Paul S Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 As per title. I have never even picked one up, let alone played one, slightly put off by the Killer whale fin top horn. But I saw one being played on stage a couple of nights ago (Tony Hadley band's bassist, who is pretty good) and it sounded awesome. They get a lot of love on here and are the basses of choice of some big names so, please BB afficionados - what is the deal? What is the difference between the various model numbers? Which are the best - models or years? Are any lightweight with thin necks? Best deals to be had etc? Ta! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I`ve only used/had one Paul, the BB1100s. P/J pickups with active/passive option, actives being bass/mids/treble. Nice playing neck, can`t remember as was a while ago but think was Precision profile but not too deep. Good basses, must have done 500+ gigs on mine with no backup and never let me down despite some pretty amateurish care/handling back then from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyxtiger Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I had a 2024x which was the best passive PJ bass I ever owned. Beat all the vintage fenders/gibsons I had owned previously. Bombproof build and great to play. I can highly recommend them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 (edited) Current range includes the BB424, the BB1024 and the BB2024. 400 range is the cheapest, 1000 range in the middle with a few improvements in hardware and electronics and the 2000 range top dollar and competes with CS Fenders, Sadowsky etc. 'x' suffix denotes pickguard. 5 strings have a '5' at the end instead of a '4'. Modern range all passive. The best BB's are from the 80's I'd say. Just because everyone knows that vintage basses are better than new ones(!) They're all just so good! Comfy body shape, excellent build quality, best components and a terrific super-P tone all for less than a Fender. I'd certainly never bother with a Fender again when I know that the definitive P is made by Yamaha! Truckstop Edited October 20, 2014 by Truckstop 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 The best bass for build quality I've ever seen was a yamaha BBNE5,the black paint looked almost wet, stunning bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 BB300 - 1980s I guess. P type single pickup, it is comparable with the 1977 P I owned. Way cheaper than that bass is now. Big body, big neck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 They're not for everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Depreciation is huge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twentyhertz Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I'm a big fan of the BB Jazz Bass style basses. I guess you can trace a kind of lineage from the BB350, to the BBN4 to the BB404, but after that they seemed to vanish. BB-350 that I very nearly bought off Gumtree a wee while back: And this wee family album picture shows my BB404 from 2003 (far left, natural finish), and my BBN4-II from sometime before then (second from left, walnut finish). The BB404 has always been my favourite bass, it's got a really lovely slim neck on it, and the pickups sound great too. Never really found any evidence of Yamaha jazzy basses after the BB404 (with the exception of the Nathan East basses), which is kinda sad, that was round about the time they resurrected the "classic" precision-style BB. Always fancied trying out one of the newer ones, but heard the necks were a bit fat, which I'm not a huge fan of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I've had a couple of BBN5s, nice basses, well put together I think. [attachment=174345:BBN5 06.JPG] [attachment=174346:Yamaha BBN5 01.JPG] [attachment=174347:BBN5 07.JPG] [attachment=174348:Yamaha BBN5 02.JPG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twentyhertz Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Holy crap. Just found this thing while I was googling various Yamaha BB Basses, I MUST HAVE IT. Arrrrrgggghhhh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 I've alway been curious about the BB1500A basses, they seem to tick a lot of boxes in the Super Jazz category. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jassbass Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 I want one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu_g Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 having sold most of my precisions i can get enough BB's now!heres my 3 BB614 BB424x BB1000S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 [quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1413829189' post='2582511'] The best BB's are from the 80's I'd say. Just because everyone knows that vintage basses are better than new ones(!) [/quote] how about my 70s one? They any good? ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 [quote name='twentyhertz' timestamp='1413840507' post='2582732'] Holy crap. Just found this thing while I was googling various Yamaha BB Basses, I MUST HAVE IT. Arrrrrgggghhhh. [/quote] I had one of these. Stunning tones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 I bought a 424X to fill a 'versatile workhorse' role. I was so impressed I bought another one. I'm continually amazed at rehearsal how good these basses sound and play. I did consider going for the more expensive 1024 option at some point but if I'm honest there's nothing about the 424 that leaves me wanting. And if anything, I find the 424 does a more convincing impression of a P bass than it's posher sisters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Had a 424x, couldn't fault it. Amazing for the money really. But couldn't love it either. It had no character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted October 21, 2014 Author Share Posted October 21, 2014 Thanks for all that. Most interesting. I think it is the P/J ones that appeal most. Are they heavy, as a rule? The 424X seems to have a slim neck in pictures, but I can't find any specs anywhere. How wide? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stylon Pilson Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 I've got a BBG4S2 from the late '90s. Similar in appearance to the BB-350 that twentyhertz posted a photo of up above, but with soapbar pickups, active electronics and 4 knobs (volume, pickup blend, bass cut/boost, treble cut/boost). Very light (3.6kg) and a fairly slender neck too. S.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sykilz Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 I have a BB414,the forerunner if you like of the BB424, the neck is about 38mm, but feels a little bit wider than my jazz for some reason,maybe it widens out more, not as deep though. Weight was bang on 4 kg as standard, but was a nit neck heavy, so put some Hipshot ultralites on which saved a bit of weight. Sounds incredible, massive, quite " dark" , hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twentyhertz Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 [quote name='Stylon Pilson' timestamp='1413910261' post='2583507'] I've got a BBG4S2 from the late '90s. Similar in appearance to the BB-350 that twentyhertz posted a photo of up above, but with soapbar pickups, active electronics and 4 knobs (volume, pickup blend, bass cut/boost, treble cut/boost). Very light (3.6kg) and a fairly slender neck too. S.P. [/quote] A guy I used to know had a BBG 5 of some sort, had a flame maple top with active electronics and Jazz-style pickups. Pictured here: There was also the BBN 4 III, which looked like the BBN 4 II with soapbars (not sure about the electronics, but I'd assume active?) There was also the BB604, which I remember being the "deluxe" version of the BB404, with the same body & neck but with gold hardware and active electronics: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanditSid Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 I had a BB1100S for quite a few years, played a lot of gigs on it and it was a great bass, wide range of sounds available from it. I sold it due to a "too many basses" comment from the wife, wish I'd kept it now, definitely a collectable now that will be more so in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 I've got a BB414, the neck on it is fantastic. I think the pickup heights on mine need a good tweak (the balance across the two pickups isn't quite right) but I've never bothered because I bought it as a backup bass and so it spends 95% of its time in the wardrobe. For the £150-ish they cost second hand they are incredible instruments. Would happily gig and record with it. I imagine that the older Japanese ones and the higher end modern ones are even more impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barkin Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I *think* the 41x's have a different (slightly slimmer) neck to the other current models - 42x/102x/202x I've recently picked up a 1024, and I love it - a rock monster! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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