Al Krow

Series 2 vs 3 - they don't quite equate. The S3 734 is both active, with a 3 band EQ, as well as passive whereas the S2 1024, its opposite number, is purely passive with vol / tone knobs and a pup selector switch. (I've got the 5 string version of both and was just playing my 1025, and absolutely loving it in solo P mode - such a gorgeous tone!). The rest of the Series 3 and Series 2 are all passive but Series 3 have V/V/T knobs vs V/T/pup switch on Series 2. The P34 has just one of the two special "sonic treatments" that the 2024 had, which are designed to give them an immediate "played in" feel. I guess that's how Yammy justified the price cut. But I think folk realised that the 1024s were delivering 98% of what the 2024 was but at 1/3 the price, which was also part of the reason for the price drop to the P34. The 1024 has a harmonically richer set of pups than the 424, which are "flatter" - but some folk prefer the 424 sound precisely because of that. The build quality of the 1024 has a few enhancements too. If you check the OP there is a comparison table of the Series 3 for reference. Oh yes, the Series 3 use "standard" pup sizes (the Series 2 don't) so you can swap them out. But not sure I would ever want to - the pups on the Yammy BBs are just great!

Yeah fair enough! Most important thing is you've got a bass incoming that you're excited about and which will hopefully give you a great deal of pleasure. And whether it was £250 or £300 it's still a LOT of bass for the money!

Interesting that you paid more than £250 for it. Maybe prices of quality used "2 series" basses are going up? They certainly don't seem to be falling! I'm pretty sure my Series 2 BB1025 would fetch as much if not more than my Series 3 BB735A. "Buy land a Series 2 Yamaha BB, they ain't making that any more" - MT

If it's red and cost £250 or less AndyT will be wanting it off you 😁

But at least your instruments are not all identical.................right?? 😁

Been having a bit of a clear out and spotted I'd still got an original Stomp 'Cheat Sheet'. If any Stomp owner is missing this and would like an original hard copy, pm me and I'll pop it in the post to you (free of charge for UK postage). HX Stomp - Cheat Sheet.pdf

Nice tale with a happy ending! No flattery involved when it comes to VAT, btw. Folk would be very wise not to compete with you on that (willies or otherwise) or on the number of Mesa amps they have... 😁

In which case, I would happily recommend you checking out a couple of the 424 siblings: the 1024 (purely passive, also Series 2) and /or the 734A (active and passive, Series 3) which both have harmonically richer pups and a few further refinements to their build. There may or may not be several hundred posts about them both on the Yammy thread 😁

So a numpty question to may favourite VAT BC expert (and fellow Mesa fan): what's the thinking behind getting two of these and how are you planning on using them? It's not just for an extra 20% on top I hope?

No mods in Dublin, Luxembourg or Malta? You'll find their tax regimes very accommodating! In fact so much so, that Ireland fought tooth and nail an instruction from Brussels to charge some some small mobile fruit company an extra €14 billion in taxes...😂

Hardly. Perfectly legit to have an overseas branch. Millions of companies do. I recommend HazBeen rather than you though, Douglas. NL has a much more friendly tax regime than France 😂

Very easily solved. A couple of the mods just happen to live across the channel...

Tbf Marshall have pretty much fallen by the wayside in terms of bass gear.

Q: And can we split the basses for sale into 4, 5 and 6 string sections while we're at it please? A: Ped..."No" 😁

He also moved on from his classic Rick sound to being a Vigier man... Nice little interview with him here: Roger Glover Talks About Deep Purple, Ronnie James Dio and Ritchie Blackmore | GuitarInternational.com

Awww - you're just rubbing it in now!

Hah! Just jealous that you have TWO more 4001s than most of us! I'll likely be settling for one of these poor man's substitutes...

Well that's probably a "good" thing as far as the bank account is concerned then! PS I guess it's probably fair given the NE2 is only available as a 5 string to Joe Public (although I think the man himself also had a 6 string version?)

@lowdown - yeah "growl and grunt" always gets a thumbs up from me! Do you know what he was playing?

Super impressed by the pulling power of the Hooky & Yammy combination. Wonder if they will go on to launch a 5 string version...

@4000 classic Rickenbacker clank! And reminds, of course, of the hate-him-or-love him Geddy Lee (I'm in the love him camp!) Ritchie Blackmore, in his Rainbow incarnation, was the first gig I got to go to.

Totally agree for a 424. 425s are a little more, in line with 5 vs 4 strings, but I got my new (albeit with an end of line discount) for £280 a couple of years back before foolishly moving it on. Congrats! - Another BB PH owner, I think that makes your our 6th on this thread - it's definitely proving to be a real hit! I've included you on the 'wall of shame' on the OP Is this your first BB or do you have / previously had other models?

Was indeed interesting - thanks.

Ah fair. Get one of these then.... 😊

True...and if I bothered to check the "wall of shame" on the OP I would know that! Ok, in which case, given that you have a 414 why get a 424 when the only real difference is a laminated neck - the pups and electronics are identical, right?