In guitars basses shopping, two black ESP basses can look like a simple finish-based choice. The real decision is whether you want the older, used GrassRoots G-J-53 direction or the new ESP LTD F-4 Black Metal design. Both are listed as black, solid-body, right-handed instruments, but their identities, construction details, and listed prices make them fit different priorities.
Quick verdict
Pick the GrassRoots G-J-53 when an older instrument with 1995 and Japan wording in its title is the main draw. Pick the ESP LTD F-4 Black Metal when you want a new Black Metal model with a feature set that includes a 35-inch scale and neck-through-body construction. Neither choice is simply a substitute for the other: one centers on a vintage-marked GrassRoots bass, while the other is built around the F-4 Black Metal specification.
The listed price spread is $633, so deciding which approach matches your intended role matters more than comparing the finish alone.
| Detail | GrassRoots G-J-53 | ESP LTD F-4 Black Metal |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 666.00 | USD 1,299.00 |
| Finish | Black | Black Satin |
| Body type | Solid | Solid |
| Handedness | Right-Handed | Right-Handed |
Where each bass wins
GrassRoots G-J-53: This is the stronger match for someone drawn to a 1995, Japan-origin bass with vintage wording in the title. Its lower listed price also keeps the comparison focused on an older instrument route rather than a new-model specification package.
ESP LTD F-4 Black Metal: The F-4 is the more feature-led choice. Its description calls out a 35-inch scale, neck-through-body construction, 24 frets, a Macassar ebony fingerboard without inlays, glow-in-the-dark side markers, and a single pickup. Those details make its Black Metal designation more than a name alone.
Product notes
GrassRoots G-J-53 Black ESP Metal Gothic Bass
At USD 666.00, the GrassRoots G-J-53 is the lower-priced choice and suits a shopper who wants an older bass with a clearly stated 1995 and Japan identity. Its listed alder body and rosewood fretboard give it a specific wood combination, while the black ESP Metal Gothic presentation maintains a focused visual theme. This bass makes the most sense when the appeal is in the G-J-53's vintage-marked character rather than in seeking the feature list of a current Black Metal model. The key limitation is its condition: it is listed as used, so it does not serve the same new-instrument preference as the F-4.
ESP LTD F-4 Black Metal Bass
At USD 1,299.00, the ESP LTD F-4 Black Metal is aimed at players who want the stated Black Metal construction and appointments. The 35-inch scale, neck-through-body build, 24 frets, Macassar ebony fingerboard, no-inlay layout, glow-in-the-dark side markers, and single-pickup format create a deliberately stripped-back specification. The black satin finish and sculpted F Series body styling reinforce that design direction. Choose the F-4 when those named construction and fingerboard details are central to the bass you want. Its concrete limitation in this matchup is the higher listed price, placing it above the GrassRoots G-J-53.
Final choice by use case
Select the GrassRoots G-J-53 when that instrument's stated identity is the reason for the purchase. Select the ESP LTD F-4 Black Metal when the Black Metal designation and its named construction details are the intended direction. The best choice comes from the role you want the bass to fill, rather than treating these visually aligned instruments as interchangeable.
