LTD B-204BM

I purchased the ESP LTD B-204 at Mars Music in Atlants, GA for $380. I bought this guitar because of it's ?. In the price range of this guitar, I had choices between Ibanez's Soundgear and Fender's Jazz Bass and other choices, but I compared all the basses, and the ESP outwitted the others in many different ways.

As I walked through Mars Music in Atlanta in the Bass section, the very first guitar that caught my eye was the B-204, it just stood out because of its nautral mahogany finish. I mean it was just the most beautiful bass you have ever seen in your life. I picked it up, and it is extremly light, which is a plus during those long gigs. Right away I saw that it was loaded with 2 EMG 35-HZ humbuckers, and the sound you get out of them when you slap on that bass is just amazing for the price. It also has a EMG B64 active EQ, which gives one of the most smoothest, richest bass sound you'll ever hear. The slick feel of the neck enables you to play songs alot faster than say on a Jazz bass, because the action is set alot lower on the neck and is easier to reach from string to string at high speeds. It has 24 extra jumbo frets, which is great when you want more of a variety of different notes during those bass lead breaks. Also on the 12th fret contains the model number of the bass engraved in a pearl enlay, which is really cool. ( On the rest of the frets it has the normal dots )The B-204 doesn't get out of tune very easily. This guitar sounds good in alot of different types of music, but this bass kicks !@# in rock bands!

But, like everything there are some things that could be better. The neck could be slimmer. It is slimmer at the higher end of the neck compared to alot of basses, but down by the first fret I do wish it was slimmer. Like I mentioned earlier, it does have extra jumbo frets, which could help some people out or hender some people. I like the normal size frets, because I can move faster and more efficiantly with smaller frets. For some people, it may be completly oppisite. That is really something thats with opinion.

The ESP LTD B-204 is extremly great in quality. All the hardware is black chrome, and i've owned my bass for 2 years now and only one screw in one of the tuning keys has gotten loose. That is really nothing compared to alot of basses. The fretboard is a 5 piece Maple and Walnut/Rosewood, which is guarenteed to last a long time. The neck is a bolt-on, which is the only difference between it's big brother, the B-304, which is a neck thru. Everything on this bass is very proffesionaly installed and put together. ESP has always had top of the line quality in their products.

If you like bands like Slayer, Metallica, or Static X, or like the old southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd or the Allman Brothers, the ESP LTD B-204 can do it all. I HIGHLY recomend this product to any bass player who has a beginner bass and is looking for a step up, or who just wants a really great bass that comes with a really affordable price. If your looking for a new bass, go with the B-204, you definatly wont be disapointed.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com