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NBD - ESP LTD TL-4 Acoustic/Electric

ClassicJazz

ClassicJazz

Bottom Feeders Unite!!
Supporting Member
Sep 19, 2005
4,768
9,842
63
Delray Beach, Florida
#1
Since I have been doing more duo gigs lately, I wanted something that had a nice mellow acoustic tone yet comfortable to play three or four sets. My Ibanez acoustic is great sounding but it’s a big full body bass. What I wanted was something similar to a bass I had years ago, the Carvin AC40. Had a great tone and was very slim, about the same width as a regular electric bass. But they don’t come up too often for sale and people have been asking big money for them.

So after some research, came across a cool thin line acoustic/electric by ESP. Well more electric than acoustic, but sports a Fishman SONICORE pickup and TL-3 preamp. Mahogany body with a spruce top, mahogany neck with Grover tuners. Also a nice touch is the Graphtech Nubone XB nut. Found a blemished one on ZZSounds for a good price.

Well got it today and very impressed with it. Out of the box it played great! Really well made and nice comfy slim neck. It also balances really good. The only blemish is slight finish crack by the sound hole you can hardly see. Out of the box it came strung with D’Addario Bronze round wounds. Not a fan of bronze strings. So put on a set of D’Addario Nylon Tape Wound Flats. Awesome strings and deliver a nice mellow acoustic like tone.

Not my first ESP bass, the ones I had in the past were all well made and sounding instruments and this new is no different. Can’t wait to try it on a gig!

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#2
I'd love to try the five-string brother to these. I'd like an ABG, but the thick acoustic body just feels wierd after 40 years of slabs.

And I got to hand it to ESP: They can come up with the funniest relief cuts (see the neck joint where they've trimmed out the pocket for your hand. Funny but brilliant.), that big V-shaped tummy cut on the old Navigators was just comical looking.

So, is it neck-heavy, and can you hear it unplugged?

Congrats !
 
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#3
J Wilson said:
I'd love to try the five-string brother to these. I'd like an ABG, but the thick acoustic body just feels wierd after 40 years of slabs.

And I got to hand it to ESP: They can come up with the funniest relief cuts (see the neck joint where they've trimmed out the pocket for your hand. Funny but brilliant.), that big V-shaped tummy cut on the old Navigators was just comical looking.

So, is it neck-heavy, and can you hear it unplugged?

Congrats !
Click to expand...
I actually tried the five string. It was nice but the string spacing was a little close for my taste. I considered the five string thinking the B string would make a good thumb rest! Lol

This 4 string balances pretty good. No issues. As far as unplugged, it’s really not an acoustic bass like a big body acoustic bass. It’s really meant to be plugged in.
 
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#6
ClassicJazz said:
I actually tried the five string. It was nice but the string spacing was a little close for my taste. I considered the five string thinking the B string would make a good thumb rest! Lol

This 4 string balances pretty good. No issues. As far as unplugged, it’s really not an acoustic bass like a big body acoustic bass. It’s really meant to be plugged in.
Click to expand...
How about for sitting on the couch unplugged? Louder than a slab/quieter than an ABG?
Looks like a cool bass.
 
#7
ProbablyTooLoud said:
How about for sitting on the couch unplugged? Louder than a slab/quieter than an ABG?
Looks like a cool bass.
Click to expand...

It's no louder then my semi-hollow Mooncaster bass unplugged. Maybe a little louder then a regular bass. I guess it would depend on the strings too. It came with Bronze round wound strings which I am not a fan of. I put on Tape Wound strings which are more mellow sounding.
 
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#10
J Wilson said:
I'd love to try the five-string brother to these. I'd like an ABG, but the thick acoustic body just feels wierd after 40 years of slabs.

And I got to hand it to ESP: They can come up with the funniest relief cuts (see the neck joint where they've trimmed out the pocket for your hand. Funny but brilliant.), that big V-shaped tummy cut on the old Navigators was just comical looking.

So, is it neck-heavy, and can you hear it unplugged?

Congrats !
Click to expand...
The Fender Victor Bailey and Dean Exhibition are both thinner body ABG's to consider. Not as thin as the OP's ESP LTD though.
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#11
ClassicJazz said:
Since I have been doing more duo gigs lately, I wanted something that had a nice mellow acoustic tone yet comfortable to play three or four sets. My Ibanez acoustic is great sounding but it’s a big full body bass. What I wanted was something similar to a bass I had years ago, the Carvin AC40. Had a great tone and was very slim, about the same width as a regular electric bass. But they don’t come up too often for sale and people have been asking big money for them.

So after some research, came across a cool thin line acoustic/electric by ESP. Well more electric than acoustic, but sports a Fishman SONICORE pickup and TL-3 preamp. Mahogany body with a spruce top, mahogany neck with Grover tuners. Also a nice touch is the Graphtech Nubone XB nut. Found a blemished one on ZZSounds for a good price.

Well got it today and very impressed with it. Out of the box it played great! Really well made and nice comfy slim neck. It also balances really good. The only blemish is slight finish crack by the sound hole you can hardly see. Out of the box it came strung with D’Addario Bronze round wounds. Not a fan of bronze strings. So put on a set of D’Addario Nylon Tape Wound Flats. Awesome strings and deliver a nice mellow acoustic like tone.

Not my first ESP bass, the ones I had in the past were all well made and sounding instruments and this new is no different. Can’t wait to try it on a gig!

View attachment 5079184 View attachment 5079185 View attachment 5079186
Click to expand...
That is really sweet. I thought these were satin? This looks like gloss all around? A real looker!:thumbsup:
 
#15
ClassicJazz said:
Some live shots of my ESP LTD TL4. Awesome sounding bass especially with those D’Addario Flat Tape Wound strings.

View attachment 5160979 View attachment 5160980
Click to expand...
Hi there,

I am thinking about getting these, a preloved with the zebra colorway. What;s been your experience thus far? What kind of music do you play with it, and how is the sound from the Piezo pickups? Can you play this in rock or even alternative? Thanks
 
#18
Troyroybass said:
Hi there,

I am thinking about getting these, a preloved with the zebra colorway. What;s been your experience thus far? What kind of music do you play with it, and how is the sound from the Piezo pickups? Can you play this in rock or even alternative? Thanks
Click to expand...
Great experience with this bass. Plays great! With the tape wound strings it has a wonderful warm tone, punchy and not muddy. I mainly use it on duo gigs with my guitar player. But have used it with a full band. Typically blues and jazz and some rock. Can you play it in other genres, I don’t see why not. But it’s not going to rock out like a P-Bass or regular electric bass.
 
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