The Yamaha BB mega-thread

[AndyTravis]

Brilliant. A burst BB matching Headstock...

will try the preamp as I know they’re not everyone’s cuppa. Then I’ll investigate options.

will wear a pickguard like my 414 too.

[MDWagstaff]

53 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

Brilliant. A burst BB matching Headstock...

will try the preamp as I know they’re not everyone’s cuppa. Then I’ll investigate options.

will wear a pickguard like my 414 too.

I have the 615, replaced the pre with an Aguilar which sonically has put it up there with £1k+ basses. Without fail it has been given compliments on how it sounds by everyone the first time they've heard it

[Al Krow]

23 minutes ago, MDWagstaff said:

I have the 615, replaced the pre with an Aguilar which sonically has put it up there with £1k+ basses. Without fail it has been given compliments on how it sounds by everyone the first time they've heard it

The 615 always did seem like a lot of bass to me. The precursor to the current 735A if I'm not mistaken (and there was no equivalent in the "2" series). 

Did you go for an OBP3? 

[MDWagstaff]

I did indeed, I found the original pre to be a little harsh sounding

[AndyTravis]

53 minutes ago, MDWagstaff said:

I have the 615, replaced the pre with an Aguilar which sonically has put it up there with £1k+ basses. Without fail it has been given compliments on how it sounds by everyone the first time they've heard it

Which model? Thanks! Edit - Obp3 just read

Edited May 6, 2019 by AndyTravis

[AndyTravis]

Which begs the question, has anyone got a 414x/424x/1024x/2024x pickguard spare?

[gobasserk]

Would be a more than cool thing to have such a pickguard shape to copy! 

 

 

[AndyTravis]

I’m going to put my black one on the Sunburst and get a white pearl (as I’d originally planned) for the orange bb 

[bassfan]

9 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

I’m going to put my black one on the Sunburst and get a white pearl (as I’d originally planned) for the orange bb 

Pearl would look best👍🏻👍🏻And then sell the orange one to me. 👍🏻😂

[MDWagstaff]

4 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

Which model? Thanks! Edit - Obp3 just read

Also to note, thankfully the electronics cavity is big enough to accommodate an extra battery for an 18v system 

[Al Krow]

2 minutes ago, MDWagstaff said:

Also to note, thankfully the electronics cavity is big enough to accommodate an extra battery for an 18v system 

If you don't mind me asking, how much was the whole upgrade for the OB3 plus fitting (or did you manage to get that done yourself)?

[MDWagstaff]

I can't remember off the top of my head, it was 9 years ago now and I got the nut changed to bone at the same time but I think it was about £110 for the preamp and about £30-40 for the installation 

[Al Krow]

4 minutes ago, MDWagstaff said:

I can't remember off the top of my head, it was 9 years ago now and I got the nut changed to bone at the same time but I think it was about £110 for the preamp and about £30-40 for the installation 

Aha, thanks. And here's the point: you've kept (and really liked?) the 615 with OBP3 pre for nearly a decade!

That speaks quality to me.

[MDWagstaff]

Indeed! Tonally it's mint and I've used it for most of my recordings, the only reason I have the trbx as my main instead is purely because the BB dwarfs me haha 

[MDWagstaff]

Exhibit A

[gobasserk]

I just found the org. BB3000 passive electronics that I had changed against a Glockenklang active circuit. I wonder what bass would benefit most from it. 414 or 1000ma? 

[ChrisJaxon]

Mickleburgh in Bristol have had a 615 in stock forever and every now and then they knock the price down. Very interesting price...See here: https://mickleburgh.co.uk/shop/yamaha-bb615-bass-guitar/

 

[Al Krow]

1 hour ago, ChrisJaxon said:

Mickleburgh in Bristol have had a 615 in stock forever and every now and then they knock the price down. Very interesting price...See here: https://mickleburgh.co.uk/shop/yamaha-bb615-bass-guitar/

Wow is that a brand 'new' BB 615? If so, that's a good price!

[bassfan]

Just now, Al Krow said:

Wow is that a brand 'new' BB 615? If so, that's a good price!

I’m surprised it’s not already in transit to Krow Towers yet!  😂

[ChrisJaxon]

Yep brand new. Seen it in the flesh. I have had 2 basses from Mickleburgh and always had a good deal. I was tempted....but now have a 735!

[Al Krow]

1 minute ago, ChrisJaxon said:

Yep brand new. Seen it in the flesh. I have had 2 basses from Mickleburgh and always had a good deal. I was tempted....but now have a 735!

^^ exactly this for me too! 

[Al Krow]

But the possibility of refi in white and dropping in an OBP3 as suggested above, or in my case a John East Uni Pre with para mids. Hmmm... now that is tempting!

Chris - do you know if the 615 is purely active or does it have a passive switch? 

[ChrisJaxon]

This 615 is active only, no passive mode. AFIK!

[Al Krow]

16 minutes ago, ChrisJaxon said:

This 615 is active only, no passive mode. AFIK!

That was my understanding too. Now we know why we have our 735A's

...although I'm guessing that if you're dropping a new preamp in, then a passive / active switch will anyway come as 'standard' with some of these?

PS I've also just noticed that the 615 has the same B string bridge 'extension' that is there on the 425 (and I presume also the 415?) which has disappeared in the newer '3 series' range (blimey that sounds like a BMW, which is probably about right for the modern Yammy basses 😂).

Edited May 7, 2019 by Al Krow

[MDWagstaff]

Is there anyone out there with the 615 and the 735a? How do they compare in terms of feel? Considering getting the latter and stringing one with flats.