doc40hz Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 https://www.espguitars.com/products/21002-ap-5 Just received this bass. Ticks all my boxes; 5 string, PJ configuration, EMGs, high mass bridge, metalic blue, U shaped neck, ebony finger board. However....... Due to Babicz bridges enormous saddles, it wont intone. The saddle is back as far as it will go and the B and E strings are still 20% sharp. The only solution would be to remount the bridge about 1cm back! It has to go back, which is unfortunate as it's a really nice bass otherwise; the Pickups sound great, the neck is comfortable, the action is low and it looks fantastic. I'll probably do a video review on my youtube channel before it goes back. What a shame! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Would tapered strings not resolve it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc40hz Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 Just now, AndyTravis said: Would tapered strings not resolve it? Possibly.......but it was shipped with D'Addario XLs. It is unfortunately just a bad design I feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 6 minutes ago, doc40hz said: Possibly.......but it was shipped with D'Addario XLs. It is unfortunately just a bad design I feel. Yeah. It would seem it - what a shame as it ticks so many boxes. Would a BA2/Omega work - bit more travel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 (edited) Not being able to correctly set up the intonation on the low B and E is a more common problem than many people think. Especially for those of us who only play flatwounds. I feel your pain. I have been known to remove the spring from each of the saddles in question, to be able to push the saddle back a millimetre or so. So far it has worked on all my basses, but it ain't a particularly neat solution. Edited December 15, 2019 by Silvia Bluejay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc40hz Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 Just now, Silvia Bluejay said: Not being able to correctly set up the intonation on the low B and E is a more common problem than many people think. Especially for those of us who only play flatwounds. I feel your pain. I have been know to remove the spring from each of the saddles in question, to be able to push the saddle back a millimetre or so. So far it has worked on all my basses, but it ain't a particularly neat solution. Agreed man - even removing the spring it is still very sharp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc40hz Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 36 minutes ago, AndyTravis said: Yeah. It would seem it - what a shame as it ticks so many boxes. Would a BA2/Omega work - bit more travel? 36 minutes ago, AndyTravis said: Yeah. It would seem it - what a shame as it ticks so many boxes. Would a BA2/Omega work - bit more travel? I think the problem would be the same tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 What are the saddles actually like? On Sandbergs you can take em out and turn em back to front to give a little more life in intonation, alter the break angle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FDC484950 Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Have you tried a different brand of strings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc40hz Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 6 hours ago, Cuzzie said: What are the saddles actually like? On Sandbergs you can take em out and turn em back to front to give a little more life in intonation, alter the break angle Not possible, they are a unique and unisomeric shape. Dropping the action to about 1.5mm from 2.5mm on the B *just* got it intonated but, unsurprisingly, there was far too much fret buzz! The overall design is just not fit for purpose. It's a bit of a poor show from ESP as they must know this is a problem. I also note that Thomann already has two of these basses as B stock. Soon to be three when mine gets back to them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Oh well......seems like a lot of work just to get it to work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 It's not a "proper" ESP though is it? It's a LTD, the ESP equivalent of a low-budget Squier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 (edited) On 15/12/2019 at 10:42, doc40hz said: https://www.espguitars.com/products/21002-ap-5 Just received this bass. Ticks all my boxes; 5 string, PJ configuration, EMGs, high mass bridge, metalic blue, U shaped neck, ebony finger board. However....... Due to Babicz bridges enormous saddles, it wont intone. The saddle is back as far as it will go and the B and E strings are still 20% sharp. The only solution would be to remount the bridge about 1cm back! It has to go back, which is unfortunate as it's a really nice bass otherwise; the Pickups sound great, the neck is comfortable, the action is low and it looks fantastic. I'll probably do a video review on my youtube channel before it goes back. What a shame! If you really like the bass, why not email ESP and see what they have to say? Edited December 16, 2019 by yorks5stringer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 23 hours ago, doc40hz said: Agreed man - even removing the spring it is still very sharp Ahem - Silvia is no man. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc40hz Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 3 hours ago, BigRedX said: It's not a "proper" ESP though is it? It's a LTD, the ESP equivalent of a low-budget Squier. You're right there, but it's not a cheap bass. 800-900 quid depending where you buy it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc40hz Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 3 hours ago, BreadBin said: Ahem - Silvia is no man. My bad - apologies! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc40hz Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 3 hours ago, yorks5stringer said: If you really like the bass, why not email ESP and see what they have to say? Already have done - let's see if the reply? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 39 minutes ago, doc40hz said: You're right there, but it's not a cheap bass. 800-900 quid depending where you buy it. But given that the cheapest ESP Japan 5-string bass is ¥370,000 which equates to £2500 it's a valid comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 49 minutes ago, BigRedX said: But given that the cheapest ESP Japan 5-string bass is ¥370,000 which equates to £2500 it's a valid comparison. I get where you are going with proportions, but in all honesty 900 shekels is a lot of lolly, if it’s a one off, fair enough, but if it’s a recurring theme in this line, that not cricket. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy23cricket Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 (edited) Ltd's come in many different spec levels. The top ones are priced between £900-£1200 and in my experience are better equipped than Squires and are usually lovely players. I'm surprised this one has this issue being one at the higher end. I would definitely see what ESP have to say Edited December 23, 2019 by jimmy23cricket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClassicVibes Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 (edited) I played one of these AP-4s a couple of months ago and was really impressed. Surprised that it won't intonate properly; especially a Babicz bridge. Possibly a faulty bridge or a dead string? EDIT: Did you set your witness points correctly? Edited April 16, 2020 by ClassicVibes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 Was there any response from ESP/LTD? I'd love to know any further details to this tale as I'm interested in maybe getting one.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badinage Posted November 23, 2023 Share Posted November 23, 2023 Hello all. and also @doc40hz Sorry to drag up an old thread, but this seems to be a rare mention of an ESP LTD AP-5 on Basschat. Did anyone ever decide whether the B and E intonation problem on this ESP LTD AP-5 was common to the model, or just isolated to this one example? I'm thinking about buying a pre-owned one, but it would be an online purchase from 1100km distant, and since the seller is mainly a music instruction institute, I'm not sure I'd trust their assessment of the instrument's intonation, despite whatever willingness or good intentions they may have. They do have a 7-day return policy, but shipping costs would be my responsibility. Also, does anyone know if the "Pelham Blue" that was used on ESP LTD AP basses was a "matte" or gloss finish (or somewhere in-between)? That color is discontinued on the current line of these basses. Old specs just say "color: Pellham Blue, finish: Metallic". so... I'm asking here. 🙂 Thanks for any input! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binky_bass Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 (edited) . Edited November 24, 2023 by binky_bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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