Is there a Yamaha BB club? There is now!

[emjazz]

I would LOVE to see something like the slimmer Nathan East body with the BBP34/5 PJ pickups (pretty shocked how good these are) but with a reverse P…the bodies of the BB basses are giant…can be uncomfortable to play in certain situations…but the neck of my BBP35 is incredible, as well as the pickups

 

[Marihino]

So, something like a BB2004 essentially?

 

[emjazz]

So, something like a BB2004 essentially?

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Is there a 5 string?

I was never big on the preamp in the NE basses, and I love the 60s bridge position of the BB

 

[Marihino]

There was a 5 string version, but it was a JJ, so just a bit more budget-friendly version of the East Sig.

 

[emjazz]

I suppose I meant the BBP35 with a more streamlined body

 

[FretRiff]

only the Revstar that got a big refresh recently, with custom chambering and other innovations that had to have a lot of R&D and marketing research put into it.

But now they're coasting. THREE NEW COLORS!



I'm not surprised that if any r&d was done it was focused on the electric guitar line. Industry figures are that bass sales amount to ~ 8% of electric guitar sales, and Yamaha is a small player in both markets, so they're investing where they get the most dividend at first.

It is a little surprising to me that Yamaha hasn't yet adopted its Revstar chambering process to basses. Seems like relatively low-hanging fruit, especially considering that a handful of other brands have done this for some time on some models, like Spector, Sadowsky and Warmouth.

 

[konaaayukeeenee]

I can't speak to 5-string but earlier this year I was deciding between the BB234 and BB434 and went for the 434, largely because I figured there was less of a liklihood to need to upgrade parts. The price difference new between the BB234 and BB434 was ~ AUD 229, but ultimately I decided it was worth it for me.

The 434/435 has a 5-piece neck (not on the 234/235) with a 6-bolt neck joint (compared to 4-bolt), an upgraded Graphtech nut, D'Addario strings (compared to generic Chinese strings on the 234/235), Alnico V pickups (compared to ceramic), upgraded bridge, and string-through ability (missing on the cheaper model).

My biggest disappointment was the inability to get the BB434 in white. I got the Tobacco burst which is... fine, but I would have preferred white and then I'd change the pickguard to white or mint.

Thanks for your input. I think I'll hold off on the used BB235 for now then, and probably pick up a new BB435 at some point if nothing else shows up. And I would've liked a white one as well. Been GASing hard for that vintage white BBP35 with the tort pickguard but a bit hard to justify that right now given the BB435 exists.

 

[toastw]

What I noticed over the last couple of years is that they're really promoting their Custom Shop on socials, with multiple posts on their custom builds for Vincen Garcia, Chris Buck and the like. Am I correct in assuming that they're doing that because that's the level they make the most profit at?

It has kinda soured me on Yamaha, also because those models still haven't gotten regular factory line versions. The Chris Buck Revstar for example has a lot of fans, but they're priced out.

What I also didn't like is that it was only the Revstar that got a big refresh recently, with custom chambering and other innovations that had to have a lot of R&D and marketing research put into it. But nothing like that for the BB side of things.

I think in marketing, generally everyone does this. You lead with your sexiest products. If you advertise the base level, your product looks very blah and vanilla.

 

[WashburnBasser]

Finally filled the left over tuning machine holes on my BB435. I think they came out pretty good! Just toothpicks, titebond, and a brown colored pencil.

 

[joeLowB]

Finally filled the left over tuning machine holes on my BB435. I think they came out pretty good! Just toothpicks, titebond, and a brown colored pencil.

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Nicely done!

 

[John Stephen]

Finally filled the left over tuning machine holes on my BB435. I think they came out pretty good! Just toothpicks, titebond, and a brown colored pencil.

View attachment 7339494

Just curious, what did you use to cut the toothpicks and sand them down? Beautifully done.

 

[WashburnBasser]

Just curious, what did you use to cut the toothpicks and sand them down? Beautifully done.

I used a very cheap flush cutting saw from amazon, then a utility razor blade to get them perfectly flat. I didn't want to sand since there is barely any finish on the back of the neck, seemed like more trouble than it was worth.

I kinda want to put some sort of finish on them so they're not just bare wood, but I'm nervous about darkening them up too much since I know that end grain will soak up anything on top. Maybe just a dab of mineral oil or something.

 

[John Stephen]

I used a very cheap flush cutting saw from amazon, then a utility razor blade to get them perfectly flat. I didn't want to sand since there is barely any finish on the back of the neck, seemed like more trouble than it was worth.

I kinda want to put some sort of finish on them so they're not just bare wood, but I'm nervous about darkening them up too much since I know that end grain will soak up anything on top. Maybe just a dab of mineral oil or something.

Beautiful work, thanks.

 

[jmlee]

Above is my Yamaha BB1500A which is a very sweet instrument with a unique voice (to my ears).

So, I’ve been seeing ads for BB-STD or BB-Standard basses which also have two J-type pickups and a somewhat wacky pickguard design. Weirdly I know nothing about those instruments and there’s a bit of a dearth of info online about them. Can anyone illuminate me re: the BB-STD and any possible relationship to the BB-1500A which appears to share some genes? I think the BB-STD was made in the late 90’s between the two runs of the BB1500A in Taiwan.

 

[aarono2690]

I’m thinking my BBP35 might be my favorite bass. Feels so good in the hands.

 

[konaaayukeeenee]

I’m thinking my BBP35 might be my favorite bass. Feels so good in the hands.

Have you compared it to the 400 series?

 

[aarono2690]

Have you compared it to the 400 series?

I have not!

 

[RestlessBoom]

Ok, so after replacing the pickups and getting excellent sounds out of my 434, I feel the need to gush about the body and neck of this guy. It’s the most natural-feeling and comfortable bass I’ve played in a long time. The 40mm width and 10-degree radius of the neck have turned out to be a perfect match for me. I love this thing

 

[joeLowB]

Ok, so after replacing the pickups and getting excellent sounds out of my 434, I feel the need to gush about the body and neck of this guy. It’s the most natural-feeling and comfortable bass I’ve played in a long time. The 40mm width and 10-degree radius of the neck have turned out to be a perfect match for me. I love this thing

Nice! Which pickups did you install?

 

[FretRiff]

Ok, so after replacing the pickups and getting excellent sounds out of my 434, I feel the need to gush about the body and neck of this guy.

I'm still in the honeymoon (and learning) phase with my 434 and I'm really digging the original pickups. Before purchasing the bass I didn't quite know how the P sound differed from a classic Fender P but it seems that the Fenders have a clasic 'nasal' sound to them which my Yamaha doesn't have. (And I don't mind it!)