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NBD! Black Beauty - ESP LTD AP5

S

SgtHulka

Inactive
Mar 29, 2019
2,165
5,095
Banland
#1
I'm making a concerted effort to get good on a fiver, and what better to do that than with a nice instrument! Three of my requirements were that it had to be 34" scale, a Precision bass, 19mm spacing, and I found my Huckleberry in LTD. Their quality blows me away. I can't find a single thing I don't like, except I'd prefer a heel truss rod adjustment. Matching black hardware gives it absolutely stunning looks.

This is also my first bass with active pickups. The controls on this bass are tone, balance and volume, so it's like a passive setup, but with an active sound. Pretty genius actually, and I don't know why I haven't considered this set up before.

The EMG pickups sound killer and with the balance and tone knob, (which I assume is designed engineered to work in conjunction with the active pickups), there is a surprising amount of tonal combinations, but with passive simplicity, which I really like. Bass came with a perfect setup.

Massacar ebony fingerboard, pristine fretwork, thinner front to back profile, Grover mini tuners, and an ultra smooth finish make this neck a dream to play on. 19mm spacing at the bridge makes it's truly a great player. The bass feels much easier to play than the other five strings I've tried, most notably a Schecter which was a very well-built instrument but had very thin string spacing.

There seems to be an overall knock on ESP LTD instruments overall... I don't know if it's that it's made in Indonesia or, they're supposed to be a metal company, or whatever, but their instruments are very high quality and punch way above their pricing. I don't know about a $1,500 LTD, but $849 with 20% off was okay by me.

This bass is LEGIT and I'm very happy with it. Now to figure out how to adjust that bridge...
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#3
I have an ESP-LTD F-104 and I love it. Never have anything bad to say about LTD, they make a quality piece, and I read tons of reviews that say the same thing, they punch way above their price point. You are correct that they are generally known for being a metal bass, but to me any bass can play any genre if you just adjust the EQ.

As for your bridge, that looks to be a Babicz FCH-5. Not a stock LTD bridge, but also not a bad upgrade. I'd start here for how to adjust it -
Babicz FCH-5 Original Series Five String Bass Bridge
 
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#4
TerribleTim68 said:
I have an ESP-LTD F-104 and I love it. Never have anything bad to say about LTD, they make a quality piece, and I read tons of reviews that say the same thing, they punch way above their price point. You are correct that they are generally known for being a metal bass, but to me any bass can play any genre if you just adjust the EQ.

As for your bridge, that looks to be a Babicz FCH-5. Not a stock LTD bridge, but also not a bad upgrade. I'd start here for how to adjust it -
Babicz FCH-5 Original Series Five String Bass Bridge
Click to expand...
Was there some specific instructions from that link? I couldn't find any.
 
#7
SgtHulka said:
... The controls on this bass are tone, balance and volume, so it's like a passive setup, but with an active sound. Pretty genius actually, and I don't know why I haven't considered this set up before.

The EMG pickups sound killer and with the balance and tone knob, (which I assume is designed engineered to work in conjunction with the active pickups), there is a surprising amount of tonal combinations, but with passive simplicity, which I really like. Bass came with a perfect setup.

Massacar ebony fingerboard, pristine fretwork, thinner front to back profile, Grover mini tuners, and an ultra smooth finish make this neck a dream to play on. 19mm spacing at the bridge makes it's truly a great player. The bass feels much easier to play than the other five strings I've tried, most notably a Schecter which was a very well-built instrument but had very thin string spacing.

There seems to be an overall knock on ESP LTD instruments overall... I don't know if it's that it's made in Indonesia or, they're supposed to be a metal company, or whatever, but their instruments are very high quality and punch way above their pricing. I don't know about a $1,500 LTD, but $849 with 20% off was okay by me.
...
Click to expand...

Congrats!

You owe it to yourself to check out a G&L L2500 Tribute.
 
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#12
I've had a number of LTDs, most recently, the previous version of the B1005 (SE). I sent it back the next day, because of a huge gap in the neck pocket, and most of all, as the others had, a weak and thin-sounding preamp. As far as 2 and 3-band ESP-branded preamps go, they get blown out of the water by even Ibanez's budget Bartolini BH preamp (which sounded almost identical to an older Prestige I had).

Now, either a passive or a simple setup like the AP5 (like the OP's), that might work. Of course, a name-brand pre would garner my trust, too. I might grab up the LTD Orion, with the previous Seymour Duncan setup. I am waiting on delivery today, of a BB1005 (Bunny Brunel sig) in the burnt orange color, so fingers are crossed.

ANYWAY, sweet bass, man...I especially dig your bass' fraternal twin, the Pelham Blue color.
 
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#13
songwriter21 said:
I've had a number of LTDs, most recently, the previous version of the B1005 (SE). I sent it back the next day, because of a huge gap in the neck pocket, and most of all, as the others had, a weak and thin-sounding preamp. As far as 2 and 3-band ESP-branded preamps go, they get blown out of the water by even Ibanez's budget Bartolini BH preamp (which sounded almost identical to an older Prestige I had).

Now, either a passive or a simple setup like the AP5 (like the OP's), that might work. Of course, a name-brand pre would garner my trust, too. I might grab up the LTD Orion, with the previous Seymour Duncan setup. I am waiting on delivery today, of a BB1005 (Bunny Brunel sig) in the burnt orange color, so fingers are crossed.

ANYWAY, sweet bass, man...I especially dig your bass' fraternal twin, the Pelham Blue color.
Click to expand...
The controls on this bass are great and it really is easy to get good sounds all across the spectrum and I imagine that's because the pots and electronics are designed specifically for the active pickups.

Good luck with your bass can't wait to see it.
 
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