Yamaha 734a very impressed

[la bam]

Hi all, 

 

Having a play with a yamaha 734a this week. 

 

This has been on my wanted list for probably 10 years, or at least since they came out. Very distinctive look and cool. 

 

We'll, after 2 days I can say I love it. Granted it took quite a few hours to get used to. 

 

There is SO much tone control it's unreal. The passive p tone is absolutely perfect, yet the passive tone control (the treble knob when in passive) helps you dial it to perfection. Flick it to active and you've a whole lot more tone to dial with. Turn it to rear pickup and it's lovely and growly. Thinner and tighter. Put again either the tone control or active eq allow you to move to your taste. 

 

Personally I start at either end of the pickup selector, dial in a nice sound then move the pickup blend to either make it warmer and fatter or thinner and tighter. Works a treat. 

 

The bass is nice and light. It also has a lovely shallow neck. Both making it easy to play. 

 

This one has emg pickups, did they come as standard? 

[pete.young]

54 minutes ago, la bam said:

 

This one has emg pickups, did they come as standard? 

No. Originally it would have had Yamaha alnico pickups.

[jonno1981]

Congrats. I have a cheaper BB and I’d love to level up to one of these some day.

I don’t think this model ever had emgs as standard, must have been modded by the previous owner. Got any pics? 

[la bam]

4 minutes ago, jonno1981 said:

Congrats. I have a cheaper BB and I’d love to level up to one of these some day.

I don’t think this model ever had emgs as standard, must have been modded by the previous owner. Got any pics? 

 

The pickups just say emg in gold on the bottom right. 

 

I did see a video where on of the retailers were saying they are designed standard size so you could upgrade etc if needed. 

[la bam]

1 hour ago, la bam said:

 

The pickups just say emg in gold on the bottom right. 

 

I did see a video where on of the retailers were saying they are designed standard size so you could upgrade etc if needed. 

 

They look like a set of geezer gzr 

[ead]

[Elfrasho]

Yes, they're astonishing basses. Here's mine next to it's older cousin!

 

The only thing i dislike is the actual finish. Might be different with the other colours but onthe black one any finger or sweat marks shows  up - always looks a bit mingin in photos!

 

Edited 9 hours ago by Elfrasho

[Maude]

7 hours ago, Elfrasho said:

Yes, they're astonishing basses. Here's mine next to it's older cousin!

 

The only thing i dislike is the actual finish. Might be different with the other colours but onthe black one any finger or sweat marks shows  up - always looks a bit mingin in photos!

 

Phenomenal basses.

The coffee burst is amazing in the flesh (wood?). 

Same satin black neck and headstock as the black ones. I've considered stripping and oiling the neck and lacquering the face of the headstock. 

Old picture of mine with a BB pin badge that our guitarist bought me.