Product: ESP LTD C-414FM
Price Paid: CAD 600
Submitted
05/07/2009
at
09:42pm
by
bassmanrick
Features
:
8
Here are the specs for this bass :
Set-Neck
34??? Scale
Mahogany Body
Flamed Maple Top
5-Pc. Maple-Walnut Neck
Rosewood Fingerboard
40mm Standard Nut
Thin U Neck Contour
22 XJ Frets
Black Nickel Hardware
Grover Tuners
TOM Bridge & Tail
EMG 35DC (B) /
35CS (N) Active p.u.
Finish: STBLK
All Parts are high quality parts given its price range. The bass stays in tune even when not played for a week or so.
Paid a little more than 600 $ CAD.
I give this rating based on professional instruments, but for the price, it would be a 10 out of 10.
Sound
:
10
This is my girlfriends bass, I am a seasoned bassplayer, I have high standards, I didnt know what to expect from it.......I was blown away, The Tone is incredible, a very nice, warm and punchy Passive tone. The neck is comfortable, fast and smooth. Can achieve very good slap tone from it. The pots are good and they have a nice range. It terms of comparison It sounds more like a J-Bass than a P-Bass. Althought you can pretty much dial any passive tone you want. It really cuts throught the mix while playing in a band setting. The pick ups are loud and they do not hum. I tried in a blues, jazz, rock and heavy rock setting and it took its place in all occasion. Sounded good just like a thousand dollard professional instrument. As a professional thought, It wouldnt be my first choice for the studio, In the studio I prefer to take the right bass for the right song. But it would still deliver some good lines !
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
The bass was incredibly Set-up, better than My thousand dollars fender, or any good bass i have owned actually. For me the strings were too low and the string buzzed, but for my girlfriend is was just perfect since she doesnt play aggressively like i do. The pickups were very responsive, I didnt think about adjusting them, all strings were equal in strenght. The finish is just gorgeous and his very impressive given its price range.
Reliability/Durability
:
8
In my opinion This bass is a very durable Bass, made for live playing, the hardware will last for a long time. My only fear would be the neck, I would advise to install only the right gauge and store it in a proper environnement. With proper car it should last very long. I had to adjust the truss rod once over a year. This is normal. As for the strap buttons, they are solid but I would replace them with straplocks............alway replace with straplocks, always....
I would definitively Gig with this bass without a Back-up. I dont see anything that could go wrong with this bass, except it can make you play too much.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
10
I Have been playing for 15 years, I own an American Fender Jazz Bass, a Godin A4 acoustic bass, an Ibanez Ergodyne, a Yamaha Rbx, an Aria Pro 2, (my first bass). I Almost prefer it to my Fender, it as a little more of its own personality and as lots of character. I like its weight and balance, its sound. I dont like its shape for playing while sitting, and being a 5 stringer, I prefer wider neck. This bass is priced between the entry level basses and professional basses. And plays like a professional bass. Its a keeper for a long time. If it were stolen, or lost, i would get the same thing, and since its my girlfriend bass, I am thinking about getting one for me !
