any help dating this would be appreciated.
I'm thinking an early model?
thanks
I'm thinking an early model?
thanks
Last edited:
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vintage ESP p-bass
- Thread starter stonedmotus
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- esp precision bass vintage
Sorry I just saw this post
I'm a bit of an ESP buff and here is my best educated guess
48th street made in early 1989. ESP serial numbers are a bit odd until you hit 2000...the way your serial number reads is that it was the 33rd bass built in January of 1989. However the writing on the heel of the neck indicates the neck at least came out of the 19th street loft...
but here is the caveat that nine on the plate could also indicate 1999, but i discount that simply because by 1993 they have moved to Los Angeles.
is there a stamp in the neck pocket?
like this one?
you can send you pictures and info here
[email protected]
90% of the time they can give you the answer but in some cases especially with the pre-1988 stuff they cannot even date their own stuff!
it's possible that you have a transition instrument originally built in one location and then assembled in the other...
nice bass
good luck
I'm a bit of an ESP buff and here is my best educated guess
48th street made in early 1989. ESP serial numbers are a bit odd until you hit 2000...the way your serial number reads is that it was the 33rd bass built in January of 1989. However the writing on the heel of the neck indicates the neck at least came out of the 19th street loft...
but here is the caveat that nine on the plate could also indicate 1999, but i discount that simply because by 1993 they have moved to Los Angeles.
is there a stamp in the neck pocket?
like this one?
you can send you pictures and info here
[email protected]
90% of the time they can give you the answer but in some cases especially with the pre-1988 stuff they cannot even date their own stuff!
it's possible that you have a transition instrument originally built in one location and then assembled in the other...
nice bass
good luck
Last edited:
Sorry I just saw this post
I'm a bit of an ESP buff and here is my best educated guess
48th street made in early 1989. ESP serial numbers are a bit odd until you hit 2000...the way your serial number reads is that it was the 33rd bass built in January of 1989. However the writing on the heel of the neck indicates the neck at least came out of the 19th street loft...
is there a stamp in the neck pocket?
like this one?
you can send you pictures and info here
[email protected]
90% of the time they can give you the answer but in some cases especially with the pre-1988 stuff they cannot even date their own stuff!
it's possible that you have a transition instrument originally built in one location and then assembled in the other...
nice bass
good luck
thanks
Last edited:
most if not all of the early 400 series were all MIJ and imported for distribution in the U.S. (84-85) the ones that simply said Series were USA made.
ESP really did not have its act together until 2000 in terms of keeping track of their production especially pre-1988 when they were making replacement parts for Kramer, Robin and Schecter and building their own branded basses and guitars from these parts
they were also ghost building guitars and basses for famous musicians and branding them as something they were not. They stopped producing replacement parts for other brands in 1992. In 1995 they started producing the LTD line in Korea, and actually stopped producing and importing all but a few instruments in Japan until 2000 when they introduced the new serial number system and resumed shipping the standard Japanese made lines back to the United States.
in 2002 Fender absorbed Kramer and ESP sales went through the roof as all the metal heads jumped ship and landed at ESP.
in 2015 ESP is now distributing Takamine and has started producing OEM parts for the Lakland Skyline Series in it's Indonesian factory.
ESP really did not have its act together until 2000 in terms of keeping track of their production especially pre-1988 when they were making replacement parts for Kramer, Robin and Schecter and building their own branded basses and guitars from these parts
they were also ghost building guitars and basses for famous musicians and branding them as something they were not. They stopped producing replacement parts for other brands in 1992. In 1995 they started producing the LTD line in Korea, and actually stopped producing and importing all but a few instruments in Japan until 2000 when they introduced the new serial number system and resumed shipping the standard Japanese made lines back to the United States.
in 2002 Fender absorbed Kramer and ESP sales went through the roof as all the metal heads jumped ship and landed at ESP.
in 2015 ESP is now distributing Takamine and has started producing OEM parts for the Lakland Skyline Series in it's Indonesian factory.
Info from ESP on early production can be skimpy at best, I emailed them for details on my 1980's ESP bass - I bought it used in February 1987, but I later found a music magazine ad showing it for sale in January 1986. No "400 Series" on headstock, small ESP logo that says Produced by ESP - a TB'er said in another thread the logo is a clipped version of the Navigator brand logo and it looks like it. 5-digit serial number in the 03xxx range.
the 400 series did not come along until 84 and was the FIRST PRODUCTION line series to be distributed and sold in the U.S. The Navigator series started in 1975 and was considered to be their flagship instruments and originally were for sale only in the Japanese market. Hisatake Shibuya wanted to out do both Fender and Gibson instead of just make copies.
without knowing the exact date of the move it's really hard to pin it down. By 89 they were in the 48th street shop and according to your neck-plate you have the 33rd bass built in January of 1989...again entirely possible the parts (especially the neck) were made in the loft on 19th street... and then assembled and finished in the 48th street shop
I would e-mail them and see if they could answer the question for sure.
you might get lucky... good luck
Here are two pictures of my ESP, it's a lefty model. The neck heel has KI-15 written with pencil, I'm assuming it was originally shipped to Kitarapaja music store here in Helsinki, Finland, the store was the authorized ESP dealer then. I've asked the store, they sold ESPs made in Japan and also assembled guitars and basses from ESP parts.
So there is a logical dating system with ESP serial numbers? I didn't know that, thanks! So, my ESP would be the 33rd instrument made in March, 1985 then? I bought it in February 1987.
Those early ESP basses with the Tele headstocks are awesome. GAS every time.
Sorry I just saw this post
I'm a bit of an ESP buff and here is my best educated guess
48th street made in early 1989. ESP serial numbers are a bit odd until you hit 2000...the way your serial number reads is that it was the 33rd bass built in January of 1989. However the writing on the heel of the neck indicates the neck at least came out of the 19th street loft...
but here is the caveat that nine on the plate could also indicate 1999, but i discount that simply because by 1993 they have moved to Los Angeles.
is there a stamp in the neck pocket?
like this one?
you can send you pictures and info here
[email protected]
90% of the time they can give you the answer but in some cases especially with the pre-1988 stuff they cannot even date their own stuff!
it's possible that you have a transition instrument originally built in one location and then assembled in the other...
nice bass
good luck
had a feeling it was a very early one.
thanks.
Last edited:
