Yamaha BB's

[Jase]

Does anyone here have experience on the new BB series and the original BB's. Just wondered how close they are to the original, is hardware easy to change? Are they available fretless? That sort of thing

[WHUFC BASS]

I used to have a Yamaha BB1100s which was fretless in the early 1990s. From memory it had an ash body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and PJ pickup config. Quite a nice bass, used it quite a lot in an originals band I was in. Neck is a slim precision type neck.

[Jase]

[quote name='WHUFC BASS' post='365745' date='Dec 29 2008, 08:41 PM']I used to have a Yamaha BB1100s which was fretless in the early 1990s. From memory it had an ash body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and PJ pickup config. Quite a nice bass, used it quite a lot in an originals band I was in. Neck is a slim precision type neck.[/quote]

Cheers WHUFC. Found myself looking at the BB series, haven't a clue why, just fancied them all of a sudden....never even played one. I just saw this BB3000 on a Japanese site, very good detailed pics, they look really well made. I'll try and find the link....lovely looking bass.

[PVTele]

A friend of mine, Mike Coulson, who plays in the Bournemouth Vineyard worship band, has a recent BB, either a 414 or a 614, I can't remember. It's an excellent bass. Sounds rather more P-Bass like than the RBX, but has a very similar neck - i.e. very nice, comfortable, comparable with a JB. Altogether a good bass, and they are fantastic value, especially the passive 414.

[Jase]

[quote name='PVTele' post='366042' date='Dec 30 2008, 10:13 AM']A friend of mine, Mike Coulson, who plays in the Bournemouth Vineyard worship band, has a recent BB, either a 414 or a 614, I can't remember. It's an excellent bass. Sounds rather more P-Bass like than the RBX, but has a very similar neck - i.e. very nice, comfortable, comparable with a JB. Altogether a good bass, and they are fantastic value, especially the passive 414.[/quote]

Just been reading up on the 414 and 614, very good reports....this is what started my BB gas:

[url="http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://lib5.store.yahoo.co.jp/lib/ikebe/yamaha-bb-3000-sb-05.jpg&imgrefurl=http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/ikebe/0000101000.html&usg=__j_wnbNvnydLdqTN1L0a1MM8qrGI=&h=450&w=600&sz=108&hl=en&start=10&sig2=Uo5NLtJDTwnbmS58u1yQfw&um=1&tbnid=V0cVs_I4qCQZ6M:&tbnh=101&tbnw=135&ei=awdaSYOlHIaujAeKtrnqDg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyamaha%2BBB3000%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB%3a%6ffficial%26sa%3DN"]BB3000[/url]

[WHUFC BASS]

If you can, go for a B1100s. Its active and the output and sound is really impressive. From memory you can add Fender aftermarket parts no problem. This one here is identical to my old one, except mine was fretless.

[Shockwave]

I have me a BB5000 Which is pretty much the top dog in the BB series. One of the first commercially viable 5 strings and used by many session players in the 80s (Nathan east anyone?)

Its gorgeous Its really punchy and growly. Due to it being one of the first 5 strings the string spacing is quite tight but pretty slappable!

Overall it matches and surpasses the quality i have seen on the musicmans i have had in my hands recently.






Mine has the original case and Fender 18Volt pre-amp, Its all good

Edited December 30, 2008 by Shockwave

[Jase]

That's a great looking bass shockwave.

[Jase]

Does anybody know anything about these Yamahas?

[url="http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.guitarcenter.ru/vintage/288/2321/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=2&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dyamaha%2BJB500R%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB%3a%6ffficial%26sa%3DN"]JB500R[/url]

[bassmansky]

i had a new bb614 which i thought was worth the money,nice slim neck,well made and with a nice finish,on the downside it ate the batteries and one of the pups packed up after 6months!must have been a friday afternoon one i reckon!

[PVTele]

[quote name='Jase' post='366180' date='Dec 30 2008, 12:51 PM']Does anybody know anything about these Yamahas?

[url="http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.guitarcenter.ru/vintage/288/2321/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=2&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dyamaha%2BJB500R%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB%3a%6ffficial%26sa%3DN"]JB500R[/url][/quote]

Looks like a competent JB copy - but the zvukosnimatelya probably aren't up to the Fender ones, nor Seymour Duncans either.

Glad to see there's no Kant on the grife though - that can be a bit dodgy

[gary mac]

attachment=17852:yamaha.jpg][attachment=17852:yamaha.jpg]

I'm always impressed with Yamaha instruments. I've got a couple of their basses and an acoustic guitar.

My BB is I think, an eighties model, with through neck and emg pickup. Haven't played it much over the last year or so, but rehearsed with it just before Christmas. It was a pleasure to play again and sounded great through my shuttle six and mark bass cabs.

[thisnameistaken]

I had a couple of old BBs (a BB1100S fretless first, then later got a BB3000A) and they were both tasty, sounded great, played like a P-bass. Well worth the money.

Sorry I haven't tried the new versions but I'd be surprised if they weren't good basses. Yamaha have a good track record.

[iamthewalrus]

I had a BB1100S which I bought from Bootleg Music in Epsom in 1989. This is one of those basses which I wish I still had, as it was a absolutely fantastic PJ bass.

Great tone - it could go from a great Jazz honk to a really nice round P-Bass woof. I used it for about seven years until I got my first 5 string in 1996. I ended up selling it a few years ago as I was saving up to get married.

Yamahas are great basses - I love 'em & you really can't go wrong with a BB or a TRB. Good hunting!

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

[pete.young]

The instrument you're looking at is almost certainly post 1981.

If you're lucky, Bassassasin will pop up and post the yamaha guitars on line catalog link, I can't find it.

I have a BB800 from c. 1979, similar to the one that Silverfoxnik sold, except that mine is tasteful black rather than dogshit brown ;-)

It's an excellent bass, I'm only starting to understand how good it is now that I have bought one or two more instruments enabling me to do a direct comparison.

Pete

[PVTele]

The 1100s don't seem to be made any more - here's the link to the [url="http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/guitars_basses/el_basses/bb_s/?checked_object=&mode=product_lineup&page=1"]Yamaha BB Series[/url] available now. Bassically the active 614/615, and the passive 414/415. Must be one of the best PJs on the market, though - knockout sound. The one mod I'd be inclined towards would be replacing that rather flimsy bridge with a Badass II, but that's a matter of taste only, I think.

[pete.young]

Found the link I was looking for.

[url="http://brochures.yokochou.com/index.html#YAMAHA_GTR"]http://brochures.yokochou.com/index.html#YAMAHA_GTR[/url]

There is a JB500 in the 1985 catalogue.

Maybe worth asking on the Yamaha forum? [url="http://www.yamahaforums.co.uk/"]http://www.yamahaforums.co.uk/[/url]

[silverfoxnik]

[quote name='pete.young' post='366523' date='Dec 30 2008, 07:16 PM']The instrument you're looking at is almost certainly post 1981.

If you're lucky, Bassassasin will pop up and post the yamaha guitars on line catalog link, I can't find it.

I have a BB800 from c. 1979, similar to the one that Silverfoxnik sold, except that mine is tasteful black rather than dogshit brown ;-)

It's an excellent bass, I'm only starting to understand how good it is now that I have bought one or two more instruments enabling me to do a direct comparison.

Pete[/quote]
Here's the one I had:



They were well made and mine played really well.. Some nice features too IIRC, i.e. some ornate engraving on the bridge that looked great! Typically, yet another bass I wish I hadn't sold!

[stingrayfan]

I've got a BB614 in black which I gig quite often, mainly because it's so easy to play. I wouldn't say it has a killer tone but for covers stuff, it does the job brilliantly. Better than a Fender P.

/ducks for cover.

[andy67]

I have one of these: [url="http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/guitars_basses/el_basses/bb714bs_lava_red/"]http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_i...714bs_lava_red/[/url]

and, I'm very impressed!

andy

[Jase]

[quote name='pete.young' post='366887' date='Dec 31 2008, 10:20 AM']Found the link I was looking for.

[url="http://brochures.yokochou.com/index.html#YAMAHA_GTR"]http://brochures.yokochou.com/index.html#YAMAHA_GTR[/url]

There is a JB500 in the 1985 catalogue.

Maybe worth asking on the Yamaha forum? [url="http://www.yamahaforums.co.uk/"]http://www.yamahaforums.co.uk/[/url][/quote]

Cheers, good links

[Jase]

[quote name='andy67' post='366917' date='Dec 31 2008, 10:51 AM']I have one of these: [url="http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/guitars_basses/el_basses/bb714bs_lava_red/"]http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_i...714bs_lava_red/[/url]

and, I'm very impressed!

andy[/quote]

What's the neck profile like on it, I'm hoping the 414, 614 or the 714bs has a chunky-ish feel?

[Soulman]

[quote name='Shockwave' post='366165' date='Dec 30 2008, 12:38 PM']I have me a BB5000 Which is pretty much the top dog in the BB series. One of the first commercially viable 5 strings and used by many session players in the 80s (Nathan east anyone?)

Its gorgeous Its really punchy and growly. Due to it being one of the first 5 strings the string spacing is quite tight but pretty slappable!

Overall it matches and surpasses the quality i have seen on the musicmans i have had in my hands recently.






Mine has the original case and Fender 18Volt pre-amp, Its all good [/quote]That used to be mine,then it went to Peter(greenking)i had the fender EQ installed,it's done many great jazz gig's with me!!look after it,it's a honey!!

Edited December 31, 2008 by Yessikris

[andy67]

[quote name='Jase' post='366955' date='Dec 31 2008, 11:35 AM']What's the neck profile like on it, I'm hoping the 414, 614 or the 714bs has a chunky-ish feel?[/quote]

not as baseball 'battish' as the attitude but fairly chunky!

billy described it as a sort of pj hybrid, thin and fast but I have no idea what he was thinking on that! its not thin about p in size but fairly chunky front to back - its 42mm at the nut - it is though fast!

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=33836&st=0&p=348705&#entry348705"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry348705[/url]

andy

[Shockwave]

[quote name='Yessikris' post='366988' date='Dec 31 2008, 12:16 PM']That used to be mine,then it went to Peter(greenking)i had the fender EQ installed,it's done many great jazz gig's with me!!look after it,it's a honey!![/quote]

Its a great little bass. Any idea where the pre-amp came from? I am pretty sure the treble pot is not working correctly. Doesant really change much of the sound.