Product: ESP LTD D-5
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
06/06/2009
at
09:28pm
by
cjbbjc
Features
:
10
Made in Indonesia
Merbau body
Neck-through-body construction
5-piece mahogany-maple neck
34" scale
Rosewood fingerboard
24 XJ frets
Black nickel hardware
Grover tuners
ESP BB-605 string-thru-body bridge
ESP SB-5 pickup set
Volume and balance controls
ESP ABQ3 3-band active EQ (Bass, Mid, & Treble)
Natural Satin Finish
Sound
:
10
I listen to a lot of metal and punk music. Bands I like and whose music I play along to are: Mastodon, Korn, Sublime, Pennywise, Authority Zero, Soulfly, Sepultura, White Zombie, Trivium, Black Sabbath, 311, AFI, AC/DC, Coheed and Cambria, Deftones, Lamb of God, Machine Head, Marilyn Manson, Mudvayne, Misfits, Pantera, Pepper, Rancid, Rise Against, and Social Distortion.
Overall, I believe this bass is very versatile. The 3 band eq definitely aids in this bass' versatility. The treble does make a hissing sound if you turn it all the way up.
Although it is only outfitted with stock ESP pickups and eq, it sounds great. I was thinking of replacing the stock Esp pickups with EMG 40TW and 40P5, but the sound of the stock pickups are amazing.
Slap, finger, and pick playing all sound great. The low end is absolutely amazing with this thing, mids are well pronounced, and the treble can get hissy if pushed to far.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
The bass was set very well from the factory. Action, finish, pickup height, and intonation were perfect.
There were a few flaws. One of the knobs was loose, nothing a little allen wrench can't take care of. There was also some type of marking around the electronics and battery cavity, looks like stencil markings. It's on the back so it really doesn't matter too much.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
Playing bass is just a hobby of mine, this bass is not being gigged on a regular basis. Overall it seems like a very sturdy bass that would withstand being on the road. Adjustments made the intonation and truss rod are a one time deal. I do, however, live in the Southwest so climate change is very rare. The dry and hot climate do not effect it, unless it's left inside a hot car in the middle of summer.
The only downside is the satin finish, don't get me wrong it is very nice, but satin finishes seem to get dinged and damaged very easily.
The strap buttons were replaced with Dunlop strap locks. I never leave O.E.M. strap buttons on any of my instruments.
The black chrome hardware is very solid and nice. It looks like it will stay that way too. I've seen other black chrome hardware rub off. Not the case with this bass.
Gigging without a backup is never recommended but this bass is the exception. Solid, sturdy, reliable, and able to crack skulls if needed. Did I mention this bass is a little on the heavy side?
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Have not had to deal with them.
Overall Rating
:
10
If this bass were lost, I'd kick myself in the a$$ for losing it. If it were stolen, I'd find the guy who stole it and beat him with the bass, isn't that what you're supposed to say there?
Overall this bass is a great buy for someone looking for a mid-level bass. Everything you could want is already bundled up in this package, minus name brand pickups and electronics, but at the end of the day the stock pickups and electronics will definitely do you justice.
A 5 string with neck thru, active electronics, merabu body, and grover tuners at this price range is rarely heard of. Do yourself a favor and at least check it out if not buy it.
