Truckstop Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Hello all, Looking at getting a new cheap back-up 5er and I've clapped eyes on some ESP Ltd basses. Specs look good, scale length, weight, colour (black) etc all look suited to my needs and I think they look great. Just need to know if it's worth pulling the trigger? The only place that I can find them is GAK in Brighton and it's a bit far away just to try something out so I'm looking for some advice on whether these are worth buying. Any help or info appreciated! Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 I can only say that I tried an ESP LTD B204 fretless last weekend and I was very impressed with it. Neck is very comfortable, body is the same shape as the two you are looking at and the sound was spot on. I'll be buying one of these at the end of the month for the same reason as you want yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee4 Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 I bought an ESP LTD Vintage 204 recently.On arrival I noticed the nut was poorly cut,and when I got it home,the tone control did'nt work. I returned it immediately and swapped it for a JHS bass.The one I had may have been a one-off,but I will not consider an ESP again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 (edited) [quote name='lee4' timestamp='1363539395' post='2013800'] I bought an ESP LTD Vintage 204 recently.On arrival I noticed the nut was poorly cut... [/quote] And that reminds me. Lord Sausage on here bought the B-205 fretless recently and that had a poorly cut nut slot on the B string. It doesn't take much to replace a nut though. I would expect to have any new mass produced bass setup by a luthier anyway when I buy it. Edited March 17, 2013 by BassBus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heminder Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 (edited) I can't speak for the B-15/B-55, but I play a standard B-205. It's very comfy overall, but the active circuit is noisy so I gutted it and wired the pickups passively. Noise gone. The nut on mine is cut perfectly. Maybe just a hair shallow on the E string but nothing worth getting a new nut over. Action is fairly low across the whole fretboard. Edited March 17, 2013 by heminder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Seems like ESP have a bit of a problem with nuts. My ESP LTD-B206SM bass had a sharp edge to the underside of the nut that made it uncomfortable. In fairness though, a couple of strokes with a file chamfered it out nicely. The pickups and active electronics are pretty reasonable and the hardware really belongs on a more expensive instrument. Despite the dubious nut issues that I had, the overall finish was extremely good. I think the only thing that I can really pick issue with is the weight - you'll need a good, wide, comfy strap if you're planning on using it for an extended period of time. (I'm no weed but even I feel it after an hour or so!) My overall summary would be that it's a well built instrument that, if you didn't know better, you'd happily pay 30-40% extra for and still walk away with a smile on your face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 f*** it, bought an F-105 instead! Truckstop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffo Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 I have had several ltd surveyors and have all been superb best out there for the money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 (edited) Personally, for a backup bass I would keep my eye on eBay for cheap Yamaha 5ers coming up. There's been a BB405 which has been listed twice recently and not sold, so the reserve will probably be coming down again. It got to £132 last time, which is a steal. I got a BB605 (same but with the NE-1 preamp) last year as a backup, and it's astonishingly good for very little money. There's always RBX375s and BB415s and BB615s going too. I think there's a BB615 on here at the moment, and there's a bc'er selling an RBX775 too, very nice and fairly rare now. Obviously I think that Yamaha are great value, especially used, but I'd I was buying a new backup it would probably be a squier jazz 5 of some sort, a Yamaha RBX375 or an Ibanez SR305. EDIT: Sorry, just realised you've already bought something! Edited March 17, 2013 by TRBboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 Well I already have a lovely Yamaha BB425x and I just fancied an LTD. Saw this on GAK reduced to £229 and thought it was an omen so I took a chance. Never thought I'd buy a pointy bass, but there we go! Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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