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Yamaha bb425 5 string on sale for $299

A

Almy

Feb 15, 2008
19
1
Oklahoma
#1
I've been doing quite a bit of searching and reading up and the sale price at musiciansfriend on the bb425 has caught my eye. Initially I was looking into a Fender Jazz 5 string.

The $299 price tag seems really good for all the strong reviews I've seen for the BB425X at twice the price. But I can't seem to find the real differences between the two. Is it just the guard and plate? Or are there other differences as well?
 
#2
The only difference is that the 425x has the pickguard. This is pretty surprising; the BB415 used to sell for $450, then they dropped the price to $300 to clear them out when they discontinued it, and brought the BB425 in for a steeper price tag - $550 or $600 or something. Now they're clearing the BB425 at $300 -- what's going on?
 
#5
The BB424 models are now $299, as well. These are super nice basses. Made in Indonesia.

I have a BB425, and I can't find anything to complain about. Usually on a bass this price, a corner is cut--the tuners are cheap, the frets are sharp, the finish is uneven, the nut is cut unevenly. On my 425, there is none of this. Everything is to a very high level. It is on par with my Lakland 55-02 quality and feel wise.

Someone could get a 4 and a 5 for $600, and be done.
 
#7
jasper383 said:
The BB424 models are now $299, as well. These are super nice basses. Made in Indonesia.

I have a BB425, and I can't find anything to complain about. Usually on a bass this price, a corner is cut--the tuners are cheap, the frets are sharp, the finish is uneven, the nut is cut unevenly. On my 425, there is none of this. Everything is to a very high level. It is on par with my Lakland 55-02 quality and feel wise.

Someone could get a 4 and a 5 for $600, and be done.
Click to expand...

Same with me , my BB425 is a great bass , no corners cut that I can tell . This is easily the best deal on a new bass right now . I set mine up last night after my initial setup a few months ago and it plays even better now that it's settled in .
 
#13
rulyongo said:
Anyone else in the forum who has this bass that can recommend it?:help:
Click to expand...

Like I said, I have the BB415, which didn't have the laminated neck. I'm not sure what else they changed, but the 415 is a great bass. Probably the best you'll do for a five-string in the lower price range, especially for the more P type of tone - most cheaper fivers are jazzes only. The one thing is the BB body, which is kind of wide and flat - I don't find it all that comfortable to play sitting down, but it's great standing up (which is how I usually play anyway).
 
#14
Sorry for a newbie question. But how closely could this bass get to a jazz style sound? If I'm researching correctly most tend to say pickups that are apart, which these are not. Though this bass has both single and split-coil pickups. I would like something that can do both, but I'm thinking my preference would lean toward a jazz style.

Edit: Ah I wasn't looking at the pictures very well, the zoom isn't working at musiciansfriend.com for that bass. Now I see the separate bridge pickup, thought at first it was a floating bridge of some kind.
 
#15
"An excellent entry-level five-string for up-and-coming rock bassists!"

I've stopped buying "entry-level" basses, especially when even the manufacturer describes them that way.

I think the MSRP on these is misleading, being pre-downsourcing, as in the case of the RBX4A2.
 
#17
Bongolation said:
"An excellent entry-level five-string for up-and-coming rock bassists!"

I've stopped buying "entry-level" basses, especially when even the manufacturer describes them that way.

I think the MSRP on these is misleading, being pre-downsourcing, as in the case of the RBX4A2.
Click to expand...

Like I said, I have given up on figuring out Yamaha and their marketing. They act as if they are trying not to sell basses.

This is one of the best $299 basses ever.
 
#19
Almy said:
Sorry for a newbie question. But how closely could this bass get to a jazz style sound? If I'm researching correctly most tend to say pickups that are apart, which these are not. Though this bass has both single and split-coil pickups. I would like something that can do both, but I'm thinking my preference would lean toward a jazz style.

Edit: Ah I wasn't looking at the pictures very well, the zoom isn't working at musiciansfriend.com for that bass. Now I see the separate bridge pickup, thought at first it was a floating bridge of some kind.
Click to expand...

You could probably get fairly close to a Jazz tone finger style, but the P/J slap tone is totally different from that of a Jazz.
 

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