ESP LTD D-5 Review

SUPERB 5 STRING

I have had quite a few 5 string basses from Fender American Deluxes to custom 5's. This 5 blows them all away. It is sexy and it is powerful. The "B' string cracks concrete. The features on this bass are outstanding. String through. Body through neck. A great set of pickups and electronics. A beautiful bridge and great tuners. If you can't get the sound you're looking for with this… read more bass it's you. Right out of the box fit and finish are exemplary. Nut, relief and intonation spot on. No messing around at all. Mine came with a form fitting ESP case which is massive and unbelievably heavy duty. The body is extremely ergonomic. The neck is sleek and no wider than it has to be and very comforable. It comes with a great set of D'Addario strings which were as new and as fresh as it gets. Finding my sound took seconds. I do a lot of recording and session work. The day after receiving this bass I had a session which needed a 5 string bass and this bass did not disappoint. It came through the mix so articulately that the engineer marveled at it. Sometimes with a 5 the low "B' can be problematic but the low "B' on this bass is tight. No floppiness. No mud. Just pure clean concrete cracking lows. I must say ESP. I am beyond impressed! Looking for an outstanding 5. This is it!

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Solid feel for an "old school" player

Always said 4 strings are enough... always used flat wounds... the L2000-E was my only one since '83. Now I'm playing newer pop country, jamming with alternate tuning rockers.. needed that "B" string. Every 5 string bass I tried felt wrong in my hands. J-Basses (felt like a 2x4), Ibanez (close but didn't like the tone), Stingray (nice but not there) etc... Was browsing Sweetwater… read more and fell in love with the look this LTD D5 with a burled Poplar top. Did some reviews and the neck received some outstanding comments. I have NEVER bought an instrument without playing it, it's all about the chemistry. My salesman helped me through some of my concerns with online buying (great sales staff!) Now to bass... Love it!! So for me the neck is perfect, string spacing is between J-Bass and L2000-E (adaptation is feeling quite EZ). The tone with round wounds is quite gnarly and really nice and articulate. Separation of tone quality is distinct from neck to bridge pickup and the active EQ allows for excellent tone shaping. I didn't like the D'Addario strings they were quite brittle tonewise. I had a set of DR Low Riders laying around and they created a much richer tone and much more low end. The best part for me was when I put DR Legends on it. I love the sound of flat wounds smooth and buttery, although I have often been told they get "lost" in the mix. Not with the D5... roll back about 10% more bridge PUP and she's rich and growly fills in the tones where a bass should be and cuts right through. When rolled to the neck PUP it's a modern wood tone (kinda sexy if I say so myself) and all the way to the bridge there's lots of edge and attack. The bass feels quick and responsive to my playing style. The flat wounds even have lots of sustain and definition with the thru-body neck. I was told not to STRING the flat wounds though the body and just to use the bridge stops... I followed the advise I did not lose any of the sustain I had experience with the round wounds. I get a lot of hassle being "old school" and was told never expected you play a "modern" bass. I just smirk and revel in the sweet tone.

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Best bass for the money

Good woods, neck, fretboard, tuners. High mass bridge, neck through. String through. 3band Eq. Midpoint notched knobs. 24 frets you can get to with superdeep cutaway. B string is right and tight. Pups are the only thing you may eventually upgrade. Incredible bass for price.

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