NBD: ESP Ltd B-205SM

[grayn]

[size=4][color=#000000]I went out today to remedy the fact that I recently become bassless.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#000000]I wasn’t sure whether to go for a 4 or 5 stringer. I tried out a couple of Fenders. A Mexican Jazz, which I didn’t take to at all and a really nice, hand stained, S/B Precision, with a maple fretboard. This was a real looker and very nice to play. But that precision pickup doesn’t really give me the sound I want.[/color][/size]

[size=4][color=#000000]I had a quick go on a Traben. A decent bass but I wasn’t that keen on the looks and the sound didn’t make up for them. Good for the cash, no doubt.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#000000]Basically it came down to a choice between a black, 4-string, Yamaha BB424 and the ESP Ltd B-205SM. The Yamaha is for me, a totally giggable bass. Solidly built, decently finished, with a very nice neck and great sounding, very powerful, passive pickups.[/color][/size]

[size=4][color=#000000]The ESP Ltd fiver, also punches well above it’s price. It’s a stylish bass, with a great look. The spec is:[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#000000]A (6) bolt-on, 5-peice maple/rosewood neck.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#000000]An ash body, with a spalted maple top.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#000000]A 34 inch scale.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#000000]24 frets, on a rosewood fingerboard.[/color][/size]
[color=#000000]All the hardware is ESP and finished in “Black nickel”. Which looks [/color]
[color=#000000][size=4]like a glossy, dark gunmetal and is cool.[/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=4]The ESP pickups have great definition, with plenty of character and punch.[/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=4]The 5 controls are volume, pan and active bass, mid and treble.[/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=4]So I took the ESP home and am very chuffed I did. Through my Ampeg, it sounds spot on.[/size][/color]

[chrismuzz]

These basses are just great. They sound amazing through Ampeg amps, and they just look dead cool. Especially that spalted maple top Don't know how they manage to make them so affordable! Enjoy it

[merlin]

Hi Ive got the fretless version of this bass,fantastic,also got a fretted sixer,great players,awesome-------------sorry

[jezzaboy]

Nice looking top. It is bloomin amazing what you can get these days for not a whole lotta cash.

[grayn]

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1363466433' post='2013168']
Nice looking top. It is bloomin amazing what you can get these days for not a whole lotta cash.
[/quote]

Agreed

There's some tasty basses out there, for very little cash.
The B-205SM certainly feels and sounds as good as many far more expensive basses, I've owned.

[icastle]

I've got the 6 string version.

Fantastic build quality and sound for the price.

Weighs a bl**dy ton though.

[chrismuzz]

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1363477605' post='2013288']
Weighs a bl**dy ton though.
[/quote]

All 6 strings do! Now that I use passive only they seem pretty light but everyone who uses them always comments on how heavy they are