The Yamaha BB mega-thread

[AndyTravis]

It’s going well. If one arrives, mysteriously...she already knows....

[GreeneKing]

I got mine from Kenny’s Music. One thing, the sandwich alder/maple/alder body construction. Is that normal BB practice? It certainly will add rigidity to the neck/body/bridge structure in lieu of a neck through construction. 
 

[AndyTravis]

  On 05/12/2020 at 21:06, GreeneKing said:

I got mine from Kenny’s Music. One thing, the sandwich alder/maple/alder body construction. Is that normal BB practice? It certainly will add rigidity to the neck/body/bridge structure in lieu of a neck through construction. 
 

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Not that I know of. Might be on the bb1200, but I didn’t think it was. Maybe @hookys6stringbass can help?

Edited December 5, 2020 by AndyTravis

[Lozz196]

There’s an ex-display 735a at Bassdirect for £619, looks pretty decent.

[MM Stingray 62]

Alder/Maple/Alder Body Construction 

The new BB features an Alder/Maple/Alder multi-laminated body construction. The hard maple center increases body stiffness and accentuates midrange to cut through the mix of a band, and allows a more uniform transmission of vibrations between the body and the maple neck for unparalleled resonance and sustain. (BB Pro, BB700 Series)

[LukeFRC]

  On 05/12/2020 at 21:06, GreeneKing said:

I got mine from Kenny’s Music. One thing, the sandwich alder/maple/alder body construction. Is that normal BB practice? It certainly will add rigidity to the neck/body/bridge structure in lieu of a neck through construction. 
 

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The first year of producing BB1200 that I had had a two piece sandwich body - so it was standard Yamaha construction for a while 

[AndyTravis]

  On 05/12/2020 at 21:44, marleaux62 said:

Alder/Maple/Alder Body Construction 

The new BB features an Alder/Maple/Alder multi-laminated body construction. The hard maple center increases body stiffness and accentuates midrange to cut through the mix of a band, and allows a more uniform transmission of vibrations between the body and the maple neck for unparalleled resonance and sustain. (BB Pro, BB700 Series)

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Didn’t realise the new ones were made that way. Looks cool.

[bagsieblue]

  On 05/12/2020 at 19:06, AndyTravis said:

No. It’s staying, it’s a very very lovely thing.

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Do we need to talk about a new home for the Spector?!

[AndyTravis]

  On 05/12/2020 at 22:26, bagsieblue said:

Do we need to talk about a new home for the Spector?!

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No. It’s staying, it’s a very very lovely thing.

[Maude]

  On 05/12/2020 at 18:32, LukeFRC said:

Do we need to talk about a new home for the Sadowsky?!

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  On 05/12/2020 at 19:06, AndyTravis said:

No. It’s staying, it’s a very very lovely thing.

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  On 05/12/2020 at 22:26, bagsieblue said:

Do we need to talk about a new home for the Spector?!

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  On 05/12/2020 at 22:33, AndyTravis said:

No. It’s staying, it’s a very very lovely thing.

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Do we need to talk about a new home for Hooky BB in six months time? 

[AndyTravis]

  On 05/12/2020 at 22:41, Maude said:

 

 

 

Do we need to talk about a new home for Hooky BB in six months time? 

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No...it’s not here yet...it’s going to be a very very lovely thing.

[LukeFRC]

  On 05/12/2020 at 22:26, bagsieblue said:

Do we need to talk about a new home for the Spector?!

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I think he will be ok with all three, it will be the one after that will prompt the rehoming

[AndyTravis]

  On 05/12/2020 at 22:48, LukeFRC said:

I think he will be ok with all three, it will be the one after that will prompt the rehoming

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I’m still here...you don’t have to talk about me like I’ve left the room 🤨😂

[LukeFRC]

  On 05/12/2020 at 22:53, AndyTravis said:

I’m still here...you don’t have to talk about me like I’ve left the room 🤨😂

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So what’s next on the GAS list after the BB then? 

[Al Krow]

  On 05/12/2020 at 22:41, Maude said:

Do we need to talk about a new home for Hooky BB in six months time? 

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Actually, joshing aside, gonna be interesting if these do come for sale used in 6 months or so time. My guess is they won't as the folks buying them seem to be a pretty discerning lot. And if they do come up I suspect they will get snapped up like hot cakes. 

Edited December 5, 2020 by Al Krow

[AndyTravis]

  On 05/12/2020 at 22:55, LukeFRC said:

So what’s next on the GAS list after the BB then? 

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A Wal. But that involves lottery wins...

[LukeFRC]

  On 05/12/2020 at 23:03, AndyTravis said:

A Wal. But that involves lottery wins...

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Hmm do you like ACG as a slightly more budget friendly alternative? 

[Al Krow]

There were a couple of chaps moaning on fBook Bassplayers' market place that they'd been waiting for a couple of years for a used BB NE2 to turn up, although we've had a few on BC. And I suspect some of the high end out of production basses eg TRB 5Pii and BB5000A are even rarer. 

[AndyTravis]

  On 05/12/2020 at 23:05, LukeFRC said:

Hmm do you like ACG as a slightly more budget friendly alternative? 

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I appreciate the stuff they do but I’m in love with mk1 Wal basses

[Al Krow]

  On 05/12/2020 at 23:07, AndyTravis said:

I appreciate the stuff they do but I’m in love with mk1 Wal basses

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There's one in the FS right now. 

Are you sure you need both kidneys?

[LukeFRC]

  On 05/12/2020 at 23:00, Al Krow said:

Actually, joshing aside, gonna be interesting if these do come for sale used in 6 months or so time. My guess is they won't as the folks buying them seem to be a pretty discerning lot. And if they do come up I suspect they will get snapped up like hot cakes. 

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I think the interesting thing will be how well they do live. The problem I think the BB range have is they are the best instruments at their price point , whatever the price point - hidden behind a indeterminate selection of numbers and sometimes a letter or two. But I don’t know what they do- they sometimes look like essentially a PJ - but you rarely hear them described that way or compared to the myriad of Fender and fender style basses. So if they are not a fender style bass what are they? 
this model though is different - I kinda know how it will sound as I can  Listen to peter hook. And I bet it’s way more versatile than that - mentally I can pigeon hole it’s sound. 
if ppl keep hold of them is a different question that I set off to respond to but ended up typing something else! 

[Al Krow]

Good post Luke. Picking up on a couple of your points:

  On 05/12/2020 at 23:14, LukeFRC said:

The problem I think the BB range have is they are the best instruments at their price point , whatever the price point 

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Really like that description! "the best instruments at their price point, whatever the price point" 

Btw I suspect Yammy wouldn't consider that to be a "problem." 😁

[Al Krow]

  On 05/12/2020 at 23:14, LukeFRC said:

... they sometimes look like essentially a PJ  - but you rarely hear them described that way

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That just gets a "really?"

[Al Krow]

  On 05/12/2020 at 23:14, LukeFRC said:

rarely hear them described that way or compared to the myriad of Fender and fender style basses. 

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Absolutely. They have carved out their own personality and aren't your average Fender clone.

But then neither is Spector nor a Ken Smith nor a Status nor a Rickenbacker, nor an Alembic nor a Wal...

That's a good thing right?

[LukeFRC]

  On 05/12/2020 at 23:23, Al Krow said:

Absolutely. They have carved out their own personality and aren't your average Fender clone.

But then neither is Spector nor a Ken Smith nor a Status nor a Rickenbacker, nor an Alembic nor a Wal...

That's a good thing right?

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I dunno. I struggle with how to place them in terms of knowing what “signature sound” I’m supposed to be getting.

I had a 77 or 78 BB1200 once - closest thing I had played like it was an alembic crossed with someone who had seen a sketch of a P bass a year previously.