Yamaha your thoughts?

[Brian18242]

Maybe it's just me but I have always felt Yamaha are a bit on the slow side when it comes to new bass ranges (In comparison to other companies)

 

Take the incredible BB line for example. Fans have been wanting a BB3000 reissue for years and the current BB line is slightly lacking finish options. 

 

Sorry, maybe it's just me. Rant over. 

[crazycloud]

I think Yamaha have a range of designs they're happy with and simply changing them for a difference between this year and last, especially just finishes a la Fender, isn't worth it to them. They make so many different instruments they need to be rational about what will actually sell. For a trad looking bass like the BBs, white, black, blue, TS will sell consistently whereas sparkle pink, or even just a bright yellow will sell far less. I think the caramel TRBX605 is really pretty, but it's not 'traditional' and that alone would put off some buyer (just talking colour here).

 

Yamaha's pianos and AGs are great (own / owned both), they are a known quantity and consistent and why change them?

[Brian18242]

All very good points which I agree with. However, it would be nice if they reissued the BB3000 as they are constantly in demand and would fly off the shelf. 

 

Their bass range has always attracted serious players but it does feel like their focus and energy is elsewhere. To your point. 

Edited 23 hours ago by Brian18242

[42Hz]

Yamaha do on their website offer the possility to ask them questions ... 🙂

[crazycloud]

56 minutes ago, Brian18242 said:

However, it would be nice if they reissued the BB3000 as they are constantly in demand and would fly off the shelf.

Maybe from your perspective they would, but it doesn't mean from Yamaha's POV they would. A small community online seldom translates to sales and the small number of older one's out there, doesn't add up to sales to me. If Yamaha did limited releases of say 500 units as a once off, they might sell, but it doesn't seem that's their market.

[Russ]

They’re brilliant instruments with some serious pedigree, and mostly pretty inexpensive, unless you’re going for a high-end TRB or something. Plenty of used ones out there too, and they’re almost all excellent. 

 

You don’t hear about too many big-name players using them these days - they’ve got the same people they’ve had for years, like Nathan East, Patitucci, Sheehan, Hooky, etc but never really seem to add anyone new to their roster of endorsees. I guess they go for quality over quantity. You do seem to see quite a lot of them in the hands of session guys though. Those who know, know.  

Edited 20 hours ago by Russ

[Beedster]

8 hours ago, Brian18242 said:

All very good points which I agree with. However, it would be nice if they reissued the BB3000 as they are constantly in demand and would fly off the shelf. 

 

Their bass range has always attracted serious players but it does feel like their focus and energy is elsewhere. To your point. 

 

Re 'focus and energy is elsewhere', it's hard to see your angle really, I've always seen Yamaha's focus and energy as being focussed on the production of a constantly evolving range of well designed, well engineered and well priced instruments. Where do you see it? 

[Beedster]

5 hours ago, Russ said:

You do seem to see quite a lot of them in the hands of session guys though. Those who know, know.  

 

Session in Nashville, taker a Fender. Session in NYC, take a Yamaha 

[Burns-bass]

I still think Yamaha has never made a bad bass. I managed to try a John Myung bass (not my thing really) and it was amazing. 

[Lozz196]

My first "proper" bass was a Yamaha BB1100s, very good quality, a good workhorse, did loads of gigs on it without backup (as you did back in the 80s). I bought one earlier this year as a nostalgia bass, and when I play it it does take me back to those times. I also appreciate the build quality and playability a lot more in my late 50s than I did in my early 20s.

[pn_day]

I don't disagree with the sentiment in this thread. However, I am lucky enough to own a BB2000 - it is as awesome as people say. But it is quite heavy for a 4-string - which might be another reason to not do a straight reissue - some of the magic of the highly rated old Yamahas was the well over-engineered (heavy) bridge, custom-wound pickups, and solid construction - I also wonder if wood choice had an impact on the feel (I don't believe it has so much impact on the sound). 

 

[LeftyJ]

10 hours ago, Brian18242 said:

However, it would be nice if they reissued the BB3000 as they are constantly in demand and would fly off the shelf. 

 

They probably would not, for they would be prohibitively expensive for the general public and would only appeal to fans of the series. Especially if they were to be made in Japan like the originals. The current bolt-on BBP34 and BBP35 sit at €2100 which is roughly the same as a Fender American Professional II. They're probably better-made, but many people will still argue "Made in the USA" is the holy grail. A neck-through model would sit quite a bit higher still, probably not below €3000. 

[Sean]

Yamaha is a benchmark for me. I’ve got three Japanese ones here. They’re all top tier tools for the job they’re designed for. The black BB2024x I‘ve had since new is very special, it’s one of those instruments that just has “that magic”. 

I must say I was disappointed when Michael Anthony ran off to Schecter. 

[songofthewind]

I've got two BBG's currently, on four and one five string. I had a BB100, my first decent bass. Plus a BBG4 I gave to a family member in a moment of generosity. They are all very good. The BBG's are old and no longer made, and deeply unfashionable, but anyone I play with comments on how good they sound. 

I see new colourful EBMM basses and I think "so what?".

 

I love every Yamaha product I have owned and used.

[Cato]

Yamaha may not be the first brand most people think of when they think of guitars, but when they do come up in discussion they always seem to be very highly thought of.

 

I came close to getting a BB1024 a few years ago when I was looking for PJ, ultimately the only reason I didn't was because I've never been keen on sunburst and that seemed to be the only colour scheme anyone had in stock at that particular moment.

 

Yes I am that shallow.

 

I'd have a Revstar skinny stringer or a vintage SG in a flash if funds/space allowed.

Edited 12 hours ago by Cato

[Brian18242]

I have noticed quite a few bands of late picking up the BB line so the exposure is out there. I'm sure the Stereophonics bass player started using them and Tony Kanal of No Doubt has been using them for years! I know Michael Anthony used them for a long time but seems to have jumped ship to Schecter at some point. 

[Rich]

I've had a smattering of Yamaha basses, and they've without exception been superb instruments. The neck on my RBX765A was so good, I got Jon Shuker to copy the neck profile for the custom he built for me.

I don't have a Yam at the moment, but I would sell a kidney for a TRB5P.

[Paul S]

I've had a few Yamaha bassess, from a pointy headstock thing I forget the model number of but with a superskinny neck profile to a selection of broad basses - BB414 via a BB424, BB425 to a BB5000 that I imported from Japan.  Fabulous things, I was particularly fond of the BB414 which I think, for the money, is hard to beat.  Now all gone, mainly because a/ I find them too heavy and b/ I don't play long scale basses any more.

 

What I would like to try, but have yet to own, is the BB VIS - medium scale, slightly lighter body, single pickup broadbass model.  Or, if the weight was right, maybe a BB VIIS, which is a PJ variant of the same medium scale, smaller body. 

  

What I do still have, and it is arguably the best bass I have ever owned - certainly my favourite - is a Yamaha SB-35.  Medium scale 'SG-shaped' double cutaway, single pickup.  It is pretty straightforward, nothing complicated about it at all, but it is a joy to play and it just sings.  That one is going into my coffin with me.

[Rayman]

Anything with “Yamaha” on it is fabulous. From my old BB3000S to an RBX175 I had, and a whole bunch of others in between, everything they make is great. One of my current favourites is an RBX A2 5, which is absolutely superb. I recorded with it last week and sounded immense, great low B. 

[BlueMoon]

Yamaha make consistently good basses at each price point. Much like Toyota; totally dependable, but seen by some, as a bit dull. The MIJ examples are truly superb instruments. I just scored a MIT BB2004, which is a very nice instrument. If I had a gripe it is the general lack of interchangeability of the pickups of older versions. Run-of-the-mill replacements normally don’t fit the Yamaha body cavity.

[Russ]

3 hours ago, Brian18242 said:

I have noticed quite a few bands of late picking up the BB line so the exposure is out there. I'm sure the Stereophonics bass player started using them and Tony Kanal of No Doubt has been using them for years! I know Michael Anthony used them for a long time but seems to have jumped ship to Schecter at some point. 

I see quite a few of them in the hands of fairly prolific YouTubers too - Benni Jud from Germany (plays with Martin Miller) has been using a BB recently instead of the Marleaux he always used to be seen with. Constantine Delo of the Hindley Street Country Club (prolific Aussie cover band with a big YouTube presence) is rarely seen without his BB 5-string. 

[Delberthot]

I haven't been bumping the BB1025X that I have for sale on here as if it doesn't sell by the time the Christmas holidays come, I plan to take it apart, clean it up and change all of the pots and jack and gig it every so often.

 

I've owned a few Yamahas and they were all great basses. I'd still love to find a BB5000/BB5000a in original condition. I keep looking at the one at Bass Bros but the changed pickup puts me off

[Terry M.]

On 05/11/2025 at 22:53, Brian18242 said:

Maybe it's just me but I have always felt Yamaha are a bit on the slow side when it comes to new bass ranges (In comparison to other companies)

What do you feel their current line-up could benefit from that would translate to improved sales?