Product: ESP LTD DF-404
Price Paid: US $575 used
Submitted
11/08/2005
at
02:30pm
by
phandnot
Features
:
9
This bass has a neck-thru mahogany body, 5 piece maple/walnut neck, with 24XJ rosewood frets. It is black with smoked chrome hardware. It comes factory stock with active EMG 35DCs, and the EMG B64 active EQ. Grover tuners, and a killer tribal inlay round this bass out. Another cool feature of this bass is that it is a four string with a 35" scale. It comes with huge strings(for a 4 string) 130-110-90-70, tuned to B-E-A-D. I have since changed it up a bit, and tuned it to drop C. IT ABSOLUTELY CHUGS!
Sound
:
10
I love this bass. It is very versitile, and can be adjusted to fit about any sound. I play metal. Dialed in, it can churn out the deepest, darkest, evil bass you could ever need. I run it through a Morley power wah (only when needed), Tech 21 Bass Compactor, and a MXR Bass D.I.+ into my Ampeg head, Ampeg 4x10, and Ampeg 1x15 stack. I love it. The EMG active equipment in this bass make it a tone machine. Can't say enough about this basses sound quality.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
I got this bass used, sort of. It had been previously owned, but for some reason the guy only had it a week or so. It was basically brand new when I got it. He had it in a coffin case, which I changed out for the ESP F bass case. Anyway, it had no flaws. It was set up perfect from the guitar store I bought it from. I can't vouch for the ESP setup. The bass has zero fret buzz, and the action is smooth. Very easy to play. The EMG EQ is a solid three pot setup, and ESP has installed them perfectly. No noise, or rattles of any kind. I have yet to buy a brand new top dollar, super high quality bass, but I believe this one was set up and just as nice as they come.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
I have not had any problems with this bass. Everything seems to be good quality. I have not had to have the truss rod adjusted yet, which is saying alot with the diverse weather around here. I would probably gig this without a backup, if I had to.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Have not had any reason to contact ESP.
Overall Rating
:
10
This is a great bass, my first ESP, and I am very happy with it. I may buy more ESPs in the future. If it were lost or stolen, I would be very upset, and try and find another. It is a very evil METAL inspired bass, and it has some gothic gloom to it. It is my second favorite bass only to my Spector neck-thru, but it is creeping up on it fast. It may be my favorite bass in no time. Great bass by ESP.
