At the end of the day, it's all about the sound. This bass has enough big bottom to support any style of music, and enough clean tone to cut through where it needs to. Perfect for small ensemble playing. I would recommend it for any intermediate to advanced player.
A friend of mine bought the 6-string version, and I liked it so much I ordered one. (six strings is 2 strings too many, IMHO - I'm classically trained). I've had my ESP LTD B-204SM for about 2 months now, and I must say it continues to impress. I can get any sound out of this bass that I want, from a mellow groove to a slappy funk. The balance is perfect, the neck is true and workable. The six bolt construction provides excellent sustain. I can get this bass to do things that I would expect of basses costing 2 to 3 times as much. Haven't gigged with it yet, but that's coming this weekend and I know it won't disappoint.
The finish is very good, though satin is not my favorite. The spalted maple is gorgeous. Nothing else in my collection looks like this one. The controls are silent, and it holds its tune very well. The only complaint I have is that the volume knob came off in my hand and I needed to tighten it.
Excellent bass for the money. Like I said above, this instrument plays and sounds like a much more expensive piece. Why pay 8 or 9 hundred?