• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

My new (to me) ESP J-five!

jimmykicker

jimmykicker

Apr 13, 2010
363
269
McCalla, AL
#1
Finally broke down and bought a pro bass! I didn't want to spend $2k for a Music Man and I wanted something different. Here is an ESP j-five I just got today. Real ESP. This is not a LTD. Made in Japan. Custom bass. Killer low action, no neck dive, EMG factory pickups (active). See through blue finish. 1998 or so vintage. I'm in love. Plus I spent less than $800. Whoop!!

Trying to post pics. Lemme see what I can do.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: wmmj, 5below, BassGreaser and 1 other person
#2
Ok I give. Every time I post the links it doesn't work. Can someone show me the format? Anyway. Here's one or two attached.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpeg
    image.jpeg
    708.2 KB · Views: 830
  • Like
Reactions: lowdownthump, stuntbass77, 1954bassman and 7 others
#6
Thank you! The guitar players all enjoyed playing it last night as well. It is pretty much everything I wanted and at a really decent price. I have a 6 string guitar this same era from ESP and I knew that if it was half as good as that guitar that this one would have to be pretty awesome. Having something a little different is pretty cool too.
 
#8
Woofer said:
ESP has one of my favourite Jazz body variants. Love that trans blue.
Click to expand...

That's one thing I REALLY liked about it. Especially the upper "ear". I've never cared for the "fatness" of that ear on Fenders. The j-five is much sleeker.

The body itself definitely pays homage to the Fender, but different enough to where most folks that play know it isn't a Fender without ever looking at the headstock.
 
#11
5below said:
Congratulations! Love me some ESP. Beautiful - great color. I think ESPs are really underrated.
Click to expand...

I know it! You know even back in the 90s when I bought the ESP Vintage S 6 string guitar from ESP (same series) a lot of players I knew kinda balked at it. Until they strapped it around their shoulders and played it. I loaned it to a friend a while back and I played hell getting it back. He was in love! They are very well made. That one has locking Sperzels which I love cause you can change all 6 strings in about 5 minutes total from start to finish. Well balanced too. Solid intonation and tuning with tremolo. Seymour Duncan hot rails in all three locations. Great sound to boot...especially the neck pickup! Sustain for days!

I used to work for MARS Music back in the 90s in operations. I touched basically every guitar that hit the floor. Checked it out, tuned it and played a few bars on each one. I played a lot of Strats and Teles. Cheap ones and 4K and up ones, and very few matched or came close to that ESP Vintage S guitar. I always joked that "this is the guitar most American Strats WISH they were". It was about $1400 new. I horsetraded some stuff to get it. By far the most expensive guitar I ever owned and by far the most playable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5below
#12
jimmykicker said:
I know it! You know even back in the 90s when I bought the ESP Vintage S 6 string guitar from ESP (same series) a lot of players I knew kinda balked at it. Until they strapped it around their shoulders and played it. I loaned it to a friend a while back and I played hell getting it back. He was in love! They are very well made. That one has locking Sperzels which I love cause you can change all 6 strings in about 5 minutes total from start to finish. Well balanced too. Solid intonation and tuning with tremolo. Seymour Duncan hot rails in all three locations. Great sound to boot...especially the neck pickup! Sustain for days!

I used to work for MARS Music back in the 90s in operations. I touched basically every guitar that hit the floor. Checked it out, tuned it and played a few bars on each one. I played a lot of Strats and Teles. Cheap ones and 4K and up ones, and very few matched or came close to that ESP Vintage S guitar. I always joked that "this is the guitar most American Strats WISH they were". It was about $1400 new. I horsetraded some stuff to get it. By far the most expensive guitar I ever owned and by far the most playable.
Click to expand...

Yep. I have played a bunch of ESP stuff, but my wallet keeps reminding me that I have to stay in the LTD world. Still good, still underrated. There's an LTD 5-string somewhere in my future. I have 2 LTD 6-strings guitars and they play like butter and sound superb!
 
#13
You're right! I really find the more expensive LTDs close in comparison to the ESP stuff. They have some really decent basses. I'm sure it is like Fender is to Squire. I've got a 6 string Tele guitar that is an old Squire from the 80s with two little 59 pickups in it that I'd put up against ANY American Telecaster. It's just that good. Course the pickups are not stock and the body is plywood. Killer sounding and great playing neck though...Where I find you really see the difference in the higher end instruments is "generally" less on playability (although this bass is EXCEPTIONAL) and more so on electronics and refinement. Like the balance of this bass. My others I usually have a "grippy" strap to keep the neck dive away. Even the Yamaha which is my normal go to bass is a diver although nothing like the T-Bird I just parted with. The ESP's center of gravity is perfect. Zero dive. I'm guessing what woods are used are a part as well as "pro" upgrades that usually a crowd listener ear won't tell but a player can...especially on a long gig. But then again, there are "boat paddles" like my 89 P style Dixon bass that are hard to beat and offer a lot of playabiltiy!

I found a LTD version of my new bass I was thinking about buying to knock around with at the house, but I got 8 basses now. Six 5 strings and two 4s. I have to stop! I have to stop... I have to stop...I have to stop.
 
#18
garp said:
Nice! Congrats.

I've been lusting after an ESP ever since I saw Tom Barney play one with Steely Dan.
Click to expand...

I believe that was in fact the J-five! Thank you!

Smooth_bass88 said:
That's cool looking.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I really like the "distortions" on the Jazz look. The finish appears blue in. Dark room but almost green under brighter light!

PsyDocHill said:
It's a looker! I hope it serves you well in good health for many years. Wow do I also love how it's got "ESP" on the headstock rather than "E-II."
Click to expand...

Yeah me too! Thank you! I suspect it will do the job without much trouble! I play primarily in a wedding group. I am 44 and I know I have at LEAST 20 years I plan on playing from here and that's why I went ahead and got real pro gear and replaced my intermediate stuff. I bought also a GK Fusion 550 and a SWR 12-stack recently too. I haven't gotten to play the ESP through anything but an Ampeg practice amp and a old 81 or so Yamaha B115 that's seen better days. I can't wait to see how she sounds through my new rig!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: PsyDocHill

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back