such Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 I'm wondering if there are any Basschatters having any valuable experience with, or owning these basses? They seem rather nice for about the Squier CV price bracket, a PJ config that I like, 21 frets, choice of rosewood and maple fretboards etc. How's the build/assembly quality? Finish is disputable of course... Apparently, there's also an unlined fretless coming this year, and THAT is seriously interesting at this price. As long as they actually are good instruments, which is what I'm asking about. Anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 Merello has/had one. Gve hm a shout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merello Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 (edited) [quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1359315916' post='1953014'] Merello has/had one. Gve hm a shout. [/quote] Somebody call me? I have the black body, white scratch plate and maple fingerboard one above. Got it about 6 months ago. I really like it. About £330 new I got mines for about £140-170 second hand. Prefer it to the Squier P-bass special I had and you never worry about a scratch or bump. Slight neck heaviness but this is easily compensated for by a cotton shirt and flecky strap - that's how slight it is. The few gigs I have done with it have been in a 300 seater school hall with a Hartke 100W combo thru a PA. Cuts right through and I found myself migrating to the p-pickup. Thin, modern neck that I didn't enjoy at first when playing at home but live it has been a revelation. No finger fatigue! Now totally used to this profile. It has got a good jedi attack - by this I mean that i feel confident that my hand is going to fret where I want it to! If you don't understand this point, fine, neither do I! Obviously I'd love a better bass - probably a Lakland 51 type but I don't gig enough to justify it. Meanwhile, I am more than happy and haven't had any itchy gas like instincts for a while. If you get one 2nd hand, you won't be sorry. If you are pro/semi pro it probably is not for you although I'd happily use it as a second bass. Edited January 27, 2013 by merello Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Alsatian Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 I'd give these a thumbs-up too. I owned the black/maple version - spotted it for £120 on ebay and gave it a try. Solid construction and all the hardware did what it was supposed to. The relic job on it was a matte finish and didn't look just look like someone took a sander to it (ie. didn't look too 'forced' as some relic jobs do).Whatever they did to the back of the neck, it was comfortable in the hand - a worn satin feel. I liked the headstock shape too - quite sleek. Soundwise, I had no complaints or thoughts of tinkering with it as it sounded good stock - the pickups had enough output and both sounded as you'd expect when soloed. Sadly, it was a toss-up between keeping it and the Peavey Zodiac I had at the time, which I'd popped DiMarzios in, so I let the ESP go instead. I don't think you'll regret buying one - I'd compare its quality to the Squier Vintage Modified series Amber P-bass I had, only you don't have to worry about it being knocked about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 (edited) I've no experience of these basses I'm afraid, but I wonder how they do the relicing - it's near identical. There must be a CNC machine for relicing now. Edited January 27, 2013 by Musky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwh87 Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 ESP/ltd have a few different variations coming out for 2013. Sorry for the various sized pics, they came from Facebook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
such Posted January 28, 2013 Author Share Posted January 28, 2013 thanks :/ GAS attack. I only wanted the fretless (only knew about it), now I want all of them. The Elite and the signature one will be expensive though (I guess). The LTD Frank Bello is something like 800 quid, and it's also based on the same PJ format. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee4 Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 The ash bodied 214 ticks all the boxes for me. When is the release date? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
such Posted January 28, 2013 Author Share Posted January 28, 2013 haven't seen a word about it, they advice to ask "your local dealer" about prices and availability. My local dealers usually learn from me about existence and prices of most basses :/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merello Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 http://www.gak.co.uk/en/esp-ltd-j-204a-natural/78826 [b] ESP LTD J-204A 4 String (Natural)[/b] [color=#000000] The new J-204 four string in a beautiful natural gloss finish with Tortoiseshell scratchplate! With its rosewood fretboard and satin finished, thin U, maple neck you get fantastic playability and warm, solid tone from the twin J pickups.[/color] [color=#000000] £290[/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
such Posted January 30, 2013 Author Share Posted January 30, 2013 ok, that looks seriously promising price-wise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwh87 Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 ESP updated their site for 2013. http://www.espguitars.com/basses.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
such Posted February 2, 2013 Author Share Posted February 2, 2013 that looks cool. Luckily, it seems that there won't be any significant price increase for the 214 comparing to 204. I wonder about the Stinson signature though... the LTD Frank Bello is rather expensive, but Stinson has both the LTD and the ESP versions, so I hope the ESP is pricey and the LTD just slightly more than the Vintage-214... Not a fan of current G'n'R, but that bass looks lovely in that distressed creamy white with painted headstock and tortoise pickguard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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