BB414x

[allighatt0r]

I would like to direct your attention to a positive stunner: [url="http://www.dv247.com/assets/products/57362_l.jpg"]http://www.dv247.com/assets/products/57362_l.jpg[/url]

I have a BB614, as some of you may know is the active version of the BB414, but Yamaha seem to have slipped this pickguarded 414 under my radar... Now i really want a respray and a pickguard. That thing is beautiful!

Seriously though... i wonder where i can get one of those pickguards from... Any ideas?

On a slight side note, the yamaha BB basses are brilliant bang for the buck. Try one if you get the chance.

[paul h]

Plus one.

That is the nuts.

[thisnameistaken]

I don't usually like odd-shaped pickguards on stuff, but I always liked the BBs and that looks great.

[lee4]

Now I've finally decided to keep mine,I can honestly say that it's a lot of bass for the money.

[Hamster]

You should be able to make a paper template up and then get a blank sheet to make one from your fave colour/finish.

[url="http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/category/Pickguards/Blank_Pickguard_Sheets"]http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/category/Pickguar...ickguard_Sheets[/url]

[PVTele]

Yum

[OutToPlayJazz]

I've always liked BB's, but as the others have said, that one looks great!

[Smash]

That does look nice, I never see them with maple necks though, then I would be using the cards.

Couple of questions what are the pickups like on these BB's and can you change the bridge i.e. a swap version like Badass on Fenders without drilling?

[Bassmurf]

I think this is the one Yamaha told me about!

"We do not have any current plans for a specific James LoMenzo signature model; however we are releasing a new BB414 which will be available late this year.

This bass features a scratchplate and a design very similar to James' bass.

For the more professional bass player, we will be releasing a new "Super BB" bass next year and although this may not come in the same colour as James' custom BB, the design and look of the bass is almost indentical."

Alex Wesley
Yamaha Guitars

Cool!

[stevie]

[quote name='Smash' post='378685' date='Jan 13 2009, 10:05 AM']Couple of questions what are the pickups like on these BB's and can you change the bridge i.e. a swap version like Badass on Fenders without drilling?[/quote]

I can tell you about the original BBs. You can change the Jazz shaped pickup for a standard replacement but you have to use the original cover and sand the corners off the pickup bobbin. It's not too difficult to do with a small file. The wires will snap if you install a vintage-style pickup with the stiff, cloth covered leadout wires. You should therefore unsolder the cloth wire and use the original plastic wire, which is a lot more flexible.

Changing the P-Bass shape pickup is not straightforward and I haven't figured out how to do it yet (anyone??). I'm not even sure if it is worth doing. I changed the rear pickup because it sounded very thin, and was basically pointless. I put a Duncan vintage in there and got more output and a fatter sound. It may work for you. When I got the original pickup out, I discovered it was underwound for some reason - both the resistance and inductance were too low - which is probably why I noticed an improvement.

Edited January 13, 2009 by stevie

[stingrayfan]

+1 on BBs. Great gigging basses, great neck and good tone. People say the BB414's the one to get. Not sure about that pickguard though!

[quote name='Smash' post='378685' date='Jan 13 2009, 10:05 AM']Couple of questions what are the pickups like on these BB's and can you change the bridge i.e. a swap version like Badass on Fenders without drilling?[/quote]
Yep you can, the screw holes are the same as a Fender. I swapped the bridge (which is poor) for a Gotoh with no hassle at all.

[Clarky]

[quote name='allighatt0r' post='378024' date='Jan 12 2009, 05:41 PM']I would like to direct your attention to a positive stunner: [url="http://www.dv247.com/assets/products/57362_l.jpg"]http://www.dv247.com/assets/products/57362_l.jpg[/url]

I have a BB614, as some of you may know is the active version of the BB414, but Yamaha seem to have slipped this pickguarded 414 under my radar... Now i really want a respray and a pickguard. That thing is beautiful!

Seriously though... i wonder where i can get one of those pickguards from... Any ideas?

On a slight side note, the yamaha BB basses are brilliant bang for the buck. Try one if you get the chance.[/quote]
£255 does sound great value and it looks nice in vintage white

[Rodders]

Now Ive seen a picture of it I quite like it

Very nice

[Tait]

im not a huge fan tbh, itd look loads better if the pickguard came down and covered the controls

[allighatt0r]

[quote name='Hamster' post='378307' date='Jan 12 2009, 09:45 PM']You should be able to make a paper template up and then get a blank sheet to make one from your fave colour/finish.[/quote]

You mean just lay the sheet of paper onto the bass and sort of sketch it? That sounds far too artistic for me...

The guitarist in my band owns a music shop and stocks Yamahas... he seems to think he can get it as a spare part but i'm not so sure he will...

[teaser360]

i have a black 614, by far the best bass on budget, would love a scratch plate but what colour? would also love a baddass bridge anybody know which baddass would fit

[zbigniew]

How is the B-string on the five string versions of 414 and 614?

Z

Oh yeah, and by the way - I really like the pickguard and colour of the bass the OP linked to
I also had a 4 string BB, the version before the latest, and that one was quite good.

Edited January 23, 2009 by zbigniew

[Rayman]

I've had a few of the old 70s/80s BBs, awesome basses. My 3000S was maybe the best all round bass I've ever owned, wish I still had it. The current range of BBs are brilliant too, I've been very impressed with the ones I've tried.

Re: the pickguard, sorry, I think that looks hideous. Just my opinion.