Papabull Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 Hi all, I'm new here (to this forum) but wondered if anyone had any experience with the Yamaha BB P34 any comments would be very much appreciated especially if you've had first hand experience with this bass. Also how it fares withers immediate predecessors. Cheers PB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 (edited) 12 minutes ago, Papabull said: Hi all, I'm new here (to this forum) but wondered if anyone had any experience with the Yamaha BB P34 any comments would be very much appreciated especially if you've had first hand experience with this bass. Also how it fares withers immediate predecessors. Cheers PB Yep, i got one last month. Lovely bass. Very easy to play (with the right action, which i cant quite get yet). Feels good in the hand and hangs well. Wasn't took keen on the VVT layout at first, i prefer a toggle, but ive got use to it now. Im not 100% keen on the finish on the back of the neck, i much prefer gloss, but again im getting used to it and its really a non issue now. Tone wise i find it quite nice using any pup combination, but even the neck pup has a bit of a jazz growl (to my ears). Its not quite 'Fender' P sounding, but has a bit of a freq hump somewhere that just helps it poke through. Quite funky sounding even when played with a pick. Ive always loved using a BDDI with my basses but this is the first bass in a long time that ive felt is just right without needing any help. in fact since getting this ive more or less given up on using effects, as i feel this bass just sounds so good on its own. Not sure id say it was worth the money, as Yamaha basses seem to be of a very high standard across the board, but i appreciate what's gone in to making this. Edited August 9, 2019 by dave_bass5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted August 9, 2019 Author Share Posted August 9, 2019 (edited) 12 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said: ...but this is the first bass in a long time that I've felt is just right without needing any help. In fact since getting this I've more or less given up on using effects, as I feel this bass just sounds so good on its own. Sounds to me like it's worth every penny then... 21 minutes ago, Papabull said: Hi all, I'm new here (to this forum) but wondered if anyone had any experience with the Yamaha BB P34 any comments would be very much appreciated especially if you've had first hand experience with this bass. Also how it fares withers immediate predecessors. Cheers PB Hey PB - welcome to BC! FWIW I got the P35 and that was a big reason for me moving on my 735A. But Dave's final point is true, the rest of the range is really good and a LOT of bass for the money and I'm struggling to justify having both my P35 and a BB 1025 which I love using live (but I think I've managed to find a ruse to keeping both ) Edited August 9, 2019 by Al Krow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 2 minutes ago, Al Krow said: Sounds to me like it's worth every penny then... Well i am wondering how it compares to a 734 in passive mode. A bit cheaper and with extra tone options if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted August 9, 2019 Author Share Posted August 9, 2019 (edited) 14 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said: Well i am wondering how it compares to a 734 in passive mode. A bit cheaper and with extra tone options if needed. Well, I can only speak for myself but there was something about the tonal richness and weight balance of my P35 that meant that I found myself not wanting to pick up my 735A any longer. Likely to be all relatively subtle and hard to put my finger on it. Agree that for me, personally, it wouldn't justify the difference in new prices, but buying used the price differential narrowed. Edited August 9, 2019 by Al Krow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 3 hours ago, dave_bass5 said: Bas, i never found the TI's to be floppy as such, they are just a bit more flexible and 'bendy'. I was impressed with the EB Cobalt flats i had briefly. Same. They feel equivalent to rounds to me, perhaps a bit tighter. They are looser than most flats, but that's because most of them are like suspension bridge cables. They still feel taught and I can play hard with a low action with no issues. Dunlop Super Bright rounds though - now there's a floppy string - like playing spaghetti! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted August 9, 2019 Author Share Posted August 9, 2019 36 minutes ago, dannybuoy said: Dunlop Super Bright rounds though - now there's a floppy string - like playing spaghetti! Is that Italian or Indonesian spaghetti? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papabull Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 6 hours ago, dave_bass5 said: Yep, i got one last month. Lovely bass. Very easy to play (with the right action, which i cant quite get yet). Feels good in the hand and hangs well. Wasn't took keen on the VVT layout at first, i prefer a toggle, but ive got use to it now. Im not 100% keen on the finish on the back of the neck, i much prefer gloss, but again im getting used to it and its really a non issue now. Tone wise i find it quite nice using any pup combination, but even the neck pup has a bit of a jazz growl (to my ears). Its not quite 'Fender' P sounding, but has a bit of a freq hump somewhere that just helps it poke through. Quite funky sounding even when played with a pick. Ive always loved using a BDDI with my basses but this is the first bass in a long time that ive felt is just right without needing any help. in fact since getting this ive more or less given up on using effects, as i feel this bass just sounds so good on its own. Not sure id say it was worth the money, as Yamaha basses seem to be of a very high standard across the board, but i appreciate what's gone in to making this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papabull Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 Thanks to everyone that got back to me re the bass. What an astonishing community. Love it. Thanks all.Cheers the PB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 Regarding strings - I've got a set of LaBella White Nylon Copper Tapes (catchy, right?) and I'm enjoying the change. OK they are pretty heavy due to the nylon coating, but they feel great, not super floppy and sound reasonably bright, can even do a bit of slapping and popping if it takes your fancy. They look pretty fancy too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted August 10, 2019 Author Share Posted August 10, 2019 Nice 425 - glad to see it's still going strong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 @BassApprentice Ooh, always wanted to try those strings. Do you have any clips or videos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acroxixo Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 BB735A Ps. Not me playing unfortunately 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moley6knipe Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 (edited) So THIS worked well. Another delicious white 425 (which has been through at the hands of at least one of y’all).... First gig with it tonight. GK 700RB into a Barefaced 3rd gen Big Baby 2. Fresh set of D’addario ProSteel 45-135, obvs. SUCH a great P sound. With the GK, some lovely grind. This thing is way hotter and chucks out way more bass than all of my other basses at a fraction of the cost, and is just as well built and lovely to play as my USA ‘Ray 5. Had the neck pretty straight and action low so some nice clang. Maybe a touch too much... some adjustment needed. J didn’t get a lot of use: nice for a couple of Who numbers but the P had me hooked! Downsides: tuners not stellar. If it stays then they’re getting swapped for Hipshots as much for weight as usability. But on the strength of gigging this, the obvious thing to do is source a 2025. All my “Japanese” basses so far have been made in Indonesia... can’t imagine how well made a proper Jap one of these must be! Chuffed with this one. Pretty, too. Edited August 10, 2019 by moley6knipe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 (edited) 10 hours ago, moley6knipe said: But on the strength of gigging this, the obvious thing to do is source a 2025. Great that you're loving your (my former!) 425. They are remarkably good basses for the money! What is about getting a 425 that makes folk want to jump straight to the top end of the Yammy range?! @dave_bass5 bought another 425 off me (yes, ok, I seem to be turning into a used 425 salesman 😁) and got himself a P34 before I could say "TI Flats"! But I'm not sure I see the jump from 425 straight to a BB2025 as being an 'obvious' one. Certainly not something I personally would rush into doing, because I suspect you could get to 95% of the 'sound' of a 2025 with a BB1025 for 40% of the cost; they are identical in terms of pups, woods, EQ and construction. The 'additional' that a 2025 brings to the party is (i) being MIJ and (ii) it has had two specialist sonic treatments. Some may think that warrants charging 3 times the price, but I'm not in that camp and I've certainly been very happy indeed with my 1025. The modern day take on the 2025, with lighter tuners, is the P35 and as that is a in-production model you could give one a spin and see what you think. The P35 is given one of the two sonic treatments that the 2025 had, but has an updated set of pups and VVT controls rather than selector switch. It's pretty close in sound to the 1025, but not identical and my guess is that the 1025 is going to be the closest tonally and in feel to the 2025. Edited August 11, 2019 by Al Krow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 @Horizontalste just wondering whether you followed up on this earlier bit of banter and if you had any joy in negotiating the price down? If so, I could be tempted to follow in your footsteps (and get my stock of BBs back up to a full Trav 😂) On 26/05/2019 at 23:38, Al Krow said: Check this link that Chris posted a few week's back: 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/ On 26/05/2019 at 23:42, Horizontalste said: Damn! That price is a tad rich for my liking though 😎 On 26/05/2019 at 23:53, AndyTravis said: NOS...offer £250, if it’s been there ages On 27/05/2019 at 00:27, Horizontalste said: I'll give them a call when I'm back off holiday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 (edited) The pickups in the 1025 and 2025 are most likely the same - but they do have different product codes and the 2025 ones cost more if you were to order them as spares. You’d have to ask Yamaha for clarification! As well as the heat/vibration treatment, the 2025 neck has a rubbed oil finish in the back of the neck and smoother edges around the headstock and fretboard, it feels more like a premium MusicMan in the hand. It also uses maple & mahogany (notice the darker brown) rather than maple & nato in the neck construction. The body contours are supposedly altered too, but I haven’t compared them side by side. I’d still like a 2025X but I can’t really justify the extra £ over my 1025X. If you have plenty of £ burning a hole in your pocket though, go for it! Edited August 11, 2019 by dannybuoy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 (edited) 16 hours ago, therealting said: @BassApprentice Ooh, always wanted to try those strings. Do you have any clips or videos? Unfortunately not, I'll see if I can bodge something together and upload it when I can. I was lucky enough to get a lightly used set on here for a bargain price otherwise I probably wouldn't have spent ~£50 on them. They feel super smooth and zero finger noise but still give a good brightness that you don't get from most flats. If you are a fan of heavier strings then you will probably get on with these. Edit: the reason I was looking for these was because I asked Bubby Lewis on Instagram which strings he uses and he recommended the White Nylons for the brightness. Edited August 11, 2019 by BassApprentice 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 There are a few variants of those white nylon strings too btw, white being the brightest, copper the warmest, and gold in between. Confusingly they're all called 'white nylon' though! I have a copper set unopened that I bought to try on fretless. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 2 minutes ago, dannybuoy said: There are a few variants of those white nylon strings too btw, white being the brightest, copper the warmest, and gold in between. Confusingly they're all called 'white nylon' though! I have a copper set unopened that I bought to try on fretless. Didn’t know that there were variants , I’ve never tried them because I was always told they were bright, I may have to try the copper ones 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moley6knipe Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Thanks for the replies folks! I’m a little tongue in cheek when I say I NEED a 2025.... I’m not exactly short of basses and honestly this 425 is so good it’s likely to become my mainstay 🙂 But saying that: a 1025 would be a nice thing to have by the sound of it. Gotta be one of the old ones for me because I LOVE the chrome around the pups. Not sure I buy the “treatments” thing Yamaha is pushing atm - sounds like snake oil to me. Best way to “break a bass in” (if indeed that is a thing): gig it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 (edited) 18 minutes ago, moley6knipe said: But saying that: a 1025 would be a nice thing to have by the sound of it. Gotta be one of the old ones for me because I LOVE the chrome around the pups. So something like this, right? Well as you've got my old 425 it would make sense for me make this one available to you also... Just kidding btw! No current plans to move my BB 1025 on Edited August 11, 2019 by Al Krow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 13 minutes ago, moley6knipe said: Thanks for the replies folks! I’m a little tongue in cheek when I say I NEED a 2025.... I’m not exactly short of basses and honestly this 425 is so good it’s likely to become my mainstay 🙂 But saying that: a 1025 would be a nice thing to have by the sound of it. Gotta be one of the old ones for me because I LOVE the chrome around the pups. Not sure I buy the “treatments” thing Yamaha is pushing atm - sounds like snake oil to me. Best way to “break a bass in” (if indeed that is a thing): gig it! Im the owner of @Al Krow’s other 425, and can only agree about how good it is. I also thought it could easily replace my Fender P, but as I prefer 4 strings most of the time I thought that now I know a Yamaha can work I’ll get something a bit premium. Would have liked a 1024 but none around, so bit the bull it and got a P34. Love the tone to bits, and the feel etc is great, but I’m with you on the snake oil thing. Never had a bass that had this and no way of knowing what difference it really makes. Still, as a complete package the P34 is amazingly perfect the for me, and has made me realise my use of pre amps like my BDDI’s etc over the years was to try and get the tone I now have with just the P34, so for me it’s money well spent. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moley6knipe Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Beautiful bass, Al! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Also, Happy 100 pages of fantastic BB knowledge and obsessing. Here's to the next 100 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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