What is this! (ESP bass w/ pics)

[supafast213]

I saw this at one of my local dealers. I was wondering if anybody knew what it was. The tag said ESP prototype.

 

[zac2944]

Wow! It's like a PJ, only it must be twice as good.

Never seen anything like it, but man it's cool. Did you get to play it? How does it sound? How do the controls work?

 

[Foxworthy925]

Wow, that looks pretty sick. Tell me you actually played it. What's it's sound like?

 

[meev992]

You're missing a J pickup



that bass looks so cool. In an awkward way.

 

[irjason]

I'd like to know how it sounded too! How much are they asking for it?

 

[bassteban]

That hurts my eyes.

 

[dotcomee]

The knobs look like they were put on by a blind guy.

 

[bassteban]

The knobs look like they were put on by a blind guy.

Don't tell the blind guy...

 

[meev992]

Don't tell the blind guy...

it'll hurt his feelings

 

[Dr Stankface]

That looks a little bit funky but a cool concept with the P pickups.

 

[meev992]

That looks a little bit funky but a cool concept with the P pickups.

That's the idea

What's cooler and funkier than a P pickup?

two of them

 

[Dr Stankface]

What's cooler and funkier than a P pickup?

A humbucker.

 

[waseok]

The knobs look like they were put on by a blind guy.

LOL
ESP "to do list"
- Make a strange bass with random knob positioning - Check!

 

[meev992]

A humbucker.

ouch you got me

 

[supafast213]

Actually, I only played it unplugged for about a minute. The neck is very narrow at the nut, with a round profile. I'm guessing it has three volume knobs and a tone knob. I'm not even in the market for another bass, I just thought it was a funky setup.

 

[supafast213]

I just noticed that this setup allows you to turn up the E and A strings independent of the D and G strings.

 

[meev992]

I just noticed that this setup allows you to turn up the E and A strings independent of the D and G strings.

I say grab this bass, it'll make a good conversation piece.

 

[Marcus]

That bass screams "Made in Japan."

I tried some ESP signature basses this past summer that were pretty wild. I came home with a lower-end, Grass Roots bass modeled after L'Arc-En-Ciel bassist Tetsu's old signature... here's a picture..

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Its the pink one Aside from being remarkably heavy (even their high-end ESP signature stuff was VERY heavy) this one is built remarkably well. Considering I paid about $400, it had no flaws at all. All it needs is some shielding. Its definitely a strange bass. It has a Precision style neck.

 

[Doctor J]

I'd guess it's mid 80's MIJ goodness. You'll probably have a hard time finding out anything from ESP, a lot of their records were destroyed in a fire in the early 90's, I think it was. I like that bass. It looks crazy, but in a good way that might actually yield some useful results.

Either way, if it's anything like my 87 ESP 400 Series Jazz it's something you need to own right now.

 

[Rumblin' Man]

That ESP looks drunk.