The Yamaha BB mega-thread

[Shylock]

11 hours ago, Al Krow said:

 

Cosmetically - do the Ultralites end up leaving visible holes on the back of the head stock?

Yes there are two holes exposed as the one screw of an Ultralite just fits the third screw of a stock machine head, the one on its own. There is also a lighter shading exposed where the smaller Ultralite does not cover the whole footprint of the original. Bit annoying but you cant see it when playing and certainly a worth while exercise. 

Edited March 12, 2022 by Shylock

[Al Krow]

6 hours ago, Shylock said:

Yes there are two holes exposed as the one screw of an Ultralite just fits the third screw of a stock machine head, the one on its own. There is also a lighter shading exposed where the smaller Ultralite does not cover the whole footprint of the original. Bit annoying but you cant see it when playing and certainly a worth while exercise. 

 

That is super helpful, thanks!

[2elliot]

Finally found a BBPH...

 

 

 

...so the 734a is now for sale. 

[Al Krow]

51 minutes ago, 2elliot said:

Finally found a BBPH...

 

 

 

...so the 734a is now for sale. 

Congrats! Added you to the OP "wall". 

 

So is the PH too similar to the 734A to justify having both, or does it blow the 734A out the water and hence why you're moving the 734A on...or none of the above? 😄 

[2elliot]

20 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

Congrats! Added you to the OP "wall". 

 

So is the PH too similar to the 734A to justify having both, or does it blow the 734A out the water and hence why you're moving the 734A on...or none of the above? 😄 

I currently have too many basses so the 734a and another are for sale.  I don't think I've ever used the rear pickup on the Yamaha.

 

What's the OP Wall?

Edited March 12, 2022 by 2elliot

[Al Krow]

14 minutes ago, 2elliot said:

I currently have too many basses so the 734a and another are for sale.  I don't think I've ever used the rear pickup on the Yamaha.

 

What's the OP Wall?

 

All makes sense! (I'm actually a big fan of the J pup on the Yamaha BBs FWIW!)

 

Go to the very first post on this humongous thread...

 

[2elliot]

3 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

 

All makes sense! (I'm actually a big fan of the J pup on the Yamaha BBs FWIW!)

 

Go to the very first post on this humongous thread...

 

I see, you need to add BB3000, BB300, MB1 - All sold.

[acroxixo]

I have a 1981 Yamaha BB2000 in my radar. In very good shape and with original case. 
How much does it value? 

[lancer]

Afternoon 

Ive got a Bbp34 that I’d like to restring.

Does anyone know the what strings this ships with and what gauge they are?

Best wishes

Andy

[Munurmunuh]

2 minutes ago, lancer said:

Afternoon 

Ive got a Bbp34 that I’d like to restring.

Does anyone know the what strings this ships with and what gauge they are?

Best wishes

Andy

 

Daddario EXL170 45-65-80-100

[lancer]

Thanks friend 🙏

[javi_bassist]

Hello guys!

 

I want to ask you for your opinion. I want to buy a 4 string PJ. But I'm on a budget and I can't spend too much. Since I have a BB735 and it is probably my favourite bass, I looked into the Yamaha catalogue. I like the BB234. I have also considered the Sire P7. However, I think that the Sire might be much better than the BB234, and more similar to the 434. The 434 is out of my budget. Is there a lot of difference between the 234 and the 434 in terms of quality? 

[andy67]

31 minutes ago, javi_bassist said:

Hello guys!

 

I want to ask you for your opinion. I want to buy a 4 string PJ. But I'm on a budget and I can't spend too much. Since I have a BB735 and it is probably my favourite bass, I looked into the Yamaha catalogue. I like the BB234. I have also considered the Sire P7. However, I think that the Sire might be much better than the BB234, and more similar to the 434. The 434 is out of my budget. Is there a lot of difference between the 234 and the 434 in terms of quality? 

A second hand 424 will cost you same or less as a Sire. both are excellent so, tough choice. Given a P7 is around the £500 price point, I'll guess that is your budget? If so, be worth looking at this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284609367748?hash=item42440a4ec4:g:Q4YAAOSwmuZh4dra

Edited March 17, 2022 by andy67

[Al Krow]

1 hour ago, javi_bassist said:

Hello guys!

 

I want to ask you for your opinion. I want to buy a 4 string PJ. But I'm on a budget and I can't spend too much. Since I have a BB735 and it is probably my favourite bass, I looked into the Yamaha catalogue. I like the BB234. I have also considered the Sire P7. However, I think that the Sire might be much better than the BB234, and more similar to the 434. The 434 is out of my budget. Is there a lot of difference between the 234 and the 434 in terms of quality? 

 

As @andy67 says both would be strong choices.

A key difference is that you are getting an active bass with a versatile preamp on the Sire P7 vs purely passive on the BB

I found the upper range access on the P7 a bit limiting - it has 20 frets, but only 17 are really comfortably reachable on the 5 string version. That may not be a concern for some, though.

At the end of the day I also preferred the BB tone over the P7, so ended up moving my P7 on.

[javi_bassist]

@andy67I have also consider buying a 434 used, but I live in Spain and in Europe the BB434 are like 180 euros more than the Sire (new). Secondhand are difficult to find. That is why I considered the 234. I don't mind the preamp, my other 4 string basses are passive.

[hookys6stringbass]

On 22/03/2017 at 14:24, Al Krow said:

WELCOME TO THE YAMAHA BB MEGA-THREAD!

POSSIBLY THE MOST POPULAR BC BASS THREAD EVER!

 

History of the Yamaha BB Bass – Workhorses That Became Thoroughbreds - Bass Musician Magazine, The Face of Bass

 

This thread originally started when the new Yamaha 3 series were announced in early 2017, this has turned into a bit of a 'hub' thread for discussions on all matters related to Yammy BB and there have been a LOT of really helpful contributions and discussions on these much loved basses (as well as plenty of banter and banality) along the way. Given that we are now over 8k posts, 425k+ views and 125+ followers, I thought it might be useful to add some sort of index in case you had a particular query, which had already been discussed.

 

INDEX

[To follow]

 

WHICH YAMAHA 3 SERIES BASS IS FOR YOU?

Dating your Yamaha BB bass

More recent Yamaha BBs seem to use a YY-M format with the first 3 letters providing the date, but using the following code: H=1, I=2, J=3, K=4, L=5, M=6, N=7, O=8, P=9, Q=0, X=10, Y=11, Z=12

=> HMI = 16-2 i.e. Feb 2016

The Yamaha BB Series 2 (BB424/5, 1024/5 and 2024/5) was released in 2010, followed by the Series 3 in 2017, the PH came out to much excitement in Dec-20 after a torrid Covid year.

 

Yamaha spare parts, recommended by BC'ers:

www.btnmusic.co.uk 

[email protected]

 

BC current Yammy BB owners "The Wall":- in case you want to pick their brains about an older or modern BB model!

All BB's unless stated otherwise:

• Al Krow - 2005 (prev: 425, P35, 735A, NE2, 1025)
• Andy Travis - 414, 1600, 1500A (prev: 200, 300, 350f, 415, 424x, 425x, 450, 614, 714BS, 1024x, 1100s, 1300, G4sII) **[LIKELY TO BE OUT OF DATE ON ANY GIVEN DAY 😁]
• andy 67 - 714BS, Attitude Ltd II (prev: 1600, 424, 425, G5s, 604a)
• ba55me15ter - 1500A
• Bassman666 - 1025X
• Black Coffee - 735A
• briansbrew - 1100S
• Chopthebass - NE2 
• ChrisJackson - 735A
• Claustra - 1200S, 2024, 1000S
• CPCustomdubwise - 434M, 415WR, (prev: 350F, 5Gs, N5)
• crabman - 1025X (prev: 424X, P35)
• dave_bass5 - 425 (prev: P34, 435)
• Dean Vincent - 424
• Danuman - 435
• david 1711 - 1024, 1025X
• EJWW - (prev: 1025X, 734A, 414, 300)
• Fil1ip - 414, 714
• Folkesy - 604, 605, 734A (prev: 435)
• GMRbass - 1024X
• gobasserk - 1000ma, 300 (prev: 414, 424, 424x, 614, 1024x, 1600, 3000, 3000ma) 
• greeneking - PH
• Hacksawbob - 425X
• Happypants - 1025, 435 (prev: P34)
• Horizontalste - 350
• hookys6stringbass - 1200S, PH (prev: 734A)
• hypercarrots - 300, VI, 1200, 1200S, 734A (prev: 450)
• javi_bassist - 605, 734A, 735A
• lee650 - 425, 350f (prev: N5, NE1, 1025x, 424)
• linear - 414
• LloydyG10 - 414, 415
• Machines - BB415 (prev: 734A)
• marleaux62 - 3000A, 1024X, 1300, PH (prev: 414)
• martfitz - 1500A (prev: 2004)
• Marty Forrer - 605
• matbard - PH
• MattiZ - 1200S, 400S, 300, 235, 735A 
• Maude - PH, 1024X, 424X (prev: G5S)
• MDWagstaff - 615 (mod Aguilar OBP3), 5000A (prev: 605)
• Mickyk - 424
• mikeycrikey -  414, 424x, 425x, 1024X, 734A (prev: 1100s, 604)
• MirrorMan - PH
• Mojo - 425, 425X, 415 (prev: 414, 424, 1024, 300, 350F, 404, 405, 1100s , 1500a)
• mrtcat - 1024x
• Muzz - 414 (prev: 300, 450, 3000A, 1024X)
• pete.young - 800, NE2 (prev: TRB 5P Mk1)
• Reggaebass - 1024 (prev: 414)
• Ricki Rioli - 424
• Richard Jinman - 1100S
• sanshiro - 300, 1200
• Sarlscharisma - PH
• Shepster8316 - PH (prev: 734A)
• sykilz - 414
• TheGreek - 615, G5S 
• tom.android - 424
• TRBboy - N5 modded (prev: 414,  614FL, 605, 435)
• Tubster - 434
• 2elliot - PH (prev: 734A, BB3000, BB300, MB1)
• willsp - P34
• viking 1 - PH
• yourfurryfiend - 434, 1024, (prev: P34)
• 62....

 

Predecessor thread (2011-13): Yamaha BBs - Bass Guitars - Basschat

Original Post (March 2017)

Paid a visit to the Yamaha store in London on Monday to check out the BB1025 which came highly recommended by BCs (see thread "Best 5 string you've ever owned"). Lovely low action and really good solid build, but not too heavy (important consideration for two hour gigs!). The big news is that it was about to be replaced by a new, slightly thinner, BB1035 model** which are currently being shipped to the UK. As a result Yamaha were willing to knock 17.5% off the normal selling price of this much loved bass and include a gig bag, set up, 12 month service and free shipping (they even managed to locate possibly the final Yamaha store copy of the Tobacco Brown Sunburst finish I'd got my eye on, in Germany!). It was hard to refuse such a good sales pitch! So if any of you are after a BB1025, now is as good a time as any to pick up one at a very good price! (And I see that Gear4Music have discounted a BB1025 Black to just £599, over £200 off their normal selling price!). **Postscript: as we all now know they never did release a BB1035 (!)  

You may want to change mine a bit ....

 

Current Yamaha BB 1200S BB 1200 BBPH ... Previous... BB300 both Japanese and Taiwan versions. BB1100S ,BB734a

[Horizontalste]

Does anyone here have one of the reissue BB3000's?

I've always been drawn to them but never seen one in the flesh.

[Al Krow]

Took my BB2005 for a little spin recently with a new crew. Played through a DG AO 900 and BF BB2:

 

 

[Munurmunuh]

On 11/03/2022 at 13:22, Ricky Rioli said:

Bit of a sad day for me – having to make the decision to move on my BB424. Or at least shove it under my bed, like buried treasure....

 

....I'm going to miss the 424's neck so much

 

I've decided that I'm going to park it under the bed, with the intention of one day, no time soon, of using the neck for something completely different. 

 

Eg, right now combining it with a small body and Stingray-ish pickup+electronics seems an *excellent* idea

[2elliot]

On 12/03/2022 at 17:47, 2elliot said:

I see, you need to add BB3000, BB300, MB1 - All sold.

and a BB1100s... sorry, I forgot. 🙂

[mikeycrikey]

On 20/03/2022 at 07:35, Ricky Rioli said:

 

I've decided that I'm going to park it under the bed, with the intention of one day, no time soon, of using the neck for something completely different. 

 

Eg, right now combining it with a small body and Stingray-ish pickup+electronics seems an *excellent* idea

I had the same thoughts about transferring the neck and all the electronics and hardware but  on to a precision style body. Loved everything about my 424x  except what makes it a BB. The big broad body. 

Now down from 5 BB's to 1. Kept the 734a as the body is just a touch smaller all  round and weighs a bit less

[Sibob]

Has anyone used a BB234 in lower tunings? Probably strung BEAD or up from there to C# standard? How does the neck hold up? Nice and stable for a cheap bass?

 

Si

[Munurmunuh]

• Take a 424 in dreary sunburst

• Replace the pickups with a G&L humbucker

• Add a 2 band cut/boost eq

• series/parallel switch

• Reshape the body, slimming it down (and taking the first B out of "BB424", I know)

• Create two massive cavities in the wings to reduce weight

 

Edited March 28, 2022 by Ricky Rioli

[mikeycrikey]

28 minutes ago, Ricky Rioli said:

• Take a 424 in dreary sunburst

• Replace the pickups with a G&L humbucker

• Add a 2 band cut/boost eq

• series/parallel switch

• Reshape the body, slimming it down (and taking the first B out of "BB424", I know)

• Create two massive cavities in the wings to reduce weight

 

I want one

[LukeFRC]

3 hours ago, Ricky Rioli said:

• Take a 424 in dreary sunburst

• Replace the pickups with a G&L humbucker

• Add a 2 band cut/boost eq

• series/parallel switch

• Reshape the body, slimming it down (and taking the first B out of "BB424", I know)

• Create two massive cavities in the wings to reduce weight

 

why not just buy a G&L?