The official "Show your basses" thread part 19!

[JIO]

Those are all gorgeous.

Thanks! I ordered cream pearl pg material to cut a new pg for the Bass IV after working on the Egmond - that vintage amber'd pearloid is different (no longer made), but this will be a modern version of that 'look'.

 

[definenredefine]

Thanks! I ordered cream pearl pg material to cut a new pg for the Bass IV after working on the Egmond - that vintage amber'd pearloid is different (no longer made), but this will be a modern version of that 'look'.

View attachment 5382705

Yup, I like it.

 

[JIO]

Yup, I like it.

The back-story on the ESP Bass IV was produced as a retro revisitation of the '60s Fender Bass VI. (6-string baritone bass) The classic version of that 6 string bass was one in Fiesta red w/matching hs, which also had a 'mint' pg. When I got mine, I stripped the hs to natural. (just a personal preference) So adding a cream tort pg is a further personalizing of it.

 

[ics1974]

yeah! i've looked the wiki over for info before i bought the bass. originally it would have had 45/65/85/105, i'm just not sure what's on it at the moment. they've definitely been changed somewhat recently, i think. they seem new and have colored ball ends.

i weighed the beast finally, 11.11 lbs

11.11 lbs is heavy but in my experience the heavy basses have the best tone! and I own light and heavy basses.

 

[SJLee]

The back-story on the ESP Bass IV was produced as a retro revisitation of the '60s Fender Bass VI. (6-string baritone bass) The classic version of that 6 string bass was one in Fiesta red w/matching hs, which also had a 'mint' pg. When I got mine, I stripped the hs to natural. (just a personal preference) So adding a cream tort pg is a further personalizing of it.

What is the year of your ESP IV?

 

[JIO]

What is the year of your ESP IV?

I don't know exactly, but I think early 2000's. The 1st iteration of it appeared in the late '90s as a MIJ ESP signature model for Japanese pop-bassist Tetsu/Tetsuya from the band L'Arc-en-Ciel. Later (not sure when) ESP produced it under their lower priced brands "Edwards" and "Grass Roots" which were MIK. They cut costs on the hardware - the control plate, bridge-plate and switch plate were made of mirrored plastic instead of chromed metal. Tuners & pots were cheaper versions also. Body, neck, pu's & pg were the same as the ESP. I fabricated/polished aluminum plates to replace the mirrored plastic, installed Gotoh 'lite' tuners (similar to the original ESP), new pots/cap, a better quality bent-plate bridge and soon I'll cut a cream pearl pg. I stripped the 'matching hs' to natural and had a decal made. I also shielded all cavities. These basses were not sold (new) outside of Japan, I found my used one on eBay. It has become one of my favorite basses (for live and recording) and it plays & sounds great! The neck has a soft V profile which I've heard of but never experienced - I love it.

The Edwards version had the same Gotoh tuners as the ESP, so maybe it came before the cheaper Grass Roots version.

 

[SJLee]

I don't know exactly, but I think early 2000's. The 1st iteration of it appeared in the late '90s as a MIJ ESP signature model for Japanese pop-bassist Tetsu/Tetsuya from the band L'Arc-en-Ciel. Later (not sure when) ESP produced it under their lower priced brands "Edwards" and "Grass Roots" which were MIK. They cut costs on the hardware - the control plate, bridge-plate and switch plate were made of mirrored plastic instead of chromed metal. Tuners & pots were cheaper versions also. Body, neck, pu's & pg were the same as the ESP. I fabricated/polished aluminum plates to replace the mirrored plastic, installed Gotoh 'lite' tuners (similar to the original ESP), new pots/cap, a better quality bent-plate bridge and soon I'll cut a cream pearl pg. I stripped the 'matching hs' to natural and had a decal made. I also shielded all cavities. These basses were not sold (new) outside of Japan, I found my used one on eBay. It has become one of my favorite basses (for live and recording) and it plays & sounds great! The neck has a soft V profile which I've heard of but never experienced - I love it.

View attachment 5383449
The Edwards version had the same Gotoh tuners as the ESP, so maybe it came before the cheaper Grass Roots version.
View attachment 5383500

View attachment 5383526

That’s a bit later than I thought. Initially thought it might be from the 80’s. Cool bass!

 

[ColdEye]

Pretty much using 5s now. I only have a coupe 4s left (76 jazz and a Warwick FNA). Here are two of my recent acquisitions from trades.

 

[Nek07]

Remind me of a squier mickey way I had to play for a job, like it.

There you go

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

 

[BasEd]

I don't know exactly, but I think early 2000's. The 1st iteration of it appeared in the late '90s as a MIJ ESP signature model for Japanese pop-bassist Tetsu/Tetsuya from the band L'Arc-en-Ciel. Later (not sure when) ESP produced it under their lower priced brands "Edwards" and "Grass Roots" which were MIK. They cut costs on the hardware - the control plate, bridge-plate and switch plate were made of mirrored plastic instead of chromed metal. Tuners & pots were cheaper versions also. Body, neck, pu's & pg were the same as the ESP. I fabricated/polished aluminum plates to replace the mirrored plastic, installed Gotoh 'lite' tuners (similar to the original ESP), new pots/cap, a better quality bent-plate bridge and soon I'll cut a cream pearl pg. I stripped the 'matching hs' to natural and had a decal made. I also shielded all cavities. These basses were not sold (new) outside of Japan, I found my used one on eBay. It has become one of my favorite basses (for live and recording) and it plays & sounds great! The neck has a soft V profile which I've heard of but never experienced - I love it.

View attachment 5383449
The Edwards version had the same Gotoh tuners as the ESP, so maybe it came before the cheaper Grass Roots version.
View attachment 5383500

View attachment 5383526

I picked up an Edwards EAM-150 QM which is a cheaper version of the ESP Amaze bass (discontinued). Everything is the same apart from pickups (Duncan Designed) and preamp. It’s one of the best built basses I’ve ever owned. I replaced the preamp with passive controls and the pickups with Nordstrand 70s (the bass has 70s spacing) as the electronics were the weak point. Sounds great. The quilted maple body is fab.

 

[Jugghaid]

Took some new pics. Heres some of them:

 

[JIO]

View attachment 5385236

I picked up an Edwards EAM-150 QM which is a cheaper version of the ESP Amaze bass (discontinued). Everything is the same apart from pickups (Duncan Designed) and preamp. It’s one of the best built basses I’ve ever owned. I replaced the preamp with passive controls and the pickups with Nordstrand 70s (the bass has 70s spacing) as the electronics were the weak point. Sounds great. The quilted maple body is fab.

Yah - looks nice!

 

[JIO]

Took some new pics. Heres some of them:

View attachment 5385585 View attachment 5385571 View attachment 5385576 View attachment 5385577 View attachment 5385578 View attachment 5385579 View attachment 5385575 View attachment 5385580 View attachment 5385581 View attachment 5385582 View attachment 5385583

Cool Hondo -

 

[Jugghaid]

Cool Hondo -

Right?

I love that thing. One of the early Korean models. Factory Dimarzio pickup. Paid $80 for it shipped. Plays and sounds great.

It keeps my fancy basses humble.

 

[JIO]

Right?

I love that thing. One of the early Korean models. Factory Dimarzio pickup. Paid $80 for it shipped. Plays and sounds great.

It keeps my fancy basses humble.

Interesting finish - is the wood striated? Could you post a pic of the back?

 

[Gervais Cote]

Right?

I love that thing. One of the early Korean models. Factory Dimarzio pickup. Paid $80 for it shipped. Plays and sounds great.

It keeps my fancy basses humble.

Okay, so let’s say the Hondo p bass is $80.00 and the orange F Bass is $ 8 000.00
Does the F Bass sound 100 times better than the Hondo ?
No need to answer !
On a more serious note, both the Hondo and the orange F Bass look amazing !

 

[Reedt2000]

Interesting finish - is the wood striated? Could you post a pic of the back?

It is cool, I'd guess refinish, probably black originally?

 

[Jugghaid]

Interesting finish - is the wood striated? Could you post a pic of the back?

It is actually a solid rosewood body. Kinda crazy.

 

[Jugghaid]