Greggo

Just a mild curiosity really, but on a Yamaha BB (well the current line up , but possibly on older models too) is the P pickup in the same relative position as it would be on a fender P? THe P- pickup is around the middle of the body on both basses between the bridge and the last fret/end of the neck. However on the Fender P it appears that there is a much larger distance between each points compared to the Yamaha? Is this just an opitcal illisio because the Fender P has a bigger body? And does this mean that the pickup in yamaha will never be the 'correct' P position? Like I said, just curious, or it could be an optical illusion when Im seeing both basses (in person not just the pics!)

I recently lightly sanded down a high gloss neck to get it more satin feel, but haven't really reaped that many benefits in terms of it being easier to play and now just looks a bit odd where the finish is different and it's annoying me! Is there a way, if I decide to, to get the sanded part buffed back to the same glossiness of the original? What would I need? Thanks

So are there a light gauge roundwound string coated in nylon? Are they brighter than flats but duller than rounds? Sounds interesting, may have to investigate as I'm a convert to flats.

Thanks for replies seems it was the rod needed a bit of tightening.

I don't know about anyone else but do you find some basses suit a lower action more than others? My 5 string is a bit of a munter unless it's got super low action but my 4 string plays and feels better with a medium action.

[quote name='Mark_88MPH' timestamp='1396369179' post='2412785'] Ok so an update, I rang CitiPost again and they are contacting their operations people to see if they can pull it out of the returns. I tried Hermes and they said that they didn't have any package in the system for me. I said this to CitiPost who said that Hermes will, quote, 'say anything to get you off the phone as you are the buyer'. Had a message from the seller who has contacted ebays global postage people who are also going to contact the courier to make sure it isn't returned. So fingers crossed I'll have it soon! [/quote] That sounds like a massive ballache! Ordered from the states as well? Hope it comes to you soon!

It does seem that truss is the only thing it could be after process of elimination. Anything that can be done or just live with it?

Unfortunately not no, just checked. I notice it disappears when bass is lying flat but occurs in playing position. I'll try and get a recording of it - the string (seems to affect low E most) still vibrates, but whatever is is vibrating loudly does dampen the note.

Noticed today that when plucking the strings quite hard that there is a weird vibration in sympathy with string (like a loud rattle) but this seems to go when clamping the neck quite hard near top of headstock around first fret or behind nut. The sound isn't coming from Bridge or nut itself or any of the frets so wondering if anyone might know what it could be if they've had something similar. Truss rod rattling? When amplified it doesn't pick up rattle but it does dampen the notes to some extent and affect tone.

I don't know what it is about BB's that makes them so appealing. I used to think they were butt ugly but now I can't get enough of looking at them especially vintage models. I think it must be the unassuming but unmistakable looks and the simplicity of them.

[quote name='col.decker' timestamp='1396271873' post='2411599'] While I was on the bog earlier I was pondering my rig set up. [/quote] Haha! Got to be the funniest opening line I've read for a while!

Nice looking bass. Not sure about the chicken knob on lower horn but very pretty indeed!

Another one I look like the look of is the BB1000s as well which seems to have the matching headstock which I like. Were these higher end at that time?

Doesn't Retrovibe do a copy on alembic?

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1396258553' post='2411372'] I've had a BB614, a BB300 and I have today a BB350F and a BB450. My current two are both mid 80s (BB450 is 1985 and BB350F is 1986) and both were made in Taiwan. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but if you a Japanese one, I suspect you're going to have to aim earlier than that. All I can say about the ones I've had is that I've had no worries gigging any of them (apart from the fretless, and that's my fault, not the bass's ). My BB450 is my least expensive bass (and a rescue job at that - it had been parted out, truss rod maxed out, no nut - got it all back together and fixed all the issues) but I'm happy to pick it up and play it any time. I find the neck has a nice inbetweeny profile - not as fat as a P, not as skinny as a J. Me and my BB450 at Belladrum (Tartan Heart) Festival last year: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bs4gJsM660[/media] [/quote] Bit difficult to concentrate solely on the bass in that video But very nice and good sound too! I believe the BB450 did the orange sparkle colour too which the 41x series adopted?

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1396213524' post='2411103'] They're very different to the 414. Different hardware, different pickups, different profile necks. The BB300 neck is quite wide but shallow and probably has a similar amount of meat to the J neck but just a different shape. They were mass produced, mass appeal basses at the time and therefore are very accessible. [/quote] Thanks for info. They sound ideal as an interesting alternative to a Squier Precision and I am a fan of the looks of a BB.

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1396194199' post='2410806'] Yes, they're very good. The BB400 has a 3-piece alder body, the BB300 doesn't, I can't work out what it is but the body is made of lots of pieces glued up. The necks are very good but differ in profile between the models, teh BB300 has quite a wide shallow profile whereas the BB400 is more like a P. [/quote] Are any of these like a 414? This is slimmer than P but thicker than jazz neck.

Been toying with the idea of selling on my 5 string Vintage EST96 and perhaps getting another Yamaha BB because I do love the BB414 I got in a trade last year. Been looking at the different models over the years and I'm really drawn to some of the (low end?) models from the 80s which I believe are Japanese made. I particularly like the BB300 with its single P pickup but also the BB450 with the P/J. Anyone have any experience of these and how hard are they to get on the second hand market and what kind of price these go for?

Surely this makes bass playing more exciting!

[quote name='tommorichards' timestamp='1396111259' post='2410059'] Its the vintage reissue series, V96. Sounds exactly like a jazz should. [/quote] Nice - I do like the Vintage stuff, although my Vintage 'ray copy needed a change of preamp to sound anything ray like. I like the idea of their Precision copy the v4.

What a great tip! Slightly off topic but what Vintage reissue bass you got?

[quote name='iamtheelvy' timestamp='1396007682' post='2408904'] On the whole, people tend to love either flats or rounds. However, you don't often see much love for half/ground/pressure wound strings. I offer no reason for that, I can see the benefit of them, but don't go for them myself either... [/quote] I can tell by general wayward drifting of this thread that there is little love/experience of them. Maybe it's that most people just want one or the other (rounds or flats) so these don't come under the radar. I'm still intrigued by them though!

Thanks for replies. Status half rounds are half the price of Chromes so may take a punt on these anyway. I struggle with the feel of rounds having used flats for past few months so hoping the smoother nature of halfs will give me what I'm after.