Head to head
Epiphone Mike Dirnt Grabber G-3 Bass, Natural, Exclusive vs ESP Surveyor '87 Lh BLACK
The verdict
The ESP Surveyor '87 Lh BLACK comes out ahead overall — 78 to 69 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Mike Dirnt Grabber G-3 Bass, Natural, Exclusive wins on
- Better sound (73 vs 68)
ESP Surveyor '87 Lh BLACK wins on
- Better build (87 vs 65)
- Better playability (78 vs 72)
- Better value (75 vs 67)
- Lower price ($999 vs $1,299)
Scorecard
| Metric | Mike Dirnt Grabber G-3 Bass, Natural, Exclusive | Surveyor '87 Lh BLACK |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 69 | 78 |
| Build | 65 | 87 |
| Playability | 72 | 78 |
| Sound | 73 | 68 |
| Value | 67 | 75 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Mike Dirnt Grabber G-3 Bass, Natural, Exclusive | Surveyor '87 Lh BLACK |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | ESP |
| Type | Bass | Bass |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | JP |
| Body wood | Maple | Alder |
| Neck wood | 3-piece Maple | Maple |
| Fretboard | Ebony (Maple on Natural-finished Model) | Macassar Ebony |
| Strings | 4 | 4 |
| Frets | 20 | 21 |
| Scale | 34" | 34" |
| Pickups | Gibson USA G-3 / Gibson USA G-3 | Seymour Duncan Vintage P / Seymour Duncan Vintage Jazz |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $1,299 | $999 |
| Body Finish | Gloss | — |
| Body shape | Grabber | — |
| Body Styles | Double Cut | — |
| Bridge | Leo Quan Badass II | Gotoh 203B-4 |
| Bridge pickup | Gibson USA G-3 | Seymour Duncan Vintage Jazz |
| Case | Hardshell | DELUXE BASS GIG BAG |
| Control Knobs | Black Speed | — |
| Controls | Master Volume, Master Tone | Passive |
| Finish | Nickel | Black |
| Fretboard inlay | Black Abalone Dot | — |
| Fretboard radius | 320.0mm / 12.6in | 400mm |
| Fret Count | 20 | — |
| Headstock | Grabber V | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Epiphone Logo in Gold Silkscreen | — |
| Joint | Bolt On | — |
| Middle pickup | Gibson USA G-3 | — |
| Model | EIG3MDNANH1 | — |
| Neck pickup | Gibson USA G-3 | Seymour Duncan Vintage P |
| Nut | Bone | Molded |
| Nut width | 41.0mm / 1.61in | 42mm |
| Output Jack | 1/4" | — |
| Pickguard | 4-ply Black | — |
| Pickup Selector | 3-way Toggle | — |
| Profile | C | — |
| Scale length | 863.6mm / 34.0in | 34" |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - Bottom and Tip of Horn | — |
| String gauges | .045, .065, .085, .105 | — |
| Switch Tip | Ivory | — |
| Truss rod | Dual Action | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-ply with Mike Dirnt Signature Reproduction; Blank 2-ply in the Case | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Open-Gear Bass with Historic Clover Button | LTD Vintage |
| Case Included | — | N |
| Construction | — | Bolt-On |
| Hardware | — | Black |
| Neck profile | — | Thin U |
| Strap Button | — | Standard |