MatthewKeys Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I found this bass on gumtree that looks alot like a BBG5A (which I am trying to find one) but with different pickups. [url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/yamaha-n89-bass-5-string/82951301"]http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/yamaha-n...string/82951301[/url] It's called a yamaha N89 and I have never heard of these before and there doesn't seem to be a lot of information on the internet either. Does anyone here have one, or know anything about them e.g. price and are they good? Thanks Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 (edited) It's pretty much a G5A (I've got one) except for (1) the pickups are Jazz - mine has soalbars which are, effectively, P-types in the shell. (2) the pots are in a curve, whereas mine are in a diamond). G. Edited August 1, 2011 by geoffbyrne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewKeys Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 Ah okay thanks, do you know how much these sold for new? Because if they are of the same quality as the BBG5A's i'm probably going to buy it! I've been looking for a BBG5A in this colour [url="http://www.langamers.it/mandricus/musica/immagini/YahamaBBg5A.jpg"]http://www.langamers.it/mandricus/musica/i...YahamaBBg5A.jpg[/url] for months... but none seem to come up secondhand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewKeys Posted August 2, 2011 Author Share Posted August 2, 2011 Just did a bit of research and apparently it's called a BB605.. not a N89. Confused Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Your pic is identical to mine. I'm about to receive an Ibanez RD605 this week. Dependent on that, I'll decide whether to keep, or sell the G5A. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 (edited) [quote name='MatthewKeys' post='1323754' date='Aug 2 2011, 12:53 AM']Ah okay thanks, do you know how much these sold for new? Because if they are of the same quality as the BBG5A's i'm probably going to buy it! I've been looking for a BBG5A in this colour [url="http://www.langamers.it/mandricus/musica/immagini/YahamaBBg5A.jpg"]http://www.langamers.it/mandricus/musica/i...YahamaBBg5A.jpg[/url] for months... but none seem to come up secondhand![/quote] The guy I got mine from said he payed £395 for it new in Bristol. No idea about the 605. G. Edited August 2, 2011 by geoffbyrne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 [quote name='MatthewKeys' post='1323761' date='Aug 2 2011, 01:10 AM']Just did a bit of research and apparently it's called a BB605.. not a N89. Confused [/quote] [url="http://www.yamaha.co.jp/product/guitar/archive/bb650/index.html"]Definitely not a BB605[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 (edited) If you Google pics for 'Yamaha BB Bass' you'll see pics of the BB 404 & the BB N5 very like the original pic, but they have 3 control knobs instead of 4. An active version of the N5? G. Edited August 2, 2011 by geoffbyrne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewKeys Posted August 2, 2011 Author Share Posted August 2, 2011 What colour is your G5A geoff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelk27 Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 [quote name='BigRedX' post='1323959' date='Aug 2 2011, 09:44 AM'][url="http://www.yamaha.co.jp/product/guitar/archive/bb650/index.html"]Definitely not a BB605[/url][/quote] That's a BB650 (aka BB-VS), not a BB605. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 (edited) So it is - my dyslexia strikes again! [url="http://www.yamaha.co.jp/product/guitar/archive/bb2005/index.html"]BB2005[/url] has the right pickups an control layout but the wrong bridge. Anyone know what the difference is between the BBG5A and the BBG5S (there's no photo of the latter on the Yamaha archive site)? Edited August 2, 2011 by BigRedX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumbob Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 (edited) I would say its a BB605 , in fact the same as mine. Thin pickups spaced apart, flick switch for mid version of the NE-1 eq Great basses , great eq , tone monster for very little money Edited August 2, 2011 by plumbob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewKeys Posted August 2, 2011 Author Share Posted August 2, 2011 How much was your BB605 New? and is £130 a good secondhand price? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumbob Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Have no idea what price they were new . A few have come up on here , they seem to go around £200 , or £250 with hiscox case or similar. So if you can get it for £130 , I would say its a bargin ! Unfortunately Yamaha's get snubbed a bit through pure bass snobbery in my view , I have a few Yammies , and truly believe you will struggle to beat the bang for buck that they offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewKeys Posted August 2, 2011 Author Share Posted August 2, 2011 Tempting! I'l wait to see if geoff is going to sell me his, if not then I will buy a bb605! Thanks for the help everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 (edited) [quote name='MatthewKeys' post='1324605' date='Aug 2 2011, 05:59 PM']What colour is your G5A geoff?[/quote] It's identical to the picture you posted - I call it CherryBurst! I have to say that I won't be making up my mind quickly - I'll be playing the G5a and the RD605 both at practice & at gigs and will give them a thorough workout before I decide which I'll keep. The one I won't be selling is my BB415 with the John East U-Retro (fitted by The Bass Doc) - it's just amazing. p.s. Why do you want that particular model so badly? G. Edited August 2, 2011 by geoffbyrne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewKeys Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share Posted August 3, 2011 No problem! Well, I really like yamaha 5 strings.. they do the best 5 stringers in their price range in my opinion. But, i've never liked the look of the yamaha rbx775 (the one I have) and i've never liked the shape of the body on the rbx765. But I like everything about the BBG5A! Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 (edited) IMHO the BB415 has a *far* nicer neck then the G5A, which feels like an ironing board in comparison - mind you, I have smallish hands. I know the RB605 has a 'clubby' neck, as I used to own this very bass & it's coming back to me! I feel I didn't really give this bass a chance when I had it & now I have the chance to get it back I'll give it a fair go, however as I said above, one will have to go as I'm limiting myself to 2 basses (main & backup). By the way, does the RBX775 have the 10-pole Yamaha Humbucking pickups? I'd love to put a pair of thos on the G5A. I used to have an RBX375 fitted with those & I loved the tone. G. Edited August 3, 2011 by geoffbyrne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewKeys Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share Posted August 3, 2011 [quote name='geoffbyrne' post='1325296' date='Aug 3 2011, 10:06 AM']IMHO the BB415 has a *far* nicer neck then the G5A, which feels like an ironing board in comparison - mind you, I have smallish hands. I know the RB605 has a 'clubby' neck, as I used to own this very bass & it's coming back to me! I feel I didn't really give this bass a chance when I had it & now I have the chance to get it back I'll give it a fair go, however as I said above, one will have to go as I'm limiting myself to 2 basses (main & backup). By the way, does the RBX775 have the 10-pole Yamaha Humbucking pickups? I'd love to put a pair of thos on the G5A. I used to have an RBX375 fitted with those & I loved the tone. G.[/quote] If i'm honest, i don't actually know.. but check out the specs on the yamaha website . [url="http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/guitars-basses/el-basses/rbx/rbx775_flat_silver/?mode=model"]http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-ins...ver/?mode=model[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 Ah, no - it's got the same pickups as the G5A - essentially P-Type in a soapbar shell. The pups I'm looking for are like this: G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 Wll, I've had the RD605 for 2 days now, & my recollection of the clubby neck was totally in error, in fact I prefer the Ibby neck to that of the G5A - it's narrower & I have a short reach. It's still not as nice as the BB415 though. Tonally I still prefer the BBG5A but that may be the difference between old & new strings. A new set of Picados coming next week, then we'll see. I might also change the pre in the RD605 as it's not really stellar - sadly lacks mids for my ear. I have a 3 band Artec in the drawer & it would allow me to do parallel/single/serial switching with the Basslines MM pickup........ G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewKeys Posted August 8, 2011 Author Share Posted August 8, 2011 Nice! New strings always makes the difference! By the way, how much would you be looking for the G5A if you were to sell it to me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 (edited) If you can hang on till the end of the week, I'll PM you. I'm off to Scotland for the week after to see the Doc etc. I'll take some pics & put them up here. The item is well-used & has buckle-rash on the back & a couple of small chips & a few dints on the front, but it looks fine from 5 feet away. G. Edited August 8, 2011 by geoffbyrne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 (edited) Pics as promised. Although I've spent quite a time cleaning this bass (it was absolutely filthy!) you'd scarcely believe it looking at these pics. I've tried to polish the greasiness off it & I've oiled the fretboard & polished the frets but you can still see a lot of marks on the finish that could come off yet. I've tried to show the wear & tear plus the couple of dints on it. It's obviously been played using a pick & the guy's been a bit of a scrubber(!!!!) as there are a few pickmarks on the top, along with a healthy dose of bucklerash on the back. However, I've straightened the neck, it's now 'almost straight' as recommended by Erlewine, the action's been set up low & clean along with a brand new set of EB Slinkies (45-130) and a fresh battery. Everything's original save one knob which is pretty near to the others but not identical. Some of the hardware is pitted despite being cleaned. Nevertheless, it plays beautifully & sounds great. The pre-amp works as it should & apart from signs of use, I can find no fault with it. G. Edited August 8, 2011 by geoffbyrne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 More pics........... G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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