Official ESP club

[LoveThatBass]

I might give that a shot. Thanks!

You will not regret it and it will put a smile on your face you find hard to wipe off. Go for it!

 

[tastybasslines]

Does anyone know the exact pickup specs of the LDJ bridge pickup on the LTD Vintage 214 P/J?

I scoured the ESP site and nothing. Looked all over online and nothing.

I love the P pickup in the bass....fantastic and tight lows but the bridge is leaving a lot to be desired... no low mids and has no beef or bark. I'm going to switch it out.

I was thinking about going for a Bart...I think I want a covered pickup, and split coil design. I want to make sure they are an exact match before I order.

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Opinions? Help?

Thanks ESP bros.

 

[Bobster]

tastybasslines,

The only concern you will have is getting the correct size (neck or bridge) pickup.

I recommend measuring the width of the LDJ and buying a noiseless/stacked/humbucking J pickup. I put a DiMarzio Ultra Jazz DP148 in my Modern Player Jaguar and have been really happy with it, but whatever J you pick should work out fine.

Bob

 

[vmabus]

I'll chime in with B-50 FL. Bought it 'cause it was $100; kept it because it plays GREAT! With the addition of GHS ribbon-wounds, the sound is pretty good now, too. In fact, I like it so much, I want to sell my Ibbys to buy a better ESP fretless (B-205SM FL).

 

[bachlover]

You're gonna love it - spent another hour playing it yesterday, sounds so good and full with the 3 band eq. The "mwahhh" sound is up front and so much fun to play with!

 

[Charley Umbria]

I love the P pickup in the bass....fantastic and tight lows but the bridge is leaving a lot to be desired... no low mids and has no beef or bark. I'm going to switch it out.

I was thinking about going for a Bart...I think I want a covered pickup, and split coil design. I want to make sure they are an exact match before I order.

I use a set of Fralin pups in my ESP 400 Series P/J. The J pickup is split coil and 5% overwound. It sounds great, and easily keeps up with the P pickup. If the size matches your OEM pup, it's worth a try.

 

[speyer]

I would consider swapping in a pj set of Duncan SPB-2's. They come stock in the ESP vintage four (japan) and are shockingly good pickups for the price. I think I saw a used set in the classifieds for only $100. My vintage four sounds as good or better than my jbass with $350 pups in it. They are really nice passive pickups IMO. FWIW, the thing I like about them is that they don't sound like most 'high end' pickups I've played (cuz they aren't) . They have a good classic sound...Lots of defined output, lots of bottom and bags of meaty mids with clear organic highs. Everything you need and nothing you don't!

 

[elBandito]

I can't seem to find too much information about ltd basses. Are neck through models(D5, B5) better than bolt ons(b-335, B205)? I never owned a neck through before. I'm considering the b-335, because it's maple/rosewood neck and solid ash body. Something I'm familiar with. Would it be better to go with mahogany/neckthrough model like the d5? Thank you.

 

[LoveThatBass]

I can't seem to find too much information about ltd basses. Are neck through models(D5, B5) better than bolt ons(b-335, B205)? I never owned a neck through before. I'm considering the b-335, because it's maple/rosewood neck and solid ash body. Something I'm familiar with. Would it be better to go with mahogany/neckthrough model like the d5? Thank you.

Since I have never owned or played one with a bolt on neck I could say but from what I read they are good. I think the Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard is better than the mahogany on the D-5. It is not bad but I love the feel of the Maple neck after owning a Fender American Special Jazz. I would not have sold my Fender and kept the D-5 but the B-5E after I buffed it to a luster (except for the back of the neck which I left satin like the Fender's) made my mind up which to keep because I needed a 5 string.

 

[Staccato]

I can't seem to find too much information about ltd basses. Are neck through models(D5, B5) better than bolt ons(b-335, B205)? I never owned a neck through before. I'm considering the b-335, because it's maple/rosewood neck and solid ash body. Something I'm familiar with. Would it be better to go with mahogany/neckthrough model like the d5? Thank you.

Try a neck through model for a demo. You've got to decide what's best for you. Some people prefer NT, and others bolt on. You have the choice of swapping, or removing the neck of a bolt on. Not being a boutique bass owner, you might guess that most of my basses have a bolt on neck. That said, I really enjoy the NT bass in my lineup.

 

[LoveThatBass]

Try a neck through model for a demo. You've got to decide what's best for you. Some people prefer NT, and others bolt on. You have the choice of swapping, or removing the neck of a bolt on. Not being a boutique bass owner, you might guess that most of my basses have a bolt on neck. That said, I really enjoy the NT bass in my lineup.

What do you enjoy about the NT? Just curious. I enjoyed the neck, feel and sound of my Fender American Jazz very much. The neck of my ESP B-5E, being mostly oak feels almost identical which surprised me as the Fender is a 4 string and the B-5E a 5 string.

 

[dnbrandon]

I've been gassing for an LTD for a while now, the GF got me this cool one-off (was used as a prototype/sample for NAMM apparently).

It's a b-205, but with a finish I haven't seen elsewhere and EMG hz pups. Absolutely love it:

 

[LoveThatBass]

I've been gassing for an LTD for a while now, the GF got me this cool one-off (was used as a prototype/sample for NAMM apparently).

It's a b-205, but with a finish I haven't seen elsewhere and EMG hz pups. Absolutely love it:

All I can say is WOW, that is totally gorgeous! Love it. One of a kind makes it really special. Congrats!!!!

 

[dnbrandon]

All I can say is WOW, that is totally gorgeous! Love it. One of a kind makes it really special. Congrats!!!!

Thanks! I was worried about the tone, as I'd only played around on the ones in Sam Ash with the ESP pickups, but the EMGs really cut through the mix.

Also, LOVE the buff job you did. I'm kind of considering it now since mine is satin finish as well. I'd probably better own it for a couple weeks before I mess with it though.

 

[LoveThatBass]

Thanks! I was worried about the tone, as I'd only played around on the ones in Sam Ash with the ESP pickups, but the EMGs really cut through the mix.

Does it have the ESP Pre-amp or EMG? Just curious. I like the ESP Pre-amp EQ. I have not heard EMG. I was wondering how it compared.

 

[dnbrandon]

Does it have the ESP Pre-amp or EMG? Just curious. I like the ESP Pre-amp EQ. I have not heard EMG. I was wondering how it compared.

Haven't even pulled the back cover off yet. I'll take a peek in there and let ya know.

 

[LoveThatBass]

BTW: I have an LTD D-5 along with the LTD B-5E. The D-5 has a 5 piece Mahogany neck. I like the feel of the Oak like my B-5 and Fender American Special Jazz I just sold has. Noticed yours is Oak also.

 

[Staccato]

What do you enjoy about the NT? Just curious. I enjoyed the neck, feel and sound of my Fender American Jazz very much. The neck of my ESP B-5E, being mostly oak feels almost identical which surprised me as the Fender is a 4 string and the B-5E a 5 string.

This particular bass' neck is very stable. It's not one of those that typically needs truss adjustments due to local climate-seasonal changes.

 

[LoveThatBass]

Thanks Staccato! Good to know.
The Fender American Special I just sold had graphite rods in the neck that made it very stable. It would stay in tune for weeks as viewed by my Peterson VS-1 Strobe tuner. The ESP LTD are very good "bang for the buck" even if they cost $200 more

 

[dnbrandon]

Does it have the ESP Pre-amp or EMG? Just curious. I like the ESP Pre-amp EQ. I have not heard EMG. I was wondering how it compared.

Looks like it has an EMG B30RA preamp. BTW, do you have any idea what kind of wood this bass may have? Wondering if it would look good buffed out!