Choosing the Right Stream Bass for You!

In 2014, ESP announced a new bass shape for the USA called the Stream. It’s a bold look designed for serious bass performances in a variety of genres. What you might be confused by isn’t whether or not you want a Stream — you definitely do. But deciding which one is right for you might be a more difficult task. Let’s look at each version of the Stream to help make this choice a bit easier.

ESP Original Stream and Stream CTM

ESP Original instruments are produced in the same Tokyo, Japan shop where our custom shop guitars and basses are built. Each bass is created by hand, with a level of detail in workmanship that goes above and beyond any kind of factory-manufactured bass. The ESP Original Stream offers a white ash body and 7-piece maple and walnut neck. Its high-end components include active EMG 35P-4 (neck) and 35J (bridge) pickups, volume and balance controls, and an EMG BTC 2-band EQ with a mini switch control, as well as Hipshot tuners, a Hipshot bridge, Schaller Security Lock strap button, and a 38mm bone nut. It has a great look with 2-Tone Burst (white pickguard, chrome hardware) and Black (black pickguard, black hardware) finishes available. For a more upscale look, the ESP Original Stream CTM adds a contoured flamed maple top, a 7-piece maple/walnut/paduak neck, and gold hardware. The Stream CTM is available in Marine Blue and See Thru Black Cherry finishes.

E-II Stream and Stream FM

Available in the USA for the first time in 2014, ESP E-II is our top-of-the-line factory produced instrument. Created in our Japan manufacturing facility, E-II replaces the guitars and basses formerly known as “ESP Standard”. The E-II Stream offers a substantial price savings compared to the ESP version, with an almost identical specification (substituting a maple neck and Gotoh tuners). The E-II Stream is available in Snow White with a pearloid pickguard, and Black with a black pickguard. The E-II Stream FM is comparable to the ESP Stream CTM, with its flamed maple top and transparent pickguard. Both E-II Stream models include active EMG pickups and EQ, as well as the other professional-quality features of their ESP versions.

LTD Stream-200

The LTD Stream-200 may be priced low enough for almost any musician, but don’t mistake it for any kind of budget instrument. It’s a fantastic bass for metal, rock, alternative, and just about any kind of music where you don’t just want to blend into the background. It offers a mahogany body, maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard. The LTD Stream-200 offers a punchy and powerful sound with passive ESP Designed SB-4B pickups and active ABQ-2S 2-band EQ.