NBD: pretty nice 1981 Yamaha SuperBass exemplar

[andruca]

Hi everyone 😘

 

Several weeks ago I've been dealing with a very frustrating guy some 500km away from me, who wouldn't sell me the only Yamaha SB500S I've ever seen offered here in Spain (highly cromagnon dude who wouldn't accept any platforms or mail options -all very protective of the selling party-). Left it for impossible. Then some weeks later a very cheap one from Japan showed up on Reverb and I pulled the trigger early last week. All in all little over 500€, shipping and import taxes included. The bass I got is a black body one in great condition. Not only superb for a 43 y/o bass, just superb overall. I was fearful of the neck profile (some reviews said too thick) but it wasn't. After minimal setup (needed to lose some relief, also lowered the bridge saddles) it plays fast and comfortable. And THAN TONE 🤑 I already own an SBV-500 (flying samurai) and I consider this its "sonic brother". Sounds very similar (utterly punchy and aggressive Jazz Bass style) but, unlike the flying samurai, the neck pickup soloed sounds more Precision than Jazz neck. I don't know what it is about these pickups that sounds so awesome, I'd like to have these pickups on all my basses, that's how much I like them. The SuperBass being precursor to the BroadBass (BB) series, I'm indeed disapointed (after owning several Yammie BBs) that they've gone more generic sounding with each new series. Just don't get it. At least they've used standard shape/size pickups, which you can change, for their last genereation.

 

Without further ado, here's some pics...

 

 

 

 

 

And here's my two loud barking Yamaha "Jazzes"...

 

 

Doing some sound samples ASAP, will keep you posted. Cheers! 🍺

Edited October 8, 2024 by andruca

[NikNik]

First time I've heard of that instrument.

 

[Grahambythesea]

Shades of Ibanez Roadster in the body shape - nice

[andruca]

Quick song, on neck pickup...

 

 

Edited October 12, 2024 by andruca

[andruca]

And one more song, this time full open Jazz tone...

 

 

[ezbass]

14 minutes ago, andruca said:

And one more song, this time full open Jazz tone...

 

 

The tone at 1:51 is very Geddy Lee, minus his distortion. 👍

[andruca]

45 minutes ago, ezbass said:

The tone at 1:51 is very Geddy Lee, minus his distortion. 👍

 

SO easy to get there. Low setup helps. And this one has a substantial neck, the SBV sounds like this (just a tad less basss heavy, but as punchy and barking) and does indeed have a Geddy sig style skinny neck too. It's "easy Geddy 101" the moment I put any of these 2 Yammies on my lap. They just ask for it. Still, too cautious/insecure to attempt Rush covers 😅