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Completely agree...I own an AP-4 and it's pretty much an Animal...
They seem to have a lot of Bang for your Buck...
Thanks! \m/
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NBD - ESP LTD B-1005MS a NG2 alternative?
- Thread starter Bassprofessor
- Start date
Completely agree...I own an AP-4 and it's pretty much an Animal...
They seem to have a lot of Bang for your Buck...
Thanks! \m/
Owned the b1005ms for a few months now and still pumped on how good this thing sounds. I prefer a bright attack so I went with the Payson stainless strings to replace the stock strings. That’s what really took it to the next level. I do want to eventually replace the preamp as I find it a little noisy and generally not really interesting. As you said, passive mode is very impressive on this bass so I wonder if upgrading the pre will make that more impressive.
It’s clear this bass doesn’t get much love because of the weight. That being said, it isn’t the heaviest bass in the world so to each their own. Mine actually weighs in at 9.6 lbs...I must have gotten lucky with lighter ash. The back of my bass is a lighter more butterscotch color too. I wonder if that makes a difference 
I agree, it’s silly that there are hardly any samples of straight clean tone of this bass. Thanks for working on that. I’ve been too lazy and apparently would rather gripe online about it instead of make my own lol. But ESP should have done better marketing to showcase how good this bass is. It’s a bass WIN but a marketing FAIL. Funny enough, the opposite is true for the Spector Dimension which seems to have won with marketing but is now failing with product issues on the 5 string.
It’s clear this bass doesn’t get much love because of the weight. That being said, it isn’t the heaviest bass in the world so to each their own. Mine actually weighs in at 9.6 lbs...I must have gotten lucky with lighter ash. The back of my bass is a lighter more butterscotch color too. I wonder if that makes a difference
I agree, it’s silly that there are hardly any samples of straight clean tone of this bass. Thanks for working on that. I’ve been too lazy and apparently would rather gripe online about it instead of make my own lol. But ESP should have done better marketing to showcase how good this bass is. It’s a bass WIN but a marketing FAIL. Funny enough, the opposite is true for the Spector Dimension which seems to have won with marketing but is now failing with product issues on the 5 string.
Owned the b1005ms for a few months now and still pumped on how good this thing sounds. I prefer a bright attack so I went with the Payson stainless strings to replace the stock strings. That’s what really took it to the next level. I do want to eventually replace the preamp as I find it a little noisy and generally not really interesting. As you said, passive mode is very impressive on this bass so I wonder if upgrading the pre will make that more impressive.
It’s clear this bass doesn’t get much love because of the weight. That being said, it isn’t the heaviest bass in the world so to each their own. Mine actually weighs in at 9.6 lbs...I must have gotten lucky with lighter ash. The back of my bass is a lighter more butterscotch color too. I wonder if that makes a difference
I agree, it’s silly that there are hardly any samples of straight clean tone of this bass. Thanks for working on that. I’ve been too lazy and apparently would rather gripe online about it instead of make my own lol. But ESP should have done better marketing to showcase how good this bass is. It’s a bass WIN but a marketing FAIL. Funny enough, the opposite is true for the Spector Dimension which seems to have won with marketing but is now failing with product issues on the 5 string.
Thank you so much for this insightful answer.
I did play a bit more today and instantly made a quick cover song for my channel.
I am really impressed. It's exactly what I have hoped for. The Nordstrands are just like the ones in my EHB1506MS.
I played with the EQ and instantly got the mlre clanky Periphery Sound, turned back the mids and treble and got dark powerful Jinjer. I made it flat, but no mids for my Cover and it puts my Dingwall to shame (even though I will admit, that the Dingwall seems to has a more comfortable neck and obviously less weight).
I have a T40 and the B1005 isn't too much for me. I recently played more lightweights, like the EHB1005SMS and so it was just a harsh first impression
Oh...the Dimensions have problems? Didn't know about that.
Very cool! I agree on the NG pickups - The stock ones weren't bad by any stretch of the imagination, but I switched them out for a set of Honey Badger Heavy Hitters and it really came to life.
Thank you so much! I also have a T40 and a Dean 12 string...so my back knows that I am an ass to him
What makes me curious...as I posted months back, that I am not 100% satisfied with the Combustion pickups, people went TOTALLY crazy, grapping their pitchforks and torches and started harrassing me.
This time I get here and on FB so many messages from people who aren't to keen about the pickups from the NG series.
So true about your Dingwall observations! Wow, and I thought I was the only one who didn't like the Combusion pickups. I hear ya about not wanting to mod you bass, but I already made the excutive decision to plunge my router into my Dingwall to make way for the EMG's.
Thanks for your comment!
It seems that we are Legion...maybe...
As I got my Dingwall 1.5 years back, I posted my review (on Facebook) and had a lot of good things to say, but on the pickups, I came to the conclusion, that they aren't bad in any way, but they are not a good fit for a +2000€ bass. And I got dozens of insults and harrasment.
A year ago I got my EHB1506MS...I actually was the first private person owning one worldwide. I got ALOT of requests to compare it with the Dingwall. I made it really clear that even though it may seem, the two basses sren't that comparable, because the Dingwall with his 37" neck is capable of things, the EHB with 35.5" just can't do. But soundwise the Dingwall was no match for the EHB and his Nordstrands...really...not the same league at all. And I got hundreds of negative comments on Facebook (my YouTube channel was fresh and most didn't know about and I posted the videos directly on Facebook and not embedded). They said, I would have purposedly made the Dingwall worse with the EQ or used very old strings.
I could get the confussion, because some might have thought I had a Deal with Ibanez (and that's why I got my 1506MS that early), but the simple fact is: I heard that Ibanez would announce a fan fretted bass in the 1500€ league and I instantly without seeing ordered one at the german (and european) wholesaler. As soon as it was revealed to him, he ordered one for me and that was about 1 month before the basses were finally revealed to the public.
But now...I make a post and again critisize the NG pickups...and neither here nor one Facebook a single bad word. Quite the contrary. Dozens of comments and messages of people feeling the same and having changed the pickups or sold it completely. Where have you been as I was dragged to the pyre?
Yes, I totally get why many want and even like to change parts on their basses. I don't know why, but I can't make the decision for myself. But I will never say never
Really great basses! When I got mine I was convinced there were about two other people on Earth that had one. Really amazing clarity and swept under the rug as far as I am concerned....be glad you're in on the "secret"!!
You know, if you ever change your mind on not modifying basses...
For Sale - Nordstrand Big Splits for Dingwall Combustion 5
For Sale - Nordstrand Big Splits for Dingwall Combustion 5
You have my attention. I own 2 ESP LTD’s, a F-415 and a TA-604, and I have a Dingwall NG3-6. The B-1005MS seems like a bastard child of the 415 and Dingwall, so I’m really curious now.
After G&L the second best kept secret
I am stunned. The sound is so much better than the NGs
Yeah, they have 5 string length pickups but since they're slanted for the multiscale, they don't fully cover the B and G strings. You need to have 6 string spacing for full coverage. A lot of buzz on this thread about it Spector NS Dimension
In contrast, that brings us back to the b1005ms, which has perfectly matching pole pieces to the string spacing
So I won't see the them as Bastard child. The B1005 has the Nordstrand big splits. Ans that the big difference, which elegantes him over the Dingwall
I owned one of these and found it very uncomfortable to play down by the first fret; the nut would dig into my hand and it hurt. This thread is making me wish I had tried a little harder to make it work because I really did like how it sounded. Maybe I can track another down and give it another shot.
I know what you mean. I have this Problem more on the EHB1506, but it's true, that the first fret is more angled than on the Dingwall. It's okay for me till now, bur I totally get your point
Lovely bass, congrats.
Before you sell the Dingwall check & see if Nordstrand have a pickup you like - they make them for Dingwalls. Also, they do custom pups, I got a modified “custom” big split for an Ibanez at what I thought was a very reasonable price.
Before you sell the Dingwall check & see if Nordstrand have a pickup you like - they make them for Dingwalls. Also, they do custom pups, I got a modified “custom” big split for an Ibanez at what I thought was a very reasonable price.
Thank you! Yes upgrading afterwards might be a possibility, altough I don't know if that works for me.
