ESP jazz (or is it?)

[Rayman]

The answer is no it isn’t, at least I’m pretty sure it isn’t. It’s definitely ESP shaped, but the decals are clearly aftermarket additions. The headstock is the right shape, and the neck and body clearly have age, as both the pick guard and the neck lacquer have discoloured nicely. 
 

 

It was advertised as a possible Japanese ESP from the 90s. It’s certainly isn’t MIJ, but it could be 80s/90s, maybe Korean? Please do give me your opinions.

 

Solid one piece maple neck, and rosewood, and a solid alder(?) body or similar. 
 

 

 

 

Total rubbish electrics already in the bin…

 

 

 

I’ve made the new control plate this afternoon…

 

 

and SD QPs on order from Guitar Guitar.

 

Check out the mad pickup routing??……

 

 

The neck pup rout is way bigger than the bridge one….. definitely not a high end job.

 

Anyway, work is underway as you can see, lots more to follow.

 

Hit me up with any input on its origin. It definitely has age, and they’re nice pieces of wood, a good solid foundation to build on I guess. Re- badged LTD maybe?? Don’t know. It’ll be a belter when I’m finished though. 
 

Watch this space 

[Rayman]

Oh…. the fret job isn’t great either. I’ll sort that too.

[Rayman]

Ok, so mystery solved I think. It was the tuners that gave it away, and after a lot of digging, turns out it’s a Chinese LTD.

 

No big deal really, as the only parts I’m keeping are the wooden ones, and they seem like decent pieces of timber.

 

Onwards.

[Mykesbass]

What are your plans for it? Parts upgrade or something more radical?

[Rayman]

Parts upgrade primarily. The timber seems decent, nice rosewood neck, so it’s another project to practice my tech skills on. Quite a few of my basses have had the same treatment. 
 

In this case….. a fret dress, new pickups, new control plate (which I built yesterday)…….

 

 

and probably a replacement bridge. The tuners seem reasonable.

 

I Don’t currently have a jazz type bass, so hopefully this will be it.

[Rayman]

Frets have come up lovely….

 

 

 

 

Next up, an overnight soak in Monty’s ageing wax….

 

 

[Rayman]

Happy with the neck…

 

 

Next up is a hi mass bridge courtesy of Michael the Bass Wielder, and the Seymour Duncan Quarterpounders are due any time now.

 

[Rayman]

Just waiting on the pups, 

 

 

The tuners are staying for now. I took them apart and lubed them, and they seem pretty decent. I can’t really justify spending money on Hipshots at this point in time, so these will do fine…

 

 

 

Whoever did the fakery on this bass previously, in terms of applying the logos, obviously lacquered over their handywork, so I’m stuck with them for now. I can’t be bothered stripping and re spraying the headstock.

I’ve never understood trying to pretend that an instrument is something that it isn’t. I’d rather there was no logo at all tbh.

 

 

[Rayman]

 

🤘🏻

[Mykesbass]

3 hours ago, Rayman said:

Just waiting on the pups, 

 

 

The tuners are staying for now. I took them apart and lubed them, and they seem pretty decent. I can’t really justify spending money on Hipshots at this point in time, so these will do fine…

 

 

 

Whoever did the fakery on this bass previously, in terms of applying the logos, obviously lacquered over their handywork, so I’m stuck with them for now. I can’t be bothered stripping and re spraying the headstock.

I’ve never understood trying to pretend that an instrument is something that it isn’t. I’d rather there was no logo at all tbh.

 

 

It's a weird one to fake as well.

[Rayman]

I guess so, although MIJ ESPs are worth quite a bit, especially the older ones, whereas LTDs generally aren’t. So maybe that was the thinking, I dunno.

 

It’s like scratching Squier off the headstock and sticking a Fender decal on there instead, it’s just ridiculous. Just let the bass be itself…. if it’s cool it’s cool, if it isn’t it never will be, regardless of what it says on the headstock.

[Rayman]

Just hooking up the pups, trying to make it as neat and tidy as possible.

 

 

everything works perfectly. So just the bridge to put back together, then get the neck back on and string it up. 

[Rayman]

I had to shorten the E and A string intonation screws with a Dremel….

 

 

Now, it intonates absolutely spot on.

[Rayman]

And now….. it’s finished 

 

 

 

 

A lot of work went into rebuilding this bass, and I’m delighted. Absolutely brilliant instrument.

 

The Quarterpounders sound fantastic, so it’ll slot right into our live set no problem, alongside the Thunderbirds.

 

Turns out the tuners are absolutely great. Smooth and steady, so they stay.

 

So, I started with basically a body and a neck. Both were good quality timber, and provided a good base to build on. The electronics were junked straight away. I’ll keep the pups, you never know, but the pots and the awful bridge went in the bin.

 

My list of jobs on it:

 

Fret job, ends and polish.

Clean and oil the fretboard. 

Hi mass bridge from Bass Wielder.

Strip and lube the tuners.

SD QP pickups.

New controls, CTS pots, jack, cap etc.

Set up with new strings.

 

Very pleased, really enjoyed working on this one, and I’m delighted with the result. This is a really fab bass now, and I’m looking forward to gigging it. Another great addition to the collection.

[Reggaebass]

Looks so good, really great work Rayman 

[Elfrasho]

Looks wonderful! Always love to see a bass getting some life brought back into it!

[Rayman]

Well, I rehearsed with this bass last night. Absolutely blown away, and I’m very surprised to say that. The sound was tight, focused, punchy and incredibly resonant, which can’t just be down to the pickups. The bridge has obviously contributed to that, but I also feel like the neck and body played a part, definitely a sum of all the parts. I barely had to touch the strings and it just rang out.
 

I feel like the stars have aligned with this bass, when actually I just thought it would be decent. It’s way more than decent. Even the band made comments about the bass tone last night. Result.