Official ESP club

[Aras]

Hey! Can You guys tell me about LTD Surveyor 4? It is Indonesian made bass, and there is a chance to buy it for very good price. Guitar store in witch i work has few of them still new in boxes. How do they showed them selfs in terms of lifespawn and quality?

 

[TerribleTim68]

I've never played a Surveyor, but I'd guess much like any other LTD it will hold up just fine. I know they were popular among the hair metal scene in the late 80s / early 90s, so that speaks well of them in my opinion. The model was around for a long time, so it must have been a decent seller to keep it in the lineup. The EMG pickup/pre combo seems pretty cool to me.

You can read more about them here, it's a pretty good review -
LTD Surveyor-4 Review

 

[Bodhammer]

B-50, black on black, owner here. This was a pawnshop find and my first bass. It’s not worth selling so I think I want to upgrade the pups. This is a 2003 without a preamp. I know about GZR and Quarter Pounders. I find the current ones nice but a little thin. I have D’addario Chromes on it now.

Any recommendations that won’t be more expensive than the bass? Any Chinesium bargains that would a nice upgrade?

 

[Aras]

I've never played a Surveyor, but I'd guess much like any other LTD it will hold up just fine. I know they were popular among the hair metal scene in the late 80s / early 90s, so that speaks well of them in my opinion. The model was around for a long time, so it must have been a decent seller to keep it in the lineup. The EMG pickup/pre combo seems pretty cool to me.

You can read more about them here, it's a pretty good review -
LTD Surveyor-4 Review

Oh, thanks! Good article. So it's more on the modern side. I could predict it because of the pickups

 

[TerribleTim68]

Oh, thanks! Good article. So it's more on the modern side. I could predict it because of the pickups

Yeah, I mean, they started making that model some time back in 1987 or so, judging by the fact that I see some from back then for sale on the interwebs. So it ran from somewhere around 86-87 until what looks to be 2013. It seems to drop from the catalog in 2014 when they did a rebrand on all the lines and everything became stuff like the "B Series", "D Series", "F Series" and so on. But yeah, with that EMG set, it's gonna be a lot more modern sounding and nothing like a typical P bass.
But, I'm not a fan of a typical P bass, so I'm biased.

You can always dig through catalogs on their website -
Product Archive
They have a decent selection of them dating back to 1995, but nothing before that.

 

[TerribleTim68]

B-50, black on black, owner here. This was a pawnshop find and my first bass. It’s not worth selling so I think I want to upgrade the pups. This is a 2003 without a preamp. I know about GZR and Quarter Pounders. I find the current ones nice but a little thin. I have D’addario Chromes on it now.

Any recommendations that won’t be more expensive than the bass? Any Chinesium bargains that would a nice upgrade?

I mean, it's a P/J bass at it's heart. I'm an EMG fan, so I'd go with the Geezers if you like them. They make a great pup set and you can get the solderless kits so the install is super easy.

 

[Aras]

Yeah, I mean, they started making that model some time back in 1987 or so, judging by the fact that I see some from back then for sale on the interwebs. So it ran from somewhere around 86-87 until what looks to be 2013. It seems to drop from the catalog in 2014 when they did a rebrand on all the lines and everything became stuff like the "B Series", "D Series", "F Series" and so on. But yeah, with that EMG set, it's gonna be a lot more modern sounding and nothing like a typical P bass.
But, I'm not a fan of a typical P bass, so I'm biased.

You can always dig through catalogs on their website -
Product Archive
They have a decent selection of them dating back to 1995, but nothing before that.

Yeah, we have 2008 models. Black, white and sunburst. Maybe i will look for more traditional passive Jazz bass

 

[benneburg]

Of my more basses than I need, the LTD is my absolute favourite, it's a B-404SM from 2007. I like the way it sounds. I like the weight. I like the way it's balanced. I like the size, shape and feel of the neck. the string height and spacing sits just right with me. I like the simple spalted maple pattern, that gently fades out as it goes past the pickups down to the bridge.

benne^

 

[xI Jonathan Ix]

Sup people? New ESP owner here.
ESP LTD B-1005ms:
String recommendations anyone?

 

[Fillbinnzz]

Sup people? New ESP owner here.
ESP LTD B-1005ms:
String recommendations anyone?
View attachment 5198815 View attachment 5198816 View attachment 5198817 View attachment 5198818

If that's new, I don't think that they put cheap strings on a $2K bass. How do they sound?

 

[Dincrest]

I think he's asking what his options are for strings that will fit his new bass when he needs to string it up again. String options for multiscale basses aren't as ubiquitous as those for, say, a traditional 34" scale 4-string.

Here is what I found at FretNation: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[xI Jonathan Ix]

If that's new, I don't think that they put cheap strings on a $2K bass. How do they sound?

They don’t sound bad or anything but, I just wanted to know for when it’s time to change them, what strings other folks might enjoy that play a similar bass.

As far as what they currently have on, I have read conflicting info. Some searches say they come with D’addarios. Other places say they come with ESP strings which may or may not be purchaseable for the end user (me).

I’ve stuck to GHS boomers on all my other basses for a long time because, to me, they sound great and feel like a string should. But, GHS hasn’t gotten into the super long scale market.

Being my first fanned fret, apparently I have taper distance and wind-length to consider as well which is a completely new concept for me. Gone are my days of buying a standard, available-everywhere, set of strings. Just trying to learn a little more.

 

[Dincrest]

Did a search for "multiscale" on the strings forum and these were in a recent thread from someone looking for multiscale strings for their fanned fret Spector.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Optimized Bass String Sets. Strings for Dingwall Basses with Superior String Tone and Balance. Guaranteed Drop in Fit. For Dingwall Guitars NG D-Roc Z AB Ibanez BTB Spector

 

[8liter]

These are what you want.

Payson Fanned Bass Strings

 

[JonesyHC]

Finally found my 80's Surveyor.
Custom order, 12" radius in the board and Nat finish.
Now if I could only find an all black model with the tele headstock, I'm done collecting.

 

[songwriter21]

On the way, slated for Tuesday delivery:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Dincrest]

On the way, slated for Tuesday delivery:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Niiiiiiiice! I LOVE the F body shape (2/3s of my LTDs are F or F derivative). I see almost nothing on the 'net about these new F-1005s, so please check in here saying how it it. The black cherry finish looks sick in stock photos, I'll bet it looks killer in real life.

I have one of the rare 34" scale F-205s (early 2000s I think; the serial number's all but deteriorated), so I'm curious how comfortable the 35" scale is on the current F 5-strings in terms of reaching the money notes and all.

 

[songwriter21]

F-1005...so far, this is a NASTY sounding bass. Single-coil in "classic" mode, with the volume cranked, sounds like a Spector (single-coil has noticeably lower output than dual-coil). Only other non-Spector bass to get this tone, was an ash-bodied Prestige Ibanez with custom Bartolinis, and 750hz on the mids.

I'll give a review soon....

 

[bass-shy]

Finally found my 80's Surveyor.
Custom order, 12" radius in the board and Nat finish.
Now if I could only find an all black model with the tele headstock, I'm done collecting.

That's a badass bass. Congrats on finding it! It would certainly be a lifer if it were in my collection.

 

[Wicked G]

F-1005...so far, this is a NASTY sounding bass. Single-coil in "classic" mode, with the volume cranked, sounds like a Spector (single-coil has noticeably lower output than dual-coil). Only other non-Spector bass to get this tone, was an ash-bodied Prestige Ibanez with custom Bartolinis, and 750hz on the mids.

I'll give a review soon....

Big time Forest series fan here. I've got a 2000 F-204, 2009 F4-e and 2009 F-414fm. Interesting that you say it sounds like a Spector. I've got a Spector NS Dimension 4 with those Fishman Fluence pickups and that thing is a beast. I'm loving that bass more and more each day. It's right up there with my LTD Bunny Brunel Signature and EBMM Stingray Special 4 HH. I bet that F1005 sounds great. Congratulations.