Choosing a bass at this price means deciding which playing priorities matter most: a familiar long scale, an expansive fretboard feel, active electronics, or condition status. The ESP LTD PHOENIX-1004 Bass Guitar - Silver Sunburst Satin - B-Stock is aimed at players drawn to a distinctive reverse-headstock, neck-through build and modern active pickup setup, while accepting that this particular instrument is identified as B-Stock and Certified - Refurbished.
Quick verdict
This is a focused choice for a bassist who wants a 34-inch, four-string electric bass with a five-piece mahogany/walnut neck-through-body construction, Macassar ebony fingerboard, and Fishman Fluence SB-1 active pickups. The listed price is USD 1,179.99. Its most important trade-off is not tonal flexibility or scale length; it is the B-Stock and Certified - Refurbished condition designation.
ESP LTD PHOENIX-1004 Bass Guitar - Silver Sunburst Satin - B-Stock
Choose the Phoenix-1004 when the appeal is a long-scale neck-through instrument with 21 extra-jumbo stainless-steel frets, a satin-finished neck back, and separate neck and bridge volume controls. The reverse headstock, brushed black pickguard, Silver Sunburst Satin finish, LTD vintage tuners, and Gotoh 201B-4 bridge give it a clearly defined visual and hardware direction rather than a stripped-down spec.
The limitation is equally concrete: this is the B-Stock version and its condition is identified as Certified - Refurbished. Shoppers seeking an instrument without that condition designation should treat that point as central to the decision rather than incidental.
Who it suits
The Phoenix-1004 makes sense for players who prefer the reach and string response associated with a 34-inch scale and want a four-string layout. Its neck-through-body design will also appeal to shoppers specifically looking for a continuous neck construction, rather than choosing solely by body shape or finish.
It is especially well matched to someone who values a smooth-feeling neck back: the five-piece mahogany/walnut neck is described with a satin finish on the back. Players who like substantial fretwire may also gravitate toward the 21 extra-jumbo stainless-steel frets and Macassar ebony fingerboard.
What stands out in the build
The feature set is cohesive. Mahogany body wings pair with the mahogany/walnut neck, while the ebony fingerboard and black pickguard create contrast against the Silver Sunburst Satin finish. The listed hardware includes LTD vintage tuners and a Gotoh 201B-4 bridge.
Electronically, the Fishman Fluence SB-1 active pickups are a defining part of the package. Neck and bridge volume controls support direct level adjustment between the two pickup positions, which is useful for players who want to shape their balance from the instrument itself.
Meaningful trade-offs
The Phoenix-1004 is not a neutral, no-frills choice. The reverse headstock, black pickguard, satin silver sunburst look, active pickups, and extra-jumbo frets all give it a particular identity. That is a strength for a player who wants those details together, but it makes less sense for someone whose ideal bass is a more conventional-looking four-string with a different condition designation.
At USD 1,179.99, the case for this model rests on the combined construction and electronics package, not merely its appearance. The Certified - Refurbished and B-Stock labels remain the deciding consideration.
Bottom line
Pick the ESP LTD Phoenix-1004 if a 34-inch neck-through bass with Fishman Fluence SB-1 active pickups, stainless-steel frets, and a satin-neck feel aligns with your playing priorities. Pass when the B-Stock, Certified - Refurbished condition is outside your comfort zone; that is the clearest trade-off attached to this specific Silver Sunburst Satin instrument.
