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Anybody else notice the sharp increase in Yamaha popularity and value?

armybass

armybass

Jul 19, 2001
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#1
I am a fanboy so I don't count....but I am just curious if anyone else has noticed the sharp increase in "vintage" and no so vintage Yamaha basses. I have picked up a few and have often been beaten to the punch by others. There have been several Yamaha's that I would like to have picked up but could not afford the price....but that has not seemed to stop others as the prices I have seen some Yamaha basses go for has been remarkable. As a truly Yamaha fan....it really is cool to see such appreciation for a bass manufacturer that I feel has gone somewhat under the radar for a while.
 
#3
Zero increase in popularity or value local to me. They're a hard sell in my market as anything but a beginner's instrument.

Yamaha quality is mostly myth ("Yeah, they're no-soul, but they're really well-made" is the standard bubba lore). They contract to the same mills as everyone else and those contractors screw up like they do with everyone else. There may be a little additional pre-ship re-inspection, as Ibanez and Schecter do with their product from the identical contractors, but in 2012 there's not anything to differentiate Yamaha quality from other brands.
 
#4
Yeah, I have. I think people are starting to realize that Yamaha has really been the king of the mid-tier priced basses. Kind of a pain really, a bunch of studio musicians in my area have been bitching about it, as you used to be able to get an incredible-quality instrument for a small price, and that isn't the case any more.
 
#10
I think 1st generation TRB prices are very high and the old Broad Basses like BB2000s and BB3000s are not quite high, but are certainly not giveaways anymore. The rest of the Yamahas are fairly affordable. Even the high end Nathan East and Pattitucci Sigs are not bad considering what they cost new.
 
#11
It's about time. Yamaha has been making awesome instruments for decades.
When I see an instrument like the BB3000MA, a true jewel of a bass with boutique level features that can't even sell 2nd hand for 1000, it makes me cringe.
I got a BB5000 for 550. They should rate for at least double that.
 
#13
Jazz Ad said:
It's about time. Yamaha has been making awesome instruments for decades.
When I see an instrument like the BB3000MA, a true jewel of a bass with boutique level features that can't even sell 2nd hand for 1000, it makes me cringe.
I got a BB5000 for 550. They should rate for at least double that.
Click to expand...

I've got no problem with used Yamahas being inexpensive. I am more than happy to let others continue to spend big bank on Fenders, Rickenbackers, MTDs, Foderas, etc. I would happy if Yamaha and Peavey prices never catch up to what they are worth!:bassist:
 
#17
Well I was obviously talking about the TRB's and BB's. I have seen the TRB's and BB's going for considerably more here than what they were just a few years ago and moving at higher prices while scores of Fenders and Music Man basses sit for months. I have been seeing the older BB's going for $800 plus and have seen a few including a Nathan East get zapped up for $2000. To me that is amazing when there is a pre EB Saber sitting for months at $1500.
 
#19
Bongolation said:
Zero increase in popularity or value local to me. They're a hard sell in my market as anything but a beginner's instrument.

Yamaha quality is mostly myth ("Yeah, they're no-soul, but they're really well-made" is the standard bubba lore). They contract to the same mills as everyone else and those contractors screw up like they do with everyone else. There may be a little additional pre-ship re-inspection, as Ibanez and Schecter do with their product from the identical contractors, but in 2012 there's not anything to differentiate Yamaha quality from other brands.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't know about any changes in value, but the playabilty, build quality and sound of my TRB5P-II is equal to that of any of my other basses, including the Fodera. Some of the high-end BB models are superb basses as well.
 
#20
Ive only seen 2 Yamaha basses in players hands in my lifetime so far. One was a beat to hell fretless beginner bass that sounded great (a single P pickup), the other was some hideous sounding PJ thing that looked almost as bad as it sounded.

The band context that the second one was in is probably why I didn't care for it too much. All girl super trebly "rock" with terrible instrumentation and worse singing is not my cup of tea:P
 

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