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New ESP Bass For Me!

bass-shy

bass-shy

Jan 11, 2005
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#1
I just won another ESP LTD C-304 on the 'bay. I've been playing a C-304 for the last six years and it has been the best playing, sounding and feeling bass I have ever found. My old one has been upgraded with active EMG's and black hardware, and it has a quilted maple top. The new one has Seymour Duncan Bass-Lines pickups, the stock, satin-gold hardware and it has a natural, Bubinga top. Apparantly, one of the tuners is missing a nylon washer, but I still have the tuners that I took off my old one so it will be an easy fix. I can't wait for it to get here! :hyper:
 

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#5
Thanks, Magneto! This will be my third ESP LTD and my second C-304. I also have a B-50 that I defretted and am currently in the process of refinishing. IMO, ESP LTD is a VERY under-rated bass builder. Each of mine have been fantastic instruments that seem like they should cost twice as much as they sell for. I'll bet that your F-Series sounds awesome, too.
 
#8
Slapped said:
Is this bass discontinued?
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Yeah, they stopped making them in '02 or '03. They pop up on E-Bay sometimes, though. I can't understand why such a cool bass would be side-lined. Maybe it didn't appeal to the metal crowd. :hiding: It's absence seems to have left a hole in the market for a solid, 35" scale bass that doesn't cost a lot.
 
#10
alexofc69 said:
How do you like the Basslines pickups? Im getting ready to put a set in my F255FM since I can get them for around $100 for the set.Some say they are in between EMGs and Barts. That would be good!
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Well, I just won the auction yesterday, so I haven't received the bass yet. I have heard the same things about the Basslines pickups, though. I'm really looking forward to giving them a shot. Even if I don't like them, the seller said he would ship the stock EMG-HZ 35-EP's with the bass, and I know that I like those so, even if I don't like the Duncans, I'll still be happy. Now I just have to be patient...................:ninja:
 
#11
bass-shy said:
Well, I just won the auction yesterday, so I haven't received the bass yet. I have heard the same things about the Basslines pickups, though. I'm really looking forward to giving them a shot. Even if I don't like them, the seller said he would ship the stock EMG-HZ 35-EP's with the bass, and I know that I like those so, even if I don't like the Duncans, I'll still be happy. Now I just have to be patient...................:ninja:
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Kewl, Let me know. My F255FM has the ESP pickups and they are OK, but I am hoping the Basslines will be a ton better.
 
#15
Well, my new C-304 showed up today.:hyper: It had a bad tuner, some rust on a few frets and it needed a set-up, but I took care of all that stuff in about an hour or so. Now, she's wearing a new set of Hi-Beams, plays like a dream and sounds fantastic! The Basslines SSB-4 Phase II Passive Soapbars (Phew!) sound really, really good. I read in another thread that they were like a "hot Jazz" and I think that that is a pretty accurate comparison. They are very old-school sounding without getting muddy and they have good articulation without being bright or harsh. IMO, they are just right for fingerstyle or aggressive picking, but not quite right for modern, funky slapping. In my other C-304, I have a set of EMG 35-P4/35-CS actives which are my personal favorite for a great slap tone. IMO, the Basslines are about the exact opposite of those. Also, the top on the new one that I thought looked like Bubinga from the E-Bay pics actually looks more like burled Redwood in real life. I'll have to do some research to find out exactly what it is but whatever it turns out to be..........looks awesome in person. Anyway, that's it for now. I'll try to get some pics up this weekend.
 
#16
Oh yeah..............I just sold my fretless B-50 so now I'm down to the two C-304's and a Martin ALternative X Bass. I'm kind of contemplating having one of the C-304's defretted. I'll likely have Elderly Instruments do the work, as I don't trust myself enough to do it, and I've had great experiences with them.
 

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