Head to head
Epiphone Viola Bass, Vintage Sunburst vs ESP B-204SM NATURAL SATIN
The verdict
The ESP B-204SM NATURAL SATIN comes out ahead overall — 80 to 66 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Viola Bass, Vintage Sunburst wins on
- Lower price ($449 vs $649)
ESP B-204SM NATURAL SATIN wins on
- Better build (87 vs 61)
- Better playability (81 vs 64)
- Better value (83 vs 69)
Scorecard
| Metric | Viola Bass, Vintage Sunburst | B-204SM NATURAL SATIN |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 66 | 80 |
| Build | 61 | 87 |
| Playability | 64 | 81 |
| Sound | 71 | 68 |
| Value | 69 | 83 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Viola Bass, Vintage Sunburst | B-204SM NATURAL SATIN |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | ESP |
| Type | Bass | Bass |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | JP |
| Body wood | Maple | Ash |
| Neck wood | Maple | 5Pc Maple/Jatoba |
| Fretboard | Okoume | Roasted Jatoba |
| Strings | 4 | 4 |
| Frets | 22 | 24 |
| Scale | 30.5" | 34" |
| Pickups | NYR Mini Humbucker / NYT Mini humbucker | ESP SB-4N / ESP SB-4B |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $449 | $649 |
| Body shape | Viola | — |
| Body Styles | Viola | — |
| Bridge | Compensated Saddle | LTD BB-604 w/ String Thru |
| Bridge pickup | NYT Mini humbucker | ESP SB-4B |
| Case | Optional | B BASS FORM FIT CASE |
| Control Knobs | Gold Top Hat | — |
| Controls | Neck Volume, Bridge Volume, Master Tone | Passive |
| Finish | Nickel | NATURAL SATIN |
| Fretboard inlay | Dot | — |
| Fret Count | 22 | — |
| Joint | Glued in | — |
| Model | EBVIVSCH1 | — |
| Mounting Rings | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | NYR Mini Humbucker | ESP SB-4N |
| Nut width | 41.91mm / 1.65in | 40mm |
| Output Jack | 1/4" | — |
| Pickup Covers | Nickel | — |
| Profile | SlimTaper | — |
| Scale length | 774.69mm / 30.5in | 34" |
| String gauges | .45, .65, .85, .105 | — |
| Tailpiece | Viola Scroll | — |
| Truss rod | Adjustable | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Premium Tuners | LTD |
| Case Included | — | N |
| Construction | — | Bolt-On |
| Fretboard radius | — | 400mm |
| Hardware | — | Black Nickel |
| Neck profile | — | Thin U |
| Nut | — | Molded |
| Strap Button | — | Standard |
| Top wood | — | Spalted Maple |