Choosing between these two ESP LTD four-string basses comes down to more than finish. The D-4 Burled Poplar pairs a Black Natural Burst Satin appearance with a B-Stock/open-box condition and the lower listed price. The F-4 Black Metal is a new, all-black alternative with a 35-inch scale, 24 frets, and a single-pickup layout. The listed price gap is $604, so the decision is whether the D-4's appearance and lower entry point outweigh the F-4's specific Black Metal configuration.
Quick verdict
Choose the ESP LTD D-4 Burled Poplar Black Natural Burst Satin D4 Bass Guitar B-Stock if the burled poplar, Black Natural Burst Satin look is central to your choice and you are comfortable with an open-box B-Stock instrument. Its listed price is $695.
Choose the ESP LTD F-4 Black Metal Electric Bass Guitar Black Satin Brand New F4 if you want a new bass with the F Series' sculpted, contoured styling, a 35-inch scale, and 24 frets. It is listed at $1,299 and leans fully into the Black Metal theme with Black Satin color, black hardware, and an unmarked Macassar ebony fingerboard.
At-a-glance comparison
| Detail | ESP LTD D-4 Burled Poplar | ESP LTD F-4 Black Metal |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | $695 | $1,299 |
| Condition | Open box; B-Stock | New |
| Color | Black Natural Burst Satin | Black Satin |
| Body | Solid poplar body with burled poplar top | Solid body with sculpted, contoured F Series styling |
| Key listed format | D-4 model; neck-thru-body construction | 35-inch scale; 24 frets; neck-thru-body construction |
Where each bass makes the stronger case
The D-4 makes its case with a more visually detailed finish. Black Natural Burst Satin and the burled poplar top give it a different look from the F-4's intentionally monochrome presentation. It is also the choice for shoppers prioritizing the lower listed price within this head-to-head comparison.
The F-4 has the clearer specification-led identity. Its 35-inch scale, 24 frets, single-pickup design, no-inlay fingerboard, and glow-in-the-dark side markers create a focused Black Metal format. For someone specifically seeking those details in a new instrument, the F-4 is the more direct match.
ESP LTD D-4 Burled Poplar Black Natural Burst Satin D4 Bass Guitar B-Stock
Pick the D-4 when you want a solid-body, right-handed ESP bass whose defining feature is its burled poplar presentation in Black Natural Burst Satin. The neck-thru-body construction adds another named build detail, while the $695 listed price leaves a substantial gap versus the F-4. This is also the better fit for a shopper who prefers a burst finish over an all-black visual direction. The tradeoff is explicit in its B-Stock/open-box status: the description identifies a rub or mark in an inner nook and signs of play in two areas on the back. That condition detail is the main reason to choose the D-4 for its particular look and price rather than as a like-for-like substitute for the new F-4.
ESP LTD F-4 Black Metal Electric Bass Guitar Black Satin Brand New F4
The F-4 is the focused choice for a new, right-handed ESP bass built around the Black Metal design theme. Its Black Satin finish, black components and hardware, blank Macassar ebony fingerboard, and glow-in-the-dark side markers give it a deliberately stripped-back visual identity. The 35-inch scale and 24-fret specification further distinguish it from the D-4, and the single-pickup layout suits shoppers who want this particular configuration. The limitation is straightforward: at $1,299, it carries the higher listed price. It also offers only the all-black Black Metal direction described here, so it is less suited to someone whose priority is the D-4's burled poplar and Black Natural Burst Satin appearance.
Final choice by use case
For a lower-priced ESP LTD four-string with a burled poplar burst finish, choose the D-4 B-Stock. For a new bass centered on a 35-inch scale, 24 frets, and the all-black Black Metal specification, choose the F-4 Black Metal.
