of my reach.
$12,000 seems to be the current starting price for a TB2000, and I can't justify that as a hobbiest bass player working a blue collar job.
It's funny you say that,just this morning I was looking through my spare parts bag to see if I have a complete set of tuners for a parts caster bass I'm building and I realized I have ALL the parts from my F54, the pickup,bridge,tuners..EVERYTHING! I forgot I stripped it after I broke it. The Glarry burning fire bass looks just like the F54,I've thought of buying one of those as a template to build my own f54 style bass... I could just go buy an esp f204 which is what replaced the f54 ,but it won't be as sentimental as MY f54 which is why I want to get another one..purely sentimental reasons,it was my first REAL bass I owned,I was able to brag along with all the old heads at jam sessions that had vintage gibsons and fenders as well as higher end modern models.. I had an esp. Yea I know the name on the headstock don't really matter now but yet it helps when your just starting out,helps build confidence. But yea I'm really thinking of doing just that,building my own f54 style axe..but if I can still find a real one,like I said I'll pay good money for it. When they sold brand new the f54 was on the lower end ,considered a beginner bass it sold for like 400$ ,if that,they had premium basswood bodies and maple necks. Maybe I'll just go nuts and build a high end version with like Korina wood and roasted maple neck..yea..thanks for the idea bro ,this morning it was just a quick thought but now I think it's going to happen...I'll post pics and progress once I get it going..
Wal Mk.1 fretless 4 string - never found one in my price range years ago and now they cost 5 times what they did then.
Rickenbacker 4001V63, mapleglow - same as above. I should have grabbed one when they were in the $1900-$2300 range. Oops…. Too late.
Carvin LB-70 unlined fretless w/ 2x2 headstock & walnut top - kept meaning to order one. Dragged my feet. Now they're discontinued.
Carvin LB-50 unlined fretless w/ koa body - found one in a pawn shop in Philly in 1996. Cheap! Didn't buy it. Dumb move. I've never come across another.
Traynor YBA-1 Bass Master - I'd really like to find one of these locally. They used to turn up all the time but now they're nowhere to be found and when they do show up the prices are much too high.
Stingray 2-EQ with rosewood board - jeez, these got awfully expensive, didn't they?
Pre-EB Sabre, one fretless and one w/maple board - same story: I could have grabbed them for about $1800 a dozen years ago but that seemed too high at the time. Now look at 'em! …and I don't see them available much anymore.
Wow…. I guess I still have some GAS, huh?
Rickenbacker 4001V63, mapleglow - same as above. I should have grabbed one when they were in the $1900-$2300 range. Oops…. Too late.
Carvin LB-70 unlined fretless w/ 2x2 headstock & walnut top - kept meaning to order one. Dragged my feet. Now they're discontinued.
Carvin LB-50 unlined fretless w/ koa body - found one in a pawn shop in Philly in 1996. Cheap! Didn't buy it. Dumb move. I've never come across another.
Traynor YBA-1 Bass Master - I'd really like to find one of these locally. They used to turn up all the time but now they're nowhere to be found and when they do show up the prices are much too high.
Stingray 2-EQ with rosewood board - jeez, these got awfully expensive, didn't they?
Pre-EB Sabre, one fretless and one w/maple board - same story: I could have grabbed them for about $1800 a dozen years ago but that seemed too high at the time. Now look at 'em! …and I don't see them available much anymore.
Wow…. I guess I still have some GAS, huh?
you made me glad i chose to read this thread. I have been building furniture on my own and custom machinery as my main job most of my life. I decided shortly after switching from drums to bass that i wanted to build my own instrument. I have since built about 12. Some of them were bad enough that i need to strip them down and start over, but the recent ones are gorgeous. I was offered from $2,500 to $3,500 for the one pictured on my profile, but I won't sell it, This is my bass... the one i use myself and a treasured heirloom. (my granddaughter has already laid claim to it when the time comes. and since she plays guitar i think i will leave it to her) No matter how much that ESP meant to you, trust me on this... When you finally build a quality Bass (which likely won't be your first attempt) with your own hands and skills, This will be far more important to you. And the value of a top quality hand crafted instrument is far higher as well. I now make almost as much building basses part time as my regular full time job pays. But to get there i had to build dozens of pieces of guitar shaped firewood first. So be prepared for a journey of both a lot of work, but also great rewards.
