Product: ESP LTD B-206 SM
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
08/22/2008
at
03:15pm
by
Bybowes
Features
:
7
Newer model, made in China. Spalted Maple top, 3 piece ash body. ESP passive humbuckers with a 3 band EQ system. ESP hardware. Neck 5 layer laminate with maple and some dark wood in between. Cool black nickel hardware. Electronics are boring but appearance and fit, finish reflect a bass of much more cost than this.
Sound
:
6
Sound is boring. EQ does not have much gain to really alter sound greatly, esp mids and highs. Kind of sounds passive. That being said, the sound you do get is very promising but the eq can't deliver. Because I loved every thing else about it, I decided to put some money in it. First was a Bartolini 5.2 18v 3 band preamp with mid switching. Went in pretty easy as it is pre wired but not much room for the modules and an extra battery. Becuse of that, not the prettiest install but functions just right. Really brought that promising sound to life, with tons of gain at the eq. Next was the pickups. I wanted to put active EMGs in but the Bartolini supposedly is for passive only so I had to use EMG HZ45s. Please note, they are slightly bigger than stock so a litle expansion at the ends of the PU cavities was needed but not much. Just hand filing. The emgs sound much better than the ESPs but not a lot of bang for the buck compared to installing the preamp. You do get a lot more output and clarity. All in all though, a powerhouse bass with crystal clear highs and lows that looks like a very high price custom bass.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
An absolutely beautiful bass. Finish, fit, fretwork all top notch even for a more expensive bass. 2 problems. Nut was over cut on the G and C. Some epoxy in the grooves fixed that. Strings were crap. Intonation was near impossible. Put on DR Marcus Miller strings. Problem solved, intonation great.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
A heavy duty feeling piece. I would not have put another $340 dollars into it if I didn't believe in the thing.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never dealt with.
Overall Rating
:
10
Funny, I can have this bass sitting next to a Warwick Corvette 5 and my Hofner Contemp and people will always look at the LTD and say Whoa, what a bass. This was worth every penny I paid. Absolutely looks like something special and expensive. Seen several of the LTD spalted tops and this one is by far the nicest I've seen. Deep in color and a deep flame over it. The new electronics give it the sound befitting the high end bass it looks like. I have $760 in it now with strings. The best bass in that price range I,ve seen. The neck through version with better electronics is $960. I'll take the Bartolini preamp over the EMG preamp any day and pocket the $200.
