Shopping guitars and basses often means deciding which details matter most: construction style, neck layout, hardware, finish, condition, or listed price. The ESP LTD PHOENIX-1004 Bass Guitar - Silver Sunburst Satin - B-Stock and ESP LTD JC-4 John Campbell Streamer Bass - Dark Grey Metallic Satin are both ESP electric bass guitars with 34-inch scale lengths, but they take notably different build approaches.
Quick verdict
Choose the ESP LTD PHOENIX-1004 if a neck-through-body bass with Fishman Fluence SB-1 active pickups, a reverse headstock, and a Silver Sunburst Satin finish is the direction you want. Choose the ESP LTD JC-4 John Campbell Streamer Bass if a new bass with bolt-on construction, a thin-U neck contour, and Dark Grey Metallic Satin styling better matches your priorities.
The listed-price spread is $919.01. That makes this less about two near-identical basses and more about selecting the construction, components, and condition that fit your own playing setup.
At a glance
| Bass | Listed price | Condition | Construction | Fingerboard and frets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESP LTD PHOENIX-1004 Bass Guitar - Silver Sunburst Satin - B-Stock | USD 1,179.99 | Certified - Refurbished | Neck-through body; five-piece mahogany/walnut neck; mahogany body wings | Macassar ebony; 21 extra-jumbo stainless steel frets |
| ESP LTD JC-4 John Campbell Streamer Bass - Dark Grey Metallic Satin | USD 2,099.00 | New | Bolt-on; swamp ash body; five-piece maple/purple heart neck | Macassar ebony; 21 extra-jumbo frets |
Where each bass wins
Phoenix-1004: for the neck-through layout and Fishman electronics
The Phoenix-1004 stands out through its neck-through-body construction and set of Fishman Fluence SB-1 active pickups. Its controls include neck volume and bridge volume, giving the instrument a clearly defined electronics arrangement. The brushed black pickguard, reverse headstock, LTD vintage tuners, and Gotoh 201B-4 bridge round out a distinctive visual and hardware package. It is the more focused pick for someone specifically drawn to this combination of neck-through construction and active-pickup configuration.
JC-4: for the Stream body format and signature details
The JC-4 uses the ESP Stream body shape and pairs it with a swamp ash body, bolt-on design, and a thin-U neck contour. Its fingerboard details include split block inlays and glow-in-the-dark side markers, while Hipshot Ultralight tuners add another named component to the build. This is the choice for a player who prefers the listed Stream-shaped, bolt-on configuration and wants the visual details of the Dark Grey Metallic Satin signature model.
Product notes
ESP LTD PHOENIX-1004 Bass Guitar - Silver Sunburst Satin - B-Stock
The Phoenix-1004 is a compelling choice when the Fishman Fluence SB-1 active pickups and Gotoh 201B-4 bridge are central to your decision. Its five-piece mahogany/walnut neck has a satin-finished back, and the bass also carries a Macassar ebony fingerboard with ESP flag inlays. The Silver Sunburst Satin finish, brushed black pickguard, and reverse headstock give it a specific look rather than a plain, understated presentation. The important limitation is its condition: this model is identified as B-Stock and Certified - Refurbished. That distinction is meaningful for shoppers who are choosing between the two condition categories in this comparison.
ESP LTD JC-4 John Campbell Streamer Bass - Dark Grey Metallic Satin
The JC-4 makes sense for shoppers who want the listed new condition alongside its signature-model details. Its five-piece maple/purple heart neck has a thin-U contour, while the Macassar ebony fingerboard combines split block inlays with glow-in-the-dark side markers. The Hipshot Ultralight tuners are another concrete component that helps define this configuration, and the Dark Grey Metallic Satin finish gives it a different visual direction from the Phoenix-1004. Its limitation is straightforward: it is the higher-priced bass in this pair. Choose it when its new condition, Stream body shape, and named hardware details carry more weight than the lower entry point of the Phoenix.
Final choice by use case
Pick the ESP LTD PHOENIX-1004 when neck-through-body construction is your priority and the Silver Sunburst Satin B-Stock model suits the direction of your purchase. Pick the ESP LTD JC-4 when you specifically want the bolt-on Stream-body format, Dark Grey Metallic Satin appearance, and a new-condition instrument. The $919.01 listed-price spread makes the deciding factor simple: choose the build and condition you will value most after the initial purchase.
