NBD(S)! ESP LTD Surveyor 414

[marnold]

NBD(S) meaning: New Bass Day (Soon)

As discussed in this thread I was thinking about replacing the pickups in my bass. The two EMGs I wanted were going to end up in the vicinity of $200. That would, of course, include pots, jack, etc. Then I came across this ESP LTD Surveyor 414 on Musician's Friend. It has The EMG 35P4 pickup I was looking for at the neck (which is their P-bass pickup in a soapbar) and the EMG MMTW in the bridge. That is their Music Man pickup with the extra feature that if you "coil tap" it then it becomes their J-bass pickup in a soapbar. Pretty cool and flexible. Plus it comes with EMG's B30 preamp which has bass, treble, and mid boost/cut. For whatever reason they are blowing them out for $299. The list price was $999. I think it's because the new ones are in stock. FWIW, they are selling the new one, which seems to be EXACTLY the same for $769. Also FWIW, the bass is made in Korea.

I asked my dear wife about it last night and got the go-ahead. I was actually looking at getting the one with the transparent blue finish but by time I went to order last night they were sold out. I like the au natural look too. That does mean that I'll have to sell my Spector but I don't think that'll be an issue. I'm pretty excited about it. I suppose now that I have a bass with an MM pickup, I'm going to need to learn some Louis Johnson licks.

I just got word that it shipped, so I imagine it will be here on Monday. At that point I'll post pics and clips. For now, you can read Bass Guitar magazine's review of an earlier version that is just like it.

 

[Eric]

I knew it. Congrats -- I hope it's a good player.

 

[NWBasser]

Ooooh cool!!

I had an ESP very briefly and returned it for an Ibanez SR500. It was a very good quality bass, but it had a 35-inch scale that I couldn't live with.

This one you ordered is 34 and so should be close to what you're used to on the Spector.

I really like the PU combo.

That's an incredible deal for a swamp ash body and that electronic package!

 

[marnold]

I really like the PU combo.

That's an incredible deal for a swamp ash body and that electronic package!

I know! That's why I abandoned the upgrade plan. It's not that my Spector is a bad bass--it's not. It's just that I can't get the pickups to produce the same cool acoustic tone it has. With a swamp ash body and a maple fretboard it should be somewhat brighter than my basswood/rosewood Spector. Active controls will help as well.

 

[NWBasser]

I know! That's why I abandoned the upgrade plan. It's not that my Spector is a bad bass--it's not. It's just that I can't get the pickups to produce the same cool acoustic tone it has. With a swamp ash body and a maple fretboard it should be somewhat brighter than my basswood/rosewood Spector. Active controls will help as well.

With the active EQ and PU combinations, that one should have a heap of great tones on tap!

BTW - I really like swamp ash for basses.

 

[Katastrophe]

Cool! Congrats, man!

I can't wait to see pics of your new bass.

 

[progrmr]

THAT is the most natural looking bass I've ever seen! congrats!

 

[Tig]

With the active EQ and PU combinations, that one should have a heap of great tones on tap!

BTW - I really like swamp ash for basses.

+1 Excellent combo for all kinds of tones.

HNBD, Marnold!

 

[Spudman]

Congrats on your new rumble stick. It sounds like a pretty good instrument. I'm interested in the report.

 

[Eric]

I really dig the natural finish on guitars and basses. I kind of remember the blue you were going to get, and that was cool too, but I'll almost always vote for natural.

On a semi-related topic, whenever I see/hear swamp ash referenced, my brain always thinks of "swamp ***."

 

[Duffy]

Very excellent Marnold. The Natural looks mighty fine as well. I was, I'll admit, quite taken aback at the blue one with the maple board.

I would love to have a bass with active EMG pickups and that combination is quite excellent. This should rig up with your Acoustic quite well indeed. I'm thinking that is going to be a great natural sounding combination that produces some tones that will build milestones in your personal history.

So you have a bass multipedal? I have the Zoom B2.1u with usb direct to tthe computer for recording, which is cool. It is a decent bass pedal but I'm sure there are nicer ones out there. Charity's nephew picked up a Line six big old multipedal with lots of controls, etc. My Zoom will work for now, but maybe someday I'll get a better one. I have my Fender P bass with flatwounds out tonight and I like it, but my new Ibanez SR500 sits close at hand with it's own tonal brew just waiting to be unleashed.

My Fender Rumble 100 is not a bedroom slouch and is well made and produces decent tones, but I can imagine upgrading to a twelve inch Workingmans Pro SWR or something else with a lot more potential. I need to try out one of those decent sized Acoustics at GC one of these days. I'm also concerned about those Ampegs they have by me which, some of which, sound real impressive. They also have a bunch of Hartke's as well. Competition and new models might conspire with the Labor Day sales to reveal some half way decent deals. Times may change by then, as predicted, and another tube guitar amp might be in line, like a BS Club 40 or something. I played a Stage 60 yesterday and it was like a big brother to the Club 40, sporting some of the same sharp features.I played a few Schecters that felt a little weak but then settled into a spalted top Michael Kelly Patriot LTD with direct mount Rockfields that hit the mark with the Stage 60 but I had to pass it off to a dude I met and had to roll unexpectedly. I hope he found it as inspiring as me.

They also have a few decent basses I want to check out, like two Schecters in deep wine curly maple and flammed with soapbars; and also a G&L 1200 with three mini toggles that I'd like to experiment with. The bass amps are big with ostentatiously featured preamp tue designs but not much in terms of tone. I think have one demure looking bass amp that doesn't draw any attention that actually sounds real good. They also have a antique burst Fender five string active J bass, used, on sale that is not unimpressive. Maybe I'll go over there today. This place is more of your "uptown" type of music store that caters to the old time so called "high class" element of big money piano purchasing segments of the enclave. Ironically their main salesman is a baby boomer long haired hippie guitar salesman and local bluesman of some pereminence and renown known as the "Kahuna", after which a limited edition Heritage LP copy model is named.

Anyway, that should be a bass of some beauty and significance, and considering the good work it will be put to in your hands, some true magnificance. Well I hope so anyway, and if the past is any indicator of the present I'm sure it will be put to good use; whether or not anyone but you notices its significance is probably inconsequential. But if this beauty keeps you going and drives deep into your musical veins to bring forth even more of your soul, it will have cranked out some mojo that most basses can only inertly dream of.

Seriously though, I hope this bass lives up to your greatest expectations and is a key that unlocks yet unopened volumes of your soul, and brings you and your congregation much happiness and eases sorrow. Isn't it awesome that music often transcends the mundane and draws forth the whole range of human emotion and spirituality, and does it with a sometimes breathtaking beauty and appropriateness that can only have come from God?

 

[MAXIFUNK]

that looks great never played a bass with EMG'S.
enjoy love that look too my T-40 is all natural to love that look on a bass.

 

[Duffy]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/esp-ltd-surveyor-414-electric-bass-guitar

Is this the one you decided to get after the blue one sold out?

Mighty nice bass and active pickups too.

 

[marnold]

Martin Luther said, "Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." Hard to argue with brother Martin.

That's the right bass, Duffy. It should be here tomorrow on ye olde big brown truck. I don't really need any effects, just a little overdrive on occasion.

It comes strung with SIT nickel strings in the gauge I prefer. It'll give me a chance to compare those to the DR Hi Beams I've been using.

 

[NWBasser]

And we wait with baited breath...

 

[marnold]

I was doing a bunch of searches on it in lieu of actually having it in hand. It has a Wilkinson bridge with brass saddles. I guess I should expect little touches like that on a bass with an MSRP of a grand. I also noticed that it is a top-loader like my Spector. I've also got a spare 9 volt ready in case of just such an emergency.

 

[NWBasser]

I finally read the review of it that you posted.

Should be an incredible bass and a complete steal at that price!

Shoot, if didn't already have enough basses around, I'd jump on one of these too.

I can't wait to see the pics and get a tone report.

 

[marnold]

I can't wait to see the pics and get a tone report.

Tell me about it. Every engine I hear sounds like a brown truck

 

[marnold]

OK, here's the first pictures. No, the focus is not the turtle sandbox or the hose, Spud.

I took the cavity covers off so you could see the wiring.

 

[Eric]

Awesome. That actually looks like one big chunk of wood in the body, whereas some of the other pics I've seen made it look like the center had a different grain. Not sure what it actually is, but the point is that yours looks even prettier than the ones I've seen online. That's a sweet looking bass. HNBD!

You're getting to be the king of closeout deals, huh?

 

[Tig]

Love the wood grain!

HNBD!!!

 

[marnold]

I feel obligated to point out the "bad" things I noticed right away. First, and most disappointing, was the back of the headstock that reads "Indonesia." I know ESP makes LTDs in various factories around the world, but I thought this one was Korean. The top horn looks darker, but that's the way the wood grain is. Actually, the grain looks better on the back than the front, I think. The body also looks oddly yellow under fluorescent light. Looks very cool under natural light though as seen above. The acoustic tone is nice, although I think I prefer the acoustic tone of my Spector. That may be due to the difference between the SIT nickel strings vs. the DR stainless strings.

OK, with the parade piddling out of the way, the good parts are that it was set up rather nicely. There is some buzzing on the lower frets on the G string but the saddle is much lower than the others. Easy fix. It came almost perfectly in tune. The intonation is very good as well. It probably could use a tiny bit more neck relief. I much prefer its bigger frets. It probably weighs a bit more than my Spector, but they are close. The wiring is decent, albeit a bit rat's-nesty. The cavities are coated in shielding paint.

Setting my amph and the onboard EQ flat, I found that "it" factor I was missing with my Spector. Active EMGs were definitely the recipe. The EQ gives you tons of tonal variety that a passive just can't give. Cranking the treble will add a decent bit of noise, though. I especially like the 35P4 pickup, like I hoped it would. P-bass purists would say it doesn't sound exactly like a passive p-bass pickup. It is exactly what my mind thought EMG's take on a p-bass would be like. The MMTW is big and bombastic. It's about as subtle as a punch in the face. Switching it into j-bass mode is a night-and-day kind of change. Much quieter and brighter. The J and P combo is very nice indeed.

I'll try to get some clips posted tonight. Hopefully the bass will record decently through my phone.

 

[marnold]

Awesome. That actually looks like one big chunk of wood in the body, whereas some of the other pics I've seen made it look like the center had a different grain. Not sure what it actually is, but the point is that yours looks even prettier than the ones I've seen online. That's a sweet looking bass. HNBD!

They did a pretty decent job with keeping the grain looking good. It's actually a three-piece body. The top piece ends about 1/2" above the pickups. The bottom piece is just barely beneath the pickups.

You're getting to be the king of closeout deals, huh?

I've been fortunate to find things like this and also have the cash to do something about it, yes.

 

[bcdon]

Very nice, congratulations!! :dude

 

[marnold]

OK, here's my first attempt at a clip. I wanted to make sure that this would work with my phone before doing anything else. All tone settings both on the bass and amph are flat--straight up on the amph and at the center detente on the bass. I play the main lick to the Smithereen's "Blood and Roses" twice for each setting. First is the neck 35P4 alone, then the neck plus the bridge in MM mode, then the neck plus the bridge in J mode, then the bridge alone in MM mode, finally the bridge alone in J mode. I played with a pick because my technique is better than way.

LTD Bass Test

One thing that should be mind-bogglingly obvious is that the bridge pup in MM mode is LOUD. I instinctively wanted to back off my picking to compensate. As I said, subtle as a punch in the face. This was not an attempt to show off my skillz because obviously I have none. It's just a simple pickup test. I'll try to record more interesting things later.

 

[NWBasser]

Happy New Bass Day!

Congratulations Marnold!

That one sounds very nice. It has a sweet growl to it.

I wouldn't really sweat the Indonesian manufacture. It's my understanding that Cort, who makes pretty much all these basses for ESP, Lakland, Ibanez, Schecter, Musicman, etc. moved its production to Indonesia.

All reports that I've read suggest that there has been no change in quality.

 

[stingx]

I don't see the picture, Rev! I've been waiting to see this

 

[marnold]

I don't see the picture, Rev! I've been waiting to see this

Hmm. I linked to my Picasa account. That's the same way I've posted pictures on here before. Try this link: https://picasaweb.google.com/sempri...&authkey=Gv1sRgCKSMg9S2466MWQ&feat=directlink

 

[Katastrophe]

Congrats again! That is one beauty of a bass.

 

[Duffy]

I like the full bridge pickup sound the best, but some of the other positions would probably sound great to me if adjusted on the bass and amp and maybe with a pedal.

Definitely looks great though. Better than the pictures on line by far.

Do you get more volume out of your amp because of the active pre amped pickups? Seems like you are hitting the amps preamp with a much stronger signal than with a passive rig. It seems like that should make any amp volume setting sound louder than with a passive bass. Maybe your other bass was active too.