The Yamaha BB mega-thread

[Al Krow]

Just wondering what it is about my playing style that means I don't get 3 MILLION YouTube hits and she does? Like I mean a BB2024Xisn't that much better than the BB102X range, or is it? 

Have a listen particularly to 2.45 to 3.05 for tonal versatility of this bass.

 

Edited May 12, 2018 by Al Krow

[Al Krow]

The BBNE2 forerunner: Yammy BB2004/5

Guys - need to pick your brains here. Anyone played the BB2004 or 5? I think these have now been discontinued, but there's one in the FS section which has got me thinking!

Do folk know what these were retailing for new? I can't quite get my head around the pricing i.e. whether a used one of these in vgc should reasonably expect to be fetching more than the new price BB1025 I recently bought? 

Edited April 4, 2018 by Al Krow

[Al Krow]

Yamaha Signature Basses – Quick Review

Popped into the London Yamaha Store - wanted to try out a couple of Yammy signature basses which were on my "must try" list:

Yamaha Attitude Two (Billy Sheehan)

As an end of line model, this was going to be much more affordable than the Attitude 3 but we never got around to discussing price!

Unusually for a Yamaha the body shape was based on a Fender, but with very specific design changes such as the slab body and the stereo circuitry. So kinda felt like Rickenbacker meets Fender meets Yamaha.

The action had been set very low so this was very easy to play and yet no discernible fret buzz.

The five uppermost frets are scalloped to assist in the bending of the top two strings, something that Billy was fond of doing, but not something I can personally see much scope for using. To operate this in true stereo requires two separate amplifiers, and the electronics are consequently a bit strange and incorporate switching on / off the controls, but at least this also allows for mono operation which is all I had access to – although maybe next time if I try it again, or if one of you guys tries it out at the store, putting it through two of their Hartke combos may give a different feel to it. (Actually, drop that for me – I’m unlikely ever to be bi-amping my basses!)

Maybe it was the fact that the bass was not being bi-amped or the fact that the tonal range through the shop Hartke 75W and its pretty simple EQ seemed limited, but the Attitude left me pretty cold. I liked it less than the Rickenbacker 4003 I’d previously tried elsewhere, less than the Fender Jazz MIM I moved on this time last year and a LOT less than the end of line Yammy BB1025 I recently got from the same store.

Yamaha BBNE2 (Nathan East)

Was I really playing this through the same Hartke 75W amp I’d been playing the Attitude through?!

Wow - Warwick Streamer Stage II meets Yamaha! It’s a completely different beast to the rest of the Yamaha BB range.

BBNE2 pups are stack type Alnico V Humbucker pickups include a hum-cancelling coil. This is combined with active electronics and versatile controls e.g. in place of single tone control on the BB1025, the BBNE2 has a 3 band EQ for bass, mids and treble; mid cut frequency & mid cut on-off switch together with the usual pickup selector and volume.

In combination they deliver a wonderful, tonally rich sound (even through a 75W Hartke) which I’ll have to admit puts even my former Warwick $$ German Corvette in the shade.

It has a contoured body which provides a compact, comfortable body shape and I found the neck to be very playable.

Nice touches, which sadly aren’t found elsewhere further down the Yamaha range, include individual bridge pieces and 5-piece neck-through design (but both of which Ibanez provide as ‘standard’ in their BTB Premium range).

Ok I’m in love with this bass! Wasn’t helped by an unsolicited offer from the duty store manager to knock 25% off the list price! If any of you have a BBNE2 you’re looking to move on at some point – please give me a shout; I suspect you’ll be pushing at an open door! 😊

Usual YMMV, IMHO etc.! 

Edited April 1, 2018 by Al Krow

[Westenra]

I also went to the Yamaha London store today to take a look and try two out bearing in mind I have a BB1024x at home. The first was the all Japanese BB P34 which looked great and sounded pretty good even through the Hartke. But I found the neck a bit too big for my liking so I put it down and tried the BB234 which again looks great and plays great but found the neck a little to big for me. Unsure what the difference in specs/radius are but my BB1024x trumps them all.

[bassix]

Did they still have the 2024x at the hugely discounted rate? That's the bass that makes my heart flutter! 

[dannybuoy]

It's still in stock on their website. I only know cos I was checking to see if they still had the black 2025X... 

[Westenra]

4 hours ago, bassix said:

Did they still have the 2024x at the hugely discounted rate? That's the bass that makes my heart flutter! 

The black one? Aye it's still there but I didn't even look at the price because I know it's out of my budget! Should've tried it in hindsight.

Dealt with a guy called Jay who seemed really nice and obviously wanted to talk more bass wise and I would've liked too but the missus was there!

[Al Krow]

26 minutes ago, Westenra said:

The black one? Aye it's still there but I didn't even look at the price because I know it's out of my budget! Should've tried it in hindsight.

Dealt with a guy called Jay who seemed really nice and obviously wanted to talk more bass wise and I would've liked too but the missus was there!

At least you can persuade your missus to go to a bass store! 

30 minutes ago, M@23 said:

I'm tempted to make enquiries about a BBNE2... 

I posted a short BBNE2 review above which may be of interest but I suspect won't help your GAS!! Well I almost (should have?!) bought your Glockenlang amp off you last year, so if you do get a (white or possibly black, but not silver grey please!) BBNE2 and decide to move it on I won't make the same mistake twice  

 

Edited April 1, 2018 by Al Krow

[M@23]

I did see your write up! I only briefly played one, it was great. Unfortunately, I'd have to move my Sadowsky on if it were to happen, so could do with spending some serious time with one first. 

I'd love the grey, but I think that was a very limited run? 

[Al Krow]

20 minutes ago, M@23 said:

I did see your write up! I only briefly played one, it was great. Unfortunately, I'd have to move my Sadowsky on if it were to happen, so could do with spending some serious time with one first. 

I'd love the grey, but I think that was a very limited run? 

Yes it was. Shame you didn't post on here sooner - then @CameronJ would have tagged you in the FS section, instead of me, where he is clearly on a mission to fulfil my 'dreams'. Could someone please tell him a) that I'm trying very hard not to add another bass my to my existing herd of six until I've got some good use out of them and b) that he could do that fulfilling dreams stuff much more easily by becoming lead singer in a band (he has an awesome male vocal) and, as it's almost impossible to play bass well and sing at the same time (unless you're called Phil Lynott) he could invite me along to be his bassist. Job done.

There was a grey BBNE2 listed a few days back in the FS that and has just been traded, probably for a Sadowsky  (ok just kidding about the Sadowsky!)  

@dannybuoy - I'd recommend give the store a call about that BB2025X, as I don't remember seeing it on my visit (but that could just be me being old) and it's not listed on their website as far as I can tell? I can see that your recent amp and cab sales drive is leaving you with a surplus that's burning a hole in your pocket!  Have to admit, as lovely as the BB2025s are, I personally could never justify the premium over the almost identical BB1025s which, we're both agreed, are just a wonderful bass for the money.

[BB2000]

On 08/03/2018 at 08:43, Al Krow said:

The average bass player's BBNE2: Yammy BB2004/5

Guys - need to pick your brains here. Anyone played the BB2004 or 5? I think these have now been discontinued, but there's one in the FS section which has got me thinking!

Do folk know what these were retailing for new? I can't quite get my head around the pricing i.e. whether a used one of these in vgc should reasonably expect to be fetching more than the new price BB1025 I recently bought? 

Is that my one? They were a shade under £1250 in 2005.

[pete.young]

On 4/1/2018 at 13:58, M@23 said:

 

I'd love the grey, but I think that was a very limited run? 

It's officially called 'Pewter'. They made 50 for the NAMM show in 2011.

Wunjo Bass has a brand new black one which is down to £1995, they've had it for a while.

[Al Krow]

Wow - Pete, thanks for the tip off. That's pretty much the same ball park as they go for second hand. Ok, it's no longer my fault if I don't resist this...  

[Al Krow]

This is the BBNE2 Wunjos have in the sale, that @pete.young mentioned. 

I know Tom, the store manager there, pretty well (he's a great guy) and he reduced the sale price a bit further for me and is 'throwing in' a spare set of strings and a decent leather strap as well.

So although Pete's post above is probably the single most expensive one on BC from my perspective that anyone has written, I'm pretty delighted!  

Currently being set up and I'll pick it up in a couple of days. Can't wait!  

Edited April 4, 2018 by Al Krow

[M@23]

4 hours ago, Al Krow said:

This is the BBNE2 Wunjos have in the sale, that @pete.young mentioned. 

I know Tom, the store manager there, pretty well (he's a great guy) and he reduced the sale price a bit further for me and is 'throwing in' a spare set of strings and a decent leather strap as well.

So although Pete's post above is probably the single most expensive one on BC from my perspective that anyone has written, I'm pretty delighted!  

Currently being set up and I'll pick it up in a couple of days. Can't wait!  

Congrats... Though, you can't have beaten me to it by much!! I got a message back saying it had sold and immediately thought it would have been you! Haha. 

[Al Krow]

1 minute ago, M@23 said:

Congrats... Though, you can't have beaten me to it by much!! I got a message back saying it had sold and immediately thought it would have been you! Haha. 

Thanks Mark!

Seriously? I'm kinda glad I jumped to it then! 

It should still be on Wunjo's website, though, and if you pick up the phone to the Yammy centre you may get them to match the price. Just a thought  

[M@23]

10 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

Thanks Mark!

Seriously? I'm kinda glad I jumped to it then! 

It should still be on Wunjo's website, though, and if you pick up the phone to the Yammy centre you may get them to match the price. Just a thought  

Yep! I messaged them yesterday and got a reply this morning! I'd never paid much attention to the black ones, but it doesn't half shine in those high res photos! Very nice buy! I've got a few bits to shift first really, so it's for the best for me too to be honest! Look forward to hearing your thoughts on her when she arrives though! 

[pete.young]

Aha, so this is now my fault? I was just trying to be helpful, honest :-)

I'm glad it's gone to a good home - it's been there for a little while, lurking at the end of the 'weird stinky poo' rack full of old Vox phantoms. It does look lovely in black - one thing Yamaha learnt from making all those concert grands is how to do a gloss black finish.

It took me a little while to get the hang of the pre-amp. It's capable of seemingly huge amounts of boost and cut on all 3 bands, and it seems to respond to dialling in small amounts gradually and seeing what effect it has. you can achieve huge tonal variation just by adjusting the pickup balance from one extreme to the other.

Edited April 4, 2018 by pete.young

[Al Krow]

On 26/03/2017 at 00:46, pete.young said:

Buy a BBNE2 while you still can!

Hah! Just spotted that your first post on this thread was the above!

So yes, I think it's entirely fair to lay the blame on you for putting out subliminal messaging that's gotten, un-noticed, into innocent folks' heads. Oh...and also perhaps how ridiculously good that bass sounded, even through a run of the mill amp, and how comfortable it was to play, particularly for a 5er. Chuck in a hard to resist discount from my favourite little London bass store and...yup definitely all your fault  

Time to 'fess up - are one of these already part of your herd? If not, you know exactly whose recommendation you should be following (see above post on 26/03)... 

[pete.young]

3 hours ago, Al Krow said:

Time to 'fess up - are one of these already part of your herd? If not, you know exactly whose recommendation you should be following (see above post on 26/03)... 

Yes, I've got one of the pewter ones, just like the man himself.

[Al Krow]

It does look (and sound) good on him! I suspect he's got more than one of each colour!  

 

 

[Al Krow]

The Wunjo's Yammy BBNE2 turned out to be B stock and a little chipped, which has definitely made me hesitate in parting with nearly £2K on this 'new' bass. Shame - but speaking to Mark, who also expressed an interest in getting this, it was reassuring to find that he is the same in expecting new gear to be pretty mint and that I'm not simply being fussy. I guess neither of us are fans of relic'd gear!

Shame... anyway the Wunjo's bass is still in stock if anyone else is interested?

Here's a pic of the damage - chip plus scuffing around the bottom:

Be interested if folks have thoughts on whether a specialist 'respray' could restore to something like this to mint; whether they would be able to get the finish to match the original / how much of the body they would need to done and how much it would likely cost?

If it can be done cost /effectively - I'm kinda surprised that Wunjos haven't done it themselves? Or is it the case that a respray will impact on resale value with high end basses?

Edited April 7, 2018 by Al Krow

[bartelby]

That looks like it's been dropped on the strap button. I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the surrounding finish fell off at some point.

[pete.young]

Sorry Al Krow, I don't know what to say.

[dannybuoy]

Ask for a big enough discount to get it resprayed white?