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New Yamaha BB series

#361
IMG_0943.JPG

IMG_0945.JPG

First time Yamaha player here, long time player. My main is a Gibson SG, so I don't mind slight imperfections in my basses.....Anyway, what do you all think of these two images?

Character, flaws, or neither? Thought the matching was beautifully done on this one so I scooped it up.
 
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#362
Member8675309 said:
View attachment 2748462
View attachment 2748465
First time Yamaha player here, long time player. My main is a Gibson SG, so I don't mind slight imperfections in my basses.....Anyway, what do you all think of these two images?

Character, flaws, or neither? Thought the matching was beautifully done on this one so I scooped it up.
Click to expand...

I had a 424x and also have the same bass as you (sorry hypercarrots, not taking off the pickguard for your licentious eyes). The 424x overall is a higher quality than the new ones, but once I play any BB, I stop caring and love the monster tone.
 
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#363
twc1313 said:
I had a 424x and also have the same bass as you. The 424x overall is a higher quality than the new ones, but once I play any BB, I stop caring and love the monster tone.
Click to expand...

Tone is definitely more important, and, once I've owned a bass for awhile, I care little about it's cosmetics. About 3 months ago I wore a watch on my right wrist, played bass in a live setting, forgot to take watch off. The buckle wore through the nitro finish to the bare wood on my Gibson. Doesn't bother me in the least. Dented that same bass at rehearsals tonight while leaning over to adjust a tweeter. IMO, and plenty others, a dinged up bass is a pretty bass. Especially the SG. Just looks mean when it gets trashed a bit.

BUT...I am OCD as they come when an instrument is new. So, I'm sweating every small detail. Probably just drop it first thing so I can then treat it normally. Wear my watch and jam for a few hours ought to fix what I perceive as a spray flaw in the sunburst finish, if I position myself just right anyway.
 
#364
Member8675309 said:
Tone is definitely more important, and, once I've owned a bass for awhile, I care little about it's cosmetics. About 3 months ago I wore a watch on my right wrist, played bass in a live setting, forgot to take watch off. The buckle wore through the nitro finish to the bare wood on my Gibson. Doesn't bother me in the least. Dented that same bass at rehearsals tonight while leaning over to adjust a tweeter. IMO, and plenty others, a dinged up bass is a pretty bass. Especially the SG. Just looks mean when it gets trashed a bit.

BUT...I am OCD as they come when an instrument is new. So, I'm sweating every small detail. Probably just drop it first thing so I can then treat it normally. Wear my watch and jam for a few hours ought to fix what I perceive as a spray flaw in the sunburst finish, if I position myself just right anyway.
Click to expand...

I feel your pain man. My OCD has often lead me to more affordable basses that I don't have to worry about. I had some $3000 Custom Shop Relics and they just drove me batty. Once I got a BB in my hands it felt like I had a bass that was just as high quality, sounded better, and I could actually gig and get some wear on with pride.
 
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#365
Member8675309 said:
View attachment 2748868 View attachment 2748865

Possible flaws aside, which seem to be more related to mother natures desire for inconsistency rather than Yamaha not using perfectly good wood despite color variations, that body is beautifully matched.

I tweaked the photo to aid in looking for a body joint, I think I see one, but it's hard to tell. Well done there Yamaha. Looks like I can fool myself into thinking it's one solid piece!

The neck looks well worn. Vibrant at the top, red/rich mahogany, dull and brown in the playing range.
Click to expand...

Here's mine, can you spot the defects?

BB434 Body

BB434 Body

 
#367
Member8675309 said:
Yes, yes I do. Your saddles are not perfectly slanted from bottom left to top right. J/K

The Sunburst finish on yours looks great, and the sloping wood grain on the left hand side is convincing me that mine might be a wood grain imperfection. Stains in the wood can cause visual effects to the viewer. Nothing wrong with that, makes it more interesting to look at.

Do you see any imperfections?
Click to expand...

I can see the lines where the pieces meet, but when I play the bass I couldn't care less ha.
 
#369
Member8675309 said:
Yes, the bridge was crooked. But, it had character and tone so I'm keeping it. Solved the bridge issue a bit by unscrewing it and then screwing it back in. Then, for good measure, covered it.
Click to expand...

Looks good man. You've invented a new OCD Bass treatment....just cover up every dang thing that bugs us!
 
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#370
I cannot really decide if I should get the new BB434M or a BB1024X....

Any thoughts that can help?
The 1024X is also new. I wish I could try them both to make a decision, but the store selling them is kind of far from where I live. I must also mention that the 1024X is 120 GBP more that the 434M.
 
#371
AWR said:
I cannot really decide if I should get the new BB434M or a BB1024X....

Any thoughts that can help?
The 1024X is also new. I wish I could try them both to make a decision, but the store selling them is kind of far from where I live. I must also mention that the 1024X is 120 GBP more that the 434M.
Click to expand...

Comparing the old and new series is not that easy. But you could say that the 1024 is a level above the 434. It has some good features and for only 125 GPB more they might be worth it. You can check out the features on the Yamaha website.
But without playing them both side to side you will not know if the added features will do it for you. And the maple fretboard is exclusive to the 434.
 
#372
Yes that is the thing. I know that to some extension is a matter of taste, but I was wandering if the 1024 is a much better quality, better sounding instrument. It´s the maple neck what makes me consider buying the 434M.
 
#373
I think both models are good solid instruments, just appealing to different players. The new line is more a step towards the traditional, more Fenderstyled market and it's good at what it does in that rielm. The older BBs (a lot of different models and qualitys here) are also, in their own field, unique and good, usefull instruments. I own a BB434 and have had all different kind of Yamahas through the years from BB2000 back in 1982 through the TRB modells and the common ground for all Yamahas are their quality and good function for the working bassplayer.
 
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#376
I've never played a 1024x, so can't say anything from personal experience. The impression I have is that they basically give it more attention in terms of fit-and-finish type of stuff, compared to the 424x. It always seemed to me, though, that 1000-series BBs were rare as hen's teeth because the 400s were already so good for around half the price. If you're comparing it to the new 434, though, they've changed a fair amount with the new take on the BB series; the 434 should be lighter, have a slimmer neck, and VVT control rather than VT and 3-way switch. Personally I like that switch and it's one thing about the new BB's I'm not happy about, that they cut it. If I bought one I might mod it to put a switch back in.
 
#377
So I love my BB1025X to death but it is heavy and I can make do with 4 strings, so either looking at a used or end-of-line sale BB2024/BB2024X or one of the new BBs.

I much prefer the look of the older range... But any comments to weight or tone? I'm a big fan of the middle pickup position and the way it can go from mellow to growl by how you play it, it seems to snarl more than any Jazz or PJ instrument I've tried. Not sure if the newer pickups have as much heft as the blades?
 
#378
The biggest difference in the new BB line is that it's much lighter, open sounding, in a more traditional vintage style than the previous BBs. In that lies that some players may feel that as lower quality, some may not. Personally I like the light, more vibrant style and really enjoy playing my new BB434 since it's more reminiscent of my old vintage Fender basses and it feels comfortable and easy to play. I've also liked the older, more heavy, tankbuilt BBs, but for other reasons. So it's just up to you to decide what you want and what you prefer as far as feel and visual appearance. The BB has always been a different looking bass but that also gives it it's personality.
 
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