Official ESP club

[pklima]

Thanks. I'm just a deeply unserious person who likes the idea of an overly long bass with a single-coil pickup under an MM cover, a switch that does nothing, and a knob that does nothing.

Yours sounds mighty with that MM pickup closer to the neck than usual, too.

 

[Sternodox]

Here's my review of my new 4-string LTD fretless:

IT'S FREAKING AWESOME!!!!!

Seriously though, I was apprehensive about getting it. Haven't touched a fretless in decades. I needn't have worried. This is one of the easiest playing basses I've ever had. I put LaBella flats on it and am loving the sound. I've been playing around with a compressor and a phaser and I'm getting some gorgeous tones. Can't stop grinning. Perhaps some day I'll be able to play it without staring at the neck!

The other thing about this bass is ... it's just beautiful to look at. Weighs a bit but zero diving, even with a thin strap. Worth double the price, IMO.

 

[J-phatt]

 

[songwriter21]

Here's a review of my F-1005;

 

[TerribleTim68]

Love the F series.

 

[TerribleTim68]

Still looking for an ESP/LTD F-105 neck if anyone has one for sale. I just need the neck, I have a body without one. Hard to find a replacement for it since it is a 35" scale.

 

[King Charles]

Can I sign up ?!
Recently got the surveyor400 and maybe it’s the new strings but it just straight away has the sound I’ve been longing for (music man?)

 

[OldBlue61]

I've been searching for something to replace my WAY to heavy G&L (which I absolutely love other than the weight), and found an LTD D4. How are they weight-wise, generally? Not knowing a lot about them, I'm glad I came across this club, and after reading through the last couple of years in this thread I'm feeling much better about purchasing it. Just about ready to pull the trigger.

I have a Fender P and Squier J and I love them both as they both play well, sound great, and look good, at least to my eyes/ears. I wanted something different than those 2 though, and a neck-thru and string-thru are about as different as yo can get!

--EDIT-- Spelling, of course!

 

[OldBlue61]

Ok, well, it's on order! I'll post a pic once I receive it. Anxious to get it home!

 

[AEVAREX]

Ok, well, it's on order! I'll post a pic once I receive it. Anxious to get it home!

I have 2 D4's. Neither are the currently available model. One is from early 2019 and weights in at just over 9lbs. The other was bought used ( year unknown ) but is one iteration earlier, and weights just under 10lbs. Sorry don't have exact weights. Pics back on page 69 post # 1373 of this thread.
Patiently waiting on pic of your newly acquired D4

 

[OldBlue61]

I just received my LTD D-4, looks like it was made in 2010? I do have a couple of questions for the group:

• Anyone know what replacement bridge would fit this model without having to drill new holes? It's got some corrosion on it, and I'd like to replace it with a nicer one.
• It it possible to polish the satin finish? If so, how and with what? There are a few areas where the finish is worn from playing, and to be honest I kinda like the look of it where the satin has been worn to a more gloss-like finish.
• Strings - since this is a thru-body bass, are there specific strings I need that are long enough?

 

[OldBlue61]

I just received my LTD D-4, looks like it was made in 2010? I do have a couple of questions for the group:

• Anyone know what replacement bridge would fit this model without having to drill new holes? It's got some corrosion on it, and I'd like to replace it with a nicer one.
• It it possible to polish the satin finish? If so, how and with what? There are a few areas where the finish is worn from playing, and to be honest I kinda like the look of it where the satin has been worn to a more gloss-like finish.
• Strings - since this is a thru-body bass, are there specific strings I need that are long enough?

Got a chance to play it for a bit today. Really smooth, nice action, and good sound. I just need to change out the bridge because of how bad it looks, and a new set of strings. Anybody know of where to get a replacement bridge that I don't have to drill for? Not sure how long they need to be because I want to run them through the body. Gotta look into how to polish it as well.

 

[AEVAREX]

For a bridge

Musiclily Pro Chrome 19mm Pre-Radiused Hard Zinc 4 String Electric Bass Bridge | eBay

They have chrome, gold and black. This is the same bridge aside from the color, they only have chrome, gold and black. Not quite sure what the stock bridge color is called but have never found an exact color match. I did a D-4 all black hardware and like it. Will post a pic this Saturday when I get it back.
For strings I use DR strings. Several flavors of hex or round core to choose from, long enough, and great strings I might add.
I polished the headstock of my older D-4 with flitz metal polish. Can't say it's the right way to go about it but I did it as a test and the result looks good. Haven't done the rest of it yet but would like to when I get time. I've read of others who used Tru oil to coat over the satin finish resulting in a semi gloss. I'm interested to try this but have no first hand experience using it.
Otherwise the area that gets "polished" from use can be brought back to satin like using a white or grey scotch Brite pad very gently. Though probably not good to do over the long haul as doing this removes the finish slowly.
Hope this helps.
Awesome axes for the cost. I like them so much I now have 5 of them.
Enjoy your LTD.

 

[OldBlue61]

Thank you @AEVAREX , great info. The stock hardware is black chrome, but I’m planning on changing the knobs as well, so black it is! Appreciate the info on Tru oil, I may just give that a shot.

 

[OldBlue61]

I decided to try soaking the bridge in Coca-Cola overnight just to see if it makes any difference. When I pulled it off, it has “SING IL BB-104” on the bottom. Doing a little digging turned up that bridge which is the same model that @AEVAREX linked above, but there is a locking model available, the “SING IL B-404”. Same as the 104 but with a locking feature, so I ordered one of those, although it’s around a 10 day delivery.

Musiclily Pro Black 19mm Locking Saddles Hard Zinc 4 String Electric Bass Bridge | eBay

 

[OldBlue61]

Well, after soaking for about 24 hours, the bridge really doesn’t look any better. Cleaner, yes. But better? No. Oh well, wasn’t expecting much. While I had it apart, I gave it a good cleaning (it was a lot dirtier than it looked), oiled the fretboard, and restrung it with some new RotoSound strings I had laying around. Plenty long enough for thru-body, and sounds pretty good. I’ll swap in the new bridge when it shows up.

 

[AEVAREX]

With the black hardware

 

[Dincrest]

I used to have one of those merbau-bodied D-5s. Very good bass. Felt more plush than its price point and sounded amazing. With a set of DR steel Lo-Riders, I got the nastiest (in a good way) metal tone ever. I no longer have it as I'm back to 4-strings. It was a bit of a heavy beast, but its tone was phenomenal (I thought the stock ESP pickups and preamp were better than many name brand electronics) ; reminded me of a bubinga-bodied Warwick I used to own.

I still have my modded LTD HTB-600, though. It's my main bass that's coming to the afterlife with me. My backup bass is a Schecter Stiletto Stealth.

 

[OldBlue61]

With the black hardware.

I like it. I'm already looking for a set of knobs to match!

 

[ScoobyDoober]

Loving my new (to me) LTD Stream. Surprisingly light. Was able to set the action really low and it’s giving me a nice growl through my GK.

View attachment 5021202

I know this is from forever ago, but I've got one of these on the way right now. Wanted a bonus bass to keep in D standard/drop C and fell in love with the body shape. Scoured the internet to find exactly 3 that were beat to hell. Jumped on the ESP website and they had (at least) one B stock available. Should be here friday. Fingers crossed its one of those cosmetic flaws no one can even see