For guitars basses shoppers, a close price range does not automatically mean a like-for-like choice. The ESP LTD D-4 Burled Poplar Black Natural Burst Satin D4 Bass Guitar B-Stock and the GrassRoots G-J-53 Black ESP Metal Gothic 1995 Luna Sea Vintage Bass Guitar Japan take notably different routes in finish, materials, and condition designation. The useful decision is to choose the identity that best matches what matters on your instrument, rather than searching for a generic winner.
Quick verdict
The ESP LTD D-4 is the more targeted pick for its Black Natural Burst Satin appearance and poplar body. The GrassRoots G-J-53 is the better match for a black alder body with a rosewood fretboard and Japan country of origin. Both are listed as solid-body, right-handed ESP basses, so the key differences are the individual specifications and condition context rather than basic body format.
| Listed comparison | ESP LTD D-4 | GrassRoots G-J-53 |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 695.00 | USD 666.00 |
| Body color | Black Natural Burst Satin | Black |
| Body material | Poplar | Alder |
| Condition | Open box | Used |
| Additional listed detail | D-4 model | Rosewood fretboard; Japan origin |
Where each bass wins
- ESP LTD D-4 wins for the shopper specifically drawn to the D-4 and B-Stock designation in its title. Its burled-poplar, Black Natural Burst Satin direction is distinct from the more traditional black presentation of the GrassRoots.
- GrassRoots G-J-53 wins when the title's 1995, Metal Gothic, and Luna Sea descriptors are part of the appeal. It also carries a $29 lower listed price in this comparison.
Use this as a specification choice rather than a contest of broad labels. The titles point to different visual and thematic cues, while the condition labels and cosmetic description make the ownership context equally relevant. Decide which concrete identifiers you want associated with the bass every time it is in hand.
Product notes
ESP LTD D-4 Burled Poplar Black Natural Burst Satin D4 Bass Guitar B-Stock
The ESP LTD D-4 gives a player a very specific finish-and-material direction: Black Natural Burst Satin over a poplar body, with burled poplar named in the title. That exact visual/body combination is the clearest reason to choose it over the GrassRoots G-J-53. Its limitation is the cosmetic condition description, which calls out a rub or mark in an inner nook and evidence of play in two areas on the back. The D-4 is listed as open box, so it suits a shopper whose priority is the named D-4 configuration and who is comfortable making that choice with those cosmetic details in mind.
GrassRoots G-J-53 Black ESP Metal Gothic 1995 Luna Sea Vintage Bass Guitar Japan
The GrassRoots G-J-53 makes sense for a player seeking the listed black alder body paired with a rosewood fretboard. Those details give it a different physical and visual identity from the poplar, burst-finish D-4. Its title also has a particularly specific character through the Metal Gothic, 1995, and Luna Sea wording, which may be the deciding factor for a shopper drawn to that named style. The main limitation is straightforward: the GrassRoots is listed as used. For the listed price, it is the option to select when its black-and-alder specification and title character matter more than the open-box designation of the D-4.
Final choice by use case
Choose the ESP LTD D-4 when the D-4 name, burled-poplar presentation, and USD 695.00 listed price fit your priorities. Choose the GrassRoots G-J-53 when its USD 666.00 listed price, 1995 title wording, and black alder direction better match the bass you want.
