ESP C-304

Mine was made in 2004, as far as I know. Made in Korea. 24 XJ-fret 4-string. Maple body with a nice-nice-nice quilt maple top. Volume and pickup balance with 3-band EQ. All electronics are EMG, with dual humbuckers. Body reminds me a bit of a Spector in its outline. ESP tuners, Hishot knockoff bridge. Jazz neck width, not as thick as most Jazzes that I have played. Came with cable and necessary wrenches. I would have liked a push-pull on-off switch. Otherwise, no real spec kvetches.

Sounds full and punchy. With the EQs on the bass and my Peavey Nitrobass rig, I can make any sound I want. The electronics still make some funny noises(pops, clicks, whooshes) when I move the knobs. Other than the noise with the treble way up, the bass runs as quietly as a nuclear submarine. the neck pickup is really deep;the bridge is twangy. It depends on the sound you're looking for. I give it an 8 because of the noise.

Stock strings stank. The factory setup was a little low for my tastes. After I had it set up with new strings, it plays fine, with sorta-low action and a very straight neck. The bridge pickup had a bit of a forwared rake that I can't correct. The woods are great. The bridge is the worst part of this bass. It's supposed to be like a Hipshot A, as far as I can tell, but it rattles when I dig in on the E and A strings. Also, you can't adjust the intonation unless you take off the strings. Bad design. Other than that, the overall construction is fine. Rating is due to bridge.

Bass has given me no problems. Everything is sturdy, and I've used it for high school pep band gigs with no problems. The neck is very stable. Strap buttons are large, but straplocks would be better. The finish chips easily if you hit something, though. Overall, a very sturdy bass.

I've called and emailed them about a dead-bass scare(turned out to be a shorting cable) and the electronics noise, respectively. Email was slow due to the fact that they were moving their tech-support department, but other than that, they were very helpful.

I've been playing since February. Same Day Music is not the most reputable seller-they said the bass was new when it was in fact a factory second. However, the price was cheap, so I won't carp too much. I love the look and feel of the bass, and the sound is good, but I wish ESP had coughed up some cash and designed a better bridge. I played a Peavey Grind NTB and Millenium BXP, among others, before buying this bass, and this trounced both of them tonally. If it were stolen, I couldn't get a new one, so I'd probably be ticked for a while, and I'd probably replace it with a G&L or a Fender. If you're looking for a good all-around bass, this might very well be it. Just make sure that you're careful of what you're buying, and check whether it's really new.

This bass is as described in other reviews here. The only point that I think bears mentioning is that mine is fretless.

I like the sound from the neck pickup. It's rich and warm, although perhaps a bit lacking in definition. I find the sound from the bridge pickup a little thin and sharp, I don't think it sounds bad, but I just don't like it very much. My biggest sound complaint is that, while the bass is fretless, there are notches on the fingerboard where frets would go. I guess the way they make the fretless is to just skip the manufacturing step where the glue the frets on. These notches make sounds as I slide past them and screw up my vibrato.

Also on my sound complaint list is that the pickups buzz quite a bit. This buzzing was made much worse by the active EQ circuit. I rewired it to bypass the EQ and the buzzing is much better now, although I no longer have an EQ.

It came from the factory with the action incredibly high. I lowered the bridge as far as I could and it was still incredibly high. After a little bit of work on some of the pieces of the bridge with a metal file, I got it low enough that I could play it fairly comfortably.

Along with a very high action it came with an incredible amount of releif in the neck. I tightened the truss rod as much as I dared and got it, not to where I wanted it, but to somewhere that I could live with.

The neck is a little thick for my liking, but I like a thin neck.

As soon as I got the thing I swapped the strings it came with for some heavier ones. My issues with the releif and action may have something to do with this - to be honest I didn't even look at the action and releif before swapping the strings so it may have been set up well for the strings it came with.

No complaints. Once I got it set up how it wanted it, it stayed that way.

I think the bottom line on this bass is that it's a solidly built neck through body instrument that costs relatively little. I bought mine new for about $250 and certainly feel it was worth the price I paid. ESP is not in business because they want to make great basses available to everyone - they're in business to make money. If they could sell this thing for $2500 or even $500 they would.

If you're looking for an instrument to learn on, what I was looking for when I bought it, this is a great choice. Although I wouldn't buy it again now, if I could go back in time to where I needed a learning instrument I would. I have some quibbles about the sound and set-up, but I appreciate this instrument for what it is. For the price, I don't think you'll find anything that will touch it. If you can afford to throw a lot more money at the problem, you can get yourself a lot more instrument from someone else. If this is your price range, I highly recommend the ESP.

Dunno the year. Made in Korea. 24 fret. 4 string. Volume, blend, and 3 band eq. H/H EMG. Active Electronics. Neck through body. Natural Satin Bubinga. 35" scale. Basically what they said. Good pickup and control. Can't imagine needing any more.

Very very versitile guitar. Can dial in any sound I need. from warm and fuzzy to hellbent mr. nasty

Great playability. Absolutley beautiful guitar. Best finish available. No adjustment needed. No flaws.

Not sure. If anything like my ESP guitar....should be tough as nails. I would just worry about scratching it. It's almost too pretty.

Never had to use them as I have never had a problem with any of my three ESP guitars. They have all been wonderfull instruments.

Playing for 15 years. Would buy again. Love everything. Hate nothing. Neck through. Compared to Fender, schecter, Ibanez, even Modulus and Zon. Could not justify buying anything else. Sure the Zon was awesome..........but not $2000.00 more awesome. Maybe $500.00? You can still get these from American Musical Supply for $339.99

This is an addendum to my first report on the ESP LTD C-304 bass.

Within three days the bass started to rattle. It rattled from the second to the fifth/sixth fret on three strings. Especially the G string.

Nothing I did could get that rattle out. And I've been doing my own set up for years.
I returned the bass and was promised a replacement that would be gone over by a tech before shipping.

This bass had the pickups set at an incredible rake. The G string side was very very high.. the E string side very low.
The high side screws for pickup height adjustment were both stripped out.
The bridge pickup low side height adjustment was nearly stripped out.

The screws themselves are so tight in the wood, and the screw heads so cheap, it's my guess that this was done at the factory. Certainly no tech would have let this pass by him.

The new bass is honey satin natural quilted maple, the other was quilted maple see through red.
The red one was really pretty.
this one looks like barf. actual barf. It's the ugliest finish I've ever seen in my life.


the red bass had a seven piece neck.. that is, it had the five piece neck but two pieces of wood along the edges as well.. the new bass doesn't have that.
different construction for what reason? I dunno.

Well.. that's enough for me and ESP I think.
And that's enough for buying basses off the internet, too. It just isn't worth it to wait and wait and have to return a bass and wait some more, only to get yet another piece of crap.


Worldmusicsupply has these listed for 299.00 by the way.. and guess what.. I can see why they keep dropping in price.
I'll bet you're going to see these drop in price further, and start turning up as 'open box' items, etc.

Sad, too.. nice bass if only done right.

Beginners.. you may want one. After all you get a lot of bass for very little money and a good tech could probably make it right fairly cheap.

nice.

action sucked. buzzes like a bastard on both basses.
red finish is a beaut.. go for a color, I'm warning you.
the natural finish maple is looks like hurl slowly ebbing it's way over poop.

None. No reliability at all. The first bass went flooey in three days time.
The second was a mess from the start.
Honestly, the natural finish maple guitar is butt ugly.. I'm talking blech.. how did it get off the assembly line withoug someone saying.. Hey, I hurled that into the john at last years xmas party.

The pickup screws being stripped out.. jesus.. all the assembly line guy had to do was take another two minutes and replace the damn screws, what are they doing in Korea standing over them with whips?

and the fact that both basses had problems from fret to to fret five or six.. and especially on the G string.. somethings NOT RIGHT in ESP land, friends.

I emailed ESP about the first bass and their advice was to put on NEW strings as if that would solve the problem it had with serious rattle and buzz.
Of course, it had no effect at all, but I did it just to appease these schmucks.
So I cant say much for customer support. Apparently they didn't listen to me in the first place or they wouldn't have suggested such a stupid cure for such a serious buzz problem.
Secondly, they didn't really follow up after I told them what happened.
Thirdly, they even claimed that no ESP basses had problems like that, and I've got a second one right here.

I've been playing since the early sixties.. all this information is in my rather glowing early report on the bass.
This bass is going back.
ESP and Music 123 should have nice long talk about this model.
It shouldn't be sold without a disclaimer or serious attention by a luthier who knows his work.
and nobody is more sad about this than me.
I really liked the way this bass fit my body.. the neck was tremendously right for me.. there are so many good things about it that simply mean nothing when it starts that rattle and buzz, let alone the stripped screws.

Made this year far as I know.. Made in Korea, set up in the USA.
24 frets, four string.
Mahogany body, with quilt maple top. walnut/maple five peice neck through.
Volume, boost cut on bass mid treble, *active EQ-passive output* balance.
EMG HZ 35 pickups, fully shielded.
Rosewood fingerboard.
See through red finish, matching quilted maple headstock.
Gold hardware.. NOT gold at all.. I dunno what this this, it's goldish colored.
ESP tuners and bridge.
Jumbo frets.. neck is more jazzlike that P bass like.
sent with lifetime warranty, two wrenches, neither of which fit the bridge adjustment, and a molded end cord.
deep cutaway for access to higher frets.
and a V shaped cut into the back of the body.. probably the most comfortable bass I've played.
35" scale.

I play rock and pop and country and blues.. this will do anything.. the active EQ is a real plus.
Running through a Behringer BX3000T bass head and either a X audio two ten cabinet or a Legion Sound 8X10 cabinet with horn.
Quiet as a mouse.
full rick dark warm bright sound..*S*
twin pickups.. and the active eq pretty much lets you do anything you want.

I was very surprised.. I thought it would be good, since I have an LTD B-50 and it was even gigable.. but this is a major improvement in every way.

I don't like the bridge adjustments for intonation or height adjustment.
Reasons: you loosen a set screw on the bridge and then have to slide it forward or back manually. This makes fine tuning the intonation a pain. It's doable though, so don't take it too seriously.
I don't like the idea that there are really two bridges.. one which you can move back and forth for intonation and another which sets in that one which has two set screws for height.
I tell myself this must cause some loss of sustain and tone because of the extra pieces.. but I sure can't hear it. Sounds very good.

One of the things I like is the low E.. it has so much more clarity than the B-50, even with Dimarzio pickups in it.

Set up was very good. I set the strings just a tad lower. There is a rattle on the A string from fret 2 to fret 5 if you go very low.. and the E string also will rattle a bit IF you go even lower with it.
As I see it, there must be one slightly higher fret on the neck.
I don't give a crap.
fit and finish are impeccable.

the pickups were adjusted a tad soft.. and when you raise them they aren't as tight as one would like. the system is typical for ESP LTD.. a screw runs through the pickup and into the wood. All they need to do is put a little more foam under the pickups and they'd stay tight. I'll do it myself.. someday.
Every thing about this was checked over. nothing loose at all anywhere.

I'll give it a 9 but really.. as far as I personally am concerned it's a 10.

I can't imagine anything but abuse would cost this bass less than a 10 ratiing.
The finish is as pretty as can be.. the hardware seems rock solid and looks great.
Strap buttons tight as a drum.
No truss rod adjustment needed.

By the way.. I sent back two Fender special P Bass deluxes.. they don't compare to this bass at all. Thier finishes were cheap looking, their hardware was second rate, their features were practically nil except for the jass bass neck and anodized pickguard. which I would have swapped out.
And the action on those things, including fretwork was second rate at best.

For less money this bass beats the pants off Fenders, and I've been a Fender guy for a long time.
I'd gig without a backup anytime.. only the battery going low would be a problem.

No experience.

I'll use this space to hoot and holler. Its SO comfortable.. the neck has NO drag at all.. the fretwork is damn near perfect smooth edges.. sighting down the neck is a joy it's so uniform. I love the finish.. I love the wood.. I love the way it's shaped and cut.. the abalone dots are another nice touch..
AND I kinda like the faux gold.. I'd bet this stuff wont wear at all, esp. compared to regular 'real' gold which can wear quickly.
Soundwise.. again.. whatever you want seems to be there. The more I play it, the more I like it.

I'm absurdly satisfied with this bass.. and at this price point it's good for beginner or pro.

Music 123.. free shipping.. can't beat that.

I've been playing since 63. I own a Taylor an Epiphone Sheraton A Fender Squier Tele and the LTD B 50.
I own a Hot Rod Deluxe, the Behringer BX3000T, which I love, and the bass cabinets I mentioned above purchased from http://www.steelsound.com which are incredible for the money and damn good even if you don't know the price. *210 cab that takes 400 watts and plays a low B for 109.00!*

Lost or stolen I'd buy another just like it.

I don't hate anything about it. Sound and playability count first and I love them. but it looks beautiful, too.

My fave feature is a tie.. the neck and the active EQ.. between them I feel invincible.

I wish it came with the wrenches needed for the action/intonation adjustment. And a small handbook about use. for instance. will the thing work if the battery goes dead or not?

I'd like to share this: go buy one. If you want a nice bass at a very good price these are on sale right now. And the finish selections are many.. bubinga maple.. colored or not.

ESP my hat is off to you.
and I dig the free decal.

ESP LTD Series C-304. 35" scale, 4 string, 24 fret, walnut body w/ quilted top, neck through w/ maple/walnut 5 piece neck, 2 EMG HZ passive pickups, 9v EMG pre-amp w/ volume, pan, bass, mid, & treble controls.

This bass looks similar to many upper-end 5 strings. I prefer 4 string basses as I personally don't need a 5th string. But I've always liked 5 string's 35" scale as it sounds so natural. So here was the perfect bass for me and Musician's Friend had it on clearance for $399. I might mention that I've got nice long arms. If you don't, I advise you to try a 35" before buying. They're long!

Very sweet, clean sound. I'm so used to Fender P & J basses that I forgot there were other sounds to be heard from a bass. Because of its 35" scale, it has an almost upright bass sound. The EMG pickups do well transmitting that to the amp. While I've heard complaints that the HZs lack character, I love them for their clean and absolutely noiseless sound. Tone and pan controls give you a great variety of clean sounds from low and rumbly to mid spank, and even to a Hofner Beatle Bass sound. However, if your looking for the fat p-bass sound, get a p-bass as this bass was made to sound clean. And you can slap this thing silly if that's your style, it was made for it.

Although they're made in Korea, ESP sets its basses up in their California shop. Action was good, but I adjusted it a bit for my own taste. The neck is just unbelievably smooth, jumbo frets, and nice rosewood fingerboard. It's very easy to play. The neck pickup makes a perfect thumb rest. The entire finish of the bass is close to flawless. Frankly, I've never seen a Korean guitar made this well. Its only design drawback is that the bridge has the tightening set screws on the upper edge, toward the pickups, which means you have reach the allen wrench in through the strings to set the intonation and string height.

It's well made, but not as solid as a Fender due mainly to the neck through design and its long neck. You certainly don't want to be banging this bass around. However, it's an extremely well made instrument. I'd use it without a backup (and have already) as this is the only bass I presently own! I just make sure that I have a spare battery. If I ever get a paying gig (besides free beer), or if my car insurance would quit going up every time I get a raise, I'd like to get Fender's new Aerodyne Jazz Bass. I think it would complement this one perfectly.

My biggest complaint is that there wasn't a manual or info of any kind with the bass. I'd expect care instructions, control layout, string replacement suggestions, and a few specs on the pickups. That said, I really don't expect to need customer support, but if I do it comes with a lifetime warranty.

I've been playing guitar and bass off and on for 25 years. I've owned a Fender Jazz and a strange silver sparkly thing with two switches, 5 knobs and one pickup (my first bass back in '76.) This bass is hard to compare to Fender basses as the scale and neck through design make it an apples / oranges comparison. Personally, I love this bass.

See my previous posting here:

http://www.harmony-central.com/Bass/Data4/ESP/C-304-01.html

A few weeks ago my bass (a c-304) quit producing output, so I contacted ESP. They went over a standard list of questions (is the warranty valid, what is the problem, etc) and a time was setup for me to drop the bass off at their HQ in North Hollywood (luckly I live in the county and was able to drive there). I was greeted at the door, and was guided through the facility to where the repair techs are stationed. I talked to the lead technician there, and he was very helpful and responsive to all of the questions I had. After a hearty handshake, I was on my way. There was a said 1-2 week turnaround for repairs.

I called a week and a half later, and my bass was all done =) I again drove to the ESP HQ. I again was led beack to lead tech where we talked about what all was done (the input jack and onboard EQ was replaced). The bass was plugged in to show that is was again working, all great! They even slapped on a new set of strings, and shined the frets up =) I was/am truly please by the service. I highly complement the customer support at ESP. They were in every bit helpful, from talking on the phone, to handling the affair in person. So, if you like their stuff, rest assured that they take care of every aspect of business--even after the fact.

This bass was made in Korea, though I don't know when. It has a neck-thru-body design, 35'' scale, 24 xJ frets, 5 piece body of Maple, Walnut, and Rosewood (fretboard)--model name at the 12th fret. Gold hardware--the bridge (ltd CD-04) is nice because you don't need to feed the strings through. There are 2 EMG 35-HZ EP pickups, one at the neck, one at the bridge, used together with an EMG B64 Active EQ (low, mid, high) and nobs for volume and balance. The finish is transparent, accenting the 5 piece design. The tuners are ESP. This bass didn't come with accessories, I bought it at a liquidation sale (though, it probably Does come with some).

This bass is extremely versatile, it can go from a high and punchy Jazz bass, to low and rumbly like a P bass (plus pretty much everything inbetween). It suits me perfectly (I don't have a particular style--jazz, metal, etc). The sound is crystal clear, even while changing the pickup balance. Harmonics are super loud, and the sustain is amazing due to the neck-thru-body design. Currently, I use this bass with a practice amp, and though not necessary, a BOSS bass EQ.

While at Mars Music (where purchased), I played this bass on an SWR combo amp... and it rocked. I did a comparison against three other basses (a Fender American P bass, a Fender Japanese Jazz bass, and a Flea Modulus), and with only subtle differences (with the two basses being passive), it held it's own very well--it packed the same juice as the $2000 Modulus.

The only problem (if one at that), is that the sound is too clean--not having the color of a passive bass.

The factory setup was great, I havent changed a thing yet. The action is fine, too. There is one paint flaw on a tuner head (E). The strings that came with the bass need changing (a minor issue).

I think this bass could withstand a lot of live playing (although I don't gig yet). It keeps tune well, the sound can be balanced to fit any mix, and it's pretty =)

I saw a b-204 at a music store with the same finish that was f'd up bad--I think someone dropped it--the lacquer will crack if abused.

The strap buttons are just where they need to be, very solid. (read above) I haven't had the need to have the bass adjusted--this thing could probably go solo with a spare 9v and strings.

Life time warranty =) I have yet the need to contact ESP.

I have been playing for about 2 years now. I bought the c-305 to replace my first bass, an Ibanez gsr190--it was time to move on... As soon as I played this bass, I knew it was for me. It felt good to play, it fit my person well, and the versatility was just what I wanted.

If this bass were stolen, I don't know what I would do. The only bass I would replace this one with, is a Wal.

This is a great instrument. Discard any brand whoredom you may have, and try something new. I like this bass more than ANY Fender I have played, or any other bass (execpt a Wal), for that matter.