Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Yamaha Nathan East Signature Bass


guyl
 Share

Recommended Posts

There's been a few Nathan East signature basses for sale on here recently. For some reason I'm getting a bit of a hankering, even though I've never played one!

What do people think of them? Just as good as a "standard" BB, or a serious step up?

I'm lucky enough to play a variety of gigs so looking for something versatile. I suppose default needs to be something that sounds big and punches through your standard function band set...

thanks for any advice...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’m sure @Al Krow will be along shortly.

if you think of the stuff Nathan East plays on, from Fourplay to Phil collins, he has to cover a lot of sonic ground so I’d assume these basses can do a fair bit of everything - and a covers set should be more than happy with this bass.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of my very first reviews back in 2010 time was the BB NE2. I still remember to this day how nice it was. So its a thumbs up from me!

 

EDIT: I've found the review! I thought it had been lost. Having just had a quick look, I'm embarrassed to say I seem to have forgotten about the B STRING in the video! 

https://www.guitarinteractivemagazine.com/issues/issue-7/reviews/yamaha-nathan-east-bass-bb-ne2/

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's what I posted on the Yammy BB mega thread when I first picked up a Nathan East in the Yammy store near Oxford Street in London.

Yamaha BBNE2 (Nathan East)

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 combo at the store!) 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).

I then had to wait six months for a mint condition used white NE2 to make an appearance in the FS, but it was worth the wait. It's an absolutely lovely bass; without doubt one of the very best I've had the privilege to play and to still own. 

Edited by Al Krow
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

I’m sure @Al Krow will be along shortly.

if you think of the stuff Nathan East plays on, from Fourplay to Phil collins, he has to cover a lot of sonic ground 

 

Has NE played much with Phil Collins with his latest signature? I though Leland Sklar has done most of his bass?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, pete.young said:

Whereabouts are you @guyl - if you're anywhere near Ipswich you're welcome to come and try mine, and it'll probably go to the east anglian bass bass if that happens.

Thanks for the offer @pete.young  I’m in Stockport - but travel a bit for work and will take you up if I’m in your neighbourhood 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, guyl said:

I'm lucky enough to play a variety of gigs so looking for something versatile. I suppose default needs to be something that sounds big and punches through your standard function band set...

"Sounds big" 

"Punches through your standard function set"

Yes, absolutely!

Nathan East BBNE2.png

Screenshot of Nathan playing his BBNE2 from the following gig with Eric Clapton in Tokyo. Treat yourself to a listen through a decent pair of headphones :)

 

Edited by Al Krow
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, EBS_freak said:

BBNE2 is the only bass I regret moving on... but I needed the cash to fund a custom build at the time.

They are incredible instruments.

Agreed re. integrity of the instruments. Bass Direct have a couple of beauties.

Don't you think it's weird that that acronym actually represents 'Bunnel Brunnel Nathan East' which is a hybrid signature model of two people.

P.S. Also unusual is the valid conjunction of 'that that'.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

45 minutes ago, visog said:

Agreed re. integrity of the instruments. Bass Direct have a couple of beauties.

Don't you think it's weird that that acronym actually represents 'Bunnel Brunnel Nathan East' which is a hybrid signature model of two people.

P.S. Also unusual is the valid conjunction of 'that that'.

I always understood that BB means Broad Bass. The early models even have it on the the Headstock.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't played the Nathan East model but it does stick in my mind as being one of those basses that I've never heard get a single bad review or complaint. 

They are made in the Yamaha custom shop in Japan, same as the Attitude LTD basses, which I do happen to own. I can say with confidence that the build quality and craftsmanship of the stuff they put out is exceptional. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

I always understood that BB means Broad Bass. The early models even have it on the the Headstock.

It appears you are correct - I stand corrected. This from a Talkbass poster, who sounds like they know what they're talking about - no guarantee I know! Also an earlier thread from BC too.

Bunny Brunel might have had a hand in testing the Yamaha BB series, along with the likes of Abe Laboriel, Nathan East, Lee Sklar, and a bunch of other session guys, but as I've understood it, John Carruthers developed the "Big Body" series basses for Yamaha, with input from all those early testers. It was not Bunny's design, or named for Bunny Brunel. 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

One thing I should have mentioned about the NE is that it delivers thunderous, bone rattling LOWS!! Very probably the deepest, meatiest low end of any bass I've come across.

On 05/07/2019 at 17:02, Dood said:

EDIT: I've found the review! I thought it had been lost. Having just had a quick look, I'm embarrassed to say I seem to have forgotten about the B STRING in the video! 

https://www.guitarinteractivemagazine.com/issues/issue-7/reviews/yamaha-nathan-east-bass-bb-ne2/

Great review, Dan...and don't worry about forgetting to mention the B string - I think I've covered that off in my comment immediately above! 😂

Edited by Al Krow
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Al Krow said:

One thing I should have mentioned about the NE is that it delivers thunderous, bone rattling LOWS!! Very probably the deepest, meatiest low end of any bass I've come across.

Great review, Dan...and don't worry about forgetting to mention the B string - I think I've covered that off in my comment immediately above! 😂

Do you happen to know the string spacing on these?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, Dood said:

Do you happen to know the string spacing on these?

Just measured:

72 mm from the mid point of the B string to the mid point of the G string at the bridge (=18 mm spacing).

35 mm for the same measurements at the nut.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, Al Krow said:

Just measured:

72 mm from the mid point of the B string to the mid point of the G string at the bridge (=18 mm spacing).

35 mm for the same measurements at the nut.

Thank you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, Dood said:

Thank you!

Welcome :) 

It's always perplexed me that string spacing seems to be measured at the bridge. I'd have thought that the 5th or 7th fret would have been the more obvious place and would also then better take account of both the bridge and nut string spacing?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We play finger style at the bridge so that my account for it. Closer margins at the bridge can leave some players feeling cramped due to a familiarity with the 'traditional' Fender spacing. Nut width seems more important to some up at the skinny end and that's when 'skinny' 'baseball bat' and 'chunky' start getting used.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...