09' ESP F-104. Badass white bass. Even in white this bass has the perfect looks for metal. For being a lower end bass I gotta say it is one of the best playing and most comfortable to play that I own. Plus the stock pups don't sound half bad either.
How 'bout it. I got its 5-string brother as a debt repayment (kinda), and thought exactly the same thing. Mine sounds, plays and feels like a much higher-end bass. Not near boutique, of course, but certainly not a cheapo. I wouldn't be wanting to trade it if it's look just wasn't me.
All of my basses are stock, with rosewood fretboards, and strung with R.Cocco .045-.105 Nickel Roundwounds, unless I noted otherwise:
'80 Rickenbacker 4001 - Jetglo/White. Fitted with Hipshot Ric bridge, strung with R.Cocco .045-.105 stainless steel rounds. This is "Old Reliable". I got it after mowing many a lawn and shoveling even more driveways. It's in my "never part with" club. I like it for Rush, mainly, and some Classic rock tunes as well.
'08 Fender '70s Classic Jazz Bass - Sunburst/Black. Fitted with BadAss II bridge. This is my best feeling bass. The neck is almost perfect, except for the 1-1/2 nut, but that's a minor issue. If I have a "go to" bass. This'd be it.
'07 Lākland Skyline Duck Dunn - Candy Apple Red/Black. Strung with .050-.105 D'Addario Chromes. I use this bass when I'm playing Motown classics that just need the P-Bass/flatwound thump. Kinda heavy, and super well-made.
'99 Squier Precision Bass Special Fretless - Sunburst/Black. Fitted with custom Warmoth neck (unlined, maple fingerboard) and Gotoh 201 bridge. Strung with .045-.100 D'Addario Half-Rounds. I love playing fretless and this bass, with the P/J configuration, is perfect for my style, which is with heavy right hand and in a very rock context.
'05 Fender Standard Jazz Bass V - Midnight Wine/White Pearl. Fitted with an Audere JZ3-VB-3B preamp, .130 B-string. Probably my least played bass, as I'm mainly a 4-banger guy. Some tunes just need a few lower notes, and this bass plays and feels most like my fours.
'80 Peavey T-40 - SiennaBurst/Black. Sentimental favorite. My first bass was a T-40 Natural and I jacked it all up with my lousy 13 year-old luthier skills. I waited over 25 years to bring another one back around. Yeagh, it's a little heavy, but I don't care. I love it.
'03 Fender Standard Precision Bass Black/Black. This is my firehouse practice bass. I leave it there so I don't have to lug one back and forth. It used to was one of my regulars, with my fretless neck, but its lack of a J pickup kinda limited it's fretless tone.