ESP B-304

I have the ESP B-304-FM 4 string model, it was made in Korea in 2003. It has a cherry finish with Mohogany body w/ flamed maple top, 24 XJ frets, ESP ABQ-3 active EQ w/ESP SB-4 pickups, String thru body, and BB-04 bridge.

I play mostly rock and metal and it does an outstanding job with this style of music but could cover softer styles without a problem. The ESP pickups sound deeper and darker than my Schecter bass with EMG hz's on it (both are active): also smokes my Japanese Fender jazz bass for rock and metal music. I thought I'd want to change pickups to the EMG's but decided I liked the ESP's pickups better. This base has a lot more growl than others I have had, which suits my style better.

Perfect: No problems right out of the box, no issues with buzzing or setup, just tuned it, plugged it in and played it ever since. The action is pretty low and works great. The hardware is rock solid and better than I expected since I ordered it without ever seeing one first. I was really amazed at the quality for this price. No glue stains on the fretboard like my Fender and Schecter had. ESP has proven themselves to me, the only way I'll give this bass up is for a better ESP.

Like I said above, very solid, looks like it will last but have only had it 4 months. Never needed an adjustment yet.

Never needed to contact them.

I've been playing for 2 years. Had only the Fender Jazz, Schecter Custom 4 and this ESP B304FM. The ESP is built more solid than the Schecter, and every bit as good as the Fender. However, it sounds much better and was cheeper than the Fender. If it were lost or stolen, I would buy another one just like it. The active EQ and pickups are my favorite part.

Made in Korea in 2003, has the laminated frame maple top over a mahogany body in natural finish, rosewood fingerboard. It is a neck-through design, and with the gold hardware, this thing is gorgeous. The pickups are ESP dual humbuckers, and they are quiet as death unless you max out the treble, then you get a little hiss. I don't know anyone who plays that way, but who knows? The bridge is heavy and solid, and the bass can be strung through the body if you wish, or through the bridge only. The neck is perfect for me, and I have rather small hands; thicker than an Ibanez SDGR, but not too thick. This on has the 34" scale. Has volume, pick-up mix, bass, treble, and middle EQ controls, and an active on-board pre-amp. This is the first bass I've had with the jumbo frets, but I really like them. No buzz, just good clean sound.

I play mostly contemporary praise and worship music at our church 3 to 4 times a week, with a little old-time rock/blues and contemporary country thrown in when jamming with my friends. I play through a Peavey Pro Bass 500 head, hooked to a Peavey 115 and/or a Ampeg 410 cabinet. I haven't found a sound I can't get yet, but I may not be as pickey as some guys. I like a rich warm tone as opposed to a bright sound. However, the pickups are pretty hot, and this thing will really cut through the mix when needed. I've used it regularly for stage work, but never recorded with it. One thing of note, when the strings are put through the body, setting the intonation correctly requires a very steep angle on the E-string, so much so that I was worried about breaking it. Anyway, I strung it through the bridge instead, and the tone and sustain are great just like that.

I bought this bass used, but it was set up great when I got it. Don't know whether to credit the factory or the guy that had it before me, but I couldn't find a thing wrong with it. Everything was tight and solid.

Never had any problems with it, and I gig regularly without a backup, although I probably shouldn't. The finish has held up great, and still shines like new when polished. Only adjusted the truss rod one time when I changed to med-light strings, and haven't had to touch it since. Stays in tune pretty well, except under fairly significant temperature changes, but once it is acclimated to the indoor temperature, I can tune it once at the beginning of the evening and not have to worry about it for the rest of the night. I have had to tighten the strap buttons a couple of times, but I've never had one where this was not the case.

Never had any contact with 'em.

Been playing off and on for about 20 years, but very regularly for the last 9 or so. If it were lost of stolen, I would have to get another one like it if I could, although ESP isn't making this specific instrument anymore. I have played an assortment of Ibanez SDGR's, a couple of Fender Jazz's, a Spector Korean NS2000, and even had a really nice Warwick Thumb at one time. For the money, this is the nicest bass I've ever had, and I can't think of anything I would trade it for. Might be nice if it had a wenge fingerboard, but hey nothing is perfect this side of heaven.......

Neck Thru, See thru Black Cherry! Looks awesome...The Eq is active...not the pickups...Low/mid/high control! Big! Bridge is cool cause you can pick if you want a string thru, or just set bridge! Nick is perfect...not too thin, no too fat!

Here is where it gets critical....I mean if your bass sounds like shit....who cares how it looks! Right? I first got the ESP B-305 and returned it because I tune to straight d, sometimes c! So having the 5-string was kinda worthless to me...so I exchanged it for the B-304! I first got it...tuned it down...pluged it in and it sounded like ass! Even after adjusting the action on the bridge...I was still getting way too much fret buzz...no oomph! Here I will tell all new bass players out there how to get a great tone outta it! If you are like me who tunes down, you MUST<I MEAN MUST>get thicker strings! They stock them with GHS 45-105s and when I found out, ran to the store and picked up some GHS 50-115s...came home and threw the Heavier strings on...and wholla!!! PHAT..PHAT...PHAT!!! Made a crappy, outta the box sounding, korean bass into the best thing ever...I am way happy now! Do this adjustment, or you won't be satisfied...

finish is awesome...action is great for me!

Won't gig with it...I am using it strictly for In Studio!

I have played bass on occasions, but have played guitar for 16 years...Metal, Baby! Dream Theater, In FLames, Soilwork, Iced Earth, Opeth.....Phat sounds...Excellent Price...Killer look...$369 new! Come on...I am surprised how good the Passive pickups sound....may replace with actives someday....but don't really need to...I rate this guitar a 9 on value!

This bass was made in Korea, 2003. I have to tell ya, I was rather stunned when I opened up the box and saw this for the first time. I mean, I was expecting a nice looking bass, but wowsers, this baby looks like a two thousand dollar axe! The first thing that pops out at ya is the gorgeous flamed maple cap. It has a butter like color which looks sumptuous against the reddish mohogany wings. What a color combo! It has a neck-thru-body design with a 5 piece maple/walnut neck and rosewood fretboard. It has a 34" scale, 24 frets, and abalone dot inlays with the guitar name at 12th fret (ditto previous reviewer). I like rosewood, but I wish this had an ebony fretboard. But hey, that's just my preference, not a biggie. Controls include volume, balance and 3 band active EQ. Pick-ups are ESP humbuckers. Another nice feature is the string-thru-body ESP bridge. Hardware, including tuners, are gold plated and look nice against the flamed maple top. Accessories included a short cable and two allen wrenches. My only complaint is that in order to access the battery cavity, you have to undo four screws. My last bass had the pop-up lid. This was much handier and accessible. A minor quibble, but perhaps a suggestion for the future.

This bass will give you the whole package with tonal exploration! I've always loved dual humbuckers, I think they give you the most diverse sound. I'm still into the progressive rock modality, ala, Genesis, Yes....80's stuff like The Police, early Joe Jackson, and current artists like Flea, Wimbish, et. I really like having the mid range EQ option. My other active basses had the 2 band set-up, this gives you more range. I feel that this bass is very punchy and also provides rich, warm sounds, as well. My current amp is rather smallish 50 watter with a 12" I would really like to plug this into a larger combo, or better yet, an SVT type bottom or 4-10"/1-15" set-up. I just might have to take this down to my local store and try it out! After I get my tax return, I think I'll invest in a larger combo...at least 100-200 watts with a 15" or 2-10" set-up. At times, this bass can sound a bit "too active." So you have a fudge with the EQ a bit. I like to keep both pick-ups balanced at zero, while enhancing the bass EQ, keeping the mids at level and downsiding the treble a bit. But hey, what do I know, everyone has they're own style and prefence. One thing is for sure, you can easily dial up a Chris Squire type sound, that's how rangy this little beast is!

I had no real complaints. Strings were factory...not too bad except the g string didn't sound properly intonated when playing upper registery chords. No big deal, I just slapped on a set of my trusty ol' D'Addario XL- 170's. Problem solved. Action was fine, controls tight. I noticed a couple of finish flaws, which would be hard to detect, unless you're obsessive-compulsive like I am at times! There were a couple of very small wood scuffs near the upper strap button. Not much you can do about it since the guitar is coated with a natural gloss finish. Also, there was a very small scratch on the flame cap. The only way you can see this is if you hold the guitar at a certain angle with the light. Again, you may think I'm mental with this, but I'll bet most of you are picky as well. All in all, no major complaints.

Well, I'm not playing in a band right now...hey, with four kids tromping around, I don't have the time...but when they get older....! This bass seems to be solid as a rock. Even though I won't be playing live too often, I imagine that it would stand up well during live gigs. Hardware seems to be solid, especially the bridge. I 've had a couple of other gloss finish axes before, and I feel that you have to be more careful with this type of finish. You don't want to bang this against a table, cabinet, belt buckles...well, you get the picture. Gloss finishes tend to show more wear and tear, I think you just have to be more careful as opposed to a satin or natural wood finish.

I've called ERSP a couple of times, and they were very courteous and helpful. I was able to connect with technicians right off the bat, and they answered all of my questions.

I've been playing bass for over 30 years now, have owned a number of well, I guess you would have to say mid-level type basses....Fender P, Kramers, Yamaha. My previous bass before I bought this one was a Yamaha BBG4SII, which in it's own right, is a kick-ass bass. I wish I could have kept it, along with this new one, but I'm not exactly in the Rockefeller category with finances, so I had to sell it. My real goal was to get a natural wood finish bass again. 30 years ago, you just didn't see this type of bass, with the exotic look, flamed cap, et. My friends can't believe I paid under $400 for this guitar. They tell me that it has a Pedulla or Ken Smith type quality finish. Hey, I've never had the priviledge of playing those type of basses, but it felt nice to hear! Again, this bass has tons of high quality features that I'm pretty sure you would find on upper level instruments. The tone woods look stunning,and really compliment each other. The neck-thru-design, string-thru-bridge, 3 band EQ, flamed top, mahogany body...well, I challenge anyone to find these features on another bass for $369.00! This bass really rocks, has a real punch to it, and visually looks as good as anything this side of Pamela Anderson. enough said!

Made in Korea in 1999 I think. It has some really sweet features including neck through construction, EMG active humbuckers. It has a volume, tone, and B-30 active EQ. It has a 3- tone burst finish and 24 frets on a rosewood fingerboard. It's has a 34'' scale neck. Abalone dot inlays and it says B- 304 at the 12th fret. Black Hardware. And oh yeah it's made of mahogany.

This bass is good for all different styles in my opinion. I mostly play Heavy Metal such as Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer etc... It has a good clear sound if you turn all the knobs up except the bass which is on 1/2. I use it through a Peavey combo with Crybaby Bass wah and Boss bass distortion.

The bass was set up real great. There was only one problem. It was a demo bass that they let everyone try at the store, so it had real bad fretbuzz. I brought it to Daddy's Junky music and got a set up and after that it been great. It fits me real good and is easy to sit down with.

This bass could withstand a lot. The hardware is great and I think will last way longer than the warranty. I have had it for about 6 months and never needed to adjust the truss rod. I would definetly use it at a gig without a backup.

I have never had the need to call ESP.

I have been playing for about a year and a half and I think it's great. The bass I had before was a Ibanez GSR-200. This bass is so much better. Next I plan to get an F-200 or maybe a Jackson.