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Official ESP club

#1,201
Just grabbed another E-II, this one being an AP-5, in see-thru white. This thing is freaking BAD-ASS, and built like a tank (like my j-5). The AP-5 is truly a Stingray on steroids, with waaaaaay more versatility...just about any tone is here, really. The bass set up with "guitar-low" action, how I like it, has just the right amount of twang, and loads of aggression on tap, if need be. I can even cop something that sounds sort of like a Spector with the Haz pre. Loving this thing, and can't wait to try it live this weekend.

Thinking of changing the tuners out for Gotoh's Res-o-lites, or Hipshot Ultralites, and am going to get wood knobs to match the fretboard and headstock.

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#1,202
songwriter21 said:
Just grabbed another E-II, this one being an AP-5, in see-thru white. This thing is freaking BAD-ASS, and built like a tank (like my j-5). The AP-5 is truly a Stingray on steroids, with waaaaaay more versatility...just about any tone is here, really. The bass set up with "guitar-low" action, how I like it, has just the right amount of twang, and loads of aggression on tap, if need be. I can even cop something that sounds sort of like a Spector with the Haz pre. Loving this thing, and can't wait to try it live this weekend.

Thinking of changing the tuners out for Gotoh's Res-o-lites, or Hipshot Ultralites, and am going to get wood knobs to match the fretboard and headstock.

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Click to expand...

Hadn't seen these before. Looks like a crossbreed between a G&L and a Surveyor!
 
#1,204
songwriter21 said:
Just grabbed another E-II, this one being an AP-5, in see-thru white. This thing is freaking BAD-ASS, and built like a tank (like my j-5). The AP-5 is truly a Stingray on steroids, with waaaaaay more versatility...just about any tone is here, really. The bass set up with "guitar-low" action, how I like it, has just the right amount of twang, and loads of aggression on tap, if need be. I can even cop something that sounds sort of like a Spector with the Haz pre. Loving this thing, and can't wait to try it live this weekend.

Thinking of changing the tuners out for Gotoh's Res-o-lites, or Hipshot Ultralites, and am going to get wood knobs to match the fretboard and headstock.

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Click to expand...

That is a great-looking instrument!
 
#1,206
songwriter21 said:
Just grabbed another E-II, this one being an AP-5, in see-thru white. This thing is freaking BAD-ASS, and built like a tank (like my j-5). The AP-5 is truly a Stingray on steroids, with waaaaaay more versatility...just about any tone is here, really. The bass set up with "guitar-low" action, how I like it, has just the right amount of twang, and loads of aggression on tap, if need be. I can even cop something that sounds sort of like a Spector with the Haz pre. Loving this thing, and can't wait to try it live this weekend.

Thinking of changing the tuners out for Gotoh's Res-o-lites, or Hipshot Ultralites, and am going to get wood knobs to match the fretboard and headstock.

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Click to expand...

You have a carbon copy of my main bass. It is indeed incredible. By far the most playable 5 string I have ever owned. I happily traded a gorgeous Sterling 5hs for it. I have other basses, but when it comes time to play with the band I can not even fathom playing a different bass.

For another interesting tone open up the control cavity and turn down the trim pots for the slap switch all the way. In their lowest setting it gives a different flavor of bass boost (80hz vs the bass knob's 20hz) without too much mid cut. In the series setting it makes the sound so thick. At higher settings the slap switch can be too aggressive IMHO.

My only knock on the bass is that the single coil setting uses the south coils of both pickups so it is not hum cancelling in any position of the blend knob. I quickly got over that because the series sound is so wonderful. I am going to rewire mine so the switch will be outside coils/series/inside coils.

Enjoy the best kept secret in bass guitars! I know I do!

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#1,207
Interesting tip for the trimpots. I was looking at the cavity last night...pretty clean wiring...not as pristine as my Bacchus, but nice.

I don't mind the parallel setting, but I agree with you about the sc setting. I was also wondering why they wouldn't have hum cancelling with a 50/50 blend setting. I, too, prefer the series mode...reminds me of my old Roscoes.
 
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#1,208
It is the one flaw I found with the bass, and I had to look REALLY hard. I thought the wiring in mine was very clean, but I'm not too surprised that Bacchus is great as well. Japanese precision is truly impressive.

The parallel isn't bad at all, but the series setting just sounds so right to me. After a long and expensive search I found MY tone with the AP-5.

It is good to know that it sounds similar to a Roscoe. I will have to check out a Roscoe when I am ready for a new bass!
 
#1,210
Another great thing about the AP-5, is that it balances a good bit better than my J-5. The AP's body is heavier, so that may be it, or maybe it's the non-offset shape (like the J-5). I just know that it sits balanced on my lap. The only other bass I've seen do that, was a Carvin B25S. My ESPs blow the Carvin's playability away, as well as, oh, at least EIGHT other Carvins I've bought and returned in the past. I said it before, and I'll say it again...these basses are true sleepers. It's nice to find a consistently great-sounding workhorse of an instrument.

So, I gotta say that I'm pretty impressed with both of my ESPs. Both are built as solid as a rock, and set up easily. Now I'm torn as to which bass to keep as my backup (the J-5, or my Bacchus DX).

Well done to Japan, my hat's off to them.
 
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#1,216
Magnus Thorne said:
Got my 1st ESP last week.

Next ESP I want is a Surveyor. Are the stock pickups in the LTD Surveyor better than what I have in the F104 or just different?
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the surveyors feature the EMG pickups and while I've never had the opportunity to compare to the F-104, the EMG's are definitely clearer than the stock ESP designed on my B-50. Much brighter and warmer.

PS... if you are looking for a great deal on a surveyor 4 or 5, they are having a stock reduction clearance on them.
Products - Bass Clearance - The ESP Guitar Company
 
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#1,218
Greetings to the ESP gang. Since last week, I was the proud owner of some very old ESP precision bass. I bought her in the pub for the payment account drunks. Nowhere did I find the history of this bass. I would like to ask for help in identifying this vintage basses. If anyone knows about what year it is, what kind of wood, pickups ...
Thank you in advance for any help and greetings from Czech
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