Shopping for guitars basses can mean two very different decisions: replacing a small control component in an instrument you already own, or choosing a complete electric bass. The four choices here span that full range, from CTS potentiometers to ESP LTD 4-string basses with different conditions, finishes, construction details, and listed prices.
Quick take
- Best for a control upgrade or repair project: CTS Audio Taper Pro Guitar Control Pots, Split Shaft, 250K-ohm, because it is a potentiometer set rather than a complete instrument.
- Best lower-priced complete bass in this group: Excellent ESP LTD D-4 4-String Bass Guitar, Roasted Jatoba Fingerboard, Black Natural Burst Satin, with a used condition and a 4-string electric-bass layout.
- Best for a Pelham Blue ESP LTD AP-style bass: ESP LTD AP-4 Pelham Blue Electric Bass Guitar AP4 AP 4 - B-Stock, with right-handed orientation, solid body, and 21 frets.
- Best if you want the Phoenix-1004 title package: ESP LTD Phoenix-1004 Black Electric Bass Guitar + Hard Case Phoenix 1004 - NEW, the highest listed price here and the only title that includes a hard case.
The price spread is wide: the lowest listed item is 97% below the highest, so the first decision is whether you need a component or a complete bass.
Listed price comparison
| Product | Listed price | Price bar |
|---|---|---|
| CTS Audio Taper Pro Guitar Control Pots, Split Shaft, 250K-ohm (CTS #450S | USD 35.70 | |
| Excellent ESP LTD D-4 4-String Bass Guitar, Roasted Jatoba Fingerboard, Black Na | USD 645.24 | |
| ESP LTD AP-4 Pelham Blue Electric Bass Guitar AP4 AP 4 - B-Stock | USD 795.00 | |
| ESP LTD Phoenix-1004 Black Electric Bass Guitar + Hard Case Phoenix 1004 - NEW | USD 1,394.00 |
Decision matrix
| If your priority is... | Start with... | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| A guitar electronics part rather than another instrument | CTS Audio Taper Pro Guitar Control Pots | It is listed as potentiometers with split shaft and 250K-ohm wording. |
| A complete ESP bass at the lower end of the instrument prices here | ESP LTD D-4 4-String Bass Guitar | It is a used 4-string electric bass with Black Natural Burst Satin color. |
| A right-handed AP-4 with Pelham Blue finish | ESP LTD AP-4 Pelham Blue Electric Bass Guitar | It lists the AP-4 model, solid body, right-handed orientation, and Pelham Blue color. |
| A new Phoenix-1004 package title with hard case | ESP LTD Phoenix-1004 Black Electric Bass Guitar + Hard Case | It is listed as new and the title includes the hard case wording. |
What separates these guitars basses choices
The CTS item should be viewed in its own lane. It is not competing with the ESP LTD basses as a playable instrument; it is a control-pot component. That makes it relevant for shoppers working on guitar electronics, especially if the split-shaft and 250K-ohm wording matches the project they already have in mind.
Among the complete basses, the ESP LTD D-4 is the lower-priced instrument option and is the only one marked used. Its description includes light damage with minor scratch marks on the top and bottom sides, so the tradeoff is clear: it brings the cost down within this group, but condition matters more than with a new item.
The ESP LTD AP-4 sits between the D-4 and Phoenix-1004. It has a Pelham Blue finish, right-handed orientation, solid body, 21 frets, and an open-box condition. Its B-Stock wording and cosmetic-blemish language make it a fit for shoppers comfortable with that condition category.
The ESP LTD Phoenix-1004 is the top-priced choice in this set. It is the only Phoenix model here, the title includes a hard case, and the attributes list black body color, right-handed orientation, solid body, and professional performance level. It is the most expensive route, so it makes the most sense when those specific Phoenix-1004 details are the reason for buying.
Concise product notes
CTS Audio Taper Pro Guitar Control Pots, Split Shaft, 250K-ohm (CTS #450S
Choose the CTS Audio Taper Pro Guitar Control Pots if your guitars basses shopping task is about electronics rather than adding another bass. The description highlights audio taper response, split shaft for fine-knurled knobs, and included washer and mounting-nut hardware, making it the most practical pick here for a control-related project. Its main limitation is equally important: it is listed as potentiometers, not a complete guitar or bass. If you are comparing playable instruments, this CTS item belongs outside that race, even though it has the lowest listed price in the group.
Excellent ESP LTD D-4 4-String Bass Guitar, Roasted Jatoba Fingerboard, Black Natural Burst Satin
The ESP LTD D-4 is the most accessible complete bass choice in this comparison and brings several concrete instrument details: 4 strings, right orientation, mahogany body material, jatoba fretboard material, and Black Natural Burst Satin color. The description also points to a 34-inch scale, 24 frets, neck-through construction, and active 3-band EQ wording. The limitation is condition. It is used, and the description mentions light damage with minor scratch marks on both the top and bottom sides of the bass. That makes it better for a shopper who prioritizes the D-4 feature mix over pristine condition language.
ESP LTD AP-4 Pelham Blue Electric Bass Guitar AP4 AP 4 - B-Stock
The ESP LTD AP-4 is the clearest match for someone who wants the AP-4 model in Pelham Blue. It is right-handed, solid body, and listed with 21 frets, with description details including alder body, maple neck, Macassar ebony fingerboard, EMG P and LJ pickups, Grover tuners, and a Babicz FCH-4 bridge. Its limitation is the B-Stock and open-box positioning, with the description saying it may have a cosmetic blemish. That does not change the model name or listed specifications, but it does make condition a central part of the buying decision.
ESP LTD Phoenix-1004 Black Electric Bass Guitar + Hard Case Phoenix 1004 - NEW
The ESP LTD Phoenix-1004 is the strongest fit when the Phoenix body style, black finish, and hard-case title wording are the draw. It is listed as new, right-handed, solid body, and professional performance level, with description details such as neck-thru construction, 34-inch scale, mahogany body, five-piece mahogany/walnut neck, Macassar ebony fingerboard, 21 extra-jumbo stainless steel frets, LTD vintage tuners, Gotoh 201B-4 bridge, and EMG 35P4/35J pickups. The limitation is cost: at USD 1,394.00, it is the highest listed price here, so it asks you to value the Phoenix-1004 package over the lower-priced ESP LTD basses.
Final recommendation
If you are repairing or modifying controls, the CTS Audio Taper Pro Guitar Control Pots are the straightforward choice because the title and type identify them as potentiometers, not an instrument. If you want a complete bass while keeping the listed price well below the Phoenix-1004, start with the ESP LTD D-4, as long as the used condition and noted minor scratches are acceptable.
For shoppers focused on a specific ESP LTD model and finish, the AP-4 in Pelham Blue is the middle pick, with right-handed orientation, solid body, and 21-fret AP-4 details. If the goal is the Phoenix-1004 in black with the hard-case title package and new condition, the ESP LTD Phoenix-1004 is the most direct match, but it also defines the top of this comparison's price range.