Head to head
ESP MLB-4 BLACK BLAST vs Jackson Pro Plus Limited Edition Pure Metal Concert Bass CB1A
The verdict
The ESP MLB-4 BLACK BLAST comes out ahead overall — 77 to 66 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP MLB-4 BLACK BLAST wins on
- Better build (87 vs 61)
- Better playability (81 vs 75)
Jackson Pro Plus Limited Edition Pure Metal Concert Bass CB1A wins on
- Lower price ($1,580 vs $2,099)
Scorecard
| Metric | MLB-4 BLACK BLAST | Pro Plus Limited Edition Pure Metal Concert Bass CB1A |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 77 | 66 |
| Build | 87 | 61 |
| Playability | 81 | 75 |
| Sound | 68 | 66 |
| Value | 67 | 64 |
Full specifications
| Spec | MLB-4 BLACK BLAST | Pro Plus Limited Edition Pure Metal Concert Bass CB1A |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Jackson |
| Type | Bass | Bass |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Swamp Ash | Poplar |
| Neck wood | 5Pc Wenge / Purpleheart (Black Satin / Open Pore) | 3-Piece Maple |
| Fretboard | Macassar Ebony | Ebony |
| Strings | 4 | 4 |
| Frets | 24 | 24 |
| Scale | 35" | 34" |
| Pickups | Nordstrand Big Splits / Nordstrand Big Splits | Fishman® Fluence® PRF-BS4-NB1 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $2,099 | $1,580 |
| Bridge | Gotoh 404BO-4 | Jackson HiMass™ |
| Bridge pickup | Nordstrand Big Splits | Fishman® Fluence® PRF-BS4-NB1 |
| Case | B BASS FORM FIT CASE | — |
| Case Included | Y | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | Neck-Through-Body with Graphite Reinforcement |
| Controls | Active | Volume (Push/Pull Coil Split), Dual Concentric (stacked) 2-band EQ (treble & bass), and 3-way mini toggle (voice switching) |
| Finish | Black Blast | Gloss Black |
| Fretboard radius | 400mm | 12" to 16" Compound Radius (304.8 mm to 406.4 mm) |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | Nordstrand Big Splits | — |
| Neck profile | Extra Thin U | — |
| Nut | Molded | Black Plastic |
| Nut width | 42mm | 1.625" (41.3 mm) |
| Scale length | 35" | 34" (864 mm) |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Tuners | Gotoh | Jackson® Sealed Die-Cast |
| Body Binding | — | 1-Ply Cream |
| Body Finish | — | Gloss |
| Body shape | — | Concert™ Bass |
| Case Gig Bag | — | Included Jackson® Concert/Spectra Bass Gig Bag (p/n 2991522106) |
| Control Knobs | — | Dome-Style |
| Fret Size | — | Jumbo Stainless Steel |
| Hardware Finish | — | Chrome |
| Headstock | — | Jackson® Pointed 4-In-Line |
| Headstock Binding | — | Cream |
| Neck Binding | — | Creme |
| Neck Finish | — | Gloss Color Matched |
| Orientation | — | Right-Hand |
| Pickup Covers | — | Black |
| Position Inlays | — | Pearloid Sharkfin |
| Product Name | — | Pro Plus Limited Edition Pure Metal, Concert Bass™ CB1A, Ebony Fingerboard, Gloss Black |
| Series | — | Pro Plus Pure Metal |
| Side Dots | — | Luminlay® |
| Strap Buttons | — | Locking |
| String Nut | — | Black Plastic |
| Style | — | 1 Humbucking |
| Switching | — | None |
| Truss rod | — | Dual-Action Head Adjust |