Yamaha your thoughts?

[Beedster]

And here it is......

 

 

[Misdee]

Just now, Beedster said:

And here it is......

 

 

That bass is so beautiful I actually find it quite upsetting.

[Beedster]

1 minute ago, Misdee said:

That bass is so beautiful I actually find it quite upsetting.

 

The first complete dickhead  gentleman who I sold it to complained that the action was too low and returned it on that basis ..........

[Misdee]

10 minutes ago, Beedster said:

 

The first complete dickhead  gentleman who I sold it to complained that the action was too low and returned it on that basis ..........

It's so ridiculous that it has to be true. Presumably he didn't understand how to use an allen key.

[Sean]

2 hours ago, Beedster said:

 

My BB2024X (maple board unusually) was one of the best basses I've owned also. Oddly I never gigged it, always picking up Fenders. If I had one now it would probably be staying and doing a lot of gigs 👍

I'd love to get hold of that BB2024MX

[Cornwall Steve]

Picking up here on an old Post, I know.

I'm a big fan of Yamaha. I currently have a BB415, 425x, RBX375, RBX775, BBN5 (plus a Yamaha CS1x synth, Yamaha PSRe435 keyboard, and a Yamaha Pacifica 312 guitar)

The only 'Yammie' I couldn't get along with was a TRBX604 I bought brand new but sold it on after just a few months though I've got my eyes out for a used TRBX1005J in natural or caramel (anyone selling one?)

[HeadlessBassist]

On 06/11/2025 at 03:02, Russ said:

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.  

 

Vincen Garcia plays the hell out of his BB, whether with his own band, or when backing Cory Wong. But yes, you're right - they don't seem to be a popular choice these days amongst visible pros.

 

I've had a few in the past, such as a TRB6-II, Nathan East TRB5, and a Sheehan BB714BS which was the boomiest thing I've heard in my life. If you want to vaporize the underwear of the girls in the front row, the BB714BS is the bass for you! My one small complaint with the TRBs is that the preamps are always a little artificially 'plinky' sounding. Apart from that, Yamaha make seriously nice instruments. 

[neepheid]

I'm up for a zombie thread resurrection when it comes to lauding Yamaha basses!

 

Currently have a BB1200 and an SB500S.  Both fantastic instruments, the BB1200 is simply consummate.  It isn't flashy, it isn't particuarly exciting to look at, but in terms of playing feel and sound it just gets on with the job of delivering excellent results in both departments.  The SB500S is a quirky number which I enjoy because of that - the somewhat wonky body shape is what chiefly appeals, and despite being a J bass in disguise, there's a bit more going on in these pickups than a standard J, couldn't tell you why, must be the way they wind 'em.

 

Historically I've had a BB300, BB350F, BB450, BB614, BB434.  Honestly, if I could have any of those back again, it would be either the BB300 or 450.  I don't really like where the most recent BBs have gone - they've done something to the body shape that makes it seem less "broad" to me, streamlined it.  Didn't keep the 434 long, didn't appeal to me as much in the sense that it seems to have had much of the quirkiness tamed out of it.  It seemed like a slightly different shaped, generic PJ bass to me.

 

And if I could have any Yamaha which I don't already have, it'd probably be a BB1200S, just as a counterpoint to my 1200.

[Maude]

On 07/11/2025 at 23:29, Maude said:

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. 😁

 

The above still stands. 😁 

 

I've often thought that I could happily sell all the other stuff and only have a collection of Yamahas. 

But other stuff is fun too 😉. 

[Paul S]

Despite being bandless and not having picked up a bass for about 4 months I'd still be in the market for a BBVIS or BBVIIS.  I missed out on the last one that popped up.

[Sean]

On 10/11/2025 at 18:12, Beedster said:

And here it is......

 

 

Uuuuffffff. I can’t believe I missed this back in the day. I missed it when Beedster bought it from someone, I think. It would look lush hanging next to my black one.

[Sibob]

Does everyone hold the new BB235 in equally high regard? I would like a backup P/J 5er and always had a soft spot for BB’s. It’s either that or a Sire I think. 

 

Si

[Sean]

15 hours ago, Sibob said:

Does everyone hold the new BB235 in equally high regard? I would like a backup P/J 5er and always had a soft spot for BB’s. It’s either that or a Sire I think. 

 

Si

I've set one up, played it a bit and it was very good. I don’t want to get into comparisons with the Japan basses but the 235 I fettled was good and to be honest, anyone could have a career on it and be happy. I used to own a BB415, which is kind of the same but a generation earlier and that was my #2 bass for ages. Again, it was set up, fettled and made to play as well as any of my spendy basses. You can’t really go wrong with a well set up Yam at any price point. Even an expensive one is going to need some TLC “out of the box”.

 

[ezbass]

6 minutes ago, Sean said:

You can’t really go wrong with a well set up Yam at any price point.

Or any instrument. I’ll always recommend Yammy if a beginner asks for suggestions.

[Bass Direct]

Yamaha are excellent at providing great quality instruments at various price points, can't knock them to be honest!

 

Also the after sales care is brilliant for both Yamaha and Ampeg, so 10/10 from us.

[Russ]

33 minutes ago, ezbass said:

Or any instrument. I’ll always recommend Yammy if a beginner asks for suggestions.

Yep. More or less any Yamaha instrument, at any price point, is going to be a step above anything else at that level. My son plays the trumpet, and he has a Yamaha. I'm no expert on brass instruments, but it's well made, has a sweetness to the sound, can get "raggy" in a good way when you go hard and it was inexpensive compared to other comparable instruments. We have a Yamaha electric piano too, and it's great. I've played cheap Pacificas that put Fenders that cost more than double the price to shame. And the BB range of basses are brilliant instruments and always have been - classic, yet distinctive. 

 

I seem to be talking myself into getting a Yammy.  I am in need of something passive, with four strings right now (my current stable is all active 5- and 6-strings) and a BB is top of my list...