ESP B-404

This is the new model of what used to be called the B-304, made in Korea, 2004. Has a nice laminated top, mine is the bark brown sunburst. Major difference is that it's equipped with high-end EMG pickups, and the EMG B-64 active 3-band EQ as well. Body is Mahogany, neck is a five-piece walnut/maple, neck thru design, fingerboard is rosewood. Finish is glossy, with matching headstock, and quilted maple top. The bridge can be strung wither top load, or thru the body, and the tuners are Grover's. Neck is thicker than an Ibanez, but not too thick, works OK with my rather small hands. The 24 frets are extra-jumbo's, and it came with a set of 3 allen wrenchs that adjust the neck truss, bridge string height, and the control knobs. About the only feature it did not come with is a drop-D tuner, easily added if you are into that.

I play mostly contemporary praise and worship, with a little blues and old rock when jamming with some friends. I finger pick, with a little slap and tap thrown in from time to time. Amp is a Peavey Probass 500 with a 15 Black Widow cab and an Ampeg 410. The pickups are very quiet, except when cranked up full on the treble, but even then it is not obtrusive. Hard to imagine any kind of sound that you can't get out of this one, but I mostly prefer a rich/warm tone. I play on stage at our church for three services a week, but I have never done any studio work. Can't think of anything about the sound that I don't like.

Here is where I was really impressed. The factory set-up was really excellent. Neck relief was just right, action was low, but not too low, and everything was good and tight. Only adjustment I made was to tweek the intonation on the E-string, the rest were right on the money. Pick-up height was great for me, although they might be a little high for someone who did a lot of slap and pop work. The finish was very nice, with a flawless high gloss. Can't find anything to complain about here.

It's hard to rate this category, because I have only had this instrument for a couple of weeks. However, I have been playing the older B-304 version for a while now, and it is great. I gig without a back-up most of the time, but try to keep a spare handy for special performances. If this one is anything like my older one, it will be just fine; I'll give it a 9, because it looks and feels every bit as solid as the B-304. Only time will really tell the tale.

Never had to deal with them, but it has a limited lifetime warranty.

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 probably get another one like it, or see if I could find another nice B-304 for less. 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 one of the nicest basses I've ever had, and I can't think of anything new in this price range that I would trade it for. I bought is because of my positive experience with the older B-304, and the upgraded EMG pick-ups and EMG EQ that the newer model comes stock with. Let me add that the EMG's are nice, but I can't tell a lot of difference between them and the ESP SB-4's on my B-304. You can pick up a nice B-304 on eBay in the $300-$375 range, and knowing what I know now, I don't know if I would have paid the difference just for the EMG's. However, I'm very happy with this new one, and I needed a second bass anyway.