ESP LTD Frank Bello Signature Bass, 8-String – Review

ESP LTD Frank Bello Signature Bass, 8-String – Review…

Many famous bass players have played 8-string basses over the years with some even playing 12 string basses. Those that come to mind are Chris Squire, John Paul Jones, Jeff Ament, John Entwistle, and we can’t forget Tom Peterson of Cheap Trick. Frank Bello of Anthrax fame can now be added to that list. The ESP LTD Frank Bello Signature 8-String Bass is an eye catcher from the start. From the sinister look of the black satin finish covering the sculptured body and the back of the neck, to the chrome hardware giving further accent to the black satin finish, and the rosewood fingerboard complete with pearl block inlays.

The ESP LTD Frank Bello Signature 8-string Bass is a 34” scale bass with a bolt-on neck. The body is basswood, the neck is 5-piece maple with a U contour and 24 frets make up the rosewood fingerboard. The factory setup is superb, making the bass easy to play right away. The strings are tuned in octaves with standard bass tuning. The pickups are passive with the neck pickup being the ESP Designed SB-5N and the bridge pickup the ESP Designed SB-5B. The Active 3 Band EQ is powered by a 9-volt battery. Controls are volume, balance, bass mid, and treble. The 9-volt battery compartment is secured with 2 screws, and the wiring compartment is neat and clean. A hard-shell case is available for the ESP LTD Frank Bello Signature 8-String Bass.

Playing gigs with this bass was a lot of fun, especially with a 3-piece band. The bass gave the extra “fill” that is sometimes needed, and stood out really strong on certain tunes. Playing in the studio was equally fun. This is one bass you can play chords on in the lower register without it getting “muddy”. The bass is just as easy to play finger style or with a pick. While this bass won’t fit every style, it is a definite plus in certain genres of music, especially pop. Rock, and metal. Check out the ESP LTD Frank Bello Signature 8-string Bass at an ESP music retailer near you!