• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Official ESP club

#1,441
Wow, I just realized it's been a while since I was looking at the Official ESP Club.
I would like to thank you and say Hello to ArvindJayaram for issuing my Club #168 and PD Good.
I've also come to realize that I hadn't posted a picture of my ESP/LTD AP-204 that I purchased 2 years ago.

So here's the picture to add to my other LTD's.
LTD AP204.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: CallMeAl, SgtHulka, Ggeorges and 2 others
#1,443
gwangi said:
I'm curious does anybody own or tried one of these yet:

E-II BTL-5
Click to expand...

A bit late of a reply but I've owned the old Esp Standard model for about 10 years now, was my first really decent instrument. What seems to have changed is bolt-on instead of neck-through construction, Hipshot instead of Gotoh bridge. It plays really well and is probably the highest quality factory bass I own. I usually disengage the pre-amp if I'm at home playing through a DI but through an amp the added signal strength is nice. I keep everything flat through my Terror Bass with the gain at 2 o'clock and it sounds great. The neck is so comfortable that I had my Clement bass neck made to the same measurements, 21.5mm thickness at first fret 24.5mm at 12th but since it's not exactly the same bass I guess it is what it is. For what it's worth the nut width, contour and radius is listed as the same at least :) Here's an old picture of mine, serial number says it's made in 2009.
IMG_1571.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: AlmostAAVee, 8liter, dbbltime and 1 other person
#1,444
AlmostAAVee said:
Hi everyone!

Could I get a club number?

I had exp-104 which I sold to my friend butfelt strange not to have an ltd instrument at all so today I purchased ltd B-205sm (see thru black satin)
Click to expand...

Where was your bass made? Im actually getting one of these from someone locally, but I'm wondering if it's a fake since it doesn't have the inspection sticker.
Does anyone know how I can get info on verifying if its real?

Screen Shot 2020-10-22 at 9.43.45 AM.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: TerribleTim68
#1,446
Logic_11 said:
Where was your bass made? Im actually getting one of these from someone locally, but I'm wondering if it's a fake since it doesn't have the inspection sticker.
Does anyone know how I can get info on verifying if its real?

View attachment 4027129
Click to expand...
So I don't think it's a fake, but I'm also no expert on fake guitars. So there's that! :thumbsup:

Here's what I can tell you -
The "RS" means it was made at the China factory. The LTD basses moved production around a lot between China, Indonesia, Japan, etc. so it can be Chinese made and still be legit.
My limited (see what I did there) understanding of these serial numbers is that the first two digits are the day of the month, so yours was built on the "19th" of the month. The next two digits are the month, so yours was built in "June" (the 6th month). The next digit is the year, so yours was built in "2000". The rest are the sequential order they came off the assembly line, so yours was the 372nd guitar built that year. So to sum all that up, yes China is a legit manufacturing plant. That serial reads "China Factory - June 19th, 2000 - 472nd instrument built that year".
It's possible someone just took the inspection sticker off. You said it is used, right?

EDIT: Just to add to this. Some serials only use a single digit for months 1 through 9, so it is also possible for serial numbers to be one digit "shorter" due to that. But my understanding of that situation is that it happened prior to 2000. so you could have a 1999 or older model that the serial reads "1339xxx", which would be "March 13th, 1999". And then you could also have a 1999 model with a serial like "13109xxx", which would be "October 13th, 1999". They also used numbers like "9" for both 1999 and 1989, so that's also tough to interpret. Fun stuff!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: CodyMonster and Logic_11
#1,447
TerribleTim68 said:
So I don't think it's a fake, but I'm also no expert on fake guitars. So there's that! :thumbsup:

Here's what I can tell you -
The "RS" means it was made at the China factory. The LTD basses moved production around a lot between China, Indonesia, Japan, etc. so it can be Chinese made and still be legit.
My limited (see what I did there) understanding of these serial numbers is that the first two digits are the day of the month, so yours was built on the "19th" of the month. The next two digits are the month, so yours was built in "June" (the 6th month). The next digit is the year, so yours was built in "2000". The rest are the sequential order they came off the assembly line, so yours was the 372nd guitar built that year. So to sum all that up, yes China is a legit manufacturing plant. That serial reads "China Factory - June 19th, 2000 - 472nd instrument built that year".
It's possible someone just took the inspection sticker off. You said it is used, right?
Click to expand...

OMG thank you for your help!! Yes it is a used instrument. The person I am buying it from said that they were gifted the bass a year ago and it's just been siting in storage. I have an LTD bass which I have been comparing it to and everything looks good to me. The only things that stand out to me are the missing inspection sticker and the Chinese factory thing which you mentioned.

Here are a few more pictures of it:
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0323.PNG
    IMG_0323.PNG
    7 MB · Views: 89
  • IMG_0324.PNG
    IMG_0324.PNG
    8.7 MB · Views: 69
  • IMG_0325.PNG
    IMG_0325.PNG
    6.1 MB · Views: 81
  • IMG_0326.PNG
    IMG_0326.PNG
    5.8 MB · Views: 73
  • IMG_0327.PNG
    IMG_0327.PNG
    6.8 MB · Views: 72
  • IMG_0329.PNG
    IMG_0329.PNG
    9.6 MB · Views: 81
  • Like
Reactions: TerribleTim68
#1,448
CodyMonster said:
People make fake LTD bases? They cost 450-550 new. (B204 anyway). Can't say I ever noticed any stickers on my 204, got it new.
Click to expand...

Yeah people make fake ltd basses lol. I actually got an email from ESP saying that they were aware of knock-offs and to only buy from reputable dealers. The one I posted is an LTD B205SM. The person I am buying it from is selling it for a good price and it looks brand new, so I am wondering if it is too good to be true. I too have an LTD B206sm, which I love. I've been looking and saving for the dark B205 model for months now since it is lighter and has a slightly smaller scale.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CodyMonster and TerribleTim68
#1,449
Logic_11 said:
.... The one I posted is an LTD B205SM. The person I am buying it from is selling it for a good price and it looks brand new, so I am wondering if it is too good to be true. ....
Click to expand...
How much is he asking? Honestly, used, I'd value it in that $350-400 range depending on condition and various other factors.
Logic_11 said:
.... I too have an LTD B206sm, which I love. ...
Click to expand...
I've got the B-206sm as well, along with an all original F-104 and a highly modded F-104. :cool:
 
  • Like
Reactions: AEVAREX and Logic_11
#1,452
AEVAREX said:
Ohh highly modded F-104!
Pics please :D
Click to expand...
Well, brace yourself, it's an odd story. :laugh:
I found this bare body on the local CL for $10, so I decided to rescue it -
IMG_20180705_1728330.jpg

The poor thing had been subjected to a traumatizing rattle can paint job that went horribly wrong and had massive orange peel before the previous owner gave up on it. So I snagged it with every intention of "trying something I've never done before", swirl painting! I couldn't find a proper LTD neck, so I started purchasing "stuff" for it and when all the smoke cleared, I had this thing that I named "Intuition" -
ESP Swirl.jpg

As you can see, not a LTD neck or headstock shape because apparently nobody has one of those necks laying around they want to part with. I put EMG active soapbars in it and topped it off with some DR Neon strings, in pink. It does now have knobs, in purple. I just haven't taken a recent picture. :cool:
But, you can see it hanging on the wall......
The-Wall 05-20 - 2.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: GTHintz, Aaron Mc, DeliriumTremens and 3 others
#1,454
CodyMonster said:
Dang!!! You have a shop? ;) you can play "which one of these does not belong?" :D
Click to expand...
Nah, that's my spare bedroom.

The "one that doesn't belong" is the latest swirl paint I did (that was swirl #5, I sold 2 of them). It's an Ibanez Mikro and I'm not sure if I'm gonna sell it or keep it for the grandkids. The green Mikro bass on the bottom row gets played by my grand daughter, she's 6. :cool:
 
#1,456
TerribleTim68 said:
How much is he asking? Honestly, used, I'd value it in that $350-400 range depending on condition and various other factors.

I've got the B-206sm as well, along with an all original F-104 and a highly modded F-104. :cool:
Click to expand...

I agree with you on the $350-400 estimate. I was able to find the price guide for the B205sm on Reverb.

Screen Shot 2020-10-22 at 10.55.24 AM.png


The average is about $340 in good condition, but these prices exclude shipping, which could be about $50 more. The person I'm buying it from posted it yesterday for $450 and I offered $350, but they counteroffered for $400, which I agreed to as long they can hold it for me for me til the weekend. They also live down the street from me, so I don't have to worry about shipping costs. I probably could have offered less, but it is what it is. I've been looking and saving up for this exact bass for a few months and this one looks like it has never been played.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TerribleTim68
#1,458
Logic_11 said:
I agree with you on the $350-400 estimate. I was able to find the price guide for the B205sm on Reverb.

View attachment 4027211

The average is about $340 in good condition, but these prices exclude shipping, which could be about $50 more. The person I'm buying it from posted it yesterday for $450 and I offered $350, but they counteroffered for $400, which I agreed to as long they can hold it for me for me til the weekend. They also live down the street from me, so I don't have to worry about shipping costs. I probably could have offered less, but it is what it is. I've been looking and saving up for this exact bass for a few months and this one looks like it has never been played.
Click to expand...
Yup, all those things factor in. I'd say if you're happy at that price, then you're golden.
In my opinion, there's something to be said for being able to physically hold it before paying real money for it, so that's worth something too. :cool:

Good luck with your purchase, and if it all works out, we will be looking forward to pics after the weekend! :thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Logic_11

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back