The ESP LTD B-205SM 5-String Electric Bass Guitar has a bright-sounding ash body with a beautiful spalted maple top. Featuring string-thru design and active electronics, this bass has sound features that will inspire you.
Built with 5-piece maple for maximum stability, the bolt-on neck is set deep into the body for a winning combination of snap and sustain. The Thin U Neck Contour gives your fingers optimum access to the full scale of the 24-fret neck.
The LTD B-205SM has 5 controls for dialing in just the right sound for the song. A balance control allows you to blend the output of the 2 pickups - full neck, full bridge, or anywhere in between. Separate bass, mid, and treble boost/cut controls enable further tone tweaking of your blend setting. A master volume completes the electronics section.
Bolt-On Construction
34" Scale
Ash Body
Spalted Maple Top
5 Pc Maple/Rosewood Neck
Rosewood Fingerboard
45mm Standard Nut
Thin U Neck Contour
24 XJ Frets
Black Nickel Hardware
ESP Tuners
ESP BB-605 Bridge w/ String-Thru-Body
ESP SB-5 (B & N) p.u.
ESP ABQ-3 3-Band Active EQ
Controls
Bass Boost/Cut
Volume
Mid Boost/Cut
Treble Boost/Cut
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Custom Guitar's Friend Gold Coverage
Gold Coverage goes above and beyond the manufacturer's warranty to protect your gear from unexpected breakdowns, accidental damage from handling
and failures. This plan covers your product for one, two, three or up to five years from your date of purchase, costs just pennies per day and gives you a
complete "no-worry" solution for protecting your investment.
Gold Coverage Includes:
Unexpected and unintentional spills, drops and cracks
Normal wear and tear
Power surges
Dust, internal heat and humidity
Other plan features include:
For products over $200, No Lemon Policy applies. If it fails for the same defect 3 times, it is replaced on the 4th breakdown. (Does not apply to failures due to drops, spills, and cracks)
For products under $200 experiencing the above failures, a Custom Guitar's Friend gift card will be issued for the full price of the product + tax.
Shipping fees covered if required for repair or replacement
Plans are transferable in the event merchandise is sold
Plans are renewable on new gear
*Limitations and exclusions apply. See terms and conditions for program details
Term for New Gear begins on date of purchase but does not replace the store return policy or manufacturer coverage.
Displaying reviews 1-6
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This thing has a solid build, a little bit of neck dive, but I've never cared about that as long as the construction is solid. And this thing has a sound like you wouldn't believe. I plugged it into a crappy Hartke rig, and it sounded way better than anything I'd tried in the past. I EQ'd everything flat, and it still made my Ibanez sound tired. I also used to think Bartolini made the best bass pickups, and they are fantastic, but even the stock ESP pickups are more clear, clean, and vibrant. The only bad thing about the one I played was that the low B was set up badly. But other than that, it would have been absolutely perfect. And I forgot to mention the finish is BEAUTIFUL
I have the features an 8 because, I mean, they're the standard features of any bass with a 3-band EQ. However they sound GREAT even set totally flat, no boost or cut.
ESP LTD B-205SM 5-string Electric Bass Guitar Satin Natural
.This bass, right out of the box, is great. The 3 band EQ really helps fine tune the tone, and the active pickups make the mids and highs really sing. The low end sounds really crisp too. The finish on this bass is amazing, and the picture doesn't do it justice. So smooth, and incredible looking. The only thing I suggest is changing the factory strings as soon as you can, I really didn't care for their sound.
ESP LTD B-205SM 5-string Electric Bass Guitar Satin Natural
.Best bass I've ever played. I own a RockBass Streamer that I added active circuitry to and I have a Peavey Fury that I put Seymour Duncan 1/4 pounders in and I love both of those basses but this one has gotten them both beat. I've played American Fenders and G&L's, Peavey Cirrus and even Musicman's and like this one better than them all. The Musicman was very good too. Simply put the neck is amazing. Its narrow for a five string and very thin, not to mention the frets are finished like a top line bass should be. I heard people who replaced the original PU's only to wish they hadn't. Also the finish is fabulous. I ordered mine sight unseen and I was worried about the finish. I normally like stuff shiny, but the matte finish is great on this bass. I really like the spalted Maple.Best of all the price, it's like buying an American Fender for Squier prices, but better! Oh its not traditional sounding exactly, so if you want that, then buy a fender but if you want some funk or heavy metal buy this one.
ESP LTD B-205SM 5-string Electric Bass Guitar Satin Natural
.This a review of the FRETLESS version of this instrument.
I bought this bass because I was looking for a 5 string fretless bass in the low-mid price range. There is not a lot to choose from. It was that or the Ibanez 375F.
Electronics, finish and sound of this bass are great, so I'll jump to the more "constructive" comments right away.
This comes with a set of regular wounds strings which will eat the finish of the fretboard. You will need a set of EXTRA LONG SCALE flatwound to put on it. Long scale D'Addario flatwound won't fit in a string through setup. That brings me to the bridge of the instrument that allows for both string through and top loading of the strings. The B string of the D'Addario flawound set won't go through the body unless you remove the metal ring that covers the hole. In my case, the thing fell off as soon as I removed the original B string anyway...
The neck on mine came with more of a bent than I like. I attempted a truss rod adjusment, to find the rod was aready very tight. I did not dare put more pressure into it. The bass is playable, but with a higher action than expected. The truss rod cover is a piece of cheap plastic and I trew it away. I'd rather have none rather than what they put on.
The inlay at the 12th "fret" position (the one with the model number) creates a buzz when you slide over it. I was afraid the dot inlays and fret marker would do that to, but they don't.
This is a good instrument in the narrow selection of 5 string fretless basses. However I feel that I will be moving on to a higher end bass with a slick fretless fingerboard in the future.
ESP LTD B-205SM 5-string Electric Bass Guitar Satin Natural
.I had a restricted budget to work with and this bass exceeded all expectations. The most beautiful bass i've ever owned. Lots of tonality . The Abalone fret markers is a very nice touch .
ESP LTD B-205SM 5-string Electric Bass Guitar Satin Natural
.Great Bass!!! Worth the money. Plays like a very experience bass, but don't tell anyone LOL. IMO one of the best basses I've ever played. The neck is easy to maneuver, good spacing, perfect for me. I'm a jazz man, I love it. Very well made, a solid instrument. If you're looking for a fretless this is your instrument. I've read some other reviews on this instrument regarding setup, I have been playing for 40 years and I haven't seen an instrument that doesn't require a little adjusting for your taste. This bass is solid as a rock!!!!!
ESP LTD B-205SM 5-string Electric Bass Guitar Satin Natural
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