Yamaha BB300

[The Diaper Geni]

Just rescued this from the local Music-Go-Round. And guys, no foolin': This is a sa-WEET bass! I picked this up and played it at the MGR and just had to have it. Only reason I'm selling is because I need a bridge pickup for "my tone" and also need the bridge pickup to help me cut through a dense mix.

The lowdown:
--Made in Taiwan.
--Serial number is QM18144 (June 18th, 1990, Unit #144).
--9 lbs according to my bathroom scale that weighs in half pound increments.
--Stock, except for the strings. Actually, the bass sounds so good I didn't even change the strings after I bought it from MGR!
--Action is pretty good. At the 12th fret the height of the G string is 2.5mm and the height of the E string is 3.5mm.
--Intonation is good.
--No high frets and the neck is nice and straight.


The good:
--The tone is very nice. Thump or growl or bite depending on how you attack the bass. In short, it's very responsive and sounds like a great P bass.
--Not too beat up. It's been played for sure. But for a 20+ year old instrument it's looking good!
--Very little fret wear, IMO.
--Everything is 100% functional. Electronics, truss rod, etc.

The bad:
--I've played it on a couple of gigs with no issues except last night the bass had that good ol' "ground buzz". It did not happen on two other gigs nor does it happen in my home. But it's worth a mention.

$175 + shipping/insurance from 43065, Powell, OH. No gig bag or case. I'll take the neck off the body for shipping. Just screw the neck back and and string her up and go!

[The Diaper Geni]

The back:

[The Diaper Geni]

And this is about the best I can get the serial number to show up:

[dozicusmaximus]

I have always wondered what the necks on these feel like...
I used to have a RBX-260 (which the 170 replaced), I loved the feel of that neck.

Do you know if it's anything like that?

[The Diaper Geni]

Originally Posted by dozicusmaximus

I have always wondered what the necks on these feel like...
I used to have a RBX-260 (which the 170 replaced), I loved the feel of that neck.

Do you know if it's anything like that?

I can't answer your question. No experience with the RBX series bassees.

According to my hold-a-ruler-up-to-the-fingerboard-and-eyeball-it method, my bass at the nut is 1 11/16" wide and 3/4" thick. Hope that helps!

[dozicusmaximus]

Awesome thanks.
So it's a bit beefier... at least wider.

[j_archuleta]

I own that same bass, and for the price this is a great buy. This bass will stand the test of time, I've been playing mine for nearly 10 years and it's still going on strong.

BUMP!

[The Diaper Geni]

Here's some reading for the fence sitters.

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by The Diaper Geni

You mean to tell me that nobody here wants a great, inexpensive P bass? No-body??!

Shocked, I am. And to tell you the truth, I'm more than a little disappointed in all of you, too.

I've been thinking about it as a project bass but I don't have the cash right now.

I'm planning on starting my own guitar repair shop and I need some instruments to practice fretwork and nut work on.

[Red Four]

Someone's missing out on a fantastic deal here. These basses are killer. The first bass I ever owned was a BB300 a lot like this (right down to the same style of pickups and bridge), and I still own it. I've let go of an Alembic, three 70s P basses, and a few other basses over the years, but have kept my BB300, and even added a duplicate of it last year.

The necks on these basses are great - substantial-feeling but fast (not as deep front-to-back as a P bass). Great neck finish too, a nice hard-satin. The pickups are great, the bridge design is completely solid (mine's been rock solid for 23 years), and the way both are designed is great for playability - the pickup's 2-screws-on-top makes for a more comfortable resting place for your thumb than the Fender one-screw design, and the bridge is much more comfortable to rest or brush your hand on than the typical Fender design.

In short, these are well-thought-out, well-made basses. I have no hesitation in recommending these to anyone who wants a strong-sounding, great-feeling bass that will hold up over time.

Plus, this is selling for a lot less than I paid for an almost identical one last year. You can't buy a better bass at this price, no exaggeration.

So, bump from a long-time fan of these hidden treasures.

[BoRadBass]

BB300 love story bump form me as well. After buying my 86 reverse pickup BB300 I sold my cherished MIA Fender P. AMAZING BASS HERE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!

[MikeB_30]

My first bass is exactly like this one. I got it for a Christmas present from my folks when I was 16. I'm 41 now and I still have it. It's a great player!!
Someone needs to snap this up! You won't be sorry.

[fivestringdan]

Holy crap what a great deal!

[The Diaper Geni]

BUMP!

[IndustrialArts]

Originally Posted by Red Four

Someone's missing out on a fantastic deal here. These basses are killer. The first bass I ever owned was a BB300 a lot like this (right down to the same style of pickups and bridge), and I still own it. I've let go of an Alembic, three 70s P basses, and a few other basses over the years, but have kept my BB300, and even added a duplicate of it last year.

The necks on these basses are great - substantial-feeling but fast (not as deep front-to-back as a P bass). Great neck finish too, a nice hard-satin. The pickups are great, the bridge design is completely solid (mine's been rock solid for 23 years), and the way both are designed is great for playability - the pickup's 2-screws-on-top makes for a more comfortable resting place for your thumb than the Fender one-screw design, and the bridge is much more comfortable to rest or brush your hand on than the typical Fender design.

In short, these are well-thought-out, well-made basses. I have no hesitation in recommending these to anyone who wants a strong-sounding, great-feeling bass that will hold up over time.

Plus, this is selling for a lot less than I paid for an almost identical one last year. You can't buy a better bass at this price, no exaggeration.

So, bump from a long-time fan of these hidden treasures.

I second that emotion. If I wasn't already in debtor's prison I'd buy it. BB Bump..

[4Mal]

Hey Bruce, If you dig that Trace EQ, meybe we can work sumpin' out... Just sayin'

[The Diaper Geni]

Originally Posted by 4Mal

Hey Bruce, If you dig that Trace EQ, meybe we can work sumpin' out... Just sayin'

[The Diaper Geni]

Great Northwest bound!