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School me on Yamaha Basses

streetknight

streetknight

May 27, 2011
243
1
#1
I'm a huge Yamaha fan as far as guitars go and had quite a nice collection of those, but I know nothing about the bases. Which were the hens, the junk, etc.

I ran across a BB1200 the other day but had no clue if it was a good instrument or its value.

TIA
 
#2
Was it a BB1200 (passive) or BB1200S (active, with toggle switch and three extra small knobs)???

They are both really solid, excellent P-type basses. The BB1200S is highly sought after; its built-in pre-amp is very well voiced and allows for roundwound brightness and clarity with flatwound strings.
 
#3
Yamaha Japan makes some pretty fine basses. I would love to have most any of their Japan-made products. Their other Asian made Basses are like any other with some standouts. One interesting thing is that Yamaha was one of the 1st commercial companies to sell 5 strings back in the day. Early 80's. (roughly) one of the 1st 5 strings I saw was a Yamaha (that was a non-custom; off the rack). They are actually a pretty innovative progressive company. They are also rather independent. Where a great many companies use Cort or Samick to make their entry-level stuff (or further), Yamaha does not & contracts privately.
 
#4
john grey said:
Yamaha Japan makes some pretty fine basses. I would love to have most any of their Japan-made products. Their other Asian made Basses are like any other with some standouts. One interesting thing is that Yamaha was one of the 1st commercial companies to sell 5 strings back in the day. Early 80's. (roughly) one of the 1st 5 strings I saw was a Yamaha (that was a non-custom; off the rack). They are actually a pretty innovative progressive company. They are also rather independent. Where a great many companies use Cort or Samick to make their entry-level stuff (or further), Yamaha does not & contracts privately.
Click to expand...

Good description. Like most brands, they offer some better stuff and some mediocre stuff but if I had to make an across-the-board blanket generalization, I'd say they give you more bang for your buck than almost any company on the planet (Peavey is also right up there). Quite difficult to fault any of their products and their top-of-the-line Japanese stuff is immaculate.

Not mine but I'd love to own it:

photo8.jpg


Yamaha BB414 in white
 
#5
nocontrols said:
Good description. Like most brands, they offer some better stuff and some mediocre stuff but if I had to make an across-the-board blanket generalization, I'd say they give you more bang for your buck than almost any company on the planet (Peavey is also right up there). Quite difficult to fault any of their products and their top-of-the-line Japanese stuff is immaculate.

Not mine but I'd love to own it:

photo8.jpg


Yamaha BB414 in white
Click to expand...

+100, MIJ Yamahas and MIA Peaveys are my favorite mass produced basses except for Music Man, and Music Man is only different, not better.:bassist:
 
#8
lunarpollen said:
Was it a BB1200 (passive) or BB1200S (active, with toggle switch and three extra small knobs)???

They are both really solid, excellent P-type basses. The BB1200S is highly sought after; its built-in pre-amp is very well voiced and allows for roundwound brightness and clarity with flatwound strings.
Click to expand...

Not sure which one, It was at a pawn shop I believe. I'll be in that town working tomorrow, I'll stop by and see if they still have it. Think they wanted $400 for it.

Thanks for the info guys. I had some nice high end Yamaha guitars that unfortunately had to sell back at tax time :mad: so I figured the Made in Japan stuff was good.
 
#12
Thanks for the info on the battery. I'm guessing the switch lets it go from passive to active? Hell I don't even know what that means lol. Also, are the 3 small knobs an EQ or something?

It has a fair share of little knicks and scratches, but nothing thru the finish except a couple very small chips in the top of the head stock.

They have the original hard shell for it too. It needs cleaning and a setup, but I think it's got potential. Here's a couple cell phone pics. Think I might pick her up.

IMAG0028.gif


IMAG0027.gif


IMAG0026.gif
 
#14
Hot diggty dog.
That is a finely crafted instrument, those MIJ Yamaha basses are absolute top notch quality. Worth the $400 I'd say and then some just from the pure joy playing it will bring you.
I know, I had one for many many years, I recently sold it to pay the bills and man it hurt to let it go.
 
#16
That is a good-looking instrument. The BB series are well-known for their P-bass tone.

For $400, it's hard to beat an active, through-the-neck instrument. I think you need to walk out of that store with this in a case and quick...before one of us figures out where it is and snatches it! :D

I own two BB's (1981 BB400 and 200x BB415) and really do like them a lot.
 
#19
Well, I've had 8 Yamaha basses, both old and new, both cheap and expensive and I've played many many more. In my opinion, they're one of the most consistent mass-producing companies on the market. Every Yamaha bass I've picked up is high quality, good bang for buck and solid. Love them.
 
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#20
Probably some of the most underrated basses around...

In the 90's I was playing my MIJ P-Bass, but got to use my high-school's Yamaha Broad Bass (don't know what the exact model was - PJ pick-up combo) during stage band classes - it blew me (and my P) away...

When I could afford a new bass, I bought an RBX800a & it was my gigging axe for years & I still have it... More recently I bought a Yamaha BB NE2 (it's a fantastic bass)...

I have quite a few basses now, but my Yamaha experiences have all been good (I know they make some "entry level" stuff - but they've got some good price to quality ratio...

The new BB2024x & 2025x look smokin' hot - haven't seen any locally yet, but they should be killers.
 

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