Official ESP club

[Neveragain55]

Hi Gang,

I bought my first bass when I was 19 which now seems like a thousand years ago. It was one of those early eighties Chinese Hondo Fender knock-offs.

I got it from a Sam Ash Music store for under $200.00 dollars and played it for roughly three years before I traded it in for a used Yamaha. (can’t remember the model)

I played the Yamaha for roughly 6 years and then in 1999 I dived into the fretless world, and bought a 4 string Dean Edge One Fretless.

It was a beautiful bass (for the money), very light, thin neck, very Ibanez-“ish” if you know what I mean, and I still have it.

Recently I picked up a used, Midnight Purple ESP LTD B-104 from a pawn shop for $100.00 bucks that looked like it had been dragged through a war zone. (seriously)

The thing was thoroughly thrashed, abused, rode hard, and put up wet.

I took everything off of it, cleaned & polished all the hardware, put new D’Addario Nickel round wound strings on her, and had it professionally set up with a low action.

Freaking bass is a monster………….and I am completely hooked on all things ESP now because of it and I'm very impressed.

So impressed that I bought a brand new ESP LTD B-4E recently and it plays & feels like a $2,500 bass.

I can't say enough about the ESP LTD line of bass guitars. They’re absolutely phenomenal instruments, and they definitely don’t get the credit they deserve.

Below are pictures of my basses, and the picture of the B-4E is my actual bass that Sweetwater took a picture of before they shipped it.
Count me in…..

 

[JACink]

Very nice!

 

[Inertialsky]

I'm looking for a set of pickups from an LTD 214. I know a lot of folks change these out to EMGs or other brands but I like the originals. If anybody on here has swapped theirs out and have the original set, drop me a note and we'll talk price.

I have a brand new set of ESP Jazz pickups pulled from a Vintage J204... pm me if interested.

 

[PDGood]

I have a brand new set of ESP Jazz pickups pulled from a Vintage J204... pm me if interested.

Thanks, Tobias, but I'm looking for the P/J set from a 214.

 

[tastybasslines]

Ha ha, I'm at an open blues jam right now and just played a couple of songs. Some guy comes up and says "what kind of bass is that? ESP? Damn, that sounded good!" Lol

 

[dStar]

I've always heard that basses with preamps were hotter than passive basses, but my passive Jazz is hotter than my B-4. Has anyone else with a B-4 or other LTD with the same preamp, experienced this?

 

[Bobster]

With the stock pickup, my Squier VM P5 is hotter than my B -1005 with EMGs, and about the same as my B4 -Z with an Aguilar OPB-3 preamp. my stock Ibanez 1400E with Nordstrands Big Singles is hotter than both of them.

All the best,

Bob

 

[dStar]

I guess I should add that I replaced the LTD pickups with Nordstrand DC's, but it was quieter with the stocks too. I'm thinking about putting in a OBP-3, is it worth it?

 

[Bobster]

In my opinion it's totally worth it. The stock Ltd preamp isn't bad, but the OBP-3 is a different level altogether. I have a pull-up bypass on the volume pot, and a mid frequency shift on the pull-up mid pot. Amazingly versitile.

On the downside, the OBP-3 was a lot of work to get wired up. Fifteen wires to the pre and then the pickups and wiring between the pots. I used a sherbet tub and mounted all the pots upside down on the lid and cut another hole to drop the preamp through. It still took me a while to get done. If I had it to do over again, I might just get one of the wired ones from bestbassgear.com. This is my configuration: Invalid Link Removed

All the best with your decision dStar!

Bob

 

[dStar]

I put in the Nordys and two coil tap mini switches, myself, so I'm not too intimidated The one I'm looking at from Sweetwater (with 24 month financing) comes with the eq pots, I'd definitely get a push pull bypass volume pot. I've looked at the wiring diagram, and it is a bit mind bending, but I think I can handle it. I do like your Tupperware solution

The pre-wired from BBG is tempting, but the cheaper unwired from Sweetwater, plus 24 months no interest, is hard to pass up.

The Nordys, BTW, are a great addition, in split coil mode I get a very passable Jazz tone, and the toned from the pickups soloed in humbucking mode are great too,

 

[Sterrrling]

This is my ESP LTD B-304, 2005 (DON'T QUOTE ME). I had one time bought and owned the 5 string version but sold it to buy something else (you know how GAS works). Anyway, this one came from EBAY couple years back for under $200.00 and I did do some minor modes. Its got an upgraded Glockenklang 3 band active EQ with new knobs to fit the new pots and a Hipshot A-Style bridge (didn't care much for the stock bridge -saddle screws dig into the side of hand when using a pick). Great little bass, gigged a couple times with a tribute act...sounds good.

 

[Unfinely Tuned]

ArvindJayaram- thanks for the advice, that was my plan, but I passed on the bass and a friend now owns it. I was thinking about an Aguilar pre for the bass. IMO, These basses are modestly priced for what we get as players and surpasses any Ibanez or Schecter offerings at this price point.

 

[Bobster]

dStar,

I've got an Ibanez SR1400E with Nordstrand Big Singles in it and that's a great agressive jazzy tone, so I hear ya on the Nordstrands. Currently the Ibanez is has the D'Addario XL170 balanced tension set and the Ltd has super light Chromes. This gives me two distinctly different sounds.

I got my Aguilar at Sweetwater as well for the same reasons. This is exactly what I have: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/OBP-3TKPP just need a stereo jack and push/pull pots for volume and balance.

Also, I used the Best Bass Gear diagram http://www.talkbass.com/threads/problems-with-installing-aguilar-obp-3.77665/#post-881928 , but had to make a couple of tweaks to get mine to work, reversing the balance pot for one. That'a a known issue: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/problems-with-installing-aguilar-obp-3.77665/#post-881928

Also leave off that dotted wire between the volume and balance pots. It will give you a hotter output.

Bob

 

[ArvindJayaram]

Welcome to the club, Neveragain55. #169


#1 Funkmasterflex
#2 Rat_Tat_Tat
#3 El_Whappo
#4 AshenBassist
#5 shawn-o
#6 speedofmutation
#7 ShowKing
#8 Willem
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#10 u_djinn
#11 HoDog
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#13 straightedge79
#14 Ulrico_M
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#16 djwackfriz
#17 Schilling
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#20 unbasslichkeit
#21 mraappana
#22 MikeyD74
#23 Aleks_z
#24 scary_bill
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#28 mtljeff
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#31 solomon707
#32 BryanSwift
#33 Mod_Scotty
#34 of4strings
#35 xikbastard
#36 ProgBASSIST
#37 joeroe_92
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#54 SPYD3R #9
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#58 shane-O-matic
#59 Josh_Pelican
#60 mokeanL
#61 skizzbot
#62 bt99
#63 ataraxia
#64 livinglow
#65 FilCo
#66 krafty
#67 cetera
#68 kurotenshi
#69 Aircooled
#70 squashsquash
#71 Alucard817
#72 TWP
#73 jackajesusfreak
#74 merello
#75 onlydead
#76 HaMMerHed
#77 jaffbass
#78 jperala
#79 badaxe24
#80 Anarkhia
#81 bassplayer8953
#82 andysvec
#83 dmgINC308
#84 sdlstn
#85 Rich5150
#86 etechstan
#87 ledzep5296
#88 bassmastan
#89 poomwah
#90 oldprussians
#91 MrNecroVOL
#92 Gabriel51
#93 pride
#94 Mr.Typhus
#95 Roy_BRS
#96 NML1986
#97 Project777
#98 pepsobass
#99 jandscotten
#100 cfsporn
#101 socialleper
#102 rtav
#103 mark_beem
#104 txthrashking
#105 terryj47
#106 groovecraver
#107 Astreaux
#108 bri450r
#109 Crazy_Climer
#110 EricssonB
#111 Bassbin
#112 GhettoSmurf187
#113 RexxRokket
#114 5StringThunder
#115 WallyN
#116 SebVitusFreak
#117 n4ptime
#118 Erick_Lam
#119 ModuMan
#120 stepswork4me
#121 kurotenshi
#122 Cyco
#123 Jerry_LTD
#124 tom_once_dead
#125 marcocheesium
#126 Snakeman1066
#127 marko138
#128 comannapaca
#129 JBOWLES
#130 Shanebo
#131 Bobster
#132 Staccato
#133 Splintered Skul
#134 BassKick
#135 Inago
#136 dStar
#137 Kamikaze3955
#138 EljGarcia
#139 Jipley0
#140 speyer
#141 bgewin
#142 savofenno
#143 Bachlover
#144 Marco138
#145 Vmabus
#146 Dnbrandon
#147 Yogen
#148 ElBandito
#149 Sidewinder7
#150 Kr0mka
#151 Demo69
#152 Sundogue
#153 Stacker
#154 Petethebassman
#155 El Seaweed
#156 Astrobass63
#157 Starflyer59
#158 Princedead
#159 Bbogg
#160 Rafitoprtx
#161 DrewFaktor
#162 Rimmry
#163 CatSplat
#164 Nilpla
#165 Gard0300
#166 Tony Bassplayer
#167 PDGood
#168 Gee Phil
#169 Neveragain55
#666 ArvindJayaram
#777 LoveThatBass
#1352 tastybasslines
#3710 JACink

 

[Neveragain55]

I've always heard that basses with preamps were hotter than passive basses, but my passive Jazz is hotter than my B-4. Has anyone else with a B-4 or other LTD with the same preamp, experienced this?

Sorry for the late reply.....

I recently got a B-4E (birthday gift to myself) and it came with 9 volt, 3 band active eq and passive pickups which are my favorite set up over an active eq and active pickup set up.

I find the all-electronic, all active setups to be a bit (tinny) sounding, and some of the natural warmth gets lost.

I understand a million people would disagree and I respect that but I love the combination ESP came up with on most of its LTD line of basses, and there isn't much you can't do or any genre of music you can't play with them.

Lots of people prefer soapbars over a p/j set-up (and vice/versa) but honestly my ears can't distinguish that much of a discernable difference. All the ESP basses I have - have soapbars and (to me) there just as punchy as a p/j set-up.

My two cents.... for whatever it's worth....

 

[Neveragain55]

Welcome to the club, Neveragain55. #169


#1 Funkmasterflex
#2 Rat_Tat_Tat
#3 El_Whappo
#4 AshenBassist
#5 shawn-o
#6 speedofmutation
#7 ShowKing
#8 Willem
#9 mjwhit
#10 u_djinn
#11 HoDog
#12 dexterward
#13 straightedge79
#14 Ulrico_M
#15 blikeng
#16 djwackfriz
#17 Schilling
#18 cocas
#19 Emergancy_Exit
#20 unbasslichkeit
#21 mraappana
#22 MikeyD74
#23 Aleks_z
#24 scary_bill
#25 Linus27
#26 DaneB
#27 EL_Jefe
#28 mtljeff
#29 David_Smyth
#30 Doctor_J
#31 solomon707
#32 BryanSwift
#33 Mod_Scotty
#34 of4strings
#35 xikbastard
#36 ProgBASSIST
#37 joeroe_92
#38 Demonturtle
#39 EddieJackson
#40 gamelan
#41 sozo
#42 theory028
#43 mudwelser
#44 fgnbtz
#45 Sbociol
#46 chingas
#47 LowFreak
#48 Sauron_
#49 davkane
#50 BigFetus
#51 benneburg
#52 thrashard340
#53 choo5
#54 SPYD3R #9
#55 kjpollo
#56 davidak
#57 Joe_Milo
#58 shane-O-matic
#59 Josh_Pelican
#60 mokeanL
#61 skizzbot
#62 bt99
#63 ataraxia
#64 livinglow
#65 FilCo
#66 krafty
#67 cetera
#68 kurotenshi
#69 Aircooled
#70 squashsquash
#71 Alucard817
#72 TWP
#73 jackajesusfreak
#74 merello
#75 onlydead
#76 HaMMerHed
#77 jaffbass
#78 jperala
#79 badaxe24
#80 Anarkhia
#81 bassplayer8953
#82 andysvec
#83 dmgINC308
#84 sdlstn
#85 Rich5150
#86 etechstan
#87 ledzep5296
#88 bassmastan
#89 poomwah
#90 oldprussians
#91 MrNecroVOL
#92 Gabriel51
#93 pride
#94 Mr.Typhus
#95 Roy_BRS
#96 NML1986
#97 Project777
#98 pepsobass
#99 jandscotten
#100 cfsporn
#101 socialleper
#102 rtav
#103 mark_beem
#104 txthrashking
#105 terryj47
#106 groovecraver
#107 Astreaux
#108 bri450r
#109 Crazy_Climer
#110 EricssonB
#111 Bassbin
#112 GhettoSmurf187
#113 RexxRokket
#114 5StringThunder
#115 WallyN
#116 SebVitusFreak
#117 n4ptime
#118 Erick_Lam
#119 ModuMan
#120 stepswork4me
#121 kurotenshi
#122 Cyco
#123 Jerry_LTD
#124 tom_once_dead
#125 marcocheesium
#126 Snakeman1066
#127 marko138
#128 comannapaca
#129 JBOWLES
#130 Shanebo
#131 Bobster
#132 Staccato
#133 Splintered Skul
#134 BassKick
#135 Inago
#136 dStar
#137 Kamikaze3955
#138 EljGarcia
#139 Jipley0
#140 speyer
#141 bgewin
#142 savofenno
#143 Bachlover
#144 Marco138
#145 Vmabus
#146 Dnbrandon
#147 Yogen
#148 ElBandito
#149 Sidewinder7
#150 Kr0mka
#151 Demo69
#152 Sundogue
#153 Stacker
#154 Petethebassman
#155 El Seaweed
#156 Astrobass63
#157 Starflyer59
#158 Princedead
#159 Bbogg
#160 Rafitoprtx
#161 DrewFaktor
#162 Rimmry
#163 CatSplat
#164 Nilpla
#165 Gard0300
#166 Tony Bassplayer
#167 PDGood
#168 Gee Phil
#169 Neveragain55
#666 ArvindJayaram
#777 LoveThatBass
#1352 tastybasslines
#3710 JACink

Thanks......

 

[Neveragain55]

This is my ESP LTD B-304, 2005 (DON'T QUOTE ME). I had one time bought and owned the 5 string version but sold it to buy something else (you know how GAS works). Anyway, this one came from EBAY couple years back for under $200.00 and I did do some minor modes. Its got an upgraded Glockenklang 3 band active EQ with new knobs to fit the new pots and a Hipshot A-Style bridge (didn't care much for the stock bridge -saddle screws dig into the side of hand when using a pick). Great little bass, gigged a couple times with a tribute act...sounds good.

View attachment 521436 View attachment 521436

That's absolutely gorgeous.......really...

 

[Neveragain55]

One thing I noticed with the black nickel hardware on some LTDs is that it tends to wear off. My bridge is now pretty much nickel (not black) on my AX-404, and my bro's F-10 guitar has the nickel worn off as well.

Expensive basses are great if you have the money to spend, but I'm nowhere near that market. As a result, I've learned how to look for the gems in the low price category. My LTD is one of those.

The most I've spent on a bass is around $650 and wound up selling it because I wasn't nearly as happy with it as with some of the less expensive ones. My avatar was $425 (used) and the one I play the most cost $199 used. I choose them carefully - I'm fussy about the straightness of the neck and how they sound. Little things like upgrading the wiring or having fret ends filed are inexpensive fixes and ultimately I'm totally happy with the result with a minimal investment. This allows me to buy more and have a versatile tonal range available. I'd have to make a lot more money than I make now to even consider the $2,000 range. I can't comprehend $13,000 but they're not marketing that bass with people like me in mind.

Amen, and I couldn't agree with you more.

At a certain price range you have to ask yourself: how much better am I going to sound with an instrument that cost's thousands more than average priced instruments, and are those super exspensive basses truly worth all that extra money.

I've asked the same question myself for years.

 

[Veeence]

Hey Folks. I'm new to the forum, but here looks like a good place to start. I own several basses, but my LTD has been getting the most time these days.

I recently re-wired it in a configuration which I've never seen anywhere else and thought I would share:

I've torn out the old the old pre amp and EQ, and added a Noll pre-amp with no eq (gotta keep the battery busy). The one EQ knob is now a traditional cap to ground tone knob while the 2 new switches flip between series/single coil/parallel.

For me this is a fantastically useful configuration - more so than having a 3 band eq, because I can change the character of the sound more. I'm surprised that this isn't a more popular configuration. Am I just an oddball?

 

[JACink]

Hey Folks. I'm new to the forum, but here looks like a good place to start. I own several basses, but my LTD has been getting the most time these days.

I recently re-wired it in a configuration which I've never seen anywhere else and thought I would share:

I've torn out the old the old pre amp and EQ, and added a Noll pre-amp with no eq (gotta keep the battery busy). The one EQ knob is now a traditional cap to ground tone knob while the 2 new switches flip between series/single coil/parallel.

For me this is a fantastically useful configuration - more so than having a 3 band eq, because I can change the character of the sound more. I'm surprised that this isn't a more popular configuration. Am I just an oddball?

I don't understand how you can change the sound more with one tone pot rather than an active 3 band eq.