Yamaha your thoughts?

[miles'tone]

8 hours ago, Brian18242 said:

@Terry M.  Seeing this as a production model would be lovely 😄 and as previously mentioned a run of BB3000 models. Possibly a few more finishes on the current BB line. Would it improve sales? No idea but I guess that's a gamble all Manufacturers take? 

Oof, I love that! Lane Poor pickup too.

Prototype then? More info needed!

[BassApprentice]

Yamaha Guitar Development (their custom shop) do a fair amount of one off models for their Artists. Some cool things and ideas that I would love to see for sale, but Yamaha don't seem to have that as part of their business model

 

https://yamahaguitardevelopment.com/

 

 

[Belka]

I've found that the BB range has been consistently excellent at all price points. It's one of the best sounding PJs out there, and they are always well put together whether at the budget or MIJ end of the spectrum. I always loved the '90s BBNs ones with the soapbars and quilted maple (although I think the cheaper versions used paper 'foto') tops.

I was never quite so inspired by the TRBs - they have a very clean almost Spanish guitar sound going on that is fine for soloing but isn't really my thing - I always preferred Patitucci's Ken Smith sound for example.

[Russ]

8 hours ago, Terry M. said:

I THINK I can see why this didn't go into production based on the failure of the Fender Dimension to gain traction. Stingray fans will nearly always go for an actual Stingray. What we want our favourite brands to be can nearly always be found elsewhere in my experience 🙂 

I dunno. The Ibanez ATK and, more recently, the Sire Z series are/were strong sellers. And they both sound more like an actual Stingray than any of the Sterling By Music Man stuff. 

 

I'd liked to have seen them make this. They can make a bass that has that sound - the TRB John Myung Mk2 had a single MM pickup and it absolutely sounded the part. 

[miles'tone]

3 hours ago, BassApprentice said:

Yamaha Guitar Development (their custom shop) do a fair amount of one off models for their Artists. Some cool things and ideas that I would love to see for sale, but Yamaha don't seem to have that as part of their business model

 

https://yamahaguitardevelopment.com/

 

 

Hey thanks for that @BassApprentice, I just read the article on it. Sounds amazing on the clip 👍

https://yamahaguitardevelopment.com/2024/12/07/yamaha-guitar-development-custom-shop-miki-santamaria/

 

 

Edited yesterday at 14:24 by miles'tone

[Terry M.]

44 minutes ago, Russ said:

I dunno. The Ibanez ATK and, more recently, the Sire Z series are/were strong sellers. And they both sound more like an actual Stingray than any of the Sterling By Music Man stuff. 

 

I'd liked to have seen them make this. They can make a bass that has that sound - the TRB John Myung Mk2 had a single MM pickup and it absolutely sounded the part. 

Very true about the ATK as I owned two in the past. Completely nailed the Stingray sound to my ears. It's not that Yamaha wouldn't shift any of these units if they were produced but the market isn't exactly short of Stingray-type clones. I guess they must have their reasons why they haven't.

[Russ]

On the skinny-stringed side of things, Matteo Mancuso has been a pretty visible Yamaha user over the past couple of years. If you've never checked him out, he's astonishing. Probably the best young guitarist out there today. 

 

[jonno1981]

I love this one:

 

https://yamahaguitardevelopment.com/2023/10/26/yamaha-guitar-development-custom-shop-amos-heller/

 

Exotic top bb! They could certainly do more like this as a production model. 

[TheLowDown]

I don't think you can ever go wrong with Yamaha unless you want something innovative. For a solid and reliable instrument, I would be much more likely to trust them than most other brands.

[Maude]

Hmmm, do I like a Yamaha bass?

I currently have a BB424x, BBPH, BB734a, BB1100s fretless, Attitude Ltd II, and a pair of BEX4s. 

They're alright I spouse. 😁

[Mastodon2]

Yamaha's bass division might be a bit slow, but the guitar side is diabolical for getting models out. There are some vaunted basses in the Yamaha line, there's virtually nothing on the guitar side. No models, no endorsements, no marketing, no sales. 

 

I'm sure the guitars are actually really good for the price, but nobody knows they exist. In comparison, the bass side of the business is booming. Some big names, some great models that really are premium quality, up there with the best type stuff.

 

You could argue perhaps that Yamaha aren't targeting new players, I suppose. Sheehan, Patitucci and East are big names but they've all been around a while. As those big names age, you need new, younger players showing your brand off to attract younger buyers. Fender understands this and has aggressively pursued Gen Z through their artist signings and models, using Fender, Charvel and Jackson to reach different market areas. Obviously, Yamaha are not going to be competing on that scale, but as good as Yamahas are, I don't think many younger players gravitate towards the brand so maybe it would be worth Yamaha trying to change that.

 

However, I expect for a corp the size of Yamaha, it's small fry and budgets will be set accordingly, so perhaps there is only so much the guitar and bass divisions can. 

 

'We are poised to deliver results but will need a bigger budget'

 

'Budgets will remain the same, please deliver aforementioned results'

 

I've always wanted a Yamaha BB with a maple fretboard so I could have it refinished in a light purple / pearl / pink sparkle like Billy Sheehan used with DLR in the 80s. It's one of the basses I regret not owning before moving back to electric guitar.

 

I still own a modified Attitude LTD II that is just a cracking bass. It's not worth a tonne as a result of being modified and I keep meaning to sell it but it's just such a fantastic rock bass and the seafoam green LTD II is a special instrument to me, as that is what he played with Steve Vai when he and Steve were at the peak of their powers.

[Russ]

3 hours ago, Mastodon2 said:

Yamaha's bass division might be a bit slow, but the guitar side is diabolical for getting models out. There are some vaunted basses in the Yamaha line, there's virtually nothing on the guitar side. No models, no endorsements, no marketing, no sales. 

 

I'm sure the guitars are actually really good for the price, but nobody knows they exist. In comparison, the bass side of the business is booming. Some big names, some great models that really are premium quality, up there with the best type stuff.

 

You could argue perhaps that Yamaha aren't targeting new players, I suppose. Sheehan, Patitucci and East are big names but they've all been around a while. As those big names age, you need new, younger players showing your brand off to attract younger buyers. Fender understands this and has aggressively pursued Gen Z through their artist signings and models, using Fender, Charvel and Jackson to reach different market areas. Obviously, Yamaha are not going to be competing on that scale, but as good as Yamahas are, I don't think many younger players gravitate towards the brand so maybe it would be worth Yamaha trying to change that.

 

However, I expect for a corp the size of Yamaha, it's small fry and budgets will be set accordingly, so perhaps there is only so much the guitar and bass divisions can. 

 

'We are poised to deliver results but will need a bigger budget'

 

'Budgets will remain the same, please deliver aforementioned results'

 

I've always wanted a Yamaha BB with a maple fretboard so I could have it refinished in a light purple / pearl / pink sparkle like Billy Sheehan used with DLR in the 80s. It's one of the basses I regret not owning before moving back to electric guitar.

 

I still own a modified Attitude LTD II that is just a cracking bass. It's not worth a tonne as a result of being modified and I keep meaning to sell it but it's just such a fantastic rock bass and the seafoam green LTD II is a special instrument to me, as that is what he played with Steve Vai when he and Steve were at the peak of their powers.

 

In terms of “official” endorsers, yep, there aren’t many. But you do see quite a lot of them out there being played by some reasonably well-known players - another couple who sprang to mind were James LoMenzo (currently with Megadeth) and Tony Kanal (No Doubt). The only endorsed Yamaha player I can think of who moved onto another brand was John Myung - the rest of them have stuck with the brand forever. 

 

You’re right about the guitar side of things though - there really aren’t many. But again, the YouTube generation are filling the gaps, people like Matteo Mancuso. The Pacifica was always the single best inexpensive Strat-a-like available, but there’s a lot more competition now. 

 

Yamaha make a LOT of instruments and I guess they have to focus on where they do best - for them, that means brass instruments, keyboards and pianos (they obviously have their own range, and they own Bösendorfer - probably the most prestigious and expensive pianos in the world!). Let’s not forget they are also the current owners of Ampeg and Line 6. 

[crazycloud]

5 minutes ago, Russ said:

Yamaha make a LOT of instruments and I guess they have to focus on where they do best - for them, that means brass instruments, keyboards and pianos (they obviously have their own range, and they own Bösendorfer - probably the most prestigious and expensive pianos in the world!).

My late wife wanted a Bosendorfer, but I bought her a Yamaha instead, because she loved the specific piano, and at the time the Bosendorfer was maybe 40% of our house price and seven years wait. Or maybe that was the really nice store owner seeing my face when he mentioned the price exaggerating the order time.

[Beedster]

12 hours ago, jonno1981 said:

I love this one:

 

https://yamahaguitardevelopment.com/2023/10/26/yamaha-guitar-development-custom-shop-amos-heller/

 

Exotic top bb! They could certainly do more like this as a production model. 

There’s something almost Wal-like about that 👍

[Beedster]

In an alternative reality in which Fender didn’t exist I suspect most of us would be playing a Yamaha 🙂

[MrDinsdale]

I’d love a production version similar to Amos Hellers BB. 

 

 

I love my 1024x, they’re super affordable and solid instruments. Loved the 734a too.

 

You could pick up an older 2nd hand BB, get it refinished in a more exciting colour and have it set up professionally and still spend less than most other basses in its class. 

[razor5cl]

My BB734A was my first "proper" bass and I love it, played my first real gigs on it, my first recording was done with it too and the combination of the split and single coil pickups together just sounds magic, no other bass seems to really manage it.

 

I originally wanted a Fender Aerodyne but after trying one at Wunjos the guy just happened to bring me the Yamaha as a "cheaper" alternative. I remember the feeling I got immediately when I plucked a note, it just sounded like the thing absolutely sang to me. Even to this day no other bass has given me the same feeling of that growl and punch. Made an account here and eventually was offered to buy one in lovely condition from a Scottish BCer whose username now eludes me - this was almost 7 years ago!

 

Not sure if it's the pickups, electronics, or the body and neck woods/construction (5-piece maple/mahogany neck eh?!). But it's an absolute delight and so comfortable to play (unlike my pointy Jackson which looks the business but is about as comfortable as a Moroccan prison).

 

Used to love perusing the Yamaha BB thread although it's dormant nowadays.

 

I've only ever played modern Yamaha models - which are the best older models? Looks like the BB3000 is a popular choice

[Sean]

23 minutes ago, razor5cl said:

 and the combination of the split and single coil pickups together just sounds magic, no other bass seems to really manage it.

You are teetering on the brink of owning a Spector... 

 

I've got 3 Jap BBs but nothing does the PJ magic like a Spector. 

[Russ]

14 hours ago, MrDinsdale said:

I’d love a production version similar to Amos Hellers BB. 

 

 

I love my 1024x, they’re super affordable and solid instruments. Loved the 734a too.

 

You could pick up an older 2nd hand BB, get it refinished in a more exciting colour and have it set up professionally and still spend less than most other basses in its class. 

Love it. They look like Nordstrand BigBladeMan pickups. Those things rip - got a set in my Spector.