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I saw that bass on gumtree. In the original ad they claimed they sold for £800 new so I asked them to confirm whether its was a 424X or 1024X. They said it was a 1024X. Bloody fibber it's definitely a 424. They've changed the ad now and are labelling it as a 424X. I wouldn't go near the seller personally.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far guys. He's been learning the drums since he was 8, doing the Rockschool grades and I've supplemented this by playing along and jamming with him on bass since day one. He's got an interesting taste in music which is fairly broad but his fave is electronic music, specifically early Daft Punk 🤤. It's interesting how he gets really into this sparse music while if i show him something awesome on YouTube he's like 'meh'! He might stick to the drums (or possibly drop it at some stage i guess) but he's such a fast learner it works be a shame if he didn't at least have a crack at the greatest instrument of all during this amazing stage of his life where he can learn new things with so little effort. During 2020 he's became my main gigging partner (If you count playing in front of the cats as a gig, which I now do...).

I've introduced my 11 year old son to the bass today and thanks to his wonderful sponge-like brain he's almost nailed his first tune at first attempt 😀 I chose Drive by the Cars for this purpose which has a simple structure, rhythm and tempo and a simple enough bass line while sounding great and is reasonably satisfying. I'd like to put together a list of similar entry level tunes for us to work through, not too fussy about genre etc. What do you suggest?

I think this is a fabulous and very desirable instrument indeed. I have grown to love my 734A but i am really blown away by the looks of the Hooky. It is a shame the BB range doesn't offer this particular finish as i think it would go really well. I just cannot justify getting one of these although i reckon it will hold its value very well if i decide to shift it later.

I like this. I also like Death From Above 1979. Love the rawness of the sound and the raucus reaction of the crowd. Love live music. 😥

True, I've decided to hang on to my 734A because I've grown to really enjoy playing it. Being in lockdown with no band work is probably a factor but it is a great all- round bass IMO. I wouldn't be surprised if 12 months down the line the GAS will fire up again though. I hope it doesn't though.

Cheers @MoJo 👍

Near perfect when the P pickup is solo'd. I did briefly own a 1025X but I didn't get on with the neck. In my view it compared unfavourably to my mid '90s TRB5 which is a completely different animal of course. I would like to try a BB414 at some point however, I don't know what the necks are like on them but I prefer the pickup switch to the blend knob.

My review of the BB734A I'm not particularly keen on the fuss of active basses (I'm a P bass man at heart) but a local trade opportunity arose and so I have now become the owner of this 734A. First impression once I'd lifted it from its exquisitely plush-lined Yamaha gig bag was the matte black finish of the body and neck. If you look closely at you can actually see the wood grain and also the three sandwiched layers of alder and maple that comprise the body. I just love everything about the look and finish of this bass, from the badge on the headstock to the unusual fingerboard inlays. The design is pure class. At 4.2kg it is not light but balances very comfortably. The neck feels quite chunky, like a P Bass, and the satin finish feels just lovely in your left hand. Machine heads are dead solid and feel high quality, as does the bridge. A full set-up was required. The neck was dead straight which resulted in notes clattering and buzzing at the lower end of the fingerboard. A smooth half turn anticlockwise with a 4mm allen key sorted that problem. The bridge saddles were squewiff and the screws weren't at the same level on each saddle, and the pickups were miles away from the strings. I needed to replace the foam rubber underneath both pickups in order to raise them to Yamaha's recommended height. Lastly I carefully tightened the screws on the bass, mid and treble knobs which were slightly loose and rattly and it was good to go. I can't help wondering whether level of (un)playability caused by the condition I received it in influenced the previous owner's decision to get rid of it. If so what a shame! On to the playing. The neck pickup is really ballsy and does the P sound really well. In passive mode it sounds near perfect to me. With the active EQ you've got plenty of options but I honestly feel this is gilding the lily. Once you pan towards the bridge pickup I think the EQ comes into its own and can fatten up the bridge pickup's output. I can't wait to put it through its paces in a gig environment and find out if its a keeper. Its principal opposition is a 3.9kg Squier Matt Freeman P Bass which I bought last year as a back up bass and has since become my main instrument as a result of its all round excellence. So to summarise in one word- I think I like it 🤓

My review of the BB734A I'm not particularly keen on the fuss of active basses (I'm a P bass man at heart) but a local trade opportunity arose and so I have now become the owner of this 734A. First impression once I'd lifted it from its exquisitely plush-lined Yamaha gig bag was the matte black finish of the body and neck. If you look closely at you can actually see the wood grain and also the three sandwiched layers of alder and maple that comprise the body. I just love everything about the look and finish of this bass, from the badge on the headstock to the unusual fingerboard inlays. The design is pure class. At 4.4kg it is not light but balances very comfortably. The neck feels quite chunky, like a P Bass, and the satin finish feels just lovely in your left hand. Machine heads are dead solid and feel high quality, as does the bridge. A full set-up was required. The neck was dead straight which resulted in notes clattering and buzzing at the lower end of the fingerboard. A smooth half turn anticlockwise with a 4mm allen key sorted that problem. The bridge saddles were squewiff and the screws weren't at the same level on each saddle, and the pickups were miles away from the strings. I needed to replace the foam rubber underneath both pickups in order to raise them to Yamaha's recommended height. Lastly I carefully tightened the screws on the bass, mid and treble knobs which were slightly loose and rattly and it was good to go. I can't help wondering whether level of (un)playability caused by the condition I received it in influenced the previous owner's decision to get rid of it. If so what a shame! On to the playing. The neck pickup is really ballsy and does the P sound really well. In passive mode it sounds near perfect to me. With the active EQ you've got plenty of options but I honestly feel this is gilding the lily. Once you pan towards the bridge pickup I think the EQ comes into its own and can fatten up the bridge pickup's output. I can't wait to put it through its paces in a gig environment and find out if its a keeper. Its principal opposition is a 3.9kg Squier Matt Freeman P Bass which I bought last year as a back up bass and has since become my main instrument as a result of its all round excellence. So to summarise in one word- I think I like it 🤓

Just acquired a second hand BB734A. NBD report to follow soon. Initial impressions good 😀

Now gone please lock

Very interesting and varied answers here, thanks everyone. On balance i think that the points regarding weighing up the quirks of others against the creative opportunities they are offering is key here. I'll give it a few weeks and i think the picture will be a lot clearer so watch this space... 😀

Fair point. I should have added i knew the singer from years back and she was very upfront with me about the character of the lads in the band i.e. really nice guys but so laid back practically horizontal. I told her afterwards the punctuality problem is a serious issue for me as a busy family man and i would not tolerate being made to wait. She did apologise so perhaps this might filter through. In the absence of an alternative i think I will give them one more chance, if next rehearsal is problematic I'll walk. After years of covers it did feel wonderful to have the freedom to create my own basslines. Whatever happens once things pick up again i think i need to have an originals band on the go.

Well I've just arrived home and am in a total dilemma. The musicianship was very good. The drummer and guitarist LISTENED which is a very desirable quality in my opinion. The songs are good (I had carefully learned all 7 songs i was sent). However the punctuality issue burns away in my mind.... I did finally get to give my G&L LB100 its first outing. It was fab. Hmm. Very little else happening for me to join round here at the moment. Keep looking or give them another chance?

Singer arrived at 7.10, remainder of the band arrived 7.34. Very unimpressed so far. Let's see how it goes🤔

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First jam in over 7 months. Audition with an originals band tonight, first originals band I've played with in 20 years. Currently sitting in the reception area, agreed to meet at 7pm, still no one here at 7.04pm. I'm a stickler for punctuality, i hope this is not a sign... Just so desperate to play...