Head to head
ESP Surveyor '87 Lh BLACK vs Gibson Thunderbird
The verdict
The ESP Surveyor '87 Lh BLACK comes out ahead overall — 78 to 71 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP Surveyor '87 Lh BLACK wins on
- Better playability (78 vs 64)
- Better sound (68 vs 63)
- Better value (75 vs 68)
- Lower price ($999 vs $1,200)
Gibson Thunderbird wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | Surveyor '87 Lh BLACK | Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 78 | 71 |
| Build | 87 | 87 |
| Playability | 78 | 64 |
| Sound | 68 | 63 |
| Value | 75 | 68 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Surveyor '87 Lh BLACK | Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Gibson |
| Type | Bass | Bass |
| Years | — | 1963 |
| Country | JP | US |
| Body wood | Alder | Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Maple | Mahogany (neck-through) |
| Fretboard | Macassar Ebony | Rosewood |
| Strings | 4 | 4 |
| Frets | 21 | 20 |
| Scale | 34" | 34" |
| Pickups | Seymour Duncan Vintage P / Seymour Duncan Vintage Jazz | HH humbucker |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $999 | $1,200 – $1,800 |
| Bridge | Gotoh 203B-4 | Fixed |
| Bridge pickup | Seymour Duncan Vintage Jazz | — |
| Case | DELUXE BASS GIG BAG | — |
| Case Included | N | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | — |
| Controls | Passive | — |
| Finish | Black | — |
| Fretboard radius | 400mm | — |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | Seymour Duncan Vintage P | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | — |
| Nut | Molded | — |
| Nut width | 42mm | — |
| Scale length | 34" | — |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Tuners | LTD Vintage | — |
| Body shape | — | Thunderbird |
| Weight | — | 4.6 kg |