The Yamaha BB mega-thread

[BassApprentice]

Exactly that. Had only been on 2 hours and was just away to get a file and a pencil to gently widen it. Oh well. 

[LowB_FTW]

20 hours ago, Chadu25 said:

What flats are you guys using on your 5 string BB? I’ve only tried a La Bella 760fs on a 4 string Pbass but have no idea what’s it gonna be like with a 5er. Any experiences with it or feel free to reco other string options. Ideally I want the feel and thumpy sound of flats so no rounds for me. 

 

 

Rotosound Jazz 77 flats on my 1025x. 👍🏼

 

Mark

[Sean]

"I noticed that you've got a Yamaha bass guitar. I bet you dream of having a Fender one day." - random punter at a summer festival gig some years back when we were packing up my BB2024x.

 

It wasn't the only time I heard that.

 

 

 

[pete.young]

54 minutes ago, Sean said:

"I noticed that you've got a Yamaha bass guitar. I bet you dream of having a Fender one day." - random punter at a summer festival gig some years back when we were packing up my BB2024x.

 

It wasn't the only time I heard that.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I've had this with my BBNE2.

[ebozzz]

3 hours ago, Sean said:

"I noticed that you've got a Yamaha bass guitar. I bet you dream of having a Fender one day." - random punter at a summer festival gig some years back when we were packing up my BB2024x.

 

It wasn't the only time I heard that.

 

 

 

That’s crazy! I’m not bragging but out of the sixteen basses that I own only one is Fender and four are Yamahas. 

[javi_bassist]

On 11/04/2025 at 23:45, Sean said:

"I noticed that you've got a Yamaha bass guitar. I bet you dream of having a Fender one day." - random punter at a summer festival gig some years back when we were packing up my BB2024x.

 

It wasn't the only time I heard that.

 

 

 

 

I have to say that my BB735 tend to have a certain "wow" effect when I put it out of my case. My Fender basses haven't had that effect in any project I was involved.

[ead]

On 11/04/2025 at 22:45, Sean said:

"I noticed that you've got a Yamaha bass guitar. I bet you dream of having a Fender one day." - random punter at a summer festival gig some years back when we were packing up my BB2024x.

 

It wasn't the only time I heard that.

 

 

 

 

Is the punter still walking without a limp?

[AndyTravis]

57 minutes ago, javi_bassist said:

 

I have to say that my BB735 tend to have a certain "wow" effect when I put it out of my case. My Fender basses haven't had that effect in any project I was involved.

Yeah, every time I’ve pulled a fender out (even posh CS) there’s been no comments.

 

Pull out a Gibson Ripper - people ask to have their photo taken with it.

 

The Jack Casady basses “ooh they’re nice them” etc.

 

The BB having been my longest serving bass has never actually done a gig with me…

[Muzz]

There's always one: when I've gigged my Shuker Fenderbird I've had similar 'experts':

'Why don't you play a Fender?'

'That's got the wrong neck on it' followed by (after I'd mentioned Entwistle and Wilkeson) 'Yeah, but it's still the wrong neck'...

 

And the general comment, spoken like it's the Last Word/Checkmate in the conversation 'I used to have a proper Fender.'

 

My (very, very good w/mods) El Cheapo Squier Sonic P hasn't had any comments yet, but I'm ready for 'em...

[tom.android]

As an avid/pathological watcher of the used bass market I’ve been wondering: Why am I seeing BB615s for sale all the time but almost never BB415s? Did not many sell when they were new or is everyone who has one just holding into it? Thoughts on a postcard 

[Fil1ip]

I've been watching No Doubts Tragic Kingdom live on YouTube, I know Tony was famous for playing a BB1600 but I seem to see him playing the BB3000. What is the main difference between the two and are they both hard to find/buy. 

[MrDinsdale]

Whats the heaviest gauge you can use on a 1024x without adjusting the nut?

 

I believe it has 45-105 on now, was considering some 50-110 for CGCF tuning. 

[Paddy777]

Rejoined the BB club yesterday - £799 in Guitar Guitar in the new ‘Crimson Red’, I’d have preferred the Sunburst but it’s preferable to Matt Black and I can live with it. I bought it about 4:30pm as the only one in stock was the Newcastle store which I’m near, so I picked it up and gigged it that night. It sounded excellent, more than happy with it - although I almost bought a BBP35, but I do prefer the option of an active bass

 

[Chadu25]

2 minutes ago, Paddy777 said:

Rejoined the BB club yesterday - £799 in Guitar Guitar in the new ‘Crimson Red’, I’d have preferred the Sunburst but it’s preferable to Matt Black and I can live with it. I bought it about 4:30pm as the only one in stock was the Newcastle store which I’m near, so I picked it up and gigged it that night. It sounded excellent, more than happy with it - although I almost bought a BBP35, but I do prefer the option of an active bass

 

Killer red finish. Stunning! Loving my BB as well. Such an easy to play

[MrDinsdale]

49 minutes ago, Paddy777 said:

Rejoined the BB club yesterday - £799 in Guitar Guitar in the new ‘Crimson Red’, I’d have preferred the Sunburst but it’s preferable to Matt Black and I can live with it. I bought it about 4:30pm as the only one in stock was the Newcastle store which I’m near, so I picked it up and gigged it that night. It sounded excellent, more than happy with it - although I almost bought a BBP35, but I do prefer the option of an active bass

 

Oooo I like that. I regret selling my 734A, such a great bass. I’m glad I’m back in the Yamaha club now I’ve got a 1024x.

[Maude]

I have a coffee burst 734 and it's a great colour, even better in real life, but there's just something special about the new red and green ones. Classic vintage BB colours. 

[Paddy777]

1 hour ago, MrDinsdale said:

Oooo I like that. I regret selling my 734A, such a great bass. I’m glad I’m back in the Yamaha club now I’ve got a 1024x.

I’ve got a Coffeeburst 734a on hold with someone till month end - it’s strung with flats and will be used for different gigs, but I can’t wait. I am seriously thinking about tinkering with the electronics on them but we’ll see

[Maude]

16 minutes ago, Paddy777 said:

I’ve got a Coffeeburst 734a on hold with someone till month end - it’s strung with flats and will be used for different gigs, but I can’t wait. I am seriously thinking about tinkering with the electronics on them but we’ll see

 

Just a teaser on the coffee burst. An old photo with a BB pin badge that our guitarist bought me as a little birthday gift. 😁

 

[Paddy777]

6 minutes ago, Maude said:

 

Just a teaser on the coffee burst. An old photo with a BB pin badge that our guitarist bought me as a little birthday gift. 😁

 

This is definitely my favourite colour of the BB73* range! I noticed the Sunburst on the P34/5’s is different to this, this is darker which is presumably the ‘coffee’ part - really classy looking! The crimson red is definitely growing on me, but I’m very much looking forward to getting one of these in this colour!

[MrDinsdale]

Ooooft the green with black hardware is succulent. Still prefer a non painted neck but could let that slide.

 

The 73x inlays are excellent. Love the look. 

[Maude]

1 hour ago, Paddy777 said:

This is definitely my favourite colour of the BB73* range! I noticed the Sunburst on the P34/5’s is different to this, this is darker which is presumably the ‘coffee’ part - really classy looking! The crimson red is definitely growing on me, but I’m very much looking forward to getting one of these in this colour!

As far as I'm aware the 734/5 is the only BB to get the dark brown to black sunburst rather than the more traditional sunburst with the reddish hues like the P34/5.

Like you, I much prefer it. As you say, it's very classy. 

I think I still prefer the range before this, but if I want a modern active then this is it... just behind the BBPH 😁

[Aidan63]

No red in the 434 Tobacco burst, painted headstock but not painted on the back of the maple neck, this one maybe a little lighter than those made now though

 

[dub_junkie]

I have the same as Paddy. Really impressed with the build quality and not too far away at all from a P35 imo

[Paddy777]

10 minutes ago, dub_junkie said:

I have the same as Paddy. Really impressed with the build quality and not too far away at all from a P35 imo

 

Mine looks almost browny/purple in the picture I posted, but it looks a very bright red in yours! ☝️ It’s definitely lighter IRL than the pic I posted tho, as long as I avoided the Matt black I was happy - I’d have owned one ages ago but I reneged on the deal cos I didn’t want Matt black. It was more for the fact it’d end up looking minging at gigs with all the sweat etc, I just couldn’t keep it looking good in a Matt finish and I don’t like black basses at the best of times. That Sunburst 434 looks great - if that had the inlays too I wouldn’t know the difference between that and the P34! 

[dub_junkie]

Down to lighting I would think. Previous pic was in daylight. These two are under artificial light.