Al Krow 5,229 Posted February 18 2 hours ago, Ricky Rioli said: Btw, the other day I was complaining about the blend knob on my TRBX being of limited utility. Since then I've read - and again the technical details went miles over my head - that blend knobs work much better on active basses. My opinion had been based solely from using it on passive. And now I think about it, I've noticed that Yamaha have Vol-Blend on active basses (eg BB734, TRBX604) and Vol-Vol on passive (eg BBP34, BB434, TRBX174) 1 hour ago, Woodinblack said: I prefer blend knobs to volume / volume, but yes, you are right, they aren't as useful on passive basses, as at full blend your pickups have half the volume down anyway. 1 hour ago, jrixn1 said: Those are pot tapers (if anyone didn't know). If you use the correct pot, it will be full volume both in the middle and at either end. It's an ineresting point. On my purely active Spector which blends purely via separate V/V knobs for each pup, if one pup is maxed at 10/10 I only really notice the other pup starting to impact tone at 7/10 and only having a significant tonal impact at 9 or 10, which kinda ties in with your comments above. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jrixn1 875 Posted February 18 (edited) I think there are two different issues. The first is the blend knob not doing much actual blending. On some basses I've found them to behave more like a three-way switch; i.e. just a small amount off centre sounds the same as rotating it all the way. Same with VVT; one pickup on full + one pickup nearly on full is not much different to one pickup on full + the other one off. The second is using the correct type of blend pot. In the centre position (i.e. on the detent, if you have one), you should be getting 100% neck and 100% bridge. If you're only getting 50% neck and 50% bridge, you have the wrong pot taper. However, if you get mega volume and tone drop on equal blend, it might be that your pickups are out of phase. (I think this might apply more for a bass with identical pickups, like a jazz bass? Not sure.) If so, swap the wires of just one pickup. Edited February 18 by jrixn1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LukeFRC 2,078 Posted February 18 There are electrical differences too - two volumes uses two 250k Ohm (or whatever value) pots... a blend control uses three 250 Ohm tracks (in two pots). The pots at 100% in the centre are labelled MN One of the main selling points of some of John East's preamps is he uses active buffered blend so each pickup isn't effecting the other. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fil1ip 60 Posted February 18 I kind of know the answer but I'll ask Seem a BB425 for sale not local etc. No hard case only gig bag but will post and bank transfer only no PayPal. Should I just stay away ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ricky Rioli 387 Posted February 18 Someone has to ask.....is it 🔴 ? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fil1ip 60 Posted February 18 2 minutes ago, Ricky Rioli said: Someone has to ask.....is it 🔴 ? Yes it is 😊 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dannybuoy 1,308 Posted February 18 Audere preamps are a good solution to the blend issue. Instead of passive mixing just before the preamp like most active basses, the preamp buffers each pickup individually and the blend then works more like the cross fader on a DJ mixer. Nice smooth transition end to end rather than impedance issues getting in the way that make it behave more like a 3-way switch. I don’t know if there are any other preamps that take this approach? Only downside I guess would be that you wouldn’t faithfully replicate the tones you get from a passive bass. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cuzzie 3,604 Posted February 18 Agreed Audere are very good Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Woodinblack 4,828 Posted February 18 10 minutes ago, dannybuoy said: . I don’t know if there are any other preamps that take this approach? Only downside I guess would be that you wouldn’t faithfully replicate the tones you get from a passive bass. There is at least one where it is an option Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GreeneKing 227 Posted February 19 13 hours ago, dannybuoy said: Audere preamps are a good solution to the blend issue. Instead of passive mixing just before the preamp like most active basses, the preamp buffers each pickup individually and the blend then works more like the cross fader on a DJ mixer. Nice smooth transition end to end rather than impedance issues getting in the way that make it behave more like a 3-way switch. I don’t know if there are any other preamps that take this approach? Only downside I guess would be that you wouldn’t faithfully replicate the tones you get from a passive bass. From memory John East pre-amps have an 'active' style blend. Quote: Totally independent active and passive signal paths guarantee completely smooth blend when set to active. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LukeFRC 2,078 Posted February 19 2 minutes ago, GreeneKing said: From memory John East pre-amps have an 'active' style blend. Quote: Totally independent active and passive signal paths guarantee completely smooth blend when set to active. it's almost as if I hadn't said that a few posts up! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GreeneKing 227 Posted February 19 (edited) 15 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: it's almost as if I hadn't said that a few posts up! Yep I missed your post only seeing DannyBuoys where he asks if there's any other than Audere. Edited February 19 by GreeneKing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gobasserk 210 Posted February 19 Will talk to a guy about refinishing one of my 1000ma's in candy apple red today.... I think I like that 😄 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ricky Rioli 387 Posted February 20 I was going to ask why the Reverse P has come and gone from the BB, but then thought it perhaps needed it's own thread.... Reverse P - when good? when not? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Al Krow 5,229 Posted February 21 (edited) Anyone got a BB 604, BB434 (or possibly a BB734 or old BB 1000) gathering dust in a broom cupboard? If so... Yamaha BB604 - Items Wanted (NO TRADES) - Basschat Yamaha BB434 or similar - Items Wanted (NO TRADES) - Basschat Edited February 21 by Al Krow 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jay-syncro 385 Posted February 21 Here's a rare one, BB1300👌🏻 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-BB1300-Bass-Guitar-Japan-Rare-with-HSC-/284191552916?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ricky Rioli 387 Posted February 21 On 18/02/2021 at 19:20, Fil1ip said: Should I just stay away ? Did you? 😛 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyTravis 7,067 Posted February 21 I know the BB’s are the thing here. I keep want an SB though too. Great shape, sort of the midway between the SBV samurai basses and the BB’s...I think chronologically as well as in appearance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fil1ip 60 Posted February 21 33 minutes ago, Ricky Rioli said: Did you? 😛 Yes I can't just bank transfer money unknown etc 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyTravis 7,067 Posted February 21 42 minutes ago, jay-syncro said: Here's a rare one, BB1300👌🏻 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-BB1300-Bass-Guitar-Japan-Rare-with-HSC-/284191552916?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292 Damn. If I had a spare grand, that would be mine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
woolf 176 Posted February 21 1 hour ago, jay-syncro said: Here's a rare one, BB1300👌🏻 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-BB1300-Bass-Guitar-Japan-Rare-with-HSC-/284191552916?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292 Wow - This looks great Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pete.young 971 Posted February 21 2 hours ago, jay-syncro said: Here's a rare one, BB1300👌🏻 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-BB1300-Bass-Guitar-Japan-Rare-with-HSC-/284191552916?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292 This looks familiar - I think the seller is a member here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LukeFRC 2,078 Posted February 21 55 minutes ago, pete.young said: This looks familiar - I think the seller is a member here. using the search facility a member called @Sean posted in 2017 on a thread called "best Yamaha bass on the market" that he had one. He also is listed as living in Gloucester... coincidence? Who knows! (well Sean obviously) 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fil1ip 60 Posted February 22 Does anyone know if you can buy the little plastic truss rod tray for a BB. Thank you Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krispn 1,327 Posted February 22 10 hours ago, AndyTravis said: Damn. If I had a spare grand, that would be mine. Would these have been active too Andy? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
